Yearly Archives: 2016

Your gut is probably right, so call the police

by TBR Staff - June 23, 2016

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Nazi-material-guns-found-in-Mount-Sinai-home — Nazi material, along with weapons were seized from a home in Mount Sinai last June. File photo from the SCPD

American leaders in recent years have often spoken about the U.S. having a hostile political and social climate; a climate in which people are not tolerant of others’ views and in which disagreements sometimes degenerate into verbal or physical assaults.

Certainly many of us have encountered such instances or felt the sting of another person’s unprovoked hatred at some point in our lives, perhaps in the form of blind political opposition, religious intolerance or racial prejudice.

And there have been times when an ideology has endangered our personal safety, such as when Dylann Roof killed nine people at a historic black church in Charleston or when Omar Mateen opened fire at an Orlando gay nightclub, murdering 49 and injuring dozens of others — and killing many LGBT people’s already tenuous sense of safety.

Or when pro-Nazi materials were uncovered in a Long Island home alongside numerous weapons and a manual on how to make a bomb.

The Nazis did not go away with the end of World War II; the disgusting, disturbing views of Adolf Hitler have lived on in people throughout the world, whether they specifically support the swastika or simply have similar ideas and values. So it’s hard to say whether two brothers who were arrested after authorities with a search warrant seized framed photos of Hitler, Nazi flags, and books on white supremacy — as well as guns, drugs and other items — from their North Shore home last week, were always Hitler fans or just persuaded by the recent U.S. social climate.

Whatever the case may be, it’s important more than ever to be vigilant and to speak out when our gut tells us something is wrong.

Mateen had been an aggressive person throughout his life and had made violent threats before, according to media reports. Some incidents were reported at the time and others not until our nation was picking up the pieces after he exploded at Pulse.

Maybe things could have been different if more people around Mateen had the courage to speak out when he said troubling things or displayed violent or unstable tendencies.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Tim Sini said community tips helped authorities ahead of their raid last week at the brothers’ Mount Sinai home. One neighbor described knowing something bad was going on because of a brawl outside the home, cars coming and going at all hours and prescription medication found in the street.

And that was not the first time neighborhood callers helped catch dangerous criminals in Suffolk, or anywhere else for that matter.

Please, don’t be afraid of being wrong or sounding prejudiced. If you get a bad feeling about something, if you suspect something strange is going on, it probably is. Call the police — they are encouraging it — and help us keep our families and friends safe.

Police blotter: Suffolk County incidents and arrests, June 13-19

by TBR Staff - June 23, 2016

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Lights Out

A 37-year-old man from St. James intentionally damaged a metal and glass wall-mounted light fixture at the Arden Bar on Main Street in Port Jefferson at about 3 p.m. on June 18, according to police. He was arrested and charged with criminal mischief.

Three drugs, two guys

On Main Street in Port Jefferson near Linden Place, at about 2 p.m. on June 17, a 25-year-old man from Rocky Point and a 35-year-old man from Port Jefferson Station possessed more than one-eighth of an ounce of heroin and more than eight ounces of marijuana and cocaine, police said. They were arrested and each charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal possession of a narcotic for the heroin and cocaine and third-degree criminal possession of marijuana.

Wild ride

At about 9:30 p.m. on June 18, a 31-year-old man from Punta Gorda, Florida, driving a 1994 Chevrolet on Tyler Avenue in Miller Place failed to stay on the road and swerved onto the lawn of a home, according to police. Police discovered he was intoxicated. While being arrested police said he spit at an officer. He was transported to John T. Mather Memorial Hospital in Port Jefferson. He was charged with criminal mischief for reckless property damage, driving while intoxicated and harassment for spitting at the officer.

Bad checks

A 38-year-old man from Rocky Point deposited checks made payable to himself on four occasions in January and February at Suffolk Federal Credit Union in Miller Place despite knowing the checks were from an account containing insufficient funds, police said. He was arrested at 7-Eleven on North Country Road in Rocky Point on June 17 and charged with four counts of petit larceny.

On his own street

On North Coleman Road in Selden on June 17 at about noon, a 41-year-old driver from East Patchogue hit a pedestrian and left the scene without reporting the incident, according to police. He was arrested at a home on North Coleman Road and charged with first-degree leaving the scene. The pedestrian suffered minor injuries, police said.

Heroin seized

On June 18, a 28-year-old woman from Selden possessed multiple glassine envelopes containing heroin and prescription medications on Middle Country Road in Selden, according to police. She was arrested and charged with two counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Unlicensed hit-and-run

A 43-year-old woman from Port Jefferson Station was driving a 2005 Ford on Terryville Road near Route 347 at about 4:30 p.m. on June 14 when she collided with a 2014 Hyundai, police said. She left the scene without exchanging information. She was later arrested and charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle, when police discovered her license had been suspended previously, and leaving the scene of an incident with property damage.

Do it yourself

At The Home Depot on Middle Country Road in Selden on June 15 at about 6:30 a.m., a 54-year-old man from Port Jefferson Station stole various hardware items, police said. He was arrested and charged with petit larceny.

Motorbike mischief

On June 15 at about 2:30 a.m., a 37-year-old man from Selden driving a 2004 Buell motorbike on Route 112, near Walker Avenue in Medford, crashed, police said. Police discovered he was driving with a suspended license. He was arrested and charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operation of a motor vehicle.

Two hits in one day

On June 19, a 25-year-old man from Mildford was arrested after police said he hit a 2005 Nissan while driving a 2011 Nissan south on Route 231 in Dix Hills and then fled the scene. Later that day, police said he also hit a 2015 Honda while driving on Route 231, and fled the scene a second time. He was charged with two counts of operating a motor vehicle and leaving the scene with property damage.

Shady crime

A 40-year-old woman from Springfield Gardens was arrested on June 18 after police said she took four pairs of Versace sunglasses from Macy’s Backstage on Walt Whitman Road in Huntington. She was charged with fourth-degree grand larceny valuing more than $1,000 in property.

Shoplifting spree

Police said a 25-year-old man from Commack exchanged a pair of boots he had stolen from Bobs’ Stores Footwear & Apparel on Jericho Turnpike in Huntington for a gift card on June 18. He then stole a Fitbit watch and removed nine rings from a locked display case at Macy’s on Walt Whitman Road. After he was arrested police said they also found heroin in his possession. He was charged with two counts of petit larceny and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance.

Trying to escape in an Escape

A 34-year-old man from Kings Park was arrested on June 18 after police said he was driving a Ford Escape on Pulaski Road and Maple Lane in Huntington with a suspended license. He was charged with second-degree aggravated unlicensed operations of a motor vehicle.

Curses

On June 18 a 37-year-old man from Huntington was arrested after police said he yelled and cursed at a manager of Meehan’s of Huntington on New York Avenue outside of the restaurant. He was charged with disorderly conduct with obscene language and gestures.

He would’ve sold a lot of drugs

On June 17, a 31-year-old from Huntington was arrested on Park Avenue in Huntington after police said he had marijuana, cocaine, packaging materials, scales and MDMA in his possession. He was charged with fourth-degree criminal possession of narcotics, second-degree criminal possession of marijuana and two counts of fifth-degree criminal possession with intent to sell.

Spring in his step

A 37-year-old man from Huntington Station was arrested on June 17 after police said he took a GPS, a GPS power cord and eye glasses from inside a 2011 Hyundai parked on Spring Road. He was charged with petit larceny.

In need(le) of some help

Police said a 32-year-old from North Massapequa was arrested on June 15 after he was found in possession of a hypodermic needle while on Hauppauge Road in Huntington. He was charged with possession of a hypodermic instrument.

You gotta pay for that stuff

Police said two unknown people filled a shopping cart full of merchandise in Walmart on Crooked Hill Road in Commack on June 17, and then left the store with it — without paying.

Life’s a beach

Police said an unknown group of people harassed a driver of a 204 Chevrolet on June 19, by yelling and chasing him out of Sunken Meadow State Park in Huntington and then throwing various items at his truck, damaging it.

Thief conducts a search

On June 19, police said an unknown person took various clothing items and a breast pump from Target on Crooked Hill Road in Commack and hid it in a plastic bag under the shopping cart, leaving without paying for it.

Lexus looted

Someone stole a wallet containing credit cards from a 2001 Lexus parked outside of a home on Richard Road in Selden at about 12:30 a.m. on June 19, according to police.

Breaking glass in broad daylight

The rear passenger window of a 2013 Ford was shattered while parked near a home on Dare Road in Selden on June 18 just before noon, police said.

Withdrawal wizard

Someone used the personal information of a Stony Brook resident to withdraw money from a Teachers Federal Credit Union bank account at about noon on June 15, according to police.

Jewel thief

Jewelry was stolen from a home on Dyke Road in Setauket at about 9 a.m. on June 16, police said.

Things heated up at Fire and Ice

A 32-year-old man from Bay Shore was arrested on June 18 after police said he punched someone in the parking lot of Fire and Ice Hookah Lounge on West Main Street in Smithtown and had marijuana on him. He was charged with second-degree harassment with physical contact and unlawful possession of marijuana.

A 26-year-old man from Amityville was also arrested at Fire and Ice Hookah Lounge that night, after police said he yelled and hit a victim and then stole their iPhone. He was charged with second-degree harassment with physical contact and petit larceny.

Caught trying to catch

On June 17, a 32-year-old man from Sayville was arrested after police said he took fishing poles from a residential yard on Peter Road in Lake Ronkonkoma without the consent of the owner. He was charged with petit larceny.

I can’t Chevro-let you have that

Police said a 33-year-old woman from Hauppauge took a 2007 Chevrolet without the consent of the owner while on Woodbury Road in Hauppauge on June 16. She was charged with unauthorized use of a vehicle without the owner’s consent.

Not driving 20/20

A 20-year-old man from Nesconset was arrested on June 16 after police said he was driving a 2001 Hyundai Accent west on Route 25 and Meadow Road in Kings Park while impaired by drugs. He was charged with first-degree operating a motor vehicle while impaired by drugs.

Socket to him

On June 16, a 33-year-old man from Farmingville was arrested after police said he put tool sockets in his pockets while shopping at Sears in the Smith Haven Mall in Lake Grove and then left the store without paying for them. He was arrested and charged with petit larceny.

Not buying what you’re selling

Police said a 27-year-old from Ronkonkoma had heroin on her while on Express Drive North in Islandia on June 15. She was arrested and charged with third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, narcotics, with the intent to sell.

Struck

On June 15, a 36-year-old woman from Ronkonkoma was arrested after police said she struck and pushed two people while on Haven Avenue in Ronkonkoma. She was charged with second-degree harassment with physical contact.

Crack is whack

A 21-year-old man from Stony Brook was arrested on June 15 after police said he was in possession of crack cocaine and a hypodermic needle while driving a 2004 Toyota on Middle Country Road in Lake Grove. He was charged with seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and possession of a hypodermic instrument.

Zoom zoom

Police said an unknown person stole a 2015 Yamaha motorcycle from an apartment complex parking lot on Elliot Avenue in Smithtown on June 18.

Jewelry grabbed

An unknown person took jewelry from a residence on Blackman Street in Smithtown on June 17.

You gotta pay for that stuff

Police said two unknown people filled a shopping cart full of merchandise on Walmart on Crooked Hill Road in Commack and then left the store with it — without paying.

The top of 2016 classes in the Huntington area

by Victoria Espinoza - June 23, 2016

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By Victoria Espinoza

Harborfields

Sabrina Qi and Trevor Jones are the valedictorian and salutatorian, respectively, of the Harborfields graduating class of 2016.

Qi was named a scholar in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program, she received the National School Development Council Academic Growth & Student Leadership Award and was presented the Daughters of American Revolution Good Citizenship Award. She is enrolled in six Advanced Placement courses and one college-level language class. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Global Justice Club and Science Research Club. Qi will attend Duke University in the fall with plans of majoring in biomedical engineering and biophysics. “I think Harborfields has truly prepared me for the future with all the classes I have taken,” Qi said. “As long as you take the classes that you are interested in, the teachers will prepare you for what you want to study in college.”

Trevor Jones. Photo from Harborfields central school district.

Jones is also enrolled in six Advanced Placement courses at Harborfields and is the class president. Among his high school experiences, he interned for U.S. Rep. Steve Israel (D-Huntington), worked at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory and North Shore-LIJ to conduct medical research, and he served as the student representative at the board of education meetings. He will attend Boston College on a full scholarship with plans to major in biology or public policy.

“I am going to miss the community,” Jones said. “The classes and teachers are great, but at the end of the day, what I am going to miss most are my peers, my friends and the environment we have here.”

Northport

Ian Buitenkant is this year’s valedictorian at Northport High School, with Emily Labruna following as salutatorian.

Buitenkant is a National Merit Commended Scholar, and has been the math department’s Student of the Month. He interned at the Academy of Information Technology last summer with SeniorNet, an organization that teaches computer skills to retired and elderly people. The valedictorian enrolled in 10 AP courses throughout his four years and was awarded the AP Scholar with Honors in 2015. He is a member of the high school Mathletes Team, and his junior year had one of the highest cumulative scores among all participants in a multi-week competition sponsored by the Suffolk County Math Teachers Association. Outside of the classroom, he can be found at a chessboard. He was named the Suffolk County High School Chess champion in 2013, and is also the president of the high school Chess Club. Buitenkant was also on the high school varisty tennis team for three years. He plans to attend Stony Brook University’s Honors College, majoring in computer science as a member of the Honors Program, and hopes to become a software developer in the future.

Emily Labruna. Photo from Northport-East Northport school district.

Labruna is an International Baccalaureate Diploma Candidate. She spent two summers at Cornell University and Johns Hopkins University through the Packard Scholars Program, and her participation in these programs led her to want to continue neuroscience research in college. Labruna was a math department Student of the Month and is a National Merit Commended Scholar. She is a member of the Mathletes, the Academic Team, varsity softball, the National Honor Society, and Schools for Schools, where she has helped raise money for the education of children in poverty. The salutatorian also has a third-degree black belt in Jiu-Jitsu. She will be attending Johns Hopkins University with a major in neuroscience.

Huntington

Huntington High School’s valedictorian and salutatorian are Rachel Carpenter and Olivia Stamatatos, respectively.

Carpenter is the president of Huntington’s branch of National Honor Society, and has participated in all eight of the high school’s drama productions. “When I first moved here four years ago, I had no idea I would have been in the position I am in now,” she said. “I have the people of Huntington High to thank for my growth and success.”

Olivia Stamatatos. Photo from Huntington school district.

Stamatatos is president of the school’s branch of Italian National Honor Society, a member of the Mathletes, wind esemble, and Tri-M Music National Honor Society. She also takes dance lessons at the Lynch School of Ballet in Huntington. She plans to pursure a degree in biochemistry “in order to gain a deeper understanding of underlying factors that contribute to the curative properties in natural substances.” She credited the staff at Huntington. “The teachers of Huntington High School have not only provided me with a high quality education, but have also built strong relationships with me and have always made me feel welcome,” she said.

North Shore students at the top of their game

by Desirée Keegan - June 22, 2016

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The Miller Place, Mount Sinai, Rocky Point and Shoreham-Wading River school districts have named the students who reached maximum potential at the high school level.

“I am extremely proud of all that the Class of 2016 has accomplished in the classroom, on the stage, on our athletic fields and in the community,” Rocky Point Principal Susann Crossan said. “They are a class who came together and generously raised money for many charities and continuously contributed positive energy to build school spirit. I wish the Class of 2016 a rewarding journey and ask that they remember to dream big.”

In Miller Place, with a whopping weighted GPA of 99.6, Elizabeth Whitlow was named the valedictorian. Whitlow, who plans to attend Northeastern University in the fall and major in American sign language, was a captain on the varsity softball team while also a member of the volleyball team, drama club, Foreign Language National Honor Society, National Thespian Society, mathletes and athletes helping athletes.

Joining the advanced placement scholar with honor at the top of the list is salutatorian Clara Tucker. With a weighted GPA of 99.5, she said she plans to attend Stony Brook University and major in biology. Tucker got her start at Stony Brook in the science research club on campus and was part of the school’s science club, art club and varsity track and field and cross country teams, while also being a member of the Metropolitan Youth Orchestra, Intel Talent Search, Foreign Language National Honor Society and National Honor Society.

In Mount Sinai, Patrick Hanaj, with a weighed GPA of 105.2, was named class valedictorian. A class president his sophomore year and secretary his junior year, Hanaj was a member of Moody’s Mega Math Challenge team, was on the math team and was a member of chamber orchestra all four years of high school, and was the National Honor Society president this year. A national AP scholar and National Merit Scholarship finalist who was a member of the Columbia Science Honors Program, he will be attending Harvard University in the fall, majoring in applied mathematics with a minor in computer science.

Justine Quan, with a weighted GPA of 104.3, was named the salutatorian. The student council president and peer leader, who was a part of the history club and environmental action club, was also a member of the Mount Sinai Sunshine Fund and National Honor Society. Receiving the U.S. Rep. Tim Bishop Civil Service award, Quan will be attending New York University in the fall and majoring in political science.

“Justine is an integral member of her class; she is one of the most active and charismatic leaders that we have ever had in our building,” her district said. “Her participation is truly authentic, as she immerses herself fully in her activities for the benefit of others and for the good of her school and community. Justine is highly intelligent, one of the kindest individuals you will ever meet, extremely polite, always positive, efficient and highly organized. She is a representation of the best anyone can ask for from a high school student.”

James Gohn was named the valedictorian at Rocky Point. With a weighted GPA of 106.2, he is an AP scholar with distinction, member of the National Honor Society and New York State Mathematics Honor Society. Outside of the classroom, Gohn performed with the school’s orchestra, was the captain of the varsity soccer team and a member of the varsity lacrosse team. He is a dedicated volunteer, serving as a math and chemistry tutor and altar server, and dedicates many hours to several other charitable organizations. He will be attending Stony Brook University this fall to major in mechanical engineering.

“James is an exceptional student who has devoted himself to being the best he can be,” Crossan said. “He is a student with strong values and character and is gifted in the classroom as well as in his many extracurricular activities.”

Matthew Brewer, with a weighted GPA of 104.9, was named the class’ salutatorian.

An AP scholar with distinction, Brewer is also a member of the National Honor Society, New York State Math Honor Society and is president of the Class of 2016. He was a member of the high school’s mock trial and math teams and was secretary of the school’s science club. Team manager for both the varsity wresting and baseball teams, Brewer has also worked as a senior counselor for the North Shore Youth Council Summer Buddies Program since 2014, and previously was a junior counselor. He will be attending Fordham University in the fall to major in economics.

“Matthew is a bright, articulate and ambitious student who flourishes in an intellectually demanding setting,” Crossan said. “He has a gift of sharing his many talents with others by participating in many volunteer activities.”

Over in Shoreham-Wading River, Kelvin Ma, with a weighted GPA of 102.7, was named valedictorian. Graduating with an advanced regents diploma with mastery in math and science, Ma is a self-taught graphic designer and code designer who volunteered at Brookhaven National Lab during the past two summers. He was sponsored by Wikimedia Foundation to attend the Libre Graphics Meeting, where he gave a lecture on vector graphics and was awarded second place at the 2015 Long Island Junior Science and Engineering Fair.

A member of Moody’s Mega Math Challenge team, he was accepted into the Institute of Creative Problem Solving for Gifted and Talented Students as a freshman. He is a National Merit Scholarship finalist, and awarded the Suffolk County Math Teachers Association Award several times. Ma, who earned the New York State Merit Scholarship for Academic Excellence, will be attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and major in engineering.

Nick Maritato also reached a peak performance level. With a weighted GPA of 101.2, he was named salutatorian and will be attending John Hopkins University in the fall, majoring in biomedical engineering.

An Eagle Scout, Maritato volunteered as a camp counselor, performed in summer pit orchestra and interned at St. Charles Hospital in the biomedical department. A member of the Nexus club, Moody’s Mega Math Challenge team, jazz band and varsity volleyball and track and field teams, he received a New York State Merit Scholarship for Academic Excellence, the Science Teachers’ Association of New York State 2015-16 outstanding senior science award, and Shoreham’s Ralph Gilorenzo humanitarian award.

“As a class, their leadership and commitment to public service and community, as well as personal, athletic, and academic successes are unparalleled,” Shoreham-Wading River principal Dan Holtzman said of the top of the class. “It is these attributes that make our school, district, and community the special place it is.”

Demo for a dangerous eyesore in Rocky Point

by TBR Staff - June 22, 2016

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Rocky-Point-Monroe-Street-Demolitionw — Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine and Councilwoman Jane Bonner were on-site in Rocky Point for the knocking down of a zombie home on Monroe Street earlier this year. Photo from Town of Brookhaven

On June 13, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) and Councilwoman Jane Bonner (C-Rocky Point) were on-hand for the demolition of a “zombie house” located at 17 Monroe Street in Rocky Point.

The house, which had been vacant for many years and fire-damaged, was the source of resident complaints leading to Town of Brookhaven housing code violations dating back to 2008. The house was demolished by the town’s department of waste management in accordance with Chapter 73 of the Town Code, which provides a “fast track” to rid neighborhoods of unsafe structures. The property will be cleared of debris and graded by the town.

“This house was a dangerous eyesore on Monroe Street, and for a long time it had a detrimental effect on the quality of life and property values in the neighborhood,” Bonner said. “I am very happy for the residents that live on the street. Some stopped by during the demolition just to say how very thankful they were that it was coming down.”

The cost of demolition and debris removal is the responsibility of the property owner, and the Town places a lien on the property that is then placed on the tax bill. Suffolk County reimburses the town and then collects the money from the property owner.

“Nearly every community in Brookhaven Town has been hit by the increase of vacant, neglected houses,” Romaine said. “Unfortunately, many of them are run-down and not secure from animals and squatters. We will continue to clean up properties like this and I thank the town law, building and waste management departments for their efforts to help clean up this neighborhood and others across the town.”

Asharoken incumbents get another term

by Victoria Espinoza - June 22, 2016

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Letica-Burke-Ettingerw — Asharoken Mayor Greg Letica, center, and Trustees Laura Burke and Mel Ettinger are all seeking a third term in Village Hall. Photo from Laura Burke

Asharoken is not shaking up its leadership in the coming year, as per the results of Tuesday’s village election.

Mayor Greg Letica and Trustees Mel Ettinger and Laura Burke were all re-elected. Letica recieved 167 votes, Ettinger got 150 and Burke had 143.

Ettinger said he is excited to begin another term for Asharoken.

“I’m thrilled to have been re-elected together with Greg and Laura,” he said in a phone interview Wednesday. “The three of us are looking forward to working with the other two trustees for another two years, and continuing to work on some of the issues facing our village and whatever new issues arise.”

Letica echoed his sentiments.

“I am very happy to be re-elected and I look forward to continuing to serve the residents,” he said. “And I also want to thank them for their support.”

Burke said she is excited to continue to help the village.

“I would like to say that I am pleased and honored to serve alongside the other elected officials of Asharoken, in particular Mayor Letica who brings a tremendous amount of honesty and integrity to our village government,” she said in an email. “I will continue to strive to make decisions in the best interests of our residents and village.

Junior anglers have record day at Smithtown park preserve

by TBR Staff - June 22, 2016

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garrett-jack-fishw — Garret Warren, left, celebrates the largest fish ever captured at the tournament. Photo from Carole Paquette

By Joseph Wolkin

The bait came out and so did smiles across the faces of 43 children on Saturday, June 11.

The 14th annual Friends of Caleb Smith Preserve’s Junior Angler Fishing Tournament was a big catch for Smithtown’s youth. As the bait flew into the water, the kids battled one another to see who would catch the most fish, the largest pan one, along with the biggest “other” fish.

One of two natural preserves on Long Island, Caleb Smith State Park Preserve sits amidst 543 acres in Smithtown. Named after Caleb Smith, who was a judge for the Court of Common Pleas of Suffolk County, along with being a member of the state assembly in the 18th century, the property was dedicated in his name when it was acquired by the state in 1963.

At the end of the tournament, Garrett Warren, 11, came home with the largest fish of the day. Warren set a record for the largest fish caught in the tournament’s 14-year history, catching a 19.5-inch bass and shattering the previous record of approximately 15 inches.

“The fish cooperated and nearly every child caught a fish,” Tom Tokosh, president of the tournament, said. “Last year, we were in the neighborhood of maybe 32 [kids]. It goes year-to-year. I think we did better with marketing this year. I went to some trade shows and put flyers out and stuff.

“We also had a high participation rate. Last year, we had 25 people sign up for the afternoon session, but only 18 showed up. It depends on the weekend I think.”

10-year-old Erik Trovitch ended the day with the most fish caught, reeling in 17 creatures during the afternoon session for kids 9 to 12.

Parents were not allowed to help their children during the afternoon session. However, during the morning round, parents could cast the line, but the children needed to reel the fish in and bring them to shore.

During the morning session, which featured children from ages 5 to 8, 6-year-old Anderson Martinez won first prize for catching a morning-high 12 fish. Additionally, Veronica Leitner, 5, caught the largest “other” fish, bringing home a 14-inch bass.

“All of the fish were released,” Tokosh explained. “We might have hurt a few getting the hooks out, but basically, all of the fish were released. The kids had a great time, and it’s a good experience for them with their parents to bond and do stuff together.”

At the completion of the tournament, 204 fish were caught, measured and released, breaking the previous record of just under 200 fish caught during the tournament, according to Tokosh.

Among those also winning trophies were 9-year-old Gianna Valenti in the largest pan fish category and Brendan Lee-McGraw, 6, in the same section but during the morning round.

Activists take to Flanagan’s office for transgender rights

by Phil Corso - June 22, 2016

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trans_smithtown1w — Protestors hold up signs along Main Street in Smithtown on Saturday in protest of the Senate failing to vote on GENDA. Photo from Juli Grey-Owens

Activists took to the Smithtown office of state Sen. John Flanagan (R-East Northport) over the weekend to express their disappointment with the legislature’s failure to pass a state civil rights bill for the transgender community.

GENDA, also known as the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act, would have helped restrict discrimination against transgender citizens in areas of housing, employment or public access, which could include things like restaurants or cab rides. The bill, which made it through the state Assembly for nine years straight, died in the Senate when the legislative session ended last week, spurring the Long Island Transgender Advocacy Coalition to protest outside Flanagan’s office on Saturday.

“The transgender community has again been prevented from receiving the basic protections all New Yorkers enjoy” said Juli Grey-Owens, executive director of the Long Island Transgender Advocacy Coalition. “In the past, Sen. Flanagan had said he supported this bill to protect his transgender constituents, but now that he has the power to finally bring the bill to the floor for a vote, he seems to have forgotten his commitment to us.”

The Long Island Transgender Advocacy Coalition is a not-for-profit social justice organization dedicated to advancing the equality of transgender people through advocacy, teaching and empowerment. The group hosted a community forum back in March alongside other activist organizations calling for the Senate to step up and pass the legislation, or at the very least, move the conversation forward.

At that time, Flanagan spokesman Scott Reif said the Senate majority leader “prides himself on being open and transparent,” adding that Flanagan was listening.

“The senator routinely meets with all groups, as he has done for 30 years, throughout his entire public career, regardless of whether he agrees with them or not,” Reif said in an email to TBR News Media in March. “The decision to take a meeting is never influenced by a group’s position on an issue; it is dictated solely by what his schedule will allow.”

Grey-Owens said the transgender community was a constant target of discrimination, and Saturday’s demonstration came less than one week after a gunman opened fire at a gay club in Florida, murdering 49 patrons, in what quickly became the biggest mass shooting in U.S. history.

“The National Transgender Discrimination Survey showed that 26 percent of trans people lost a job due to bias, 50 percent were harassed on the job, 20 percent were evicted or denied housing, and 78 percent of trans students were harassed or assaulted,” Grey-Owens said. “We will continue to fight for our community and the rights that are being denied us.”

St. James church honors FDNY chief who died on Sept. 11

by Phil Corso - June 22, 2016

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fdnyfb2w — Smithtown and fellow firefighters stop to salute 9/11 hero Lawrence Stack, whose remains were honored during a service at Saints Philip and James Roman Catholic Church in St. James. Photo from FDNY

All of Smithtown came to a stop on Friday as the community said a final goodbye to one of its own.

FDNY Battalion Chief Lawrence T. Stack of Lake Ronkonkoma was laid to rest at Saints Philip and James Roman Catholic Church of St. James nearly 15 years after his death on Sept. 11, 2001. The North Shore native, who died helping others in the horrific terrorist attacks of that tragic day, was never recovered from the rubble, forcing his family to hold out hope for a proper Catholic funeral ever since.

A bizarre twist of fate made Stack’s funeral and burial possible on Friday, on what would have been his 49th wedding anniversary with his wife Theresa. While his remains were never found, two vials of blood he donated to a bone marrow bank nearly six months before his death allowed his family to orchestrate a final goodbye in Smithtown.

Lawrence Stack, 58, received a full line-of-duty service on Friday as Smithtown shut down several streets surrounding the St. James church to accommodate the number of people who stopped to honor him, including Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D), New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio (D) and countless more distinguished guests. It wasn’t until a year ago that his wife Theresa Stack said she remembered she and her husband donating blood about six months before 9/11 with hopes of matching a Long Island boy who was fighting cancer. Upon remembering and pursuing that blood, Theresa Stack said she found it in a Minnesota blood bank. That blood was buried on Friday.

“We’ve always honored him, respected him, loved him, and we never forgot him. But now he will rest with the members of the FDNY and the military at the Calverton National Cemetery,” wife Theresa Stack said. “I’m happy, and my family is happy, that we finally have some place to go to. I want Larry’s story to be out there so people don’t forget that there are families still suffering from that terrible day.”

Lawrence Stack’s son Michael, who is a lieutenant with the FDNY with Ladder 176, said he would remember his father as someone dedicated to helping others at any cost. In a statement to the FDNY’s Facebook page, Michael Stack detailed the accounts he received of his father’s last day.

“On Sept. 11, 2001, he was at the safety battalion at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, putting the finishing touches on the [fatal] Father’s Day fire report, when he heard about the plane hitting the north tower,” he said. “He went on the roof, looked through his binoculars, and saw the south tower get hit with the second plane. He put his binoculars down, looked to the other chiefs and firefighters and said, ‘Guys, I think they’re going to need us over there.’”

Brian Stack of Ladder 123 was 30 years old when his father died in the Sept. 11 attacks. He said he was thankful to have been able to spend as much time as he did with his father, and felt for the younger children of other heroes who died that day.

“I understood what happened on September 11 because it’s work, it’s the fire department. Danger is always right around the corner. It’s part of the job. I was 30 years old when he died, and I know that I’m lucky that I got more time with my father than some of the men and women coming on the job now,” Brian Stack said. “They were much younger when they lost their fathers. We were fortunate to have so many years with him in our lives.”

In a statement, the New York Blood Center said it was an honor to help bring peace to the Stack family.

“To every member of the FDNY, NYPD and to every rescue worker: We honor you all,” the center said in a statement on its Facebook page. “We honor those fallen in the line of service and those who serve. You protect life in our communities with determination, vision and courage every single day.”

Lawrence Stack worked with the FDNY for 33 years and was one of 343 FDNY members who died on Sept. 11th. He joined the department in 1968, first assigned to Ladder Company 107 and then Ladder Company 175 in Brooklyn. In 1981, he was promoted to lieutenant and assigned to Ladder Company 35 in Manhattan. Three years later, he was promoted to captain and assigned to Division 7 in the Bronx, and in 1990, he was promoted to battalion chief, working in Queens at the Bureau of Operations and the Safety Battalion. Prior to joining the FDNY, he served in the United States Navy for six years, including a tour of duty in the Vietnam War.

Incumbent mayor re-elected in Poquott Village, trustees split

by Alex Petroski - June 22, 2016

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Poquott-Mayor-Dee-Parrish--Poquot-Board-Meeting-010815-Donlonw — Mayor Dolores ‘Dee’ Parrish will serve another two-year term in Poquott. File photo

Incumbent Mayor Dolores “Dee” Parrish defeated challenger Barbara Donovan in her bid for a second term at the helm of Poquott Village on Election Day Tuesday.

Parrish did not appear on the ballot after a state Supreme Court judge ruled in favor of a lawsuit, brought about in part by Donovan, that claimed there were errors in her nominating petition, yet she received 239 write-in votes. Donovan received 190 votes. The race was a rematch of the 2014 election, which saw Parrish unseat Donovan, who was a 12-year incumbent.

Fifteen-year village resident Michael Schaefer and member of Poquott’s planning board captured one of the trustee seats up for election, while small business owner and lifelong Three Village resident John Mastauskas grabbed the other. Schaefer campaigned with Donovan and former Village Clerk Joan Hubbard as a member of the Party of Unity and Respect. Mastauskas, like Parrish and trustee candidates Gary Garofano and Sandra Nicoletti, was forced to pursue election as a write-in candidate.

Schaefer and Mastauskas received 205 and 198 votes, respectively. Hubbard finished third with 187 votes. Nicoletti’s name was written in 149 times, and Garofano’s 82.

None of the seven candidates could be reached for comment by press time Wednesday.

Lawsuits, allegations, closed-door meetings and hard feelings highlighted the campaign in the buildup to Tuesday’s vote. Parrish reached out to voters on the eve of the election Monday night in a nearly 2,000-word email.

“I will continue to improve the beaches and parks, and I will continue to run quality community events for all ages,” Parrish said. “My thoughts are that if beaches and parks are beautiful, safe and remain pet-friendly, people will come out to enjoy them. Physically bringing people together is the first step toward quenching the fires sparked by the few at the expense of the many.”

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