Join Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station for a Volunteer Fair on Tuesday, Oct. 17 from 4 to 6 p.m. Drop in to meet representatives from different organizations who will discuss local volunteer opportunities for a variety of ages.
Participating organizations include:
Atlantic Marine Conservation Society
Arts Council Greater Port Jefferson
Crime Victims Center
Gabriel’s Giving Tree/ Families in Support of Treatment
Girl Scouts of Suffolk County
Guide Dog Foundation
Island Harvest
Kids Need More
Literacy Suffolk, Inc.
Long Island State Veterans Home
Mather Hospital, Volunteer Department
MENTOR New York
New York Blood Center
Open Door Exchange
Park Jewish Institute
Response of Suffolk County, Inc.
Ronald McDonald House at Stony Brook
Sierra Club L.I. Group
Three Village Meals on Wheels
Welcome Friends Soup Kitchen
*subject to change
No registration required. For more information, please call 631-928-1212.
The existing outdoor bleachers at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. File photo by Lynn Hallarman
By Nasrin Zahed
Port Jefferson School District Board of Education held its monthly meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 10, covering student achievements, recognizing the board’s local impact, discussing upcoming volunteer efforts, and continuing conversations over proposed bleacher costs.
To kick off the night on a high note, the board recognized students receiving the President’s Volunteer Service Award. This award aims to highlight the importance of how an individual’s service positively impacts the community. The awards are broken down by age group, with the ability to earn at the bronze, silver or gold levels, depending on the number of hours students have spent in service to others.
Oct. 16 through 20 is School Board Recognition Week. Several members of the school district came forward to express their gratitude for BOE members’ public service, emphasizing the volunteer time and effort required for the role.
Kirsten, the student representative for the district, covered the upcoming spirit week festivities that will be observed districtwide, culminating in the homecoming game this Saturday, Oct. 14, at 2 p.m.
The meeting went on to discuss how the Royal Education Fund will hold also Oct. 14 its 7th annual Jill Nees-Russell Power of One Family Fun Run at 8:30 a.m. The run/walk event will begin at the Port Jefferson Village Center, continuing through the village and ending at the high school.
Brian Walker, principal of Port Jefferson Middle School, came forward to discuss how they are furthering community service efforts in students.
He noted how the students are encouraged to participate in school-led efforts, such as the beach cleanup initiatives, fundraisers for ASL, letter and card writing for the elderly and veterans, senior citizen luncheons, as well as food and coat drives.
Discussion later moved to the district’s bleacher project, with the board presenting the public with new facts on the matter.
Randi DeWitt, member of the BOE, informed that the project has been put out for bid once again, with six different bid proposals all including variations of the project. This is in the hope of receiving a lower cost estimate than was initially received last spring.
Stressing the importance of following the bid process in order to most effectively find the appropriate licensed vendor for the job, she encouraged community members to attend the upcoming public workshop on Tuesday, Oct. 24, where they will review all of the plans for each bid. An architect will be in attendance for questions.
The BOE will reconvene on Monday, Oct. 16, at 5:30 p.m.
The Flowerfield Fairgrounds in St. James. File photo by Heidi Sutton
By Samantha Rutt
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation recently advised the Town of Smithtown of its consideration to acquire Flowerfield Fairgrounds, a St. James community staple. Town Supervisor Edward Wehrheim (R) has stated no objection to NYSDEC acquiring the property.
Community residents strongly feel the importance of protecting this rural area from overdevelopment. The potential state acquisition signifies a breakthrough in the longstanding controversy over a proposal for sprawling commercial development on-site.
“This is a huge step forward in the fight to preserve Flowerfield Fairgrounds for future generations,” Judith Ogden, a Village of Head of the Harbor trustee and spokesperson for the Saint James-Head of the Harbor Neighborhood Preservation Coalition, said in a statement.
NYSDEC proposed using the Environmental Protection Fund to obtain the property.
“New York State is committed to the conservation and protection of the state’s natural resources and recognizes the significant conservation values of the Gyrodyne property,” a NYSDEC official said. “The Environmental Protection Fund is one of the sources used to acquire lands identified as conservation priorities in the New York State Open Space Plan.”
The Flowerfield property would then be used for open space preservation and conservation, potentially including active-use recreation amenities such as biking and walking trails.
“I am certainly happy about this development,” said Joe Bollhofer, also a member of the coalition. “We’ve been working on this for almost three years now.”
If not acquired by NYSDEC, the property has been proposed to facilitate a multistory, 125-room hotel, 175,000 square feet of office space, 250 assisted living housing units, a 7-acre sewage treatment plant and parking for more than 2,000 vehicles.
The development plan was initially proposed by St. James-based Gyrodyne, a real estate investment trust firm that owns, leases and manages commercial properties along the Eastern Seaboard.
The state’s interest in preserving the land comes from discussions between NYSDEC, Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D), former New York State Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) and the Peconic Land Trust.
“The state has a tremendous interest in what happens to Stony Brook Harbor,” Englebright said. “The state owns 90% of the bottom” of Stony Brook Harbor.
“The water chemistry of the harbor is pristine right now, or nearly, so it will not be if they build what they have proposed for the Flowerfield property,” Englebright added. “It’s really a matter of protecting the state’s interest and the community’s interest.”
Interactions between the state and town regarding state efforts to preserve the open space portion of the site occurred several months after the Town of Smithtown rejected a controversial proposal to develop a congregate-care facility on nearby Bull Run Farm, citing the desire to protect the area’s rural character.
“Part of comprehensive planning in a community is thinking about how you’re going to develop space so that it works and you protect the integrity of the community,” Ogden said. “So if we look at that area, we don’t need to add more traffic volumes.”
The agreement between the state and town comes as the legal challenge brought upon by the Village of Head of the Harbor and nearby property owners opposing preliminary approval of the controversial plan remains tied up in the state Supreme Court. “Unfortunately, there are other issues involved here — environmental, et cetera,” Bollhofer noted.
Local residents have contributed generously to fund the coalition’s lawsuit to block Gyrodyne’s development plans from moving forward. In a press release in April 2021, Gyrodyne announced that it planned to sell the property and would consider offers for portions of the property or the entire site.
“There’s a lot of water under the bridge here,” Bollhofer said. “And we’re finally having some kind of movement from the state,” adding, “We don’t know if there’ll be other organizations that are going to be involved in helping to manage the property if it is purchased. But there are 48 acres, there’s still open space. … That’s really what we’re concentrating on right now.”
According to a recent statement by a NYSDEC representative, “The DEC has been involved in preliminary discussions with stakeholders regarding the property’s future conservation.”
Welcome to the 22nd edition of Paw Prints, a monthly column for animal lovers dedicated to helping shelter pets find their furever home.
Newman
Meet Newman
Recently retired and ready to enjoy life, meet Newman, a ten year old Schnauzer at Little Shelter. Knowing that staying active is the key to longevity, he’s looking into pickle ball, hoping to find a partner at a similar skill level. In the meantime, he enjoys a leisurely stroll and good conversation, well versed on a variety of topics. A true blue, loyal companion, he takes commitment seriously, waiting patiently for a relationship that will last a lifetime. Adopting a senior dog is like fast forwarding to the best part…stop by to meet Newman, the finest friend to be found. 631-368-8770, ext. 2
Cerina
Meet Cerina
This wise old lady is Cerina, an eleven year old Pit mix currently up for adoption at Little Shelter. Like most women of a certain age, she knows her own mind and has discovered what’s truly important in life…friends and friends with cookies! The ideal companion for a leisurely stroll, she likes to go in the direction the wind takes her to appreciate all the sights and smells along the way. Good company, she’s up to date on all the kennel gossip, (which always makes for interesting conversation!) and will keep you entertained with her stories. Cerina is most assuredly the inspiration for the quote, “Old friends make the very bestest of best friends.” Stop by to meet her today! 631-368-8770, ext. 21
Mr. Magoo
Meet Mr. Magoo
“Believe in your heart that you’re meant to live a life full of passion, purpose, magic and miracles.” Desiring a forever home, Mr. Magoo, a nine-year-old Pit mix at Little Shelter is hoping to rescue his perfect family and surround them with love and laughter. Though visually challenged, he is able to navigate the world quite well with just a bit of assistance, even running free on the hill with fearless abandon. Not letting what some may call a disability slow him down, Mr. Magoo makes the most of every day, finding joy in the simple things. Dogs live brave, beautiful lives brimming with trust and optimism…and if we let them, they’ll teach us to do the same. Stop by to meet a big mushy boy named Magoo and leave with your heart’s desire.631-368-8770, ext. 21
Oliver
Meet Oliver
Oliver still waits at Little Shelter for a family that understands he is not perfect, unlike his first family who returned him after he was diagnosed with crystals in his urine, a very common, treatable condition. Oliver has also been diagnosed with a heart murmur and requires daily medication for it.
Shelter life is stressful for this little guy but luckily he has many human and feline friends to hang out with. Sometimes you can find him sharing a toy or a bed with his new pals.Oliver loves to get special treats from his staff and playing with his friends as much as possible. Oliver has so much love to give and all he asks in return is to be loved, fed his special diet and given his meds each day. Come meet Oliver today! 631-368-8770, ext. 36
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Rusty
Brookhaven Shelter hosts Barktoberfest
The Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center, 300 Horseblock Road, Brookhaven hosts a “Barktoberfest: Howl-o-ween event” on Oct. 30 and 31 with free shelter pet adoptions from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Come meet Rusty and all his friends. For more information, call 631-451-6950.
Check out the next Paw Prints in theissue of November 9.
Paw Prints is generously sponsored by Mark T. Freeley, Esq.
Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. has announced that Matthew Kiernan, Esq., former Public Administrator of Suffolk County as appointed by the Surrogates Court, has joined the firm as Counsel. Kiernan brings decades of legal experience that includes time in private practice, public service, the court system, and academia. The hiring adds to the firm’s recent expansion of its Trust & Estates and Elder Law practices.
“We are very excited to welcome Matthew Kiernan to the firm,” said Nancy Burner, Founding Partner. “His distinguished and longstanding commitment to serving Suffolk County and New York state along with his exceptional trust & estate and guardianship work is a significant boon for the firm and for our clients.”
“I’m so pleased to be working with Matthew again. He is an outstanding lawyer and problem solver who will work tirelessly for our clients,” said Judge Gail Prudenti, Partner. For more information, visit www.burnerlaw.com.
The Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony for Harmony & Light Wellness in Port Jefferson on Sept. 30. The event celebrated Harmony’s one-year anniversary and becoming a new chamber partner.
Located at646 Main Street, Lower Level, the business specializes in helping you relax, recharge, reset and rebalance with holistic and sound therapy including the Harmonic Egg.®
Pictured in photo, from left, Nicole Martinsen, Melissa Fesmire, Town of Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, owner Megan Fesmire (holding scissor), husband Beau and daughter Cassidy.
Operating hours are Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Wednesday, Friday and Monday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, call 631-828-5055.
Comsewogue School District held its Board of Education meeting Wednesday, Oct. 4, discussing the since-passed homecoming festivities, honoring student achievements, approving motions and introducing behavioral initiatives at the high school.
Brandon, the Comsewogue student representative, overviewed the goings-on for the homecoming and spirit week, highlighting the class competition leading to the weekend’s pep rally and class floats parade. Each class was tasked with creating a float to go along with this year’s theme of “seasons”: seniors as spring, juniors as summer, sophomores as winter and freshmen as fall.
QR codes were made available to all at the homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 7, to vote for which theme students felt was executed best.
Mike Mosca, principal of Comsewogue High School, came forward to award the recipients of the College Board National Merit Awards. The awards were given to students with a GPA of 3.5 or higher and who displayed an outstanding performance on the PSAT. Students also received the National Hispanic Recognition Award as well as the National Indigenous Award.
The BOE went on to approve select motions for the evening, such as the approval to purchase iPads for the district’s use. The iPads will be purchased using grants received through the Emergency Connectivity Fund, covering 100% of the cost.
Mosca returned to the floor to discuss the behavioral initiative recently introduced at the high school level, referred to as the reflection room.
He emphasized the push to move into restorative practices as opposed to dismissive punishments such as suspensions.
“The goal is to maximize students’ time in the classroom,” he said. Instead of taking students out of their learning environment and potentially setting them back in their studies, they want to turn their actions into a learning opportunity.
The goal of the reflection room is to take about two hours out of the student’s day to work one-on-one with advisers to break down the incident that led them there and, in turn, come up with guided corrective actions.
Mosca went on to praise the initiative’s success as there has been a downturn in student infractions as a result. “It’s been very effective so far,” he said.
The BOE ended the evening with what they referred to as “board kudos,” taking the opportunity to acknowledge members of the district’s community. Praise was given to the custodial staff as they installed roughly 30 Smart Boards over the previous weekend, as well as the building and grounds staff who worked to ensure minimal to no damage was caused by the flooding from recent rainfall.
Historical re-enactors Mort Rosen and Donna Smith at last year's event. Photo by Raina Angelier
By Rita J. Egan
For nearly 30 years, the Three Village Historical Society (TVHS) has brewed up ghostly fun with a twist of history at its annual Spirits Cemetery Tour. The popular event returns on Saturday, Oct. 21 with A Century of Chicken Hill.
Attendees will visit 10 locations in the Caroline Episcopal Church of Setauket and Setauket Presbyterian Church graveyards, where they will learn about the lives of former Chicken Hill residents.
Mari Irizarry, TVHS director, said the society’s educational committee writes and develops the scripts for the annual event. While some dialogues could be reused in the past, all the scripts are original this year.
A scene from the 2022 Spirits Tour. Photo by Raina Angler
“This year, we’re going to see some characters with names that we definitely know like Ridgeway, like Golden,” Irizarry said. “People who were really active in the Chicken Hill community just 100 years ago, 120 years ago.” Joseph Ridgeway was a key investor in the Rubber Factory which once operated in Setauket, and the Goldens were third-generation Jewish residents in the Three Village area.
During previous tours, actors playing the spirits would talk directly to attendees and describe their character’s life. While a few will do the same this year, overall, guests will walk in on conversations taking place among Chicken Hill spirits.
“You will listen in on a conversation they are having about maybe the shipyard off Shore Road or about the new railway that’s coming to Stony Brook,” Irizarry said.
With descendants of some of the former residents depicted on the tour still living in the area, the society’s director said they had the opportunity to confirm a fact about one spirit with a great-grandchild who lives in Stony Brook. “We don’t get to do that very often,” she said.
This year marks the first Spirits Tour Kimberly Phyfe, TVHS development coordinator, has worked on and will experience. She said she is excited to see it and knows regulars will, too.
“Even if you have come to the Spirits Tour in the past, year after year, you’re going to see new characters, you’re going to meet new spirits,” Phyfe said. “We have different locations. Even though, obviously they’re in the same church graveyards, it’s a totally different experience, because it’s all new scripts and a lot of new actors, a lot of returning actors, too.”
She added that researching using the historical society’s archives with Scott Ferrara, collections and exhibits coordinator, was fascinating.
Donna Smith portrays Maria Smith Williamson during previous Spirits Tour
“We were able to reference pieces in our archives that directly relate to and support the scripts of the Chicken Hill characters,” Phyfe said, adding among the items are the Ridgeway family bible, and items listed in a ledger that Rubber Factory laborer and Chicken Hill community member Jacob Hart’s wife, Hannah, bought at the Tyler General Store and more.
“Just knowing that our archives are in direct relation to the program that we are putting on is really incredible to be a part of,” she said. “lt’s living history. It’s not just in a box on the shelf somewhere. We’re able to bring that out into the community.”
Phyfe added characters not depicting a specific person will be based on the types of people they have documentation on.
Among those who played a part in writing and editing the script were Town of Brookhaven Historian Barbara Russell and professional editor Stephanie Sakson.
Sakson has portrayed spirits twice in the past and helped with the scripts. She said for the Chicken Hill dialogues, she fine-tuned them and added some more history and humor. She said researching Chicken Hill was interesting.
A scene from a previous Spirits Tour. Photo by Beverly C. Tyler
“I really didn’t know anything about Chicken Hill,” the Port Jefferson resident said. “I told my friends ‘you have to come see this!'”
She hopes attendees will gain “an appreciation that history is a living thing” and be inspired to do further research by visiting places such as the historical society and library.
“It’s not like it happened and it’s over,” she said. “You can see around you the effects of history, and how it has shaped how we feel about where we live and gives us an appreciation of how colorful and rich the place where we live is.”
The 29th Annual Spirits Tour will be held on Saturday, Oct. 21 (Rain date Oct. 28). Tours, which are approximately 1 hour and 15 minutes long, leave from the Setauket Presbyterian Church, 5 Caroline Ave., Setauket every 15 minutes starting at 5 p.m. The last tour departs at 7:30 p.m.
Irizarry urges all tourgoers to arrive early, dress for extended time outdoors, wear comfortable walking shoes and bring a flashlight. An exhibit with additional information on Chicken Hill will be on display at Setauket Presbyterian Church throughout the night and complementary apple cider from Ann Marie’s Farmstand in Setauket and donuts donated from local supermarkets will be served.
Tickets in advance at www.tvhs.org are $25. Tickets on the night of the event, if available, are $30. For more information, call 631-751-3730.
I love Israel. I think the founding of the modern state in 1948 was a miracle, fulfilling 2,000 years of the Jewish people’s dreams.
“My eyes are dimmed with grief,” says Psalm 6. Images and stories of children, young adults, elderly and even whole families being kidnapped, beaten and murdered break me over and over since the war with the Hamas-controlled Palestinian enclave of Gaza began Saturday, Oct. 7.
I want justice done on their behalf and the perpetrators of such atrocities punished. But I know, even though I can’t imagine how, that there are people out there who see these things as justified, as necessary even, who think of the nation I view as a miracle as a curse.
And I know that if I talk to those people and cry out, “How can this possibly be right?” they will respond that it is. And they will mean it. That conversation will go nowhere, and that won’t stop anyone dying.
Back in college, I was very active in Jewish student life. I also took Arabic, at which I was not great. Often in college, we Jewish students would be demonstrating opposite Muslim students, including some of my Arab classmates, over Israel and Palestine. There was nothing about that topic the groups could say to each other civilly.
However, I could talk about homework with the other students from class. Not only because I could use the help, but because it made me and them human to the others on our opposing sides.
In the past, many Egyptians and Jordanians spilled Jewish blood in their own fighting wars with Israel, to no avail.
Miraculously, the leaders of those countries took a chance — not on winning, not on convincing the Israelis to disappear, but on coexisting. Israel did, too. And, by and large, it worked. And in recent years, other countries in the Arab and Muslim worlds have done the same with similar results.
One doesn’t make peace with those you like, but with those you hate. You don’t even need to stop hating them to have peace. You just need to agree further bloodshed isn’t going to finally make someone right, it will just make someone dead.
There is a growing list of countries making peace with Israel to the benefit of all. Add this to the centuries of generally positive coexistence between Muslims and Jews throughout history, and you might come away thinking that if vindication isn’t possible, then peace isn’t a bad consolation prize.
I pray those kidnapped will be found safe. And I pray that the blood has already been shed of that final person whose death will convince the sides that coexistence — that peace — is the only resolution.
Please, God, may that be so.
Aaron Benson is the rabbi at North Shore Jewish Center, based in Port Jefferson Station.
Juliana Mahan clears the ball. Photo by Bill Landon
Chloe Bergen looks to cross. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River sophomore Mia Mangano maneuvers midfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Defender Grace Hillis with a clearing kick for the Wildcats. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River sophomore Mia Mangano settles the ball. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River senior Grace Hillis heads the ball midfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Sophomore Mia Mangano clears the ball upfield for the Wildcats. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior Grace Hillis takes flight for the Wildcats. Photo by Bill Landon
Morgan Lesiewicz makes the save. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior midfielder Bella Sweet crosses. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River senior Grace Hillis heads the ball. Photo by Bill Landon
Sophomore midfielder Olivia Pesso pushes up the sideline. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior Grace Hillis takes flight. Photo by Bill Landon
Chloe Bergen clears the ball upfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Sophomore Stamatia Aimiroudis battles midfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Shoreham-Wading River senior Grace Hillis scissor kicks off a corner kick. Photo by Bill Landon
Chloe Bergen battles midfield for the Wildcats. Photo by Bill Landon
It is often said that one play decides the outcome of the game and that’s just what happened when Shoreham-Wading River came calling on the Islip Buccaneers in a Division III soccer matchup Thursday Oct. 5.
Islip scored on a rebound from a penalty kick halfway through the first half to take the 1-0 advantage. The Wildcats mounted a late-game surge, getting off several shots on goal in the closing minutes of the game but failed to find the back of the net as time expired.
Shoreham-Wading River goalie Morgan Lesiewicz had five saves.
The loss drops the Wildcats to 8-2-1 (8-3-2 overall) for third place in the division, trailing Kings Park and Bayport-Blue Point.
The Wildcats have three more regular season games before postseason play begins Saturday, Oct. 21.
Welcome to the 22nd edition of Paw Prints, a monthly column for animal lovers dedicated to helping shelter pets find their furever home.
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