CLOSE
Authors Posts by Kyle Barr

Kyle Barr

1025 POSTS 0 COMMENTS

by -
0 43
Children enjoy the grand opening of Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo Memorial Spray Park in Elwood. Photo by Kyle Barr

With weekend heat expected to reach the high 90’s plus humidity that could make it feel like well over 100 degrees, towns across the North Shore are offering ways for residents to help beat the heat.

Brookhaven

Brookhaven town is offering extended hours for pools and beaches for the weekend of July 20 through 21.

The Centereach and Holtsville town pools will be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Meanwhile all beaches including:

  • Cedar Beach – Harbor Beach Road, Mount Sinai
  • Corey Beach – Corey Avenue,, Blue Point
  • Shirley Beach – Grandview Avenue., Shirley (spray park)
  • Shoreham Beach – North Country Road, Shoreham
  • West Meadow Beach – 100 Trustees Road, Stony Brook (spray park)
  • Webby’s Beach – Laura Lee Drive, Center Moriches

Will be open until 7 p.m. both days.

More information can be found at: https://www.brookhavenny.gov/216/Parks-Recreation

Smithtown

On Friday,  July 19,  the Smithtown Senior Center will operate as a cooling station until 5 p.m. The Public Safety with support staff from the Smithtown Senior Citizens Department and Senior Transportation to operate the Senior Citizens Center as a cooling center, for seniors without air conditioning over the weekend. 

All residents are advised to take extra precautions for themselves, elderly family members, children and pets for the duration of the heat watch. 

“It’s  going to be dangerously hot over the weekend,” Supervisor Ed Wehrheim said in a release. “ We want to ensure the health and quality of life for our elderly residents… It is with this in mind, that our Public Safety Department has made special arrangements to make sure our seniors have a cool place to enjoy the weekend.” 

Seniors can make arrangements ahead of time by contacting the Senior Citizens Department today or tomorrow at (631) 360-7616. After 5 p.m. Friday, arrangements to use the senior center should be made so by calling Public Safety at 631-360-7553. If a senior citizen does not have transportation, the public safety department said it will make travel arrangements at the time of the call. Residents are asked to check on elderly neighbors and pass along this information ahead of the weekend. 

Huntington

The Town of Huntington is offering extended hours at its Elwood spray park and Dix Hills pool.

Extended hours at the Sgt. Paul Tuozzolo Memorial Spray Park at Elwood Park on Cuba Hill Road are as follows, with weather-permitting: 

  • Friday, July 19: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. (usual hours due to camp programming at the park)
  • Saturday, July 20: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 21: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The park will be waiving the Recreation Photo ID Card requirement for Town residents only for the weekend heat wave, though residents must show another form photo ID proving residence to enter the spray pad.

Otherwise, the Dix Hills Park Pool, located at 575 Vanderbilt Parkway, are now:

  • Friday, July 19: 12:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. (usual hours due to scheduled swimming lessons at the pool)
  • Saturday, July 20: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
  • Sunday, July 21: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Non-residents accompanied by a town resident may use the pool by paying the daily Non-ID Card holder fee.

 Pool Admission Fees with Recreation Photo ID Card, are children (under 13) – $5; teens (13 – 17) – $6; adults (18 and older) – $7; sr. citizen / disabled – $4.50.

Pool Admission Fee (without Recreation Photo ID Card): $15 per person.

Pool Membership: Family Membership – $250/season; Individual Membership – $100/season; Sr. Citizen/Disabled – $50/season.

Otherwise, all Town Beaches will be open 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (usual hours) during the weekend heatwave. These include:

  • Asharoken Beach, Eaton’s Neck Road, Northport
  • Centerport Beach, Little Neck Road, Centerport
  • Crab Meadow Beach, Waterside Avenue, Northport
  • Crescent Beach, Crescent Beach Drive, Huntington Bay
  • Fleets Cove Beach, Fleets Cove Road, Centerport
  • Gold Star Battalion Beach, West Shore Road, Huntington
  • Hobart Beach, Eaton’s Neck Road, Eaton’s Neck
  • Quentin Sammis/West Neck Beach, West Neck Road, Lloyd Harbor
  • Geissler’s Beach, (fishing only), Makamah Road, Northport

by -
0 2309

 

Eleanor Kra

Eleanor Kra, 77, died at Mount Sinai West hospital in Manhattan of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS and Lou Gehrig’s disease, July 9. In the last weeks of her life, she was surrounded by her devoted husband, children, grandchildren, her sister and countless friends.

Eleanor was born in the Warsaw Ghetto Oct.1, 1941, and was smuggled out of the ghetto by her mother early the following year. Eleanor, her mother, Rochelle, and her best friend Mary Shidlovski survived the Holocaust in Warsaw while living on false papers, and Eleanor did not know she was Jewish until after the war had ended.

She moved with her family from Poland to Germany, eventually arriving in the United States in 1949. Eleanor graduated from William H. Taft High School in New York in 1958 and from Barnard College at Columbia University in New York June 5, 1962.

At Barnard she met the love of her life, Irwin Kra, and they were wed Dec. 23, 1961. Irwin and Eleanor were married for over 57 years and lived happily in New York and Boston before settling on Long Island in 1968, where they resided for the next 46 years. In 2014 they returned to New York City.

Eleanor received a master’s degree in American history from Stony Brook University in 1971 and later was employed at the same university. For many years, she worked in the health sciences, and she retired as the assistant dean at the School of Health Technology and Management in 2008.

Eleanor devoted much time and energy to volunteer activities, even more so after she retired. She served as chair of the Center for Human Justice and Social Understanding featuring the Holocaust Collection at Suffolk County Community College. She was also a fierce activist and champion of a variety of Jewish and social justice causes, recently commenting that if you weren’t angry you weren’t paying enough attention.

Eleanor’s first language was Polish, but before and after the war, her family spoke Yiddish. She had a lifelong love for the language and was active with the YIVO Institute for Jewish Learning in Manhattan. A Yiddish language interview of her about her life can be found online at the Yiddish Language Book Center’s Wexler Oral History Project.

Eleanor loved laughter, food, wine, music, friends and family. She was a warm and devoted mother, wife and friend and hosted numerous wayward guests and visitors every year on Thanksgiving, Pesach and any other holiday where someone needed a temporary home and a delicious meal. Eleanor was an accomplished cook and invitations to her table were always welcome, both for the food and for the conversation. She was always ready with a quick joke or a sharp retort, as circumstances warranted.

Eleanor adored the opera and held season subscriptions first to the New York City Opera and then to the Metropolitan Opera. She also loved travel and adventure, returning repeatedly to Israel, along with visits to dozens of other countries.

Eleanor enjoyed her final years surrounded by friends and family, enjoying all that New York had to offer. She is survived by her husband, Irwin; her sister, Rosely; her children Douglas, Bryna and Gabriel; their spouses Lisa, Brian and Julie; and her eight beloved grandchildren Stephanie, Danielle, Jacob, Elie, Calla, Jonas, Jasper and Nola.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her honor to the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (www.hias.org), American Jewish World Service (www.ajws.org) or www.ALS.org.

Arlene Pearce

Arlene A. Pearce, of Port Jefferson, died July 5, 2019.  

She was the beloved wife of W. Donald Pearce; devoted mother of Donald G. Pearce (Janine), Debbie Grimaldi (Pat) and Cindy Parry (Bill); the cherished nana of Donald C., Michael, Patrick, Stephanie, Danielle, Matthew and Katelyn; the loving sister of Carol Wickel (Joe); and dear sister in law of Peggy Butscher.  

The family will received friends July 7 at the O.B. Davis Funeral Homes in Port Jefferson Station, while a Mass of Christian Burial took place July 7 at the Infant Jesus R.C. Church in Port Jefferson followed by a private cremation.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate donations in memory of Arlene be made to: Hope House Ministries – The Ministry for Hope Inc. 501 (c) (3) E.I.N. 11-2667800 d.b.a. Hope House Ministries 1 High St. / P.O. Box 358 Port Jefferson, NY 11777

Donald Kane

Donald John Kane, of Wilmington NC, formerly of Mount Sinai passed away July 8 at the New Hanover Regional Medical Center in North Carolina. He was 87.

The youngest of eight sons, Donald was born in Brooklyn Jan. 27, 1932, to Henry Vincent Kane and Anna Donahue Kane.

Don was a career Marine serving his country all over the world as a Comms Chief. He was a veteran of both the Korean War and the Vietnam War and was a Purple Heart recipient. He retired from the Marine Corps after 22 and a half years of faithful service in 1971. He held true to the Marine Corps motto Semper Fidelis (Always Faithful), attending the Drill Instructor reunion and Marine Corps Ball every year with his wife Robin. Upon retirement from the U.S. Marine Corps, Don pursued a career with the U.S. Post Office in Mount Sinai York, where he retired after a 20-year commitment in 1994.

Don’s zest for life was contagious, and he was always the life of the party. He was known as “Uncle Don” in Mount Sinai, and as “The Godfather” of his neighborhood. Don was happiest tending his garden and spending time with his family and friends. Don was renowned for his storytelling. Family said his big heart encompassed everyone he met, and he always made you feel loved, no matter what.

In addition to his wife Robin, he is survived by his four daughters, Donna (Jonathan) Seely of Murfreesboro, TN, Dorine (Joe) Gallo of Wildwood, MO, Gloria (Jonathan) Deitsch of Marysville, MI, and Kasey (Bryan) Scanlon of Hubert, NC; daughter in law Nina Kane of San Antonio, TX; twelve grandchildren, Aimee Seely Hull, Christopher Sauer Seely, Stephanie Kane, Joseph Gallo, Elisa Gallo, Jordyn Deitsch, Taylor Deitsch, Jack Donald Deitsch, Bradyn Deitsch, Kaydince Scanlon, Brody Scanlon, Karter Scanlon; and his great grandchild, Kate Hull.

Don was preceded in death by his son, Timothy J. Kane of San Antonio, TX.

Family and friends are invited to a viewing on July 28 from 2 to 4 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. at the O.B. Davis Funeral Home in Port Jefferson Station. A Celebration of Life and funeral service will be held July 29 at 10 a.m. at the same funeral home.

Don will be laid to rest at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Port Jefferson.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks people to support his fellow Marines with contributions to the Semper Fi Fund at:

The Semper Fi Fund

825 College Blvd. Suite 102, PMB 609

Oceanside, CA 92057

 

Joan Aird Kremens

Joan Aird Kremens, 81, died June 7.

Born Feb. 11, 1938, in Maspeth, Joan was the second of two daughters to Mary and Joseph Aird. She spent her childhood in Maspeth and summers in Oakdale, where she excelled as a champion swimmer and runner.

In 1956 Joan married her high school sweetheart Chester Kremens and moved to Bay Shore. They were married for 63 years and had three sons. In 1964 she and Chester started a construction supply company, which came to be known as Sure-Set Fasteners Inc. The company grew from their deep commitment to customer service and their willingness to go above and beyond for their clients. It remains a thriving family business to this day.

The family of five were avid boaters, boating on Long Island Sound, around Shelter Island and in the Bahamas, where they vacationed.

Joan had a keen mind and was an avid reader, delving into history, medical science, current events and anything else that caught her eye. She stayed engaged politically and was a committed Democrat.

In their retirement, Joan and Chet bought an RV. After spending a few years crisscrossing the country, the couple settled into winters in Miami and became solid members of an RV community there.

Joan was a doting grandmother to seven grandchildren April, Stephen, Chris, Paul, Riley, Charlie and Annabelle; and four great-grandchildren Olivia and Ayrdrie van Bemmelen, and Penelope and Parker Kremens. In addition to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, she is survived by her loving husband and her children Chester Jr. (Val), Russell (Karen) and Jim (Laura) as well as her sister Marion Aird and her nieces Jeanine Lobell and Adrienne Amundsen.

A memorial service will be held Aug. 31 from 1 to 5 p.m. in Port Jefferson. In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to Emily’s List. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to St. James Funeral Home.

Elizabeth M. Fitzpatrick

Elizabeth M. “Betty” Fitzpatrick of Nesconset passed away June 14 at the age of 86. Born in Manhattan, she was the beloved wife of Philip, and devoted mother of Ann, Philip and Paul. Services were held at Moloney’s Lake Funeral Home and Cremation Center, Lake Ronkonkoma. A funeral Mass was held at Holy Cross R. C. Church in Nesconset with interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Coram.

Dorothy Marie Miller

Dorothy Marie Miller of Hauppauge passed away June 26 at age 78. Born in Islip, she was the beloved wife of the late Myron, devoted mother of Myron and the late Pamela. Services were held at Moloney’s Hauppauge Funeral Home, Hauppauge with a private cremation at Nassau Suffolk Crematory, Lake Ronkonkoma.

by -
0 1192
1 of 10
A 40-foot Tesla coil designed by Greg Leyh sparks with life. Photo by Kyle Barr
Carson Gallo, a previous Tesla Motors employee, lives inside his Tesla Model X 75D. Photo by Kyle Barr
Volunteers show how electricity moves through the air. Photo by Kyle Barr
Greg Leyh stands in front of his 40-foot Tesla Coil. Photo by Kyle Barr
Volunteer demonstrates a Tesla Coil. Photo by Kyle Barr
Robotics teams show their designs at 2019 Tesla birthday event. Photo by Kyle Barr
Robotics teams show their designs at 2019 Tesla birthday event. Photo by Kyle Barr
Participants relax in front of the statue of Nikola Tesla. Photo by Kyle Barr
President of the board of the Tesla Science Center Jane Alcorn speaks. Photo by Kyle Barr

The Shoreham Tesla Science Center’s celebration of famed scientist Nikola Tesla’s 163rd birthday was an indicator of how much perspective matters.

While participants watched demonstrations Saturday afternoon and evening of a number of Tesla-built devices from Tesla coils to the induction motor, behind them the world’s largest Tesla coil, a 40-foot monster of a device, loomed. The coil, designed by electrical engineer Greg Leyh, made its grand debut on Long Island, brought all the way from California by road.

“It’s basically a hobby that’s gotten away from me,” Leyh said. 

The design is actually a one-third scale model of the electrical engineer’s intent to build a 120-foot Tesla coil — two actually. And if set up side by side he said it can test to see how lightning is created in the atmosphere.  

“Being an empiricist, I thought the best way to get to the heart of the problem is to recreate the point inside the lightning storm where the lightning starts,” Leyh said.

As large as the coil was, Leyh admitted it was only a fraction of the size of Tesla’s original tower, which once sat in the middle of the center’s property, behind the current statue of Nikola Tesla. That tower rose 187 feet in the air and was part of the famed inventor’s idea of wireless transmission of power across a wide expanse.

The Tesla Science Center now enters its seventh year since originally purchasing the property, with plans continuing to turn the site into a museum about Tesla and science, as well as a science-based business incubator. 

Marc Alessi, the center’s executive director, said they are still looking to raise many millions of dollars more for the project. Current renovations to the main laboratory, used by Tesla back in the early 1900s, include the rooftop chimney and cupola surrounding it.

The next stage for the location is finalizing site plans, which could take several months, on the visitors center, to be located in the white house in the front of the property, and demolition of other nonhistorical buildings at the location.  

“I’m really excited things are starting to pick up pace,” Alessi said.

by -
0 2648
Miller Place Duck Pond at the corner of North Country Road and Lower Rocky Point Road. Photo by Kyle Barr

Miller Place Duck Pond may soon see drainage improvements Brookhaven town hopes will reduce sediment flow into the small, water lily-filled pond right outside North Country Road Middle School.

Miller Place Duck Pond at the corner of North Country Road and Lower Rocky Point Road. Photo by Kyle Barr

The town board unanimously agreed to shift money around in the capital budget to make room for the pond drainage improvements, allocating $135,285 for the project. At the same time, the highway department is planning to use $2.6 million in total from grants and town funds to complete road and sidewalk repair in tandem with the drainage renovations.

“The new improvements should reduce the amount of sediment from the road, sanding and salting that washes into the pond,” said town Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point). “It should reduce pollutants associated with road runoff.”

Last year, TBR News Media reported both local environmental activists and town waterways management said there were problems with invasive and destructive plant species in the pond. The town applied for a grant from the Suffolk County Water Quality Protection and Restoration Program as well as the Stewardship Initiative. The grant would have had a projected cost of $240,000 with a $120,000 town match; however, Bonner said the town failed to get the grant.

Anthony Graves, Brookhaven’s chief environmental analyst, said they have not witnessed, just from viewing the water’s surface, that the pond is as dense with destructive plants as the previous year. Though he added the problem could be because of high rainfall this year compared to previous years, meaning it’s hard to gauge the plant density on the bottom of the pond. A big part of the reason for those invasive plants was the wash of sediment into the pond’s bottom from the road. 

Involved in this new drainage includes a “stormceptor unit,” a device placed in the ground used to intercept pollutants and sediments before they enter the pond. Such pollutants include oil and grease from passing cars. Graves added the town is trying to reduce nitrogen buildup in the roadside pond. 

In addition to renovating drainage of the pond, the town is expecting to go in and dredge the bottom of the pond. 

“The drainage improvements collect the sediment before it enters the pond,” Graves said.

Meanwhile, the town’s highway department has set up to work in tandem and with those drainage improvements, both in renovating the sidewalks around the pond and completing road resurfacing. North Country Road is a Suffolk County-owned road that is managed by the town. 

Superintendent of Highways Dan Losquadro (R) said his department received close to $1.25 million from grants, though the town is supplying the rest of its total $2.6 million cost. The project will include resurfacing and restriping of the road in addition to renovated sidewalks.

Losquadro said the town has had to deal with other problems in and around the pond, such that a blocked pipe was restricting enough water from entering the pond toward the southern end.

One of the biggest components of road resurfacing is drainage — getting that water off of the roadway,” he said. “So, as we’re doing this project, we want it to last as long as possible.”

Renovations to the drainage should begin sometime in August, Bonner said, while the highway superintendent said they plan to do some sidewalk work in tandem. The rest of the roadwork will start after the new drainage is installed. While they intend to finish before classes start, he added they would have to finish that work during one of the early school recesses if they can’t finish before.

by -
0 2833
The Schooner Elizabeth will be used as a placeholder at the village dock. Photo from Jason Rose

Port Jefferson residents continue to look toward the harbor expecting to see masts of a tall ship high above the surrounding buildings, but they may have to wait for a while longer.

The Amistad will make a brief appearance in Port Jefferson Harbor July 18. Photo by Chris Ryon

Back in March, the village had announced negotiations with The Halie & Matthew, a 118-foot-long schooner originally set to dock in Port Jefferson Harbor. It was the result of months of work by the Port Jefferson Harbor Education & Arts Conservancy and local maritime enthusiasts, but village officials said negotiations fell through when the schooner company, Maine Windjammers Inc., wanted to work the vessel partly as a restaurant, operating outside the normal hours of the pier.

“We’re like, nope, absolutely not,” said Mayor Margot Garant at a July 15 village meeting. ”The pier closes at dusk … The tone and tenor of that agreement changed so drastically that it just fell apart.”

Village Attorney Brian Egan confirmed the scope of the operation the schooner company desired was inconsistent with what the village originally intended, that the ship would be used for tours and as a promotional platform for the village. Port Jefferson would have given the boat exclusive access to one side of the pier near Jeanne Garant Harborfront Park for four years.

However, the search for tall ships in the harbor is far from over, at least according to Port Jefferson village historian Chris Ryon. 

Ryon and other enthusiasts had set up the Port Jefferson Tall Ship Committee, a subset of the conservancy, to bring a tall ship to the harbor. Ryon said he was unfazed by the setback, saying they already have other plans in the works. The village historian and other committee members set up the Port Jeff Maritime Facebook page to advertise for additional tall ships, from which he said they have received several offers.

“We’re opening up the dock for free to schooners and are saying ‘come on down,”
he said.

These plans include using fellow committee member Jason Rose’s own still-to-be-reconstructed schooner, Elizabeth, as a placeholder at the dock site.

“[Rose] is a very altruistic person,” Ryon said. “He really wants that schooner to be a part of Port Jeff.”

The Amistad will make a brief appearance in Port Jefferson Harbor July 18. Photo by Chris Ryon

Ryon, who attended the July 15 meeting, said there were two ships they were looking at, one being the Amistad, a re-creation of the famed African slave ship where slaves rebelled against their captors in 1839. Famously, the slaves would eventually gain their freedom in court after being brought into New London Harbor in Connecticut. The ship will dock for a brief time Thursday, July 18, while the ship’s crew takes measurements of the dock.

Another ship, the schooner SoundWaters, has also been in talks with Ryon, Rose and the tall ship committee about docking in the harbor for a yet undetermined space of time.

In anticipation of the Hallie & Matthew, the village hooked up the dock to be used by the schooner with electricity, but whichever ship next moors there would be able to use it.

The dock in question currently only contains the Stony Brook University-owned Seawolf, which resides on the dock’s west edge. There is currently no other boat residing on the east edge.

Ryon added the Port Jefferson Yacht Club has made its own dock available should the village wish to house two tall ships at the same time. The club’s dock is actually deeper than the village-owned dock, the village historian said. The yacht club’s dock is 11 feet deep at dead low waters, while the village-owned dock is 5½ feet deep at dead low closest to the shore.

by -
0 1523
Eagle Scout William Reed with his eagle scout project at the Infant Jesus Church in Port Jeff. Photo from Marie Reed

A new Eagle Scout has joined the ranks of the Boy Scouts Troop 354 in Port Jefferson Station.

William Reed, who has been a Scout since 2013, was honored at his Eagle Scout Court of Honor ceremony June 30 at the Elks Lodge in Centereach.

For his Eagle Scout project, Reed, who also acts as troop historian, built a garden area and bench for the Infant Jesus R.C. Church in Port Jefferson, near the convent and food pantry building. The church is one he has attended since he was a child.

The idea for the garden came from a desire to have a place church patrons and clergy could have to enjoy the outdoors. With the help of his fellow Scouts and troop leaders, Reed cut the materials for the garden frame and built the bench. Then  he helped put together the area, filled it with topsoil and added plantings and flowers. Funds for the project were raised through a fundraiser at the Coram Country Lanes
in Coram.

by -
0 85
Rocky Point Little Free Library. Photo by Kyle Barr

One small book club in Rocky Point has shown an outsized dedication to the community, helping to plant a new Little Free Library in only three months from conception to post in the ground.

The box is open to all residents in the local area, who are encouraged to take or share a book.

“We just want to promote a love of literacy in the community.”

— Lisa Dwyer

The 10-member Rocky Point/Sound Beach Women’s Book Club, headed by Rocky Point resident Lisa Dwyer, spearheaded the project with the help of Jeff Davis, the owner of the Rocky Point Funeral Home, who donated front lawn space of his funeral home for the little, box-sized library. 

Dwyer originally had the idea of a free lending library, one she presented to the Rocky Point Civic Association. Earlier this year, she came across the Little Free Library through Facebook.

“I saw it online and loved the idea, so I presented it to our group,” Dwyer said. “They loved the idea as well.”

The box has been up since July 1, starting with a small collection of 30 books, including several small children’s books. So far, Dwyer said she is impressed with just how many local residents have already become interested. She has even enlisted a number of local kids who just happened to come by on their bikes as “guardians of the books.” The library #82854 already has over 130 followers on Facebook.

“These kinds of things can be vandalized, so it’s good to have that kind of positive reinforcement,” she said.

Davis paid for the box part of the Little Free Library. The book club purchased the post and sign. The book club leader estimated it cost approximately $500 overall. 

These Little Free Libraries have been popping up all across the North Shore and well beyond. There are now library boxes in places such as Rocketship Park in Port Jefferson, Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai, in front of the William Miller House in Miller Place and at The Terryville Union. 

Now that the project is complete, Dwyer said she and her small book club are currently bent on reading “The Forgotten Garden” by Kate Morton. The book club, along with the Rocky Point Sound Beach Chamber of Commerce, will host a ribbon cutting for the new Little Free Library July 25.

“We just want to promote a love of literacy in the community,” she said.

by -
0 71
Perry Gershon, again a Democratic contender for U.S district rep., spoke at a protest early in 2019. Photo by Kyle Barr

The late June Democratic debates hosted by CNBC could have been the first true coal mine canary, telling us that even more than a year out, the race for the White House is going to be a long, complicated and grueling affair.

Nancy S. Goroff, Department of Chemistry Professor, announced her run for District 1. Photo from Stony Brook University

Over two nights, the 20 candidates stood shoulder to shoulder, shouting over each other for attention and sound bites. Though it was talked well enough on every national media outlet, finding North Shore residents who watched the debates, let alone had a full opinion on the Democratic candidates, can be a chore.

However, for Suffolk County and the Suffolk Democratic Committee, it’s business as usual. According to Rich Schaffer, the county Democratic chairman, the focus starts with the local races long before any attention is applied to the congressional candidates, let alone the presidential contenders.

“You won’t get them energized this year until we finish with the local races, so our main focus will be on the town and county races,” Schaffer said. “We had minimal interest in the presidential, a couple of people calling to see about participating in a particular campaign of a particular candidate, but other than that we haven’t much.”

What’s your opinion?

Here is what a few residents from local areas thought about the current Democratic presidential candidates:

Brian Garthwaite, Port Jeff Station:

“Do I think any of the candidates that I saw talk in the last two days will go anywhere? — I hope not,’” he said. “No one really stood out to me.”

Garthwaite guessed at who would be on the final podium come 2020.

“It’s tough to say right now but if I had to guess I think it’s going to be either [Joe] Biden or [Kamala] Harris.”

Judy Cooper, West Islip:

“I’m a Democrat and I like Joe Biden, but I want to hear more about one or two of the lesser known candidates — like Pete Buttigieg and Amy Klobuchar,” she said. “I haven’t thought about a ticket yet. I watched the first night of the debate, but then got sick of it the second night. It was inconsequential the second night. The first night there were many candidates, but they seemed to be more substantial candidates.”

Peggy S., Northport:

“I’m a Democrat, I’ll tell you that,” she said. “I’d support anybody but a Republican. I like Mayor Pete the best.”

Anthony Alessi, Northport:

“I want anybody who can beat Trump,” Alessi said. “Kamala Harris impressed me last night. I’d love to see her beat Trump. My ideal ticket is Elizabeth Warren and Kamala Harris.”

Quotes gathered by David Luces and Leah Chiappino

In local races, the Town of Brookhaven is becoming a hotspot. Though he sees Councilwoman Valerie Cartright (D-Port Jefferson Station) as well established, Schaffer specifically looked at Cheryl Felice, who is running against Michael Loguercio (R-Ridge) for the 4th District, and Anthony Portesy, who is running for Brookhaven Highway Superintendent against Daniel Losquadro (R), specifically having a good shot considering people’s complaints with the state of their roads.

“He’s knocking on doors, and he hears a lot of complaints about the conditions of the roads and the services being provided by the highway department,” he said. 

Two Democrats have already stepped up again to face U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) in the 2020 congressional contest. Last year’s nominee Perry Gershon is again running this year, while Stony Brook resident Jack Harrington is on the sidelines, with rumors he has considered running. On July 9, Stony Brook University scientist Nancy Goroff declared she too would be running against Zeldin, setting up what may be a heated primary race mirroring the 2017-18 Suffolk primary runup.

“As a scientist, I believe in facts,” Goroff said in a release declaring her candidacy. “And it’s a fact that Washington is hurting Suffolk families. I’m running for Congress to use my experience as a scientist to combat global warming, make healthcare affordable, protect a woman’s right to choose and end the gun violence epidemic.”

The Democratic chairman said the committee has been hands-off when it comes to congressional campaigns, letting them hire their own staff and leaving them to their own campaigns. Despite the constant attention paid to national politics, he said he expected the usual number of voters, comparing it to last year’s 22,240 primary votes out of a possible 143,700. 

“It was a little more animated than past years, but on par for where it’s been, 15 to 20 percent turnout,” he said. “It’s definitely going to be animated next year, that’s for sure.”

But to Schaffer, the national race will come down to around five or six candidates, and only then will you see the public become energized around their chosen individual. The next Democratic debate, set for July 17, may be a major tipping point. Politico has reported many Democratic presidential campaigns said they believe the next set of debates could start the culling to the top contenders.

The biggest point on the national and congressional stage is whether he feels they can defeat Zeldin and Trump. If Schaffer had to choose a candidate at this moment, it would be past Vice President Joe Biden, saying he “was part of the successful years of the Obama presidency,” and “if we’re looking for someone who can take on Trump and not just convince Democrats but those ‘persuadables’, I think Biden has the best shot.”

Rich Shaffer at his office in North Babylon. File Photo by Alex Petroski

The Democratic chairman sees Suffolk’s population as more conservatively minded than what may be seen in New York City or other progressive hot spots. 

This is despite the rise of more progressive candidates such as Kamala Harris and Elizabeth Warren, with Harris’ poll numbers, in particular, surging after the CNBC debates, but Schaffer said what’s important is defeating the incumbents.

“If we win, we win as a party. If we lose, we lose as a party,” he said.

by -
0 1444

Louise Wasilevitch

Louise Wasilevitch died June 12. She was 107. For nine years she lived with her daughter and son-in-law, Alice and Charles Anderson of Stony Brook. She also traveled to their home in New Hampshire, where the whole family often gathered. 

Born in New Jersey in 1911 as Louise Zaitz, she led a full life, marrying Julius Wasilevitch in 1937, with whom she had two daughters, Susan Bergman (deceased) and Alice. She worked as a secretary on Wall Street, but was let go when she married. Later, her husband started an engineering firm, Euclid Equipment Inc., and she headed the office. Business allowed them to travel around the world together.

She sang in her younger days, at social clubs and in the First Presbyterian Church choir in Greenlawn, where she lived for most of her married life. Julius died in 1995.

She was also a Girl Scout leader, a part of the Greenlawn Beach and Swim Club and a member of two senior clubs. In addition to playing violin, she enjoyed many crafts, including counted cross stitch, which she did even after she was 100. 

Louise is survived by her daughter Alice Anderson and her husband; three granddaughters, Heather Anderson and her friend Steve Kennedy of North Carolina, Jennifer Irwin and her husband Tobin of Evergreen, Colorado,  and Emily Rietzel and her husband Robert of Coventry, Rhode Island; and eight great-grandchildren. She is missed by her loving family.

Services were held June 17 at A. L. Jacobsen Funeral Home in Huntington Station, followed by cremation.

Michael R. Campbell

Michael Roy Campbell of Northport died on June 27. He was 71. He was a retired business teacher, golf coach and work study coordinator at Northport High School and served in the United States Army, 101st Airborne, during the Vietnam War.

Michael is survived by his wife, Colleen; children Michael William, William Roy, Colleen Jill, Bonnie Michelle and Kathleen Mary; and his granddaughter Violet Aurora. Funeral services were held at Nolan Funeral Home in Northport on July 1 followed by interment, with U.S. Army Military Honors, at Calverton National Cemetery.

Diva Cherbavaz

Diva Cherbavaz, of Ridge, died May 4. She was age 94.

Diva was born April 3, 1925 in Pirano, Italy, and was the daughter of the late William and the late Carmela (Gladi) Contento.  

She was predeceased by her husband, Duilio Cherbavaz, and her son, Dennis Cherbavaz.  

She is survived by three loving daughters, Dorothy Cherbavaz-Tigliapietra, Diana Cherbavaz and Joy Ellen DiGiorgio and  two cherished grandsons, Ambrose DiGiorgio and Isidore DiGiorgio.  

Family and friends gathered at the funeral home on May 10 for closing prayers. Burial followed in St. Michael’s Cemetery in East Elmhurst. An online guest book is available at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com.

Donald Lowe

Donald Edward Lowe, of Frederick, Maryland, formerly of Ridge, died May 7. He was 76.

Donald was born Feb. 4, 1943 in Teaneck, New Jersey, and was the son of the late August and the late Ruth (Speiser) Lowe.  

He was a proud army veteran serving during the Vietnam war and was later an administrator in the Sayville school district. 

He is survived by two loving daughters, Jessica C. Smith of Frederick, Maryland and Jennifer A. Elia of Glen Allen, Virginia; one brother, August H. Lowe of Virginia and five cherished grandchildren.  

Private burial with military honors was held May 13 at Calverton National Cemetery.  

All arrangements were entrusted to the Rocky Point Funeral Home. An online guest book is available at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com.

Albert Reichle

Albert “AJ” Joseph Reichle, of Rocky Point, died May 15. He was 24.

AJ was born in Stony Brook and was the son of Albert J. and Lorraine (Timpone) Reichle.  

He was employed by YAI in Farmingdale as a counselor.  

He is survived by his beloved parents, Albert J. and Lorraine (Timpone) Reichle; his loving sister, Ava Reichle; his cherished grandparents Albert and Joan Reichle of Rocky Point and his grandmother Laura Timpone of Ronkonkoma.

A celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial was offered May 20 at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church with a burial following in Washington Memorial Park in Mount Sinai. An online guest book is available at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com. 

Diane Cummings

Diane V. Cummings, of Ridge, died May 19. She was 73.

Diane was born Feb. 7, 1946 in Brooklyn. She was the daughter of the late Gerard and the late Katherine (Krewer) Rice.

She was employed by Kings Park State Hospital as a therapy aid. 

She is survived by her husband, Richard J. Cummings; two daughters, Kelly Crean of Saint James and Shannon Cummings of Ridge; two sons, Michael Cummings of Shoreham and Sean Cummings of Setauket; three sisters, Kathy Christie of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Janet Doyle of Lake Panamoka and Suzanne Romaine of Coram; three brothers, Greg Rice of Toms River, New Jersey, Thomas Rice of Mount Sinai and Jerry Rice of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.  

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church in Rocky Point with a burial following at Calverton National Cemetery. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Rocky Point Funeral Home.  An online guest book is available at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com.

Ryan Delena

Ryan J. Delena, of Ridge, died May 21. He was 33.

Ryan was born Jan. 23, 1986 in Smithtown. 

He is survived by his father William Delena and his mother Debra (Mohr) Delena. In addition, he was the cherished father of Scarlette Rose Delena and the loving brother of Heather Franco. Delena was privately cremated. 

All arrangements were entrusted to the Rocky Point Funeral Home.  An online guest book can be found at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com.

Linda Ladensack

Linda Ladensack, of East Islip, died May 22. She was 65.

Linda was born Feb. 21, 1954 in the Bronx. She was the daughter of the late Robert and the late Mary (Gydosh) Ladensack. She was employed by the West Islip School District as a teacher.  

She is survived by two loving sisters, Donna Stiene of Arizona and Karen Ladensack of New York.  

Burial was held in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Coram May 30.   

All arrangements were entrusted to the Rocky Point Funeral Home.  An online guest book can be found at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com.  

Martha Martocci

Martha Martocci, of Ridge, died May 22. She was 90.

Martha was born July 9, 1928 in the Bronx and was the daughter of the late Ladislaw and the late Agnes (Fritch) Patterson.  

She was employed by Northport School District as a clerk.  

She is survived by one daughter, Mary (Joseph) Taussi of Arizona; two sons, Peter (Renee) Martocci of Sayville and Robert (Kathy) Martocci of Ridge and her  three cherished grandchildren and five great- grandchildren.  

Celebration of the Mass of Christian Burial was held May 28 at St. Anthony of Padua R.C. Church in Rocky Point with burial following at Calverton National Cemetery.  

All arrangements were entrusted to the Rocky Point Funeral Home. An online guest book is available at www.rockypointfuneralhome.com.   

Albano Melo

Albano Melo, of Miller Place, died June 30. He was 92.

He was the beloved husband of Maria Natalia Melo; the devoted father of Joseph (Aeyung) Melo, Isabel (Kenneth) Melo-Kay and Julia (Frank) Melo-Orlik; the loving grandfather of Andrew, William and Briana (Brian) and is survived by many other family members and friends.

Funeral mass was celebrated at St. Louis de Montfort R.C. Church in Sound Beach and interment followed at the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Coram. Arrangements were entrusted to the Branch Funeral Home of Miller Place and Vigliante family. An online guest book is available at www.branchfh.com.

by -
0 1207

Dieter Lund

Dieter Lund, of Port Jefferson, died May 10. He was 79.

He was born Oct. 24, 1939 in Germany, and was the son of Jenny and Albert Lund.

Dieter was the owner of Seven Seas Construction in Port Jefferson and was a member of L.I. Antique Power Association, Fohrer & Amrumer (German Club), Cold Spring Power Museum and Rough and Tumble Engineers Museum. He enjoyed skiing, fishing, traveling, machinery and especially family.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Amy; daughter, Jenny; son, Thomas; sister, Christa; brother, Helmut; along with many other family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Services were held at Bryant Funeral Home May 18, and interment followed at St. Ann’s Episcopal Cemetery in Sayville.

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

Kenneth Larsen

Kenneth T. Larsen Sr., a longtime community resident, died April 9. He was 89.

He was born Nov. 26, 1929 in Hicksville, and was the son of Adina and Oscar Larsen.

Larsen was a retired roofer for Larsen Roofing Company and was a member of the Stony Brook Yacht Club and Sons of Norway. He enjoyed boating, fishing and spending time with family.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Mildred; sons, Kenneth Jr., John and Jeffrey; two grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; along with many other family and friends

He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers Conrad and Lawrence.

Services were held at Bryant Funeral Home April 12. Interment followed at the Cedar Hill Cemetery in Port Jefferson.

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

Barbara Barkley

Barbara R. Barkley, of East Setauket, died April 12. She was 80.

She was born Nov. 29, 1939 in Bokoshe, Oklahoma, and was the daughter of Neoma and Haden Barkley.

Barkley was a retired financial underwriter, and she enjoyed old and mystery movies.

Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Analisa; son, Guy; four grandchildren; and the rest of her family and friends.

Services were held at the Bryant Funeral Home April 15. Entombment followed in the Pinelawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Farmingdale.

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

Contributions in her memory can be made to Good Shepherd Hospice in Port Jefferson.

Florence Caramihas

Florence Caramihas, a longtime community resident, died April 4. She was 96.

She was born Feb. 17, 1923 in Brockton, Massachusetts, and was the daughter of Kaleroe and John Pechilis.

Caramihas worked at Camp Myles Standish in Taunton, Massachusetts, during and after WWII, and after that worked at her father’s store in Brockton until she married her husband Andrew on Nov. 16, 1952. 

Left to cherish her memory is her daughter, Candace (Donald) Foust; son, John; grandson, Andrew Foust; and her other family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband Andrew and son Thomas.

Services were held at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption in Port Jefferson April 9. Interment followed in the Seaview Cemetery in Mount Sinai.

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

Thelma Hall

Thelma Hall, of Setauket, died May 7. She was 85.

She was born June 11, 1933, in Medford, Massachusetts, and was the daughter of Gladys and Stanley Whitman Sr.

Hall was a retired nurse at Stony Brook University Hospital and a member of the Caroline Church. She enjoyed singing and gardening and spending time with her grandchildren.

Left to cherish her memory are her husband, William; daughters, Susan, Carol and Joan; son, Edward; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Services were held at the Caroline Church May 14. Committal services were held in private.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Bryant Funeral Home of Setauket.

Prev1...626364...103Next Page 63 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

©