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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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Northport junior Ryan Shashaty drives through the gap in a 13-6 victory over visiting Centereach April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport junior Ryan Shashaty drives the ball for a base hit in a 13-6 victory over visiting Centereach April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach’s Ryan Mahanke rips one deep against Northport on the road April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach’s Ryan Mahanke scores a run against Northport on the road April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach’s Ryan Mahanke scores a run against Northport on the road April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach short stop Ryan Decoursey attempts to tag the Northport runner at second base April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach short stop Ryan Decoursey scores a run against Northport on the road April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport sophomore Rocco Stola scores a run for the Tigers in a 13-6 victory over visiting Centereach April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach’s Rob Maina after a solo home run over the centerfield fence against Northport April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach’s Rob Maina slides into second as Northport short stop Ryan Shashaty turns the double play April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach outfielder Nick Horner lays off a pitch against Northport April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach first baseman Nick Doczy makes the play at first against Northport April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
With the bases loaded Northport catcher Mike Catrone gets the force at home plate then fires to first base to turn a double play against Centereach April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport sophomore catcher Mike Catrone scores a run for the Tigers in a 13-6 victory over visiting Centereach April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach’s Mark Schnitzer fires to first base against Northport April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach’s Mark Schnitzer makes the play on an infield pop-up against Northport on the road April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach pitcher Liam Webber lays down a bunt against Northport April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach pitcher Liam Webber fires from the mound against Northport April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport junior Larry Citrola throwing heat against visiting Centereach April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport junior Larry Citrola throwing heat against visiting Centereach April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport’s Larry Citrola #6 congratulates Jake Affrunti after he crossed the plate for a run against visiting Centereach April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport senior Jake Affrunti from the mound in a 13-6 victory over visiting Centereach April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Hunter Foss drills a ground ball for a base hit for Centereach on the road against Northport April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport junior Dan Deutsch #26 gets the out at 1st in a 13-6 victory over visiting Centereach April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport junior Dan Deutsch rips the cover off the ball for a base hit in a 13-6 victory over visiting Centereach April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach pitcher Chris Iguchi hurls from the mound against Northport April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Northport senior Ben Stola scores a run for the Tigers in a 13-6 victory over visiting Centereach April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach catcher Alex Goldberg keeps the ball in front after a tipped ball against Northport April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach catcher Alex Goldberg digs one out of the dirt against Northport April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach catcher Alex Goldberg from behind the plate as the batter takes a pitch April 11. Photo by Bill Landon
Centereach catcher Alex Goldberg fires to second base on a Northport steal attempt April 11. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Northport boys baseball team had an explosive first inning, scoring seven runs against Centereach, but the Tigers bats fell silent for the next five innings, allowing the Cougars to chip away at the deficit. At the end of five, Centereach made it a one-run game, but Northport dropped the hammer in the bottom of the sixth, batting in six more runs to put the game away 13-6 April 11. The Tigers took the third game of the three-game series at home besting Centereach 2-1.

Northport junior Dan Deutsch went three for three at the plate scoring twice with a pair of RBIs.

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Northport residents protest LIPA's ongoing lawsuit with the Town of Huntington. Photo by Donna Deedy

By Donna Deedy

On a sunny Sunday afternoon, more than 100 residents of all ages, including many families with young children and pets, attended another public rally against Long Island Power Authority. At one point, their chant filled Cow Harbor Park in Northport village where they gathered April 7. 

“Stop LIPA now,” they repeated in protest.  

The power authority, a quasi-governmental state agency, is suing the Town of Huntington to reduce its $82 million property tax burden by 90 percent. LIPA, since the state’s public bailout of LILCO, and its failed Shoreham nuclear power plant project, has been paying the property taxes for power stations now owned by National Grid.  

Northport power plant. File photo

Protest organizer Paul Darrigo formed a Facebook advocacy group called Concerned Taxpayers Against LIPA in mid-March, whose membership now totals more than 3,000 people. His group is concerned that if LIPA is successful it would devastate the Northport-East Northport school district, which currently receives $54 million annually from LIPA.

Northport village residents Kathleen and James Wansor have two very young children and attended the rally to learn more about the situation. Funding for education is important to the young family.

“It doesn’t make sense and it doesn’t seem fair for us to all of a sudden see increases in our taxes,” Wansor said. 

Darrigo’s group is also reaching out to people across Long Island. 

“I want to coordinate our efforts with the residents of Island Park, whose school district is also under assault due to LIPA’s tax certiorari filed in Nassau County,” he said. “The objective is to communicate with LIPA and our elected officials with a consistent message and reiterate a ‘strength in numbers’ mantra.” 

New York State Sen. Jim Gaughran (D-Northport) was among the elected officials who addressed the Northport crowd. He’s currently calling for LIPA reforms. 

“LIPA is a runaway authority that is not serving the public’s interest with their frivolous lawsuit. As I’ve said to LIPA, LIPA should uphold the promise that was made to my constituents and that the tax certiorari challenge should be dropped. Anything short of that would be detrimental to the vitality of the communities that I serve and would have a direct impact on their ability to provide indispensable programs and services.”

“The objective is to communicate with LIPA and our elected officials with a consistent message and reiterate a ‘strength in numbers’ mantra.”

— Paul Darrigo

But elected officials on different levels of government lack a firm position on the issue. Both County Executive Steve Bellone (D) and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo (D) offered similar public comments on the LIPA tax lawsuit against Huntington.

“While we do not comment on pending litigation, we are monitoring the situation closely,” said Jordan Levine, deputy communications director for energy and the environment with the office of the governor. “It is our hope that LIPA and the Town of Huntington can reach a mutually beneficial agreement that is fair and beneficial to all parties.” 

Northport Village Deputy Mayor Tom Kehoe is particularly critical of the state’s position. 

“The governor better wake up and jump in on this,” he said. “People are mad.” 

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Port Jeff sophomore attack Daniel Koban, right, celebrates with his older brother Nick after Daniel scored one of his three goals against Babylon April 8. Photo by Bill Landon
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Port Jeff freshman keeper Peter Murphy clears the ball after a save on the road against Babylon April 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff freshman keeper Peter Murphy in net against Babylon April 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff freshman keeper Peter Murphy vacuums up 1 of his 12 save in the game against Babylon April 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff senior attack Nick Koban looks for an open lane against Babylon April 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff’s Kyle Scandale passes towards the crease against Babylon on the road April 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff freshman Kyle Scandale with a wing pass against Babylon on the road April 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff sophomore attack Daniel Koban, right, celebrates with his older brother Nick after Daniel scored one of his three goals against Babylon April 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff senior defender Daniel Shaughnessy fires at the cage against Babylon April 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff sophomore attack Daniel Koban uncorks a shot on goal against Babylon April 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff attack Aidan Kaminska fires at the pipes against Babylon April 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff attack Aidan Kaminska lets one rip against Babylon April 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff junior Aidan Kaminska looks for a cutter from behind the cage April 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff junior Aidan Kaminska sets up the play against Babylon on the road April 8. Photo by Bill Landon
Port Jeff attack Aidan Kaminska drives past a Babylon defender April 8. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

After going down four goals in the opening quarter, Port Jefferson’s boys lacrosse team shifted gears in the second, scoring three goals and then surging in the third quarter and finding the net four times to take a
one -goal lead. Babylon countered in the final 12 minutes of play to retie the game and then scored the go-ahead goal with four minutes left, defeating the Royals 11-10, April 8.

Sophomore attack Daniel Koban and junior Colton VanOverberghe each scored three goals for Port Jeff, while senior midfielder Jonathan Moshe netted two. Junior Jack Speidell and sophomore Gage Jampol also scored one goal apiece.

The loss drops the Royals to 2-4 in league and 4-4 overall in the Division II standings as they approach the midway point of the season with eight games remaining

The Royals continued their road trip against Deer Park April 10. They will be back on their own home turf April 24 when they host Miller Place. Game time is 10 a.m.

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Shoreham-Wading River junior Xavier Arline fires at the cage in an 18-8 victory at home April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River attack Xavier Arline pushes up-field in an 18-8 victory against Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River attack Xavier Arline takes a check from a Sayville defender in an 18-8 victory at home April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River junior Xavier Arline drives past a Sayville defender in an 18-8 victory at home April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Xavier Arline fires at the cage for the Wildcats in an 18-8 victory at home over Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham Wading River sophomore Sean Miller wins at X against Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River junior Liam Daly makes another save in net in 18-8 victory over visiting Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Wildcats celebrate after scoring a goal where they defeated Sayville at home April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River junior Liam Daly clears the ball in an 18-8 victory over visiting Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Midfielder Johnny Schwarz rips a shot on goal got the Wildcats in an 18-8 victory at home over Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River junior Liam Daly makes the save against Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Midfielder Johnny Schwarz rips a shot on goal got the Wildcats in an 18-8 victory at home over Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Wildcat Johnny Schwarz a sophomore draws a crowd in an 18-8 victory at home over Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Wildcats celebrate after a goal April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Long stickman Jake Wilson a sophomore, clears the ball up-field for the Wildcats in an 18-8 victory at home over Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River face-off specialist Gavin Gregorek-Ali finishes what he started against Sayville defender April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River junior Gavin Gregorek-Ali shoots at the cage in an 18-8 victory at home over Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River junior Gavin Gregorek-Ali drives by a Sayville defender April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River’s faceoff specialist Gavin Gregorek-Ali wins at X against Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior midfielder Anthony Cimino looks for a cutter in an 18-8 victory at home over Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior midfielder Anthony Cimino drives past a defender in an 18-8 victory at home over Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River sophomore Daniel Mercado looks for an open lane against visiting Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River junior Cristian Mercado manages to get a shot off despite being double teamed by two Sayville defenders April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Wildcats celebrate after scoring a goal where they defeated Sayville at home April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham Wading River senior Anthony Cimino shoots at the cage in an 18-8 victory at home over Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River senior Anthony Cimino uncorks one at the cage in an 18-8 victory at home over Sayville April 6. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River senior Anthony Cimino rips a shot on goal in an 18-8 victory at home over Sayville April 6th. Photo by Bill Landon
A Wildcat passes the ball. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Shoreham-Wading River Wildcats boys lacrosse team is on a tear, making short work of visiting Sayville with an 18-8 league victory April 6 to remain unbeaten. The Wildcats, a perennial powerhouse in the postseason, sit atop their division at 6-0.

The Wildcats have outscored their opponents 86-29 through six games, where their closest was an 8-6 win against Bayport-Blue Point in their season home opener. The Wildcats were back in action when they hit the road April 11 taking on Islip, where they won 18-7. SWR next hosts Harborfields April 12 at 7 p.m., and later Comsewogue April 16 at 4 p.m.

 

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Ward Melville junior Rocco Barbero tries to get a shot off against Sachem North in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville junior Rocco Barbero winds up for a shot against visiting Sachem North in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville junior Robert Kratochvil in wet conditions against Sachem North in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville junior Robert Kratochvil looks for a cutter against Sachem North in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville junior Robert Kratochvil pushes up-field against Sachem North in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville junior Robert Kratochvil drives against a Sachem North defender April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Robert Kratochvil runs the play against visiting Sachem North April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior Nicholas Troy reverses on a Sachem North defender in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Matthew Wang wins the battle at X against visiting Sachem North in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Jack Gillen drives on a Sachem North defender in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Jack Gillen drives on a Sachem North defender in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Jack Gillen drives on a Sachem North defender in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Jack Gillen drives on a Sachem North defender in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville junior goalie Collin Krieg with one of his 5 saves in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville junior goalie Collin Krieg clears the ball after a save against Sachem North in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
The Patriots celebrate after Rocco Barbero splits the pipes against Sachem North in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior Brandon Aviles shoots on goal against Sachem North in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior Brandon Aviles rips a shot on goal against Sachem North in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior Brandon Aviles winds up for a shot against Sachem North in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior Arthur Berry III drives against a Sachem North defender in a Division 1 matchup April 5. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Sachem North boys lacrosse team retied the game at 4 to 4 late in the third quarter but the Ward Melville Patriots shut the door in the final 12 minutes, scoring four goals to put the game away, 8-5, at home April 5.

Ward Melville remains unbeaten, and the win put the Patriots atop the Division I leader-board at 6-0 as of April 5. The loss dropped the Flaming Arrows to 4-2.

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Photo by David Ackerman

There’s something real about a newspaper, and it goes beyond the ink and page, beyond the action of picking one up at the drugstore or plucking it from the mailbox. 

We who work at TBR News Media imbue the paper, the one you hold in your hands right now, with our labor. If you could see us at our work, you would know just how hard and long we work to provide the community with as much local content as we can. Truly, the paper is alive.

While we editors and reporters are active in the community every day, we know the lives of the people behind the paper are not front and center.

Behind each of those bylines you might read in the paper today is a person researching, interviewing and eventually rapidly typing each deliberated word hunched over a desk. Each picture is edited and placed within the blocks of text. The ads are crafted by graphic designers spending hours arranging each one. We’re hardly some sort of news assembly line, working out of some monolithic New York City skyscraper. Our tiny, two-story office is located right here on the North Shore, blending into the surrounding rustic buildings of Setauket.

This past weekend, a team from TBR News Media traveled up to Albany for the annual New York Press Association convention. Hundreds of reporters, editors and publishers from papers from across the state gather for this annual event in a single location. 

Listening to the voices of the people at other papers during this event can be both disheartening and encouraging. Advertising dollars are down; and, while research from the University of Texas at Austin’s Center for Media Engagement shows journalists rate themselves high in credibility, accuracy and trustworthiness, the public has a much lower opinion. 

“Fake news” has become a common phrase, one that was initially used for the express purpose of distorting facts during the 2016 presidential campaign. It’s now regularly used to denigrate a pillar of our democracy, which concerns us. It’s important for people to understand the importance of our profession to a healthy democracy. Comfort the afflicted, afflict the comfortable is an expression often used to describe the role of the newspaper. We aim to hold people in power accountable and report on government operations, so citizens become better informed voters. We take this role very seriously. 

A good chunk of our staff lives within our coverage areas along Long Island’s North Shore. We carefully report on the community because we are a part of that community. We wish to see it thrive because we ourselves care about what should happen to our neighbors and the place in which we all live.

What does that mean for you, the person holding the paper? Know that we appreciate you. You’re keeping the paper alive.

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Photo by Phil Corso
Patrick Vecchio, the longest-running supervisor for the Town of Smithtown, died on April 6 at the age of 88. The former supervisor served from 1977 until 2017. Funeral services will be held this week.

By Donna Deedy

This photo of Patrick Vecchio hangs in the Smithtown Town Hall’s boardroom

It was a life well lived. A first-generation American, the child of Italian immigrants, born during the Great Depression and dedicated to public service.

“At the end of the day, I’ve done something for people. And that’s the guiding principle of my life,” said former Smithtown Supervisor Patrick Vecchio in a 2015 interview with The Times of Smithtown. 

Patrick Vecchio died Sunday, April 7, at age 88. For a record 40 years — nearly half of his lifetime — he held the Town of Smithtown’s highest office. During his tenure, seven different presidents held office, while the residents of Smithtown reelected the same man to represent them again and again for 13 terms.

………………

December 12, 2017, was Vecchio’s last board meeting as Smithtown supervisor. The occasion drew a crowd that filled the board room and trailed through the hallways and down staircases. People bid farewell and thanked the supervisor for implementing his vision on their behalf. Suffolk County Legislator Robert Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) noted during the tribute that Vecchio was leaving Smithtown with a budgetary surplus rather than debt.

“This town is in such good financial shape, it is all because of you,” Trotta said. “You should be a model for every other town in the country, the nation, the state and certainly the county.”

Read the full article and view photos that commemorate some of the former Supervisor’s local accomplishments in this week’s paper and on our website on April 11.

 

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Middle Country senior attack Sydney Juvelier takes a shot on goal in a Division I matchup against Commack April 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country senior attack Sydney Juvelier takes a shot on goal in a Division I matchup against Commack April 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country senior attack Sydney Corley looks for a cutter in a Division I matchup against Commack on the road April 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country senior midfielder Sophie Alois looks for an opening in a Division I matchup against Commack on the road April 4th. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country senior midfielder Sophie Alois passes in a Division I matchup against Commack on the road April 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country senior midfielder Sophie Alois fires at the cage. Photo by Bill Landon
Commack junior attack Shannon Smith takes a shot on goal against Middle Country in a Division I matchup at home April 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Commack junior attack Shannon Smith with a shovel shot on goal against Middle Country in a Division I matchup at home April 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Commack sophomore Shannon Pike pushes Middle Country’s Sydney Corley outside in a Division I matchup at home April 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Commack senior midfielder Katie Kelly grabs a loose ball against Middle Country in a Division I matchup at home Apill 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country eight-grader Kate Timarky fires at the cage. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country eighth-grader Kate Timarky fires at the cage. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country’s Jennifer Barry battles at the draw with Commack’s Emma Downey. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country senior Jennifer Barry sets up the play against Commack April 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country senior midfielder Jennifer Barry breaks towards the crease. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country senior midfielder Jennifer Barry looks for a cutter. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country senior midfielder Jennifer Barry drives towards the crease. Photo by Bill Landon
Commack junior midfielder Emma Downey grabs another draw against the Mad Dogs at home April 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Commack junior midfielder Emma Downey successfully wins at draw against Middle Country at home April 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Commack senior midfielder Amanda McMahon pushes up-field against Middle Country in a Division I matchup at home April 4. Photo by Bill Landon
Middle Country sophomore midfielder Alexa Cordingley plays keep away in the final seconds for a Mad Dog 17-12 win against Commack April 4. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

The Commack Cougars girls lacrosse team stayed with Middle Country trading goals for an 8-8 tie at the half, but the Mad Dogs stretched their legs in the final period to surge ahead for a 17-12 road win April 4. After the game, the Mad Dogs remained unbeaten at 4-0 in Division I trailing Northport and Riverhead, but then beat Riverhead, 11-10, April 6 to head the table.

Middle Country senior midfielder Sophie Alois led the way for the Mad Dogs notching five goals and four assists. Eighth-grader Kate Timarky split the pipes three times with a pair of assists, while senior goalie Elizabeth Pomaro had five saves on the day.

Commack senior Katie Kelly found the back of the net four times for the Cougars with three assists and teammate Sam Pugh had an assist and stretched the net three times. Senior keeper Cat Deutsch had eight saves in net. The loss dropped Commack to 2-3 in the division, 4-3 overall.

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A fire engulfs the front of a house on Cabin Lane in Setauket. Photo by Bob O'Rourk

By Bob O’Rourk

The Setauket Fire Department was called to a fire on Cabin Lane in Setauket Thursday, April 4. On arrival the front of the house was engulfed in flames and the power lines to the house had burned through and were arcing on the driveway. The first units on scene made entry into the house, performed a search and finding no one home, removed two dogs.

The fire was quickly extinguished with the help of mutual aid from Stony Brook, Port Jeff and Terryville. There were no injuries and the Town of Brookhaven fire marshal is investigating the cause.

During this time, Setauket was called to other fire alarms which were handled by the Terryville and Centereach Fire departments.

Bob O’Rourk is a public information officer with the Setauket Fire Department

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File photo

By Donna Deedy

New York State Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D) agenda includes converting the state to 100 percent carbon-free electricity by 2040. Many people are ready to join the initiative but are unsure what to do.

Gordian Raacke is the executive director of Renewable Energy Long Island, a nonprofit group founded in 2003 that is committed to transitioning Long Islanders to 100 percent renewable sources of energy. His organization educates the public, works with local governments and works with community interest groups to bring about the shifts needed to enable widespread adoption of renewable energy. Raacke offers this advice to people eager to make a move toward clean energy:

Is there a hierarchy of strategies that people can implement to make the switch from fossil fuels to renewable sources? 

People often ask me, and I always tell them that the best place to start is by stopping needless energy waste. There are lots of ways to get started, big and small; and if big is not feasible it is totally OK to start small. The important thing is to take the first step, and then the next …

When people are looking to go solar, it is useful to remember that energy efficiency improvements are the most cost-effective way to lower your energy bills. And making energy efficiency improvements first means that the size of the solar array can be smaller and therefore less costly. 

Where should homeowners start? 

The easiest way for a homeowner to get started in a comprehensive way is to get a free home energy audit through PSEG-LI’s program, www.psegliny.com/saveenergyandmoney/homeefficiency/homeassessments/homeenergyassessment. A specially trained, Building Performance Institute–accredited contractor will assess the energy efficiency of your home with state-of-the-art diagnostic tools and produce a list of recommended improvements with expected costs and savings. The homeowner can then decide which recommendations to follow and can also obtain rebates and financing for this. NYSERDA [New York State Energy Research and Development Authority] also has a web page on this at www.nyserda.ny.gov/Residents-and-Homeowners/At-Home/Home-Energy-Audits. 

There are also a lot of useful lists of things that we can do. PSEG-LI’s brochure “66 Ways to Save Energy” is actually pretty good (also online at www.psegliny.com/saveenergyandmoney/tipsandtools/66waystosave; but you have to click on the various tabs to read it all).

NYSERDA has a page at www.nyserda.ny.gov/Residents-and-Homeowners/At-Home/Energy-Saving-Tips.

And there is lots more if you Google it.

What’s the first step?

Super-simple things are, of course, just replacing conventional or compact fluorescent (CFL) light bulbs with more energy-efficient LED bulbs (their light quality has improved a lot over earlier versions, and they are quite inexpensive now). Adding low-flow adapters to kitchen, bath and shower can help reduce hot water heating costs. Replacing the thermostats with internet-controlled smart thermostats can save money on both heating and cooling costs. And sealing cracks around windows and doors can often be done by DIY homeowners. When shopping for new appliances, it pays to look at the EnergyStar ratings and select models with lower annual energy costs. Pool pumps are now much more energy efficient (called variable speed pool pumps) and save a lot of electricity during the summer. Some of these items are offered with attractive utility rebates.

Is it a good time to go solar?

When going solar, it is important to get several estimates from reputable and experienced local contractors. It is also important to fully understand the difference between owning and leasing a system. And, by the end of this year, the federal solar tax credit for residential rooftop solar arrays is decreasing (and will continue to decrease further). To be eligible to get the current 30 percent federal tax credit, a solar array has to be in service by Dec. 31, 2019. So now is a good time to get some solar estimates.

Both Renewable Energy Long Island and the Sustainability Institute at Molloy College offer advice on finding reputable solar contractors. The Sustainability Institute, also a nonprofit, publishes on its website an evaluation on choosing between owning and leasing. Renewable Energy Long Island’s website is www.renewableenergylongisland.org. The Sustainability Institute’s website is www.longislandgreenhomes.org. Its lease vs. buy comparison is under the Go Solar tab at the top of the homepage.

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