Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Sept. 8 that Christopher Volpe, 44, of Patchogue, pleaded guilty to Burglary in the Third Degree for leading and being a part of a trio that burglarized five Suffolk County Dunkin’ Donuts franchises in 2022.
“This defendant admitted to breaking into these businesses and now he’s going to face justice,” said District Attorney Tierney. “These types of crimes not only violate the law, but they also negatively affect our quality of life in Suffolk County. Businesses that are repeatedly targeted, either leave neighborhoods or raise their prices and this inevitably impacts the quality of life in our communities across Suffolk County.”
According to court documents and the defendant’s statements during his plea allocution, between December 28, 2022, and January 20, 2023, Volpe burglarized five Dunkin’ Donuts locations with the help of co-defendants Michael Gruber, 54, of Medford and Kristen Osmolia, 52, of Holbrook. Gruber drove Volpe and Osmolia to and from each of the burglary locations.
Once there, Volpe pried open the back doors of the locations while the businesses were closed, and stole money from cash drawers, boxes, and safes. During the last three burglaries, Osmolia allegedly acted as a lookout, and assisted with stealing money from inside one of the locations.
Volpe led the group to burglarize the following Dunkin’ Donuts locations:
December 28, 2022 – 5050 Nesconset Highway, East Setauket.
December 30, 2022 – 430 N. Country Road, Saint James.
January 2, 2023 – 235 W. Main Street, Smithtown.
January 3, 2023 – 411 Furrows Road, Holbrook.
January 20, 2023 – 1105J Horseblock Road, Farmingville.
Investigators with the Suffolk County Police Department linked Gruber’s 2019 Chevrolet Equinox to each of the burglaries and apprehended the defendants in the moments following their last heist in Farmingville on January 20, 2022. In total, Volpe, Gruber, and Osmolia collectively stole approximately $6,500 from all five locations. Of that total, approximately $4,500 was recovered subsequent to the arrest of the defendants.On September 7, 2023, Volpe pleaded guilty before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable John B. Collins to two counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, Class D felonies, in satisfaction of the indictment charging him with five counts of Burglary in the Third Degree. Volpe is due back in court on October 13, 2023, for sentencing. He is expected to be sentenced to 5 to 10 years in prison.
Gruber, who was charged with five counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, a Class D felony, pleaded guilty to one count of Burglary in the Third Degree in satisfaction of the indictment on May 31, 2023. Gruber is awaiting sentencing.
Osmolia is charged with three counts of Burglary in the Third Degree, a Class D felony and is being held on $250,000 cash bail, $500,000 fully insured bond, and $1,000,000 partially secured surety bond. Her next court date is September 13, 2023.
Suffolk County Police arrested a man on Sept. 7 for allegedly scamming several people out of thousands of dollars they believed were for deposits on rental homes in the Mastic and Mastic Beach area.
Christian Anderson, a non-licensed realtor, using the alias Benjamin Conyers, located rental properties online and relisted them on a social media website claiming he was the realtor, from January to March of this year. He then arranged meetings with victims in bank parking lots in Shirley and Center Moriches and gave victims fraudulent residential agreements and keys in exchange for cash deposits. Upon arrival at the rental property, the victims found their key did not work or occupants were already in the home. Upon receiving the money from the victims, Anderson then blocked or deleted his social media account and stopped communicating with victims.
Following an investigation by Seventh Squad detectives, Anderson was identified, located, and arrested at his home, at approximately 11 p.m.
Anderson, 24, of Shirley, was charged with alleged Grand Larceny 3rd Degree, Grand Larceny 4th Degree, and Scheme to Defraud 1st Degree.
Detectives are asking anyone who believes they might have been scammed to contact the Seventh Squad detectives at 631-852-8752.
National Preparedness Month is a chance for families to think about what to do in an emergency
With hurricane season entering peak activity, PSEG Long Island marks National Preparedness Month by reminding customers to prepare ahead of time for disasters and emergencies.
“Natural disasters and other emergencies can disrupt access to goods and services that underpin our day-to-day lives,” said David Lyons, interim president and COO of PSEG Long Island. “The safety of our employees, customers and contractors has always been PSEG Long Island’s top priority, and we partner with groups like the United Way to help spread the word. Taking the time to prepare and having a plan limits the negative impact an emergency has on your household.”
PSEG Long Island’s ongoing system improvements and enhancements to the grid help provide electric reliability to Long Island and the Rockaways throughout the year.
PSEG Long Island also continues to incorporate enhancements and upgrades to its systems and its storm processes, including its contingency procedures.
Here’s how customers can prepare for a severe storm and other emergencies:
Ensure you have a battery-powered radio and fresh batteries.
Check your supply of flashlights, blankets, nonperishable food and bottled water.
Create an emergency communications plan.
Develop an evacuation plan.
Charge your cell phones, tablets and other mobile devices.
Make sure to have cash available. Banks may be closed or inaccessible after a storm.
Fill up your vehicle’s fuel tank.
Bring in unsecured objects and furniture from patios and balconies.
Compile a list of emergency phone numbers, including PSEG Long Island’s 24-hour Electric Service number: 1-800-490-0075.
Follow PSEG Long Island on Facebook and Twitter for updates before, during and after the storm.
Be aware that downed wires should always be considered “live.” Do not approach or drive over a downed line, and do not touch anything it might be in contact with. If a wire falls on or near your car, stay inside the car, call 911 and do not get out until PSEG Long Island de-energizes the line. If you MUST exit the vehicle because it is on fire, jump as far as possible away from the vehicle, with both feet landing on the ground at the same time, and hop or shuffle away.
Critical Care Program
PSEG Long Island understands the critical need for power when life-support equipment is in use. While it is the customer’s responsibility to plan ahead to meet their medical needs if the power goes out, eligible customers can receive enhanced notifications by enrolling in the Critical Care Program. When there is severe weather, PSEG Long Island will stay in touch with these customers and make every effort to restore power as soon as possible. However, there may be circumstances when timely restoration is difficult, particularly in the case of a severe storm, and participation in the Critical Care Program does not guarantee priority power restoration.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on Sept. 8 that Anthony Milano, 31, of Selden, pleaded guilty to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, for speeding and driving while intoxicated which led to a crash that killed his rear passenger.
“This defendant’s decision to drink and then drive killed one person and seriously injured another,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I urge everyone to drive safely and call a cab or schedule a car service if you have consumed any alcohol.”
According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on August 15, 2022, at approximately 2:14 a.m., Milano was driving at a high rate of speed on Clearview Avenue in Selden when he lost control of his vehicle causing him to crash into a parked car, and then a tree. Milano’s rear passenger, Paige Swiecicki, 30, of Selden, was killed due to injuries sustained from the crash. Milano’s front passenger, Scott Johnson, 30, of Selden, sustained serious physical injuries and was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital.
During the initial investigation, Milano made admissions to drinking alcohol prior to driving, and consented to a blood test which revealed his blood alcohol concentration was .09%. Prosecutors later obtained a warrant for Milano’s blood that was taken upon his admission to Stony Brook University Hospital, which revealed his blood alcohol concentration was .11%.
Additionally, an analysis of Milano’s vehicle’s black box revealed he was driving 78 miles per hour seconds before the crash.
On September 8, 2023, Milano pleaded guilty before County Court Judge, the Honorable Stephen L. Braslow, to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a Class B felony, Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class C felony and Driving While Intoxicated, an unclassified misdemeanor.
He is due back in court for sentencing on December 7.
The region of Provence sits along the Mediterranean coast at the southern end of the Rhône Valley, east of the Languedoc region. Wine has been made here for around 2,600 years, with grapevines brought by the Greeks, thus making it the oldest wine-producing region in France.
Mediterranean vegetation, described as a combination of brush, piney shrubs, spicy herbs, and fragrant plants, such as juniper, lavender, rosemary, and thyme, referred to as garrigue, grow along the limestone hills.
The refreshing rosé wines of Provence, long popular among dwellers and visitors to the French Riviera, are popular throughout the region, especially in famous gastronomic cities such as Nice and Marseilles. In 2022, over 150 million bottles were produced, accounting for almost 40 percent of France’s rosé production.
In Provence, where both red and white wines are produced, rosé makes up almost 90% of the wine and is produced in all nine appellations. While there are dozens of grapes grown in Provence, the most important white grapes are Clairette, Vermentino, Grenache Blanc, and Roussanne. The most important red grapes are Grenache, Cinsaut, Mourvèdre, Syrah, and the local Tibouren.
Some wines I recently tasted are…
2021 Château Miraval “Côtes de Provence” Blanc. (Made from Rolle grapes.) Pale straw color with a bouquet and flavor of apples, pears, almonds, and citrus. Clean tasting with hints of chamomile, herbs, and minerals.
2022 Château de Berne “Inspiration,” Rosé. (Made with organic grapes.) Blend of Grenache Noir, Cinsaut, and Syrah grapes. Light pink color with a perfumed aroma of apple blossoms, lavender, and orange peel. Delightfully fruity with flavors of citrus, peach, clove, and tart berries. There is a hint of fennel in the aftertaste.
2022 Château de Berne “Romance,” Rosé. (Blend of Grenache Noir, Cinsaut, Syrah, and Merlot grapes.) Salmon-colored with a faint floral bouquet of berries, flowers, and spices. Full flavors of honeysuckle, tart orange, and citrus. Very smooth finish, with an aftertaste of honeydew melon.
2022 Château de Berne “Ultimate,” Rosé. (Blend of Syrah, Grenache Noir, Cinsaut, and Rolle grapes.) Pale coppery color with a fresh bouquet of raspberries, tangerine, and some spices. Full in the mouth with flavors of strawberry jam and citrus. There are hints of jasmine, white pepper, and geranium.
2017 Domaine de La Bégude “Bandol.” (Mostly Mourvèdre grapes.) Deeply colored with a bouquet and flavor of blackberry, cranberry, licorice, clove, and plums. It is quite tannic with a spicy oak aftertaste.
Bob Lipinski is the author of 10 books, including “101: Everything You Need To Know About Whiskey” and “Italian Wine & Cheese Made Simple” (available on Amazon.com). He consults and conducts training seminars on Wine, Spirits, and Food and is available for speaking engagements. He can be reached at www.boblipinski.com OR [email protected].
During a trip to Haydens Orchard (formerly Davis Peach Farm) in Wading River last week to pick up some white peaches I was surprised to see their apple trees already laden with fruit. It made me think of my favorite dessert, apple pie. Most families have a favorite recipe that they love. Here are two more — Grandma’s Apple Pie and Brown Butter Apple Pie — to add to your culinary repertoire.
Grandma’s Apple Pie
YIELD: Makes 8 servings
INGREDIENTS:
Double Crust Pie Pastry
1 large egg, beaten
6 to 7 cups apples, peeled and sliced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1⁄2 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons flour
1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1⁄8 teaspoon nutmeg
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 425 F. Peel apples and cut in quarters. Remove the core and slice apples into 1⁄4-inch to 1⁄8-inch thick. In a large bowl, combine apples, lemon juice, sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Toss well to combine and set aside.
Roll half of the dough into a 12-inch circle. Line a 9-inch pie plate with the pastry dough. Fill with apple filling. Roll the remaining crust and gently place it over the apple mixture. Seal the edges by gently pinching the top and bottom crusts together. You can fold or decorate the edges by crimping or pressing with a fork.
Beat the egg and 2 teaspoons of water or milk. Cut 4 to 5 slits in the top crust to allow steam to escape. Brush with egg mixture and sprinkle with sugar. Bake at 425 F for 15 minutes, reduce heat to 375 F, and bake an additional 35 to 40 minutes or until the crust is golden and the apples are tender.
Cool at least 30 minutes before serving.
Brown Butter Apple Pie
YIELD: Makes 8 servings
INGREDIENTS:
Streusel Topping:
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup chopped pecans
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes
Filling:
4 tablespoons butter
6 to 7 cups apples, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon grated nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla
3 tablespoons flour
1 deep dish frozen pie shell
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 375 F.
To make streusel topping: Mix flour, chopped pecans and light brown sugar. Stir in butter using fingertips until incorporated with small lumps of butter visible. Refrigerate.
To make filling: In large skillet over medium heat, melt butter until amber, stirring often. Set aside to cool. In large bowl, stir sliced apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, vanilla and flour using spatula. Pour brown butter over apples and mix, scraping skillet with rubber spatula to incorporate brown butter bits.
Place frozen pie shell on baking sheet. Add 2 cups apple mixture into shell, gently pressing apple slices for even base. Add remaining apple slices and gently press. Sprinkle streusel topping evenly over apples. Bake 30 minutes then reduce oven temperature to 350 F and bake 35-45 minutes until topping is golden and apples are soft.
The opioid epidemic in Suffolk County remains unresolved among local families, policymakers, resource providers, drug prevention advocates and victims. Fortunately, for once, we see some reasons for hope.
Opioids remain a major killer, particularly of youth, in Suffolk. Hundreds of our fellow residents die each year from opioid overdoses, with a growing number of these deaths brought on by synthetic opioids — notably fentanyl.
While our community and society continue to grapple with the devastation of the drug epidemic, we are encouraged by several developments taking place here at home.
Last week, Suffolk County opened a second round of opioid settlement payments from a projected $200 million lawsuit won by the county government against opioid manufacturers, retailers, distributors and other entities that had compounded the problems and contributed to deaths. [See story, “Suffolk County opens application portal for second round of opioid settlement,” Aug. 31, TBR News Media].
We encourage all qualifying, interested parties and organizations to write an application for this money. While the $200 million cannot undo the damage inflicted upon our people, it can hopefully bring our citizens and nonprofits together around the common cause of ending the opioid epidemic here in Suffolk.
It is also necessary to consider recovery options for addicts. Prevention is critical, but recovery resources are an equally vital side of this conversation. With growing local concerns over a potential lack of space in treatment centers, those who ask for help should receive the necessary care.
Caught in the daily and weekly news cycles, we can sometimes forget that people among us are dying from opioids far too regularly. We are encouraged by the various demonstrations this week — namely at Brookhaven Town Hall and Northport Village Hall — for Opioid Awareness Month.
Still, we acknowledge that so much work must still be done. When September ends, this issue won’t go away.
Therefore, we must use this month as an opportunity to learn about the drug phenomenon here in Suffolk, educate ourselves and others, and apply those lessons during the remaining months of the year.
Public awareness combined with public funds can be a powerful deterrent to help combat the spread of addiction in our community. The actions we take today will impact generations to come.
To apply for opioid grant funding through Suffolk County, please visit www.suffolkcountyny.gov and search under “Opioid Grant Application.”
Sen. Schumer gives support to Sound Beach post office reopening
Dear Postmaster General DeJoy,
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Photo by U.S. Senate Photographic Studio/Jeff McEvoy
I write regarding United States Postal Service (USPS) operations in the hamlet of Sound Beach, New York, on Long Island’s North Shore, where the local post office was shuttered months ago without warning. Sound Beach residents, community leaders and elected representatives are troubled by the lack of communication about the closure from USPS and the apparent lack of any work being done on-site to remedy the situation.
It is my understanding that the Sound Beach post office was shuttered around May 29, 2023, after a potential structural issue at the facility was uncovered. According to community leaders, the only official notification to the community since the closure has been the placement of signs in the building windows stating that the post office is temporarily closed for safety reasons, as well as a statement to a local media organization by a USPS spokesperson stating that the building “remains closed awaiting necessary repairs.” There are also concerns regarding undelivered mail to Sound Beach residents and reported short staffing at the Miller Place post office, where Sound Beach post office personnel have been relocated. I ask that USPS provide me and other community leaders with detailed information about the closure and what work is being done to rectify the situation, including answers to these specific questions:
1) What are the structural issues that have been identified at the Sound Beach post office building?
2) Where is USPS in the process of remedying the structure issues at the facility and what is the timeline for reestablishment of services at the post office?
3) What is the estimated reopening date of the Sound Beach post office?
4) What exact measures are being taken to ensure that mail delivery and postal services are smoothly and adequately provided to Sound Beach residents?
5) Is a temporary location within Sound Beach being considered for postal operations and services? If no, why not?
As you know, local post offices are the bustling center of healthy communities across New York and the country. Reestablishing a post office in Sound Beach is critical to ensuring vital services are accessible to all those who need them. I urge you to work with stakeholders to reestablish operations at the Sound Beach post office as quickly and safely as possible.
Thank you for your attention to this important request. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my staff.
Charles E. Schumer
U.S. Senate Majority Leader (D-NY
Lack of emergency response from PJV
I take the safety of this community very seriously.
On Sunday afternoon, there was a scary and extremely unsettling incident that took place in Port Jefferson. Suffolk County Police Department, village code officers and other first responders, including a SCPD helicopter, were deployed to the harbor area.
Seeing the helicopter and emergency response, I was concerned about what potentially could be unfolding, yet no word came. In desperation, I turned to social media to see if any information was posted from village officials. There was nothing.
What I found instead were panicked messages from residents, also desperate for information, and rumors and hearsay about what might be going on Down Port. Was it a bomb? Had someone targeted the ferry boats or ferry terminal?
Social media was rife with comments and conjecture about what was happening. Instead of information, residents posted their fears, concerns and panic online, as there were over 100 comments on social media posts in real time.
These are from actual social media posts on Sunday:
“My son is down there and I was panicking.”
“This is so scary.”
“They heard a bomb was going to explode.”
My daughter “is working downtown today.”
My daughter “too, she’s working the boats!”
“No communication. People are very angry.”
Despite this, there was not one word from the administration or the mayor [Lauren Sheprow], the self-appointed commissioner of public safety, to calm the concerns or panic. This is the same mayor, who during her reorganizational meeting, chose to deactivate the safety committee.
While I agree that “law enforcement agencies … are responsible for, and lead the communication efforts,” that in no way precludes the administration from coming out in front and informing residents, calming fears and letting the community know the situation is being handled.
Port Jeff Village has an emergency communication system called Code Red, which is designed to keep residents safe. The mayor chose not to use this system nor to communicate through social media or the village website.
It’s shameful that village officials were asleep at the wheel and allowed this incident to unfold and did not take any action to inform residents. Our community was expecting, at least, a Code Red notification. Instead, residents received nothing. Zero communication. Not a word.
During times of crisis, strong leadership that inspires confidence in local government is paramount for a strong community.
Strong leadership or leadership of any kind was nonexistent during this time.
Kathianne Snaden
Port Jefferson
Editor’s note: According to the village website Sept. 4, a bomb threat was made at Port Jefferson Harbor Sunday, Sept. 3, 1:40 p.m., but no bombs were found.
The writer served as trustee of the Village of Port Jefferson from 2019-23, holding the position of deputy mayor and commissioner of public safety.
Port Jefferson’s motorcycle noise
On Saturday, Sept. 2, we were enjoying the wonderful food and service on the porch at The Fifth Season restaurant at 34 E. Broadway. It was a beautiful evening near the boats and the beach, and a pleasure to be outside.
Unfortunately the extremely loud noise made by motorcycles passing by was deafening.
To an extent, the noise is a safety measure for riders, but there is no reason for the exaggerated degree frequently in use by some, especially on the narrow and crowded streets of Port Jefferson.
The noise is at a level to be startling and disturbing to anyone near it and likely harmful to riders themselves. Consideration should be given to requiring a reasonable legal threshold or possibly setting aside a special parking area and street restrictions.
Dave Gross
Port Jefferson
Palumbo way off the mark on migrants
In New York State Sen. Anthony Palumbo’s [R-New Suffolk] op-ed [“Local control is key to protect communities from migrant crisis,” Aug. 31, TBR News Media], he blames lack of leadership for the immigrant crises and argues for the need for local control. Unfortunately, his argument is way off the mark.
The failure of leadership comes from Congress in general and Republicans specifically for failing to pass a comprehensive policy and plan for dealing with immigration. We are not the only country facing a crisis — hundreds of thousands of Central and South Americans as well as Africans are desperately fleeing war, famine, lack of security, gang warfare and the effects of global warming.
The world needs a plan to both stabilize those countries and provide for asylum seekers. Seeking asylum is a basic right. The U.S. should subscribe to international standards for asylum; an asylum claimant must demonstrate persecution based on one of the five protected grounds — race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion.
We should have sufficient judges to quickly process cases, admit those who qualify and deport those who don’t. We need standards to admit those not seeking asylum. Finally, the question is not local control — which runs the risk of not-in-my-backyard claims — or state or national control, but both a comprehensive plan and the acknowledgement that all Americans should welcome immigrants.
It should not be left to the border states, nor should we accept the stunts of Govs. Ron DeSantis [R-FL] and Greg Abbott [R-TX], who have shipped immigrants north without notice or the agreement of the immigrants themselves.
Adam D. Fisher
Port Jefferson Station
The time is now for PJ Branch electrification
A Long Island Rail Road train arrives at Stony Brook train station during rush hour. Photo by ComplexRational from Wikimedia Commons
Please forward this information to friends and relatives in Port Jefferson and include friends and relativeswho reside along the North Shore, west to Greenlawn.
I have been working with the U.S. Green Building Council and the Sierra Club on the Port Jeff Branch electrification project for many years. (The USGBC-LI is focused on green transportation.)
The LIRR has told our village’s Conservation Advisory Council and me that there are challenges to modernization and electrification of the line.
We are not seeing this as an “all or nothing” proposition. We can provide the LIRR planners with options if they need assistance. We can electrify now and “double track” in the future. Better is better than nothing.
This is an economic issue for our area and a green issue for Long Island and New York state. Much money is being spent to improve transportation elsewhere throughout the state.
We pay taxes, too.
New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act — signed into law in 2019 — requires public agencies to work diligently toward New York’s zero-emissions goals.
Diesel locomotion does not conform. Driving from the Port Jefferson line to the Ronkonkoma line for a decent ride does not conform. Building unnecessary parking garages and paving acres of asphalt for parking does not conform.
Suffolk County has designated space at the Lawrence Aviation Superfund site on Sheep Pasture Road for the LIRR that would help with electrification and eliminate two grade-level crossings and two old and obsolete bridges. This would be valuable to our local economy and traffic flow as well.
The time is now. If we do not make progress in the short term, it may be decades before we have better transportation.
Bruce Miller
Port Jefferson
Editor’s note: The writer is a former Village of Port Jefferson trustee.
An alternative to advanced septic systems
The Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act, if passed by referendum vote, would provide an increase in the county sales tax of 0.125%, thereby increasing the combined New York State and Suffolk County tax rate to a whopping 8.375%. The reason for this, we are told, will be to provide reimbursements to beleaguered homeowners who have been required to have advanced wastewater treatment technology installed as part of their cesspools.
Although there is considerable controversy regarding the wisdom of passing this legislation, it seems to be a foregone conclusion that the widespread, possibly even universal, requirement for these high-tech, electric cesspools is a good idea. But is this reasonable?
There are a number of significant problems associated with these units. The initial installation expense is comparable to the cost of a new car, and maintenance and inspection issues are likely to be an ongoing nuisance forever.
But what is the alternative? A much more sensible approach, in my opinion, would be to leave the present concrete cesspools as they are, and to develop large-scale denitrification systems to be installed and operated at the distribution sites of the Suffolk County Water Authority.
These systems would process the nitrate ions, which are composed of nitrogen and oxygen atoms, and produce pure, clean nitrogen and oxygen gasses, which could be released into the atmosphere with no ill effects whatsoever. As a result, the nitrate level of the purified water can be made as low as desired. As a bonus, power could be provided by solar arrays or windmills. And, as we were told by former state Assemblyman Steve Englebright [Perspective, “Let the people vote for clean water,” TBR News Media, Aug. 17], “Pure water is our most essential resource.”
In the early 1900s, Fritz Haber developed a method for synthesizing ammonia from gaseous nitrogen and hydrogen, for which he was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1919. This revolutionized the manufacture of fertilizers, at a reasonable cost, which helped to feed millions of people throughout the world.
If Haber could devise a methodology for combining nitrogen and hydrogen in a cost-effective manner over 100 years ago, surely we can figure out how to separate nitrogen from oxygen just as easily today. And I have no doubt that the SCWA can build, maintain and operate a few hundred of these systems with far greater efficiency, much lower cost and infinitely less aggravation than 380,000 Suffolk homeowners would expend on the electric cesspools buried in their backyards.
From left, Town of Brookhaven Deputy Supervisor Dan Panico, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney, Town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, Councilman Neil Manzella and Councilman Michael Loguercio. Photo by Raymond Janis
Brookhaven officials joined Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) and drug prevention advocates outside Town Hall in Farmingville on Thursday, Aug. 31, to mark the beginning of Opioid Awareness Month.
Several of those present donned purple ribbons as officials called for more urgent intervention on behalf of government.
We “are here today to call attention to the overdose [deaths] that are permeating our county, our state and our country,” said Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine (R), candidate for Suffolk County executive with Dave Calone (D). “We have to have better treatment facilities, we have to help out and reach out to those afflicted and those addicted, and we have to stop the flow of fentanyl into this country.”
Tierney said minimizing opioid deaths is a matter of effective prosecution. “We need to make fentanyl a bailable offense,” the county DA said. “We could only ask for bail if you possess eight ounces of fentanyl, which is about enough fentanyl to kill 114,000 people.”
Brookhaven Deputy Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Manorville), a candidate for town supervisor against SUNY Old Westbury adjunct professor Lillian Clayman (D), condemned the New York State government for passing measures that, according to him, exacerbate the opioid problem.
“Our state government now tries to balance its budget on tax revenue coming from things that lead to addiction,” he said. “They’ve promulgated rules and taxes on marijuana — which is a gateway [drug] — gambling, online gambling. These also compound and lead to addiction.”
The deputy supervisor continued, “We need a shift not only in our society but our government because these are human beings.”
Drew Scott, former newscaster from News 12 who has lost a granddaughter to opioids, attended the press event, reminding policymakers and community members that “addiction is a disease” and that “one pill can kill.”
“Curiosity can kill young people,” he said. “Just one pill at a party out of curiosity has killed so many of our young people.” He also urged others to “please, join the crusade and do something about overdose awareness and fentanyl. And fight, fight, fight.”
Town Councilman Michael Loguercio (R-Ridge), who has lost two nephews to opioids, called upon the state Legislature to require insurance companies to pay for treatment.
State law “should require insurance companies to pay for treatment — not only pay for the emergency room visit when we bring them in but pay for the treatment,” the councilman said. “Please, speak to your New York State Assembly [members] and senators, and get them to legislate requirements for the insurance companies to treat these people with the treatment that they need.”
Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) recognized his Council District’s Drug Prevention Coalition. He advocated for expanding this initiative townwide.
The coalition is “a hyperlocal model of deep engagement through community organizations, local businesses, chambers of commerce, civic associations and working closely with the school districts … to raise awareness, reduce the stigma, and it’s having an impact,” he said. “These are very fine people who are working very hard today and have produced a model that can be replicated all over the town.”
As the first chemist in the history of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Professor John Moses has forged new connections at the lab, even as he maintains his affinity for and appreciation of his native Wrexham in Wales.
Indeed, Moses recently created and funded a fellowship for disadvantaged students in Wales, giving them an opportunity to visit the lab, learn about the science he and others do, and, perhaps, spark an interest in various science, technology, engineering and math fields.
Called Harbwr y Ffynnon Oer Scholarship, which means “Cold Spring Harbor” in Welsh, Moses’s laboratory recently welcomed Jasmine Moss, the first recipient, in early August.
“I hope it broadens” the horizons of those who travel to the lab, explained Moses in an email. “Wales is a small country” with a population of about three million. Coming to New York — a city with a much bigger population than Wales — “can only be an eye-opening experience.”
Jasmine Moss with postdoctoral fellow Dharmendra Vishwakarma. Photo by Theresa Morales
For Moss, who is studying for an integrated masters degree in biomedical engineering, the opportunity proved exciting and rewarding.
“I was expecting to feel intimidated” with everyone knowing so much more than she, Moss said during an interview on the morning of her third day in the lab. “I was expecting maybe a little bit not to understand everything. Everyone is amazing” and made her feel welcome.
The experience started with a walk around the campus, which included considerable information not only about the science but also about the history of the 133-year old laboratory.
Moss, who said this was the first time she’d been in a professional chemistry lab, helped conduct an experiment in which a reaction caused a liquid to change color because of the presence of copper.
“I did the measuring and putting it together,” said Moss, who added that she was “heavily supervised.” She did some calculations as well.
Moss suggested that her interest in science originated with a proficiency in math.
If she were having a bad day in secondary school, she could turn her mood and her mentality around by spending an hour in math class.
Beyond the science
Theresa Morales, a senior scientific administrator, created a schedule of activities and coordinated Moss’s visit.
“We want to do the same thing for any scholarship awardee,” Morales said. “We want to give them the overall experience. It’s not just about the science. We invite the person to realize the culture of Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory” which has a “beautiful campus and great people” who occupy its labs, attend meetings, and share scientific insights and experiences.
A postdoctoral researcher in Moss’s lab, Josh Homer suggested that Morales did “the heavy lifting” in coordinating three days of activities and opportunities for Moss. Homer, who is collaborating with Professor Bo Li to develop new opiates that are non addictive for pain treatment, appreciated Moss’s reactions to the opportunities in the lab.
“I thought [Moss’s] face lit up,” he said. When people are exposed to science in a “manageable and digestible way, they learn that they can do it.”
Indeed, Homer, who grew up in New Zealand, recalled how a high school teacher inspired his interest in science.
“My journey genuinely kick started from one good teacher” who sparked an “inquisitiveness” within him, Homer said.
Coming from a smaller country, Homer can relate to the opportunities science has provided for him.
“Chemistry has been a fantastic way to see the world and explore,” said Homer, who conducted his PhD research at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. “Science is a universal language. Chemistry is the same in India, China” and all over the world.
A family experience
Jasmine Moss with her dad, Stephen Moss, front, with members of John Moses’s lab. Photo by Lorraine Baldwin
Moss traveled to New York for the first time with her parents Stephen and Emma, who stayed with her on campus, toured the grounds and library and attended a picnic.
While the library tour was less interesting to Moss, she said her father “really enjoyed it.”
Morales suggested that the lab “wants parents to feel just as good” and that the parents will have “the same enthusiasm for science and the experience as the scholar if they can feel they are a part” of the visit.
In addition to getting an inside look at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Moss and her parents ventured into the city, where she ate her first pizza and visited the Empire State Building and the Statue of Liberty. She was particularly impressed with the speed at which the Empire State Building was constructed, which took a year and 45 days.
Prior to her visit, Moss’s understanding of the city of New York came from the version she observed through the sitcom “Friends.”
As for the next phase of her life, she expressed an interest in helping people, which could be through medical engineering, biology or in some other field.
“I want to do something meaningful,” Moss said.
Next steps
Moses hopes to bring students to the lab each year, particularly those who might have had problems or difficulties or are from a disadvantaged background. Moss suffers from anxiety and feels every new experience makes similar opportunities easier.
“The team really put me at ease almost immediately,” said Moss.
Moss was surprised by the similarities between Long Island and the United Kingdom. She suggested the best parts of Wales are the countryside and beaches. If she returned the favor and hosted guests in her native Wales, she would take them to an international rugby match in Cardiff.
As for other area sports, Moses comes from the little soccer town that could in Wrexham, which is now famous for the purchase of the local team by actor Ryan Reynolds and co-owner Rob McElhenney. While the actors have brought soccer dreams to life, Moses hopes Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory might help young students realize their science dreams.
Additionally, an analysis of Milano’s vehicle’s black box revealed he was driving 78 miles per hour seconds before the crash.
YIELD: Makes 8 servings
YIELD: Makes 8 servings
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