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Monthly Archives: May 2016

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Crash
A 26-year-old man from Smithtown was arrested and charged with driving while intoxicated on May 14 after police said he crashed into a vehicle while driving a 2003 Ford on Route 25 in Commack at 12:30 a.m.

Shove it off
On May 13, a 29-year-old man from Central Islip was arrested after police said he shoved an officer and then attempted to flee from police while on Oak Forest Drive and Johnson Avenue in Islandia at 11 p.m.  He was charged with second-degree harassment with physical contact and attempting to leave the scene of a crime.

Pill out
Police said a 29-year-old woman from Ronkonkoma had prescription pills in her possession without a prescription on May 13 while on Jericho Turnpike in Commack. She was arrested and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Coke sans a license
A 53-year-old man from Smithtown was arrested on May 13 after police said he had cocaine in his possession while driving a 2015 Nissan on Motor Parkway in Brentwood with a suspended license. He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a vehicle.

Stuck in the weeds
A 20-year-old man from Islandia was arrested after police said he had marijuana in a plastic bag while on Oak Forest Drive and Johnson Road in Islandia just after 11 p.m. on May 13. He was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.

Quit the Macy’s life
On May 12 a 42-year-old woman from Islip was arrested at Macy’s inside Smithhaven Mall in Lake Grove after police said she stole two bathing suits. Police also said she was banned from all Macy’s. She was charged with third-degree burglary with intent for illegal entry.

24-7 at 7-Eleven
Police said a 25-year-old man from Commack refused to leave a 7-Eleven on Motor Parkway in Brentwood at 9 p.m. on May 12. He was arrested and charged with third-degree criminal trespassing on an enclosed property.

Marijuana and pills and needles
A 29-year-old woman from Ronkonkoma was arrested on May 11 after police said she had marijuana, prescription pills and a hypodermic needle in her possession while on Lakeview Road in Ronkonkoma inside a 2000 Mercury Grand Marquis. She was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, unlawful possession of marijuana and possession of a hypodermic instrument.

Jeep-ers
On May 11 a 51-year-old man from Lake Ronkonkoma was arrested on Central Islip Boulevard after police said he had crack cocaine in his possession while inside a 1998 Jeep, with a suspended license. He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Marijuana in Mini Cooper
Police said a 19-year-old man from Smithtown had marijuana on him while inside a 2007 Mini Copper on Mt. Pleasant Road in Smithtown on May 11. He was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.

Lock your car
An unknown person stole medication from inside an unlocked 2014 Toyota parked on Walter Court in Commack on May 14.

Woes in Walmart
Police said an unknown person stole assorted men’s clothing from Walmart on Crooked Hill Road in Commack on May 14.

Shoe steal
An unknown woman stole 20 pairs of shoes and purses from Designer Shoe Warehouse on Middle County Road in Lake Grove on May 14, police said.

Pipe down
A 32-year-old man from Port Jefferson Station stole money from Eager Beaver Carwash on Nesconset Highway on April 6, according to police. He was arrested on May 12 on Halsey Street in Port Jefferson Station, where police said they discovered he had heroin and a glass crack pipe with residue. He was charged with petit larceny and two counts of seventh-degree possession of a controlled substance.

Police chase
On May 11 at about 12:30 a.m., a 52-year-old woman from Bayport driving a 2007 Mitsubishi was speeding on Route 25A near the intersection of Mount Sinai Avenue in Mount Sinai when a police officer turned on his lights, signaling for the driver to pull over, police said. The driver accelerated and swerved in a dangerous manner. She eventually pulled over in Port Jefferson Station. She was arrested and charged with third-degree fleeing an officer in a motor vehicle.

Would you like fries with that?
At McDonald’s on Route 25A in Miller Place on May 14, a 17-year-old man was seated in the driver’s seat of a 2007 Hyundai with marijuana in his possession, police said. He was arrested and charged with unlawful possession of the drug.

Police needle suspect
A 30-year-old woman from Farmingville was driving a 1999 Lexus on Teepee Road in Rocky Point near the intersection of King Road at about 2 p.m. on May 11, according to police. She was pulled over and police said they discovered she was driving without a license and had a hypodermic needle. She was arrested and charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle and possession of a hypodermic instrument.

I’m going to need your Christmas present back …
On Dec. 13, 2015, a 26-year-old man from Centereach and a 23-year-old woman from Bayport stole assorted jewelry from Kohl’s on Nesconset Highway in Shirley, police said. The man was arrested in Centereach and the woman was arrested in Selden, both on May 15. They were each charged with petit larceny.

Drugs on Joan
At about 7:30 p.m. on May 12, a 27-year-old man from Farmingville was seated in the driver’s seat of a 2008 Subaru on Joan Avenue in Centereach with heroin in his possession, according to police. He was arrested and charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Picked a fight with police
An 18-year-old woman from Farmingville punched and kicked a police officer near a home on Wood Road in Centereach at about 10 a.m. on May 11, police said. She was arrested and charged with second-degree assault and resisting arrest. The officer was treated for injuries at Stony Brook University Hospital.

Teen tattooing
At a home on Granny Road in Farmingville on March 20, a 34-year-old woman from Farmingville gave a 14-year-old girl a heart tattoo on the front of her neck, according to police. She was arrested on May 13 in Selden and charged with tattooing a minor.

Arsonist arrested
On May 12 at about 3:45 p.m., a 27-year-old man from Central Islip intentionally lit a house on fire on Nicoll Avenue in Central Islip, police said. He was arrested in Stony Brook and charged with second-degree arson.

Subaru ransacked
An unknown person entered a Subaru parked in the driveway of a residence on Harrison Avenue in Miller Place at about 10 p.m. on May 14, according to police. The suspect stole an FDNY shield, a Magellan GPS and a dashboard camera, police said.

Clean getaway
A vacuum was stolen from Walmart on Nesconset Highway in East Setauket at about 3:30 p.m. on May 15, according to police.

Come sail away
The glass door to a boat at The Boat Place in Port Jefferson was damaged at about 3:30 p.m. on May 14, police said.

Breakfast on car
At about 12:45 a.m. on May 13, a 2008 Mitsubishi parked outside of a home on Broadway Avenue in Port Jefferson Station was scratched and egged, according to police.

Shove it off, shove it off
A 50-year-old man from Huntington Station was arrested on May 15 after police said he shoved an officer and pushed him to the ground while at his residence on Darnley Place at 8:15 a.m. He was charged with resisting arrest and second-degree harassment.

You’re screwed
On May 15 a 34-year-old man from Brentwood was arrested after police said he stole batteries and wrenches from Home Depot on New York Avenue in Huntington. He was charged with two counts of petit larceny.

Oh no at Oakwood
Police said a 25-year-old from Huntington had prescription pills in his possession without a prescription while on Oakwood Road in Huntington at 3:30 p.m. He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Trouble in a Toyota
An 18-year-old man from Dix Hills was arrested on May 14 after police said he had marijuana in his possession while in a 2009 Toyota sedan parked in Dix Hills Park at 9:30 p.m. He was charged with unlawful possession of marijuana.

Not on the straight path
On May 13 a 27-year-old man from Copiague was arrested after police said he was in possession of prescription pills while on Straight Path and Sagamore Hill in Dix Hills. He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Pick pocketing a pickup truck
Police said a 20-year-old man from Commack stole a wallet containing credit cards from a pickup truck parked on Hauppauge Road in Commack on May 13. He was arrested and charged with fourth-degree grand larceny.

Life’s a beach
A 19-year-old man from Huntington was arrested on May 13 after police said he was in possession of marijuana while inside a 2008 Honda sedan at Centerport Beach at 6:30 p.m. He was charged with fifth-degree criminal possession of marijuana.

Not quite an elite thief
On May 13 a 28-year-old man from Dix Hills was arrested after police said he pried open the front door of Elite Fabrication on New York Avenue in Huntington and proceeded to steal two desktop computers. When he was arrested on Candlewood Path in Dix Hills later that day, he was also found to be in possession of a hypodermic needle. He was charged with third-degree burglary and possession of a hypodermic instrument.

He’s stunned
Police said a 22-year-old man from Huntington Station was in possession of a Viperteck electronic stun gun while at Family Dollar in Huntington Station on May 12. He was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of weapon.

You audi listen to the rules
On May 12, a 33-year-old from Huntington Station was driving a 2009 Audi on Nash Place in Huntington with a suspended license, police said. He was arrested and charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of motor vehicle.

Car troubles
An unknown person damaged a 1998 Camry and a 2003 Isuzu parked in a residential driveway on Woods End Road in Dix Hills on May 15. Police said they slashed six tires and damaged car doors.

Right on target
Police said an unknown person stole clothing, footwear and household items from Target on West Jericho Turnpike in Commack on May 14.

Dude where’s my plates?
On May 12 an unknown person took the license plates off of a 2012 Hyundai Sonata parked in the Home Depot parking lot on New York Avenue in Huntington Station.

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Sometimes common sense gets lost in arguments about transgender people using public bathrooms. File photo

Long before communities started talking about transgender people using bathrooms of the genders they identify with, our society has operated on a policy of privates being private. When someone walks into a male or female bathroom, no one already inside asks to inspect appendages or for legal proof of sex. And if urinators use separate, closed stalls, why does it matter what organs they have?

This apparently does matter for some, given the debates taking place on our local, state and national levels regarding transgender people and which bathrooms are safe or appropriate for them to use. Those debates, however, often lose sight of common sense.

There are those who want to prohibit anyone from using a restroom built for the sex other than the one they are legally labeled with, usually citing fear of predators posing as transgender to gain access to a different bathroom for nefarious purposes. We would like to ask those people two things: When has a legal limitation stopped a pervert from doing perverted things, and why would someone pretend to be transgender for a long period of time, enduring common things like public humiliation and bullying, just to one day enter a bathroom of the opposite sex and attack someone?

If the latter were ever to occur, it would certainly be a rare instance — too rare to make the legislation, which is impossible to enforce, worth the cost of further alienating a group that is already marginalized and just wants to be accepted for who they are.

It’s not like transgender people are using a toilet in front of others. In women’s public bathrooms, there are only private stalls, and a female transitioning to male would still use a stall in a men’s public bathroom.

The least controversial solution is, of course, to have only unisex, single-person bathrooms. To that end, we would encourage developers on new projects, wherever possible, to construct those kinds of bathrooms as opposed to shared bathrooms. They are simply more comfortable for everyone anyway — who doesn’t like to be alone in a bathroom?

But that isn’t necessarily a feasible fix for existing public spaces, not that we think they need to be fixed in the first place. In fact, the argument of transgender people using specific bathrooms opening a door for perverts reminds us of people who once feared homosexuals, contending that they were more likely to be pedophiles than heterosexuals.

The details are different but the message is the same — they seem to think accommodating or accepting LGBT people will put their society at risk.

We need to move forward in our thinking and understand that transgender people want the same thing in a public bathroom that the rest of us want: to pee in peace. Let’s not start a war over public toilets.

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File photo

A man was found dead after an explosion and flames at a Long Island home on Wednesday afternoon.

Neighbors of the Minerva Lane house in Centereach called 911 after hearing that explosion and seeing the flames at the residence around 2:40 p.m., according to the Suffolk County Police Department. The Centereach Fire Department later pulled 50-year-old Timothy Oskey from the house after finding him unresponsive, lying on the floor in the basement.

Police said Oskey was pronounced dead at Stony Brook University Hospital.

Firefighters put out the blaze with help from the Ronkonkoma, Farmingville and Selden departments, police said, and detectives from the SCPD’s homicide and arson squads are investigating the incident, but do not believe Oskey’s death was criminal in nature.

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The Rev. Mary Speers says the Setauket Presbyterian Church is in a “listening phase” when it comes to mapping out a future with its share of a $100 million trust from the Gillespie family. Photo by Phil Corso

A $100 million trust has the Setauket Presbyterian Church community’s collective ear.

Along with five other philanthropic entities, the church was named a beneficiary of a $100 million charitable trust from the estates of Kingsley Gillespie and his son, Kenyon Gillespie, earlier this spring. The Rev. Mary Speers described the big news as if she were expecting a newborn baby, referring to the trust as “an incredible gift” that will change the church in more ways than they can even anticipate.

“Think about what happens when you’re expecting a baby — especially the first one,” she said. “You’re excited — you don’t want to get too excited too fast — but you can’t help yourself … it’s exciting.”

The gift carried on the philanthropic contributions that both the Kingsley and Kenyon Gillespie families have made, keeping the arts, community service and faith strong.

The charitable trust came as a result of Kenyon Gillespie’s death in March 2015, which built upon the success of his father Kingsley Gillespie and mother Doris Kenyon, who both died in the 1980s.

The Gillespie family's connection to the Setauket church is on display on a baptismal font. Photo by Phil Corso
The Gillespie family’s connection to the Setauket church is on display on a baptismal font. Photo by Phil Corso

The church and the nearby Long Island Museum were named beneficiaries along with MIT, Stamford Hospital, The Rotary Club of Stamford and The First Presbyterian Church of Stamford and will be receiving income earned by the $100 million trust. Stamford Hospital will be getting the biggest share of 50 percent, while the five others will receive 10 percent of the annual 5 percent distribution required by law of such trusts every year.

“It was a total surprise,” Speers said of the Setauket church learning of its role in the trust. “It took a long time for us to wrap our heads around it. We’re still trying to wrap our heads around it.”

In an interview, Speers said one of the biggest challenges facing the church would be making sure the money is used to enhance the community’s culture of participation. She said the entire congregation was in a “listening phase” since learning of the trust, soaking up as much information as possible before making any big decisions.

“We want to think of this as seed money and incentive money, rather than turning ourselves into a grant foundation,” she said. “The Gillespie family singled out the church as something distinct, and we’re trying to be faithful to that — to be part of the fabric of a healthy society.”

The Rev. Mary Speers says the Setauket Presbyterian Church is in a “listening phase” when it comes to mapping out a future with its share of a $100 million trust from the Gillespie family. Photo by Phil Corso
The Rev. Mary Speers says the Setauket Presbyterian Church is in a “listening phase” when it comes to mapping out a future with its share of a $100 million trust from the Gillespie family. Photo by Phil Corso

Speers said she hoped the influx of money would help strengthen integral pieces of the church’s mission that are already in place, like its open door exchange, which provides furniture to those in need. Doris Kenyon was born in 1900 in Brooklyn, but spent summers as a child in Old Field before moving there in the 1930s. She had a lifelong affection for the Three Village community, the Long Island Museum said in a press release. She was married to Kingsley Gillespie, a graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and the two built their family in the Three Village area before retiring to Florida.

Speers said she was initially unsure of exactly how connected the Gillespie family was to the church so many decades ago, but that confusion was quickly squashed when she realized the name of Joan Kenyon Gillespie — Kingsley’s daughter — on a baptismal font that was gifted in her honor after her 1959 death.

“They were clearly a big part of this community — they loved this community,” she said.

The Setauket Presbyterian Church, founded in 1660, will benefit considerably through the charitable trust. The institution, located on the village green at Caroline Avenue in Setauket, has been a longtime home for more than 500 people of faith.

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By Victoria Espinoza

In the Northport-East Northport school district, change is coming.

Residents approved a $161 million budget on Tuesday night with 2,568 votes in favor to 687 against, ousted an incumbent from the school board and reduced the number of board of education members from nine to seven. The district clerk’s office said the latter change will go into effect next year. Trustees Regina Pisacani, Donna McNaughton and Jennifer Thompson will all be up for re-election next year, but only one of their three seats will be open.

Shawne Albero, left, hugs Allison Noonan after results are announced. Residents voted in Noonan but not Albero. Photo by Victoria Espinoza
Shawne Albero, left, hugs Allison Noonan after results are announced. Residents voted in Noonan but not Albero. Photo by Victoria Espinoza

Northport’s budget stayed within the 0.55 percent tax levy cap, and a separate proposition for $2 million in capital improvements, which was approved with 2,848 to 390 votes, will include many athletic facility upgrades for the coming year, including a new gym ceiling and field repairs.

Board President Andrew Rapiejko did not support the reduction in board members.

“It was not a board-supported proposition,” he said. “I think nine members is more representation. It’s a very large district and if you look at even right now, we just have one board member who’s from East Northport out of nine people.”

Armand D’Accordo, a member of the United Taxpayers of Northport-East Northport, the group that introduced the idea for a smaller board, said he was pleased with the results.

“Clearly the nine-person board was not getting the job done,” he said. “Now we have an opportunity to break up the majority of incumbents that have been on the board for too long and get more independent and objective members. Most importantly, fewer members will provide more effective governance over the district and improve academic outcomes.”

Rapiejko and Trustee Lori McCue were both voted in for another term with 1,984 votes and 1,560 votes, respectively.

“I’m very grateful for the people who came out and supported me,” McCue said. She looks forward to finishing an energy performance contract with the district that aims to make it more energy-efficient.

Northport resident Allison Noonan came in first for the night, with 2,039 votes, and said she felt grateful and humbled by the results, and is excited to add a fresh voice and a fresh perspective to the board.

Incumbent Julia Binger came in fourth 1,543 votes and Shawne Albero collected 1,410 votes, so both fell shy in their bids for the board.

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Comsewogue's Dave Heller slides home safely. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Comsewogue's Jordan Lisco makes the tag against a Miller Place player at first base. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue’s Jordan Lisco makes the tag against a Miller Place player at first base. Photo by Bill Landon

Miller Place struggled to keep pace with Comsewogue’s baseball team, as the Warrior bats did the talking in their Class A opening-round playoffs Tuesday afternoon. The Panthers tied the game, 1-1, early on, but 13-5 Comsewogue showed why it’s the League VI champion, as the team wore down Miller Place’s defense and put its opponent away 8-2.

“They’re a tough team, but we came out and played great,” Comsewogue catcher Justin Virga said. “We hit the ball well, played great defense behind our pitcher and we pulled out a win. Today was a hard-fought game.”

Comsewogue wasted no time. Jake Sardinia drew a walk that moved teammate John Braun over to second base, as Jordan Lisco stepped into the batters’ box. Lisco drilled a ground ball through the gap that brought Braun home for the early lead.

“Today we hit the ball, played defense and that’s all you can do,” Lisco said. “We hit the ball with runners on base, which is something we’ve struggled with.”

The Panthers answered back in the top of the second when Cole Francis, on a passed ball at the plate, advanced to third base. Teammate Kevin Kelleher layed down a perfect bunt that plated Francis to tie the game.

Comsewogue's Dave Heller slides home safely. Photo by Bill Landon
Comsewogue’s Dave Heller slides home safely. Photo by Bill Landon

Comsewogue bats cracked in the bottom of the inning, and Bryan Hurley drove the ball through the gap, sending David Heller, the go-ahead run, to second. With Joseph Ciancarelli at the plate, a passed ball moved both base runners into scoring position. Ciancarelli chopped an infield dribbler and Heller came sliding home, eluding the tag, for the 2-1 advantage. With Hurley on third, Ciancarelli stole second and Braun smacked the ball deep through the infield, bringing Hurley home for a 3-1 lead with one out in the bottom of the third. Then, Ciancarelli found his way home on a sacrifice fly for a three-run lead.

“They came fired up on their home field, so they weren’t just going to give it to us,” Miller Place head coach Rick Caputo said. “Honestly, I’m disappointed in the way my guys played. I think we missed a lot of opportunities, I think we played our worst game of the year and we saved it for the first round of the playoffs.”

Miller Place threatened in the top of the third inning when Matt Paghidas and Tyler Schrimpf advanced to second and third, respectively, on another passed ball. Schrimpf crossed home plate to make it a two-run game, but that was all the team could muster.

The Panthers pressured again in the top of the fifth with base runners at the corners, but the runner on first stretched his lead a little too far, and Comsewogue picked him off on an infield pop-up that was caught, to retire the side.

Mike Stiles fires a pitch from the mound for Comsewogue. Photo by Bill Landon
Mike Stiles fires a pitch from the mound for Comsewogue. Photo by Bill Landon
Thomas Bell hurls a pitch from the mound for Miller Place. Photo by Bill Landon
Thomas Bell hurls a pitch from the mound for Miller Place. Photo by Bill Landon

With runners on first and third, the Warriors looked to put the game away in the bottom of the sixth inning when Ciancarelli chopped an infield heater to bring Hurley home for a 5-2 lead.

Miller Place made a pitching change as Christian McPartland relieved Thomas Bell on the mound the rest of the way.

“My control wasn’t there all game — my curveball started working later in the game, but they’re a great hitting team and they were putting the ball in play and making things happen,” Bell said.

It was a busy sixth inning for the Warriors, and they weren’t finished yet. Mike Stiles proved he was as deadly at the plate as he was from the mound, and ripped a fastball deep into the outfield, bringing Ciancarelli and Sardinia home with a stand-up double to break the game open, 7-2.

“I knew they were a good hitting team, so I had to get ahead, mix up my pitches and it worked out in the end,” Stiles said. “We hit the ball pretty well, we played pretty good defense — it was a little sloppy in the beginning, but I knew the team had my back.”

Justin Virga smacks the ball for Comsewogue. Photo by Bill Landon
Justin Virga smacks the ball for Comsewogue. Photo by Bill Landon

Lisco brought Stiles home with a deep sacrifice fly for a six-run lead.

With gas left in the tank, Stiles made short work of the Panthers in the final inning, retiring the side in order for the victory.

“We swung the bats well today, so I was pleased with how we hit the ball and as the game went on, we protected our lead,” Comsewogue head coach Mike Bonura said. “I wasn’t happy with our defense — we booted the ball around early in the game, which is uncharacteristic for us, because we’ve been throwing the ball and fielding the ball well all year. Mike [Stiles] did a great job for us. We play again tomorrow, so we have to go right at them, same recipe — come out and play solid baseball and don’t make it too difficult.”

No. 2 Comsewogue expected another strong pitching performance when Braun took the mound against No. 6 Mount Sinai Wednesday, but results were not available at press time.

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File photo

Suffolk County Police, in conjunction with state and local police on Long Island, conducted a month-long focused enforcement effort specifically targeting distracted driving between April 1 and April 30.

During the focused enforcement effort, Suffolk County police officers issued more than 930 citations for distracted driving violations, yielding a 117 percent increase compared to the same time period in 2015.

Suffolk County police officers responded to 3,320 crashes in April 2016, an 11.75 percent decrease for the same time period of 2015.

New York State Police Troop L issued 810 citations during the initiative, including 470 cell phone tickets, 314 texting tickets and 26 Move Over Law tickets.

The initiative specifically targeted motorists who were driving while distracted by texting or talking on mobile devices due to the strong correlation between these violations and motor vehicle crashes. Drivers who did not abide by New York’s Move Over Law were also cited.

This law protects law enforcement officers, emergency workers, tow and service vehicle operators and other maintenance workers stopped along roadways while performing their duties.

The initiative, which was funded by the governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, was carried out across the state.

The additional police resources were funded through a $450,000 grant allocated to state police specifically for year-round distracted driving enforcement.

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North Shore Jewish Center. File photo

By Rabbi Aaron Benson

One of the truly special aspects of Jewish life is the interconnectedness of the Jewish world. This trait comes to the fore on a holiday like Yom Ha-Atzma’ut, Israel’s Independence Day, which was celebrated on the Jewish calendar this year on May 12. Jews from around the world join together in remembering those who have died in bringing into being and defending Israel, praying for peace and security in Israel and the Middle East and celebrating the true miracle that is not just the return of the Jews to their historic homeland but also all the many accomplishments of Israel in the 68 years since it was founded.

Rabbi Michael Schudrich has Long Island roots and visited from Poland to share his experiences at the North Shore Jewish Center. Photo from Rabbi Aaron Benson
Rabbi Michael Schudrich has Long Island roots and visited from Poland to share his experiences at the North Shore Jewish Center. Photo from Rabbi Aaron Benson

The North Shore Jewish Center celebrated the special place Israel has for our community by joining the leader of another Jewish community, that of Poland, whose chief rabbi, Rabbi Michael Schudrich, was visiting Long Island last week. A native of Patchogue, Rabbi Schudrich graduated from Stony Brook University, where he was being honored during his visit. The chief rabbi has a unique attachment to NSJC, as he was a religious school teacher at our synagogue back when he was a student.

He shared with us about the situation of the Jewish community in Poland. It certainly has its challenges. The Jewish community was nearly destroyed during the Holocaust, losing 90 percent of its numbers. Communism brought about more years of persecution. But since the 1990s, there have been some signs of growth and stability. Young Polish Jews today, for example, travel to Israel as part of the Birthright program, something young American Jews do, too. Rabbi Schudrich explained how a strong connection to Israel for his community is one of the achievements of Poland’s Jews.

Learning about the rebirth of Jewish life in Poland was a hopeful story for our congregants to hear. And to learn that our co-religionists in Poland feel a deep commitment to Israel just as we do, too (our synagogue is planning a trip to Israel for this fall), brought home a deeper meaning to the holiday.

For it reminded us that no matter where Jews may live all around the world, a love for Israel inspires us all. That made our Yom Ha-Atzma’ut particularly memorable this year.

The author is the rabbi at the North Shore Jewish Center in Port Jefferson Station.

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Superintendent Diana Todaro and Assistant Superintendent Francesco Ianni were both delighted the budget passed. File photo

Tuesday night was a success for school districts in the Huntington area, with all budgets approved, including Harborfields’ cap-piercing $82.8 million budget.

Throughout budget season, Assistant Superintendent for Administration and Human Resources Franceso Ianni had presented the board with several options for the 2016-17 budget. Some stayed within the 0.37 percent state–mandated tax levy cap, but did not offer programs the community had been asking for, like full-day kindergarten. Others included such programs but went above and beyond the cap. After much debate, the board adopted a nearly $83 million budget with a cap-busting 1.52 percent increase to the tax levy.

Among the costs in the budget are $600,000 for full-day kindergarten, $70,000 for a BOCES cultural arts program, $52,000 for a third-grade orchestra program and $120,000 for an additional special education teacher and two teaching assistants.

Harborfields residents have been vocal about wanting full-day kindergarten on the budget and one group, Fair Start: Harborfields Residents for Full-Day Kindergarten, traveled to Albany to seek help from state legislators on making it possible.

Rachael Risinger, a member of Fair Start, said she and the organization are elated to see a budget pass with full-day kindergarten on the menu.

“We are extremely thankful the Harborfields community came together to pass this year’s school budget,” she said in an email. “Kindergarten orientation was this week and we’ve heard from so many parents how excited their young kids are to go to full-day kindergarten starting in September. Now they will have the same fair start as every kindergarten student on Long Island.”

The district needed a 60 percent supermajority to override the cap in its budget, and with 2,099 votes in favor and 1,017 votes against, the supermajority was achieved.

Superintendent Diana Todaro said she is pleased with the outcome.

“It’s a budget that supports and meets the needs of all of our children, from kindergarten through the high school,” she said. “We just want to thank our community, parents, staff members and especially the board of education who supported us throughout this entire process.”

Ianni, who will be taking over for Todaro in 2017 as superintendent, said he is excited to work with the programs in this budget next year. “I’m very exited and pleased for the students and the community, [for] all the programs that we’re going to have,” he said. “I’m really excited [to go] into the new school year as the new superintendent in January, [with] these kinds of programs in place.”

Incumbent Hansen Lee and newcomer Colleen Wolcott were also voted in as school board members for the upcoming year, with 1,569 and 1,301 votes, respectively.

“I am extremely excited about the passing of this historic budget, and how the community came together for all of our kids,” Lee said. “[And] I am excited about my second term and [am] looking forward to more exciting things to come at Harborfields.”

Wolcott said she is eager to get started.

“I’m very excited to serve my community more than I have already been doing,” she said. “It is my honor. I’m excited to have a voice on the board of education and to work collaboratively with the district to make it better than it already is.”

Challengers Chris Kelly (1,001 votes), Marge Acosta (992 votes) and Joseph Savaglio (571 votes) fell short in their own bids.

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Does it annoy you too when the pitchman in the commercial urges negotiating with your credit card company, with the advertiser’s help of course, to pay less than you owe? It’s the same message when it comes to “settling” with the IRS. “You don’t have to pay all that you owe,” encourages the adman’s voice. “Call us and we’ll reduce your amount to a third without bankruptcy.”

What about us poor schnooks who paid every last penny of what we owed? Were we incredibly stupid when we could have gotten off with far less cost? Maybe it’s only the rich who pay everything they owe, but I know that’s not true. Men and women will work two and three jobs to be able to meet their expenses, especially those incurred for their children. They must not know that all they had to do was run up the bills — the higher, the better — then declare that they couldn’t afford them, and they would get a reduction of their debt.

What has happened to honor? Maybe it is just those of us of a certain age who still carry these old-fashioned ideas in our heads. “Pay as you go” was my parents’ adage. The idea of a credit card puzzled them. If you couldn’t afford to buy a car when you wanted one, then wait until you had the money and you could buy it. Delayed gratification was admired. They were even dubious about a mortgage, although that became the American way after World War II.

But the thought of not honoring one’s debts was anathema. In essence you gave your word when you accepted credit, and “your word was your bond.” People who walked away from their debts expected to go to prison, certainly not to call a “negotiator” who would beat down your creditor into accepting less — or nothing at all.

Donald Trump raised the possibility of our nation reducing its national debt by bargaining with our creditors, an unwelcome but nonetheless real technique in business. These creditors of American debt would include other nations, as well as widows and orphans who buy U.S. government bonds because they believe in our creditworthiness — our honor to repay. People who cannot repay, while they no longer are imprisoned in a jail, are imprisoned by their actions. They are never trusted to the same extent again, and if they have to borrow in the future they pay a significantly higher rate of interest on the borrowed money, if they can get a loan at all.

The same holds for nations. Those countries whose economies crashed have had to pay exorbitant interest on their bonds to entice new capital, and their people have been impoverished in the long run, leading to disastrous social unrest. History is rife with such examples.

So what is a person, whose intentions at the time of borrowing were honorable but whose circumstances have dramatically changed through no fault of his or her own, to do with that debt? Borrowers may lose their jobs; they or a family member may get sick and require ruinous financial support; insurance on property or health may be insufficient or nonexistent — and so forth. As the expression goes, “life happens.”

Most commonly, the terms of repayment can be changed. A longer time in which to repay the borrowed money can be arranged, allowing the borrower a chance to recover from whatever the disaster. This lowers the monthly rate of repayment although it does increase the total cost of the debt. But it does preserve creditworthiness — and reputation. That solution only works, however, if there are good prospects down the line and a willingness on the part of the debtors to assume responsibility for their actions. In circumstances where there is no hope for recovery, then bankruptcy is the only choice.

But the idea of those who know how to play the system bouncing from one loan to the next with little consequence is unacceptable and makes fools of us all. And those who make a business out of helping such individuals run off with other people’s money are worse yet.

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