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Yearly Archives: 2024

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John Ernest Lanphear. Photo courtesy Matthew Clark

Prepared by Matthew Clark

John Ernest Lanphear, 85, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on May 29.

John was born on September 10, 1938, in New York. Settling in East Setauket to raise his family, John had an illustrious career with Grumman and Boeing as an aeronautical engineer before retiring to Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

John was preceded in death by his first wife, Audrey Lanphear, and his parents, Ernest and Adelaide Lanphear.

A loving husband and father, John is survived by his wife, Marquita Ann Lanphear, and his children, Joseph Lanphear, Kathryn Seickel, and David Lanphear. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Nicholas Lanphear, Kelsey Benson, Isaiah Lanphear, Heather Seickel, Matthew Seickel, Jacob Lanphear, and Jordan Lanphear, as well as five great-grandchildren.

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Mary Bernadette Lowe Hines. Photo courtesy Katie Hines

Prepared by Katie Hines

Mary Bernadette Lowe Hines, 84, of Austin, Texas, passed away on March 15, 2021. She was born on April 21, 1936, in New York City. She and her husband, Thomas Marlow Hines, raised three daughters, Michael Mary, Elizabeth, and Katie, in Setauket from 1963 to 2000. She then moved to Austin to be closer to her two grandchildren, Daisy and Maxwell. A ceremony to honor and remember Mary’s life will be held at St. James Roman Catholic Church in Setauket on Saturday, June 15, at 10:45 a.m.

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Leo Flores-Gracias

Leo Flores-Gracias Was Driving While Intoxicated When He Caused a Fatal Head-On Collision

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced on June 7 that Leo Flores-Gracias, 26, of Huntington Station, pleaded guilty to Aggravated Vehicular Homicide and other related charges, for driving while intoxicated and crashing into another vehicle, killing his own passenger, Marlon Nunez-Cuellar, 25, of Huntington Station.

“This defendant’s decision to drive while under the influence of alcohol caused the tragic death of Marlon Nunez-Cuellar,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Today’s guilty plea should be a warning to others that drunk driving will not be tolerated in Suffolk County, and you will face serious penalties, particularly if you cause injury or death to another person.”

According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, on July 4, 2023, at approximately 8:06 p.m., Flores-Gracias and three others left a party where he had been drinking alcohol. All four individuals got into Flores-Gracias’ 2017 Honda Accord. Flores- Gracias began driving northbound on Sweet Hollow Road in Huntington, and crashed head-on into a vehicle that was driving southbound. An extraction of the vehicle’s event data recorder revealed that the defendant was travelling 72 mph just one second before the impact on a roadway where the posted speed limit is 30 mph.

Marlon Nunez-Cuellar, one of Flores-Gracias’ passengers, was transported to Plainview Hospital where he was pronounced dead from injuries he sustained in the crash.

When police officers arrived at the scene, they observed Flores-Gracias exhibiting signs of intoxication and placed him under arrest. Flores-Gracias consented to a blood draw upon request by police. Subsequent toxicology testing of his blood revealed that Flores-Gracias’ blood alcohol concentration (BAC) was .14%. Additionally, a sample of Flores-Gracias’ blood taken by hospital staff was also seized pursuant to a search warrant. Toxicology testing of that blood sample, taken at a different time than the sample taken by police, revealed Flores-Gracias’ BAC was .19%, more than two times the legal limit. Containers of Corona beer were also recovered from the trunk of the defendant’s vehicle during the execution of a search warrant.

On June 6, 2024, Flores-Gracias pleaded guilty to the following charges before Supreme Court Justice, the Honorable Richard Ambro:

  •   Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a Class B felony;
  •   Manslaughter in the Second Degree, a Class C felony;
  •   Aggravated Driving While Intoxicated, an Unclassified misdemeanor; and
  •   Reckless Driving, an Unclassified misdemeanor.

    Flores-Gracias is due back in court for sentencing on August 20, 2024. He is expected to be sentenced to four to 12 years in prison. He is being represented by Adaline Arvello, Esq.

    This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys James McCormack and Emma Henry of the Vehicular Crime Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Detective Valentin Rosado of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Major Case Unit.

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Photo courtesy Girl Scouts of Suffolk County

The Girl Scouts of Suffolk County honored 42 Girl Scouts at its annual Gold Award Dinner & Ceremony on May 30. The event was held at Villa Lombardi’s in Holbrook.

The Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting and the preeminent leadership award for high school girls.  Gold Award Girl Scouts address issues they’re passionate about by planning and implementing a project that produces lasting change in their communities and beyond.

Among the awardees: 

Meredith Albertelli, Sayville High School

Kirsten Anderson, Longwood Senior High School

Morgan Bissell, Sayville High School

Zabelle Bobelian, Cold Spring Harbor Jr/Sr High School

Ashley Burke, Babylon Senior High School

Emma Cervone, Southampton High School

Brooke Cheskes, Harborfields High School

Mackenzie Clarke, Kings Park High School

Jessica Curran, Westhampton Beach High School

Julia Davi, St. John the Baptist

Alexandra Ebanks, Harborfields High School

Emily Franciscovich, Deer Park High School

Maeve   Graham, Babylon Senior High School

Alyssa Griesman, Smithtown High School West

Lauren Hedges, Kings Park High School

Sofia Kabacinski, Our Lady of Mercy Academy

Libby Kelly, Harborfields High School

Riya A. Kumar, Elwood-John Glenn High School

Avery Lazarus, Sayville High School

Alana Lewis, St. John The Baptist Diocesan High

Madison LoFrese, Smithtown High School East

Tianna    Marotta, Connetquot High School

Akiko Matrisciano, Our Lady of Mercy Academy

Chloe Montgomery, Ward Melville High School

Emily Newman, Walter G O’Connell School

Michaela O’Connell, Huntington High School

Annamaria Pepe, Walter G O’Connell Copiague High School

Angelica Rafaelides, Smithtown High School West

Megan  Reilly, St. Anthony’s High School

Rebecca Sandak, Mt Sinai High School

Ayesha Shaukat, St. Anthony’s High School

Theresa Soraire, Walter G O’Connell Copiague High School

Joelle Spainer, West Babylon Senior High School

Abbey Strent, Commack High School

Reagan Treharne, Southold High School

Brianna Vargas, Babylon Senior High School

Abigail Vermillion, Hauppauge High School

Haley Waszkelewicz, Westhampton Beach High School

Maegan Whalen, Commack High School

Evelyn Whitwell, St. Anthony’s High School

Layla Wilkes, Commack High School

Cassandra Yanke, Smithtown High School West

“Our Gold Award Girl Scouts are leaders in their community who are making measurable and sustainable change while still in high school said Tammy Severino, President and CEO of Girl Scouts of Suffolk County. “As they take action to transform their world, they gain tangible, real-world skills and a civic-minded awareness that sets them apart from their peers. 96% of Gold Award Girl Scouts say their experience inspired their ongoing commitment to service or volunteering. Our Gold Award Girl Scouts are discovering they have the power to create the future they want for themselves and others, and we are proud and honored by their achievements.”

To earn a Gold Award, each recipient must complete two Senior or Ambassador Journeys or their Girl Scout Silver Award before beginning their Gold Award project. To meet the Girl Scout Gold Award requirements, each candidate must complete at least 80 hours toward their project.

About Girl Scouts of Suffolk County 

Since 1968, Girl Scouts of Suffolk County has been committed to building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. With over 15,000 members, they are one of the largest youth-serving agencies in Suffolk County. Girl Scouts helps girls develop their full individual potential; relate to others with increasing understanding, skill, and respect; develop values to guide their actions and provide the foundation for sound decision making; and contribute to the improvement of society through their abilities, leadership skills, and cooperation with others. For more information about the Girl Scouts of Suffolk County, please call (631) 543-6622 or visit www.gssc.us.

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Kayden Laucella was named Suffolk County Legislative District 5’s Youth Week Award winner for 2024. Photo from Legislator Steven Englebright’s office

Suffolk County Legislator Steven Englebright (D-Setauket) named Stony Brook resident Kayden Laucella the Fifth Legislative District’s Youth Week Award winner for 2024.

“The Fifth Legislative District is filled with impressive students,” Englebright said. “Kayden is an excellent example of how fortunate we are to have young people in our community who care about enhancing our quality of life.”

Kayden and her fellow Suffolk County youth volunteers were honored at a ceremony on May 14 at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge.

The Ward Melville High School junior has been a beacon of volunteerism since her elementary school days. Kayden was a Nassakeag Elementary School Student Council member from fourth to sixth grade. During free periods, she often assisted teachers in their classrooms in addition to volunteering at school events. A Three Village Kids Lemonade Stand ambassador, she volunteered with the nonprofit for five years and helped raise money for Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. In 2019, she and two other ambassadors headed up their school’s team, which won the Lemonhead Award at the annual fundraising event that year.

When she was younger, she also baked apple pies to be auctioned off for charity at the Benner’s Farm Annual Apple Festival, held at the Sherwood-Jayne Farm. 

Kayden has been a Gold Level recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award sponsored by the Three Village Teachers Association and the Three Village PTA Joint Council since 2017.  To achieve the award, Kayden participates in a variety of community service through Girl Scouts, Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, Cooking for Long Island Veterans, soup kitchens and for her neighborhood’s S-Section Circle of Friends.

Her work with her S-Section community group has included volunteering at the annual kindergarten play dates and at the fall festival, hosting the annual Christmas tree lighting and egg hunts, and monitoring the Little Free Library in the S-Section Park.

Kayden’s journey in Girl Scouts has been a remarkable 12-year commitment. She has hosted events for younger troops, led beach cleanups and collected items for pantries and those without homes. She is an alternate delegate for Suffolk County Girl Scout Council and has successfully completed several Girl Scout journeys and taken on action projects. Her dedication has been recognized with the Bronze and Silver awards, and she has received approval to proceed with her ambitious Gold Award project. She plans to enhance the Dr. Lee Koppelman Nature Preserve in Stony Brook and raise community awareness about its importance.

 

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Stony Brook University Hospital

Money magazine has ranked Stony Brook University Hospital (SBUH) as the #2 Best Hospital for Pediatric Care in the country. These services are provided by Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, the leading children’s hospital on Long Island, with more than 180 pediatric specialists in 30 specialties delivering cutting-edge research, technological innovations, clinical trials and breakthrough techniques.

Money evaluated over 6,000 hospitals and narrowed it down to just 74 based on a rigorous analysis of 13,500 data points. The rating is based on five key factors; mortality, safety, readmission, patient experience and timely and effective care. Ranking scores are then translated into a letter grade. SBUH received an overall grade of an “A,” the highest of any New York and Long Island hospital.

“I’m delighted that Stony Brook University Hospital has been recognized by Money magazine for providing world-class pediatric care,” said William A. Wertheim, MD, MBA, Interim Executive Vice President for Stony Brook Medicine. “This ranking is a testament to the exceptional care and dedication of our pediatric team, who work tirelessly to ensure the health and well-being of our youngest patients, who understand that children are not simply small adults but have unique health and social needs, and remain committed to ensuring our community receives the highest quality healthcare services.”

“As Suffolk County’s first and only children’s hospital, we understand the needs of caring for a child affect the entire family,” says Carol Gomes, MS, FACHE, CPHQ, Chief Executive Officer of Stony Brook University Hospital. “I am extremely proud of our team of compassionate and experienced pediatricians, pediatric surgeons and specialists who devote themselves to delivering the best possible outcomes for children on Long Island.”

This past April, Stony Brook University Hospital also received an “A” ranking for General Practice and was ranked number 19 on Money magazine’s prestigious “Best Hospitals of 2024” list.

 

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Offering four Tuesday evenings of music on the lawn

The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook, in partnership with Stony Brook University, Stony Brook Medicine and community businesses will present the 2024 Summer Stage With A Purpose (Summer SWAP), on a series of Tuesday evenings throughout the summer. The events are FREE to the community. 

Summer SWAP will offer visitors a relaxing and scenic outdoor venue on the front lawn of the Jazz Loft to listen to an impressive lineup of performers.

“This series was born from the desire to have the Jazz Loft collaborate with Stony Brook University, and Stony Book Medicine as a way to invest in the community and especially to nurture cultural development,” said Jazz Loft founder Tom Manuel.

“This summer concert series was born from the desire to give back to our community, to offer high quality performances to everyone without charge, and also to expand our collaborative projects with Stony Brook University, and Stony Book Medicine,” said Tom Manuel, founder of The Jazz Loft. “Summer SWAP is the perfect way to invest in our community and an especially real and genuine way to nurture cultural development.”

The Jazz Loft will be offering a variety of refreshments for sale in the Basie Garden which is adjacent to the Jazz Loft. Attendees are welcome to bring their own chairs and blankets to set up on the lawn.

The series performers will include:

Tuesday, June 18: 

Skye Hamilton-Carranza Septet:

Skye Hamilton-Carranza, bandleader/saxophone; Isaac “ALGONZO” Ketter, saxophone; Dekko Mills, Piano; Andrew Brett, bass; Ian Dennis, drums; Lo Wood, Bari sax; SPECIAL GUEST: Kristina Well, vocals

Tuesday, July 9: 

Arta Jekabsone Quartet

Arta Jēkabsone will share her original music, some Latvian Folk music, and an arrangement of one or two, well-known songs. The evening will be filled with positivity, smiles and laughter. Arta Jēkabsone – voice; Kengchakaj – piano; Hannah Marks – TBD; and Connor Parks – drums

Tuesday, July 23: 

Aubrey Johnson (vox) Quartet:

Aubrey Johnson, voice; Randy Ingram, piano; Sam Weber, bass; Jay Sawyer, drums

All performances are from 6 to 8 p.m.

For more information contact the Jazz Loft at: 631-751-1895 or visit www.thejazzloft.org.

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The Jazz Loft

The Jazz Loft recently announced a grant award from the New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) to support the organization’s upgrades in equipment. This grant is part of a capital project funding announcement by NYSCA, which totals over $32 million to 102 capital projects across New York State. The grant is a matching grant, with $50K coming from the state and $50K from The Jazz Loft donors.

According to The Jazz Loft founder Tom Manuel, the grant funds will go towards installing high-end audio and video equipment so that the Loft can livestream, and record performances and the space can also act as a recording studio.

“The over 100 projects we’re supporting through this funding will showcase arts and cultural organizations across the state and spur economic development for decades to come,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “From historic sites to new multi-use arts centers, these diverse projects will expand accessibility and the sustainability of arts and culture organizations while growing local economies, driving tourism and creating jobs across New York State.”

“We are grateful to Governor Hochul and the legislature for their support. These projects are essential to the prosperity and well-being of our creative industry and our communities, especially as we continue to navigate the recovery of our creative sector. This support will help stimulate local economies, catalyze investment in our communities and help to ensure the vibrancy of our cultural organizations for now and the future. Congratulations to The Jazz Loft, NYSCA is a proud supporter of your contributions to New York’s arts and culture,” said New York State Council on the Arts Executive Director Erika Mallon.

The Jazz Loft is located at 275 Christian Avenue i9n Stony Brook. For more information visit thejazzloft.org

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By Mallie Jane Kim

[email protected]

Permanent protections for New York horseshoe crabs cleared a major hurdle during the last days of the 2024 state legislative session, passing both the state Senate and Assembly on June 7.

“It’s extremely exciting,” said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Farmingdale-based Citizens Campaign for the Environment, which advocated for the bill. “The horseshoe crab has ambled around the earth for more than 350 million years — we think they have a right to continue to do so.”

The bill, which still needs the signature of Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) before becoming law, would prevent the taking of horseshoe crabs for commercial or biomedical purposes from state waters. The animals are used as bait for commercial whelk and eel fishing operations, and their blue blood is used to improve vaccine safety and aid in biomedical research, though a synthetic alternative is already in the works for that purpose.

The species has faced a steady decline in the last few decades, which in turn impacts birds like red knots, who feed on horseshoe crab eggs during their migration.

Not everyone is happy with the bill as it is currently written.

“The commercial fishing industry here on Long Island is going to be severely impacted by the passage of this bill,” said Rob Carpenter, director of the Long Island Farm Bureau, which advocates on behalf of commercial fishermen. “Their needs are not addressed in the bill.”

Carpenter, who indicated he hopes for the bill to be amended or vetoed, said horseshoe crab is the only usable bait for commercial fishermen catching whelk. 

“If they are not allowed to utilize it, that means the state has just shut down an entire industry of fishing for an entire species,” he said.

The state Senate passed the bill 53-7 and the Assembly sent it through 102-39. Five North Shore legislators voted against the measure, namely Assemblymembers Jake Blumencranz (R-Oyster Bay), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Smithtown), Jodi Giglio (R-Riverhead) and Fred Thiele (D-Sag Harbor); and state Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk).

Esposito, who previously said she hoped new protections would incentivize commercial fishing operations to find alternative baits, said she knows from her recent time lobbying for the bill in Albany that the farm bureau and biomedical industry representatives are lobbying against it.

Biomedical companies do not currently harvest from Long Island waters, according to Esposito, though she is concerned stricter rules in neighboring states like Connecticut and Massachusetts could bring New York’s horseshoe crabs to their attention. 

“The fact that they are lobbying against this bill is absurd,” she said. “We’re not inhibiting the medical industry — they have alternatives and they’re using alternatives. They’re just crying wolf.”

According to state governmental procedures, since the Legislature is now out of session, the governor will have 30 days to sign the bill once it is delivered to her, but there is no indication of when that delivery will happen. If the bill is not delivered to the governor before the end of the year, or if she does not act within 30 days of delivery, the bill is effectively vetoed. 

“Our job’s not done yet,” Esposito said. “Now we’re going to begin our campaign to request the governor sign it.”

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METRO photo

Flag Day is a special occasion that honors Old Glory and commemorates the adoption of the United States flag on June 14, 1777.

According to History.com, in 1775, the Second Continental Army led to the creation of the first “American” flag. However, that flag was too similar to the British Union Jack flag so President George Washington requested a revision. In 1777, the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution stating that the “flag of the United States be 13 stripes, alternate red and white.” Furthermore, the “union” was represented by 13 stars of white in a blue field, “representing a new constellation.”

More than a century later, a small-town Wisconsin teacher named Bernard Cigrand came up with the idea for an annual flag day in 1885. Even though the Fourth of July, a holiday in which the flag is prominently and proudly displayed, had long been celebrated as the birthday of the United States, Cigrand wanted a holiday that would focus specifically on the flag in all its glory. June 14 was selected because it marked the anniversary of the official adoption of the first flag. Cigrand led his school in the first formal observance of the holiday, and throughout his life continued to advocate for respect of the flag.

Various other organizations liked the idea of a day to honor the flag, including the State Board of Education of New York, the Betsy Ross House and the New York Society of the Sons of the Revolution. 

On May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a proclamation deeming June 14th as Flag Day, stating “It is the anniversary of the day upon which the flag of the United States was adopted by the Congress as the emblem of the Union.” He also wrote, “On that day rededicate ourselves to the nation, ‘one and inseparable’ from which every thought that is not worthy of our fathers’ first vows in independence, liberty, and right shall be excluded and in which we shall stand with united hearts.”     

Still, it would take another 33 years for President Harry S. Truman to sign an Act of Congress designating June 14 as the official National Flag Day, which he did on August 3, 1949.

Americans can honor the flag by displaying it on Flag Day. Here’s how to display the flag properly according to Military.com:

• The flag should be free of any obstructions, such as power lines or tree limbs.

• Flags should only be displayed in public from sunrise to sunset, unless the flag can be properly illuminated during darkness. In this instance, it may be displayed at all times.

• When displayed with other flags, such as on a single staff or lanyard, the U.S. flag should be above all other flags. If flags are displayed in a row, the U.S. flag goes to the observer’s left.

• State and local flags are traditionally flown lower than the American flag.

• The flag should be displayed at every public institution and at schools during school days.

• The flag should be hoisted briskly and lowered ceremoniously.

• On a vehicle, the U.S. flag should be displayed from a staff firmly fixed to the chassis. It should not be draped over the hood, top, sides, or back of a vehicle.

• The flag should never touch anything beneath it.

• When displayed vertically and not on a staff, the union should be on the left when observed. It should be suspended so its’ folds fall freely as though the flag were staffed.

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