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Yearly Archives: 2025

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Visitors are cautioned not to enter Harbor Road in Stony Brook Village. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

By Sabrina Artusa

Six months after the Aug. 19 storm that damaged infrastructure, washed away the dams at Stony Brook Mill Pond and Blydenburgh County Park’s Stump Pond and upturned Harbor Road in Stony Brook, community pillars such as the Smithtown Library and Stony Brook University are on the mend. 

The storm, which unleashed 9.4 inches of rain in only 24 hours, flooded the lower level of the Smithtown Library, bursting one of the windows and completely filling the area with water. Since the library sits at a lower grade, the water from higher grades flowed to the building and down the staircases on either side, overwhelming the sump pump and clogging it with leaves; therefore, it was not only 9 inches of water that flooded the library, but 8 feet. 

However, walking through the Smithtown Library today, it would be difficult to discern evidence of the storm on the first floor or the mezzanine. The bookshelves and tables look relatively untouched; it seems that at any moment a library page might round the corner with a cart of books or a high school student will settle down at one of the tables. In a few months — April, possibly, according to Library Director Robert Lusak — the library could open again. 

“In order to bring people back into the building, first we need power obviously, we need HVAC, we need heat and air-conditioning functioning, we need to have the elevator working, we need to have fire sprinklers operational … so there are a lot of factors that need to come into play before we can open the building,” Lusak said. The library’s architect, in collaboration with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, has put together “a two- to three-inch book” detailing the steps to reopening. 

Temporary power has been restored. “Everything is moving along pretty well,” Lusak said.

Lusak and the rest of the library staff have been working with FEMA to account for damages to potentially get up to 75% of eligible costs reimbursed. The staff listed every item that was destroyed. One of the main obstacles, however, is the time-consuming process of ordering the necessary materials and the months it takes to ship. 

“It is really the equipment that we need to reinstall that is keeping us from moving forward,” Lusak said. “When we have to wait for materials we have to wait 6 to 8 weeks in some cases. That is what we need in order to open the building up.”

Next month, Lusak and other staff members are flying to Michigan to evaluate the archive renovation progress done by Prism Specialties. The Richard H. Handley Collection, which features centuries-old documents and maps, was situated on the lower level. On the day of the storm, however, the water detection system failed and water infiltrated the room. 

Lusak will have to determine which archives should be restored, such as precious original copies, and which would not be worth the expense, perhaps second copies. The cost of archival restoration already amounts to over $700,000. The archives will be considered by FEMA for reimbursement. 

Lusak said that the designers will begin to redesign the lower floor this week. Since the first floor and mezzanine are nearly ready to be opened to the public — after the elevator, heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system and electricity are restored — Lusak plans to open the upper levels and have construction on the lower floor occur simultaneously. 

In addition, the storm has exposed issues in the grading and stairwells. “We are looking at ways of safeguarding the building to make sure a situation like that never happens again … we are going to change the grading there [and] we are going to address the stairwells.” 

At Stony Brook University, the rainfall affected 61 buildings, according to university officials; the Ammann and Gray residence halls were hit the hardest, and students residing there had to be reassigned to other buildings. 

Vice President for Facilities and Services Bill Hermann wrote in an email, “In response to the flooding of our residence halls, we advocated for and will be relocating core facilities infrastructure (boilers, electrical equipment, IT and fire alarms) to upper floors.”

The university paid for a comprehensive storm infrastructure study which, according to Hermann, “revealed that our campus growth over the years had not been matched by adequate increases in storm infrastructure capacity.”

The university already addressed some of the weak spots dictated by the study, such as collapsed sections, but still has stormwater maintenance plans in the horizon, one being a plan to implement a stormwater detention and retention system under the athletic stadium surface lot to manage runoff. 

“This mitigation is needed to upgrade and modernize the campus storm infrastructure to meet the current demands,” Hermann wrote. 

At this time, Gloria Rocchio, president of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization, was unable to comment on the damage to Harbor Road, the ownership of which is debated as it crosses into Head of the Harbor. 

Head of the Harbor Mayor Michael Utevsky said that discussions are progressing.

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Stock photo

By Hon. Gail Prudenti, Esq.

Hon. Gail Prudenti, Esq.

Contesting a will can be a complex and sensitive decision, often fraught with emotional implications and legal challenges. Understanding when to object to a will is crucial for anyone who believes that the document does not accurately reflect the deceased’s intentions or who has concerns about the will’s validity. Here are key considerations for when a person may choose to object to a will.

Lack of testamentary capacity

One of the most common grounds for contesting a will is the assertion that the deceased lacked the mental capacity to understand what they were doing when they executed the will. If you believe that your loved one was not of sound mind—due to conditions such as dementia, severe illness, or mental incapacity—at the time the will was created, this may warrant an objection.

Undue influence

If you suspect that the deceased was coerced or manipulated into changing their will in favor of another person, this could be a valid reason to contest the will. Evidence of undue influence may include a significant change in the will that benefits a caregiver or a family member who had undue access to the decedent, especially if the decedent had previously expressed different intentions.

Fraud

If the will was procured through fraudulent means—such as misrepresentation about the contents of the will, deception regarding the nature of the documents, or coercive tactics— this may provide grounds for contesting it. If you believe that fraud was involved, it is essential to gather evidence to support your claim.

Improper execution

In many jurisdictions, including New York, there are specific legal requirements for executing a valid will. This typically includes proper signing and witnessing. If the will does not meet these legal standards—such as being signed by the testator in the presence of two witnesses—this could be a reason to object.

Revocation

If you have evidence that the deceased revoked the will prior to their death—perhaps through a later will or other direct actions indicating their intent to change their estate plan—this could justify an objection. Establishing the revocation of a previous will is critical in this scenario.

Disqualification of beneficiaries

Certain individuals may be disqualified from inheriting under a will due to their actions, such as felonies committed against the deceased or being an estranged spouse. If you believe that a beneficiary should not have been included in the will based on legal grounds, this may be a reason to object.

Timeframe for objection

In New York, for example, you generally have **seven months** from the date you receive notice that the will is being probated to file your objections, as outlined in **SCPA § 1410**. Failing to act within this timeframe could result in losing your right to contest the will, so it’s crucial to be aware of deadlines.

Consulting an attorney

If you are considering contesting a will, consulting with an attorney who specializes in trusts and estate litigation is highly advisable. An experienced attorney can help you evaluate the strength of your case, gather necessary evidence, and navigate the legal complexities involved in the contestation process.

Deciding to object to a will is a significant decision that should not be taken lightly. Understanding the grounds for contesting a will and the appropriate legal procedures is essential. 

Whether due to concerns about capacity, undue influence, improper execution, or other factors, it is important to consult with a qualified attorney to ensure that your rights are protected and that you are acting in accordance with the law. By doing so, you can make informed decisions that honor the memory of your loved one while safeguarding your interests.

Hon. Gail Prudenti, Esq. is the Former Chief Administrative Judge State of New York and a Partner at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. focusing her practice on Trusts & Estates. Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. serves clients from New York City to the east end of Long Island with offices located in East Setauket, Westhampton Beach, Manhattan and East Hampton.

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Superintendent of Schools, Jessica Schmettan. Photo by Aramis Khosronejad

Dear Port Jefferson School Community, 

I am writing to inform you about an important matter that significantly impacts our school  district’s financial health and, ultimately, our students. In 2019, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo  signed the Child Victims Act (CVA) into law. This legislation created a “look-back window”  allowing victims of sexual abuse to file civil litigation against alleged abusers and institutions  that may have enabled such abuse, regardless of when the incidents occurred. The look-back  window opened in August 2019 and closed in March 2021, resulting in over 10,000 claims filed  against various institutions, including numerous school districts across New York State. Port  Jefferson had seven claims filed during this period.  

While the CVA was enacted with the critical goal of providing justice to survivors of abuse, it  has also led to unintended financial consequences for school districts like ours. Port Jefferson  settled all of the CVA-related lawsuits in November of 2024, totaling 16.5 million dollars. In  order to pay for this settlement, the District was able to utilize 5.1 million dollars from our  reserve funds and additionally, borrow a one-year Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) for 11.4  million dollars. A BAN is a short-term financing option that allows the District to make an  interest-only payment for one year. 

During our first work session budget presentation on Jan. 28, 2025, Deputy Superintendent  Sean Leister outlined the District’s plan for making this first BAN payment of $370,445 in the  2025-2026 school year. A copy of the presentation and video link of the meeting can be accessed  from our website. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, the District will need to convert the  11.4 million dollar debt into a fourteen-year long term bond unless we have some legislative  relief.  

These substantial future bond payments will place a heavy financial burden on our district,  impacting our ability to deliver the quality education our current students deserve. While we  remain deeply sympathetic to the victims and recognize the seriousness of the allegations, we  believe it is unjust for our present-day community and students to shoulder this financial burden. 

To address this issue and advocate for fair solutions, we are urging our elected officials to support the following measures at the state level: 

1. Partial Reimbursement: Establish a budget initiative to offer partial reimbursement  for CVA settlements or judgments. This can be accomplished through a formula similar  to the existing building aid model for school infrastructure. 

2. Tax cap exemption: Allow districts a tax cap exemption specifically for CVA related expenditures. 

3. CVA fund: Create a dedicated fund to reimburse uninsured school districts for  settlement and judgment expenses under CVA. 

4. Liquidation Bureau: Expand the look-back period for school districts to submit  insurance claims to the New York State Liquidation Bureau. This bureau is an entity that  receives no funding from the taxpayers and protects policyholders of insurance  companies that have been declared insolvent.  

5. Access restricted reserves: Allow districts to access restricted reserve funds through a Board of Education resolution for payments of debt associated with CVA judgments or  settlements. 

Any one of these solutions could provide much needed relief to our district and lessen the long term bond implications. These proposed legislative solutions seek to balance justice for CVA  victims with the need to preserve educational resources for current and future students. We ask  for your support and advocacy to ensure that the education of our students remains a top priority,  free from the unpredictable financial hardships that result from events beyond all of our control. 

Please consider reaching out to state legislators and advocating alongside us for these necessary changes to protect our schools and our students. Templates can be found on  our website along with directory information for our local elected officials.  

Thank you for your continued support of our district and our mission to provide a high-quality  education for all students. 

Sincerely, 

Jessica Schmettan 

Superintendent of Schools

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METRO photo

Some people look forward to filing their tax returns, while others recoil at the thought of paying what they owe. Regardless of which camp taxpayers are in, come April most people have a question or two related to their returns. As the deadline to file tax returns draws closer, taxpayers hoping to make the process as smooth as possible can consider these frequently asked questions and answers, courtesy of the Internal Revenue Service.

When is deadline day? Though taxpayers periodically get an extra day or two to file their returns when April 15 coincides with a holiday or lands on a weekend, there’s no such reprieve in 2025. This year all taxpayers who are not requesting an extension must file their income tax returns by April 15, 2025.

What if my address has changed? The IRS urges all taxpayers to use their new address when filing their returns. Additional ways taxpayers can update their address with the IRS is through the filing of Form 8822, Change of Address or Form 8822-B, Change of Address or Responsible Party-Business. Written statements or oral notifications are additional ways to notify the IRS of an address change, and these methods must include personal information, including the old and new address as well as the taxpayer’s Social Security number, Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) or Employer Identification Number (EIN).

Is there an age limit on claiming my child as a dependent? A child must meet either the qualifying child test or the qualifying relative test in order to be claimed as a dependent. To meet the qualifying child test, your child must be younger than you or your spouse if filing jointly and either younger than 19-years-old or be a “student” younger than 24-years-old as of the end of the calendar year.

There is no age limit to claim a child as a dependent if a child is “permanently and totally disabled” or meets the qualifying relative test. In addition to meeting the qualifying child or qualifying relative test, you can claim that person as a dependent only if these three tests are met:

1. Dependent taxpayer test

2. Citizen or resident test, and

3. Joint return test

Taxpayers who remain uncertain about their eligibility to claim a child as a dependent are urged to contact the IRS or a tax preparation professional for clarification before filing their returns.

What should I do if my W-2 is incorrect? Employers must provide employees with a W-2 by January 31. If the W-2 is incorrect and has not been fixed by the end of February, taxpayers can contact the IRS and request to initiate a Form W-2 complaint. When such a request is initiated, the IRS sends a letter to the employer and requests that they furnish a corrected W-2 within 10 days. The IRS also sends a letter to the taxpayer with instructions and Form 4852, which can be used to file a return if a corrected W-2 is not provided before the filing deadline.

How can I file for an extension? There are three ways to request an automatic extension of time to file an income tax return.

1. You can pay all or part of your estimated income tax due and indicate that the payment is for an extension using your bank account; a digital wallet such as Click to Pay, PayPal, and Venmo; cash; or a credit or debit card.

2. You can file Form 4868 electronically by accessing IRS e-file using your tax software or by using a tax professional who uses e-file.

3. You can file a paper Form 4868 and enclose payment of your estimate of tax due (optional).

Tax day arrives on April 15. Taxpayers who have lingering questions about their returns are urged to contact the IRS via irs.gov or work with a certified tax professional.

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Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

After falling behind 4-0 in the first three innings, Stony Brook stormed back to tie the game in the fourth but ultimately fell to Florida Gulf Coast, 8-5, on Feb. 22 in Fort Myers.

Johnny Pilla started a Seawolves two-out rally in the first by drawing a walk and stealing second base, but he was left stranded as the Eagles ended the inning with a strikeout.FGCU struck first in their opening frame, scoring two runs on back-to-back RBI singles off Nicholas Rizzo.

The Seawolves stranded two runners in both the second and third innings, despite hits from Nico Azpilcueta, Erik Paulsen, and Pilla. Rizzo stranded a runner at second base in the second, but the Eagles added two more runs in the third to extend their lead to 4-0.

Stony Brook responded in the fourth with a four-run rally to tie the game. Azpilcueta reached on an error, followed by a walk from Kincaid Bergthold and a single from Chris Carson to load the bases with no outs. Matt Miceli reached on a fielder’s choice, scoring Azpilcueta, and Evan Goforth drove in Carson and Miceli with an RBI double, cutting the deficit to 4-3. Chanz Doughty capped off the inning by tying the game with an RBI single.

Paulsen took over for Rizzo in the fourth, but FGCU regained the lead with a home run and an RBI double, making it 6-4.

In the fifth, Bergthold drew a one-out walk, stole second, and scored on a Miceli single, trimming the deficit to 6-5.

Ryan Dieguez entered the game in the fifth for the Seawolves and struck out the first batter he faced. However, FGCU added a run on a triple and a sacrifice fly to extend their lead to 7-5.

The Eagles tacked on another run in the sixth, making it 8-5.

Carson doubled and Miceli walked in the seventh, bringing the tying run to the plate, but FGCU held their lead.

The Eagles retired the final six Seawolves to secure the 8-5 victory.

The final game of the three-game series is set for 1 p.m. on Feb. 23 in Fort Myers. The game can be watched live on ESPN+.

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Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

Stony Brook men’s lacrosse fell in overtime, 7-6, to Sacred Heart on Feb. 22 at LaValle Stadium. The Seawolves erased a two-goal deficit and held the Pioneers scoreless for nearly the entire second half, but Sacred Heart struck late to force an extra period and found the sudden-death winner in overtime to upend Stony Brook.

Ray O’Brien opened the scoring in the opening minute of the contest off an assist from Caleb Yeung.

Michael Kloepfer added to the Seawolves’ lead with a goal in the fifth minute of play, but Sacred Heart responded with two tallies of its own to even the contest less than seven minutes in.

Collin Williamson found a rebound and scored to put Stony Brook back in front, but the Pioneers responded just 33 seconds later.

After a combined six goals in the opening nine minutes of play, there were just two more scores over the ensuing 21 minutes, both by Sacred Heart.

Trailing 5-3 out of the locker room, Stony Brook locked things down defensively. Offensively, goals from Kian McCoy and Carson Boyle in the third period evened the contest at 5-5.

Tanner Williams gave the Seawolves their third lead of the afternoon with a fourth-quarter goal.

The Pioneers could not get one past Jamison MacLachlan for nearly the entire second half, but Jake Ward finally managed to beat Stony Brook’s goalie with 29 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime.

Sacred Heart won the opening face-off of the extra period but turned the ball over before getting a shot off. After a Stony Brook timeout, the Seawolves gave it away on a shot-clock violation.

After back-to-back empty possessions to start overtime, the Pioneers gained control of possession and Will Moulton ended it with the sudden-death winner with 1:43 to play in overtime.

“Frustrated with the game; I thought offensively we didn’t play well and didn’t shoot the ball well. I think that is something that as a young team playing five freshmen on offense, we know there are going to be ups and downs and peaks and valleys. We have to find a way to continue to grow and I think the struggle for us is that in game, being able to fix things that we as coaches are seeing, and everything is new,” head coach Anthony Gilardi said postgame.

“That’s the first time we’ve been in overtime, it’s the first time we’ve been up a goal in the final minute. All of these situations are so new and we’re trying to coach every aspect of it and it’s a challenge. I think the guys are playing hard and giving us the effort, so now we need to mentally eliminate the mistakes,” he said.

Up next, the team stays home, hosting Iona on February 25. The Seawolves and Gaels are set for a 4 pm start at LaValle Stadium, with the contest streaming live on FloCollege. It marks the first-ever meeting between the two programs.

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Photo from Stony Brook Athletics

Stony Brook men’s basketball fell in the final seconds at North Carolina A&T, 73-72, on Feb. 22 at the Corbett Sports Center in Greensboro, N.C.

After jumping out to an early 26-25 advantage, Stony Brook went on a 7-0 run with 4:44 left in the first half, culminating in a three from Leon Nahar, to increase its lead to 33-25.

The Seawolves lost some of that lead, but still entered halftime with a 38-33 advantage.

Stony Brook relied on its three-point shooting in the period, knocking down seven shots to account for 21 of its 38 first-half points.

The Aggies rallied to start the second half, erasing their deficit and building an 11-point lead with 12 minutes to play.

The Seawolves, led by CJ Luster II, fought hard to battle back and make it a one-point game with six minutes to play.

N.C. A&T proceeded to take a 72-65 lead before Stony Brook went on a 7-0 run, capped off by Andre Snoddy’s three, to even the score at 72 all with 52 seconds to go in the contest.

The Seawolves then had what could have been the final possession, but after an O’Connor miss from three, A&T’s Cam Shell fired a pass down the court that led to a shooting foul with 0.6 seconds remaining.

Ogletree made the first free throw and missed the second, running the clock out on a 73-72 victory for the Aggies.

Up next, the team hits the road again, heading to Hampton to face off with the Pirates on February 24. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 pm in Virginia and the contest will stream live on FloCollege.

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Bruce Vilanch

As an exclusive post-Academy Awards treat, the Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington welcomes the one and only Bruce Vilanch — the two-time Emmy Award winning Comedy Writer for 25 Academy Award spectacles — on Monday, March 3 at 7:30 p.m. After a screening of the hilarious and touching documentary about his life and career, Get Bruce!, Vilanch will help dissect the Oscar show of the night before and discuss his new, insider memoir, It Seemed Like a Bad Idea at the Time.

Tickets are $28 per person, $22 for members and includes the screening, interview with audience Q&A, and book signing. Copies of Vilanch’s memoir are available to bundle with the film program or at the box office. For more information, visit www.cinemaartscentre.org or click here.

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By Michelle Grisales

Free drug testing kits, and a lot of useful advice and information were offered  at a drug awareness forum at Brookhaven Town Hall on Feb. 10.

The workshop, “The More You Know… Substance Abuse Education,” was open to anyone and was presented by The Town of Brookhaven’s Department of General Services Youth Bureau Division. 

The forum attracted parents, some with their children, and focused on topics such as adolescent behavior and development, reasons adolescents experiment with substances and trends in adolescent drug use.

As attendees arrived, they were handed a folder filled with informative sheets specifically directed towards parents on how to approach conversations of drug use with their children. There were also pamphlets, a printed-out version of the slideshow used and a pen and paper to take notes.

Hayden Cruz, a clinical social worker at the Youth Bureau Division, led the presentation and explained in great detail what adolescents go through when experimenting with drugs and showed the most commonly used ones. He gave advice to parents in attendance whose children struggle with this on how to approach the conversation and effectively seek help if needed.

“I just want us to keep in mind that there’s a lot of change going on and there’s a lot of unknowns for a person throughout this time period … there’s only so much that [parents] can control, but there is a way of voicing concerns and hoping that your child, the teenager, stays more focused on their own treatment and their own well being,” he said. “That takes a lot of time, a lot of trust [and] a lot of work in communication and trying to find that middle ground.” 

Michelle Grisales is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism Working Newsroom program for students and local media.

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Julia and Valerie D’Amico. Photo courtesy of D’Amico family

In 2025, labels are toxic, political and problematic.

DEI? Not allowed anymore. Woke? There’s undoubtedly an executive action to rid the nation of anything that fits under this large umbrella.

Fortunately, during last week’s final stage in a contest run by Stony Brook University’s Institute for Advanced Computational Science, politics didn’t enter the room, even though women, girls, families and boys met for a science competition.

The IACS unveiled the winners in their competition a few days after the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

The competition helped over 150 local students learn about women scientists who may not be household names, but who made significant contributions to their fields.

Some of these historical role models were firsts. Mary Jackson was the first female Black engineer. Marie Curie was the first woman to earn a degree from the University of Paris.

Others made significant, and sometimes overshadowed, contributions to their fields. Rosalind Franklin, for example, provided key x-ray crystallography images that uncovered the double helical structure of DNA.

For students in the area, the competition was not only an opportunity to learn about the history of these women and the challenges they overcame, but was also a chance to conduct their experiments and present them to a receptive audience.

All the competitors were not girls. The participants, whether or not they won, appreciated the opportunity to learn and compete.

Parents of these precocious children were thrilled that this contest provided an enrichment learning opportunity, built their daughters’ confidence, and gave the next generation a sense of the myriad opportunities the sciences might present to them.

Each of these students — and some of them worked in teams — produced a one minute video explaining who the scientist was, why she was important and how they conducted their own experiment.

Some of them extracted DNA from strawberries, while others, like co-winner Allison Wong launched small objects through the air with their own miniature catapults, measuring the time marbles, cotton balls, ping pong balls and bottle caps were in the air and the distance these objects traveled.

Even amid concerns about future funding for all kinds of science and educational programs, this second annual competition was clearly a success for the competitors and a source of great satisfaction for parents, science teachers, and extended family members.

This kind of educational outreach program is exactly what every area needs, as students not only competed to win cash prizes, but also asked about future opportunities for scientific learning and advancement.

We congratulate the IACS and the co-chairs of this effort, Professors Marivi Fernandez-Serra and Monica Buggalo at Stony Brook University, for putting this great event together. We also hope that this kind of community service and outreach continues to provide necessary opportunities for personal growth.

These students expanded on the typical effort to study for a test, memorize dates or answer multiple choice or short answer questions for a class assignment. These videos took days to produce and edit.

We thank women scientists of the past for everything they did in and out of the limelight and we take great comfort in pondering a future led by the boundless enthusiasm of the competitors who are in the early stages of their own journeys.

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