CLOSE
Authors Posts by Kyle Barr

Kyle Barr

1025 POSTS 0 COMMENTS

by -
0 3155
File photo

Shoreham-Wading River High School was one of 362 schools recognized as Blue Ribbon Schools for 2019 as announced by U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos Sept. 26. The distinction is the second time the school has been honored, being one of the early honorees in the 37-year-old program as a 1987-88 Blue Ribbon School.

“This honor points to the collaborative efforts of our administrators, teachers, students, families and larger community in helping to encourage, engage and educate students who graduate from our high school as productive members of society,” said SWR High School Principal Frank Pugliese.

In her remarks via a video message to the honorees DeVos stated the schools important work in preparing students for successful careers and meaningful lives.

“As a National Blue Ribbon School, your school demonstrates what is possible when committed educators hold all students and staff to high standards and create vibrant, innovative cultures of teaching and learning,” she said.

The department recognizes all schools in one of two performance categories, based on all student scores, student subgroup scores and graduation rates:

• Exemplary High Performing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools are measured by state assessments or nationally normed tests.

• Exemplary Achievement Gap Closing Schools are among their state’s highest performing schools in closing achievement gaps between a school’s student groups and all students.

by -
0 5462
Suffolk County Marine Bureau officers rescued a woman who fell off a floating dock in Port Jefferson. Photo from Suffolk County Police Department

Police said three Suffolk County Marine Bureau officers rescued a woman who fell off a floating dock in Port Jefferson Friday, Oct. 4.

Officers John Falcone, John Rodriguez and Neil Stringer had just disembarked from Marine Delta in Port Jefferson Harbor when they saw a woman lose her footing and fall into the water while attempting to set up a ramp between a boat and the floating dock at the Port Jefferson Marina at around 1 p.m, police said.

The officers were able to lift the woman, Donna Butcher, out of the water and on to the dock. Butcher, 66, of Port Jefferson, was treated at the scene by Port Jefferson Fire Department personnel for minor abrasions and hypothermia.

by -
0 70
The McMorris Family leads the hike Sept. 30 through Manorville, ending at Shoreham-Wading River High School. Photo by Kyle Barr

Over 530 hikers crowded in the entrance to the Thomas Cutinella Memorial Field at Shoreham-Wading River High School. On a day when school was out for Rosh Hashana, both the old and young still woke up in the wee hours of the morning wearing red shirts emblazoned with the words, “Fly High Andrew.”

Hundreds gather at the SWR high school football field in honor of Andrew McMorris. Photo by Kyle Barr

The Boy Scouts of America Suffolk County Council, along with Troop 161 and the McMorris family, together organized to memorialize Andrew McMorris Sept. 30, who was killed by a drunk driver last year, by finishing the troop’s hike on the first-year anniversary of the young man’s death.

Robert Rabbitt, the senior district executive of the Suffolk Boy Scouts council, said the Scouts, family and troop wanted to do something on the year anniversary to remember Andrew, and while they expected a good turnout of a few hundred, the more than 500 people who pledged to participate stunned him.

“We’re overwhelmed by the response,” he said.

Andrew was hit by a drunk driver while on a hike with his troop last year in Manorville. The 12-year-old Shoreham resident was pronounced dead the following day. The legal battle is ongoing for Thomas Murphy, the Holbrook man who has been charged in the death of Andrew. The trial is expected to begin in November, though that could be delayed.

The hundreds of people gathered there came from all over Suffolk County, even as far away as Huntington, Rabbitt said. Members of the Miller Place Panthers football team also came to hike in support of the McMorris family. Andrew’s father, John, is a guidance counselor at the Miller Place High School.

Scouts and community members signed up to take a 1-mile, 5-mile or 10-mile version of the hike, helping to fundraise for the Andrew McMorris Foundation and to help create scholarships in Andrew’s name. The Boy Scouts council was also accepting donations to help build a new lodge at Baiting Hollow Scout Camp in Wading River, which will be named after Andrew.

Scouts from all over Suffolk County came to Manorville to participate in the hike. Photo by Kyle Barr

“What a wonderful turnout to celebrate Andrew,” said Matt Yakubowski, scoutmaster for Troop 161, as he and his troop boarded the buses to take them to the hike’s staging grounds. “It’s going to be a touching day.”

The hike started at the Pine Barrens Information Center in Manorville before moving through the Pine Barrens. The hike took participants past the place where Andrew was killed for those looking to pay respects.

Troop 161 has done much in the year since Andrew’s death to both memorialize him and work toward healing. The troop created a garden outside the Brookhaven town-owned Robert E. Reid Sr. Recreation Center in Shoreham to commemorate his life. Future Eagle Scout projects are planned to help advocate against drunk driving.

Later that day, the Andrew McMorris Foundation hosted a benefit at Suffolk Theater in Riverhead, with the proceeds going to support the nonprofit.

by -
0 1487

Dorothy Trump

Dorothy D. Trump, passed away Sept. 3 at Jefferson’s Ferry Retirement Community in Centereach. She was 98. 

She was born in Brinkhaven, Ohio, Sept. 19, 1920, to Franklin J. and Mable Denman, and grew up in Orrville, Ohio. She attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, graduating in 1942 as summa cum laude with a degree in business administration.

She was the first female secretary to the president of the National Cash Register Company, located in Dayton, Ohio. She worked in the Department of Home Economics at the University of Maryland. From 1963 to 1988 she worked at SUNY as administrative assistant to the chairman of the Department of Electrical Sciences and in Engineering and Astronomy.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her husband, James, a World War II veteran who flew B-26s in the European theater. He worked as a human factors scientist in the lunar module program at Grumman. She is survived by her children James (Nancy) and Susan (John Fenimore); and grandchildren Matthew (Wylie Hunt) and David (Michele). She was also much loved by her nieces and nephews and their families.

A celebration of her life was held at the Setauket Presbyterian Church Sept. 15. Donations in memory of Dorothy may be made to the Helen Keller Services or the Setauket Presbyterian Church.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of East Setauket. People can visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online guest book.

William Deegan

William J. Deegan, of Ridge, died Sept. 23.

He was a proud veteran of the United States Army and the beloved husband of Monda. 

Deegan was the loving father of Maryanne (James) Cadwell, George (Mary) Fox, Claude (Patricia) Fox, Brian (Linda) Fox and the late Charles Fox. In addition, he is survived by his 14 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, his five great-great-grandchildren and his many other family members and friends.

A Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church in Rocky Point.

Interment followed at Washington Memorial Park in Mount Sinai with military honors.           

Arrangements were entrusted to the Branch Funeral Home of Miller Place.

An online guest book is available at www.branchfh.com.

Tessie Reveliotis

Tessie Reveliotis, of Port Jefferson, passed Sept. 23. She was 49.

She was the beloved wife of George and the cherished mother of Thomas, Michael and Nicholas.

In addition, she was the loving daughter of Mike (the late Loula) Kelarakos, the dear sister of Christine (Sam) Stavropoulos, Nicholas (Helen) Kelarakos and Michelle (Harry) Kelarakos.

She is also survived by her father-in-law Anastasios (the late Efthimia) Reveliotis, sister-in-law Maria (Matthew) Mecchi and many other family members and friends.

Religious service and cremation were privately held.

Arrangements were entrusted to the  Branch Funeral Home of Miller Place.

An online guest book is available at www.branchfh.com.

John Stamoulis

John Stamoulis, of Sound Beach, died Sept. 20. He was 84.  

He was the beloved husband of Christine Constantino; the cherished stepfather of Victoria (Richard) Rodriguez, Wendy (Octavio) Mendez, Christopher (Kristy) Constantino and Nicholas Constantino; and the loving grandfather of Richard, Keyana, Mason, Jordan, Faith and Tristen.

He is also survived by many other family members and friends.

Religious services was celebrated at the Greek Church of the Assumption in Port Jefferson. Interment followed at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to the of Branch Funeral Home of Miller Place.

An online guest book is available at www.branchfh.com.

David Bayles Minuse

David Bayles Minuse, 81, died Sept. 8.

He was born at John T. Mather Memorial Hospital, Port Jefferson, April 4, 1938, to Elinore Dickerson Minuse and Thomas Bayles Minuse.

David graduated from Cheshire Academy. After attending Nichols College, he became a partner in the family hardware-houseware business, D.T. Bayles & Son, in Stony Brook.

D.T. Bayles & Son evolved from a shipbuilding business established in 1843. The business expanded to include a lumber yard, supplied with timber from family-owned land in the upper Northwest. The business continued to expand and later included the retail sales of lumber, hardware and eventually housewares. Throughout the 1900s, and more particularly under Dave’s ownership, it became the early morning gathering spot for local people to share their news of the day prior to everyone going to their own place of business. Stony Brook is rooted in the history of the Bayles family and today the name continues in future generations.

It was not long after becoming a partner in the family business that Dave purchased a fuel oil company, which he named Three Village Fuel Oil, and it served the local communities of Stony Brook, Setauket and Old Field as well as the surrounding areas of St. James, Head of the Harbor, Poquott and Port Jefferson.

Dave believed in the good of his community and contributed greatly to it. He was a longtime member of the Rotary Club having served as president. He also served as the head of the Stony Brook Business Association and was a member of the board of directors of John T. Mather Memorial Hospital. He also enjoyed membership at St. George’s Golf and Country Club in East Setauket and the Old Field Club.

It was always Dave’s wish to live in Florida, and after his children completed their general education in New York, he relocated with his family to Vero Beach where he lived for over 30 years. Eager to engage in his new community he soon went to work part time for Sewall’s Hardware in Vero Beach, where he met more lifelong friends.

Dave married his Honey in 1963, and they shared 56 years with each other, raising children, working, and in retirement enjoying extensive travels where they made and enjoyed the company of lifelong friends.

David is survived by his wife Priscilla (known as Honey); his son Peter Bayles Minuse and his wife Jill of Melbourne, Florida; his son Paavo Bayles Minuse and his wife Suzann, of Vero Beach, Florida; and his daughter Robin Elo Minuse and her longtime partner Jonas Beauregard of Melbourne, Florida. Paavo and Sue blessed him with two grandchildren, Brianna Rose Minuse and Jonathan Bayles Minuse. He is also survived by his sister Cynthia Murphy of Stony Brook as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

Dave was very proud of his grandchildren and their participation in the Vero Beach High School music programs.

Dave is remembered for his beautiful spirit, generous nature and kind heart. He never met a stranger, he only made lifelong friends and was proud to serve the community he loved.

A Celebration of Life service was held Sept. 21 after the family had a private inurnment at Crestlawn Cemetery in Vero Beach.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in David Minuse’s name to The Fighting Indians Band Boosters as follows: Vero Beach High School FIBB, P.O. Box 5124, Vero Beach, FL 32961.

Ady Fenton

Ady Fenton formerly of New York City, New Suffolk and St. James died Sept. 17.

She was 90 years old and resided at an assisted living facility in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. Ady’s husband, Joe Fenton, predeceased her in January of 2015, after a marriage of 68 years.

Ady began her career as a teacher and speech therapist but gave up working outside the home in order to raise her three children, Ivy, Martin and Nina. Ady was born and raised in Brooklyn and spent the majority of her life in Manhattan, New Suffolk and St. James adding an apartment in Philadelphia in her later years.

She loved to cook, sew, travel and entertain. Most of all she loved her family. In addition to her children, she is survived by five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her zest for life never faded. She passed on what would have been her 72nd wedding anniversary, clearly a sign they are together again.

A Celebration of Life will be held in late October. For more information please call 516-443-5084.

Vivianne S. Bicknese 

Vivianne S. Bicknese of East Northport died on Sept. 20 at 55 years of age. Beloved wife of Gary; loving daughter of Sheila Lieu and the late Ralph Lieu and his wife Chandra; dear sister of Virginia (Francis) Farnum, Elizabeth Lieu, and Sabrina (Kelvin) Lieu; fond aunt of Francis, Kimberly, Sean, and David; dear daughter-in-law of Richard and Jeanette Bicknese. Visitation was held Aug. 25 at the Nolan Funeral Home, Northport. Funeral Mass was celebrated Sept. 26 at Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Church, Centerport. Interment followed at St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Huntington. 

by -
0 113
Barbara Ransome and Mary Joy Pipe of the Port Jeff chamber of commerce stand with Jim Tsunis and family at the groundbreaking ceremony for the developing Overbay Apartment complex. Photo by Kyle Barr

Developers planted a golden shovel in the ground at 217 W. Broadway. On its shaft, it read one word, “Overbay.”

Hauppauge-based The Northwind Group, owners of the Overbay Apartment Complex, hosted a groundbreaking ceremony Sept. 30. Jim Tsunis, CEO of Northwind, was joined by several members of the Tsunis clan in celebrating the start of construction. The CEO said construction should take about a year.

Pilings are already in the ground, Tsunis said. These had been screw-in pilings, which took around two weeks to put into the ground, compared to the several months of loud hammering for the neighboring Shipyard apartment complex.

Overbay LLC, a subsidiary of Northwind, has been in front of the project since the land was first purchased in 2013 for $1.8 million. 

The 54,000-square-foot “nautical style” apartment building will be on the now-vacant site of the former Islander Boat Center building, which was demolished in 2017. 

The complex is set to consist of 52 rentals with each expected to be 1,000 square feet each. Amenities include an 800-square-foot common room and a fitness facility. The complex will also contain an office area. 

Parking will consist of 83 parking stalls for residents of Overbay and their guests, Tsunis said in an email. Parking is expected to be located on the exterior of the facility to the side and rear. The property borders a small creek on its southern end.

The project is just the latest apartment complex in Port Jefferson, sitting alongside the Shipyard complex and down the hill from The Hills at Port Jefferson in Upper Port. At the same time construction begins at Overbay, demolition started and is expected to be finished shortly at the now-vacant Cappy’s Carpets building. Local developer The Gitto Group is planning for a 46-unit complex called The Brookport.

Alison LaPointe, the special village attorney for the Building & Planning department, said the planning board granted final approval for the Gitto project Sept. 12 and the department has already supplied a demolition permit. The developer has applied for a building permit, but LaPointe said it has not yet been granted as it is going out to an engineering firm for additional review. There is no current timeline on when a building permit will be granted for the project.

A representative of The Gitto Group was not immediately available for comment.

by -
0 111
Panelist discuss race and its relationship to the businesses in the Village of Port Jefferson. Photo from Barbara Ransome
the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce hosted Stony Brook University at Due Baci Italian Restaurant for a panel and discussion about race and its relationship to the businesses in the Village of Port Jefferson. Photos from Barbara Ransome

Back in May, a Stony Brook University alumnus was restricted from entering the Port Jefferson bar and restaurant Harbor Grill for wearing what the bouncer had, at the time, thought was some kind of gang paraphernalia. The person in question, Gurvinder Grewal, was in fact wearing a turban, headwear of religious importance among those who practice Sikhism. Telling the bouncer this, he was restricted anyway.

Nearly four months later, on Sept. 24, the Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce hosted Stony Brook University at Due Baci Italian Restaurant for a panel and discussion about race and its relationship to the businesses in the Village of Port Jefferson.

The event was moderated by Jarvis Watson, the chief diversity officer at SBU. Panelists included Robbye Kinkade, clinical professor in the School of Health Technology and Management; Chris Tanaka, assistant director of LGBTQ Services; Shaheer Khan, president of the undergraduate student government; and Yamilex Taveras, a political science senior and president of the Latin American Student Organization.

University officials said the framework for the discussion was centered around running a business near a diverse public university.

“We have a diverse population on campus, and we wanted to give the Chamber members a sense of who might be walking through their doors,” said Judy Greiman, the chief deputy to the president at SBU, said in a release. “It’s important for these shops to understand that differences exist, that we have buying power and that we all want to feel welcome,”

The panel walked through changing demographics at the university. Slides presented to the businesses documented that while the number of fall enrollment has steadily increased since 2012, the campus has become increasingly diverse.

Those on the panel relayed their own experiences shopping in Port Jeff. Kinkade spoke of  how, several years ago, she walked into a shop and was profiled. While there were several other customers in the store shopping around, she said an employee came up to her asking if she needed help, then continued to follow her around the entire time she was there. She noticed none of the white customers were getting the same treatment. While that shop has since closed,  she, a person of color, said she largely stopped shopping in Port Jeff after that experience. 

With the positive reception of the panel, she said she may intend to shop more in the village.

“I have nothing but the utmost praise for those folks, the members who attended,” added Kinkade. “I think for the chamber of commerce to want to come together and talk about this issue, is kudos to them. It was a bold, brave step.”

Joan Dickinson, the SBU community relations director, and Barbara Ransome, the director of operations for the chamber, had communicated together after the May incident. Ransome said they were looking for a way to present to local businesses on how to be more inclusive. They decided on a panel presentation including several officers and students from the university. Around 40 people, mostly Port Jeff business owners, came for the presentation.

The chamber director said the meeting was one of the most well received she’s had in her years at the chamber.

“The direct feedback that I was getting from people there was amazing — they felt there was so much information, with such sincerity and such genuine sharing,” she said. “They felt comfortable enough they were speaking because they felt they were in a safe space.”

This comes as Stony Brook and Port Jefferson are becoming steadily more intertwined. A PJ/SBU shuttle was first piloted last spring semester with a total ridership several thousand students coming into Port Jeff in its two-and-a-half-month tenure. Ransome called Stony Brook an increasingly vital partner with the village with the number of students who come down to eat and shop. She added this has been a change from previous years.

The SBU officials said those Port Jefferson businesses trying to be more welcoming to all walks of life should look toward examining dress code policies, revise their mission statements and hiring practices toward being more inclusive, and even look to include gender neutral bathrooms. 

Yet, even the smallest gesture makes a big difference. Panelists suggested simply posting a notice in front of the shop that all people are welcome, that those who enter don’t have to fear being profiled, can go a long way.

“It’s important that we need to be inclusive to all potential customers,” Ransome said. “One of the most important things I thought is we need to help educate and we need to examine our best business practices, so we can continue at our optimal level of service to our community.”

This post was updated Oct. 4 to amend Dickinson’s title as well as add context to several quotes in the original article.

by -
0 207
1 of 21
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr
Scenes from the annual Miller Place-Mount Sinai country fair hosted by the MPMS historical society Sept. 28. Photos from Kyle Barr

The near-300-year old William Miller House in Miller Place hummed with historical activity the weekend of Sept. 28. The Miller Place-Mount Sinai Historical Society hosted its annual Country Fair, bringing reenactors, local history buffs and community together.

Participants experienced open-hearth cooking and pottery making, while more local historians shared information on Colonial and Victorian games and how wampum beads were made. The Revolutionary War reenactors, the 3rd NY Regiment, Long Island Cos., shot off muskets and shared in the collective history of Long Island’s Revolutionary past. Meanwhile, Harry Randall, the historical society’s barn curator, showed off his huge collection of farm implements and tools in the old barn to the rear of the William Miller House.

 

by -
0 110
Ed Romaine. Photo by Kyle Barr

The Town of Brookhaven is proposing a $312.9 million budget that Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) called “a taxpayer’s budget.” The proposed budget is a near $10 million increase from last year’s $302 million, but officials say there will only be a minor increase in taxes.

In a budget media briefing meeting Sept. 30, officials said there will be a small increase to property taxes, but are looking to end deficit spending, reduce debt and restore surpluses. The 2020 tentative operating budget of $312,868,413 is not set to dip into the town’s fund balance, essentially its rainy day bank, for the second year in a row. The new budget stays at the 2 percent state tax levy cap.

In 2019, the town did not appropriate any use of its fund balances, effectively the rainy day funds in case of need for emergency spending. This is compared to nearly 10 years ago during the Great Recession where the town was using approximately $28.5 million in fund balance to balance the budget.

The town is also looking to decrease debt, with new capital projects coming in at $43.9 million, which is $14.6 million less than 2019. With the budget, the town is looking to eliminate the current $15.8 million pension debt and eliminate the $30.1 million in “pipeline“ debt, or the extra money left over from the close of bonded projects, either unused or unappropriated.

“It’s move it or lose it for pipeline debt,”

– Ed Romaine

The new operating budget also sets aside $1.6 million additional funds in the post-closure landfill reserve. The town’s landfill is set to close by 2024.

The 2020 tentative capital budget sets up public improvement projects established via bonds and reserves. This includes $26.4 million for the Highway Department comprising road repairs, drainage, traffic safety, facilities and machinery/equipment. This is in addition to a $5 million increase for road resurfacing in the operating budget from $10 to $d15 million.

“That’s part of the supervisor’s commitment to spend $15 million a year in road resurfacing,” said Matt Miner, town chief of operations. “This is the first year that will be going into effect.”

Those funds do not include funding from New York State, especially the Consolidated Local Street and Highway Improvement Program — known as CHIPS — from the state Department of Transportation, worth on average about $4.5 million to the town, according to officials.

“The Highway Department will have sufficient funding, far in excess of what they’ve had in the past years,” Romaine said.

In attempts to reduce debt in a faster manner, the town has looked toward 12-year loans instead of 20-year loans. Brookhaven officials hope to reduce overall debt to $20 million by 2021 from $600 million at the end of 2018.

Despite a complete restructuring of the town’s garbage and recycling apparatus, the annual cost for garbage pickup will remain flat at $350 for a single home, with each home on average getting around 171 pickups per year.

Romaine said the town has looked to reduce the amount of revenues gained through property taxes. Currently property tax makes up 53.3 percent of the 2020 tentative budget.

Commissioner of Finance Tamara Branson said the town has looked to focus on getting grants instead of spending through capital expenditure involving tax-raising initiatives.

“We have 50 grant projects that are public improvement projects,” she said, adding that the town has received grant funds of $63.2 million. 

Elected officials will also see a small raise in annual pay. Council members will receive a $1,446 increase to $73,762, while the supervisor will be bumped by $2,398 to $122,273. The highway superintendent at $121,515, town clerk and tax receiver will each receive around $2,000 in increases. Elected officials have been seeing an approximate $2,000 increase in pay for the past few years.

The new budget went before the Town Board for preliminary adoption Oct. 3. A public hearing on the budget will take place Nov. 7, but town finance officials said they don’t expect the budget to change much between then and now. The full budget must be adopted by Nov. 20.

 

by -
0 109
The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Family Fun Day Sept. 28. Photo by Kyle Barr
1 of 12
The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Family Fun Day Sept. 28. Photo by Kyle Barr
The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Family Fun Day Sept. 28. Photo by Kyle Barr
The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Family Fun Day Sept. 28. Photo by Kyle Barr
The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Family Fun Day Sept. 28. Photo by Kyle Barr
The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Family Fun Day Sept. 28. Photo by Kyle Barr
The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Family Fun Day Sept. 28. Photo by Kyle Barr
The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Family Fun Day Sept. 28. Photo by Kyle Barr
The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Family Fun Day Sept. 28. Photo by Kyle Barr
The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Family Fun Day Sept. 28. Photo by Kyle Barr
The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Family Fun Day Sept. 28. Photo by Kyle Barr
The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Family Fun Day Sept. 28. Photo by Kyle Barr
The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Family Fun Day Sept. 28. Photo by Kyle Barr

The Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Family Fun Day Sept. 28 as the park beside the chamber-owned train car swarmed with young and old. People enjoyed the day by painting pumpkins, doing leaf etchings, playing games and listening to students from the School of Rock belt out strong performances throughout the evening. Participants were also greeted with a showcase of skill from locals in an apple pie baking contest and a scarecrow making contest.

by -
0 1565
Al Kopcienski has been a longtime member of the Miller Place Fire Department. File photo by Greg Catalano

Starting in 1959 and continuing to now, Al Kopcienski has spent 60 years in the Port Jefferson Rotary, and in a meeting Sept. 26 members described the man as the epitome of the rotary motto: “Service above self.”

Al Kopcienski was honored at the last rotary meeting for 60 years of service. Photo from Port Jefferson Rotary

Back in the day, joining the rotary wasn’t as simple as asking to join. Kopcienski said he remembered being “put through the ringer,” before being inducted, having been sponsored by his father-in-law Stuart Gracey. Meetings back then were hosted at Teddy’s Hotel, located at the corner of Main Street and East Broadway before later moving over to the Elks Lodge.

In decades past, the rotary raised much of its money through concerts and minstrel shows, though the biggest fundraiser for years was the annual event held on the grounds of Mather Hospital, which in the early years included a horse show. Then, rotary members said Kopcienski would spend hours collecting rocks from the horse show grounds in case a horse would get injured on one. He would be a part of those fundraising efforts, joining other members in building giant cement fire pits and helping in square dances and barbecues. 

Other than rotary fundraising, he has been particularly active in service projects to Camp PaQuaTuck, a summer camp for children with special needs, and the nonprofit marrow registry Gift of Life. He has built and maintained bus shelters in the Village of Port Jefferson, said Rotarian Ed DiNunzio, and has shopped for Christmas gifts for children who would not otherwise get them.

As an active member of the Miller Place Fire Department, he spent hours in 2012 on the east end of Long Island battling wildfires. His service in the face of disaster has traveled even further. He and his wife Honor have a home on the island of St. Martin in the Caribbean. In 2017 the category 5 Hurricane Irma followed by Hurricane Maria decimated the island. He has traveled there several times a year to aid in the cleanup and rebuilding.

“For the past thirty-seven years, I have consistently witnessed Al using his knowledge and expertise, and devoting his time and effort, to help the Club achieve its goals of service both to the local community, the larger community of Suffolk County and the world,” DiNunzio said.

Prev1...525354...103Next Page 53 of 103
TBR News Media is your local news and entertainment website.
We provide you with the latest breaking news and information for your community.
Contact us: [email protected]

Most Viewed

©