PT031909

The Port TIMES RECORD PORT JEFFERSON • BELLE TERRE • PORT JEFFERSON STATION • TERRYVILLE

Volume 22, No. 15

March 19, 2009

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Photos by D. Willinger

Above: Debbie Hoey, a server at the Higgins family’s Tara Inn in Port Jefferson, was busy Saint Patrick’s Day bringing plates of corned beef and cabbage to diners. The price of a plate was 1¢, as advertised outside the landmark Irish pub on upper Main Street. Below: An appropriately clad clientele watched the New York City St. Patrick’s Day Parade while toasting the Emerald Isle.

Real Irish hospitality packs Port Jeff pub St. Patty’s Day Two more candidates to enter PJ village race Kessel, Snyder would seek trustee seat

BY DAVE WILLINGER dave_w@tbrnewspapers.com

A pair of first-time office seekers last week announced their intent to run for village trustee in the June elections in Port Jefferson.

Leslea Snyder, Public Policy and Government Affairs Manager for Forest Laboratories, and Adrienne Kessel, an interior designer who coowns her own Port Jeffersonbased firm, Kessel & Seppala; coincidentally both worked

for Sen. Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson), but each arrived at her decision, and is running, independently.

Kessel, 64, a mother and grandmother, has been a resident for 15 years. She worked at Village Hall from 1994 until 2000 in the capacity of deputy treasurer and deputy clerk. Kessel was appointed village clerk in December 1999, but left after one month to assist LaValle in his Long Continued on page A10

Stony Brook Sportsweek

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PAGE A2 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

VILLAGE OF PORT JEFFERSON

BUYING

Department of Recreation and Parks EVENTS at the VILLAGE CENTER Hip Hop demonstration Presented by A & G Dance Company on Saturday, March 28, at 11 am.

• “Night at the Copa” An evening of song and splendor. Friday, April 3. Presented by St. George Productions and sponsored by Mario’s restaurant, the PJ Conservancy and the PJ Recreation Dept. Seating is limited so get your tickets early. Call 802-2160 for information.

• Antiques & Garden Weekend April 24 - 26 Trips: • Backstage Tour of the Met & 2 short operas Thursday, March 26 • Andre Rieu in Bridgeport April 24 (ferry trip details TBA) Tickets on sale now New! Looking for senior (60+) softball players Contact Ron Middleton at 698-5267 or at ruann@aol.com RESIDENT-ONLY SPRING YOUTH PROGRAMS Look on www. portjeff.com for registration forms for girls’ softball, boys’ baseball, coed T-ball, coach-pitch baseball, lacrosse and tennis. Forms will be posted as start dates are finalized. Call the Recreation Office for information.

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• Fencing March 16. Contact LIFFES for information at 642-8081 • Tai chi March 23 • Intermediate yoga March 30 • Country line dancing April 7 • Latin ballroom dancing April 22 • Dance for kids (Coed ages 3 to 8) new dates TBA • Hip hop for adults new dates TBA • Zumba fitness classes TBA ICE SKATING now open! Located at the Village Center outdoor rink in Harborfront Park.

• Public skating, private lessons. Call 403-4357 or visit www.portjeffrink.com. Managed by Rinx at Hidden Pond Park.

EXHIBITS & SPECIAL EVENTS AT THE VILLAGE CENTER • “Close to Home” Paintings by local artist Louise Brett will be on display through March.

• Visit the Children’s Maritime Museum on the first floor of the Village Center; many exciting events and programs. See www.childrensmaritimemuseum.org for schedule and program information.

VILLAGE CENTER ROOM RENTALS

• Unique rooms with harbor views available for corporate and private functions.

Free Wireless Internet access is provided at the Village Center, through a partnership with the Port Jefferson Free Library.

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The first Direct Deposit must be posted within 90 calendar days of account opening. The reward/premium will be mailed to the address on your new account within 2 – 3 weeks after the initial direct deposit. Account is subject to approval. Reward is considered interest and will be reported on IRS Form 1099-INT. Offer not available on account conversions or in combination with any other offer. Business checking accounts are not eligible for this offer. **A Bethpage Federal Credit Union Share account with $5 minimum balance is required before a checking account can be opened. Better Benefit Checking: Annual Percent Yield (APY) of 2.00% is effective 3/3/09 and is subject to change without notice. For rates visit the Bethpage website at www.bethpagefcu.com or speak with a Bethpage representative. There is no minimum balance required to open a Better Benefit Checking account. There is a $3 monthly fee for this account. †Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or regularly conducts business in Nassau or Suffolk counties (with the exception of Southampton, East Hampton and Shelter Island). Share Account with $5 minimum balance required.

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The Long Island Blood Services will hold a blood drive at the Port Jefferson Village Center on East Broadway Friday, March 27, from 2 to 7:30 pm.

FILM: Autism Every Day

Photo by D. Willinger

The renovated halfway house at the Port Jefferson Country Club at Harbor Hills boasts a commercial grill for hot lunches.

Halfway house has CO

The week in meetings

Renovations to PJ Country Club facility complete but bills remain

BY DAVE WILLINGER dave_w@tbrnewspapers.com

The halfway house at the Port Jefferson Country Club at Harbor Hills will open with the 2009 golfing season.

In an email yesterday, Filomena Lombardi said, “We have received the CO [certificate of occupancy] from the Village and the halfway house will be open as agreed upon.”

In the meantime, village officials are still trying to figure out how to complete payments to at least two contractors involved in the project.

A document referred to in last week’s story about the costs of those renovations (“Halfway house of horrors,” March 12) was made available to the Port Times Record by Village Trustee Carmine Dell Aquila, who describes said document as an “altered invoice.” Dell Aquila said he does not suspect Kito Nursery of having done the altering, because the company’s owner, Ben Kito, had presented Dell Aquila with the unaltered version several weeks ago, when seeking the balance of $10,000 owed to his company for the “landscaping of pro shop/clubhouse area.”

The so-called “altered” document bears the handwritten addition of an item No. 5 in the amount of

The Greater Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council presents Monday, April 6 at 7 pm the documentary “Autism Every Day” at Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson. Admission is free. In addition to the film screening, there will be guest speakers Carol and Eric Solomon, (producers and editor) and Michele and Ralph Iallonardi, parents of the child with autism in the film.

The movie is presented as part of the Arts Council’s Documentary Film Series.

For information about this very special event, please log on to www.gpjac.org or call 473-5220 during business hours.

almost $10,000. Dell Aquila theorizes that an unknown person may have been planning to bring that version to the attention of the Village Board at a later date in order to request that additional sum be paid.

If that happened, Kito Nursery would receive the balance of the money owed it — almost, the amount is shy $50 — without ever necessarily realizing its bill had been doctored. Meanwhile, $10,000 above and beyond the stated invoice would have been disbursed, so the theory goes.

It is certainly not clear, however, given the full accounting of the halfway house renovations — some 100 pages of photocopies of invoices and cancelled checks — that such supposed subterfuge could have succeeded.

Village Treasurer Don Pearce yesterday said of the accounting, prepared by Filomena Lombardi, “It appears to be complete.” According to that accounting, Lombardi’s spent at least $300,000 of its own money on the halfway house. In addition, the village has authorized the disbursement to date of $56,900 from a trust and agency fund established as part of the original licensing agreement between Lombardi’s and the Village. That account was funded by Lombardi’s itself with two payments of $100,000 Continued on page A9

The Port Jefferson Village Board will hold a business meeting Monday, March 23, at 7 pm at Village Hall on West Broadway.

Correction, clarification In the story “Halfway house of horrors” (March 19), we incorrectly reported the name of the company whose invoice, in the opinion of Village Trustee Carmine Dell Aquila, had been altered. That firm is Kito Nursery Inc. In a subsequent interview with Dell Aquila, the trustee said he never suspected Kito Nursery of having altered the invoice, because the company’s owner, Ben Kito, had presented Dell Aquila with an unaltered copy several weeks ago, when seeking the balance of $10,000 owed for the “landscaping of pro shop/clubhouse area,” part of the overall renovation of the halfway house at the golf course at the Port Jefferson Country Club at Harbor Hills.

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MARCH 19, 2009 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A3

Got time to bleed?

PAGE A4 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

A Legacy of Trust

For ten generations , the Bryant family has dedicated them selves to their North Shore communities.

Their deep commitment to the people of Long Island is one of service, professiona ism and trust. lArt Bryant grew up in Setauket and imag ined becoming a funeral director as a way to help serve hi s neighbors and the community he was proud of.

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Lesko: Town needs strong supervisor; Mazzei: Town Board is where power belongs, wouldn’t reverse moves

BY LEE LUTZ leelutz@tbrnewspapers.com

The chill in the room was palpable last week as Brookhaven Town supervisor candidates Tim Mazzei and Mark Lesko sat down for an almost two-hour face-to-face debate. Neither offered to shake the other’s hand, either when they arrived at the TBR newspaper office nor at the conclusion of their verbal jousting.

Lesko, a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York until he resigned to make his first run for public office, stressed his experience in leading the Long Island office for many years, overseeing “hundreds of attorneys” and staff, and prosecuting many cases. He specifically mentioned a few high-profile prosecutions, including the Lawrence Aviation pollution and fraud case in Port Jefferson, and the asphalt cartel corruption case that reached directly into Brookhaven Town.

Mazzei, the current Brookhaven Town councilman from the 5th District, spoke of his roots in Blue Point, where he attended school, and later served on the school board prior to his appointment and subsequent election to his council seat, and his experience as a prosecutor in the Suffolk County district attorney’s office. Mazzei ultimately served as head of the district attorney’s homicide bureau and helped prosecute the high-profile Pius and Solomon murder cases. He maintains a law practice in Blue

Point and owns a restaurant.

First addressing Brookhaven’s fiscal health in the current recession, Mazzei pointed to cuts in spending already implemented by the town council and suggested “another 5 percent cut” could be in the offing. He said he was working closely with the town’s Division of Waste Management, looking to maximize planned revenues and seeking new ones.

His opponent, Mark Lesko, said, “We need a strong chief financial officer, a supervisor determining what cuts to make.”

Lesko criticized the “$10 million increase in spending” in 2008 that he blames on the Town Board’s Republican majority, led by Mazzei. Lesko also criticized Mazzei for the plan enacted last month to reopen the Brookhaven amphitheater on Bald Hill in Farmingville, stating it could cost taxpayers half a million dollars.

“The amphitheater has never been closed,” Mazzei responded to the claim that it is being reopened, explaining that changes in plans for using the venue this year eliminated town-funded shows. “At worst,” he said, “we expect to break even.”

Mazzei also said he “voted against [former Supervisor Brian] Foley’s spending increases twice” in 2006 and 2007.

Mazzei said he had met with waste management March 12, and “projections look okay” for revenues in 2009. “‘We should be okay’ is not good

The PORT TIMES 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 $35 annually. Leah S. Dunaief, Publisher. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to PO Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733.

Store Fronts

Photos by Joe Darrow

Brookhaven Town Supervisor candidates Mark Lesko, above left, and Tim Mazzei barely looked at one another during the two hours they sparred in The Port Times Record office.

enough,” Lesko retorted. He said acting supervisor Lori Baldassare complained she was unable to get figures at the landfill from the commissioner hired by Mazzei.

For his part, Mazzei said Commissioner Ed Hubbard “updates the supervisor’s office every month.”

Asked if the 10 year contract with Brookhaven’s labor unions, signed in 2001 prior to Mazzei’s tenure on the board, was a mistake, locking the township into raises and benefits untenable in the failing economy, the councilman said, “I would consider renegotiations at this point.” Mazzei said he has had “extremely preliminary talks” with union leaders that have been “positive.”

Calling the 10-year agreement the lon-

gest on Long Island, Lesko said he too has had preliminary discussions with the unions. “They understand reality,” Lesko said. “It’s a good sign that the union is being realistic.” He called the unions representing Brookhaven’s white collar and blue collar employees and Highway Department staff the town’s “most important partner.”

Both candidates refuted allegations of negative campaigning, and both accused the other of doing so. Lesko said his has been a “fact-based campaign.”

Mazzei said negative campaigning has “not been on my side, all my mailings are positive.” Actions on “the other side speak

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MARCH 19, 2009 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A5

Mazzei and Lesko differ on issues, style, direction

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PAGE A6 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

SBU Journalism School hosts national conference on efforts to create savvy media consumers CBS News, moderated one of the panel discussions during the three-day con“We must train the next generation ference.

Schneider said a “tsunami of inforof news consumers,” said Howard Schneider, dean of the Stony Brook Univer- mation” from traditional outlets such sity School of Journalism. “They have as newspapers and network news proto judge the credibility and reliability grams and newer sources like the Interof information,” he added, and such net and 24-hour cable news networks is judgement is “crucial” to the future of “blurring the line” between news, press releases, public relations, blogs and our democracy.

Schneider has been an advocate for Tweets. Without the ability to differennews literacy for everyone — not just tiate between reliable and questionable journalism students — since being sources and stories, the public will be hamstrung in its ability to named SBU’s first J school make informed choices, he dean in May of 2006. argues. Schneider said the Toward that end, and SBU’s School of goals for the conference demonstrating an influwere to “share what we’ve ence unusual for a school Journalism is so young, SBU’s School of ‘certainly one of if learned, create a community of interest, and plan how Journalism hosted a news literacy conference at the not the key leader to move forward.”

“The news media is the Wang Center last week, in driving this underwritten by the Ford movement across largest continuing education institution in the Foundation and attractworld,” Schneider said, but ing heavy hitters in print the country.’ and electronic journalism.

— DEAN HOWARD warned that without trainSpeakers included Arthur SCHNEIDER ing in the critical consideration of news, citizens may Sulzberger Jr., publisher of be unable to discern the The New York Times, and panelists included former Nightline facts from the hype.

Over 3,000 undergraduates at SBU, host Ted Koppel, now a senior news analyst for National Public Radio; Viv- not just journalism students, have alian Schiller, president and CEO of NPR; ready taken the news literacy course at the presidents of Syracuse and Louisi- the university, Schneider said. He reana State universities and the chancel- ported that over 120 people attended lor of the University of Missouri. An- last week’s inaugural news literacy condrew Heyward, the former president of ference, some coming from as far as

BY LEE LUTZ

leelutz@tbrnewspapers.com

File photo

Journalism School Dean Howard Schneider has been a proponent of teaching the science of critical information analysis since being appointed in June 2006.

Florida and California — and Bhutan, high in the Himalayas between India and Tibet. Siok Sian Pek-Dorji, executive director of the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy and herself a writer and documentary fi lm producer, presented a “Report From The Front” to the conference participants on Friday.

Schneider said this week that Syracuse and LSU will begin news literacy programs of their own. Also — in what he described as a “proposal only” at this point, and still in need of a funding source — SBU would train 50 to 100 out-of-work journalists to teach news literacy at 25 or more universi-

ties across the country. In addition, Schneider said, the Ford Foundation has underwritten a two-week course in news literacy for high school teachers this summer at SBU. “On the whole,” said Schneider, “we are very pleased with the results” of last week’s conference. He said his J school is “certainly one of if not the key leader in driving this movement across the country.”

Support for the conference was also provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the McCormick Foundation, as well as Stony Brook University.

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MARCH 19, 2009 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A7

Dean says news literacy is critical to democracy

PAGE A8 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

INCORPORATED VILLAGE OF PORT JEFFERSON 2009 SPRING BRANCH PROGRAM

SWEEPER PROGRAM

1. Mid-Town: April 6 - April 10 E/S Main St. to W/S Belle Terre Rd.

2. West Side: April 13 - April 24 From Setauket line to W/S of Main St.

3. East Side: April 27 - May 8 E/S Belle Terre Rd. to E/S Village Boundary

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• We will not be picking up leaves in the spring. Do not rake leaves into the curb. Please make arrangements with your carter regarding leaf bag pick-up.

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APRIL 13TH THROUGH APRIL 17TH Middle of town (all roads in between Belle Terre Rd. and Main Street) following the branch schedule cleanup.

APRIL 27TH THROUGH MAY 1ST West side (all roads from Main St. west to Village border) following the branch schedule cleanup.

MAY 4TH THROUGH MAY 15TH East side (all roads east of Belle Terre Rd. to Village border) following the branch schedule cleanup.

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Continued from page A3 each in 2004 and 2005, and is intended for capital improvement projects determined by the Village.

At the beginning of the renovations to the halfway house, the fund, which had been used several years ago for repaving the parking lots at the country club, maintained a balance of $62,807, according to Pearce. Of that amount, $56,900 has been disbursed to date by Village Hall for cost overruns on the halfway house, as per the January 2008 amendment to the licensing agreement. The current remaining balance of $5,907 is therefore $4,093 below the amount needed to pay Kito Nursery the $10,000 still owed the company for the landscaping work it did.

Ben Kito of Kito’s Nursery said this week he had still been working on the landscaping project last August when his company received a check for $10,000 from Lombardi’s, something Kito characterized as a “progress payment” which, he said, was “fairly typical” in the trade.

However, Filomena Lombardi wrote in an email Wednesday, “… Kito Nursery was not hired by Lombardi Caterers, they were contracted directly by the Village. The Village issued a check to Lombardi Caterers and in turn a check was issued to Kito Nursery on their behalf for the full amount requested. We are unaware of any balance due or any requests to issue any other checks on their behalf.”

The check issued by the village was in the amount of $23,000 on Aug. 14, 2008. Four days later, Lombardi’s issued two checks totaling that amount:

the $10,000 payment to Kito Nursery and a $13,000 payment to Opus Builders, a carpenter, who is another contractor still waiting to be paid for work done on the halfway house. Village Clerk Bob Juliano said yesterday that Opus had submitted bills to the village, including one in the amount of $7,000, Juliano recalled.

MARCH 19, 2009 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A9

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The so-called altered document is printed on Kito Nursery Inc. letterhead and titled ‘Proposal for landscaping of pro shop at Port Jefferson Country Club.’

It is dated July 15, 2008, and breaks the project into four parts, listing total cost at $20,000.

Below that figure a fifth item, the ‘altered’ part, is handwritten: ‘Pavers in areas indicated on plan’ with an arrow pointing to the amount ‘$9,950.00,’ also handwritten. The document bears neither the signature of the client nor of a Kito Nursery representative.

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Continued from page A1 Island district office. Kessel said she has experience in budget development and implementation. “I had a front row seat,” she said, referring to her five years working for the administrations of former mayors Frank Frasca, Bob Strong and Jeanne Garant.

Kessel said she is running because of the many problems facing the village, and called it part of her “civic duty.” “You have to be there to do some good,” Kessel said. “I have no personal agenda.”

Kessel wants to see the stalled up-

town revitalization process move forward. Given the uncertainties around the repowering of the National Grid plant, Kessel believes the village should “look down the road” and begin preparing a better tax base for the next generation, in particular in the Marine Waterfront and uptown commercial districts, all while holding on to the present quality of life.

“The trustee position is a trust. If you’re elected to serve, your obligation is to serve all residents,” she said. “You have to trust your own judgment. That vote is important. It impacts a lot of lives. … I have the time and am conContinued on page A17

©84756

PAGE A10 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

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MARCH 19, 2009 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A11

PAGE A12 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

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describing the changes as “pure partisanship.”

The two disagreed vehemently on the current role of the supervisor’s office in personnel moves.

“Oversight is critical,” said Lesko. “The chief financial officer is now removed from that equation. … Personnel is not under the supervisor.”

“Personnel and purchasing are under the supervisor,” Mazzei said. But, he added, “Commissioners hire and fire, not the supervisor.”

The special election is on March 31. Polls will be open from 6 am to 9 pm. The supervisor’s post will once again be contested in November no matter who wins in March.

Photo by D. Willinger

Whose name will be stencilled beneath the title ‘Supervisor’ on town signs around Brookhaven come April? You decide.

-PROUDIt’s kind of hard to find too many things to get excited about these days. Everything is pretty tough both business-wise and personally for lots of people in our community and around the world. Of course, it would be nice if the media would stop pounding everyone over the head with negative news over and over again. It’s becoming a selffulfilling prophecy. But we felt pretty good the other day when, after announcing some pretty tough financial results for the end of the year, Ford still sees no need to ask for government loans. In fact the CEO of Ford Motor Company said “Right now, I think with everything planned in the fiscal and monetary policy, I am very comfortable that we are going to start to turn things around through the second half of the year.” This doesn’t mean that Ford isn’t using lines of credit. But they have done it the old-fashioned way; they went out to banks and found financing. Ford is doing it! Ford is finding a way to make it through these hard times. This is the type of auto manufacturer that wants people to feel confident when buying one of their products.

With all that being said, Ford is putting out GREAT vehicles! Our new Ford vehicles are safe (more top safety-rated vehicles than any other manufacturer), high quality (now in a virtual tie with Toyota and Honda), good looking and fun to drive. In fact, Ford GAINED market share in the last three months of 2008. And there’s a lot more coming soon! Ford has said that, despite the economic challenges out there, they’re not pulling back on the most important thing of all; product.

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Continued from page A3 for themselves.” The councilman singled out a mailing in which his opponent claimed Mazzei used excessive amounts of gasoline in his town-owned vehicle and purchased the gas using a town credit card instead of filling up for less at town pumps.

Mazzei said his gas consumption amounted to 13 gallons per week, hardly excessive in a town the size of Brookhaven. He said town-issued vehicles are appropriate for elected officials who spend so many nights and weekends attending office-related functions.

Lesko said Foley’s “reform agenda” included taking gas cards away from employees driving town cars and only a handful still used them, including Mazzei. Lesko pledged not to use a town vehicle to commute to Town Hall.

Regarding the charge of negative campaigning, Lesko said an unflattering photo of his opponent in a mailing was not “doctored” but in fact was taken from a Republican website. He then accused Mazzei of bringing Mazzei said, if elected back the “old guard” that he would not replace worked at Town Hall under prior Republican susupervisor staff pervisors Felix Grucci and John LaValle. Lesko also positions defunded said asphalt companies are by his majority. contributing to Mazzei’s campaign, some of the same companies Lesko prosecuted for price fixing in Brookhaven.

Lesko claimed it took a Democratic administration to end decades of no-bid insurance contracts that cost taxpayers millions of dollars. Mazzei countered that the reform of the town’s insurance policies actually began under the LaValle administration, headed by former Republican 2nd District Councilman Kevin McCarrick.

“In two years they didn’t get it done,” Lesko said. “In two months Foley got it done.” The Democrat also criticized a mailing in which Mazzei is pictured standing with Suffolk District Attorney Tom Spota. Lesko said the mailing is “misleading” since Spota will not endorse any candidate due to his position.

Mazzei countered that Spota is a former law partner from the 1990s and the two remain friends. “It was done because I want citizens to know I can be trusted,” Mazzei said.

Both candidates indicated their support for preserving open space. Lesko said it must not be funded with taxes and indicated one element of his BIG plan for the town — Brookhaven Initiative for Growth — includes additional monies that would be paid to the town in return for speeding the approval process for development projects.

That revenue would be targeted to parks and open space, Lesko said.

Mazzei said he would endorse a new bond act to provide funding — he pointed out his support for the $100 million bond approved in 2004 for open space preservaLesko said, if elected tion that has now been exhausted — and noted he would govern $10 million remains in effectively in the the town’s adopted capital budget for open space, minority by using intended to be spent over powers inherent in the five years.

“We need a planner to supervisor position. run the planning department,” Lesko said, addressing the vacancy that has existed since early last year when Mazzei’s Town Board majority fired Commissioner David Woods. Lesko said attracting a “national caliber” candidate to the position was a “critical issue.”

“I voted for David Woods,” replied Mazzei, referring to the vote to approve Foley’s appointment in 2006, describing him as a “very good cerebral planner.”

“But,” Mazzei added, “he doesn’t get the train into the station on time,” effectively blaming Woods for delays in processing applications under his leadership. “We have 20 certified planners” on the planning staff. “We need someone to manage the department.”

Asked how he would hope to govern effectively should he be elected, Lesko, who would be in the minority on the Town Board, said he “believes in the power of good ideas.”

Lesko also said “powers inherent in the office of supervisor can be exercised, for example, selecting the lowest responsible bidder for town contracts.”

For his part, Mazzei was asked if he could lead without the extreme partisanship that has marked Brookhaven

government since Foley’s election in 2005.

“I already do that,” he replied. Noting votes he has cast with Foley and the Democratic council members, including the Tall Grass development in Shoreham and the Caithness power plant in Yaphank, “I get along very well.”

He said “97 percent of votes” on the Town Board were 7-0 during the Foley administration.

Lesko decried the “partisan” moves to remove authority from the supervisor’s office, such as the economic development division, the public information office and two citizen advocate positions defunded from Foley’s staff. He called Mazzei’s moves “an obsession that paralyzed town government.”

“Economic development was moved to the Town Board,” Mazzei responded angrily. “Public information to the Town Board. The whole Town Board. No powers have been taken from the supervisor.” Mazzei said if elected to the post he would not reverse the actions and would not replace the supervisor’s staff positions defunded by his Town Board majority.

“For three years under [former Republican supervisor] LaValle he didn’t move those departments,” Lesko argued,

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PAGE A14 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

BY JENNIFER CHOI jenchoi@tbrnewspapers.com

Alternatives For Children, a not-for-profit organization that provides early intervention, day care and therapeutic preschool programs, is celebrating 20 years of service today.

Since the late 1980s, Alternatives For Children has offered programs both for developmentally delayed and typically developing children ages 6 weeks to 6 years, Executive Director Marie Ficano said this week. With locations in East Setauket, Melville, Aquebogue and Southampton, the organization serves over 600 children from across Long Island, about half of whom attend the East Setauket site.

Formerly the St. Charles Educational and Therapeutic Center in Port Jefferson, the East Setauket location opened its doors in January 2004 and serves as the organization’s main facility, Ficano said.

While the day care service is open to the public and funded through private fees, funding for the intervention programs is provided by the county and state. Alternatives For Children provides universal prekindergarten for the Middle Country, Riverhead and Southold school

Photos courtesy of Alternatives For Children

Above, youngsters learn in a classroom setting at Alternatives For Children. Below, a group plays together in the fresh air. Bottom, speech therapy. Bottom left, Executive Director Marie Ficano.

districts, in addition to children from around Long Island, accepted on a case by case basis.

In all instances, officials from a child’s home school district determine eligibility and lesson plans, Ficano said.

In the East Setauket building, there are at least 150 “very dedicated, experienced staff,” she said, including special education teachers, physical therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists, social workers and vision and music therapists. Ficano, who has served as executive director since the organization’s birth, she said, called the work “great” because “you’re making a difference in the lives of children.” A former special education teacher, Ficano said her goal is to “advocate for the children and their families,” adding, “I found my way to St. Charles and haven’t left.”

After 20 years of service, providing quality care for children

Fundraiser tonight at Lombardi’s on the Sound in support of Alternatives For Children.

with special needs remains the primary mission of Alternatives For Children, the executive director said: “We’ve never deviated from our mission.

Even in this economy we’re focused, and this is our mission.”

Offering integrated programs that combine children with and without special needs is also beneficial because it instills a sense of acceptance, she said: “It truly teaches children tolerance for people in the community who are different from them.”

In addition, the programs are designed to address specific needs of every child, according to Ficano, so it’s not a “one size fits all” approach.

Equipped with a library, 20 classrooms and spacious areas for therapy, the new building in East Setauket has been a “luxury,” Ficano said. And while the “peripheral things” have changed over the years, the “absolutely rewarding” experience of helping children remains the same. “The ability to make a difference and see that you’re making a difference is what’s kept me here,” she said.

The secret to the organization’s longevity has been staying true to its mission, Ficano added.

In celebration of their success, the staff and board of trustees of Alternatives For Children are hosting a 20/20 Anniversary Celebration and fundraiser tonight at Lombardi’s on the Sound at the Port Jefferson Country Club in Harbor Hills from 6 to 10 pm. All contributions designated for this event will be allocated toward the organization’s $1.3 million Capital Campaign goal. For information, visit website www. alternativesforchildren.org.

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Continued from page A10 fident I have the f lexibility to do this.”

Kessel’s outside interests include history, architecture and art. She is a registered Republican and said she votes that way about 80 percent of the time, but stressed, “You can’t adhere to just one philosophy.”

Leslea Snyder, 37, said last week she has decided to run for trustee after sensing the frustration of many residents and members of the business community alike. Snyder said she would come at the job from the public policy aspect, which has been her professional strength. Snyder vowed to “bring more transparency” to village government, and she would begin by “hearing all sides” to an issue.

Snyder said she would bring adjacent municipalities into the process and “absolutely help get things done using their systems and resources.”

“I’d like to see the Village tap into that,” Snyder said.

Snyder grew up in the village. Her father owned a business in upper Port.

She is a country club member, and previously worked at the Port Jefferson Free Library. Snyder’s twin sister currently holds the appointed position of deputy treasurer at Village Hall.

Snyder worked for Sen. Ken LaValle and the Long Island delegation crafting public policy. She says navigating government affairs is her strong suit.

But Snyder stressed, “I want to run as an independent voice,” not on a ticket.

Snyder commutes on the LIRR to a Manhattan office and, when the legislatures are in session, divides her time

between Port Jefferson, Washington, D.C., and Albany, as needed.

Margot for mayor

Peter A. Klein, MD, FAAD Adam J. Korzenko, MD, FAAD

Stella Tessler, director of communications for the campaign of Margot Garant, said in an email last week, “It has come to my attention the ‘word on the street’ is that Margot is running on a slate with Adrienne Kessel. This is absolutely untrue.” Tessler added, “Margot is running completely independent of any other declared or potential candidate.”

Tessler said Garant and campaign members had met brief ly with Kessel and Barbara Ransome. “The committee had a congenial discussion with both women on a variety of local issues.” Tessler said Garant would also seek a meeting with Snyder and any other potential candidates.

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Legals NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT: COUNTY OF SUFFOLK - OPTION ONE MORTGAGE CORPORATION, Plaintiff, AGAINST BARTOLOMEA PIPIA, ET AL., Defendant(s). Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly dated 1/2/2008, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Front Steps of Brookhaven Town Hall, One Independence Hill, Farmingville, County of Suffolk, New York, on 4/9/2009 at 10:00 AM, premises known as 47 SUNFLOWER RIDGE ROAD, SOUTH SETAUKET, NY 11720. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of BROOKHAVEN, County of Suffolk and State of New York, Section, Block and Lot: 388.004-23. Approximate amount of judgment $406,985.54 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #5821/07.

John C. Tsunis, Esq., Referee, Steven J. Baum PC, Attorneys for Plaintiff, P.O. Box 1291, Buffalo, NY 14240-1291 Dated: 3/6/2009 125 3/12 4x ptr Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson Please take notice that the Planning Board of the Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson, New York will hold a general business meeting on March 26, 2009 at Village Hall 121 W. Broadway, Port Jefferson, NY 11777 at 7:00PM.

Igloo escapades and terms of sale. NEIL ABELSON, Referee.

DRUCKMAN LAW GROUP, PLLC, Attys.. for Pltf., 242 Drexel Ave., Westbury, NY. File No. 16588 - #74554 143 3/19 4x ptr NOTICE OF RESOLUTION SUBJECT TO PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Port Jefferson Fire District at a regular meeting thereof held March 11, 2009 duly adopted the following resolutions:

SEAL

RESOLVED, that the resolution is adopted subject to permissive referendum as provided in the General Municipal Law of the State of New York and be it further RESOLVED, that the secretary of the Fire District, within ten (10) days of the adoption of this resolution, publish a notice within the Times, Beacon, Record Newspaper setting forth the date of the adoption of the resolution and an abstract of the resolution concisely stating the purpose and effect thereof and that the resolution was adopted subject to a permissive referendum.

Dated: March 11, 2009

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OF THE PORT JEFFERSON FIRE DISTRICT

NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Whittam named to dean’s list at SUNY Fredonia President Dennis L. Hefner announced that approximately 1,727 students at the State University of New York at Fredonia have been named to the dean’s list for the fall 2008 semester. Among them is Jessica Barbara Whittam of Port Jefferson Station. Dean’s list students have earned a grade point average of at least 3.30 or higher for that semester out of a possible 4.0, while carrying a full-time minimum course load of 12 credit hours.

Barbara Cassidy Secretary NOTICE OF SALE 144 3/19 1x ptr NOTICE OF ADOPTION Notice is hereby given that the following amendment(s) to the Uniform Code of Traffic Ordinances of the Town of Brookhaven was/were adopted by the Brookhaven Town Board on Public Hearing Date 03/10/2009 to become effective ten (10) days from this publication as required by Section 133 of the Town Law. Article VII Section 26 entitled STOP AND YIELD INTERESECTIONS is hereby amended by ADDITION of the following in the hamlet of PORT JEFFERSON STATION NORTON AVE & PETERS LN ALL WAY STOP N/PETERS LN, E&W/NORTON AVE STATE OF NEW YORK) SS: COUNTY OF SUFFOLK)

PORT TIMES PEOPLE

Bids will be received, publicly opened and read aloud at 11:00 a.m. in the Division of Purchasing of the Town of Brookhaven, One Independence Hill, Third Floor, Farmingville, NY 11738, for the following item(s) on the dates indicated:

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CAPE AMERICAN BEACH GRASS------------------MARCH 31, 2009 WELDING & BURNING EQUIPMENT---------------APRIL 1, 2009 F & I GUIDE RAILS – Re-Bid----------------------------APRIL 2, 2009 VARIOUS SIGNS – Re-Bid------------------------------APRIL 3, 2009 TROPHIES, PL AQUES AND MEDALS------------APRIL 6, 2009

Honor ...

Specifications for the above-referenced bids will be available beginning March 19, 2009 at the Division of Purchasing on any business day, Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 4:30 P.M. ONLY THOSE VENDORS OUT OF THE SUFFOLK AREA WILL BE MAILED BIDS UPON REQUEST.

141 3/19 1x ptr

SUPREME COURT: SUFFOLK COUNTY. FREMONT INVESTMENT & LOAN, Pltf. vs. GAIL ALPERT, et al, Defts. Index #11946/07.

Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale dated Sept. 23, 2008 and a subsequent order dated Dec. 10, 2008, I will sell at public auction at Brookhaven Town Hall, One Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY on Apr. 23, 2009 at 1:15 p.m. prem. k/a 15 Windover La., Coram, NY a/k/a Section 338.00, Block 02.00, Lot 025.000. Said property located on the Easterly side of Windover La. 590.24 ft. as measured in a Southerly direction along the Easterly side of Windover La. from the extreme Southerly end of an arc of a curve which connects the Southerly side of Cedar Ave. with the Easterly side of Windover La., being a plot 150 x 100 ft. Approx. amt. of judgment is $359,544.12 plus costs and interest. This is a First Mortgage. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment

Noah’s Ark Daycare Center in Port Jefferson offers care to children between the ages of 6 weeks and 5 years of age, year round. Housed in the Village of Port Jefferson, their preschoolers recycled plastic milk containers that were donated from another village neighbor, Starbucks, to create this life-size igloo. This fun project enabled the children to help keep the environment green while learning about Eskimo culture and customs.

145 3/19 1x ptr BE IT RESOLVED pursuant to the Town Law of the State of New York that the Port Jefferson Fire District expend from the House Reserve Fund for the renovation of the Kitchen and Ready Room a sum not to exceed $20,000 and be it further

Date: March 12, 2009 Cindy Suarez, Secretary, Planning Board

I, Pamela J. Betheil, Clerk of the Town of Brookhaven in said State and County do hereby certify that I have compared the annexed copy of the Amendment(s) to the Uniform Traffic Code with the record of the original filed in my office, and that it is true and correct copy of such record and of the whole thereof.

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and Affixed the seal of the Town of Brookhaven on this 10th day of March, 2009.

The Town of Brookhaven reserves the right to reject and declare invalid any or all bids and to waive any informalities or irregularities in the proposals received, all in the best interests of the Town. The Town of Brookhaven welcomes and encourages minorities and women-owned businesses to participate in the bidding process.

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PAGE A18 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

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PEOPLE

MARCH 19, 2009 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A19

PEOPLE

Leo Club students assist the needy with Blizzard Bags Being prepared for blizzard-like conditions is part and parcel of living. For the needy and elderly, however, getting to the grocery store can be an effort or impossibility. Recognizing this need, members of the Earl L. Vandermeulen High School Leo Club have expanded their community service efforts this winter and put together and delivered “Blizzard Bags” for the clients of Th ree Village Meals on Wheels Inc. Blizzard Bags contain nonperishable food items that clients can use when Meals on Wheels is unable to deliver meals due to ice and snow. For several years, the Port Jefferson students have raised money, purchased the food, and packaged the bags for the Meals on Wheels organization. Each November, clients have received three bags in time for the winter weather. Th is year, the Leo Club delivered an additional three bags per client, due to the number of severe storms this winter season.

Leo Club advisor Brian Chalmers explained that the club members recognize the need for food delivery during the winter, and these Blizzard Bags ensure that Meals on Wheels clients receive the nutrition they need. Three Village Meals on Wheels Inc. President Thomas Bell stated in a letter, “Our organization feels it is important for the students of the Leo Club and their advisor to receive public recognition for their generous donation and to know how much we appreciate their efforts.”

Pictured, Port Jefferson Leo Club members at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School have stepped up their efforts to provide clients of Th ree Village Meals on Wheels Inc. with additional Blizzard Bags due to this winter’s severe weather. They are photographed with Leo Club advisors Chalmers and Maria Llorens.

Courtesy Elizabeth Sobel, Syntax Communication

Celebrating the First 100 Days of School First-graders at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School celebrated the first 100 days of school by participating in a multidisciplinary lesson that helped the youngsters visualize what the number 100 looks like.

The students brought from home a grouping of 100 items such as buttons, beans or pencils, and paraded around their classrooms with headbands decorated with 100 stickers.

In AnnMarie Frega’s class, the students counted 100 Fruit Loops while crafting necklaces, made a structure out of 100 Legos, and even wrote 100 words in their notebooks.

Pictured top, Frega and first-grade students Dillon Scott, Brianna Ureh and Gabby Bardoneschi made necklaces out of 100 Fruit Loops during the 100 Days of School celebration at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School. Pictured below, Port Jefferson first-grade students Katelynne Righi and Samantha Ayotte wrote 100 words during the celebration.

Courtesy Elizabeth Sobel, Syntax Communication

Send information for the People page to: vtimes@tbrnewspapers.com.

Memorial services Gertrude F. (Smith) Goodman March 27, 1924 – Feb. 3, 2009 Survived by her husband, Leslie Sr.; children, Joyce, Leslie Jr., Alan, Ronnie, Linda and Benjamin; sisters Constance, Katharine and Mary; grandchildren, Tony, Tamara, Eli, Joshua, Milan, Amanda, Serin, Isaiah; and five great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Gertrude’s Life will be held at Mount Sinai High School, Saturday, March 28, noon to 2 pm. A religious memorial service at Gertrude’s home church, Mount Sinai Congregational Church, will be at 3 pm; interment immediately following at Seaview Cemetery. Afterward, greet the family at a reception in Fellowship Hall.

Albert Irvine Albert Irvine passed away Jan. 9. Following his wishes, no services were to be held at that time. However, Albert’s family is now hosting a celebration of his life.

Friends and acquaintances of Albert, please come and remember him.

If you have a story or anecdote you’d like to share, let the greeter at the door know. It will be noted and we will call on you later to relate it.

Date: March 21. Time: 2 to 5 pm.

Place: Miller Beach Surf Club, 23 Harbor Beach Road, Miller Place.

Tel: 473-9034.

PAGE A20 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

Port Jefferson’s Shaun O’Sullivan named to Golden 11 team

BY ROBERT LEUNER katsports@tbrnewspapers.com

Shaun O’Sullivan is one of the good guys, one of those rare student-athletes who excel in both the classroom and on the athletic field. A three-year member of the Port Jefferson varsity football team, O’Sullivan help lead the Royals to a 6-2 record and their first playoff appearance since 1991. In the classroom, he has sported a 91.9 grade point average and has been a member of the National Honor Society in both his junior and senior years.

In recognition of his combined athletic and academic achievements, O’Sullivan was named to the prestigious Golden 11 team last month, the first player from Port Jefferson to be so honored since 1993 when quarterback Steven Eaton earned the award. The Golden 11 team was selected by the National Football Foundation and chosen from 56 Suffolk County scholar-athlete finalists. O’Sullivan’s name was submitted for consideration by head football coach Jim Mimnaugh.

“I was pretty surprised,” said O’Sullivan upon learning of the honor.

“It’s a pretty big deal and it’s pretty exciting. It’s good to see that all the hard work I’ve put in over the past four years finally paid off. It’s really great even to be considered for it.”

Last fall, O’Sullivan ran for 685 yards on 106 carries and scored six touchdowns while catching another 11 passes for 177 yards and one touchdown. On the other side of the ball he paced the defense with 87 tackles, three sacks and was Port Jefferson’s defensive MVP. For the past two seasons, he has earned AllDivision and All-County honors as the Royals outside linebacker.

“You could say so many things about Shaun,” Mimnaugh said. “He is well rounded and a pleasure to coach. He’s got a lot of heart and that’s what made him the excellent player that he was. He’s only 5-7 and 170 pounds but he plays so much bigger than that. Because of his determination, you wish that you had 11 guys like him. He was not a verbal leader but rather he led by example and was one of the keys to our success this past year. He’s worked so hard and deserves all the accolades he’s gotten.”

Buehler Continued from page A21 Petty Officer 2nd Class. Buehler went on to earn a bachelor’s degree at St. John’s University in athletic administration and then a master’s degree in guidance counseling.

Currently, he is a middle school guidance counselor for Port Jefferson.

After guiding the Royals to consecutive county titles in 2002 and 2003, Port Jefferson struggled for the next two years. “The low point was the year after we won our second title,” Buehler said. “We had been a B school the year before but we had lost all our seniors and I thought that we would win the C championship but we won only three games that year and lost 16. As a coach you have those kinds of years.”

But that was one of only two seasons in which the Royals under Buehler had losing records. Using his patented 2-3 zone defense, the Royals suffered just one more losing season in 2005 before entering success. Coincidently, it was

O’Sullivan’s athletic prowess extends beyond the gridiron too. He has been a dynamic leader on the wrestling mat as well. Last year he was 30-5 while wrestling at 152 pounds and this year he compiled a 22-8 record as the Royals won their first-ever regular season league championship behind a perfect 6-0 League VII record, 7-1 overall. He went on to win the county championships at 160 pounds and last weekend represented the Royals at the New York State wrestling tournament in Albany.

“Athletically, he did the most with what he had,” said Port Jefferson wrestling coach and assistant football coach Mike Maletta. “He would work out in the morning before school started. That’s why he was so successful. He was a team leader by example. He did it all on the field and on the mat.”

Although still undecided, O’Sullivan hopes to continue his academic studies at Rensselaer, Worcester or Western New England College where he plans to major in engineering. All three colleges have Division III football teams and all expressed an interest in having

also the time when Port Jefferson’s second all-time leading scorer John Nielsen began his varsity career. “[Coach Buehler] put so much time and effort in,” said Nielsen, a senior captain. “I’ve known him since the sixth grade and had a great relationship with him. He was kind of like a big brother. I could speak to him about anything.

As a coach he did a great job scouting out other teams. We were never unprepared and he was a good in-game coach.”

“He really went out of his way to connect with us,” added senior forward Justin Battelli, a two-year member of the varsity squad. “He kept us focused on our main goal while allowing us to enjoy ourselves at the same time. He was the first person I met coming into the school my first year in the school in the eighth grade after I moved from Centereach.”

While Buehler has given up coaching for the time being, he will remain as a guidance counselor at the middle school. Although no longer an influence on the court, he will continue to be an uplifting presence to those fortunate to encounter him.

Courtesy Shaun O’Sullivan

Shaun O’Sullivan helped lead the Royals to their first playoff appearance since 1991. He has excelled academically and athletically.

O’Sullivan join them.

“It’s up to me to decide where I want to go at this point,” said O’Sullivan, who says he puts in a minimum of two hours studying a night. “But it’s nice to know that the hours I put in studying have paid off in the long run.”

Comsewogue Lax Continued from page A21 and tough,” said Mitchell. “He’s a real good one-on-one defender who rarely gets beat. He is a great takeaway guy.”

Also expected to play a significant role on defense is senior James Taddeo. “James leads by example,” said Mitchell. “He’s just a great hard worker.”

Goalie may be in question. Presently, senior Cory Banwaree and junior Sean Kennedy are battling for the starting role, but Mitchell also indicates he may go with a rotation of the two if neither establishes himself as a clear-cut starter.

“Cory has worked hard and is a good stopper on outside shots,” the coach said. “Sean is nice and big in the cage and takes up a lot of room.”

Despite their strengths the Warriors are in the unenviable position of playing in perhaps the strongest division in the state. They are a preseason fifth seed but Mitchell says they could have been seeded anywhere, as could any of the top six teams in Division II.

MARCH 19, 2009 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A21

SPORTS PJ hoops coach retires after years of success

BY ROBERT LEUNER katsports@tbrnewspapers.com

Port Jefferson’s 60-58 loss to Oyster Bay in the New York State boys’ basketball tournament last week signaled not only an end to the Royals’ season but also marked the conclusion of Keith Buehler’s reign as head coach. Citing family obligations, Buehler announced he was stepping down from the post at the completion of the 2008-09 season last fall. Now the decision has become a reality.

“As the game [against Oyster Bay] ended I was looking around thinking that it’s over,” Buehler said. “Later I came to realize that there is no next year. This was a really fun year for me, a special year.”

For the most part Buehler kept the fact that this was his final season under wraps. In fact, it wasn’t until their win over Pierson in the first round of the playoffs that the reality of what was happening settled in.

“As the season went on I really wasn’t thinking about it at all,” Buehler said. “But with the last home game against Pierson I remember saying to myself, ‘Oh, wow.’

I did a good job of blocking it out and was able to keep my emotions in check.”

Buehler ends his career on an high note. Although, the Royals failed to get beyond their Nassau County opponent, they were back-to-back Suffolk County Class C champions. Buehler also leaves with 104 career wins, reaching his landmark 100th victory in a Jan. 30 57-54 victory over Southampton. The Royals finished the season third in League VII behind a 10-4 record and were 15-8 overall.

“Keith has been an asset not only to the athletic staff but to the school as well,” said Port Jefferson Athletic Director Deb Ferry. “His coaching has been outstanding and his record speaks for itself. He is one of those people who is a role model, someone the kids can look up to.”

In his nine seasons as the Royals head coach, he has guided Port Jefferson into the postseason seven times. The Royals have been crowned county champions four times and once, in 2002, the team advanced to the state regional finals before losing to the Section I champion.

“When I took over, the varsity program was falling apart,” said Buehler. “But we did well right away. The excitement for me was having the kids get the success.”

Buehler became head coach following a stint at North Babylon where he served as junior varsity coach. A graduate of Bay Shore High School in 1985, Buehler put off continuing his education for several years, joining the U.S. Navy after graduation. He left the Navy in 1990 as an E5 Continued on page A20

Courtesy Deb Ferry

Keith Buehler, top, has been coaching at Port Jefferson high school for nine years. He has guided the Royals to seven postseason appearances and has won back-to-back Suffolk County championships. Buehler, above, stands proud with the members on his team as they receive their plaque after winning one of those county titles this year.

Warriors will compete in what may be the toughest division in NY

BY ROBERT LEUNER katsports@tbrnewspapers.com

The Comsewogue Warriors came within one game of winning the Suffolk County Division II lacrosse championship last year, losing to eventual New York State champion Rocky Point, 7-3, in the finals. However, head coach Pete Mitchell returns a team as solid as the one he had last year and which stands poised to challenge for a title. The Warriors finished 11-3 last year and were 12-4 overall including a dramatic upset of top seeded ShorehamWading River in the playoffs.

“The kids worked hard last year and I think we may have overachieved a bit,” said Mitchell. “The boys wanted to make an impression and represented the school well and I couldn’t be more proud of them. We lost just two of nine offensive players from last year’s team and I have very high expectations for this year. We still need to develop some team chemistry and our division is brutal. Whoever makes the least mistakes will do well.”

BOYS’ LAX Offensively, expect the Warriors to try to push the ball into their opponents end. “We move the ball as well as anyone I’ve seen in a few years,” Mitchell said. “We don’t have any superstars on the team this year and that may pay off.

They are an unselfish group.”

Conversely, expect the Warriors to use the hard-nosed defense that they’ve incorporated over the past few years that have propelled them into one of the county’s elite squads. “They can adjust to anything — a zone or man-toman,” said Mitchell. “We have the athletes who can really press the ball.”

Senior captain Rich Carlson will play offense. Carlson had 12 goals and eight assists last year. “He was in the shadows of a couple of guys last year,” said Mitchell. “I love his change of direction. He’s a shooter, feeder and a dodger. He’s very quick, tenacious and can shoot with either hand.”

Joining Carlson will be sophomore Ryan Brunet. As a

freshman last year Brunet split time in the midfield and on attack scoring nine goals and six assists. “He is a big, strong left-hander,” said Mitchell. “He goes to the cage real well and has a strong outside shot.”

Captain Alex Zomerfeld will anchor the midfield.

Zomerfeld tallied 11 goals and eight assists last year while gobbling up 97 ground balls. “He is one of the best kids I’ve seen in between the lines,” Mitchell said. “He’s an old school kid who can play offense and defense.

Also playing midfield will be Danny Rodriguez who scored 12 goals and four assists last year. The Stony Brook University-bound senior captain is yet another player who can go to the cage. Joining Rodriguez in the midfield will be junior Tom Cleary and sophomore Connor Duddy.

Three-year varsity starter and junior captain Brian Michalec will solidify the defense. Michalec was honored as the Division II Rookie of the Year in 2008. “Brian is strong Continued on page A20

PAGE A22 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

EDITORIAL Time for haste Pain. There is, unfortunately, much of the economic variety to pass around these days.

That is particularly true of our schools, where officials try to make the best of less revenue despite rising costs.

The federal stimulus bill was supposed to bail them out, right? Two weeks ago we reported that Gov. David Paterson said New York’s share would negate the education aid cuts he had proposed to help counter a record state deficit.

Except that Paterson’s assurances have made it no further than the newspapers, it seems.

School districts embroiled in the budget formation process, which must be wrapped up next month, have yet to see an amended state aid proposal from the governor.

Districts don’t know if Paterson’s promise to “restore” state aid means eliminating the deficit reduction assessment imposed on districts, or zeroing out overall aid decreases in comparison with 2008-09. For large districts the difference amounts to millions. Until they know the numbers, they can’t reliably calculate the tax impact of the spending the districts are proposing.

Now is when schools need those figures most, as many consider layoffs to keep tax increases low so their budgets pass muster with a belt-tightening electorate.

Perhaps with the federal stop-gap money, job cuts are no longer necessary, but until they know for sure school officials are obligated to plan for the worst. Which means that until the “all clear” is sounded, some teachers may be anticipating unemployment. Such consternation will clearly not promote the economic confidence the stimulus and other bailout efforts were intended to inspire.

The Paterson administration claimed this week it cannot release final figures until ongoing budget negotiations with the Legislature are complete. But the governor has not even answered the most basic questions posed above by school officials, making their task far more arduous than in years past when districts had relatively accurate numbers to work with.

Paterson should provide up-to-date data to the districts immediately.

News literacy critical The prominence of the attendees at the News Literacy Conference at SBU last week indicates the importance many place on the ability we must all master to understand and evaluate the “tsunami” of so-called news pummeling all of us every day (see page A7). We think the SBU School of Journalism, and in particular its dean, Howard Schneider, are on to something.

Separating the wheat from the chaff is essential if we are going to position ourselves to make informed decisions on critical issues. The importance of analytically considering what newspapers and television and radio and the web toss at us, the ability to see through the fog and spin, and the need to understand an ever-increasing universe of information — far too much of which is generated by, shall we say, “journalists” not entirely loyal to the creed of who, what, where, when and how but instead determined to tell you why (in their own often skewed opinions) — has never been more important.

Whether you read it on these pages, or in a daily, or learn it the radio, TV or the web, apply an appropriate level of skepticism, seek the facts, and always remember to consider the source.

OPINION Kito Nursery wrongly implicated TO THE EDITOR: I would like to address the way in which my company, Kito Nursery Inc., was depicted in the article “Halfway house of horrors,” written in the Port Times Record [March 19]. First and foremost, I had no personal involvement in any transaction concerning the “halfway house” other than those events pertaining solely to landscaping and pavers. Therefore, I am in no way speaking on behalf of any individual discussed in the article except for myself and the professional reputation of my company.

Kito Nursery did, in fact, enter into an agreement to restore and improve the area surrounding the newly renovated halfway house and was directed by Mayor Harty to collaborate with Trustee Harry Faulknor, President of the Board of Governors, PJCC, Ray Sommerstad and Director of Golf Bill Mackedon regarding specifics and design elements. I take issue however, with the way in which the article falsely insinuated absolutely corrupt and scheming behavior of all parties involved — thereby implicating Kito Nursery. This comes as a personal insult to me, my family and the many clients I have had in the community who know me as an honest hardworking individual. Kito Nursery donated the initial landscaping around the halfway house years ago. In addition, we have maintained the corner of Main Street and Arden Place for no cost to the Village for many years and donated greenery and accents for winter decoration in the pots and planters lining the streets of Port Jefferson just this last year.

As a member of the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce, our work and honesty have been acknowledged and validated by previous Village administrations in contracts and projects in town and on the golf course.

I grew up here, went to the high school here and am still proud to live here and call the village my home. My son, after growing up on the greens at the country club and leaving for school, has returned and also calls the village home.

The article, with its slanted innuendos and cleverly placed quotations, makes it seem as though everyone involved was engaged in some form of selfdealing to “attempt to pad the cost of the total project,” as per the quote taken out of context and attributed to Mr. Dell Aquila. I am offended that terms like “padded the cost” and “altered” were used in the same

sentence as my name without first investigating the facts. Even if the intent was not to accuse me or my company of any wrongdoing, throwing around such terms so carelessly is not responsible or accurate reporting. Responsible reporting would have been supporting the innuendos with fact and not generalizing so that innocent readers were duped into believing all their elected officials are on the take and every contractor employed by the Village is inf lating prices to cheat the residents. As a village taxpayer, neighbor and friend, I take it personal that such broad and sweeping language was used to raise questions directed at a few, but seemingly implicating many.

Ben Kito Port Jefferson

In support of Ben Kito TO THE EDITOR: Mr. Willinger has been a strong advocate of our Village and has tried to keep the residents informed of Village business. However, I share Mr. Kito’s concern regarding the Port Jefferson Record article [“Halfway house of horrors,” March 12]. I would concur that in a cursory reading someone could construe the general tone as negative. I know Mr. Willinger’s intent was not to paint everyone with the same broad brush. I know I speak for myself, as well as the other trustees, when I say that our dealings with Mr. Kito have always been professional and his patience while this matter is being resolved is appreciated. He has donated his time as well as financial resources to the Village without question on many occasions and is not in any part viewed to be engaged in any improper activities at the Halfway House, if any such things did exist.

We look forward to working with Mr. Kito on other projects.

Village Trustee Carmine Dell Aquila

Missing police report TO THE EDITOR: Recent issues of TBR Newspapers no longer feature the Police Report column. I urge you to reinstate it. The information it contains is important. We, your readers, need to be aware of the challenges our police officers face in the line of duty and of recurring trends in criminal activities (e.g., thefts from parked cars, vandal-

ism, and the like). I suspect that many of your readers also miss the occasional flashes of wit the editor of these reports injected into the column.

John Shea East Setauket Editor’s note: We continue to keep readers informed of police activities and crime within our stories and briefs. Reporting on police activities remains one of our primary beats.

Veterans thankful TO THE PUBLISHER, EDITORS AND STAFF OF TBR NEWSPAPERS: On behalf of the officers, executive board and members of the American Legion Wilson Ritch Post 432 of Port Jefferson Station, we would like to thank you for your support and continuing coverage of our events and of veterans’ issues. In almost every issue I notice that one of your editorial staff is covering a veterans’ event and reporting on it. We at the Wilson Ritch Post are very grateful for this effort.

We would like to also take this opportunity to thank wholeheartedly the efforts of Congressman Tim Bishop, state Sen. Ken LaValle and Assemblyman Steve Englebright for their unwavering support of veterans’ issues and of veterans’ causes.

For those who braved the cold, crisp weather during our Pearl Harbor Remembrance Service this past December, you would have heard a gentleman eloquently playing “Taps.” To this gentleman, who to us is anonymous, we offer our sincere thanks as well.

Please keep up the good work.

Our veterans are certainly well worth it.

Richard Knutson, Public Relations Officer American Legion Wilson Ritch Post 432

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

In our new recession-induced age of propriety, owning a personal jet is under a storm of disfavor.

Though they represent the ultimate in conspicuous consumption, at least one good thing can be said about these super-expensive planes — compared to their big brothers the commercial airliners, they are relatively quiet. I know, because the seaside apartment I am renting in Florida lies in the approach path to the small airstrip at Boca Raton favored by jet-setting multi-millionaires. Their personal jets fly in and out all day long, announcing themselves with a thrilling whine of power and rumble of engines. The brethren of these planes, the big eardrum-pounding heavies, must use either West Palm Beach to the north or Fort Lauderdale to the south.

The little jets are sleek and beautiful to watch. The sight of them approaching to land or climbing for altitude after departing suggests an intriguing air of mystery. Their silver fuselages carry no markings, no recognizable airline logos or colors. They arrive as early as dawn, and fly out way after dark. So to whom do they belong?

One can only guess, but one thing is sure — the ranks of the wealthy have been thinned by Bernie Madoff. One assumes that prior to his depredations, the airways in and out of Boca Raton were even more crowded.

Still, this remains a rich country, and though he appeared to have tried very hard Bernie did not manage to steal everybody’s money. The East Coast of South Florida is still a haven of extravagant wealth. The town

where I am staying, Highland Beach, is lined with an odd juxtaposition of high-rise condominiums and coops with modest apartments, and gargantuan ornate mansions in the $20 million price range.

(For perspective, though it is right on the ocean, my own apartment is in a 50-year-old co-op whose windows and sliding glass doors don’t work very well.

Yesterday one of the two elevators failed, trapping for a while a fellow snowbird from Stony Brook.)

Madoff is much in the public awareness here.

Fifteen miles to the north, in his winter retreat of Palm Beach, he ruined large numbers of friends and acquaintances. In Delray Beach, a mile from here, there’s an old-fashioned newsstand much like the late, lamented Darling’s in Port Jefferson. I go there often for my Racing Form and Wall Street Journal, and fall into conversations with old-time locals who congregate to complain about snowbirds like me. One morning the proprietor had on display a 168-page reprint of the list of Madoff ’s victims, which was eagerly perused for local names.

The Palm Beach Post reported this morning on what wealthy society matrons are doing to show empathy with the less fortunate during the recession.

Among other things, they’re digging into the back of their closets and wearing last year’s gowns to charity balls. In December, a group of women pledged they would insist their rich husbands not buy them expensive jewelry for Christmas. (Though this may have made them feel good, it might have cost the jobs of a couple of gold miners in South Africa and diamond

Signals As this grim recession drags on, I think more and more of the lost wisdom of small town America.

BY JOHN MCKINNEY vtimes@tbrnewspapers.com

cutters on 47th Street. Oh, the law of unintended consequences).

As this grim recession drags on, I think more and more of the lost wisdom of small town America. It was Wall Street, not Main Street, that plunged us into the abyss. Had the sharks on Wall Street not been demonically clever at concealing what they were doing, the little fish on Main Street would have refused to take the bait. I think of the brief single term of Mike Lee as mayor of Port Jefferson, when he doubled taxes to diminish the debt hanging over the Village Center.

Said Mr. Lee, “I was raised not to buy things until I could afford to pay for them.”

Mike, you should have been chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Between you and me

Celebrating strength in community What fun we had this past Sunday evening at the Three Village Inn. It was the Men and Women of the Year reception, at which the winners of 2008 in The Village Times Herald were presented with framed certificates before an audience of 137 (count ’em) community leaders.

This was our 33rd such party, and they are always a high for us at the newspaper.

We started the Men and Women of the Year issue, our only “all good news” issue, the week between Christmas and New Year’s in 1976, the year we started The Village Times.

I copped the idea, sort of, from Time magazine, where I had worked. But Time selects one person who, each year, is the most newsworthy, regardless of the value of their efforts, whether Hitler or Mother Teresa.

We, on the other hand, divide our community into categories, from the Arts to Business to Civics, all the way through to Sports and Volunteers. We then select

the residents who are making outstanding contributions to our villages, going that extra mile above and beyond what might be expected from them, and give them the spotlight — to further help them in their work and to express our collective appreciation. We ask your help in the nominating process, which begins in early summer with a form that we run in the paper. With those nominations that come in through the mail, Internet and telephone and the suggestions of our staff, we sit down and decide the winners each year.

Once, early on, I thought we might run out of winners.

It will never happen. The more people we get to know by covering the news, and the more we understand about how much is contributed to the greater good, the more people we want to honor. Sometimes we honor a past winner again because he or she has done something new or something more.

We never tell the winners

TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWSPAPERS We welcome letters, photographs, comments and story ideas.

Send your items to PO Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733 or email to dave_w@tbrnewspapers.com. Or drop by our news office at 185 Route 25A, Setauket. The opinions of our columnists are not necessarily those of the paper.

Times Beacon Record Newspapers are published every Thursday.

Address: PO Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733.

Telephone: 631-751-7744 Web • northshoreoflongisland.com Contents copyright 2009.

why exactly we are interviewing them in the late fall for a story, and usually they don’t think to ask because what they are doing is newsworthy enough on its own. So when they discover that they have won, it’s a fun surprise.

That first year, members of the Three Village community stepped forward and suggested a reception for the winners.

They also offered to underwrite the party in a hands-across-thecommunity gesture. So we are the hosts each year, we speak about what each winner has done, we then give him or her a chance to tell where they are planning to go with their work in the coming year, and when they sit back down we give them a resounding round of applause in a public show of appreciation.

Why did we start this and why do we enthusiastically continue it to this day?

A sense of community is so important, such an enrichment in our lives. Learning about our common history, knowing

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Leah S. Dunaief GENERAL MANAGER Johness Kuisel EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lee Lutz EDITOR Dave Willinger LEISURE EDITOR Ellen Barcel SPORTS EDITOR Katherine Consorte ONLINE EDITOR Patricia Proven

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Alyssa Cutler EDITORIAL John Broven Jennifer Choi Joseph Darrow Michael Downer Arlene Gross Robert Leuner Patricia Proven Lisa Steuer John Westermann

we are surrounded by kindly and caring neighbors, working together to maintain and preserve our natural resources and educate our children, these all contribute to a sense of security and well being for children and adults alike.

At times of stress, like some of the economic uncertainties we are living through today, people tend to turn toward each other for support. Here’s an extreme example of what I’m talking about. If you remember, New York City — long considered a cold and impersonal place — became a lot more filled with kindness and mutual helpfulness after 9/11. Human values come more into focus in times of crisis. We are in what Frank Rich, columnist for The New York Times, calls a time of “social consciousness.”

How lovely that we, who live out here, don’t have to first develop such a consciousness.

It’s already here, as these awards ably demonstrate. We are so fortunate to live in a place with

PHOTOGRAPHY John Griffin Robert O'Rourk ART AND PRODUCTION DIRECTOR David R. Leaman ART AND PRODUCTION Janet Fortuna Beth Heller Mason Wendy Mercier

BY LEAH S. DUNAIEF vtimes@tbrnewspapers.com

community leaders and activists, and whatever the issues are locally, we sooner or later see most of them through to a successful resolution.

So a sense of community is a wonderful thing. And since we are the community newspaper, we have always felt it part of our job to strengthen that sense wherever we can. Let me tell you, by the time everyone leaves the Men and Women of the Year reception each year, and we have recognized the efforts of all those special people who enhance our lives, there is a glowing pride of place.

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kathryn Mandracchia ADVERTISING Mary Chirichella Robin Lemkin Barbara Newman Elizabeth Reuter Laura Satchwill Nancy Solomon Ted Taylor Lynn Tunney Minnie Yancey

CLASSIFIEDS DIRECTOR Ellen Segal BUSINESS MANAGER Sheila Murray CREDIT MANAGER Diane Wattecamps CIRCULATION MANAGER Alyssa Cutler BUSINESS OFFICE Sandi Gross Meg Malangone SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Terri Caruso

MARCH 19, 2009 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • PAGE A23

In post-Madoff world, tarnished trappings of wealth

Class of ‘71 E.L. Vandermeulen High School Port Jefferson, NY

Class of ‘77 Ward Melville High School East Setauket, NY

Leo Sternlicht

Class of ‘80 Ward Melville High School East Setauket, NY

Steve Rothstein

Riverhead F/L/M, Owner

Riverhead F/L/M, Sales Mgr.

Class of ‘77 Ward Melville High School East Setauket, NY

Malcolm Germaine

Riverhead F/L/M, Pre-Owned Sales Mgr.

Gabriel Tangredi

Riverhead F/L/M, Sales Associate

Class of ‘86 Ward Melville High School East Setauket, NY

Marc Donin

Riverhead F/L/M, Finance Manager

With the closing of your local Lincoln/Mercury dealers, you might have concerns about the service and maintenance of your Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. Fear no more! We all grew up here and went to school here, and we all still live here. As good neighbors, we promise that we will pick-up your vehicle from your home or business, have it serviced and return it to you, because as good neighbors, that is the least we can do.

The New

2009 Mercury Milan

0APR %

For

60 Months

AVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH 31. 2009

In-stock Now!

29 MPG RIVERHEAD FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY

RIVERHEAD FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY

FREE Oil, Filter and Lube and 29 Point Inspection

FREE Tire Rotation

Check Tire Inflation & 29 Point Inspection

for all North Shore and Smithtown Lincoln/Mercury Customers

Check Hoses/Belts/Fluids, Check For Leaks, Inspect Brakes, Drivetrain and more.

With Your First Service at Riverhead Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Up to 5 quarts of oil, With Coupon only, cannot be combined. Not valid on Diesel Engines. Expires 03/31/2009

With Coupon only, cannot be combined. Expires 03/31/2009

RIVERHEAD FORD • LINCOLN • MERCURY • SALEEN

Route 58 Riverhead

631-727-2200 One mile East from Tanger Outlet

riverheadfordlm.com

85016

PAGE A24 • THE PORT TIMES RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

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