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Celebrate Valentine's Day with a screening of 'Casablanca' at the Cinema Arts Centre.
Thursday Feb. 9

Huntington History lecture

Huntington Historical Society continues its Lunch & Learn series with a virtual program at noon. Enjoy your own lunch from the comfort of your home while learning about the historic Sammis houses of West Neck in a presentation given by Robert Hughes, Town Historian and Toby Kissam, HHS Trustee. Presentation will last 45 minutes with time for commentary and Q&A from participants. Free. To register via Zoom, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org.

Lunch and Learn

Kehillath Shalom Synagogue of Cold Spring Harbor presents an online Lunch and Learn program titled Jewish Humor: Then and Now at 12:30 p.m.  34% of American Jewish consider “having a good sense of humor” to be an essential aspect of their Jewish identity. In this new Lunch & Learn class, just in time for Adar!, the group will explore the history and evolution of Jewish humor and explore its components. Bring a joke or story. All are welcome. Contact [email protected] for Zoom information.

Love Notes in Scrimshaw

Join the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor at 2 p.m. or 6 p.m. for Love Notes in Scrimshaw. Take a peek into the world of historic love tokens as you explore romantic examples of carved whalebone from the 19th century. Uncover the secrets of coded images shared between romantic partners and design and carve your own scrimshaw art for someone special (or for yourself!) Adults only. $15 participant (includes admission), $10 members. Call 367-3418.

An Evening of Jazz

Mala Waldron, Mike Hall and Tom Manuel kick off the Loft’s Acoustic in the Living Room series at the Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook from 7 to 9:30 p.m. This jazz music series showcases small duos/trios in the Loft’s main performance room which will be set up to resemble an intimate living room, with spaced out seating. The concerts are conversational, engaging and intimate and a very special window into the heart and mind of the artists. Tickets are $40 per person at www.thejazzloft.org.

Friday Feb. 10

An evening of opera

St.Paul’s United Methodist Church,270Main St., Northport hosts an evening with Opera Night Long Island at 7:30 p.m. Refreshments will be served. $10 donation, students free. For more information, call 261-2387 or email [email protected].

Wintertide concert

The Port Jefferson Village Center, 101A E. Broadway, Port Jefferson continues  its  Wintertide concert series from 7 to 8 p.m with a performance by Chic Voorhis (Americana with a country twist) in the Sail Loft Room on the third floor. $5 donation at the door. Questions? Call 473-4778.

Grounds and Sounds Concert

Grounds and Sounds Cafe at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship at Stony Brook, 380 Nicolls Road, East Setauket presents award-winning singer/songwriter Rorie Kelly in concert at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 pm. Tickets are $15 per person, available in advance at www.groundsandsounds.org and at the door. Light refreshments for sale. For further information, call 751-0297.

Saturday Feb. 11

Garden Club Meeting

The Shoreham-Wading River Garden Club invites the community to its meeting at the Wading River Congregational Church at 2057 North Country Road, Wading River at 10 a.m. Club president Judy Faraone will make a presentation titled “Learn to Love Bugs and Keystone Plants,” followed by a video titled “What’s the Rush?” by Doug Tallamy and favorite garden tools by garden club members will be on view. Admission is free and all are welcome.

Audubon Society exhibit

The Bates House, 1 Bates Road, Setauket hosts an exhibit by The Four Harbors Audubon Society titled Valentine to Whitman’s Paumanok Exhibition today and Feb. 12 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Twenty-four local photographers and artists are sharing their love for our beautiful Long Island’s wildlife and wilderness as captured by their individual talents. An Artists’s Reception will be held on Feb.12 from 1 to 4 p.m. All are welcome. Free. Questions? Call 689-7054.

All Souls Poetry Reading

The Second Saturdays poetry series will be returns to All Souls Church in Stony Brook via Zoom from 11 a.m. to noon. Hosted by Suffolk County Poet Laureate Richard Bronson, the featured poet will be Claude Mayers. An open-reading will follow; all are welcome to read one of their own poems. Call 655-7798. Participants can access the program through the All Souls website https://www.allsouls-stonybrook.org/

Here’s to the Ladies! concert

The perfect Valentine’s celebration will be at the Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook with a performance by the Jazz Loft All Stars titled“Here’s to the Ladies!” from 7 to 9 p.m. with complimentary champagne and chocolate. Tickets are $50 per person. Purchase your tickets at www.thejazzloft.org.

February Funny Fest

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the 6th annual February Funny Fest on the MainStage at 8 p.m. Fancy a fun night out? This is the comedy show for you! Featuring a full line-up of top comedians direct from the Long Island Comedy Festival including Scott Schendlinger, Keith Anthony, Chris Roach, host David Weiss and more! Tickets are $45. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

FOR THE LOVE OF COMEDY
Tim Krompier headlines the Lovers of Comedy Show at the Smithtown Performing Arts Center on Feb. 11.

Lovers of Comedy Show

Join the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 E. Main St., Smithtown for a Lovers of Comedy Night, a night of laughs with Governor’s Comedy Club, at 8 p.m. Featuring Tim Krompier, Olga Namer, Debbie D Amore, and Rachel Williams. Tickets are $45 per person, $40 members includes open bar of beer and wine. To order, visit www.smithtownpac.org.

Sunday Feb. 12

Audubon Society exhibit

See Feb. 11 listing.

Port Jefferson Food Drive

See sidebar on right.

Super Bowl Sunday Pancake Breakfast – just added!

Halesite Firehouse, 1 New York Ave., Halesite will host its 15th annual Super Bowl Pancake Breakfast fundraiser from 9 a.m. to noon. with raffles, Super Bowl Snack Cooler and more. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children 3-10 yrs, under age 3 free. Call 427-1910 for more information.

Living History with Abe Lincoln

Celebrate St. James continues its Living History series at the St. James Community Cultural Arts Center, 176 Second Street, St James with a visit with President Abraham Lincoln presenter Garry Rissman at 1 p.m. followed by a Q&A. Refreshments will be served. Tickets are $25 adults, $20 members, $10 children ages 10 and up, children under age 10 are free. To register, visit www.celebratestjames.org or call 984-0201.

An Afternoon of Celtic Music – just added!

St. Anthony’s High School, 275 Wolf Hill Road, South Huntington will host An Afternoon of Celtic Music, a benefit for the St. Anthony’s Bagpipe Band, at 2 p.m.  Featuring three bagpipe bands – Saint Anthony’s Celtic Friars Pipe Band, AOH Division 7 Roisin Dubh Irish Pipe Band, and the West Milford Highlanders- along with Irish Step Dancing. Basket raffles, 50/50 raffles, bake sale and complimentary Irish Soda Bread and tea served during intermission. Tickets are $20 at the door. Questions? Email [email protected].

Monday Feb. 13

Civic Association meeting

The Sound Beach Civic Association will hold its first in-person meeting of the year at the Sound Beach Fire Station, 252 Sound Beach Blvd., Sound Beach at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome. Call 744-6952.

Emerson String Quartet concert

Stony Brook University’s Staller Center for the Arts, 100 Nicolls Road Stony Brook presents the award-winning Emerson String Quartet in concert in the Recital Hall at 7 p.m. Program will include Walker “Lyric”; Schubert Quartet in A Minor, D. 804 (“Rosamunde”); Webern 6 Bagatelles, op. 9; Shostakovich 12th Quartet, op. 133; Setzer, 1st violin in Walker and Schubert; and Drucker, 1st violin in Webern and Shostakovich. Tickets range from $52 to $60. To order, call 632-2787 or visit www.stallercenter.com.

Tuesday Feb. 14

NSJC Social Club event

North Shore Jewish Center Social Club, 385 Old Town Road, Port Jefferson Station will screen the documentary Food, Incorporated in the Social Hall at 11 a.m. The film reveals the surprising and shocking truths about what we eat, how it’s produced, and who we have become as a nation. Bagels, cream cheese and coffee among other refreshments will be served. $5 per person, $3 members. Call 928-3737 for more information.

America’s Sweethearts in concert

The John W. Engeman, 250 Main St., Northport celebrates Valentine’s Day with a concert by America’s Sweethearts at 8 p.m. These New York City-based ladies have performed across the USA at iconic spaces honoring our veterans (the Intrepid Air and Space Museum, the WASP Museum) as well as large theatres and intimate cabaret venues, getting crowds tapping their feet to hits like “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” as they celebrate history through their crystal-clear harmony and colorful costumes. Tickets are $45 per person. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.

Wednesday Feb. 15

Quilting Workshop

Huntington Historical Society hosts a Quilting Workshop at the Conklin Barn, 2 High St., Huntington from 1 to 3 p.m. Join quilting instructor Lucie Blohm for a demonstration on the basic techniques, equipment, and materials required. Experienced and novice quilters are invited to bring their sewing machines and projects for encouragement and advice. Fabric will be provided to practice technique. Fee is $25, $20 members. To register, visit www.huntingtonhistoricalsociety.org or call 427-7045, ext. 401.

Whaling Museum reception

Join the Whaling Museum, 301 Main St., Cold Spring Harbor for an opening reception for their latest exhibit, From Sea to Shining Sea: Whalers of the African Diaspora, at 6 p.m. Enjoy a special edition whaleboat chat, meet the guest curator, and partake in light refreshments while you explore the artwork, artifacts and text exploring and expounding on the role of African American mariners in whaling history. Call 367-3418. 

Hard Luck Cafe concert

Connecticut-based folk singer-songwriters Tracy Walton and Sierra West will share the bill and swap songs during the Hard Luck Café concert at the Cinema Arts Centre’s Sky Room, 423 Park Ave., Huntington from 7 to 10 p.m. An open mic precedes the concert.  Tickets are $20 at www.fmsh.org.

Thursday Feb. 16

Atelier webinar

Join the Atelier at Flowerfield in St. James for a free zoom lecture and demonstration titled “Is It Watercolor or Acrylic?” It’s Gouache! at 7 p.m. Learn the basics of how to use this versatile medium with instructor Beth Drucker. To register, visit www.theatelieratflowerfield.org.

Vanderbilt Lecture

Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport continues its lecture series with a presentation titled “A Lost Story of the Revolutionary War” at 7 p.m. Noted historian Benjamin Carp will explore the Great New York Fire of 1776. Carp’s book on the devastating fire  is forthcoming from Yale University Press. Tickets are $10 at www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

Film

‘The Good House’

Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station invites the community to a viewing of The Good House, starring Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline on Feb. 9 at 2 p.m. Open to all. Call 928-1212 to reserve your seat.

Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman star in ‘Casablanca.’

‘Casablanca’

The Cinema Arts Centre, 423 Park Ave., Huntington invites all lovebirds and lonelyhearts to spend Valentine’s Day revisiting a classic, Casablanca, on Feb. 14 at 7 p.m. with an introduction by film historian Philip Harwood and complimentary sweets and flowers from Amy’s of Huntington. Tickets are $20, $15 members. Visit www.cinemaartscentre.org.

Theater

‘Hello Dolly!’

The Stony Brook School’s Theatrical Arts Society,  1 Chapman Parkway, Stony Brook presents Hello Dolly! on Feb. 9, 10 and 11 at 7:30 p.m. and Feb. 11 at 2 p.m. A musical adaptation of The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder, Hello, Dolly!  centers around the exuberant Dolly Levi, a matchmaker and self-professed expert in many things — particularly the art of meddling. First performed on Broadway in 1964, Hello, Dolly! is a fast paced, comedic romance that is bound to appeal to musical and theater lovers of all ages.  Tickets are $10. To order, visit sbstickets.ticketleap.com.

‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’

The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St.. Northport presents Dirty Rotten Scoundrels from Jan. 19 to March 5. Con artist Lawrence Jameson is a longtime resident of a luxurious coastal resort, where he enjoys the fruits of his deceptions–that is, until a competitor, Freddy Benson, shows up. When the new guy’s lowbrow tactics impinge on his own work, Jameson resolves to get rid of him. Based on the uproarious movie, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels boasts a jazzy-pop score by David Yazbek, who also wrote the music for The Full Monty. Tickets range from $80 to $85. To order, call 261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com. 

‘Bad Valentines …’

The Performing Arts Studio, 224 E. Main St., Port Jefferson presents (Mostly) True Things: “Bad Valentines and Worst Dates Ever” on Feb. 11 at 7 p.m. Hosted by Jude Treder-Wolff, the evening will feature four storytellers: Ivy Eisenberg, Kelly Massaro, Jack Canfora, and Joey Novick. Tickets are $15 online at www.mostlytruethings.com or $20 at the door (cash only). The show is recommended for teens and adults. Call 928-6529.

Festival of One-Act Plays

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents the 24th annual Festival of One-Act Plays from February 25 through March 25 at The Ronald F. Peierls Theatre, on the Second Stage. Selected from over 250 submissions world-wide, these seven cutting-edge premieres are guaranteed to entertain and engage. Directed by Jeffrey Sanzel, the plays will feature Steve Ayle, Tamralynn Dorsa, Antoine Jones, Brittany Lacey, Phyllis March, Evan Teich, Steven Uihlein, Sean Amato, Ava Andrejko, Angelo DiBiase, Samantha Fierro, Jason Furnari, Melissa Norman, Danielle Pafundi, and Tristan Prin. Please Note: Adult content and language. All tickets are $20. To order, call 928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

‘Tape’

The Theatre at Suffolk County Community College, Ammerman campus, 533 College Road, Selden presents a production of Tape by Stephen Belber in Theatre 119 in the Islip Arts Building on March 9, 10, 11, 16, 17, 18 at 7:30 p.m. and March 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. After 10 years apart, three disparate people come together to play out the unresolved drama of their final days in high school. Suspense builds as each character is provoked into revealing his or her true nature and motivation as they choose which cards to play and which cards to hold. Mature content. General admission is $14. For tickets, call 451-4163.

* All numbers are in (631) area code unless otherwise noted.

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Sweetbriar Nature Center volunteer Dan Defeo with Hoover the Goat. Photo by Janine Bendicksen

By Tara Mae 

Hoover the Goat has foreseen the future…of football. Located in Smithtown, Sweetbriar Nature Center’s resident sports seer has predicted that the Philadelphia Eagles will beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl this Sunday.

Sweetbriar Nature Center volunteer Dan Defeo with Hoover the Goat. Photo by Janine Bendicksen

In a video posted to Sweetbriar’s social media accounts on Feb. 5, Hoover, who normally prefers hay, vegetables, and goat food, can be seen rather emphatically eating up the idea that the Eagles will take home the Vince Lombardi Trophy. 

If there is a method to his magic  (Hoover has correctly predicted the Super Bowl winner for the past five years) he has selected not to share it. When pressed for comment about his decisive digestives, Hoover declined to spill the oats. 

Since he is not one to reveal trade secrets, the origin of Hoover’s psychic prowess remains a mystery. Nonetheless, he is adamant in how he articulates his chosen team. 

“We make up pictures of the two teams, and whichever one he eats is the winner. Hoover is very precise: he thinks about it and then takes a chomp,” said Wildlife Rehabilitation Director Janine Bendicksen. As a rule, Hoover does not deign to get emotionally involved in the team he tastes, but Bendicksen does wonder if they would otherwise cheer for the same one. 

“I am just curious to see if he goes for the underdog or the sure win. I always go for the underdog,” she added.

Rooting for the underdog is a common experience for the staff and volunteers of Sweetbriar, a wildlife education, preservation, and rehabilitation center; they may see and treat hundreds of injured animals in a year. Many come for a recuperative stay and are rereleased when rehabilitated, but others live out their days in structures located on the preserve’s property, tended to and supported by a dedicated group of caregivers.

A Sweetbriar rescue who has lived at his forever home for 13 years, Hoover is one of approximately 100 permanent residents. He is, thus far, the only creature that has exhibited such clairvoyance at the sanctuary.  

“We were looking to figure out an animal that might be able to predict the Super Bowl as a spoof, and Hoover has never been wrong,” Bendicksen said.   

Although Hoover does not perform his talent for a live audience, opting to make his selection with only a couple of his opposable-thumbed friends in attendance, Sweetbriar does offer many other many programs and events that allow patrons to interact with the organization’s ambassador animals. 

Hoover the Goat chomps down on a piece of paper depicting his pick for the winning team.
Photo courtesy of Sweetbriar Nature Center

“Hoover prefers not to participate in our events and we always honor the animal’s feelings,” said Program Coordinator Veronica Sayers.

Still, the impact of Hoover’s social media presence is an asset to Sweetbriar’s efforts to educate and inform the public while protecting and preserving wildlife and its natural habitat. As a nonprofit that relies heavily on donations, Sweetbriar Nature Center utilizes all the tools it has available including social media and community outreach. 

“We mainly use this to educate the public. The more people know about wildlife, the easier our jobs get,” Sayers said. “Social media is a way to get to a lot of people and educate them. For example, in the last five years, possums have gone from being viewed as pests to being appreciated. Social media helped fix that perception.”

To witness Hoover make his prediction, visit Sweetbriar Nature Center on its Facebook page or on Instagram @sweetbriarnaturecenter. 

Sweetbriar Nature Center is located at 62 Eckernkamp Drive, Smithtown. The nature center and preserve are open daily, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To learn more about Sweetbriar’s upcoming activities and programs, including a day camp for children ages 6-11, during the February public school break, visit www.sweetbriarnc.org or call 631-979-6344.  

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Photo by Joseph Cali

The decades-long proposal to electrify the Port Jefferson Branch line of the Long Island Rail Road is nearing yet another derailment.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, public owner of LIRR, is expected to unveil its 2025-2044 20-Year Needs Assessment in October. Larry Penner, a transportation analyst and former director for Federal Transit Administration Region 2, considered that document pivotal for the project’s future advancement. 

“If the project is not included in that 20-year document, then none of us are going to be alive to see electrification,” he said, adding pessimistically that electrification “is not on the radar screen” of senior MTA or state-level officials.

Requests for comment submitted to the press offices of the MTA, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) and U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota (R-NY1) went unanswered.

A cry unheard

‘It’s appalling that they’re using diesel in this day and age.’

— Bruce Miller

Generations of North Shore residents and community leaders have called upon the MTA to electrify the Port Jeff line to no avail.

Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) has been among Long Island’s loudest and most prominent proponents of electrification in recent years. In an interview with TBR News Media last summer, he said public investment has shifted away from the Island.

“Our voice has not been raised,” he said. “There hasn’t been an investment in providing modern technology” to this region.

Village of Port Jefferson Mayor Margot Garant voiced similar frustrations. According to her, a fully electrified rail would boost local and regional economies, expediting travel to Manhattan and between North Shore communities, namely transit to and from nearby powerhouse Stony Brook University.

The project “would incentivize people being able to take the train not only into Stony Brook but into the city in a really timely manner,” she said.

From an environmental perspective, former Port Jeff Village trustee Bruce Miller decried the existing railway infrastructure as “ludicrous.”

“It’s appalling that they’re using diesel in this day and age,” he said, adding, “Everyone is making every effort for green energy in all fields except for the MTA and the Long Island Rail Road.”

Illustration by Kyle Horne: kylehorneart.com @kylehorneart
Illustration by Kyle Horne: kylehorneart.com @kylehorneart

State legislators join the cause

Local leaders are not alone in their disappointment over the long delay. State Sen. Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) condemned what he considered an imbalance between the state taxes Long Island spends and the infrastructure dollars it gets from Albany.

“Long Islanders already contribute greatly to the MTA and deserve better access to more reliable and dependable rail service,” he said in an email, referring to Port Jefferson Branch electrification as a “critical project.”

At the western end of the branch, state Assemblyman Keith Brown (R-Northport), whose district includes travelers from Huntington, Greenlawn and Northport stations, expressed dismay over the state’s billowing budget yet few returns for North Shore residents. 

He noted the apparent contradiction between Albany’s green energy priorities and the MTA’s continued use of diesel locomotives, which are due for replacement in the coming years.

Referencing the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which targets an 85% reduction in statewide greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2050, Brown regarded the continued dependence upon diesel technology as inconsistent with state law.

“They can’t really replace the existing fleet with diesel trains,” he said. “At the same time they’re calling to stop the use of gas in homes, the MTA and LIRR can’t be purchasing diesel locomotives.”

The Empire State Passenger Association is a transit advocacy group that aims for improvements in public transportation services throughout New York state. ESPA president Gary Prophet said the passenger association has endorsed Port Jefferson Branch electrification over the years, referring to the project as necessary and justifiable given the volume of commuters along the line.

“That is a heavily used branch of the Long Island Rail Road that should be electrified,” he said. “It probably should have been electrified in the past, but it just hasn’t happened for a variety of reasons.”

A history of inaction

The original concept of Port Jeff line electrification dates back over half a century. However, planning began in earnest in the early 1970s when electrification of the North Shore line extended up to Huntington.

Derek Stadler, associate professor and web services librarian at LaGuardia Community College in Long Island City, has closely followed historical developments along the Port Jeff Branch. 

He attributes the failures to electrify the line to a combination of resistance from property owners near the tracks, engineering challenges, financial setbacks and bad luck.

“In the ‘80s, they had money set aside to start working on it though they hadn’t secured the funds to complete it,” he said. “Then in 1985, the president of the MTA postponed that indefinitely.” Stadler contends this was the closest the project ever was to moving forward.

In the ‘90s, the MTA launched a fleet of dual-mode locomotives which are still in use today. Despite the good intentions, Stadler maintains that this fleet has not adequately substituted for electric service. Given the high costs to repair and replace outdated train cars, Stadler regarded this effort as a poor long-term investment. 

“They have spent more money on that new fleet and repairing them than if they would have done the electrification way back in the ‘80s,” he said.

Prioritization problem

‘If I’m the MTA, I’m electrifying the East End before I electrify the North Shore.’

— Richard Murdocco

The current cost estimate of Port Jeff Branch electrification is $3.6 billion, though that figure will almost certainly climb. To secure these dollars, however, the North Shore is competing against other project proposals across Long Island and New York state.

Throughout LIRR’s history as a public railroad company, North Shore riders have lost out consistently to their inland counterparts traveling along the Ronkonkoma line. Richard Murdocco, adjunct professor in the Department of Political Science at SBU, chronicled this pattern, saying the pursuit of Port Jeff Branch electrification continues running up against the hard realities of the MTA’s prioritization scheme.

“The question is: Is electrification really the priority on the North Shore, or should you electrify east of Ronkonkoma?” Murdocco said. Given the spur of recent growth in Yaphank and new developments in the Town of Riverhead, he added, “If I’m the MTA, I’m electrifying the East End before I electrify the North Shore.”

Further hampering investment into the Port Jeff Branch is the topography along its route. Given the large hills and frequent bends, the flatter main line may win the day for its comparably simple engineering logistics.

Murdocco said the MTA could either electrify the Port Jeff Branch, which “meanders along the hilly terrain, or you get a straight shot through the Pine Barrens, where there’s already talk of them doing it, where they’re welcoming it and where there are no neighbors to disrupt.”

‘Suffolk County does not have the political clout that it used to.’

— Larry Penner

Political and financial distress

Penner claims the political and financial currents are also working against North Shore residents. Suffolk County’s state representatives are increasingly in the legislative minority in Albany, leaving mere “crumbs on the table” for infrastructure improvements.

“Suffolk County does not have the political clout that it used to,” he said.

Even so, the MTA is encountering a systemwide economic crisis from the COVID-19 pandemic, with daily ridership hovering around 65% from pre-pandemic levels. Murdocco insists that many of the labor trends unleashed by COVID-19 will likely linger indefinitely.

“There’s no denying remote work is here to stay,” the SBU adjunct professor said, adding, “We don’t know how long the ramifications of the pandemic will last.”

Meanwhile, the MTA is facing even greater fiscal strife over looming labor negotiations. With recent inflation, Penner said the agency could lose potentially hundreds of millions from renegotiated union contracts.

“All of this plays into the bigger picture of MTA’s overall health,” Penner said, which he considered dismal based on state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s (D) most recent analysis. “They’re barely staying afloat maintaining existing service, systems and repairs,” the former FTA official added.

Penner, Stadler and Murdocco expressed collective pessimism about Port Jefferson Branch electrification getting underway within the next decade. “As of right now, I do not see this project happening within 10 years because I do not see a fiscal way for anyone to pay for it, given the MTA’s current financial status,” Murdocco said.

Looking for answers

Given the hefty $3.6 billion price tag, Miller proposed exploring alternatives to electric service. He cited examples in Germany, where zero-emission hydrogen-powered train cars recently went online.

“Hydrogen technology is new but they’ve developed it, and it’s working in Germany,” the former village trustee said. “I don’t think they’re exploring enough options here.”

But implementing high-tech propulsion technologies may be out of reach for the MTA, which uses a late 19th-century fuel source to power the Port Jeff line. When asked about these potential innovations, Brown expressed skepticism.

“As far as hydrogen is concerned, that’s all it is right now — experimental,” the state assemblyman said. Rather, he favored pursuing electrification in a piecemeal, station-by-station fashion, dispersing infrastructure funds for the project over several annual budgets.

Penner implored community members to adopt a policy of maximum pressure upon their elected representatives. 

“I wouldn’t give a dime to any elected official unless, with your campaign contribution, there’s a little note in your check [that says] you have to promise me that electrification of Port Jefferson will be your number one transportation priority,” he said.

Stadler emphasized executive support, arguing that several system expansions during the administration of former Gov. Nelson Rockefeller (R) were made possible by the chief executive’s commitment to seeing them through.

“A lot of money has to be budgeted for it,” he said. “State leaders have to be involved in it, and pressure from the governor” can be a reliable instrument.

To make the electrification dream a reality, Garant said all levels of government should pool their energies around this cause. “It’s certainly going to be a long-term plan for the region,” she said. “You need partners on every level, from the federal and state levels to the town and county.”

Prophet said megaprojects, such as the $11 billion East Side Access extension into Grand Central Madison, have taken up much of the political and economic capital in New York state.

“I think there’s a lot of emphasis on large projects that make a big splash,” the passenger association president said. “Politicians need to spend a little more time on smaller projects that may not make a big splash but may help commuters and people looking to travel between cities.”

Setting the stakes, Penner returned to the 20-year capital needs assessment. He equated the North Shore’s present predicament to a baseball game.

“You’re in the ninth inning with two outs,” he said. “The last at-bat is the 2025-2044 20-year capital needs assessment.” He concluded by saying, “If this project is not included in that document, then the ball game is over.”

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An aerial shot of Carlson Corp. property in Kings Park. Photo from Town of Smithtown

As the number of people signing the Change.org petition against a Kings Park rail yard grows, the property owner said the plan would benefit Smithtown and Huntington.

In the last few weeks, residents of Kings Park and the surrounding areas, including Fort Salonga and Commack, have voiced their opposition to a proposed rail yard. More than 2,000 people have signed the Change.org petition titled “We Oppose Townline Rail Terminal.”

Townline Rail Terminal LLC, an affiliate of CarlsonCorp, owned by Toby Carlson with property on Meadow Glen Road in Kings Park, proposed to the Surface Transportation Board — an independent federal agency — a plan that asks for railroad tracks to be used for commercial use. The proposed rail spur construction would extend approximately 5,000 feet off the Long Island Rail Road Port Jefferson Branch line and be located near Pulaski and Town Line roads. Among the uses would be the disposal of incinerated ash and construction debris using diesel freight trains. Incinerated ash would be trucked between Covanta waste facility on Town Line Road in East Northport and the rail terminal.

Petitioners on Change.org have cited concerns about the rail spur being too close to where children play and homes; health risks associated with diesel exhaust and incinerated ash; diesel trains operating between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.; the impact on the quality of life; noise and possible water pollution; negative impact on home values; and the lack of notice provided to residents about the project.

Representatives and members of the Commack Community Association, Fort Salonga Association and the revived Townline Association have also spoken out against the project at meetings, on social media and on the organizations’ websites.

The use of rail over trucking has received support from Town of Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R) and Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga).

Bob Semprini, Commack Community Association president, said in a phone interview that local elected officials have always been helpful based on his experiences in the past. In this case, he feels “it’s a poor decision on their part.” He said that elected officials and Carlson cite the closing of the Town of Brookhaven landfill in 2024 as the reason for opening the rail yard.

“The bottom line is this, they are selling a bill of goods to the community that if this does not happen, we’re all screwed — and this is not the case,” Semprini said.

He added that he has heard that while the Brookhaven landfill is scheduled to close in 2024, it may only close partially next year and there will still be the potential of sending ash to the town. A request for comment from the Town of Brookhaven to confirm was not answered by press time. He added local carting companies are working on plans to transport off Long Island, and if Covanta was open to it, one of those companies could transport the incinerator’s ash.

Semprini added that while Toby Carlson has said the rail spur would lessen the number of trucks on local roads, many feel if the project goes through, there will be more trucks.

He said the community and civic associations are ready to work against the proposal. 

“We always have to fight for our quality of life in this town, and it’s absolutely ridiculous,” he said.

Carlson defends rail yard

In a telephone interview, Toby Carlson said the industrial area in Kings Park is ideal for such a rail yard as the businesses in the area historically have used construction materials such as gravel, stone, brick and cement, and also because Covanta produces ash.

The Northport resident said that 12,000 to 14,000 truckloads of material a year travel the roads to supply the area’s needs, and the rail terminal could potentially take “tens of thousands of trucks off the road.”

“Rail is the most efficient form of transportation,” Carlson said. “It’s the most environmentally-sound form of transportation, and to be able to consolidate all those loads that are coming in will take trucks off the road.”

He added that the rail spur would help when the Brookhaven landfill closes next year.

“At the end of the day, what we’re just trying to do is consolidate everything into a plan that makes sense,” Carlson said.

He said residents protesting the plan are not looking at the “longer-term picture of how our society has changed and how we’re all consumption based.”

He added that the only way to help fix the garbage problem is to make a concerted effort to reduce the materials we consume.

“We always want to push our solution somewhere else, into somebody else’s backyard, but I think regionally, locally, we need to solve our own solid waste issues,” he said, adding, “What about the hundreds of thousands of people that live out in Brookhaven that don’t want our stuff coming to them anymore?”

He said during the night, one train, which will run along the Port Jefferson line, will travel along the rail with approximately 20 to 27 cars.

“Materials will come in the night, we’ll drop that set of train cars off and that same train power unit will pick up 27 loaded cars, and take them out once per day, five days a week.”

He said the materials brought in are used locally and will stay in the Smithtown and Huntington areas. 

“We are not supplying Babylon,” he said. “It’s really a regional solution for Smithtown and Huntington needs.”

Carlson said there would be an environmental review process, and if the proposal receives approval from the STB, it will still be a years-long process. Proposed buildings and site work would be subjected to Town of Smithtown approval.

As for residents’ concerns, he said some issues would be addressed with the rail grade closest to residents being 25 feet below the elevation of the existing Long Island Rail Road grade. There will also be a planted berm at least 15 feet high about the rail ground, an approximately 180 feet vegetative buffer. He is also open to sound walls, he said, “and other mitigation measures are on the table for discussion, depending on what scientifically gives the greatest amount of buffering and mitigative results.”

He is grateful for the support of Wehrheim and Trotta, who Carlson said, like others, are looking toward the future to figure out how to tackle the Brookhaven landfill closing.

The owner said he encourages everyone to send their concerns to STB and be curious about the proposal, as well as what’s happening with Long Island’s waste and how others feel about waste being shipped to their communities.

“They’re going to look at all those comments, all those concerns, all those things and they’re going to basically provide a solution to them, whether they decide for the project or against the project,” he said. “All those words have to be heard and they have to be addressed.”

According to the Town of Smithtown, “the STB will not issue a final decision until the public has an opportunity to comment on the proposal.” Residents can view the plan and all documents pertaining to it as well as letters of support and concerns on STB’s website under docket number FD 36575.

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Photo by Joanne Marcus
Photo by Joanne Marcus

Resurrection Byzantine Catholic Church, 38 Mayflower Ave., Smithtown, invites the community to take part in a Pysanky egg decorating class on Sunday, March 19 from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.

The workshop, which will take place in the church’s Social Hall, is open to all levels of experience. Learn and complete your first egg, discover new patterns and tips or show your skills and enjoy the company. Bring your dyes and tools or start fresh with a new kit, available for $10 to $15. Each participant must bring a candle in a holder, pencils and a roll of paper towels. $20 per person. 

Advance registration is required by calling Joanne at 631-332-1449. Deadline to register is Feb. 17.

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The Quartet 'Antiquity' from the Harbormen Chorus sing to two 'sweethearts.'

“Let me call you sweetheart…” The Harbormen Men’s Chorus is out in public again, singing and entertaining at various venues. This year quartets will be offering in-person and virtual singing Valentines. If an in-person presentation is acceptable, four elegant gentlemen can visit your home, office, school, restaurant or any other locale on Monday, Feb. 13 or Tuesday, Feb. 14 to sing two love songs and present a rose, chocolates and a personalized card to your sweetheart for $75. If preferred, you can request a link that delivers a digital version of the songs with a personalized introduction for only $35. Call 631-644-0129 with your preferred format and times. 

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From left, wrestling coach Ted DiPasquale, Rocky Point High School’s Alexandra Viera and head wrestling coach Darren Goldstein. Photo courtesy RPSD

Rocky Point High School’s Ava Capogna and Alexandra Viera each claimed All-State honors while competing in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s inaugural New York State Girls Wrestling Invitational held on Jan. 27. 

The two student-athletes were selected to participate out of more than 500 female wrestlers from across New York State in the event that took place at the SRC Arena in Syracuse. 

Ava reached All-State status with a fourth-place finish at 120 lbs. Alexandra pinned her way to a New York State Championship, becoming Rocky Point’s seventh state wrestling champion.

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Shoreham-Wading River School District's varsity wrestling team. Photo courtesy SWRCSD

The Shoreham-Wading River varsity wrestling team won the Nassau/Suffolk D2 Double Duals, defeating the Nassau County No. 2 ranked Locust Valley, 57-6, and Island Trees, 46-21. 

The Wildcat wrestlers finished the regular season with an impressive overall record of 25-6. The team defeated nine highly ranked teams from six sections — both large and small schools. The team will compete at the Suffolk County D2 New York State qualifier at Mattituck High School on Saturday, Feb. 11.

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Newfield High School senior Raiyah Reid with her teammates. Photo courtesy MCCSD

On Friday, Jan. 27th, Newfield High School student Raiyah Reid became only the third female in Newfield High School varsity basketball history to reach the 1,000-point milestone. Raiyah is currently a junior at Newfield High School and has been a part of the Newfield High School varsity girls’ basketball program since the eighth grade.

“To score 1,000 points in your varsity basketball career is truly unique. You simply don’t see many players – female or male – achieving this laudatory milestone on varsity public school basketball teams,”  said Joseph Mercado, director of physical education, health, and athletics. “We are incredibly proud of Raiyah.  The fact that she is the third female to achieve this momentous accomplishment speaks volumes about the Newfield High School basketball program and our coaches. Congratulations to Raiyah Reid.”

For more information regarding the Middle Country Central School District and its students’ many achievements, please visit the District’s website: www.mccsd.net.

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Student business Sand N’ Shade sold over $170,000 in customized sunglasses, snow goggles, watches and hats at the Long Island Regional Trade Show. Photo courtesy MPSD

Thirty-nine students in Thomas Frank’s Virtual Enterprise class at Miller Place High School excelled at the Long Island Regional Trade Show and Business Plan Competition. 

Students were tasked with either setting up a business to sell their products at a trade show or pitching a business idea to angel investors.

“Our Virtual Enterprise students did an amazing job and were part of a very successful field trip,” Superintendent of Schools Seth Lipshie said. “Everyone who participated represented Miller Place with pride and enthusiasm and exceptional skill.” 

He added, “Congratulations to all of the students who participated at the trade show for the professionalism and passion they demonstrated while promoting their ideas to investors.”

The Deja VR business, set up by student CEO Gianna Benavides, is a virtual reality company that sells headsets with a wide variety of games, sports, music, history and travel options. Gianna’s company took home the silver trophy in the website competition.  

Website creator for Deja VR, Salome Davoudiasl, commented, “the company I am a part of made it entertaining to choose an electric color palette for the website. Once the simple mechanics of our website were evaluated, it became an awesome project to work on throughout the course of the school year.”   

Deja VR, which earned $150,000 at the trade show, placed among the top 10 schools on Long Island in the competition, including 3,000 schools across Nassau, Suffolk County, and New York City.

The Sand N’ Shade business, established by student CEO Alexandra DeAmario, sells customized sunglasses, snow goggles, watches and hats. Sand N’ Shade set a school record by selling over $170,000 in merchandise at the trade show.

For more information about the Miller Place School District, please visit the district’s website at www.millerplace.k12.ny.us.

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