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TBR Staff

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TBR News Media covers everything happening on the North Shore of Suffolk County from Cold Spring Harbor to Wading River.

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Malissa and Francis Mangogna

These are a few of our favorite things about the fall — pumpkin spice, cozy sweaters, and the annual Women’s EXPO at the Middle Country Public Library in Centereach on Thursday, October 10 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.  More than just a trade show, the EXPO showcases the talents, products, and businesses of Long Island women entrepreneurs.

An initiative of the Middle Country Library Foundation, this annual event supports the work the library’s Miller Business Center does all year to help local entrepreneurs. 

“Advocating for women-owned businesses not only sets the stage for presenting to young women a path to entrepreneur possibilities,” says Carol Allen, CEO of People’s Alliance Federal Credit Union and the EXPO’s long-time Café Sponsor, “but has proven to be essential to overall grass-roots community and overall economic growth.”  

From limited access to funding to balancing personal and professional responsibilities, women entrepreneurs navigate numerous obstacles on their path to success. EXPO Supporting Sponsor Stony Brook Small Business Development Center’s Director Martha Stansbury, “applauds today’s women entrepreneurs for their perseverance in commercializing their business ideas.”

The EXPO not only celebrates these entrepreneurs but also highlights how supporting women-owned businesses strengthens community and economic growth across Long Island. The event not only brings shoppers, it connects the women with each other. “The EXPO provides an invaluable opportunity for women to connect, learn from one another, and collaborate. By coming together, we create a powerful network of support and innovation that fosters both personal and professional growth,” said Sophia Serlis-McPhillips, Director of Middle Country Public Library.

Let’s shine a spotlight on some of the incredible local women entrepreneurs who will be this year’s Women’s EXPO:

Malissa and Francis Mangogna

Malissa and Francis Mangogna

Beam of Light Designs

Malissa and Frances Mangogna made a bold leap into entrepreneurship in the summer of 2023, launching Beam of Light Designs. Inspired by the creative potential of the Innovation Space at the Middle Country Public Library, they initially created laser-engraved items as gifts for friends and family. However, as interest in the designs grew, Malissa and Frances decided to turn their hobby into a business.

They started by selling through Instagram and Facebook, with last year’s EXPO being their first event. Meeting and speaking with people in-person allowed Malissa and Frances to learn more about what customers really want. Malissa loves designing new products, from custom ornaments to unique visor frames. She says that this year’s EXPO will feature even more personalized options and that they will be affordable. “I’ve been in a position where things were too expensive, and I don’t want anyone to feel that way about our products,” says Malissa. 

When asked about their biggest business success, Malissa says, “Our repeat customers. People order a personalized item and often order another right away.”

Vanessa Rodriguez

Vanessa Rodriguez

Creations by Bazookilla

Returning for her second year, Vanessa Rodriguez of Creations by Bazookilla reflects on how far she’s come since last year, when she attended her first ever event – the Women’s EXPO.  Vanessa taught herself to crochet, giving her blankets, hats, and more to friends and family. “People would always tell me I should sell my items, but it was just something I did for fun.” That changed when her friend and mentor gave her the push she needed. “I wasn’t sure I could do it,” Vanessa admitted. “But I’m so glad she pushed me into it.” Vanessa, a single mother, balances her budding business with her studies in payroll management. Despite the challenges, she continues, driven by the memory of her late father, whose work ethic continues to inspire her to move forward. 

She met many fellow women entrepreneurs at the last EXPO, including Lisa Brunetti of Fashion Forward with Lisa. Since connecting at the EXPO, Lisa has encouraged Vanessa to sell her products at Retro Relics in Lake Grove and join a networking group. Vanessa joined TNT and through the meetings she has gained vital support, helping her business grow. She says, “The best thing about starting this business has been meeting new people—other entrepreneurs—and connecting with them.” From hobbyist to business owner, from uncertainty to confidence, Vanessa feels like this year is her “moment.” And she’s just getting started.

Sue Folan

Sue Folan

Sue’s Balsamic Glazes

Sue Folan, a registered dietitian, was looking to do something different. Having spent a lot of time helping people season food in healthy ways and knowing balsamic glazes are an easy, healthy way to add that flavor, Sue’s Balsamic Glazes was born. 

Unsure where to start, Sue used some of the resources available to entrepreneurs in New York starting at the Stony Brook Small Business Development Center where a business counselor helped her get begin. Still Sue knew she needed to learn more about getting a food product to market safely, so she worked with the Cornell Center for Excellence for Food and Agriculture.  This led to her being invited to be a part of the inaugural session of the Cornell Food Spark, a program designed and led by leading food science experts to help entrepreneurs bring new food products to market. 

After all her hard work, Sue’s Balsamic Glazes were ready for market in June 2023. In her first year, Sue sold 3,700 bottles and is on track to sell more than 5,000 this year.  She is looking forward to her first EXPO.  Former EXPO vendors have recommended the event as “a great way to meet and talk with other women in business,” says Sue.

Even though being an entrepreneur means Sue works 7 days a week, she is excited about what’s to come.

Sena Kolayli

Sena Kolayli

The Cinnamon Candle

Sena Kolayli’s journey from chemist to candle maker is as unique as the hand-poured sculptural soy candles she creates. Originally from Turkey, Sena moved to the U.S. to work as a chemist at a pharmaceutical company, but her career path shifted when she became pregnant. Wanting to balance her desire to work with staying home to care for her son, Sena took an online candle-making course. With her background in chemistry, she saw an opportunity to create natural, safe candles and was determined to craft the best product possible.

Now in her third holiday season with The Cinnamon Candle, Sena has grown her business from a single color, scent, and mold to offering five scents and a variety of colors and designs. “I started small, but I’ve always wanted to keep growing and adding to my collection,” she said. She hopes to offer candle-making workshops in the future and possibly open a coffee/candle shop — an idea inspired by her sister’s love of coffee.

For Sena, the biggest success is the positive feedback from customers. “People tell me my candles make their homes beautiful, and that just makes me cry,” she said. “I put so much care and effort into every single candle.”

A neighbor mentioned how much she enjoyed the EXPO and encouraged Sena to apply. She is looking forward to being around other women entrepreneurs

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Whether it’s the corner deli, the local card shop or an entrepreneur at the Women’s EXPO, every local purchase is a vote of confidence in your community.

The 24th annual Women’s EXPO will take place on Thursday, October 10 at the Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Blvd, Centereach from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is free and there is ample parking. For further information, call the library at 631-585-9393 x296 or visit www.womensEXPOli.org.

 

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Pixabay photo

With elections just around the corner, early autumn can feel like an overwhelming time.

Candidates on the national, state and local levels spew their promises, which we never actually know are genuine, and insult each other’s characters, instead of answering direct questions.

Many people have simply taken themselves out of the race, both literally and figuratively, refusing to vote, or partake in the democratic process at all anymore, after years of disillusionment.

But this election cycle, TBR implores you to hang in there.

Put community above party, and hear all of November’s nominees out. It doesn’t hurt to give them a fair shake.

Who knows? Maybe you will be surprised by something you hear, and be influenced to alter your view on an issue.

It is so incredibly appealing to jump on either party’s bandwagon, and be swept up with ad hominem attacks, sweeping generalizations and just plain-old lies. It would be a lie to say that it isn’t easier to be moved by primal emotion, than a calm, step back.

But listen. Listen to the candidates. Listen to your friends. Listen to your neighbors. Get your finger on the pulse of what your community needs, and make a choice based on that. Not preconceived notions, or one-sided vitriol. There is a reason that the saying, “go with your gut,” has survived for centuries.

With all this in mind, on Oct. 31st, we will be releasing our paper’s election supplement, in which we will share interviews with all candidates running for office, within our six coverage areas. We hope that through this process, we will aid you in your judgment process of each nominee, as we will be providing you a non-partisan, unedited look at each person’s responses, to a variety of questions, ranging from policy promises, to past actions.

In short, the way that our interviewing process works is that the two nominees, for each available seat, will come into our Setauket offices together, in which they will then answer each identical question, one after the other, and be able to participate in a type of mock debate, where ideas will be exchanged and dissected.

We hope that you will pick up a copy of one of our papers, or read online at www.tbrnewsmedia.com, for the week of Oct. 31, and use us as a tool that will help you regain a little bit of faith in the press, politics and humanity.

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Linda Devin-Sheehan, who works with the League of Women Voters, in front of one of the event’s tents. Photo by Gabby Daniels

By Gabby Daniels

As the 2024 presidential election approaches, Stony Brook University’s Center for Civic Justice wants to ensure that the student body is prepared to exercise its rights. 

The event held on Sept. 17, which is National Voter Registration Day, outside of Stony Brook’s Student Activities Center, students eagerly gathered in the plaza to be able to check their voter registration status, register if they have not already done so and learn more about important deadlines. 

With its first celebration in 2012, National Voter Registration Day is a nonpartisan civic holiday dedicated to celebrating the democracy of America. It helps people register to vote and educates communities on the topics at hand, as well as the current office members. Since its inception, more than 5 million Americans have registered.

“As I was walking back from class today, I saw that they were doing voter registration, and I said, ‘Oh, I should do it, too,’” said freshman Olivia Formicola.

“Having it on campus made it so much easier… I feel like I probably would not have done it if it was not here.” 

Evelyn Murphy, a student intern with the Center for Civic Justice, was thrilled with how the event was going. “We have had a great turnout today,” Murphy stated.

“So many people who I talked to today said they would not have registered if it was not convenient for them.” 

Murphy said the center wanted to ensure students had fun during the event as well.

“We do not just want people to register, but we want to make sure that they actually go out and vote on election day,” Murphy explained.

“We made sure that we added some silly things like ‘What fictional character would you vote for if they ran for president?’ and gave out stickers that say ‘Seawolves Vote,’ to take the pressure off and make people want to be here.” 

From an organizer’s standpoint, the whole point of the event was to get more students and young people to vote.

Linda Devin-Sheehan of the Suffolk County League of Women Voters partnered with the Center for Civic Justice to host the event. “The reason I am here is to get students registered,” Devin-Sheehan stated.

“We must fight for our democracy, and it starts with the younger generation.” 

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

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Naomi (Hirschfeld) Solo

Prepared by the Solo Family

Naomi Solo died peacefully at her home on Sept. 23. One of her favorite movies was “Harold and Maude,” a fitting reflection of her spirit with its themes of celebrating life with love, humorand a great soundtrack. She touched many lives, and we will always remember her smile.

Naomi Hirschfeld was born in New Jersey on Dec. 3, 1937. Boston became a central part of her life — not just because she attended Boston University and became a lifelong Red Sox fan, but because it was there that she met her husband, Richard Solo, on an auspicious Friday the 13th (which our family always viewed as lucky).

She is survived by her three children, David, Michael and his wife Susan, and Julie, as well as her sister Karen Ralston, stepsister Isabel Pestronk and countless friends.

She was caring. A fixture in the Port Jefferson community since 1970, she ran the teen center — where she honed her ping-pong skills — and the senior citizen program, organizing annual St. Patrick’s Day outings to Tara’s. She also led the arts and crafts festival in downtown Port Jefferson and later contributed to the village’s Go Green efforts. In 2011, she was named Port Jefferson’s Woman of the Year.

She was curious. She instilled in her family a love of adventure — driving overnight to watch the sunrise on Cadillac Mountain in Maine, schlepping to Randall’s Island to see the New York Cosmos, and making a last-minute trip to Central Park for the historic Simon and Garfunkel concert. Her curiosity took her around the world, from a cross-country honeymoon road trip to regular trips to London. She made friends everywhere and kept in touch with nearly all of them.

She was musical. Our house was always filled with music, including the piano, recorders and guitar that she and our father played. They were close friends with the owners of a folk music record label, whose visits brought sea shanties and musicians into our living room. In her final months, she would still smile and sing along while watching “A Hard Day’s Night.”

She was sharp. Her business degree from BU served her well in her work at Macy’s after college and later in marketing at Danfords Hotel in Port Jefferson. A devoted “Jeopardy!” fan, she watched almost daily.

She had a way with words, whether solving The New York Times crossword puzzle or composing poems for family occasions. She and our neighbor, Ma Gull, often spent nights playing Scrabble together.

She was joyful. Whether on the tennis court, eating sushi, or watching birds, she found joy in almost every moment—and maintained her humor and positivity throughout her life.

A friend in England once shared a story that perfectly captured her spirit: “We were on the Millennium Wheel when she completely transformed the slightly dour atmosphere by leaping from side to side, chatting with everyone. By the time we ‘landed,’ we were all practically best friends. It was magic.”

She will be greatly missed.

At Naomi’s funeral, her family asked for donations to be made to Frank Melville Memorial Park and the Port Jefferson Harbor Education & Arts Conservancy, in lieu of flowers.

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File photo by Raymond Janis

Brookhaven Town Board rejects suburbia

Last week the Brookhaven Town Board rang the death knell for suburbia by downzoning the sleepy Jefferson Plaza shopping center in Port Jefferson Station to allow the development of a mega city of unaffordable apartments and large multistory buildings. 

The proponents, mostly the building industry lobby and the developer, who will reap millions of dollars in increased rent, took advantage of an industry-promoted zoning classification called Commercial Redevelopment District which allows city-like density in underperforming shopping centers throughout Brookhaven.

The new code was a byproduct of the dark days of COVID-19 when many thought that local shopping centers wouldn’t survive the loss of customers who were staying at home because of the pandemic.

Unsurprisingly, most shopping centers have now rebounded, but the Town of Brookhaven has not rescinded the urban density code that was promoted by developers and builders over the objections from several community civic organizations.

A Queens-like development this size and scale will alter the suburban character of upper Port Jefferson Station and lead to the further urbanization of the communities throughout the town.

Because of the Staller Center rezone, lawyers representing other shopping center owners have already made inquiries to the Brookhaven Town Board about rezoning their clients shopping centers to CRD as well.

It’s time for the Town Board to take a hard look at the CRD zoning code, realize how it will radically change the character of most communities throughout the town and build into it protections that would limit the size and scale of future redevelopment of shopping centers — and make it less destructive to the suburban character of communities we cherish.

Charles Tramontana, President, George Hoffman, Trustee

Three Village Civic Association

A timeline: Careful money management yields results

In 2011, Suffolk County announced a $500 million deficit. And in that same year, 2011, Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) was elected to the Suffolk County Legislature and she asked to be assigned to work with the fiscal committee. To our benefit, Sarah insisted that with careful planning and foresight, Suffolk County could trim the budget and tighten spending while offering the same services and assistance to residents. For 12 years, Sarah pushed this version of fiscal responsibility, then she was term-limited out of the Legislature. 

The outcome of Sarah’s effort was everything we could have hoped for. In 2023, the Suffolk County Legislature announced that the $500 million deficit was eliminated and that the county’s bond rating had moved strongly upward. Before she left the Legislature, Sarah Anker brought stability to Suffolk County finances. 

I am grateful that Sarah Anker puts People Over Politics. Sarah Anker has my vote for NYS Senate.

Judy Black

Shoreham

Rebecca Kassay: A force for good, leading with heart and purpose

Rebecca Kassay (D-Port Jefferson) is someone I’ve had the privilege of knowing and watching blossom into a true leader over the years. From the moment I met her, I could tell she had a deep passion for both her community and the environment. It has been remarkable to see how she’s transformed that passion into tangible, meaningful action. Watching her grow, both as a small business owner and as a community leader, has been an incredibly personal inspiration to me.

One of the things that has always stood out to me about Rebecca is her dedication to environmental governance. After graduating from SUNY New Paltz with a degree in Environmental Studies, she returned to Long Island and dove right into environmental work. I remember how she launched a youth environmental volunteer program at Avalon Park and Preserve. I watched her work tirelessly with local teens, teaching them to care for and protect our natural environment. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and she wasn’t just teaching them about the environment — she was inspiring a sense of responsibility and love for the land. Seeing her in action made me realize that this wasn’t just a job for her — it was a calling.

Rebecca’s entrepreneurial journey is just as impressive. In 2013, she and her husband Andrew purchased a fixer-upper in Port Jefferson and transformed it into The Fox and Owl Inn, a bed-and-breakfast that quickly became a cornerstone of the community. I saw firsthand how much effort and care they put into the business. But more than that, I saw how deeply Rebecca became involved in the local business community. Through her work with both the Port Jefferson Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce, she’s been a driving force in helping local businesses thrive. I’ve had many conversations with her about how to build a sustainable local economy, and her commitment to balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility is something I deeply admire.

When the pandemic hit, Rebecca’s leadership took on new meaning. She quickly organized the Long Island Open Source Medical Supplies initiative, rallying volunteers to produce PPE for frontline workers. It was a shining example of her ability to mobilize people for the greater good. In a time of crisis, Rebecca brought hope and unity to the community.

Watching Rebecca grow has been an inspiring journey for me. She leads with her heart and never loses sight of her values, making her a true force for good.

Indu Kaur

Port Jefferson Station

Transparency needed: Voters deserve answers from Assemblyman Flood

As a resident of Setauket I was distressed to hear that my Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson) was disbarred last week.

As a lawyer I am concerned that Assemblyman Flood did not even bother to respond to the complaint against him even though he was charged that he “engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation with regard to both clients” and the courts. To merit disbarment, as opposed to censure or suspension, the alleged conduct must have been very serious.

As a voter I believe I am entitled to know what he was accused of.

Assemblyman Flood should make a full disclosure of what occurred. The voters deserve to know.

Chris Murray

Setauket

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Pixabay photo

TBR’s coverage this week of a heroic cop who plugged a colleague’s bullet wound, with his own hands, to prevent him from bleeding to death, (see story in paper,) is a truly inspirational example of the human spirit.

In a world of such chaos and confusion, what does it say about this man that his primal instinct was to save an injured person? Not to analyze or question him, poke or prod him.

But to save him.

What it says is that we are fundamentally good. We may get that fact a little mixed up at times, but if we can step back from our stubbornness and fixations on the characteristics that separate us, it will become apparent that we all should be focusing on the one characteristic that is already within us, that is baked into our DNA: kindness

And, no. Not kindness in the corny or insincere sense that many people use to deceitfully act as if they are holier-than-thou. “Kindness” in a genuinely caring way about the welfare of those in your life and community.

We can all learn a lot from an action as noble as the one performed by this man.

Over the past few years, there has been contentious debate, analyzing the roles police officers serve in our everyday lives. Some people believe that they overstep, while others feel that they are under appreciated.

Adding to the omnipresence of this law enforcement dilemma, just this week, County Executive Ed Romaine (R) announced in his proposed budget that the Suffolk County Police Department intends to put an extra 330 officials, including cops, detectives and corrections officers, on the force.

However, no matter how one feels regarding the political intricacies of our society, we can all agree that every cop — every human being — should aspire to this level of goodness.

Many people preach the importance of benevolence — an act of kindness, but, far too often, people are not willing to give that word meaning. Police officers take an oath to protect and defend.

So, maybe, if we follow in the example of those who are willing to sacrifice their lives — or in a less severe instance, their comfort — for the care of people, we can live in a society that is a little more temperate, a little more understanding and a lot more loving.

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Three patrons enjoying the festival’s beer service. Photo by Craig Brown
A scene from St. Andrew Church's 2024 German Festival. Photo by Craig Brown
A scene from St. Andrew Church's 2024 German Festival. Photo by Craig Brown
A scene from St. Andrew Church's 2024 German Festival. Photo by Craig Brown
A scene from St. Andrew Church's 2024 German Festival. Photo by Craig Brown
Dan Brink manning the Stein tent. He travels throughout the Northeast for these types of festivals. Photo by Craig Brown

By Craig Brown

On Sept. 21, the spirit of Oktoberfest was alive and well at St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church’s annual German Festival in Smithtown.

Over 1,000 attendees from Smithtown and across Long Island gathered to celebrate German culture, food, drink and music. The atmosphere buzzed with joy and laughter as the community came together to support a church dedicated to making a positive impact.

Pastor Jean Dougherty shared the event’s mission, saying, “We are an inclusive church, and we want everyone in this community to feel welcome here.” With a passion for the youth of Long Island, Pastor Dougherty worked alongside the Smithtown West German Honor Society to set up various tents selling merchandise, including German desserts, shirts, hats and a popular hair-braiding station for children. Festival-goers strolled the grounds, enjoying the sounds of Troubadours dressed in Lederhosen and Alpine hats, playing the accordion and singing festive songs.

Barbara English, the festival organizer, donned a bright blue, German Dirndl.

“This is the seventh year we have done this. It is a wonderful way to reach the community,” she beamed. Despite a recent storm that flooded the church’s basement, causing thousands in damages, the volunteers were determined to help the church recover. A 50/50 raffle was held to raise funds for restoration.

The sunny, warm weather created the perfect backdrop for families to enjoy a hearty meal featuring bratwursts, Bavarian pretzels, pickles and plenty of German beer. Many attendees sipped from crafted steins adorned with mountains, lakes and goats, evoking the charm of The Sound of Music.

Jon Leicht, a Smithtown resident and German culture enthusiast, praised the event, saying it offered families a wonderful way to enjoy a Saturday afternoon together. Wayne Mennecke, a Bay Shore poet, added insight, noting that while food lines were long, they allowed people to relish the music, converse with friends and soak up the beautiful day.

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Officer Lucas Blom

By Mariam Guirgis

Back in August of 2023, Officer Lucas Blom was dismissed from routine police briefing in Orlando, Florida, when he heard the sound of gunfire.

 “We all looked at each other like, ‘I think that was gunfire,’” Blom said. Then, a second round of shots occurred and, “that’s when we knew for sure.”

Blom, 30, and formerly of Mount Sinai, was only a few months out of the Police Academy but he instinctively knew what to do. “My adrenaline kicked in,” he said. “It was everything that the academy trained us for, so maybe it was a good thing that I was just a couple months out of the academy.”

Officer Lucas Blom

What started as a traffic stop investigating a car believed to be connected to a homicide escalated quickly, resulting in two officers being shot. The suspect who had an extensive criminal history, Daton Viel, was found by a SWAT team the next morning at a Holiday Inn, where he was killed in a shootout.

When the gunfire started, Blom and the other officers from the briefing rushed toward the source of the shots. As Blom took a corner and looked to the side, he saw another officer coming towards him but he knew that something was wrong. After asking if the officer was OK, the injured officer said, “No, I’m hit.”

Moments after that, the injured officer collapsed to the ground. Blom pulled him to safety between two patrol cars, removed the officer’s bulletproof vest, and realized how bad the situation was. “He was in very critical condition,” Blom said. “He lost a lot of blood.” 

Blom and another officer drove the injured officer to the hospital and with the wounded officer in the back seat of a patrol car, Blom held onto the wounds to help seal the bleeding and kept talking to him, trying to keep him awake. 

“I was just doing my job,” Blom said. “A lot of the guys could have done what I did. It just happened that I was the one there.” The officer made it to surgery, where doctors were able to save his life.

For Blom’s parents, Arthur and Laurie Blom, the night was one of terror. Laurie Blom recalled how her son’s career path shifted from his initial desire to become a doctor to firefighter to policing. Blom was a volunteer at Mount Sinai Fire Department and then went on to become an emergency medical technician for New York Fire Department and was hoping to become a firefighter for the department before becoming an officer. 

“He was waiting to be a fireman with FDNY, but he was kind of aging out, and then COVID hit,” Laurie Blom said. “A friend in Orlando suggested he come down and apply to be a police officer, and that was it. He applied, they hired him and he went into the Police Academy.”

As Blom’s shift started that night, his parents had no idea what was unfolding until they received a text from him at around 2 or 3 in the morning. 

“My biggest fear is having my parents see that something happened to me on the news,” Blom said. “So I just needed to make sure that they knew I was OK.”

Laurie Blom remembered receiving the news as well before seeing it on the news the next day. “I was terrified,” she said. “It’s like the worst fear that I have is that I’m going to get a call that it was my son who was shot.”

Officer Blom received recognition and was honored in Florida on Sept. 11, for his bravery. Despite his son’s heroic actions, Arthur Blom said Officer Blom remains humble.

“At the last award, he said he wishes the rest of the group that was there was also honored,” Arthur Blom said. 

Indeed, when Officer Blom was asked about the recognition he said, “I love the recognition but hearing [the officer] tell me that it was because of me that he is alive just made it really hit.” 

The officer whose life Blom saved later met his parents and shared a heartfelt message. 

“He walked right up to me and said, ‘Thank you so much,’” Laurie Blom recalled. “I said, ‘I didn’t do anything.’ And he said, ‘If Luke hadn’t been born and decided to move to Florida, without him, I would not be alive today. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here, I wouldn’t get to see my baby grow up.’ ”

Laurie Blom also recalled hearing the injured officer tell her son, “It was your face that kept me calm and kept me alive … it was because of you that I knew I was going be OK.”

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

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Maureen Zuk

Prepared by the Zuk Family

Maureen Kelly Zuk, an educator, counselor and personal coach from Naples, Florida, and formerly of Port Jefferson Station, passed away on Sept. 13.

She was born on April 7, 1942, in New York City to the late James Bartholomew and Anne Rita Kelly.

Maureen’s teaching career spanned New York City; San Jose, California; and Ludwigsburg, Germany. Among her many achievements, she was twice awarded the San Jose Mercury News Teacher of the Year. She held degrees from Marymount Manhattan College and the New York University Graduate School.

A passionate advocate for science, technology and the arts, Maureen was active in various multicultural and educational communities, leaving a lasting legacy in each.

She was predeceased by her husband, John Zuk, Ph.D., an engineer at NASA Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, and by her sister Dorothy Kuveke. She is survived by her siblings Joan and Jim Kelly and a loving extended family of nieces, nephews and their children.

Though Maureen is no longer with us, her spirit and the love she shared will endure in the hearts of those she influenced. She will be remembered with warmth, love and gratitude.

A funeral Mass took place on Monday, Sept. 23 at Immaculate Conception Church in Westhampton Beach.

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Susan Romanelli

Prepared by the Romanelli family

Susan Romanelli was born on Oct. 25, 1949, in Mineola. Shortly after her birth, she moved with her parents, Charlotte and Thomas Tabosky, a combat veteran, to their new Levitt home in Hicksville. She attended Fork Lane School where she was classmates with Billy Joel. Susan became a big sister in 1959 when her brother Tom was born. She had an active childhood and was a member of the local pool’s swim team.

In 1965, after climbing the bleachers to attend the sold-out annual Labor Day Firemen’s Tournament held at Mid Island Plaza, she met her future husband, Jim. She invited him to her Sweet 16 where her grandmother predicted their future nuptials. After the Sweet 16, Jim called and asked her out on two dates: the movies and an upcoming school dance featuring Billy Joel’s band. Thankfully, the first date went well, beginning a long romance.

After graduating from Hicksville High School in 1967, Susan attended Mt. Sinai School of Nursing. Jim was at Stony Brook so they met on weekends and loved attending the many concerts and basketball games at Stony Brook. They were fortunate to see many outstanding performances including The Doors, Janis Joplin, The Who and Jefferson Airplane. In 1970, Susan achieved her dream when she received her RN. That summer, she landed her first job at Nassau Hospital.

Susan and Jim married on June 19, 1971, and in 1974, they moved into their home in East Setauket. In 1975, Susan began working at Mather Hospital and was appointed head nurse in the busy ER on the 3 to 11 p.m. shift. She became acquainted with a group of neurologists and, in 1978, started working in their office, which had one of the first CAT scans.

Life changed in 1980 when Paul was born in May. Susan became a full-time mom and worked part-time in a surgeon’s office, home nursing and weekends in the ER. On Jan. 1, 1983, Christopher joined the family. The two boys kept the family busy with soccer games, Little League and skiing in the winter.

In 1993, Susan returned to full-time nursing when she became a school nurse at a local elementary school. She often said the ER prepared her for school nursing. In her position, she cared for several medically fragile students and quickly gained the admiration of the school community. She also became president of the Nurses’ Association.

Her family continued to grow with the addition of her first grandson, Ari, born in 2005 to Christopher’s family. Paul married in 2009 and welcomed twin boys, Clark and Malcolm, in 2013 and Phineas in 2016.

Susan and Jim retired in 2010, skiing in the winter and traveling in the fall and spring. Their fall trips were to national parks and their spring trips included several river cruises in Europe where Susan fell in love with Paris and Barcelona.

Susan’s passions, besides her family, included gardening, skiing, reading, working out and traveling. Her calm, quiet demeanor served her well in all the roles she played in life. Her favorite saying, “It is what it is,” also guided her through life. She loved living at The Village Walk where she was adored by staff and fellow residents. She always had a smile on her face.

Arrangements were entrusted to Bryant Funeral Home in Setauket. Please visit www.bryantfh.com to sign the online guestbook.

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