Nestled on 1.65 acres, this home boasts 288 feet of direct waterfront, offering breathtaking, unobstructed views of both the bay and the Long Island Sound. 4 spacious bedrooms and 2 well-appointed baths. Enjoy the luxury of an inground pool, and rest easy with natural gas heating.
$1,500,000
For more information, click here.
An Abundance of Natural Light throughout. Built-in China Cabinets in Dining Room. Beautiful Archways and Beamed Ceiling in Living Room and Dining Room. Outdoor Shower with Hot and Cold Running Water.
$629,000
For more information, click here.
You are probably tired of hearing about last week’s storm.
It was catastrophic, terrible, disturbing and all-around, a complete and utter drag.
But, it is so incredibly important to remember that this Earth is precious, and should not be taken lightly. Storms like this serve as stark reminders of the fragility of our planet, and how it can be struck with disaster, at the blink of an eye.
We know you have all heard this before, but it is vital to care about our home. And, not just in Stony Brook or Port Jefferson or Rocky Point or Smithtown or Centereach. We need to nurture our Long Island home. Our waterways. Our wildlife. Even our infrastructure.
If we are to experience natural disasters, the last thing our planet needs is plastic bottles thrown onto the curb, incessant pipe exhaust and muck-ridden water. Everything in life is a chain reaction. If we show indifference to our atmosphere, the climate will change. If our animals swim in filth, they will die. If they die, their terrain is permanently altered. It goes on and on.
We are not scientists, and we are not seeking to preach. However, as concerned citizens of this community, all we want is for it to thrive. To be clean and livable for all living creatures.
As that sign down in the Stony Brook Village Center says: “I like to see a man proud of the place in which he lives.” But, perhaps more importantly, the full quotation continues on, “I like to see a man live, so that his place will be proud of him.”
Our planet is unpredictable enough, so let’s not add unnecessary variables to its already, sometimes devastating, whims.
So, let’s make our Earth proud.
Moses K. Johnson Ordered to Pay the New York State and Local Retirement System Back the $56K He Stole From His Deceased Mother’s Pension Funds
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney and New York State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli announced on Sept. 3 that Moses K. Johnson, 63, of Huntington and a former employee of the Town of Huntington, pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree for stealing more than $56,000 of his mother’s public pension payments following her death in April of 2021.
“The defendant’s actions were not only illegal but morally reprehensible, stealing from his own deceased mother’s pension funds,” said District Attorney Tierney. “This case highlights the importance of our ongoing collaboration with the State Comptroller’s Office in rooting out fraud and abuse. We will continue to work tirelessly to protect the integrity of our pension systems and bring those who attempt to defraud them to justice.”
“Mr. Johnson callously exploited his mother’s death to line his own pockets,” said State Comptroller DiNapoli. “I thank Suffolk County District Attorney Tierney for his partnership in bringing him to justice. My office will continue to partner with law enforcement agencies across the state and country to protect the New York State pension system from fraud.”
Moses’ arrest was the result of a joint investigation by the Suffolk County District Attorney and the Office of the New York State Comptroller.
According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, after Johnson’s mother died on April 16, 2021, Johnson failed to notify the bank or the New York State and Local Retirement System (NYSLERS) of her death and instead, he continued to collect and spend her pension payments.
Between April 30, 2021, and June 30, 2022, Johnson collected a total of 15 unauthorized payments totaling $56,411. The stolen funds were traced from Johnson’s mother’s bank account into his bank account, from which he then spent the money.
Johnson previously worked for the Town of Huntington for over 30 years and worked in the recycling center until his retirement in 2017. As a member of the state retirement system, Johnson was aware of the pension process and knew his mother’s payments should have been terminated with her death.
On October 11, 2023, Johnson was arrested by investigators of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.
On September 3, 2024, Johnson pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the Fourth Degree, a Class E felony, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Steven A. Pilewski. Justice Pilewski ordered Moses to pay restitution in the amount of $56,411. He is due back in court on December 10, 2024.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Amanda Scheier of the Public Corruption Bureau.
Stony Brook Medicine (SBM) has once again been recognized by the American Heart Association for its commitment to delivering high-quality patient care across cardiovascular and stroke focus areas. This year marks the 14th consecutive year for Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) (2010 – 2024) and the 11th consecutive year forStony Brook Southampton Hospital (SBSH) (2014 – 2024) to receive the Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – StrokeGold Plus achievement award. For the sixth consecutive year, SBUH received the Get With The Guidelines® – Heart FailureGold Plus quality achievement award. Both awards recognize SBM’s dedication to improving outcomes for patients, meaning reduced readmissions and more healthy days at home.
“This recognition by the American Heart Association underscores the unwavering dedication of our healthcare teams to provide exceptional care for our patients,” said Dr. William Wertheim, Executive Vice President of Stony Brook Medicine. “Our continuous recognition over the years highlights our dedication to providing top-tier cardiovascular and stroke care, and we are proud to see the positive impact our efforts have on improving patient outcomes.”
Stroke
Stroke is the No. 5 cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the U.S. Early stroke detection and treatment are key to improving survival, minimizing disability and accelerating recovery times. Get With The Guidelines puts the expertise of the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to work for hospitals nationwide, helping ensure patient care is aligned with the latest research- and evidence-based guidelines.
In addition to this year’s Gold Plus achievement, Stony Brook University Hospital once again earned the distinctions of Target: Stroke℠ Elite Honor Roll, Target: Stroke Advanced Therapy Honor Roll and Target: Type 2 Diabetes℠ Honor Roll for Stony Brook University Hospital.
Heart Failure
Approximately 6 million U.S. adults live with heart failure, a condition that impairs the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively throughout the body. This can significantly impact a person’s quality of life, causing symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue which is often severe. However, with advanced care, patients can often achieve a better quality of life through lifestyle changes, symptom monitoring, accurate diagnosis, and cutting-edge therapies including state-of-the-art medications and interventions.
The Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Center at Stony Brook continues to be recognized for its excellence in patient care, having earned the American Heart Association’s Get With The Guidelines® – Heart Failure Gold Plus quality achievement award for the sixth consecutive year. This prestigious honor commends hospitals that consistently demonstrate an unwavering commitment to treating patients according to the latest evidence-based guidelines from the American Heart Association. The award further highlights Stony Brook’s Heart Failure and Cardiomyopathy Center’s recognition as Long Island’s only heart failure program to have earned the distinguished Joint Commission Certification for Advanced Heart Failure, a mark of excellence the Center has proudly achieved since 2011. At Stony Brook, the comprehensive heart failure program leverages the most advanced pharmacological therapies, surgical interventions, and breakthrough devices to ensure the highest quality of life for its patients.
Resuscitation
Each year, more than 300,000 adults and children experience an in-hospital cardiac arrest. Survival from cardiac arrest largely depends on timely medical emergency team response and effective CPR.
Get With The Guidelines – Resuscitation was developed to help save lives of patients who experience in-hospital cardiac arrests by consistently following the most up-to-date research-based guidelines for treatment as outlined by the American Heart Association. Guidelines include following protocols for patient safety, medical emergency team response, effective and timely resuscitation (CPR) and post-resuscitation care.
Stony Brook University Hospital is also nationally recognized for its commitment to improving cardiac arrest survival rates and received these top-level awards:
About Stony Brook University Hospital:
Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) is Long Island’s premier academic health center. With 624 beds, SBUH serves as the region’s only tertiary care center and Regional Trauma Center, and is home to the Stony Brook University Heart Institute, Stony Brook University Cancer Center, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital and Stony Brook University Neurosciences Institute. SBUH also encompasses Suffolk County’s only Level 4 Regional Perinatal Center, state-designated AIDS Center, state-designated Comprehensive Psychiatric Emergency Program, state-designated Burn Center, the Christopher Pendergast ALS Center of Excellence, and Kidney Transplant Center. It is home of the nation’s first Pediatric Multiple Sclerosis Center. To learn more, visit www.stonybrookmedicine.edu/
About Stony Brook Southampton Hospital:
With 124 beds, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital (SBSH) is staffed by more than 280 physicians, dentists, and allied health professionals representing 48 medical specialties. A campus of Stony Brook University Hospital, SBSH offers a diverse array of clinical services, ranging from primary medical care to specialized surgical procedures, including cardiac catheterization, orthopedics and bariatrics. The sole provider of emergency care on Long Island’s South Fork, Stony Brook Southampton Hospital is a provisional Level III adult Trauma Center. The hospital includes The Phillips Family Cancer Center, a Heart and Stroke Center, Breast Health Center, The Center for Advanced Wound Healing, Wellness Institute, and 32 satellite care centers throughout the South Fork of Long Island. The hospital is the largest employer on the South Fork with more than 1,200 employees. To learn more, visit www.southampton.
About Get With The Guidelines:
Get With The Guidelines® is the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s hospital-based quality improvement program that provides hospitals with the latest research-based guidelines. Developed with the goal of saving lives and hastening recovery, Get With The Guidelines has touched the lives of more than 14 million patients since 2001. For more information, visit heart.org.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Sixth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the man who allegedly stole merchandise from a Centereach store in September.
A man allegedly stole an E-Bike from Walmart, located at 161 Centereach Mall, on September 1. The electric bike is valued at approximately $600.
Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.
By Daniel Dunaief
Fire departments around Suffolk County are preparing, training and gathering equipment for the kinds of water emergencies that can require rescues from homes, cars or buildings.
Amid the sudden and intense rains that damaged parts of Stony Brook and surrounding areas, fire departments received far higher than average numbers of calls for help from residents.
“People used to tell stories [about heavy storms and flooding] every few decades,” said David Sterne, District Manager in the Setauket Fire District. “Now, we’re seeing it every few years.”
Fire departments including in Stony Brook, Setauket, Commack and Port Jefferson responded to dozens of calls for help through the evening as towns like Stony Brook received more than three times the normal amount of rain for the month of August in the hours after midnight.
“We handled over 54 alarms” on the overnight of the storm, said Sterne. The department, which encompasses a 28 square mile district, responds to an average of three calls per night. “It was pretty obvious that it was more than a regular rainstorm.”
The dispatchers, who handle calls for Setauket, Stony Brook and Port Jefferson, received over 70 alarms among the three departments.
Amid the potential for water rescues and emergencies that could occur far more frequently than in the past, fire departments and county officials have increased training and added various types of equipment that can offer assistance during water emergencies.
“We’ve got to be prepared for everything,” said Chief Dominic Spade of the Halesite Fire Department in the Town of Huntington. Halesite added a hovercraft about three years ago that doesn’t use a submerged engine and can travel through shallow waters to homes or stranded motorists.
Additional training
In anticipation of additional water-related emergencies, Suffolk County firefighters and rescue teams have been training for sudden heavy rains and storms.
The county started offering two new courses in water rescue this year: Water Rescue Awareness and Surface Water Rescue. Since June, the Suffolk County Fire Academy has trained 258 firefighters, according to Rudy Sunderman, Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services Acting Commissioner.
“Responders from Stony Brook, Rocky Point, and Port Jefferson, areas that were hardest hit by last week’s storms, were among many members who took the training,” Sunderman explained in an email.
The Suffolk County Urban Search and Rescue Team, which is made up of volunteer first responders capable of deploying up to 40 members, was established in 2012 and was created “to locate, extricate and provide immediate medical treatment to victims trapped in collapsed structures, and to conduct other life-saving operations,” Sunderman added.
Over the last three months, the USAR Team has focused specifically on water rescue incidents.
In addition, numerous local fire departments have improved their water rescue capabilities.
The Setauket Fire Department has sent members of its staff to Oriskany in New York, where people from all over the Empire State receive training for specific types of rescues.
Oriskany has “all types of specialized training,” said Sterne. The facility has a simulated town that they can flood, where rescue teams practice open and swift water responses.
“In the last four to five years, we’ve been sending people on a more regular basis” to Oriskany, said Sterne. “It’s definitely becoming more normal to have massive flooding in certain areas.”
The rescue teams that can’t attend the simulations in Oriskany still benefit from the classes their colleagues take.
“People come back and impart what they learned,” said Sterne. “When making split second decisions, it’s effective” to have considered various emergency measures during flood or surging waters.
Water rescues involve conditions that don’t often have the same challenges as rescues during snowstorms or other weather-related emergencies.
Heavy snow can cover signs or other sharp objects, while people maneuvering through flood waters can tear their protective gear or hurt themselves when they bump into or step on something they can’t see through dark waters.
“Broken street signs and sharp objects might become a real hazard to responders,” said Sterne. “Floor waters can, in many ways, become more dangerous.”
Emergency officials warned about the dangerous combination of water and electricity.
“One of our biggest concerns is when electricity mixes with water,” Sterne explained. “In those situations, our primary focus is to remove people from unsafe conditions when there is flooding mixed with live electricity.”
When a primary or secondary wire falls into water, “it’s a dangerous proposition” and “everything is charged,” said Spada.
Even metallic yellow lines on the street can become charged if power is still flowing into a submerged wire.
Advice for residents
Fire officials offered several pieces of advice for residents.
For starters, don’t enter a basement or other flooded areas without ensuring that electricity has stopped in the area.
Additionally, residents should not venture out onto the road unless it’s for some essential reason.
“Stay put,” Sterne urged. “Don’t become a liability yourself.”
That’s also true during snowstorms, as people leave their homes and block snow plows from efforts to clear the road.
Families should consider emergency locations to congregate, with back up plans if and when they need to leave the house.
Residents also might want to have an accessible bag with flashlights stocked with new batteries, clean clothing and jackets in case an emergency requires an evacuation, Spada suggested.
People trapped in cars should stay there until it’s not safe, Spada suggested. If necessary, they can climb onto the roof of the car and wait for a rescue.
Effective emergency response
Spada was impressed with the quick thinking and acting on the part of several fire departments in response to the stalled, heavy rainstorm.
“Stony Brook did a great job,” Spada said. “Sometimes, you need to improvise in these rescue situations.
By John Avlon
This past week’s extreme weather is yet another wake-up call that we can’t afford to ignore.
Touring the damage in Port Jefferson village, the devastation was striking, but let’s be honest — none of this should surprise us anymore. We’ve seen it before, and it’s clear we need to do more. The federal government has got to step up, which is why I’ll work to make sure that we deliver more relief and resilience for our communities in the face of natural disasters.
The first step is a significant boost in funding for FEMA’s Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant program. BRIC isn’t just another government acronym — it’s a crucial resource for states, local communities, tribes and territories to tackle hazard mitigation head-on, reducing disaster risks before they strike. The goal is simple: Stop reacting after disasters and start building resilience now.
BRIC is currently funded by a 6% set-aside from major disaster declarations, meaning the funding is inconsistent and not guaranteed. While the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act committed $1 billion to BRIC over five years, that’s just a drop in the bucket. That’s why I’m advocating for an annual $1 billion investment in BRIC. To be serious about this issue, we need to make serious investments.
This investment isn’t just smart policy — it pays off big time. The National Institute of Building Sciences reports that every federal dollar spent on hazard prevention saves society $6. That’s a return on investment that would make Wall Street jealous.
But we can’t stop there. There’s a glaring gap in FEMA eligibility that needs to be addressed. Condos, co-ops and homeowners associations are excluded from aid because FEMA classifies them as businesses. That’s absurd. These are middle-class housing options that deserve relief like everyone else.
I saw it firsthand at a homeowners association I visited in Port Jefferson, where a landslide wreaked havoc after the rain. This gap has been well known since Hurricane Sandy, and it’s time to fix it.
Send me to Congress, and I’ll fight to bring real resources home and tackle climate change with the urgency it demands. The time for action is now.
John Avlon is Democratic candidate for New York Congressional District 1 on Nov. 5.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced that Guenther Mayrhofer, 71, of Mastic Beach, a bus driver for the William Floyd School District, was indicted for Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child and Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child, for allegedly downloading images and videos of child sexual abuse, and then uploading them to his cloud storage account.
“There is nothing more important to my office than protecting children and tracking down predators in our community. It is deeply disturbing that this defendant was allegedly in close proximity to children every day as a school bus driver,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I thank the New York State Police for their diligent investigation in this case. We will continue to work closely with them and our other law enforcement partners to seek justice for these innocent victims.”
According to the investigation, the New York State Police received a tip that Mayrhofer had allegedly uploaded approximately 20 images of child sexual abuse to a cloud storage account. On August 15, 2024, state police executed a search warrant of Mayrhofer’s home and recovered numerous electronic devices and electronic storage devices.
A review of the devices revealed that Mayrhofer had allegedly downloaded and saved over one hundred images and videos of child sexual abuse.
On August 29, 2024, Mayrhofer was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis, for 25 counts of Promoting a Sexual Performance by a Child, Class D felonies, and 25 counts of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child, Class E felonies.
Justice Wilutis ordered Mayrhofer held on $150,000 cash, $500,000 bond, or $1.5 million partially secured bond during the pendency of the case. Mayrhofer is due back in court on October 8, 2024, and he is being represented by the Suffolk County Legal Aid Society.
If you or someone you know believe you have been victimized by Guenther Mayrhofer, please contact the New York State Police, the Suffolk County Police Department, the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Zachary Kelly of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Investigator Fatih Ket of the New York State Police
MEET GOLDIE!
Available for adoption at the Smithtown Animal Shelter, Goldie is a 4 year old, domestic short-hair girl with a stunning tabby and white coat. This affectionate little lady came to the shelter as a stray momma with her litter of kittens. Her daughter Kate is still keeping her company at the shelter, which works for Goldie, who just adores spoiling her baby with tons of love.
Goldie’s name is fitting, as visitors quickly learn she has a solid 24-karat heart! This young mama is incredibly sweet and very comfortable around people. Goldie enjoys being on both the giving and receiving ends when it comes to attention and TLC. A good scratch behind the ears or snuggle session is easily rewarded with endless purring and cuddles. Too much is never enough! Goldie is every cat-loving human’s dream and deserves a home where she can love and be loved.
Goldie would be thrilled to find a family that has room in their heart for her baby Kate. However, they may be separated for the right home. Goldie is healthy, and would likely do well with children and other pets.
If you are interested in meeting Goldie, please fill-out an application to schedule a time to properly interact with your prospective soul mate in a domestic setting.
The Town of Smithtown Animal & Adoption Shelter is located at 410 Middle Country Road, Smithtown. Visitor hours are Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Sundays and Wednesday evenings by appointment only). For more information, call 631-360-7575.
For more information regarding rescue animals available for adoption visit:. TownofSmithtownAnimalShelter.
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