Yearly Archives: 2021

Sen. Gaughran discusses Cuomo, vaccines and bodycams

by Daniel Dunaief - March 22, 2021

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Sen. Gaughran in his office in August. Photo from Gaughrans office

State Sen. James Gaughran (D-Northport), chair of the Local Government Committee and member of several other committees, spoke with TBR News Media newspapers on Friday, March 12, to discuss his concerns about allegations of a cover-up of nursing home deaths from COVID by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), vaccinations, bodycam usage by police and a full return to school in the fall. Please find below an abridged and edited version of the discussion.

TBR: Are the nursing home issues [related to Cuomo] worrisome to you?

Gaughran: Oh, absolutely. We are very concerned about them. The State Senate is actually going to be holding hearings. In addition to hearings that already have been held, we are absolutely going to get to the bottom line of what happened with the administration and what happened in the nursing homes. It is very disturbing, the reports of changes to records of misrepresentations. It is obviously being reviewed by the United State’s Attorney’s Office. It is very serious. There needs to be a full investigation there. Without interfering with their investigation, we are going to continue to, as a Senate, look as deeply and carefully as possible, making sure that people are held accountable who need to be held accountable.

TBR: What about reports of a possible cover-up by the governor and his office?

Gaughran: That’s going to be, has been and will continue to be a major part of our investigations moving forward. The first priority is making sure we are fixing the problem moving forward. The second part is making sure everybody is being held responsible … You have the other issue that there were reports that were submitted by the Health Department concerning some of the nursing home numbers that were then amended or tweaked by the executive branch before they were released. That is being investigated as well … They are saying that’s part of the normal process [that the] executive branch always before a report is finally issued will review it and make tweaks. That’s fine if we’re talking about grammar and language and even tone perhaps. Based on the circumstance.

TBR: What is it about now that has produced sufficient evidence to give people like you who are part of the Democratic party the initiative to say, ‘It’s time.’ What brought this critical mass to democrats to ask Cuomo to step aside?

Gaughran: The nursing home issue has been extremely disturbing and we have been addressing that for quite a while. The numerous allegations that have come out from a variety of individuals, women, and these are credible and very serious and very disturbing allegations. I believe it is vitally important that they be treated that way. I have the utmost confidence in New York State Attorney General [Letitia] James to make sure that, number one, she is giving every single person coming forward the opportunity to be heard … [she will] obviously follow the facts and whatever the final determination is and recommendations are, that will come out of her report. Simultaneously now, we have the New York State Assembly, through the judiciary committee, which happens to be chaired by my colleague [Charles] Lavine who represents part of my district, they have an obligation under the New York State Constitution to conduct the investigation, because the impeachment process begins with the state Assembly … Whether or not they decide to issue articles of impeachment, that will be up to them … In the event they do, it then goes to the state Senate, where members of the state Senate will serve as jurors, alongside nine members of the New York State Court of Appeals.

TBR: With the government focused on Cuomo, is there any concern that politicians aren’t protecting people in New York?

Gaughran: The big issue is we have to adopt the budget … That impacts everything we’re doing as it relates to Covid, including rolling out the vaccines, making sure as much money as possible [gets] the economy moving again, [providing] assistance to small business, [and] implementing the federal funds, the unrestricted funds that are coming to the state. We have to implement those funds through the budgetary process. We also have to supplement them to some extent because not everything is covered by federal money.

TBR: Gov. Cuomo was present at your first swearing in as a state senator. You’ve worked with him in the past. Is this a difficult position for you to be in to ask him to step aside?

Gaughran: Obviously, it is difficult because I’ve known the governor for quite a while, and the governor has done a lot of great things for this state. I knew his father very well. He was one of our greatest governors. It is extremely difficult, but you know, my obligation is to the people I represent in the district and the people of this state to try to do what is in the best interests of everybody moving forward. It is not something that doesn’t bring me a lot of pain … The allegations that have been made that are very credible from members of the executive chamber and others have to be fully reviewed.

TBR: Have you scheduled your own vaccination?

Gaughran: I did make the cut in the people who have preexisting medical conditions because I do have severe asthma. [I’ve] been treated for [it] since I was a teenager. I take three different medications a day for that. I went online and it took me about a week. I was able to get my vaccine in Utica, which is about an hour and a half outside of Albany.

TBR: Have you seen County Executive Steve Bellone’s (D) report and recommendations about policing?

Gaughran: I have not read the report. I have seen some news accounts of it. I believe that this whole process is a very healthy process … Having some very difficult conversations, I think that’s good. On the issue of bodycams, I voted to require bodycams for all members of the New York State police … Many police officers said to me that they like wearing them as well, it gives them protection as to what the events were that took place to the extent that the bodycam is able to show that it’s obviously an important tool

TBR: How do you think education will look this fall?

Gaughran: I fully expect us to have everybody back in the classroom in the fall.

Waking a Sleeping Lion: Port Jefferson and the Parking District Plan

by TBR Staff - March 22, 2021

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Jefferson’s Townsend House, shown in 1908, was located on the corner of Main and East Main streets. Under the Parking District Plan, the historic building would have been demolished and replaced with Woodard Square. Photo by Arthur S. Greene. Kenneth C. Brady Digital Archive

By Kenneth Brady

Visiting the beautiful downtown Port Jefferson of today, it seems inconceivable that the village’s commercial center of the 1950s was thought to be dead, stagnant and depressing.

Businesses were leaving Port Jefferson and relocating along major highways and at malls, where in contrast to the village, there was adequate parking for customers.

Abandoned by some merchants, Port Jefferson’s shopping section was characterized in local newspapers as ramshackle and dilapidated.

pictures five of the proposed parking lots within the Port Jefferson Parking District. The construction of the squares would have entailed the demolition of historic buildings in the village’s commercial center. Kenneth C. Brady Digital Archive

Absentee landlords were lambasted for not razing structures that had been gutted by fire, particularly burnt-out properties along the village’s East Main Street and East Broadway, while indifferent businessmen were faulted for running drab, seedy stores with dirty, unimaginative window displays and dated, limited stock.

Making matters worse, heavy trucks rumbled through downtown Port Jefferson day and night hauling oil, sand, stone, gravel and fly ash from the various industries along the village’s waterfront. According to critics, the lumbering vehicles created noise, dust, spillage and traffic problems on the streets in Port Jefferson’s business district, driving potential customers away.

In 1957, the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce conducted a study to determine what could be done to revive the village’s ailing retail center and found that 87% of the shoppers surveyed were dissatisfied with parking conditions in Port Jefferson. The report called for enlarging public lots, routing trucks off Main Street, relocating store entrances and other suggestions.

In response to these recommendations, Brookhaven Town appropriated $20,000 in 1960 for a Parking District Committee to study the creation of a Port Jefferson Parking District. In 1961, the committee proposed the establishment of seven parking areas in the village including “Crystal Lake Square” and “Round the Block Square.”

The construction of these lots would have entailed the demolition of historic buildings in Port Jefferson’s downtown business district such as the Townsend House and Aldrich House both of which would have been razed and replaced with the asphalt of “Woodard Square.”

A public meeting was held at Port Jefferson High School on August 22, 1961 to present the plan and allow villagers to voice their reactions. Over 600 indignant residents attended and expressed their overwhelming opposition to the scheme that they believed would destroy the historic character of the community.

Many villagers were bothered by what they saw as the patronizing attitude of an “elite” that had decided that urban renewal, condemnation and eminent domain were best for Port Jefferson.

Residents were also insulted by the contents of a 132-page report that had been prepared for Parking District Committee members only, but had been leaked to the public, and had concluded that 30% of the homes in Port Jefferson were deteriorating, there were slum-like pockets within the village and Port Jefferson’s citizens were poor and aged.

While conceding that improvements were warranted and long overdue, many villagers were miffed that control over parking would have been placed in the hands of a distant Brookhaven Town Board in Patchogue, not the people who actually lived in Port Jefferson.

Brookhaven Town’s unwavering support of the parking plan, even as most villagers emphatically rejected the proposal, sparked the creation of the Port Jefferson Property Owners Association. Organized in September 1961, the civic group soon formed a committee to study incorporation.

Jefferson’s Townsend House, shown in 1908, was located on the corner of Main and East Main streets. Under the Parking District Plan, the historic building would have been demolished and replaced with Woodard Square. Photo by Arthur S. Greene. Kenneth C. Brady Digital Archive

The idea of home rule was not new to Port Jefferson. As early as 1895, the Ladies Village Improvement Society of Port Jefferson had called for incorporation, but the parking plan and an indifferent Brookhaven Town Board had prodded villagers into action and awakened a sleeping lion.

On Dec. 7, 1962, by a 2-1 margin, Port Jefferson’s residents voted to incorporate, deciding in favor of local control and the right to govern independent of Brookhaven Town.

The Parking District Plan was dead.

Kenneth Brady has served as the Port Jefferson Village Historian and president of the Port Jefferson Conservancy, as well as on the boards of the Suffolk County Historical Society, Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council and Port Jefferson Historical Society. He is a longtime resident of Port Jefferson.

TBR News Media endorses Kornreich in Brookhaven special election

by TBR Staff - March 22, 2021

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JK Photo 3 — Former Three Village Civic Association president and school district board trustee Jonathan Kornreich announced earlier this year he was running for Brookhaven Town Council in a special election March 23. Photo from candidate

TBR News Media strongly endorses Democrat candidate Jonathan Kornreich in Town of Brookhaven’s special election March 23. He and Republican Theresa Laucella are vying for the town board seat left vacant by former Councilwoman Valerie Cartright (D-Port Jefferson Station), who won her run as a judge for the Supreme Court of the State of New York in November.

Kornreich has a proven record of working for the public with the Three Village Civic Association and school district. He is bright, articulate, hard working and committed to whatever task he takes on. Kornreich wants to make a difference in the community.

If elected, he will be the only Democrat on the Brookhaven Town Board, which is important to maintain a two-party system, but at the same time, through his work with the civic association, Kornreich has no trouble working with all political parties on all levels of government.

The candidate is always willing to help out in the community whether it’s bringing meals to homebound seniors or finding resources for business. He listens to residents concerns and carefully contemplates the best way to help.

He understands the importance of smart development and land preservation. Most of all, since he announced his run for town council earlier this year, he has taken the time to talk to residents and participated in Meet the Candidates nights organized by local community organizations.

We were deeply disappointed that his opponent Laucella could not be reached for interviews or participate in Meet the Candidates events. However, this criticism is not toward Laucella but the Brookhaven Republican Committee. We suggest the committee take every election seriously and produce a candidate who will actively campaign instead of being a placeholder on the ballot.

Laucella, who was described as an active volunteer in an email from the committee, would most likely have a lot to say about life in District 1 and how she would make it an even better place to live. It’s a shame she wasn’t given the opportunity to do so.

Unfortunately this isn’t the first time the committee has nominated Laucella for a position, and we were left disappointed. In 2013, she ran against Suffolk County Legislator Kara Hahn (D-Setauket) and didn’t participate in a TBR News Media debate with Hahn.

One of the most important things an elected official can do is show up. Kornreich proves again and again that he shows up.

We urge a vote for Jonathan Kornreich for Brookhaven Town Board March 23.

Ward Melville Patriots sweep Colonials in 3

by Bill Landon - March 21, 2021

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Ward Melville girls volleyball opened their season with a pair of wins, a road game against Longwood, 3-0, and a nail biter at home versus Pat-Med that went five games before falling to Commack and Sachem East at home both games in three sets. The Patriots snapped their two-game losing streak with a convincing three set romp over visiting William Floyd 25-11, 25-11 and 25-9 March 20.

Unstoppable at net were outside hitter Sophia DiGirolamo, a junior, and eighth-grader Emma Bradshaw, who between them killed 18 along with nine digs by senior Phoebe Bergson to lift the Patriots to 3-2 in League I.

The win puts the Patriots solidly in fourth place behind Commack and Sachems East and North with surprisingly 11 games left in this COVID-19 abbreviated season.

Wildcats blank Mustangs 28-0

by Bill Landon - March 20, 2021

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Shoreham-Wading River junior Max Barone breaks free and goes the distance in a road game against Mt. Sinai Mar. 19. Photo by Bill Landon

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Last season, which was a year-and-a-half ago, Mount Sinai dealt Shoreham-Wading River their only loss of the regular season and the Wildcats weren’t about to let that happen again, blanking the Mustangs 28-0 on the road March 19.

Senior Johnny Schwarz found the endzone on a 36-yard pass from senior quarterback Chris Visintin and punched in again from 8 yards out for a 14-0 lead. Visintin connected with Jake Wilson on a 10-yard pass play in the 3rd quarter and found Max Barone on a 22 yarder late in the game. Jake Ekert’s foot was perfect on the night splitting the uprights all four times.

The win lifts the Wildcats to 2-0 with 3 games remaining while Mount Sinai opens their season 0-1 after they were forced to postpone their season opener due to one or more players testing positive for COVID-19.

Shoreham-Wading River is back in action in another road game against Miller Place March 26 with a 6:30 start and the Mustangs hit the road the following day against Islip. Game time is 2:00 p.m. Photos by Bill Landon

Cooking Cove: Pea-pickin easy peasy recipes

by Barbara Beltrami - March 20, 2021

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By Barbara Beltrami

I was walking out of the supermarket the other day, and there it was! A metal kiosk of seed packets, for me the first harbinger of spring, the first palpable beckoning to my garden. As I spun the rack and ogled the brightly colored envelopes, I knew what I was looking for … peas! They’re always the first seeds I plant and because I don’t have a huge space in which to grow them, I usually get a rather spare harvest, but one generous enough to give me a nice trio of dishes to use the peas in. And while frozen peas are one of the better substitutes for a fresh vegetable, they can’t compare with fresh ones. That’s why I like to cook them with as little adulteration as possible.

Fresh Peas with Butter, Mint, and Chives

YIELD: Makes 2 servings

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup shelled fresh peas

1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter

3 mint leaves, minced

2 tablespoons snipped fresh chives

Coarse salt and freshly ground white pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Cook peas in boiling salted water until tender, about two minutes; drain and place in a medium bowl; toss with butter, mint and chives; add salt and pepper and serve hot or warm with poached salmon or grilled lamb chops.

Fresh Pea and Spring Vegetable Salad

YIELD: Makes 4 servings

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups freshly shelled peas

8 baby potatoes, peeled

8 fresh asparagus stalks, trimmed

1/4 cup snipped fresh chives

1 small shallot minced

1/2 celery rib, minced

1 carrot, peeled and shredded

4 radishes, scrubbed and thinly sliced

1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

2 to 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar

1/2 teaspoon prepared mustard

1 tablespoon mayonnaise

Salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:

Cook peas in boiling salted water until tender, about two minutes; drain and place in large bowl. Dice potatoes and cook in boiling salted water until tender, about 5 minutes; drain and place in bowl with peas. Steam asparagus stalks until tender but still bright green, about 5 to 7 minutes. When cool enough to handle, trim off tips, then cut stalks into half-inch pieces; put tips and stalk pieces in bowl with peas and potatoes, then add chives, shallot, celery, carrot and radish slices. In small bowl vigorously whisk together oil, vinegar, mustard, mayonnaise and salt and pepper; when emulsified pour over pea mixture and toss to combine thoroughly. Serve warm or at room temperature with fish, poultry or meat.

Farfalle with Fresh Peas, Prosciutto and Scallions

YIELD: Makes 4 to 6 servings

INGREDIENTS:

1 pound farfalle pasta (bow ties)

1 1/2 pounds peas in pods

8 ounces unsalted butter

1/2 pound thinly sliced prosciutto, torn into bite-size pieces

4 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Coarse salt and freshly ground white pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Cook pasta according to package directions, but about 2 minutes before it’s done add peas to the water. When pasta is al dente and peas are tender, after about two minutes, drain them but reserve 1 1/2 cups cooking water. In large heavy pot over medium heat melt butter until it is foamy. Add prosciutto pieces and scallions to pot and, stirring frequently, cook until prosciutto starts to get crispy and scallions are wilted, about 3 to 4 minutes. Add cooked pasta, peas, cheese, and one cup of reserved pasta water to pot with prosciutto; cook over medium heat, tossing vigorously and adding more pasta water if necessary, until creamy, about half a minute; season with salt and pepper. Serve hot with a baby arugula salad.

Legally Speaking: What to expect when buying a house ‘as is’

by Linda Toga, P.C. - March 20, 2021

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By Linda M. Toga, Esq.

THE FACTS:

We just bought our first house from an estate. When we looked at the house with our realtor, most, but not all, of the furnishings had already been removed. The contract of sale provided that the house was being sold “As Is” and was to be “broom swept” at the time of the closing. When we did the walk thru, we were shocked to see that the furniture and household furnishings that were in the house when we first saw it were still there and that the house was quite dirty.

THE QUESTION:

Were we wrong to believe that “As Is” in the context of a real estate transaction refers to the physical condition of the house itself and not to the extent to which it may be furnished? Should the seller have thoroughly cleaned the house before the closing?

THE ANSWER:

Unless the contract of sale stated that the items left in the house were included in the sale, you were not wrong to expect that the furniture and household items in the house would have been removed before the closing. In the context of a real estate transaction, “As Is” refers to the condition of the structure, the plumbing, the electrical system, the heat/AC systems and the included appliances. It also covers kitchen cabinets, bathroom vanities and built-in bookcases, as well as other items that are attached to the structure itself.

Despite this fact, the question of whether “As Is” also refers to the presence in the house of personal property such as furniture and furnishings sometimes arises when the seller is an estate or when the property being sold has either been rented or vacant for a long period of time. Under those circumstances it is not unusual for the seller to have no interest in keeping the contents of the house and no desire to pay for their removal.

To avoid any confusion and conflict, both the seller and the purchaser should discuss with their respective attorney what items of personal property, if any, are included in the sale and confirm that the other party has the same understanding of the term “As Is”.

As for a house being “broom swept,” courts have concluded that a house is “broom swept” if it is free of furniture, household furnishings, garbage, refuse, trash and other debris. A seller should not, for example, leave a broken freezer in the basement, a dirty litter box in the hallway, decayed food in the refrigerator or cans of paint and other hazardous materials in the garage. By doing so, the seller is not satisfying his obligations under the contract to leave the house “broom swept.”

However, if the house is dusty, if there are crumbs on the counter and some hair on the bathroom floor, a court will still likely find that the house was “broom swept.” If you want assurances that the house will be in move-in condition, you should ask that a provision be added to the contract of sale stating that the seller must have the house professionally cleaned prior to the closing.

Linda M. Toga, Esq. provides legal services in the areas of estate administration, estate planning, real estate and small business services from her East Setauket office. Call 631-444-5605 or vising her website at www.LMTOGALAW.com to schedule a consultation

Medical Compass: Nonpharmacological approaches to managing osteoarthritis

by David Dunaief - March 19, 2021

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osteoarthritis 1 — Osteoarthritis osteoarthritis affects joints in your hands, knees, hips and spine. METRO photo

By David Dunaief

Osteoarthritis most commonly affects the knees, hips and hands. If you suffer from it, you know it can be painful to perform daily tasks or to get around. There are some surgical solutions, such as joint replacements of the hips or knees, as well as medical approaches with pain medications. The most commonly used first-line medications are acetaminophen and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen. Unfortunately, while medications treat the immediate symptoms of pain and inflammation, they don’t slow osteoarthritis’ progression, and they do have side effects, especially with long-term use.

Here, we’ll focus on nonpharmacologic approaches you can use to ease pain — and perhaps slow worsening of your osteoarthritis.

Does dairy help or hurt?

With dairy, specifically milk, there is conflicting information. Some studies show benefits, while others show that it may contribute to the inflammation that makes osteoarthritis feel worse.

In the Osteoarthritis Initiative study, an observational study of over 2,100 patients, results showed that low-fat (1 percent) and nonfat milk may slow the progression of osteoarthritis in women (1). The researchers looked specifically at joint space narrowing that occurs in those with affected knee joints. Compared to those who did not drink milk, patients who did saw significantly less narrowing of knee joint space over a 48-month period.

Osteoarthritis affects joints in your hands, knees, hips and spine. METRO photo

The result curve was interesting, however. For those who drank from fewer than three glasses a week up to 10 glasses a week, the progression of joint space narrowing was slowed. However, for those who drank more than 10 glasses per week, there was less beneficial effect. There was no benefit seen in men or with the consumption of higher fat products, such as cheese or yogurt.

However, the study had significant flaws. First, the patients were only asked about their milk intake at the study’s start. Second, patients were asked to recall their weekly milk consumption for the previous 12 months before the study began — a challenging task. Third, confounding factors, such as orange consumption, were not examined.

On the flip side, a study of almost 39,000 participants from the Melbourne Collaborative Cohort Study found that increases in dairy consumption were associated with increased risk of total hip replacements for men with osteoarthritis (2).

Getting more specific, a recently published analysis of the Framingham Offspring Study found that those who consumed yogurt had statistically significant lower levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), a marker for inflammation, than those who didn’t eat yogurt, but that this was not true with milk or cheese consumption (3).

We are left with more questions than answers. Would I recommend consuming low-fat or nonfat milk or yogurt? Not necessarily, but I may not dissuade osteoarthritis patients from yogurt.

Vitamin D

Over the last decade, the medical community has gone from believing that vitamin D was potentially the solution to many diseases to wondering whether, in some cases, low levels were indicative of disease, but repletion was not a change-maker. Well, in a randomized controlled trial (RCT), the gold standard of studies, vitamin D had no beneficial symptom relief, nor any disease-modifying effects (4). This two-year study of almost 150 men and women raised blood levels of vitamin D on average to 36 ng/ml, which is considered respectable. Researchers used MRI and X-rays to track their results.

Weight loss

This could not be an article on osteoarthritis if I did not talk about weight. In a study involving 112 obese patients, there was not only a reduction of knee symptoms in those who lost weight, but there was also disease modification, with reduction in the loss of cartilage volume around the medial tibia (5).

On the other hand, those who gained weight saw the inverse effect. A reduction of tibial cartilage is potentially associated with the need for knee replacement. The relationship was almost one-to-one; for every 1 percent of weight lost, there was a 1.2 mm3 preservation of medial tibial cartilage volume, while the exact opposite was true with weight gain.

Exercise and diet

In a study, diet and exercise trumped the effects of diet or exercise alone (6). Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee who lost at least 10 percent of their body weight experienced significant improvements in function and a 50 percent reduction in pain, as well as reduction in inflammation, compared to those who lost 5 to 10 percent and those who lost less than 5 percent. This study was a well-designed, randomized controlled single-blinded study with a duration of 18 months.

Researchers used biomarker IL6 to measure inflammation. The diet and exercise group and the diet-only group lost significantly more weight than the exercise-only group, 23.3 pounds and 19.6 pounds versus 4 pounds. The diet portion consisted of a meal replacement shake for breakfast and lunch and then a vegetable-rich, low-fat dinner. Low-calorie meals replaced the shakes after six months. The exercise regimen included one hour of a combination of weight training and walking with alacrity three times per week.

Therefore, concentrate on lifestyle modifications if you want to see potentially disease-modifying effects. These include both exercise and diet. In terms of low-fat or nonfat milk, the results are controversial at best. For yogurt, the results suggest it may be beneficial for osteoarthritis, but stay on the low end of consumption. And remember, the best potential effects shown are with weight loss and with a vegetable-rich diet.

References:

(1) Arthritis Care Res online. 2014 April 6. (2) J Rheumatol. 2017 Jul;44(7):1066-1070. (3) Nutrients. 2021 Feb 4;13(2):506. (4) JAMA. 2013;309:155-162. (5) Ann Rheum Dis. 2015 Jun;74(6):1024-9. (6) JAMA. 2013;310:1263-1273.

Dr. David Dunaief is a speaker, author and local lifestyle medicine physician focusing on the integration of medicine, nutrition, fitness and stress management. For further information, visit www.medicalcompassmd.com.

Three Village prepares next year’s budget and for policy changes

by TBR Staff - March 19, 2021

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WardMelvilleHS-AmericanFlagsFor911--#5--9-14-14--ByGregCatalanoW — File photo by Greg Catalano

By Andrea Paldy

Though much is still uncertain about the coming school year, Three Village plans to build on the success of this year’s full September reopening.

To achieve this, the administration has forecast a 2021-22 budget that will pierce the 1.37 percent cap on the tax levy increase. At last week’s school board meeting, Jeff Carlson, deputy superintendent for business services, outlined a proposed budget of about $222.6 million, based on a tax levy increase of 1.85 percent.

The deputy superintendent said that in opening schools to all students five days a week last September, Three Village managed something that “almost no school district anywhere — not just on Long Island or in New York” has been able to do. “And it wasn’t that we just happened to get lucky.”

Pointing to the work of staff, students and parents, he added, “It was a real team effort, and it also cost a lot of money.”

That led the district to spend $6.5 million in COVID-related expenses this school year. About $4 million covered additional instructional staff for smaller classes, allowing students to keep six-foot distancing within classrooms, Carlson said. It also meant that over time, entire classes did not have to quarantine when someone was diagnosed with the coronavirus and that the district did not have to close down any buildings. The school district also increased spending for cleaning supplies, additional custodial staff, desk shields, Chromebooks and personal protection equipment, Carlson said.

The district also offered fully remote instruction for students who weren’t ready to return to in-person learning this year. The administration plans to offer “some sort of” remote program at least at the beginning of the upcoming school year, Carlson said.

Though the state aid package to the district decreased this year, state legislation allowed school districts and local governments to borrow from their reserves to pay for pandemic-related expenses. However, this same legislation also requires that the funds be repaid within five years. So next year’s budget also includes funds to pay back about $800,000 to the district’s reserves, Carlson said.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D) preliminary budget for next year proposes another reduction in state aid to Three Village. District officials hope, however, to receive an allocation of funds from the federal stimulus. Even so, the school board and administration are planning beyond the stimulus money, Carlson said. In the past, federal money has been temporary, he said, citing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. What followed from 2010 to 2016 was New York State’s Gap Elimination Adjustment, which took money out of school aid to help plug the hole in the New York State budget. Carlson said Three Village lost $32.4 million in state aid over those years and had to make a number of costly cuts to staffing and programs.

Carlson also explained that because the school board wanted to cover the costs of a full reopening and prepare for the future, it was willing to go above the cap as long as the increase remained below 2 percent.

The cap on the tax levy increase has often been called the “2 percent cap,” because the law was meant to cap tax increases at two percent, or the consumer price index — whichever was lower. However, the cap varies year-to-year and district-to-district, because it is based on a formula that also takes into account other criteria such as a district’s tax base growth factor and allows for certain exclusions that can push the increase above 2 percent.

While a budget within the tax cap would cost the average taxpayer an additional $164 a year, the proposed budget would add about $222 — $58 more — to the average tax bill, Carlson said.

Because the budget is above the cap, it must receive a supermajority, or 60 percent approval, to pass. The budget vote will take place Tuesday, May 18.

Policy

In other news, the board updated a number of policies in compliance with the state. Among them, said Alan Baum, executive director of human resources and secondary curriculum, is a policy making all public single-occupancy bathrooms gender neutral, as well as one that shifts learning standards to the Next Generation Standards and includes provisions for equity, inclusion and diversity. The new policies also provide guidelines for selecting textbooks — which now include resources that are not physical — that fairly represent the many ethnic, cultural and religious traditions that contribute to American heritage, Baum said.

Also adopted is an updated policy for safety plans to ensure continuity of instruction in case of events like a pandemic, as well as a new policy for pandemic planning. Professional development will shift toward “professional learning.” The policy also includes a provision for “culturally responsive professional learning” for staff.

Board president Inger Germano will resign at the end of the month to take the position of Three Village school district clerk. She is replacing Kathleen Sampogna, who is retiring.

Germano first ran for the board in 2011 and was pro tempore district clerk for nine years. In a statement she read to the board, Germano said it has been a great privilege to serve and that she looks forward to continuing to serve the community and the district in another role.

Record Year: 149 students at the Renaissance School of Medicine at SBU matched to residency programs nationwide

by Press Release - March 19, 2021

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In a year and time in history when the value of medicine and the need for physicians has been magnified, the Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University’s Match Day 2021 was its largest ever. Family, friends and other loved ones watched virtually as 149 fourth year students matched to medical residency program’s nationwide this afternoon.

Match Day is an annual nationwide event when more than 30,000 medical students learn of their residency assignments. It is administered by the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and coordinated through the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC).

Click here for brief video clips showcasing signature moments when students found out where they will launch their medical careers.

Among the video clips is Jessica White, a mother of two and Long Island native, as she matched to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Plus, Joe Fiola, who matched to Stony Brook University Hospital for Anesthesiology and honored his deceased mother during the moment.

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Yearly Archives: 2021

Sen. Gaughran discusses Cuomo, vaccines and bodycams

Waking a Sleeping Lion: Port Jefferson and the Parking District Plan

TBR News Media endorses Kornreich in Brookhaven special election

Ward Melville Patriots sweep Colonials in 3

Wildcats blank Mustangs 28-0

Cooking Cove: Pea-pickin easy peasy recipes

Legally Speaking: What to expect when buying a house ‘as is’

Medical Compass: Nonpharmacological approaches to managing osteoarthritis

Three Village prepares next year’s budget and for policy changes

Record Year: 149 students at the Renaissance School of Medicine at SBU matched to residency programs nationwide

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SBU Sports: Softball downed in high scoring regular-season finale at Drexel

John W. Engeman Theater announces 2025-2026 season line-up

D. None of the Above: Enduring an isolating tragedy that fractures the college fairy tale