Cary Staller talks to the group and addresses concerns. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
The plan designs. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
The plan designs. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Cary Staller talks to the group and addresses concerns. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Of three proposed architectural designs for the buildings, this one was voted most popular, according to a raise of hands. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Of three proposed architectural designs for the buildings, this one was voted in the middle, according to a raise of hands. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Of three proposed architectural designs for the buildings, this one was voted least popular, according to a raise of hands. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Community members at the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association meeting on 3/25/25. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
By Sabrina Artusa
Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association met on March 25 with Staller Associates Realty and its architect to discuss possible architectural designs for the Staller’s 280-unit, three-story apartment complex, which would replace the abandoned shopping center on Route 112, between Cherub Lane and Terryville Road.
John Lewis from NELSON Worldwide, described as a “masters of suburban mixed-used development master plans” by Staller Associates Vice President Valentin Staller, presented three possible designs for the civic’s consideration. The three buildings were all angular, with long wrap-around balconies, large windows, discrete first-floor parking garages and glass elements.
The first design was mostly brick with a “warehouse or mercantile kind of feel,” said Lewis, who was inspired by feedback about the Staller’s property in Farmingdale, The Lofts on Main; the second integrates more color and other textures and materials with sleek white columns, while the third is more geometric, contemporary and mostly white.
“A more residential tone is more of a tone of exclusivity than inclusivity. A commercial feel allows people to feel welcome and draws them in,” Lewis said, saying later that the property will be a community center as people walk from store to store.
Some residents repeated the complaint that it is reminiscent of Brooklyn and Queens; others thought it was trendy and would be popular among the younger generation; many wanted a more subdued, classic New England feel — something that would mesh more with Port Jefferson.
While aesthetic discussion revolved mostly around feel, but some residents wanted specific elements such as a unique trim, no shutters or more cast stone.
“They are a little sterile. I like the idea of making it more farmhouse or colonial,” said a Port Jefferson resident.
“We are the gateway to Port Jefferson…is there a way to make this more to that kind of perception?” asked another.
Staller had previously lowered the building height at the request of the civic. The property will have a 25-foot setback, be 35-45 feet tall and will not include balconies in the back where the building faces a residential area as well as a larger buffer.
PJS/Terryville Civic President Ira Costell appreciated the effort to involve the community, but was dissapointed with the renderings. He said a computerized model that displayed the depth and other aspects of the project would have given a “real sense of the feel of the place” and allowed for more effective communication in the future. The meeting which was attended by around 70 people and lasted 2 hours.”It is a starting point rather than ending,” Costell said.
Staller Associates President Cary Staller said construction will start in two to three years. He still intends to devote 20% of the units to people with disabilities, although he doesn’t have a price point per unit approximation. Staller Associates is still looking for vendors, and the civic responded with many suggestions, ranging from a health food grocery store to a bakery, a suggestion that was enthusiastically received.
Bike lanes and sidewalks are part of the plan, and Cary Staller said he is trying to connect the bike lane to the existing lane. “We are going to have bike lanes from Terryville throughout the site and then to [the Greenway] and we think that will make the Greenway a lot more desirable,” Cary Staller said.
Lewis said there will be some construction traffic but roads will remain open.
Three students from the Stony Brook School sat down on March 19 to take one of the most difficult mathematical exams for high school students in the country.
The exam could potentially make them eligible for the country’s olympic math team. After an exceptional performance in the American Mathematics Competitions, and the subsequent American Invitational Mathematics Examination, they moved on to the next round of exams, the USA Mathematical Olympiad. The simple fact of their progression is an accomplishment and proof of their skill as they join the ranks of America’s competitive student mathematicians.
Junior Joseph Jung and sophomores Sanchuan Feng and Junlin Wang participated in the AMC with 300,000 other students before progressing to the AIME, where they answer 15 questions in three hours.
Ten students from the SBS advanced to the AIME, placing them in the top 5% of AMC scorers; Jung and Feng were selected to continue to USAMO and Wang was selected to continue to the USA Junior Mathematical Olympiad. The SBS only had two students qualify for the USAMO in the past 18 years.
The AMC is a 25-question examination and consists of three levels: AMC 8, AMC 10 and AMC 12. The levels are based on grade level — a student, however, can choose to take an exam above their grade level, so they can take several. Level AMC 12 can be taken by any student in 12th grade or below; Feng, a sophomore, was admitted to the USAMO based on his performance in AMC 12, two grades above his own.
It isn’t rare for SBS students to qualify for the AIME; however, it is rare for a student to progress to the USAMO, “the third level in the competition ladder,” according to SBS Math Department Head Steve Stortz.
“I was thrilled and genuinely surprised,” Jung said, recalling his reaction to learning that he was chosen to continue. “It’s rewarding to see the hard work pay off, especially considering the high level of competition. Advancing further motivates me to continue learning and improving.”
“Their success is truly impressive,” said SBS Academic Dean Jeffrey Smith. “Scoring in the USAMO category means these three stood out among tens of thousands of students nationwide, landing in the top 250–300 or so. It’s a huge accomplishment that shows off their incredible problem-solving skills and mathematical creativity — stuff that goes way beyond typical high school math.”
While the SBS isn’t considered “specialized” in math, it has an advanced mathematics program that is rapidly evolving and expanding. In addition to advanced math classes such as linear algebra, advanced topics in math, and Advanced Placement calculus, the SBS is attempting to grow its math olympiad team and make it more “formal,” according to Stortz.
Stortz said that the advanced courses help enable students like Wang, Feng and Jung to reach their potential. In previous years, the highest level the school offered was AP calculus. Now, students can take linear algebra and multi linear calculus as part of Stony Brook University’s Accelerated College Education program.
“Here they are, high school students, and they are doing math that, if you were a math major and you were maybe in your junior year, you will reach some of these questions,” Stortz said.
The USAMO and USAJMO take place over two days: 4.5 hours one day and 4.5 hours the next. The nine-hour exam consists of only six questions. Stortz said that the students typically use all of the time.
Jung, the vice president of the math club, said that these competitions help fuel his passion for math. “Early recognition in competitions like the AMC 8 and various school honors further inspired my ongoing passion for math,” he said. “I think of math as a language: how people can communicate with each other through numbers and letters.”
Jung hopes to build upon his mathematical skill in a career in technology, “particularly in areas like space exploration or cryptography.”
The northern dusky salamander in Anita Lago’s hand when she found it on Sept. 1, 2024. Photo courtesy Anita Lago
By Sabrina Artusa
Anita Lago was walking along a stream leading to the emptied Stony Brook Mill Pond on Sept 1, overturned earth and strewn twigs littering her path, when she spotted a black object. Thinking it was a fishing lure she picked it up.
“It was not a fishing lure, it had legs,” she said.
Lago put it back and showed a picture of the salamander to John Turner of the Seatuck Environmental Association, who shared it with Smithtown High School East senior and Four Harbors Audubon Society board member Gabe Finger. Finger and Turner identified the salamander as a northern dusky salamander.
A light form of the northern dusky salamander. Photo courtesy John Turner
The northern dusky salamander isn’t known to live on Long Island — the only traces of it having existed on the island are nearly a century old. One of the only samples was secured by Long Island naturalist Roy Latham.
Finger and Turner returned to the pond. Finger overturned a rock and found another. Wading in the stream, Turner and Finger found four more salamanders of two different morphs: two salamanders were darker gray and two were a lighter, sandier color. The genetic expression of the salamander allows for wide varying appearances, Turner said, just like people.
The finding was pure “serendipity,” according to Turner. “No one was looking for it.”
“It is remarkable for a species that is thought to be gone for almost a century and to still be here and to be here in a fairly suburban part of Long Island,” Turner said. “I would not think of Stony Brook as where you would find it. I would think it would be further out east, maybe by the pine barrens, and it is hiding in plain sight.”
Gabe Finger presenting the discovery of the salamander at the Long Island Natural History Conference at Stony Brook University on March 21. Photo courtesy SCSD
Finger, who will be attending Cornell University to study sustainability and wildlife biology. gave a presentation about the finding at a Long Island Natural History Conference at Stony Brook University on March 21. “Since I was very, very little I’ve always been just fascinated with animals and I knew from a very young age that all I wanted to do with my life was study animals,” he said.
Since the salamanders found at the Stony Brook Mill Pond have likely been geographically separated from their ancestors for tens of thousands of years, it is possible that they evolved into a new species —an offshoot of the northern dusky salamander.
The northern dusky salamander resides in cold, trickling waters. The small, fast flowing tributaries of the North Shore fit these criteria: the streams aren’t in the sun long enough to get warm and are fast-flowing enough for a quick turnover of water. The salamander also lurks in the muddy stream banks, maybe hiding under a rock or log.
Turner and Finger can’t pursue their studies further until they have permission to take a small toe clip of the salamander to study its DNA. “There’s been a lot of red tape to go through,” Finger said.
Once they have a DNA sample and the salamanders become more active in the warmer weather, researchers can begin employing environmental DNA collection techniques to detect the presence of salamanders by simply testing the water of streams in which they potentially reside.
Three Village Central School District Superintendent Kevin Scanlon released a letter on March 21 informing families of incidents of antisemitism in the schools and assured them that the district is going to tackle the issue.
“There have recently been incidents of antisemitism in our schools,” the letter reads. “We believe that there is a larger issue occurring that we need to address.”
The letter suggests that a conglomeration of incidents is leading the district to initiate programs and curriculum changes: “Although some individuals may perceive these incidents as isolated, we cannot afford to take them lightly.”
Rabbi Aaron Benson of the North Shore Jewish Center said he has been in touch with some families whose children have been affected by antisemitism with Three Village middle schools. Benson said his understanding is that no major altercation occurred, but that on one or multiple occasions, students made an antisemitic remark that was heard by several other students, including Jewish students.
“As I understand it, the comments weren’t particularly directed at anybody but there were Jewish students present,” he said. “But also comments of that sort should not be tolerated regardless if a Jewish person is present.”
Rabbi Joshua Gray from Temple Isaiah emailed Scanlon after receiving the letter. Scanlon invited him to the school for a conversation, following through on the district’s commitment to “work together as a community” as written in the letter.
The conversation went “very well” according to Gray, and he left the meeting feeling assured that the district is addressing the issue with consideration and care.
“They are being very proactive,” he said. “It is good when people call it by its name and say it as it is.” Benson, too, was glad that the district acknowledged the issue and is taking an active role in combating hate speech.
“These are all the things I want them to be doing and I am thankful that they are,” he said. Benson, who has been an ordained rabbi for over 20 years, said he likes “to believe that there is just simple ignorance combined with perhaps a desire to be shocking or irreverent” but that there is “a stronger presence of antisemitic commentary that is out there and trickles down to kids.”
Both rabbis live in the district and have children. They said that they have noticed an uptick in antisemitism since Hamas attacked Israel Oct. 7, 2023.
Stefanie Werner, whose child attends a Three Village school, said that her child had experienced antisemitism over five years ago. Glad that the village acknowledged the issue, but upset that antisemitism is still present enough to warrant a letter, Werner called the letter “a double-edged sword.”
“I hate that it has gotten to this point,” she continued. “We’ve gotten this letter and we don’t exactly know what has happened.”
Werner said she would like to see more discussion integrated into the curriculum, a step Scanlon plans to take, according to the letter. Werner said that it is clear that preexisting programs, like assemblies, talks or electives, aren’t enough.
“We have to teach them that it is not okay,” she said. “They don’t see the line.”
Rendering of the Smith Haven Mall after intended renovations. Photo courtesy Simon Property Group
By Sabrina Artusa
The Smith Haven Mall will undergo “major redevelopment” this summer, including new stores, an outdoor green area and new flooring. The work is expected to be completed in 2026.
The process of renovating has already begun with the addition of stores like Primark and Ford’s Garage. Sur la Table, a former favorite that filed for bankruptcy in 2020, will return. The court between Barnes & Nobles and the mall entrance will be transformed to allow for more seating and open space.
“At Simon, we are committed to making significant investments across our portfolio to ensure that our centers continue to deliver exceptional customer experiences for today’s shoppers,” said Mark Silvestri, president of development at Simon, a property group that owns Smith Haven Mall.
Other shops to be added include fashion retailers Zara and Mango and a golf facility with a bar called Golf Lounge 18.
Smith Haven Mall management were unable to disclose additional information. More information can be found at https://www.simon.com/mall/smith-haven-mall
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
By Sabrina Artusa
Veterans and members of the American Federation of Government Employees assembled Friday, March 14, in front of the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center to protest cuts to the federal workforce, particularly in relation to veteran services.
According to a March 5 video statement from the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, the department aims to decrease staff by 15%. Currently, the department employs 470,000 people, according to Collins, which he aims to get down to the 2019 level of 399,957. “The federal government does not exist to employ people. It exists to serve people,” Collins said.
“In response to President Trump’s (R) Department of Government Efficiency Workforce Optimization Initiative, VA is conducting a department-wide review of its organization, operations and structure,” he said. This includes eliminating “not mission critical” contracts.
The Department of Veterans Affairs provides benefits and health care through VA medical centers in addition to access to housing loans and grants, educational programs and support the transition back to civilian life.
The VA centers cater to the unique needs of veterans, both mentally and physically. AFGE Local 1843 President Bob Dennis attended the rally, “The doctors are familiar with their cases, They love coming to the place because they know they will get the care they deserve.”
AFGE represents some of the employees of the VA center. He said for years the medical experts have endured long hours and short staffing. In fact, he said in the past, the goal was to grow and advertise the services of the VA.
“Our big goal was to grow,” he said. “We used to send out a medical unit that could be driven … so we would go to other places and the veterans would know we are coming to support them with patient care.”
In his statement, Dennis asserted that cuts would not diminish veteran care but eradicate unnecessities.
Dennis has spoken with some officials, like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) whom he says recognized the threat embedded in cuts.
“We are trying to get the best thing we can possibly get for our nation’s heroes,” Dennis said. “We protect the people that deserve to be protected. We want to honor our veterans. And that is one thing we won’t change.”
A picture of the property to be annexed, screen shotted from the Town of Brookhaven’s online map application. The upper gray portion indicates the Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson. Photo courtesy the Town of Brookhaven website
By Sabrina Artusa
The Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees and the Town of Brookhaven Council met for a joint public hearing for the prospective annexation of the Port Jefferson Station property on March 6.
James Tsunis, owner of the 5.6-acre parcel next to Baylis Avenue in Port Jefferson Station, initiated the historic hearing between the entities when he requested that five plots of land be annexed to Port Jefferson village. The last time the two entities met for a joint hearing was in 1978.
Area in question is highlighted during the meeting on March 6. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Tsunis and his company, Northwind Group, intend to develop the area into a 48-unit multifamily townhouse complex, which would be impossible under Brookhaven’s current industrial zoning. If the land is annexed, it will be in the purview of the Port Jefferson village planning board, and Tsunis would apply for a rezoning application with the village instead of the town. In this 3.5-hour meeting, Tsunis, as the petitioner, was to prove to both boards that there is a clear public benefit from annexation.
Previously, Brookhaven council members gave feedback indicating that if Tsunis were to submit a rezoning application, it would be rejected.
Tsunis, a 50-year Port Jefferson resident, said “None of the residents of the Village of Port Jefferson want industrial [development] on the property. So what do we do? We annex it into the village because that is who is affected by the use of this property.”
In conjunction with his Brook Meadows plan, Tsunis would contribute $500,000 to the village, assist in rebuilding the William Tooker House, the oldest structure in the village, build a community garden and build a sidewalk from the property to Sheep Pasture Road.
Baylis Avenue and Sheep Pasture Road
Brookhaven Town Board Meeting on March 6. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Tsunis’ attorney Michael Towey argued that the singular access road to the property from Sheep Pasture Road, which serves as the border between the town and the village, is problematic. “This section is completely geographically isolated from the town. It is only accessible through the village,” Towey said.
Since Sheep Pasture Road is the only entry point, Towey argued that the village residents will be affected by whatever is built on the parcel. “We believe the village and its residents [have] reason to be concerned not in the sense of any imminent threat, but in the sense that they presently lack control over how this territory or how these properties will be utilized in the future,” he said.
Supervisor Dan Panico (R) said that any property adjacent to an incorporated village would be implicated by that argument. Indeed, in order to reach Scenic View Court, a residential area neighboring Baylis Avenue, one must pass through the village from the east, though the road can be accessed without entering the village from the west. The Port Jefferson Marina, owned by the Town of Brookhaven, requires passing through the village.
Services
If the annexation is approved by both boards, the children who reside on the property would attend the Comsewogue School District, despite living in the village. The properties are currently serviced by the Terryville Fire District and will remain so even if the property is annexed. “An annexation of the property would place a division in unity of purpose of the public services providing emergency and educational services,” Town of Brookhaven Planning Director Don Hohn said.
Area in question is highlighted during the meeting on March 6. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Towey argued that the village already assumes responsibility for the road, and including the road in Brookhaven’s district was not efficient, although this could not be proven. Brookhaven paved the road in 2023.
Town of Brookhaven Superintendent of Highways Dan Losquadro (R) issued a letter of support of the annexation, writing “this will alleviate the duplication of services by more than one municipality on the same roadway.”
Some speakers reiterated the revitalization of Port Jefferson village as a benefit of the Brooks Meadows plan. Of the 24 speakers that addressed the board, 18 were in support of the development.
Jim Steiner hopes Brooks Meadows would breathe new life into the village: “[Revitalization] has been a slow process and to have a townhouse type place within walking distance will help lift up the neighborhood.”
Industrial vs. Multifamily
Hohn noted the increased traffic associated with multifamily zoning, stating that the daily trips would be lower if the area remains zoned industrial. “If the maximum building size allowed on a L1 industrial lot were to be developed, this would generate 214 total daily trips. The maximum building size on a multifamily lot, were it to be developed, would be 372 daily trips.” This assertion was corroborated by the Town of Brookhaven Highway Department, though the letter added that the traffic wouldn’t create “significant traffic impacts.”The maximum building height would be 50 feet in light industrial zoning and 35 feet in multifamily zoning in Brookhaven.
Alexander and Jim Tsunis listening to the public testimonies at the Brookhaven Town Hall in Farmingville. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Many residents expressed displeasure over the aspect of letting the property remain industrial. Port Jefferson resident Gary Zamek said, “The Village of Port Jefferson does not need more industrial land on Sheep Pasture Road…I know Port Jefferson is trying to revitalize our uptown area. It just seems obvious to me that more residents as opposed to trucks would help create that.”
Businesses such as health clubs, offices, warehouses and veterinary hospitals would all be permitted in an area zoned industrial, as noted in Chapter 85 in Brookhaven’s town zone.
Further, some speakers supported the annexation as it would supply additional housing. Town of Brookhaven Councilman Jonathan Kornreich (D, Stony Brook) said, “On the application, it indicated there would be four affordable units…This will not be affordable housing by any means. Four of them will be.”
“As a trustee, I want to see owned real estate,” Port Jefferson village Trustee Xena Ugrinsky said.
The Brook Meadows site proposal was analyzed by the Suffolk County Department of Economic Planning and Development in 2023 before it was removed for consideration by Tsunis.The plan was analyzed and disapproved by the Suffolk County Department of Economic Planning and Development in 2023, citing incongruence with adjacent industrial zoning, additional traffic and that a change of zone is simply unnecessary and prohibitive to prospective light industrial zoning developments. The walkability score from the property was listed as 56 partly due to its distance to the Port Jefferson Train Station and downtown, an estimated 10-minute walk. Tsunis then withdrew his application.
“If it was to be developed industrially, it would likely, in my opinion, be developed into something more demure when it comes to light industrial like a self-storage, which is typically a generator of almost zero,” Panico said.
The prospect of a rail yard being built by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority at the Lawrence Aviation site is another consideration of the Brookhaven town council. Tsunis included a 100-foot buffer from the tracks in his plan, but Panico argued that this location would not be in the public’s best interest.
The town and the village have to vote on the annexation within 90 days of the hearing. If the town and village don’t vote in agreement, then one entity could appeal the other’s decision, according to Town of Brookhaven Attorney James Burke.
The public comment period closes on March 14 at midnight for online submissions and at 4:30 p.m. for physical submissions by mail.
Rep. Thomas Suozzi took phone calls from his constituents on March 6. Photo courtesy of Suozzi's Facebook page
By Sabrina Artusa
Representative Nick LaLota (R-NY1) on March 5 and Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY3) held a virtual town hall March 6 address their constituent’s concerns, where federal cuts were chief among them.
U.S. Congressman Tom Suozzi
Suozzi’s town hall was attended by over 10,000 people. Suozzi, who was one of 10 Democrats to censure Texas Representative Al Green (D-9th) after Green interrupted President Donald Trump’s(R) Joint Address to Congress, fielded questions on his motivation behind the vote.
“That is not appropriate,” he said, noting. “If it was a Republican doing that to a Democrat it wouldn’t be appropriate and I can’t be a hypocrite.”
Instead of “getting caught up in the protests and the sign-holding and interrupting the president’s speech,” Suozzi emphasized building relationships on “both sides of the aisle” as a method for Democrats to gain a foothold in Congress and “get things done” and “win the argument.”
Residents asked how Suozzi will stand against the federal cuts, including $880 million in proposed cuts to Medicaid. Education, litigation and mobilization were the three primary routes to change, said Suozzi.
Suozzi added that, “58,000 are in the affordable care act that comes from Medicaid; 305,000 people on Long Island are low-income individuals on Medicaid; 133,000 disabled Long Islanders are on Medicaid; and62% of people in my district in nursing homes are on Medicaid … when you want to see someone’s values look at their budget.”
“We need to talk about the importance of Medicaid and how important it is in your life,” Suozzi told a disabled speaker who relies on Medicaid and Social Security and was concerned that he wouldn’t be able to afford to live on Long Island without the aid.
Suozzi admitted that he gets frustrated with the opposite party, but disagrees with dramatic displays of protest such as Green’s, whom he said he has successfully worked with in the past. At the address, Suozzi said he “was angry at the president” but doesn’t want to indulge forces that “want to divide us.”
One speaker called this approach “naïve,” saying Suozzi has “fallen prey to the paradox of tolerance.” Overall, the meeting lasted an hour. Speakers who were unable to ask questions were encouraged to leave a voicemail.
To contact Suozzi go to suozzi.houe.gov. Washington, DC, office at (202- 225-3335.
U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota
LaLota held a town hall on March 5. The tele-town hall comes after a President’s Day rally held at his office by Indivisible, a grassroots national movement. The rally was organized to demand an in-person town hall meeting. Lalota has previously only held tele-town halls.
He fielded accusations that tele-town halls are scripted with questions not being representative of his constituents’ concerns,responding that these claims were untrue.
Integrating polls throughout the call, LaLota garnered feedback on hot topics such as tariffs and Medicaid cuts. In regard to the tariffs, LaLota said he would monitor them and felt confident that the president would use precision and care when using tariffs as leverage.
LaLota said “we need to reduce spending: and he wants “people in government to root out things that don’t make sense.”
To contact LaLota go to house.lalota.gov; district phone number is (631) 289-1097.
A banner in Centereach that reads Ramadan Kareem, an Arabic phrase that directly translates to “Generous Ramadan” in English. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
By Sabrina Artusa
The crescent moon lit up the night sky Feb. 28, signifying the beginning of Ramadan, the Islamic month of fasting. This holy month honors the revelation of the Quran to Muhammad, and Muslims celebrate by strengthening their faith through restraint.
For Sabri, a Setauket mechanic, the day begins at 4 a.m. He eats with his wife and children before his fast starts at 5 a.m. In the evening, he will put on a Muslim talk show and listen to the “Azan” (or “Adhan”), a song that precedes prayer, before breaking his fast in a meal called the “Iftar.” In Istanbul, Sabri loved to listen to the “Azan” as the sun rose, right before the first prayer of the day.
For the Iftar, Sabri’s meals don’t deviate much from what he typically eats, but his meal will likely contain meat, which his wife ensures is “halal” by shopping at a Turkish grocer.
“This is for control of your system,” Sabri said. “It is for yourself.” Water, also, is not allowed during the fasting period. Of course, there are exceptions for those whom it would be harmful or dangerous to fast, and children are also not expected to observe.
Muslims not only fast from food but also restrain from doing any other action that is against Islamic principles, such as lying. Stony Brook University professor Ismail Zahed emphasized that Ramadan is meant to remove the reliance on nonnecessities in order to “factor in Islam in the right way.”
“The most basic thing — to feed yourself — is taken for granted,” Zahed said. “[Ramadan] is a reminder of those who do not have. It brings you closer to those who do not have… It is not waiting for the 5:40 time card [sunset] to hit the table. It is making all the effort to think about that and to think of all the ways you can reach out and help.”
Removing superfluous luxuries helps Muslims connect more not only with their religion but also with their friends, family and community.
Charitable acts are another signature part of Ramadan and part of the reason some mosques provide the Iftar for free. This tenet of Islam, giving to charity, is one of the five pillars of Islam, alongside fasting, pilgrimage, profession of faith and prayer.
Ramadan serves to help Muslims get closer to Allah by looking inward at their own relationship with their faith, but it is also observed communally, with Muslims gathering to recite a portion of the Quran at mosques each night and breaking the fast together. Beginning on the first day of Ramadan, an Imam will recite one-thirtieth of the Quran so that, by the end of the month, it will have been read in its entirety.
“It is also a month where families come together in observance of this particular event [the revelation of the Quaran] where we remind each other why this is so important. Getting people to sit together at the same time is difficult,” Zahed said.
“My favorite part is to open the Iftar with my family,” Sabri said. Sabri doesn’t often go to the mosque for Iftar, preferring to break the fast at home with his family. He does visit the mosque for a prayer at least once a week.
For Zahed, Ramadan is a chance to focus more on Islam, although the changes don’t end once the month is over.
At the end of Ramadan, Muslims will celebrate with “Eid al-Fitr,” which will occur March 29, the day of the new crescent moon.
“People have a really good heart,” Sabri said. “And God makes them see it.”
The Main Street Pub in Kings Park had a fire on Feb. 25. Photo from GoFundMe page.
By Sabrina Artusa
At around 10:40 p.m. Feb 25, Scott McKinnon, owner of Main Street Pub in Kings Park, received a call that a fire had emerged. He immediately drove to the bar he took over from his father decades before from his home 20 minutes away. Fire was visible above the building.
“I was driving up and light was coming out of the roof,” McKinnon said.
Scott McKinnon stands with Lori, Ellen, Krista and Evelyn at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Kings Park. Photo by Rita Egan
According to McKinnon, the fire started outside in an alleyway between the pub and the neighboring Euro Barber Shop. The fire department extinguished it swiftly and with no casualties, but the bar has endured tremendous damage; about 30-40% of the pub that has been in operation for about three decades was severely damaged, Mckinnon estimates.
“The firefighters did a great job extinguishing the fire but there is a lot of damage from the smoke,” McKinnon said. There is also water damage.
Evelyn Wood, McKinnon’s partner, said the last week has been “kind of like a rollercoaster.” The fire was devastating; however, at the Kings Park St. Patrick’s Day Parade, the community showed their support.
“We are learning emotions we didn’t know we had and just trying to get through each one together,” Wood said. “It has been very overwhelming to [Scott]. This is everything. It has put a roof over his kids’ heads and helped them grow up and go to school and everything.”
The pub’s employees organized a booth on a side street next to the pub. They gave out food and raised money to supplement the income that the 80 employees have now lost. They chatted with regulars and tried to preserve the pub’s presence in the community.
“It was nice to see the people that we always take care of and we always serve are taking care of us now,” Wood said. The pub’s employees, some who have been working at the pub for decades, are spearheading promotional fundraisers while McKinnon works with insurance companies and the town to navigate rebuilding.
McKinnon described the bar as an “old-time” institution with regulars who spent “most of their time” there, drinking and talking.
“Regardless if you were an employee or customer, everyone knows everyone, cares for everyone. . . watches each other’s backs, it was just a tight knit place to be in,” Wood said.
McKinnon, eager to get the bar back up and running, has had to wait for the insurance company to file the damages. He cannot touch or alter anything while this process continues, something McKinnon said is “impossible”.
During Covid, when the bar had to shut down, McKinnon supplemented the loss with his savings and income, ensuring the bar would get through the financial strain of extended closure.
“All the means I had I had to put into the business,” McKinnon said. Now, he has to navigate town ordinances and insurance dealings before he can get the bar back to the state it was. He approximates the bar will be back in three to four months.
McKinnon said he might consider making some changes when the bar eventually reopens.
Prev
