The Village Times Herald - October 13, 2022

Victorious Patriots

SBU president delivers State of the University 2022 address

BY RITA J. EGAN RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

During the latest annual State of the University address held on Oct. 12, Stony Brook University President Maurie McInnis gave updates about the latest news and accomplishments at the educational institution in a prepared speech

McInnis told those in attendance that SBU was named flagship of the SUNY System and just earned its highest ranking from the U.S. News & World Report. The university rated No. 31 for public institutions and No. 1 public in New York state.

The university president said the four-year graduation and six-year graduation rate at SBU increased 18% points and 10 points, respectively, over eight years.

“In addition to these increases, we have nearly eliminated the equity gaps most universities face when it comes to graduation rates for Black, Latinx, underserved and Pell-eligible students,” she said.

The university is committed “to increasing our one-year retention rate to 92% and targeting a six-year graduation rate of 85% by 2030.”

McInnis said the university wants to ensure “that Stony Brook’s campus culture promotes connection” and has reimagined its undergraduate colleges “connecting students across disciplines and fields under global topics.”

One example, the university president said, is the Vertically Integrated Projects Program that was inaugurated three years ago at the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. The VIP program brings together undergraduates, graduate students and faculty “in multidisciplinary teams to work on real-world projects in research, design and entrepreneurship.” The program has grown from approximately 50 students to more than 500.

McInnis said the partnership between SBU and the Simons Foundation has resulted in the Stony Brook Simons STEM Scholars Program, which aims “to create pathways to successful STEM careers for underrepresented students and increase the diversity of students pursuing doctoral degrees in STEM.”

McInnis said in 2022, for the first time, four SBU junior faculty members earned “the prestigious” Sloan Fellowship. There are also six Department of Education Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need awards, which helps to support graduate student research.

“We also just learned that the National Science Foundation will be funding three instrumentation proposals for Stony Brook University — marking the first time that all of our proposals submitted to the NSF MRI Program have been successful,” she added.

McInnis said during the address that the College of Business is now fully accredited. The university’s School of Communication and

Journalism received the Inaugural Solutions Journalism Hub Designation this year and was one of only four universities to receive it.

She said, in 2022, 14 students received a Fulbright Fellowship, which they will used to fund their international research and teaching.

SBU has made a bid to become the anchor institution for the Governors Island Center for Climate Solutions, McInnis announced. She said if the university is selected it would develop the island “as a hub for climate-change solutions and innovations in New York.”

“Our proposal includes an interactive living lab with green-designed research labs, classrooms and mitigation technologies,” she said. “A Research and Technology Accelerator will nurture new ventures dedicated to solving climate change in New York and beyond, and academic programs will prepare students of all ages for different careers in environmental justice and climate change.”

The president also devoted part of her address to Stony Brook Medicine, which she described as “a differentiator on Long Island and in New York state.” She name-checked many individual students and professors throughout.

Midway through the address, representatives from the Graduate Students Employees Union interrupted the speech to say that they are not paid well. One said, “We deserve a living wage.” After the last person spoke, a few repeatedly shouted,

“Living wage now.”

McInnis remained silent and allowed the representatives to speak. When they were done, she returned to her address.

Later that day, SBU officials released a statement that said they “recognize the high cost of living and stipend issues that our graduate students and other employees face here on Long Island.”

“Wages and stipends are negotiated between the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations and the respective bargaining units. The current Graduate Student Employees Union agreement for state graduate assistant and teaching assistant student employees raises salaries and has a total compensation package that includes insurance, pension, paid leave, and a location adjustment among other benefits. This is in addition to tuition scholarships.”

McInnis concluded her address by saying, “At Stony Brook University — where our scholarship crosses over the arts, humanities, social sciences, STEM and medicine; where our research extends well past this campus and even beyond New York to countries all over the world; where our legacy has been defined by bravery, creativity and commitment to service — we are working to address the world’s pressing issues.”

To read more about the 2022 State of the University address, and the university’s response to GSEU representatives, visit tbrnewsmedia.com.

Milestone birthday

Local LGBTQ community faces numerous challenges, SBM survey says

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

In a first of its kind survey of 1,150 members of the LGBTQ+ community on Long Island, Stony Brook Medicine found that people in this group struggle with numerous health care challenges.

Over two in five people responding to an online survey between June and September of 2021 said they were in fair to poor mental health. Additionally, about one in three people had thoughts of self harm, while 23.9% had seriously considered suicide within the past three years.

People in the LGBTQ+ community are struggling with mental health and access to care, while they also have had negative experiences with health care providers, who may have been making incorrect assumptions about their lives or who haven’t respected them, said Dr. Allison Eliscu, principal investigator of the study and medical director of the Adolescent LGBTQ+ Care Program at Stony Brook Medicine.

Partnering with 30 Long Islandbased community leaders and community organizations, including Planned Parenthood, Stony Brook Medicine created the survey to gather the kinds of data that could inform better health care decisions, could provide a baseline

for understanding the needs of the LGBTQ+ community in the area, and could shed light on the disparity in health care for this community.

“The idea [for the survey] came out when

we were creating the Edie Windsor Healthcare Center” in Hampton Bays, Eliscu said, which opened its doors in 2021 and is the first such center for the LGBTQ+ population on Long

Short-term inclement weather can affect moods

BY RITA J. EGAN RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

October began on a somber note with several days of rain, cloudy weather and blustery winds. For many people, short-term inclement weather can lead to lethargy and depressed moods.

Dr. Veronique Deutsch-Anzalone, clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at Stony Brook University Renaissance School of Medicine, is a clinical psychologist who has researched the weather’s effect on people. The doctor said the first thing many think of regarding lousy weather and mental health is seasonal affective disorder, more commonly known as SAD. Deutsch-Anzalone said SAD is not technically considered a disorder anymore in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders,” but now what patients are diagnosed with is depression with a seasonal pattern. She added seasonal pattern is considered a specifier.

“There are actually a lot of conflicting views on whether or not the lack of sun and the increase in cold and darkness causes us to have a depressed mood,” she said, adding that a 2016 study showed no objective data to support that depression is related to either latitude or season or sunlight. The doctor added that some people get depressed only

in the summer.

However, due to many having depression that tends to follow a seasonal pattern, the disorder of depression with a seasonal pattern remains in the “Diagnostic and Statistical Manual.”

She said similar symptoms that people feel in the winter could be experienced even during short-term weather patterns, such as the recent period of rain, as lack of sunlight has been a factor in psychiatric problems and depression, with females and the elderly being particularly susceptible.

There are a few reasons, the doctor said, that support cloudy, rainy days being accompanied by depressed moods which involves serotonin, a body chemical that has to do with body functions; and melatonin, a hormone that induces sleep.

“We have our circadian rhythms where we’re programmed to be alert when the sun is up and be drowsy when it’s gone, and that is because when the sun goes down our bodies produce melatonin,” she said.

On darker days, the body produces less serotonin. On sunnier days, more serotonin is made, and it’s a neurotransmitter, DeutschAnzalone said. She added, on a cloudy day, people tend to keep the lights low in their homes and cuddle up on the couch to watch TV, which increases sleepiness. In turn, she said, a person may crave carbohydrates,

sugar and salt.

“Unfortunately, when we turn to that kind of food that actually kind of makes us go into more of a slump, and can also cause some people to feel guilty and not very happy with themselves,” the doctor said.

Comfort foods raise serotonin but only briefly, Deutsch-Anzalone said. The best approach is eating healthy and drinking water. The doctor also advised against excess alcohol and caffeine intake, which can cause inflammation and dehydration.

She added an increase in aches and pains during stormy weather also doesn’t help matters. The drop in atmospheric pressure causes body fluids to move from the blood vessels to the tissues, creating more pressure on nerves and joints.

“That can lead to more increased pain or stiffness or reduced mobility, which then of course, makes us a little bit less likely to want to move,” she said.

She said on gloomy days, it can help to turn the lights on inside to increase serotonin and have more energy. Deutsch-Anzalone added some people might need a light therapy lamp or doctors may prescribe vitamin D.

She said it also helps to engage in enjoyable activities to lift one’s spirits. When a person is feeling down and can’t even

Island. “We were trying to think about what we want [the center] to provide and what does the community need.”

Without local data, it was difficult to understand what residents of Long Island, specifically, might need.

The data suggests a disparity between the mental health of the LGBTQ+ community in the area and the overall health of the population in the country.

Over half of the people who took the survey indicated that they had symptoms of chronic depression, compared with 30.3% for the nation, based on a 2020 PRC National Health Survey. Additionally, 23.9% of the LGBTQ+ community described a typical day as “extremely or very stressful” compared with 16.1% for the nation.

To be sure, the national data sampling occurred just prior to the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, in February of 2020, while the Stony Brook Medicine survey polled residents during the second year of COVID.

Nonetheless, Eliscu suggested that her anecdotal experience with her patients indicates that the LGBTQ+ community likely suffered even more during the pandemic, as some people lived at home with relatives who may not have been supportive or with whom

Stony Brook Medicine’s Dr. Alison Eliscu, left, was the principal investigator of the study that 1,150 members of the LGBTQ+ community recently participated in including Micah Schneider, right. Eliscu’s photo from Stony Brook Members; Micah Schneider’s from Lisa Czulinski

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The Village Times Herald Read it online at www.TBRnewsmedia.com along with our other five papers:

The Port Times Record, The Village Beacon Record, The Times of Middle Country, The Times of Smithtown and The Times of Huntington, Northport and East Northport

Two shot outside U. S. Rep. Lee Zeldin’s family home

BY RITA J. EGAN RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

The 16-year-old twin daughters of U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY1) called 911 the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 9, after two people were shot outside his home in a drive-by shooting.

Zeldin and his wife, Diana, were returning home from the Bronx Columbus Day Parade in Morris Park, according to a statement from the congressman, when his daughters, who were home in Shirley, heard gunshots and screaming outside at approximately 2:19 p.m.

“After my daughters heard the gunshots and the screaming, they ran upstairs, locked themselves in the bathroom and immediately called 911,” Zeldin said in the statement. “They acted very swiftly and smartly every step of the way, and Diana and I are extremely proud of them.”

Two individuals were shot and laying under Zeldin’s front porch and the bushes in front of his porch.

“My understanding is that they have been transported to area hospitals,” Zeldin said. “I do not know their identities.”

The congressman said he and his family were working with investigators, and he would provide security footage from his home cameras.

“My daughters are shaken, but OK,” he said. “Like so many New Yorkers, crime has literally made its way to our front door. My family is grateful to all who have reached out and we will provide another update when we can.”

Later that day, Suffolk County Police Department released a press release about the Shirley shooting. Two teenagers from Mastic and

Mastic Beach were injured during the incident, according to SCPD.

Three teenagers were walking on the street “when a dark-colored vehicle went by and an occupant fired multiple gunshots through the vehicle’s window at 2:19 p.m.,” the statement read. “Two 17-year-old males were struck and attempted to hide in the yard of a residence on the street. The third teen fled the scene on foot.”

SCPD said they do not “believe there is any connection between the shooting and the residence” in Shirley.

Zeldin is the Republican gubernatorial candidate. He marched in the New York City annual Columbus Day Parade on Monday.

Woman arrested during massage parlor raid in Setauket

BY RITA J. EGAN RITA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

Must love people and communication. Selling display and online advertising for successful award-winning media group. Experience desirable, but not necessary. Will train.

and resumes

The Town of Brookhaven has sealed shut the doors of one Three Village business after an investigation by Suffolk County Police Department along with the town’s fire marshal and building inspector.

Notices from the town’s Law Department and Division of Fire Prevention are posted on the window of Ru Yi Spa, located at 175 Route 25A in Setauket, along with tape that reads “No trespassing.”

Suffolk County police arrested a Flushing woman on Oct. 5 for allegedly unlawful practice of a profession during a massage parlor

raid at the business. The 6th Precinct Crime Section, 6th Squad detectives, along with the fire marshal and building inspector, conducted an investigation at Ru Yi Spa after community and quality of life complaints.

Following the investigation, Xiahong Zhao, 57, was charged with two counts of unauthorized practice of a profession.

Zhao was released on a field appearance ticket and is scheduled to appear in First District Court in Central Islip on a later date.

The numerous violations for fire and building code offenses issued by the town include smoke detection wrapped in plastic, hazardous electrical condition, egress/exit block, no building permit for alterations and more.

Two people were injured in front of U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin’s house after shots were fired from a car Oct. 9. Photo from Zeldin’s office

OBITUARIES

Henry G. Brown

Henry G. Brown, a longtime resident of the Three Village area, died at age 69 in his Fort Myers home on June 20.

Following graduation from Ward Melville High School, Henry joined the U.S. Air Force, serving our country in the Vietnam War. He became a member of the Veterans of Foreign War of Setauket and served as commander for several terms. Before retiring, Henry worked for the Federal Aviation Association as an electronics technician.

Music was an important part of Henry’s life which he enjoyed through listening, collecting, and singing with the church choirs at Setauket United Methodist Church and St. James United Methodist Church. Prior to his illness, he moved to Fort Myers, Florida, where he enjoyed playing golf and relaxing out of the cold weather.

Henry is survived by his devoted wife, Linda Brown, brother Stephen Brown, the memory of his late brother William Brown III, nephews Christopher Brown and William Brown IV, great niece Diana Brown, and close extended family and friends.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 16, at the Mount Sinai Yacht Club, 244 Harbor Beach Rd, Mount Sinai.

Patricia Elizabeth Keating Panopoulos

Patricia Elizabeth Keating Panopoulos, a trailblazing registered nurse who contributed greatly to the culture of hospital quality improvement, died on Aug. 24 at Sunrise of East Setauket.

Her passing followed a fall earlier in the summer. She would have been 92 in December.

Patricia was born in 1930 and was raised in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, with her seven brothers and sisters. She often reminisced about the halcyon days of her youth, especially on trips with friends on her prized Silver Columbia bike to Coney Island. After high school, Patricia followed her passion and attended St.Mary’s Nursing School in Brooklyn. She described graduation day from St. Mary’s as the proudest moment in her professional career, which would span 45 years until her retirement in 1995 from St. John’s Hospital in Smithtown.

There were several stops during her career of service beginning at Victory

Memorial Hospital in Brooklyn, taking care of newborns in the nursery on the labor and delivery floor. Coincidentally, she was working in the nursery during the week that her future daughter-in-law was born and probably cared for her on that service. With a growing family, Patricia and her husband, John, moved the family to Deer Park after the birth of their third child. She began working at both Southside Hospital and Good Samaritan Hospital as a bedside nurse before earning her master’s degree in Nursing at NYU during the apex of her career. Patricia took full advantage of what the south shore of Long Island could offer and was a committed Fire Island beachgoer; packing up the station wagon and spending many long summer days sprawled across the sand with her growing family.

The family eventually moved to Fort Salonga and then Northport after she accepted a position at St. John’s Hospital in Smithtown. While at St. John’s, and after earning her graduate degree, Patricia held several clinical and administrative positions including associate director of Nursing Education and associate director of Clinical Services. She described those early days of formalized quality assurance and risk management as challenging, but eventually won over many on the medical staff with her informed and collaborative professional style.

In the latter part of her nursing career, Patricia was an invaluable resource and mentor to members of both the nursing and medical staff at St. John’s. After retiring in 1995 she resided in Northport before moving to Stony Brook. In the many years after retiring, Patricia took great pride and joy following the lives of her eight grandchildren and three great granddaughters. Patricia is predeceased by her former husband, John, and six of her siblings; and is survived by her brother Brian and her sister Sheila; her two daughters Mary Ann and Catherine; her three sons Michael, Stephen and John (Jack).

During the last few years of her life while living at Sunrise of Setauket, Patricia befriended many and was an inspiration to both clients and staff, where she continued to offer herself as a resource, especially during the difficult COVID-19 days of 2020 and 2021. After a career epitomized by the question, “How can I help you?, she was grateful for the care she received and never lost an opportunity to express appreciation and offer thanks to everyone who cared for her.

Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Bryant Funeral Home of Setauket. Services will be held at St. James Roman Catholic Church of Setauket on Saturday, Nov. 5 at 10:45 a.m.

LGBTQ COMMUNITY

they didn’t share their identity.

Additionally, the isolation removed some LGBTQ+ residents from an in-person support network.

Stony Brook Medicine has taken steps to provide specific services to residents who are LGBTQ+. People who are transitioning and have a cervix continue to need a pap smear.

Some members of the transgender community may not be comfortable going to a gynecologist’s office. Stony Brook Medicine has put in place extended hours to meet their needs.

Micah Schneider, a social worker who lives in Ronkonkoma, served as a survey participant and also as a guide for some of the wording in the survey.

Schneider, who identifies as nonbinary and transgender and prefers the pronoun “they,” said the survey can help people “recognize that

WEATHER/MOODS

think of pleasant activities, she suggests googling to find a list of things to do. Some, the doctor added, might be ones a patient hasn’t thought of, such as picking up an instrument, writing poetry or decorating a room. Exercise is also recommended as well as socializing or calling a friend.

Even in the rain, she suggested embracing nature, especially for people who have young children.

“Why not just throw on some raincoats and galoshes, go out and just jump around

we’re not alone.”

When Schneider was growing up, “I had a sense that I was the only person in the entire world dealing with this,” which included a struggle with identity and mental illness.

“We as a community have each other and we can lean on each other,” Schneider said.

As for medical providers, Schneider suggested that this kind of survey can alert these professionals to the need to honor names, pronouns and identities and not make blanket assumptions.

Despite some improvements, the local and national LGBTQ+ community remains at risk, Schneider said.

“There are any number of people who are actively considering suicide,” Schneider added.

“It’s a very real crisis in our community.”

On a conference call announcing the results of the survey, Dr. Gregson Pigott, Suffolk County Commissioner of Health, described the survey, which Stony Brook plans to repeat in a couple of years, as “groundbreaking. What you have here is hard data based on the survey.”

in the puddles and make those mud pies with them,” she said. “They’re going to remember that and enjoy it.”

Getting a good night’s sleep is also imperative, she said, since human’s circadian rhythms are thrown off when it’s dark outside for long periods of time. Napping and lying around the house most of the day also throws off a person’s sleep schedule.

“If you’re able to keep that good sleep hygiene and get a good night’s sleep, that will continue to give you a good amount of energy throughout the day, and it’ll ward off any sort of irritability.”

Deutsch-Anzalone advises anyone who is struggling with their mental health to seek professional help.

Cooking for Long Island Veterans holds inaugural 5K at Blydenburgh

The Stony Brook-based nonprofit Cooking for Long Island Veterans held its first 5K race at Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown on Sunday, Oct. 9.

A few dozen runners, including volunteers with Cooking for Long Island Veterans, took to the park’s paths to help raise money for the organization. The goal is to raise funds for expenses and a possible future expansion.

On hand to cheer on the runners were nonprofit founder Rena Sylvester, Suffolk

County Legislator Leslie Kennedy and county Comptroller John Kennedy.

Keith Masso, upper center photo, was the overall winner of the race, and Alison Briggs, upper right photo, was the first woman over the finishing line.

For more information about Cooking for Long Island Veterans and upcoming events, visit cooking4livets.com.

Patriot pride on display at homecoming

Patriot pride was on display at Ward Melville High School’s homecoming on Oct. 8.

The festivities began on Oct. 7 in the afternoon when Ward Melville students gathered for a pep rally ahead of the big game. The excitement carried over into the weekend and the high school grounds became a sea of green and gold as students, staff and community members came together for the annual homecoming carnival.

Before the Patriots took the field for kick off, each of the district’s elementary schools paraded into the stadium holding their banners

proudly, which followed the theme, “A New Beginning.” At halftime, it was announced that Minnesauke Elementary School won the banner contest. The halftime celebrations also included performances from the marching band and cheerleading team.

To cap off the day, the Ward Melville Patriots came out victorious against the Riverhead Blue Waves with a final score of 48-0. The event brought the Three Village community together for a well-celebrated homecoming.

—Photos from Three Village Central School District

Patriots prevail over Raiders

BY BILL LANDON DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM

After a scoreless first half, Ward Melville sophomore Peyton Phillips broke the ice for the Patriots when her shot rocked the box at the 6:46 mark of the third quarter that put her team out front in a home game against PatchogueMedford Oct. 11.

It was Julia Rotoli’s stick that added the insurance goal courtesy of a Phillips assist to give the Patriots a 2-0 lead to close out the third quarter.

Ward Melville’s relentless defensive pressure shut down the Raider offense in the final quarter for a 2-0 victory in the Division 1 matchup. The win lifts the Patriots to 11-1 for second place, one game behind division leader Northport.

Ward Melville goalie Maggie Padavan had a quiet day protecting the box with one save where the Patriot keepers have allowed only eight goals this season.

With two games remaining before post season play begins, Ward Melville retakes the field Oct. 14 when they host Walt Whitman. Game time is 4:15 p.m.

Pictured clockwise from above, Ward Melville junior Grace Mulham’s shot on goal; Patriots senior co-captain Ray Pernicone clears the ball; sophomore Ava Folkman pushes up the sideline: Ward Melville sophomore Peyton Phillips maneuvers past a defender; and Patriots sophomore Peyton Phillips pushes upfield.

— Photos by Bill Landon

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Editorial

Say ‘no’ to nuclear energy, Long Island

The nuclear industry will see major growth thanks to the recently passed Inflation Reduction Act, and Long Island communities must again resist calls to go nuclear.

Among other incentives, the new federal law gives tax credits to utility companies that invest in new nuclear plants. While this may benefit other places around the country, such as West Virginia’s coal economy, it will do no good for Long Island.

The decommissioned Shoreham Nuclear Power Plant, still standing today, is a living relic of Long Island’s long-standing opposition to nuclear power. At the time of its construction, the plant saw intense local resistance for various reasons.

While efforts to oppose Shoreham proved successful, we know that bad ideas die hard. While nuclear energy sees a renaissance nationwide, let us remember why we are a nuclear-free zone.

Anyone driving on the LIE at rush hour understands the glaring logistical hurdles of evacuating Long Island during a potential nuclear meltdown. It can take hours to get off the Island on any given day of the week. Our mass transit network is outdated and already incapable of supporting this overdeveloped and highly congested regional economy.

In an age of more frequent and intense hurricanes, a nuclear meltdown appears ever more plausible. Swift and successful evacuation seems unlikely, if not impossible. For these reasons, adding nuclear infrastructure would be an existential threat to the health and safety of Long Island residents.

Properly treating and disposing of radioactive material remains an unsettled science. Ridding ourselves of this toxic waste would put a greater strain on our already cluttered roads, highways, tunnels and bridges, further complicating evacuation efforts.

Finally, while we acknowledge that nuclear energy vastly outperforms wind and solar technologies, we should continue exploring these cleaner, safer alternatives. We should limit our carbon footprint and reduce fossil fuel consumption where possible, but we should do so responsibly. Reintroducing nuclear power to Long Island merely swaps one environmental hazard for another, endangering our citizens needlessly.

The apparent ties between our electric service provider and the nuclear industry should give Long Islanders unease, especially since the Long Island Power Authority maintains an 18% stake in the Oswego-based Nine Mile Point Nuclear Station.

History tells us that powerful and monied interests may try to score a quick profit, even at the expense of ordinary folk. In time, some here on Long Island may seek to use the newly available nuclear energy subsidies. We must not let them.

Long Island has never been — and never will be — a safe venue for nuclear energy. We must remember the example of Shoreham, how generations of Long Islanders have fought to keep our island nuclear free. Let us continue their work.

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Letters to the editor

Bro okhaven’s undemocratic redistri cting process

The Town of Brookhaven’s redistricting process was one of the most undemocratic processes that has ever unfolded on our soil. As the beacon of democracy to the entire world, our processes from local to national are supposed to be the gold standard of the values of democratized processes.

Unfortunately, the broken status quo of Brookhaven Town once again reared its ugly head in the name of protecting vulnerable town councilmember, Michael Loguercio [R-Ridge]. Let’s put this aside for a moment and discuss how the process unfolded.

Public meetings were clustered in the late summer months in a deceptive manner so that few residents knew of the meetings, dates or times. To add insult to injury, these meetings were held when most Brookhaven residents were on vacation with their families. The maps that were provided to residents were mere blobs of color with no legible town lines, street lines, election districts or any other markers. How can anyone properly analyze lines without these markers? Even after people protested at Town Hall, the latest map was released a few days before the Sept. 29 Town Board special meeting where a 7-0 vote ratified it.

How can Brookhaven Town’s elected officials possibly stand on a soapbox and pontificate how this process was in any way, shape or form fair to the people of this township, let alone the values that created the longest-lasting democracy in global history? In my capacity on the board of education of the South Country Central School District in East Patchogue, I advocate relentlessly for the democratic process, and our educators teach our students the value of democracy’s voting process.

Anyone who is honest with themselves and considers themselves a steward of the values of American democracy knows Brookhaven Town’s redistricting process made a three-card Monte table look like a church bake sale in comparison.

And what was the point of this secretive process? To push nearly all of the town of Ridge into Council District 4 to give Loguercio better reelection chances as his margin of victory in 2019 was a mere 816 votes [6,477-5,661].

Faith in America’s institutions is at the lowest point in our history, and our local government has reinforced this fact in the name of a partisan shell game to protect their weakest elected official. With a 6-1 supermajority, the Brookhaven GOP did not have to throw the democratic process out the window to protect their power. They chose to do so. The people won’t stand for it. Not with so much at stake for our country’s democratic norms.

Cameron J. Trent Bellport

Less time worrying about gerrymandering

In a recent letter to the editor [Sept. 29], we are informed by Mr. Anthony R. Portesy, who is the chairman of the Brookhaven Town Democratic Committee, that “democracy is only one generation away from extinction.” Not only that, but we are assured by Mr. Portesy that this assertion is without hyperbole. Certainly that is interesting, and even remarkable, coming as it does from a Democratic politician. But what may be the cause of this unstoppable calamity? MAGA voters? Mandatory voter ID? Unfettered capitalism? Global warming? No, none of the above. As it turns out, the extinction of democracy will be attributable to Republican gerrymandering.

Mr. Portesy, as a card-carrying member of the Democratic Party, may well be expected to have considerable expertise in the fine points of gerrymandering, which is the manipulation of the boundaries of electoral districts to provide an unfair advantage to a particular political party. Unfortunately, gerrymandering has been with us since the founding of the United States, and has been practiced by both parties during that time.

But nowhere has gerrymandering been more widespread, and more effective, than in the Jim Crow days of Reconstruction, as practiced and refined by the Southern Democrats. The basic technique at that time was to shape a very small number of districts to contain as many Black — not the term in use at that time — voters, most of whom voted Republican, as possible. This left the remaining districts with a large proportion of white voters, the vast majority of whom voted for the Democrats, and assured that they would prevail in almost all elections This worked quite well for the Democrats and allowed them to maintain their policies of segregation until the 1960s, until the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 brought a virtual end to the era of segregation.

With regard to the present redistricting issues in Brookhaven, it is unclear whether the proposed changes constitute “gerrymandering” or not. But it is very clear that, in the 246-year history of these great United States, gerrymandering has been with us every step of the way, and has not yet led to the extinction of democracy.

For those who are concerned about this possibility, I suggest they spend more time looking into those who seek to weaponize the FBI and IRS to persecute law-abiding citizens, to sabotage our Bill of Rights, to end our energy independence, to open the borders of our sovereign nation and to destroy our public schools — and to spend less time worrying about gerrymandering.

George Altemose Setauket

MAGA

MAGA: An acronym of Make America Great Again. That’s exactly what it stands for. Not at all as described in the letter to the editor, “The anti-democratic MAGA movement,” by Adam D. Fisher appearing on Sept. 15.

The writer criticized a Sept. 8 letter by Susan Kerr, “Biden fails at uniting nation,” as being “wrongheaded” when, in fact, our “divider-in-chief,” President Joe Biden [D], gave an extremely divisive speech in Philadelphia. And he pledged to unite the nation? The “Adolf-style” mood which his enablers presented was felt by any American with common sense — Republican, Democrat or Independent, who saw through his smoke and mirrors speech.

Someone who would view that speech as anything but purposefully being of a divisive nature is the personification of the disinformation fed to gullible people by the correctly named “fake news” media. It’s a media which doesn’t cover the facts, but instead covers them up with misinformation to promote their well-paid-for agenda. And that is part and parcel of the “woke virus” which is permeating our country and, as a result, people actually believe the nonsense spoken by our “puppet-in-chief” figurehead in the White House.

Mr. Fisher’s statement of “trying to bully state officials into falsifying the vote” is one which is actually “wrongheaded.” The “big lie” to which he implies actually refers to the fact that we have an elected president. Myself, as well as at least 74 million “ultra-MAGAs” (“deplorables” a la Hillary Clinton [D]) who adhere to what’s written in our Constitution, and who legally voted in the last presidential election, believe that the results which were wrongly certified were based on rampant fraud and corruption in several states. View a film entitled “2000 Mules” if you have any doubts, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Mr. Fisher also mentions “MAGA militias” — a most ridiculous term — as being “reminiscent of the Brown Shirts of the early 1930s in Germany.” What he neglects to mention is the real “clear danger to democracy” which is the political weaponizing of the FBI and the DOJ (Department Of “JustUs”) by the party in power into engaging in criminal activity against a political opponent. Obviously, the writer decides to ignore real news such as special counsel John Durham’s uncovering of the FBI’s paying of a Russian operative for disinformation.

Mr. Fisher’s last statement mentions the Republican Party. That entire statement would be true as pertaining to the so-called Democratic Party. Typical of how leftists shift the blame. He mentions the media’s big lie regarding “instigating an insurrection,” when at least half — probably most —of Americans believe the “insurrection” happened on Nov. 3, 2020. That is what is “anti-democratic;” not a “MAGA movement” as he decries.

Art Billadello East Setauket

The welcome words of a Madonna song at a weekend wedding

Ihave

never been as happy to hear a Madonna song as I was this weekend.

Let me back up. My family and I attended our second familial wedding of the last three months. This one was a destination wedding in Ithaca, New York.

Stepping out of the rental car at the hotel on campus, I realized I wasn’t in Kansas anymore, as shorts, a T-shirt and a sweatshirt weren’t sufficient for the cooler upstate air.

$7.50 I’ve ever spent at a wedding.

With the wedding in the hotel, we only had to push an elevator button to get to the correct floor.

The bride and groom exchanged vows that they hadn’t previously shared with each other. Not too surprisingly after dating for close to a decade, the vows included many of the same references to things they each enjoyed about their time together, including dancing in the kitchen while making dinners, watching TV shows together during college, and running to the clock tower and back.

suggested.

“Hmm, well,” the groom continued, “thanks so much for coming. I appreciate it.”

“My mom said my grandparents would have wanted us to come, so we came,” the unfiltered young man added.

Fortunately, neither of them could hear me inhale sharply.

Listening to the toasts and comments from the parents of the bride and groom, each side seemed to think the new member of the family would help soothe their partner. Perhaps, that says something about the way the bride and groom interact with their parents?

dance floor once the music started. My wife, children and I love to dance, with each of us smiling and shimmying as we jump, sway and sing the lyrics of the music. Somehow, our daughter knows the words to just about every song at most of these events, singing and shouting them to her cousin’s girlfriend, who has the same encyclopedic knowledge of modern music. I chime in with the chorus, while our son glides around, often with his arms in the air.

D. None of the above

BY DANIEL DUNAIEF

In the hours before the ceremony on Saturday, my son, brother-in-law, his grown sons and I threw a tiny gift shop Nerf ball around on the baseball field, while surrounded by a visual collage of multi-colored foliage. That tiny football was probably the best

took

During the cocktail hour, I excused myself from my social circle to go to the bathroom, where I overheard the first of two unusual restroom conversations. The groom and his young cousin were chatting.

“You know the secret to a successful marriage?” the young man asked, eager to share the accelerated wisdom he’d accrued during his short life.

“What’s that?” the groom asked gamely.

“Separate vacations,” the sage young man

After dinner and before the music started, I returned to the restroom. This time, a man was standing at the sink, washing his hands.

“Out of respect for the gentleman who just walked in, I’m going to end our conversation about poop,” he said to a friend in the stall.

“Oh, uh, I’ll be leaving soon,” I offered, not wanting to interrupt.

“It’s okay,” he added. “We were done.”

Returning to the ballroom, I raced to the

And here’s where Madonna came in. After bending my knees and swaying to numerous rap songs I had never heard before, I was thrilled to hear the familiar intro to a Madonna hit.

Buoyed by throwback sounds from an earlier decade, I threw myself around the floor, crooning for all I was worth.

When the rap songs returned, I scanned the floor and saw the bride, groom and their friends sharing their euphoria for the moment and for their familiar music. While Frank Sinatra never made an appearance, the happy couple were clearly doing it their way.

and believe the drug shortened my recovery from COVID

Thismessage is for older people who are reading this column and may get COVID-19. The information may save your life. It may have saved mine.

Especially for older people, COVID is a deadly virus. What defines older? Let’s say, beyond 50. Now there is a medicine that dramatically reduces severity and possible death from this virus, but many Americans are not taking it. Its name is Paxlovid.

Center, when interviewed by The New York Times.

Both random trials and data from electronic health records have shown this medicine to be effective, particularly among older patients. The medicine works by inhibiting the virus’s replication once it invades the body. Its underuse is already associated with thousands of preventable deaths, according to Dr. Robert Wachter, chair of the medicine department at the University of California, San Francisco.

fruit containing fiber and some essential vitamins and minerals.

Another possible reason is the association of Paxlovid with “rebound,” a second session of the disease which can occur a week to a month after the end of the first round. Experts don’t know what causes the rebound. A rebound is possible even if the patient never used Paxlovid. And even if he or she did, perhaps a longer duration of the drug is necessary for some patients than the five days currently administered.

‘COVID fatigue.’ COVID is clearly less lethal now than during prior surges, thanks in large part to vaccinations, but it still causes some hospitalizations. Those at highest risk of severe disease, particularly those who are unvaccinated, benefit from antiviral treatment if they are infected.”

“A large chunk of deaths are preventable right now with Paxlovid alone,” Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House COVID response coordinator told David Leonhardt of The New York Times. He predicted that if every American 50 and above with COVID received a course of either Paxlovid or monoclonal antibodies, daily deaths might fall to about 50 per day, from about 400 per day.

So why aren’t people taking the medicine?

Research has shown that out of sample of 568,000 patients, 0.016% over 50 who used Paxlovid died. For a similar cohort of patients who did not use the drug, the death rate was four times higher or 0.070. But only 25% of patients eligible to receive the drug actually took it, even though it is available and free.

BY LEAH S. DUNAIEF

“Never really in recent history for a respiratory virus can I think of an anti-viral medication being as effective, demonstrated in scientific literature, as what Paxlovid has shown,” stated Dr. Rebecca Wang, an infectious disease specialist at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical

For one reason, Paxlovid, which is taken twice a day for five days, does leave a metallic taste in the mouth. So I found that by eating half a banana after each dose, I got rid of the unwelcome taste. I also got the benefit of a banana a day, which is a healthy and nutritious

BEACON RECORD

NEWS MEDIA

Thanks to my son, Daniel Dunaief, who has spoken with two infectious disease experts, we also have some local reaction to the drug. Dr. Andrew Handel, pediatric infectious disease physician at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, commented, “Hesitancy to take Paxlovid seems to fall in line with the general

Dr. David Galinkin, infectious disease expert at St. Charles Hospital, said, “The media has overblown this rebound experience. In the literature, about 10% of cases [have a rebound.] Like any other medication, people that could really benefit from Paxlovid [should consider it.] … We are still seeing people dying from this.” Perhaps more doctors could be better informed about this drug. Additional information and encouragement are needed from the White House, and a lot more public announcements should be placed in the media to reach people. As has been the case throughout these last two-and-one-half COVID years, instructions have been changing, adjusted as the scientific and medical professions learn more about this pathogen. Proper treatment is still a work in progress.

Bringing the community together in the ght against breast cancer

1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime.*

Screening tests can nd cancer early when chances for survival are highest.

Know your risk

- Talk to your family to learn about your family health history

- Talk to a doctor about your risk of breast cancer

Get screened

- Talk with a doctor about which screening tests are right for you if you are at higher risk or have dense breasts

- Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 if you are at average risk

- Have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at age 20, and every year starting at age 40**

If you are uninsured or underinsured, resources are available for free or discounted screening through the Suffolk County Cancer Services Program. Call (631) 548-6320. paintportpink.org

Know what is normal for you

See a doctor if you notice any of these breast changes:**

- Lump, hard knot or thickening inside the breast or underarm area

- Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast

- Change in the size or shape of the breast

- Dimpling or puckering of the skin

- Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple

- Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast

- Nipple discharge that starts suddenly

- New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away

Make healthy lifestyle choices

- Maintain a healthy weight with a nutritious diet

- Get moving with regular physical activity

- Limit or avoid alcohol – no more than one drink per day for women

* American Cancer Society

* * Susan G. Komen