By Lynn Hallarman
The effects of the torrential down pours, along Main Street, in Port Jefferson. Video by Lynn Hallarman
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Community Health Fair heads to Medford Aug. 25
Gordon Heights and Patchogue Seventh Day Adventists Churches will host a Community Health Fair at Granny Road Park, 615 Granny Road, Medford on Sunday, Aug. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will feature free health screenings, free counseling, free massages, Stony Brook Hospital mammogram information and sign up, along with information on cancer prevention, cardiovascular disease prevention, stroke education & prevention, nutritional counseling, behavioral and mental health counseling, real estate education, and much more. For more information, call 631-384-9060 or 631-698-0912.
Suffolk County Legislator Englebright hosts back-to-school drive
Suffolk County Legislator Steven Englebright (D-Setauket) invites residents to join him in helping to ensure local elementary school students have the essential supplies they need for the upcoming academic year. Donations for a back-to-school drive will be accepted at the legislator’s office, 306 Main Street, Port Jefferson, until Sept. 15. Supplies will be donated to United Way of Long Island.
Items needed for students in first to fifth grade include backpacks, lunch boxes, notebooks, pencils, crayons, Post-its, index cards and more. Donated items must be new and can be dropped off at the legislator’s office from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information, email [email protected] or call 631-854-1650.
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico declares state of emergency due to severe rain event
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Daniel J. Panico declared a state of emergency at 8 a.m. on Aug. 19, due to severe rain in the Town of Brookhaven. Damage was especially severe on the North Shore, which experienced significant flooding.
The North Shore communities of the Town of Brookhaven were particularly hard-hit by the storm, which brought heavy rain, strong winds and flooding. Residents are urged to report storm-related issues by calling 631-451-TOWN (8696). For emergencies, dial 911. To report power outages or downed wires, contact PSEG at 800-490-0075 or visit www.psegliny.com.
To ensure accurate documentation of Brookhaven’s damages for potential federal, state and county funding, residents should complete Suffolk County’s online submission form, available on the Town’s website at www.brookhavenny.gov.
For ongoing updates on the storm, emergency contact information and additional resources, please visit the Town’s website.
Storm ravages the North Shore
By Toni-Elena Gallo with contributions by Lynn Hallarman and John Broven
Photo gallery to come.
According to the New York State Weather Risk Communication Center, Stony Brook recorded 9.4 inches of rain, in the 24 hours between Sunday, Aug. 18, and Monday, Aug. 19, amounting to a rainfall that is not just a once in a lifetime event —but a one-in-a-thousand year-event.
At a Monday press conference, County Executive Ed Romaine (R) spoke about the shock many Long Islanders experienced.
“This storm was not predicted for northern Suffolk,” he said. “This storm was over Connecticut and probably traveled south. When you get almost 10 inches of rain, that’s a once [in a lifetime event]. Unfortunately, these once-in-a-lifetime events seem to be coming more than that. I don’t think we’re going to have to wait another hundred years for another storm like this.”
“It tells you the impact that climate change is having on our weather,” the county executive added.
Stony Brook
In Stony Brook village, Harbor Road was split in half, and the pond at Avalon Nature Preserve ran off into nearby Stony Brook Harbor, taking dead fish and turtles with it.
“We have put drones up to document the before and after. We believe the damage will [amount to] $25 million, minimum. A minimum, between cleanup that’s required [not just here, but] other parts of the county, like Rocky Point,” Romaine said.
“We will document everything that we do, and all the expenditures that will be made, because we will be seeking some hope of state [and] federal reimbursement, because this is a huge hit on local government, on the town and on the villages along the North Shore,” he added.
At the press conference, Gloria Rocchio, president of The Ward Melville Heritage Organization, expressed her sadness and frustration, but was able to provide a small glint of hope.
“We did have a structural engineer come already, to check the [historic] Grist Mill … and it is, [fortunately] structurally sound. It was built in 1699. In 1750 the dam broke for the first time, and then once again in the 1800s, and the last time it broke was 1910,” she said.
Over at Stony Brook University, Judy Pittigher, an office administrator at the Renaissance School of Medicine, suffered an office full of water damage and a collapsed ceiling, forcing her to work from home for, at least, the remainder of the week.
“The squares of one doctor’s tile roof collapsed; the floor is disgusting, covered in mush. By the time I got there, half the rugs had already been pulled up … anything on them was destroyed, like boxes. One box had this past graduation’s programs, and someone picked it up and put it on my desk, and it was sopping wet,” she said.
Smithtown
In Smithtown, the Nissequogue River dam broke from the nearly 10 inches of rain. Two residents were saved by members of the Smithtown Fire Department, as they were trapped on the second floor of their home.
This is despite the town’s recent stormwater and drain infrastructure upgrades. However, Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R) said that Smithtown was lucky, in comparison to the nearby villages, as a result of these proactive measures.
Rocky Point
Rocky Point was extensively impacted, as well.
“I tried to take a tour of most of the damage this morning … and several catchment basins overflowed,” Romaine said. “I went down Hagerman Landing Road, and the tops of all the cars in sight had mud. The mudslide that came down Hagerman Landing Road was, easily, 7 to 9 feet. It left its mark on the trees, and the houses, right up to the windows. We had to rescue someone down there from their rooftop.”
Port Jefferson
At about 3 a.m., Monday, a rush of stormwater cascaded down Main Street, past CVS, affecting local property and flooding the Port Jefferson fire station.
According to Fire Commissioner Thomas Meehan, the flooding rose to about 36 inches in the station, bringing sewage and other debris into the building.
“We were just recovering from the flooding we had three years ago,” he said.
Port Jefferson village officials assisted the fire station in the initial cleanup in the early hours of Monday morning.
Several businesses along the Main Street corridor were impacted, including Theatre Three [see editorial].
Huntington
According to a Town of Huntington press release, “The Highway Department took to the roads at the early onset of the storm. After surveying the town, they reported approximately 10 sink holes and minimal trees down. Flooding, however, was the predominant issue, with the town reporting heavy flooding in a few areas.”
All areas will be rebuilt
The Town of Brookhaven’s superintendent of highways, Dan Losquadro (R), explained how the topography of the North Shore created a disastrous alignment of storm conditions.
“Water picks up velocity, as it travels down into these natural drainage points,” he said. “Many of these areas were built a very long time ago. They just have catch basins, and do not have sumps recharge basins, as we call them. [Even so] recharge basins, optimally, can only store 8 inches of water, and a catch basin, no more than 2 to 3.”
“This exceeded even the capacity of a modern sump. So, we saw our systems completely overwhelmed by this volume of water in such a short period of time,” he elaborated.
As for what’s next, Losquadro said, “We will get into the engineering and estimating phase, throughout the day, and, probably, for days to come. We have, unfortunately, been through this process with FEMA, and the state before, even back to the recovery from [Hurricane] Sandy. We will do our best to secure funding, from the higher levels of government, to ease the burden on our local taxpayers because as the county executive and the supervisor [Dan Panico (R)] rightly pointed out, many of these projects are beyond our ability to fund on a local level.”
“This process will take a great deal of time,” Romaine said. “[This damage behind me] will require permitting, not only from D.C., but from the EPA, and from the Army Corps of Engineers as well.”
Both Losquadro and Romaine expressed that the parts of the county hit by this storm will be built back “stronger and better.”
“We will clean this up, whatever it takes. These are our communities, these are our friends, our neighbors. We’re one county, one people and we will work together,” Romaine said.
Smithtown school district approves new safety plan for the upcoming school year
By Serena Carpino
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.
Your Turn: Keep Social Security intact for millennials, Gen Z and future generations of American workers
By 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)
Six Harbors Brewing Company pours a cup of cheer to the historic Van Wyck-Lefferts Tide Mill
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.
St. Charles Hospital cuts ribbon for Emergency Department expansion
Catholic Health’s St. Charles Hospital in Port Jefferson hosted a ceremonial ribbon cutting for its Emergency Department (ED) expansion on Aug. 14. The event was attended by Catholic Health executive leadership, hospital staff, as well as local elected officials and community partners. The newly renovated and expanded emergency department officially opened to patients on Aug. 19.
The $10 million project, was partially funded with a $4.2 million grant from the New York State Facility Transformation program, as well as other funds supported by Catholic Health and philanthropic support. The ED expansion includes an additional 4,000 square feet, doubling the size, with 10 more treatment bays and a larger waiting room.
“St. Charles’ ED expansion will provide an opportunity to better manage patient flow and address the disparate needs of patients seeking emergency care, allowing for the overall higher quality of patient care,” said St. Charles Hospital President James O’Connor. “We are very excited for this major facility improvement, allowing us to continue to meet the emergent medical needs of the communities we serve.”
In addition, the renovations include additional space, which will allow for better patient management of those seeking medically supervised chemical dependency withdrawal and stabilization and rehabilitation services.
“Long Island has a drug problem of epic proportions, but Catholic Health does not run from this challenge,” said Catholic Health President and CEO Patrick O’Shaughnessy, DO, MBA. “St. Charles’ expanded ED will include an additional care environment, offering specialized care for dependency patients. This will allow doctors and nurses to focus on the needs of distinct patient populations, safely and effectively.”
Dr. Jennifer Cushman joins New York Spine & Pain Specialists
New York Spine & Pain Specialists, a division of New York Health (NY Health), has announced the addition of Jennifer M. Cushman, MD, to its Interventional Pain and Spine team.
Dr. Cushman is dedicated to providing support and interventions to treat chronic pain and joint-related pathologies, improve ambulation and function, and improve her patients’ independence and quality of life. She also specializes in treating various chronic pain and joint conditions, including low back pain, knee, shoulder, and various joint-related pathologies using both ultrasound and fluoroscopy techniques.
She speaks English, Spanish, and Polish.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Jennifer Cushman to our team,” said Dr. Chris Ng, MD, Executive Director of NY Health. “Her extensive training, clinical research background, and commitment to patient-centered care align perfectly with our mission to provide the highest-quality pain management services.”
“I am excited to join New York Health, a rapidly growing practice renowned for its wide array of interventional and minimally invasive surgical treatment options for chronic pain,” said Dr. Cushman. “NY Health offers numerous academic opportunities that will allow me to pursue clinical research and advance cancer pain management, ultimately helping patients who are suffering.”
Dr. Cushman will practice at 5316 Nesconset Highway, Port Jefferson Station and 300 Old Country Road, Suite 1, Riverhead. To make an appointment, please call 631-474-0707.
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