Smithtown Central School District Board of Education held its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, Aug. 13, to discuss an updated safety plan and other policies for the upcoming school year.
As per New York’s Safe Schools Against Violence in Education Act, every public school district across the state must annually submit plans for districtwide school safety and building-level emergency response. Schools are also required to make these plans available for public commentary. The Smithtown school district posted its plan to their website on June 29, with an email address open for questions and comments until July 31.
At the meeting, the board voted on a resolution to approve the districtwide and building-level plans. Both were approved in a 7-0 vote. According to Kevin Simmons, assistant superintendent for instruction & administration, “The only structural changes that occurred from this year versus last year’s plan were some clarifications that were identified regarding language from New York State. With that said, the fundamentals of the plan remain consistent from year to year.”
In addition to the safety plan, the board approved changes to the meal plan policy, including revisions in parental notifications and timelines. A few memorandums of agreement were passed, one of which was between the school district and the Smithtown Security Guards Association in a 7-0 vote.
Additionally, Mark Secaur, superintendent of schools, issued his report. He expressed excitement for the upcoming school year and highlighted the Smithtown Promise, a set of principles for educators to model to students. According to Secaur, incidents of racism and antisemitism during the 2023-24 school year were “sobering reminders of the responsibility [district officials] have to make sure all students are accepted and feel they belong.”
Secaur then explained the details of the promise. “The Smithtown Promise outlines four principles and 16 habits for adults and young people to establish and nurture. We need to model and reinforce the following principles with each of our students: Your dignity is a given; You belong here; You are a difference maker; You were made to excel.”
The promise goes into more detail, with each principle having four habits. Secaur also clarified that it “is not a program or curriculum that needs implementing but will serve as a reference point and tool for motivating our students while setting expectations and desired norms within our school community.” He assured residents that more information about the promise will be provided soon.
Public input
To conclude the meeting, the board opened the floor to public input. One local resident voiced his disappointment with the school board in previous years but expressed hope for a better outcome with new board members.
He explained, “Just two years ago this month, I stood at this very spot and noted that, from my perspective, the board’s activity for the previous year was totally dysfunctional.” However, he hoped “from this point on, with new board members in place and the tasks that lay ahead for our district’s administrators, we will get our district back right on track for the benefit of our students and our community.”
The community member shared a quote from Stephen Sondheim’s musical, “Sunday in the Park with George.” The member concluded by saying, “So let’s all work together so that this year we will create a true work of art for our students.”
The next regular BOE meeting is on Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m.
The author with his granddaughter at West Meadow Beach.
By Thomas M. Cassidy
Thomas M. Cassidy
According to a new CNBC poll, Social Security is a top issue for most American voters, so let’s strengthen this vital program rather than water it down.
Social Security has provided essential economic support for Americans for almost 100 years. The program, which provides workers with inflation-protected retirement, disability and survivorship benefits, is a model for the world: It’s such an effective, efficient and easy-to-understand program that its principal features have been adopted by more than 170 countries.
Social Security is not a welfare program; it’s paid for by workers. For 2024, workers are taxed 12.4% on their income up to $168,600. If you work for someone, a 6.2% tax is taken out of your paycheck and your employer pays the other 6.2%. If you are self-employed, you pay the full 12.4% when you file your taxes. The more years you work, the more tax you pay and the higher your benefit.
However, the trustees of the Social Security trust fund estimate that Social Security will be able to pay 100% of scheduled benefits only until 2033, and “at that time, the fund’s reserves will become depleted and continuing program income will be sufficient to pay 79 percent of scheduled benefits.”
One proposed solution has been raising the full retirement age from 67 to 70. But that would hurt millennials and Gen Z workers and gain us only a few more years of solvency. Twenty-five or 30 years from now, monthly Social Security checks might be the only lifeline to keep retired workers from poverty. Keep in mind: People can’t work into their older years if artificial intelligence takes their jobs, and Goldman Sachs estimates that 25% of current work tasks could be automated by AI.
There is another solution.
Medicare and Medicaid programs have wasted trillions of taxpayer dollars since the beginning of this century, money that could have been used to fully fund the Social Security Trust Fund. For example, the Government Accountability Office estimates the combined Medicare and Medicaid programs paid out more than $100 billion in improper payments in 2023 alone.
As a former senior investigator for the New York State Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, it’s disheartening to see that every year hundreds of billions of dollars are stolen from government health programs, especially knowing that the taxpayer money stolen from these essential, but dysfunctional, programs could keep Social Security on track.
President John F. Kennedy said, “One true measure of a nation is its success in fulfilling the promise of a better life for each of its members.” Fully funding Social Security will help us keep our promise for a better life for millennials, Gen Z and future generations of Americans.
Thomas M. Cassidy, an economist, is the creator of the TV series, Manhattan South, which is in development. (ktpgproductions.com)
Scene from the Six Harbors Brewing label release event at their store in Huntington. Photo courtesy the Six Harbor Brewing Company
Scene from the Six Harbors Brewing label release event at their store in Huntington. Photo courtesy the Six Harbor Brewing Company
Scene from the Six Harbors Brewing label release event at their store in Huntington. Photo courtesy the Six Harbor Brewing Company
Scene from the Six Harbors Brewing label release event at their store in Huntington. Photo courtesy the Six Harbor Brewing Company
By Peter Sloniewsky
Six Harbors Brewing Company, located at 243 New York Ave. in Huntington, held a special label release event on Friday, Aug. 16, to raise money for the restoration of the Van Wyck-Lefferts Tide Mill in Lloyd Harbor.
Built in the late 1790s and owned by a few different people, the mill completely passed in ownership to the Lefferts family by 1850. However, around that time, the mill was forced to reduce its output because of the dramatic changes taking place as a result of the Industrial Revolution on Long Island. The mill was shut down by 1893 because it couldn’t compete with steam roller mills and due to the shift in Long Island agriculture from grain to vegetables. It is described on its website as “a remarkable testament to the craftsmanship and endurance of its past owners and present-day benefactors.”
While the mill is maintained by the nonprofit Van Wyck-Lefferts Tide Mill Sanctuary dedicated to its survival, it has been in need of donations for a myriad of repairs for several years. The mill, located at 255 Southdown Road in Lloyd Harbor, is situated on a dam protecting a waterfowl sanctuary, which also requires repair. Additionally, the nonprofit is dedicated to raising funds for repairs to the foundation, structure, mechanism and roof of the mill. Lastly, the organization hopes to shore up the bulkhead that protects the mill’s stone foundation.
In an interview with Mark Heuwetter, president of the Six Harbors Brewing Company, he made it clear that part of Six Harbors business model is community outreach. Six Harbors has embarked on a number of local beer can releases for a variety of causes in the past.
Heuwetter said that the mill “is a historical site … [Six Harbors] just wanted to make sure that the project wouldn’t fall into disrepair so that we could preserve the history of the community.” He went on to depict the mill as broadly symbolic of Long Island industry and the history of Huntington as a town.
The design of the special can was sourced from a local competition advertised via Instagram, by the mill’s nonprofit, through the Town of Huntington’s website and the Huntington Chamber of Commerce. Heuwetter received around 30 entries, and the finalist was eventually printed as the can’s design.
Heuwetter recognized the event as largely successful, describing it as “well received” with a “couple hundred” attendees. Between attendance revenue, sponsor donations and the portion of proceeds that go directly to the mill, he was confident that the brewery’s event had raised a meaningful amount of money to preserve the mill.
In addition to this event, Six Harbors is no stranger to charity work. In the near future, Heuwetter is planning a number of local can releases. First, the Huntington Young Professionals, an organization looking to recognize upstanding young individuals from the town, is scheduled for another release. Additionally, Six Harbors plans to collaborate with both the Ancient Order of Hibernians and the 1653 Foundation, which “restores, manages, and enhances the parklands and public spaces of the Town of Huntington.”
Overall, Heuwetter is more than grateful for the support that Six Harbors receives from the Huntington community, describing it as “tight knit” and as willing to support worthy causes. He made clear that the tide mill project could not have been possible without the support of the entire community.
“I would say that it takes a village — it’s not one person that can make everything happen, it takes everybody to make things happen,” he said.
Michelle Schindler receiving the proclamation, from Supervisor Dan Panico. Screenshot
By Katherine Kelton
At the Aug. 8 Brookhaven Town Board meeting, council members officially recognized Aug. 31 as International Overdose Awareness Day. They also dedicated the month of September as National Recovery Month. Councilmember Johnathon Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) spoke briefly about the Brookhaven Goes Purple initiative that began in the 1st Council District he represents.
He introduced the co-founder of the initiative, Michelle Schindler, who also delivered an address. She said, “Our aim is to unite the community to achieve a safe, healthy and drug-free environment.” She also works as a prevention director for YMCA family services, where evidence-based prevention is key.
Schindler claimed, “Research nationally and locally on Long Island demonstrates communities with active prevention coalitions experience a lower rate of substance use compared to those without such coalitions.”
She was presented with a proclamation by Supervisor Dan Panico (R) and the council members.
Town board business
Before the ceremony of dedication, many resolutions were passed. One such resolution involved the application of a Sephora in Port Jefferson Station on Route 112 replacing a former CVS. The popular makeup store will now be brought to the Port Plaza as the plans for application were passed.
In East Setauket, a proposed change of use application was passed for Setauket Law, located on South Jersey Avenue. The space was labeled as vacant, however, Setauket Law has been running from the office space. The firm also applied for a variance of parking, which was also passed.
A vacant space in the South Jersey Avenue office complex is looking for a new tenant as well. The available space, which used to be a day care, is looking for either a new day care proprietor or something the community needs.
The owner of the building, Shimon Ohana, revealed that a playground structure for the previous day care was removed before he came into ownership of the space, which was turned into about 65 parking spots.
Kornreich asked Ohana about the limited parking and how that could affect what type of business takes the vacant space.
Ohana stated that he has a few daycares, looking at the space, which would be ideal for parking: “The majority of people coming to the day care are children, so they obviously don’t drive. It would primarily be staff and parent drop-off.”
The next meeting is Aug. 21 at Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill in Farmingville, and will be a zoning board meeting.
The original book cover, showing Fats Domino, and the 1970s New Orleans skyline. Courtesy John Broven
By John Broven
My first book, “Walking to New Orleans: The Story of New Orleans Rhythm and Blues,” was published Aug. 9, 1974. That’s 50 long years ago. The anniversary has triggered memories of my original research, the book’s impact and my subsequent journey from England to live in the United States.
The title was inspired by Fats Domino’s big 1960 hit — although his most famous record was “Blueberry Hill.”
An Englishman walking to New Orleans? It had a nice surreal ring.
Importantly, I discovered early on there was an untold story ready to be documented, namely the rise and fall of New Orleans R&B in the rock ‘n’ roll era (1945-70). The city’s vibrant R&B scene was a successor to its proud jazz heritage. My coverage extended beyond the artists, to include record people, session men, disc jockeys, distributors, jukebox operators, clubs and the musicians’ union, to give a rounded picture of the local music industry.
With the passing of time, very few of the original interviewees are still alive, which makes the preservation of their stories even more satisfying. The interview tapes and associated files are now lodged with my record collection, at the Library of Congress.
I had made my magical debut journey to the United States in April 1970, when transatlantic travel was an expensive luxury. Mike Leadbitter, my mentor and co-founder of Blues Unlimited — the first international blues magazine — and Robin Gosden, of Flyright Records, completed our small party.
We started out in New Orleans, then traveled through south Louisiana, up to Shreveport, Louisiana, across to Jackson, Mississippi, and then north, to Memphis, Chicago and New York. All locations had strong blues, (and more,) connections, as we observed the cultural and social conditions, firsthand. It was the time of good old-fashioned, shoe-leather journalism, when pen and notebook ruled.
Writing the book
On our return home, Leadbitter inquired pointedly if I was going to write a book. After asking on what subject, he retorted, “You’ve just been to New Orleans, haven’t you?”
The fuse had been lit.
And so, in the early 1970s I began assembling material for a first draft while, still, working full time in bank management. With the notable exception of Charlie Gillett’s seminal, “The Sound of the City,” there were few books covering any genre of rock ’n’ roll at the time.
The big breakthrough came in 1972, when Leadbitter arranged an interview in London for us with Dr. John, then making waves as the “Night Tripper” of voodoo rock.
The good doctor proved to be a walking encyclopedia of New Orleans R&B, much preferring to shed light on forgotten artists and musicians, as well as discussing hallowed sessions at Cosimo Matassa’s recording studios, than promote his own career.
With the first draft completed, I made another trip to New Orleans, for further interviews, to consolidate my initial research. It was spring 1973, just when the Nixon Watergate scandal was brewing.
In the introduction to the first edition, I recorded my excitement at approaching New Orleans by plane and thinking, “Could it be down there, that Fats Domino, Professor Longhair, Huey Smith, Allen Toussaint, Earl King, Ernie K-Doe, Lee Dorsey and a whole host of talented musicians, made their names and actually live?”
Pre-Hurricane Katrina, most original, New Orleans R&B performers were still living in town so it was relatively easy to track them down — aided by my New Orleans friend and driver, James La Rocca, of course. The interviewees willingly told their rich stories into what was a, comparatively, new invention — a tape recorder.
Publication
On my return, I set about transcribing the interviews, and incorporating the best bits into the existing draft.
Simon Napier, the other co-founder of Blues Unlimited, suggested that the magazine should publish “Walking to New Orleans.”
We ordered an optimistic 3,000 copies, including 500 hardbacks, from the magazine’s professional printer. Our marketing strategy — if it could be described as such — was that Blues Unlimited had just over 2,000 subscribers, who were so interested in Black music, that half of them would buy the book to cover the outlay.
Amazingly, it worked.
John Broven at a book signing. Photo by Diane Wattekamps.
We sold a thousand copies by November 1974 and easily recouped our investment. That was the month Mike Leadbitter, such a visionary blues researcher, died of meningitis, at the tragically young age of 32.
The book’s reviews were universally favorable, (almost).
For promotion, I was a guest on two BBC radio shows, including “Honky Tonk,” hosted by Charlie Gillett, on Aug. 4, 1974. I nervously asked Gillett what his first question was going to be, to which he replied, “I don’t know, whatever comes to my head.” Luckily, the New Orleans records we played spoke for themselves.
A year or so later, out of the blue, Milburn Calhoun, owner of Pelican Publishing Co., in Gretna, Louisiana, asked if he could license the book for the U.S. We knew he would be able to hit markets that we ourselves could not possibly touch, such as the New Orleans tourist shops, and the Louisiana educational system.
But Calhoun insisted that the title be changed in spite of the self-explanatory subtitle — to my regret.
He said that “Americans” would not understand the title, “Walking to New Orleans.” And so the book became the simplistic “Rhythm and Blues in New Orleans” (1978.) In the pre-internet era, it wasn’t a problem, but over time, there was modest confusion about the same book having different titles.
The great thing is that Pelican has kept the book in print until now. Its reception was good enough for Pelican to commission another book, “South to Louisiana: The Music of the Cajun Bayous” (1983,) detailing the local Cajun, zydeco, swamp blues, hillbilly and swamp pop music scenes.
In 2016, Pelican published an updated third edition of “Rhythm and Blues in New Orleans,” and followed with an updated “South to Louisiana,” which won a 2020 ARSC award for “Best History in Recorded Country, Folk, or Roots Music.”
Oh, and yes. “Walking to New Orleans” was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2011, as a Classic of Blues Literature. The various editions of the book have sold in excess of 25,000 copies.
The book’s legacy
It is hard for me to be objective about the legacy of “Walking to New Orleans.” What I can say is that by documenting and preserving stories, it brought a spotlight on many overlooked artists and musicians. Quite a few enjoyed resurrected careers. With the record reissue market in its infancy, the book helped to open up a back catalog of New Orleans R&B recordings on LP, and then, compact disc.
Remember, this was decades before music was just click away on Apple, Spotify, YouTube and the like.
I was delighted when local researchers Tad Jones, Jeff Hannusch and Rick Coleman, took up the challenge to explore the New Orleans R&B scene, in even greater depth, with their later books.
Further support in the city came from Wavelength, and then Offbeat magazines, not to mention Radio WWOZ, the Jazz & Heritage Festival and the Ponderosa Stomp.
“Walking to New Orleans” and “South to Louisiana” led me to write many liner notes for record companies — first for LPs, then for CDs. The books served as calling cards that led to my commission as a compilation consultant for Ace Records in London, from 1991 to 2006.
This experience paved the way for writing “Record Makers and Breakers: Voices of the Independent Rock ’n’ Roll Pioneers,” (University of Illinois Press, 2009), where I interviewed influential record men and women, who launched the indie record business in the post-World War II years. Again, almost all the interviewees are dead, but oh what stories they had to tell.
Over the years, I have spoken at conferences from New Orleans to Los Angeles, and even the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
The cherry on the cake was meeting my wife, Shelley, through the Ace Records connection — her father owned Golden Crest Records, out of Huntington Station — and starting a new life on Long Island.
I was living the English Dream and American Dream at the same time. What a journey it has been — and to think, it all started 50 years ago!
John Broven of East Setauket is a copyeditor with TBR News Media. In celebration of the book’s 50th anniversary, Jasmine Records in the U.K. has released a double CD “Walking to New Orleans: An Aural Accompaniment” (available on Amazon).
Cornerstone Kings Park, a 50-unit luxury apartment building proposed for the corner of Meadow Road and Indian Head Road in Kings Park, was discussed at the Smithtown Board of Zoning Appeals public hearing on Aug. 6.
The 44,883-square-foot project would sit outside of the LIRR train station and would be part of the Kings Park downtown revitalization effort.
The proposed project necessitates a special exception as the surrounding area is currently zoned as commercial-business & industrial. A vacant restaurant pad site would need to be demolished if the project is to be built.
In order to progress and be considered by the Smithtown Town Board, the Smithtown Zoning Board of Appeals must approve the special exception.
The zoning board doesn’t anticipate making a recommendation to the Town Board until the Smithtown Comprehensive Master Plan is adopted, which would change the zoning of the area to transit oriented development (TOD). Further, the zoning board expressed dissatisfaction with several setbacks, which they deemed deficient even if the plan is adopted. The zoning change to transit oriented development would alter the minimum requirement for a setback.
Smithtown Board of Zoning Appeals meeting on Aug. 6. Photo courtesy of Smithtownny.gov
Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) spoke at the public hearing. “I am all for building something on this property,” he said. “Make no mistake about it. But 50 units in the parking lot of a shopping center is ridiculous.”
Trotta went on to suggest making a portion of the units co-ops or condominiums, an idea he has integrated in a resolution he designed to increase home ownership. The resolution was shot down in a Suffolk County Economic Development, Planning & Housing Committee meeting.
The size and magnitude of the project is one of the chief factors of concern for many. One constituent said, “I used to work in Queens and I like to come home to a backyard and a different style of life … it will kind of diminish and ruin what we are trying to have here. This kind of deviates from that kind of thinking.”
Another member of the community was eager for the project to provide more housing opportunities for the aging generation and to economically boost the downtown area.
Indeed, the developers market the project as a step towards fulfilling the goals listed in the Revitalizing Downtown Kings Park Action Plan which was developed by The Kings Park Chamber of Commerce and Kings Park Civic Association in 2016.
“Utilizing the Revitalizing Downtown Kings Park Action Plan, Terwillliger Bartone, with the Cornerstone Kings Park project, fills an important role of meeting the desires of the plan, from parking to transit oriented development to design and more” the Cornerstone Kings Park website reads.
After receiving criticism from citizens, the developers, Tanzi Properties LLC and Terwilliger & Bartone Properties, made several adjustments to the proposal, including decreasing the stories from four to three and supplementing above ground parking with an underground garage.
The developers expect the project to bring in $2 million annually in discretionary spending. Furthermore, their traffic study indicated that “it is the perfect complement to what is already existing in the area,” said the lawyer for the developers, Garrett Gray of Weber Law Group.
Gray said in his presentation that at peak hours, the parking is not expected to exceed 77% capacity.
Cornerstone Kings Park is one of the projects being considered for the $10 million Smithtown-Kings Park has received from the state for its downtown revitalization.
The application is still under review; the Zoning Board will more seriously consider making a recommendation once the Smithtown Comprehensive Master Plan is adopted, which is expected to occur within the coming months.
Downtown Port Jefferson flooded during Superstorm Sandy. File photo
This week’s Port Jefferson Civic meeting devoted a great deal of time to all things flood-related.
Now, of course, flood prevention is not unique. It is something all communities think about — especially, a port town.
But, why did the Village of Port Jefferson feel so strongly about a little bit of water falling from the sky, that they have decided to implement a two-phase plan, to build infrastructure designed to aid areas “[vulnerable] to flooding, associated with individual and co-occurring flood drivers?”
There are a few reasons. The first one is that this problem is not small, at all. It is much more dire than the flooding of yesteryear. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Long Island’s sea level has risen 13 inches from 1880. Just to put that figure into perspective, the global average is 8-9 inches. Secondly, warming temperatures have created hurricanes, with intense conditions, putting our island at increased storm surge-induced flooding, (for this factor, the South Shore is at a much higher risk.) And, lastly, Port Jefferson’s unique geography. Being situated on the harbor front, the village becomes susceptible to the strong flooding a confined harbor can induce.
Additionally, the area’s high groundwater table means that the soil does not have much capacity for additional water, thus exacerbating surface runoff, on an already small watershed. The geography of Port Jeff is, truly, unique, as it is a valley, which creates the imperfect opportunity for water to run down, from all directions — affording it the nickname “Drowned Meadow.”
So, what can we, as a community, do to prevent floods from disrupting our livelihoods? While this issue requires the careful care of our local government, as it is a truly serious issue, here are a few general suggestions:
• Consider purchasing a sump pump, to prevent basement or crawl space flooding.
• Ensure new building and development does not occur in flood-prone areas, or historic hurricane tracks.
• Merge nature-based solutions and infrastructure, to enhance resilience. An example would be improving upon infrastructure in need of flood safeguards, or replenishing beaches, to avoid erosion, and ensure the land’s natural slope and profile stays intact.
• Minimize your greenhouse gas emissions, to reduce the risk of severe storms. Starting is as easy as purchasing home appliances that are Energy Star — products approved by the EPA — certified, and lowering the thermostat.
• Bolster awareness. Talk to neighbors about the dangers of climate-influenced natural disasters, and generate community action. We need it
Port Jefferson Free Library, where the meeting was held. File photo
By Peter Sloniewsky
Port Jefferson Civic Association met Monday, Aug. 12, to discuss the flooding issue in the area, specifically regarding ongoing projects undertaken by the United States Geological Survey, and, also, by Campani and Schwarting Architects.
First, Kristina Masterson, supervisory hydrologist for the Water Resources Integrated Modeling and Analysis Section in the New York Water Science Center, presented an ongoing study run by the USGS that will help to accurately model floods in the Port Jefferson area.
Kristina Masterson. Courtesy USGS.gov
The study, titled “Assessment of compound flood risk from the combined effects of sea level rise on storm surge, tidal and groundwater flooding, and stormwater,” specifically examines compound floods. Locally, there are a variety of flood drivers such as the harbor, stormwater runoff from the underlying 2-square-mile watershed and the area’s high groundwater table.
The project will be in two phases. Phase one, set to be completed in this fall, is described as a “spatial analysis of vulnerability to flooding associated with individual and co-occurring flood drivers.” The conclusion of this phase will be an online interactive map which will allow users to check which relevant factors are most pertinent to flooding in any subsection of the mapped area.
In the second phase, planned for a completion date in winter 2025, USGS will create a “compound flood modeling framework” that will help researchers to better simulate the effects of flooding not only in Port Jefferson, but also in other areas which have been mapped in a similar way. With a more generalized compound flooding model, Masterson expressed hope that scientists and policymakers could better plan infrastructure around simulated flood patterns.
This USGS study is a part of the Long Island Sound Study, which was established in 1985 by Congress to focus on water quality. Since then, it has transformed largely into a focused effort toward resiliency. The current study is funded through the Sustainable and Resilient Communities Work Group, representing a state/federal partnership. USGS is nonregulatory, and the data gathered throughout this project will be publicly accessible after its publication.
The second project, presented by Michael Schwarting and Frances Campani, involved modeling the “steep streets” of Port Jefferson which converge on the harbor to better map out the placement of future damage-mitigation infrastructure projects.
The meeting concluded with a question-and-answer segment. One major theme was concerns about the pragmatism of both projects, asking why money was not spent on infrastructure directly.
Masterson explained, “Our study was funded by the Long Island Sound Study and the EPA. We have to follow through with the purview of the study. Second, we’re not design engineers. We’re trying to introduce foundational work, so that folks will be able to take a look at, and better understand, what the flood risks are, in their respective locations.”
Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow clarified at the meeting that the village has grants from both FEMA and the county, and is already in contact with engineering firms to work toward more directly pragmatic endeavors.
The civic association’s next meeting will be held Sept. 9 at the Port Jefferson Free Library.
The Town of Smithtown Board meeting Aug. 13 included discussions on authorizations for construction of a freight yard on Old Northport Road. The majority of the meeting was dedicated to hearing from residents who voiced notable worries concerning the freight yard.
“Many of us here have the same concerns and are here to share our opinions,” said Diane Calderone, a Fort Salonga resident. “To me, there are so many reasons why I don’t think it’s a good idea, and I don’t understand the support for this.”
The Town of Smithtown has previously appeared to support the project. “My number one reason against the freight yard is health concerns. Many people have asthma and respiratory issues, among other ailments. The exhaust and pollution from this freight yard — from the freight trains and the trucks parked there to move materials and goods off the trains onto the trucks for distribution across the island — that’s going to generate a lot of pollution and exhaust. That’s not going to be good for anybody’s health, even if you don’t have asthma or any respiratory conditions today. Who knows what that will create in the future? I think that’s a huge risk this freight yard poses to the public,” she said.
Calderone expressed her desire for support from the board. “I’m here to speak about your support of the freight yard. I hope with us coming here, speaking out, taking time to show that this is important to us, you will reconsider and rescind your support. Instead, you should be helping us, leading us in opposing the freight yard. We can’t do it as individuals, although we are trying as hard as we can.” She closed her speech by cautioning the board that their support is crucial to stopping the project. “We really need you to help us oppose this freight yard.”
Another speaker, Anthony Haberman, expressed apprehension regarding the risk of accidents. “I ask everyone to put themselves in my shoes. I’m a father, a business owner in Commack and I have three small children,” Haberman said. He noted a statistic, stating that the nation faces an average of three derailment incidents daily, which raises concerns about the risk of an accident occurring at this freight yard.
Many of the speakers at the meeting felt the board should reconsider its position on the project.
Primary concerns included pollution, air quality, health risks, increased traffic and the potential for accidents involving both the trains and vehicles traveling to and from the site. The board did not discuss its position in detail after hearing from the speakers.
Priscilla Ewer Pratt of Port Jefferson, died peacefully on July 31. She was 83.
Priscilla was born on March 21, 1941, in Plainfield, New Jersey, to Edmund Addison Pratt and Priscilla Swint Ewer. She graduated from Wheaton College in Illinois with a B.A. in English, earned a Master of Library Science from Rutgers University, and an M.A. in English from SUNY Stony Brook.
Priscilla had a long career as a librarian spanning nearly 54 years in college libraries across Long Island, most recently at Suffolk County Community College, where she worked part-time well into her 80s.
Her love of books was extraordinary, and her intellectual curiosity was lifelong. She excelled at languages, loved poetry and the classics, and participated in book clubs throughout her life. Priscilla also enjoyed writing, history, genealogy, art and nature.
She wrote and published two novels and composed award-winning poetry. Additionally, she played the piano and was an enthusiastic concertgoer and choir member.
Priscilla is survived by her brother, George, and nieces, Cindy, Kathy, Beth, Wendy and Sophie, as well as their families. An inurnment ceremony was held at Caroline Episcopal Church in East Setauket on Sunday, Aug. 11.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to The Nature Conservancy or the New York Public Library.
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