The Reverend and Mrs. H. W. Floyd Allen, minister of the Allen A.M.E. Church, Church Street circa 1950. Photo courtesy of NHSM
By Tara Mae
More than merely a necessity or form of self-expression, throughout history fashion has been a means of storytelling, a type of communication. The Northport Historical Society (NHSM) and Museum’s newest exhibit, In Fashion, which opens on April 5, examines local sartorial dialect and how it is part of a communal language.
A photograph of female impersonator Julian Eltinge. Photo courtesy of NHSM
“In Fashion explores identity through historic fashion and fashion movements, and what it means culturally for those groups,” said NHSM curator Elizabeth Abrahams Riordan.
The exhibit showcases multimedia items: textiles, archival pieces, digital and print photographs, recorded oral histories, etc. A focal point of the collection is church hats on loan from local residents, many of whom have ties to the Northport African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church, which closed in 1955.
In Fashion is part of an ongoing discussion about the different communities and cultures that comprise the larger Northport enclave: part of the exhibit’s run will correspond with Pride month in June and complement it.
“[This] is a way for individuals to access history about how people share their identity and life through fashion: what they are wearing can be a sort of spiritual connection, an extension of community and cultural groups as well as an indication of what was [socially] permitted,” Abrahams Riordan said. “The exhibit is hopefully opening dialogue in the community for people to have a better understanding of communities within the Northport community.”
Style is a statement without speech, but a purpose of In Fashion is to inspire conversation. Personal objects and archival items weave together a narrative of truths less told.
In an effort to highlight Northport voices, Abrahams Riordan sought the contribution of Thelma Abidally, author of African American in Northport, an Untold Story (Maple Hill Press 2000) for insight into how articles of clothing are emblems of different identities.
“Fashion can teach us several lessons about our ancestors. In particular African American women culturally were known to wear their Sunday best to church. My ancestors believed that this is how a woman should dress in going to church,” Abidally explained.
Magazine from 1904 promoting the work and life of female impersonator Julian Eltinge. Photo courtesy of NHSM
Such cues were, and remain, both a celebration and a means of connection, solidifying heritage while affirming clothing’s ever evolving contextual message. Fashion is another entry into assessing the past and how it affects the present.
“I really want to tell histories, but I also really want to bring people together in a way that they have their own personal perspective and also humanize other experiences. It is all about making personal connections and wanting to come back and learn more,” Abrahams Riordan said.
The Northport Historical Society and Museum, 215 Main St., Northport presents In Fashion through June 30 on Wednesdays to Sundays from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $15 per person, $12 for members.
The exhibit is one of several events planned at the NHSM for the month of April. Other programs include a Doll Tea Party on April 5 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Volunteer Open House on April 12 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.; and a Historical Main Street Walking Tour on April 27 at 1:30 p.m. For more information, call 631-757-9859 or visit www.northporthistorical.org.
Left to right: Rep. Nick Lalota (R-NY1), Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY2), Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY3) and Laura Gillen (D-NY4). Screenshot from a livestream of the meeting
By Sabrina Artusa
An hour-long conference was held in Woodbury on March 28 by the Long Island Association for their What’s New in Washington series. Congress members Nick LaLota (R-NY1), Tom Suozzi (D-NY3), Laura Gillen (D-NY4) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY2) met to answer pressing questions regarding present federal policies. Moderator Matt Cohen led the discussion.
SALT
The four congress members spoke of their bipartisanship and dedication to serving Long Island together. Suozzi commended LaLota and Garbarino on going against their party in opposing the SALT cap, which restricts tax deduction on income, sales or property taxes to $10,000. The cap expires this year
“The continuation of that cap will not pass because there are enough of us that will vote against any bill that tries that,” Garbarino said.
“Our leadership knows that we are absolutely strong and steadfast in our position here, to take us seriously. I am willing to vote ‘No’ if there isn’t enough SALT in that reconciliation package,” LaLota said.
Gillen said that she is working in a “bipartisan fashion” to get rid of the cap. Garbarino said that President Donald Trump (R) has said he was on board with eliminating the cap. Indeed, Gillen said the president campaigned in her district on that claim.
Off-shore drilling
LaLota said he supports the safe extraction of natural resources through drilling, which would be “good for jobs, good for the environment [and] good for the economy.”
Suozzi, a self-proclaimed “big environmentalist,” said that it takes “too long to get stuff done in America” due to partisanship and excess rules and regulations: a roadblock that he says diminishes the immediacy of environmental acts.
Federal cuts
Suozzi and Gillen are firmly against the appropriateness and rationale of the cuts of the Department of Government Efficiency, with Suozzi calling the cuts “reckless” and strewn with hasty firings and “mistakes” leading to the removal of essential researchers. While Suozzi acknowledged the importance of efficiency, he argued that attrition and early retirement packages were suitable alternatives.
“Laying off the lowest wage people is creating this fear and panic. I understand the need to disrupt things. I buy that need. I just think it has been too cavalier in how it is affecting people and how it is affecting services that have to be provided,” Suozzi said.
LaLota said, “We need to put the country on a better track and this is the start.” He added that the government is in desperate need of budget changes and that the budget hasn’t been balanced “in 25 years.”
The Long Island Association is the region’s leading nonprofit and nonpartisan business organization. We look forward to more such conferences. To check out other events go to: www.longislandassociation.org.
The Town of Brookhaven’s Parks & Recreation Department has announced an array of upcoming spring programs at their various recreation centers for 2025:
Henrietta Acampora Recreation Center
39 Montauk Highway, Blue Point, NY 11715
631-451-6163
Yoga Yoga that meets you where you are today. This class includes standing postures, strengthening exercises on the mat, seated stretches and guided relaxation. Our practice supports strength, agility, flexibility and balance while reducing stress. Please bring a yoga mat, yoga blocks or a rolled towel. Day/Time: Mondays, 1:00PM – 2:00PM Dates: April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 12, 19 Fee: $47.00 per 6-week session Register: Click HERE
Watercolor Art Class Meet fellow artists, try a new hobby or work on an old project. Bring your own materials and work in a relaxed environment. Instructor will give demonstrations along with group and individual guidance. Day/Time: Tuesdays, 10:00AM – 12:00PM Dates: April 15, 22, 29, May 6, 13, 20, 27, June 3 Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session Register: Click HERE
Sprouts & Friends Join Sprouts & Friends for a fun, safe and creative way to learn to move through music and release energy. Our mission is to create joy while helping your little ones grow, learn, develop and explore through playful activities. Day/Time: Mondays, 11:30AM – 12:15PM Dates: April 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19, June 2 Fee: $47.00 per 6-week session
Per caretaker & child
(Ages 6 moths to 5 years) Register: Click HERE
Sprouts & Friends Baby Class Join Sprouts & Friends for a fun, safe and creative way to learn to move through music and release energy. Our mission is to create joy while helping your little ones grow, learn, develop and explore through playful activities. Please bring a blanket for your baby to lay on. Day/Time: Fridays, 1:00PM – 1:45PM Dates: May 2, 16, 23, 30, June 6 Fee: $47.00 per 6-week session
Per caretaker & child
(Ages 3 – 12 months. Non-walkers only.)
New Village Recreation Center
20 Wireless Road, Centereach, NY 11720
631-451-5307
Watercolor Art Class Meet fellow artists, try a new hobby or work on an old project. Bring your own materials and work in a relaxed environment. Instructor will give demonstrations along with group and individual guidance. Day/Time: Wednesdays, 10:00AM – 12:00PM Dates: April 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21, 28 Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session Register: Click HERE
Studio Art Acrylics & Drawing Class Unleash your creativity and explore the versatile mediums of pencil, charcoal and pastels. This hands on course is designed for artists of all levels. Students will learn to capture light, texture and depth, using pencil for fine details, charcoal for bold contrasts, and pastels for vibrant, expressive color. Join us and discover new ways to bring your drawings to life. Day/Time: Fridays, 10:00AM – 12:00PM Dates: April 11, 25, May 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, June 6 Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session Register: Click HERE
Robert E. Reid, Sr. Recreation Center
Defense Hill Road & Route 25A, Shoreham, NY 11786
631-451-5306
Sketch-N-Stretch Looking for some fun for your little one during spring break? Join us in this spring themed yoga and art program. We will blend yoga and art to inspire movement, meditation and creativity. All children will have the opportunity to bring home a completed 8 x10 painted canvas. All supplies included. Date: Tuesday, April 15 Time: 10:30AM – 11:30AM Fee: $25.00 per child
(Grades K-2) Register: Click HERE
Destruction to Phase 1 work to the East Beach Bluff face as of March 2025. Photo from the Port Jefferson Village website.
By Lynn Hallarman
A community informational forum about Phase 2 of the East Beach Bluff stabilization project was held by village officials at the Port Jefferson Village Center on March 27.
Audience in attendance at the forum held at the Village Center.Photo by Lynn Hallarman
The forum aimed to update residents on the current status and finances of the upper wall project, summarize the next steps and review the work of Port Jefferson’s Citizens Commission on Erosion.
Mayor Lauren Sheprow presided over the meeting. The board of trustees, village attorney David Moran, village treasurer Stephen Gaffga and clerk Sylvia Pirillo were present.
Project summary
Phases 1 and 2 of the East Beach Bluff stabilization aim to halt bluff erosion and prevent the Village of Port Jefferson-owned country club from collapsing down the slope.
Phase 1 was completed in August of 2023, with the construction of a 358-foot wall of steel and cement at the base of a steep bluff, about 100-feet-tall, facing north toward the Long Island Sound. Terracing and plantings installed along the western portion of the bluff were destroyed in a series of storms shortly after the project’s completion.
Phase 2 involves installing a steel barrier driven into the bluff’s crest, just a few feet seaward of the country club. This upper wall is intended to stabilize the area landward of the bluff and reduce the risk of structural failure.
As part of Phase 2’s preconstruction, GEI Consultants of Huntington Station—the engineers for Phases 1 and 2—will be engaged to update the land survey, analyze drainage options, reevaluate wall design for cost efficiency and monitor construction. Village officials will then prepare requests for proposal documents to solicit bids for the upper wall’s construction.
Concerns of the Citizens Commission on Erosion
David Knauf, chair of the Citizens Commission on Erosion, speaks at the forum. Photo by Lynn Hallarman
David Knauf, chair of the Citizens Commission on Erosion, presented the benefits and concerns of various approaches to stabilizing the country club at the bluff’s edge.
The CCE serves as a volunteer advisory group to the village on erosion-related issues.Members are not required to have specialized expertise.
Among the advantages, Knauf noted that a portion of Phase 2 costs will be covered by a Federal Emergency Management Agency grant, reducing the financial burden on local taxpayers.However, the committee expressed concerns about the reliability of FEMA funding.
“If they are withdrawn, that is going to put us in a heap of trouble fiscally,” he said.
Key concerns include the unknown long-term costs of the overall project beyond the Phase 2 wall installation. These include a drainage plan, repairs to damage sustained during Phase 1 and ongoing maintenance expenses.
“All of us on the committee are taxpayers, and we’re concerned about getting value for money spent,” Knauf said. “The bluff wall project is not something that you just do and you’re finished. It’s going to have responsibilities and obligations for the village in perpetuity.”
Knauf outlined alternative approaches to building the upper wall, including:
●Rebuilding the clubhouse inland in conjunction with bluff restoration and drainage improvements.
●Implementing a partial wall and drainage plan, followed by the eventual relocation of the clubhouse.
“It is the opinion of the committee that detailed plans for the whole project — including Phase 1 repairs, drainage and Phase 2 — are completed so an accurate assessment of final costs can be presented to the village taxpayers,” Knauf later told TBR News Media in an email.
Comments from GEI
Following Knauf’s presentation, GEI licensed professional engineer Adon Austinexplained the steps necessary before construction can begin on the upper wall.
The project is designed as a “two-part system [lower and upper wall] working in combination to control bluff erosion,” Austin said.
“Once we have the design reconfigured and a drainage plan, all of this will go to the New York State arm of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for review,” he added. “FEMA will then revise the cost estimates, the scope and the grant, to align with what the current scope of the project would be.”GEI will then issue a final design along with construction documents.
GEI has recommended that the village evaluate the current risk to the building’s foundation in response to written questions from the Citizens Commission on Erosion.
Laura Schwanof, senior ecologist and landscape architect for GEI, commented on possible contributing factors to the current erosion of the bluff face:
“ We were only allowed [by the state Department of Environmental Conservation] to put terraces up six rows — nothing more.” Schwanof said. “ We were prevented from doing any structural work on the western end beyond the golf course. As far as failure of the system, we worked within the confines of the regulatory agency requirements.”
Treasurer outlines project costs
Village treasurer Stephen Gaffga presented an overview of the financial history related to the East Beach Bluff stabilization project.To date, the total amount spent so far for Phases 1 and 2 is approximately $6.02 million.
Phase 1 was funded through borrowed money as part of a $10 million bond resolution passed by the board of trustees in 2021. The resolution was approved by a permissive referendum, meaning it did not move to a public vote. Of the $10 million, “$5.2 million was spent on Phase 1,” Gaffga said.
According to a fall 2024 audit by CPA firm, PKF O’Connor Davies — previously reported by TBR News Media — Phase 1 exceeded its original budget by approximately $800,000. This overage was not discussed during the forum.
“The overage on Phase 1 was paid for in past years with taxpayer funds out of the general fund balance,” Gaffga wrote in an email..
Gaffga estimated the combined costs to individual taxpayers for Phases 1 and 2 at approximately $77 per year over a 15-year period. However, he noted this estimate may need to be revised once actual costs for the wall construction and other related projects are known.
”We don’t know what the costs are going be until we actually go out to bid on the construction of the project, and we’re not there yet,” Gaffga said.
Additional expenses — including a drainage project, repairs to the bluff face and ongoing maintenance costs to the bluff — were not addressed at the forum.
Community questions focus on costs, property use
Most audience questions centered on the project’s cost to taxpayers, technical aspects of the stabilization effort and how the property is used by residents. The golf membership currently includes“3 percent of village residents,” according to Moran.
Moran responded to a question about holding a public referendum on whether to proceed with construction of the upper wall or rebuild the facility inland.
“During that permissive referendum vote back in 2021, no petition was received [from the public within 30 days] as required for a public vote. Bond counsel to the village advised that there’s only one way to call for another vote— the trustees would have to rescind that initial bond resolution. This would mean the loss of FEMA money.”
Village resident Myrna Gordon said in a statement to TBR News Media:
“Residents who own the facility should be the ones that determine through a referendum how best to resolve its use, function and future — of both the building and bluff that is so greatly compromised.”
The meeting closed with comments from members of the board of trustees:
“Phase 2 is a way to ensure that we protect the bluff so that we buy time. To decide how to deal with the building.Maybe we retrieve the building; maybe it gets moved — who knows?” trustee Xena Ugrinsky said.
“ If you have strong feelings about this issue, I highly encourage you to email the board,” trustee Kyle Hill said.
The Citizens Commission on Erosion can be reached at: [email protected].
The Jazz Loft houses more than 10,000 pieces of jazz history and memorabilia. Photo courtesy of The Jazz Loft
Every month is Jazz Appreciation Month at The Jazz Loft in Stony Brook, but in April 2002, the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of American History designated April as the official Jazz Appreciation Month, with the aims to draw greater public attention globally to the extraordinary heritage and history of jazz. The Jazz Loft is announcing FREE admission to its museum for the entire month of April.
It’s also a great time to join The Jazz Loft’s Friend’s Circle, a membership with seven levels of support, which can include unlimited access to memorabilia displays; discounts on selected events; VIP pre-sale; discounts on special lecture events; free gifts; and complimentary passes to popular shows and festivals and more!
Already a Friend’s Circle Member? Joining for the first time? Sign up or renew during the month of April and get a FREE TJL car magnet!
The Jazz Loft’s museum boasts more than 10,000 pieces of jazz memorabilia and most recently, a new Tony Bennett exhibit, which features over 100 items, including several awards and Grammy nominations; letters from presidents, Louis Armstrong and Fred Astaire; and the Gold Records from his signature hit I Left my Heart in San Francisco. Other exhibits include one of the largest collections of Charlie Parker memorabilia in the nation; Keely Smith’s Grammy Award and designer gowns worn by Ella Fitzgerald.
“The Jazz Loft is without question the anchor for cultural outreach within our Long Island community,” says Tom Manuel, founder of The Jazz Loft. “Our 30-plus archive collections celebrate some of the most important figures in American popular music: Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, Keely Smith, Louis Jordan, Tony Bennett, John Coltrane and many others. Our stage is alive with over 200 performances annually and over 12,000 people come through our doors each year. Our education program is fostering a new generation for Jazz and I’m happy that in April we can especially put the spotlight on this relevant, important and meaningful organization within our community.”
For more information visit The Jazz Loft’s Friend’s Circle. The Jazz Loft, located at 275 Christian Avenue in Stony Brook, is a non-profit organization, established in 2016 by Dr. Thomas Manuel, its founder, curator, jazz historian and artistic director. The Jazz Loft aims to help preserve, educate on all things jazz and it is also the only music venue on Long Island that exclusively features jazz music. For more information visit: The Jazz Loft
Faculty, administrators, staff and current students at Suffolk County Community College will welcome new and prospective students to open house on Sunday, April 6, from 12 noon to 2 p.m. Open House will take place at all three of the college’s campuses in Riverhead, Selden and Brentwood, as well as its Culinary Arts and Hospitality Center in Riverhead. Explore scholarships, tour the campuses, speak with Admissions and Financial Aid counselors, learn about student clubs and more. RSVP at www.sunysuffolk.edu/openhouse/
Port Jefferson Village Hall. Photo by Heidi Sutton 2023
By Lynn Hallarman
The March 26 meeting of the Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees was marked by public comments on communication policies, a resident complaint and an emerging capital improvement plan for parking.
Resident calls for dialogue
Longtime resident Myrna Gordon called for “improved transparency and communication” from the board of trustees. She expressed concern that the trustees were no longer responding to basic questions during public comment, describing it as a frustrating shift in practice.
“We used to have a conversation,” Gordon said. “Now we’re told — make an appointment.”
Mayor Lauren Sheprow responded:
“Let’s keep that conversation going. Come and visit me any day.”
Village resident Matthew Franco speaks during public comment. Photo by Lynn Hallarman
Gordon countered: “I’m talking about here at the podium, which is important.”
Village attorney David Moran clarified that the change in policy was intended to “protect trustees from being put on the spot or answering inaccurately in public without adequate preparation.”
“We have been very polite. We have been very orderly. We ask questions because we want answers now — not silence,” Gordon said.
Village resident and declared 2025 trustee candidate Matthew Franco alleged that during a meeting held earlier in March in Sheprow’s office, the mayor made “disparaging and false remarks about him [Franco] and his son,” in connection with an unspecified incident involving golf course fees incurred by his son.
Moran urged Franco to submit a written complaint, noting a more specific and detailed account would allow the board to assess the allegation.
Parking fees
The meeting shifted to a proposal from the Village Parking Committee, which recommended a three-year freeze on parking fees to provide more consistent rates for visitors.
“You can’t keep charging our customers more and more money every year and keep raising the rates. I mean, you’re killing businesses down here. You can’t just keep taking and taking and taking,” parking committee chair James Luciano said.
Trustee Kyle Hill proposed an amendment to omit the rate freeze.
“Parking revenue is tremendously important for the village’s budget, while we all want stability, we need to leave room to adjust based on performance given the experimental changes to the rates,” Hill said.
In the final vote, the board retained the committee’s recommendation for a rate freeze. The suggestion will now be considered as part of a parking capital plan being developed by the village treasurer Stephen Gaffga.
Beginning on April 16, a $1.00/ hour parking fee will be enforced from Monday to Thursday and a $3.00/ hour fee from Friday to Sunday. There will be no minimum parking time.
Two percent tax cap
Later in the meeting, the board approved a procedural tax cap override. This measure gives the village the option to exceed the 2% New York State tax cap if necessary.
Gaffga emphasized that adopting the override serves as a financial “insurance policy” in case of unforeseen costs before the next budget cycle starts at the beginning of May 2025.
Prom dress donation
Anthony Flammia, assistant code enforcement supervisor, announced a community-wide prom dress donation drive organized under the banner of Codes Care. Gently used dresses and accessories will be collected through April 25 at the Port Jefferson Village Center. Free try-on events are scheduled for April 26 and 27.
Visit the village website for dates of upcoming meetings: www.portjeff.com.
Suffolk County’s Active People, Healthy New York Action Plan moves forward, encourages physical activity in safe, green spaces.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine today announced the opening of applications for the 2025 Green Key Parking Permit Program with Local Libraries, or Green Key PPP. The program is part of Suffolk County’s three-part plan to engage residents in physical activity, increase access to public green spaces, and educate residents to improve the overall health of the Suffolk County.
To encourage physical activity in safe green spaces, County Executive Romaine last year authorized county health officials and county parks officials to collaborate with the Suffolk Cooperative Library System to offer residents one-time Green Key parking permits through their local libraries.
Suffolk County libraries interested in participating in the pilot program will be offered the opportunity to purchase a pack of twenty-five parking permits for $125.
Beginning in April 2025, Library patrons will have the opportunity to purchase, for $5, a one-time parking pass to visit one of 10 Suffolk County parks on a date of their choice.
“In Suffolk County, we are blessed with an extensive network of beautiful parks where residents and visitors can engage in myriad activities,” said Executive Romaine. “We are inviting residents to take advantage of this offer to experience one of our Suffolk County parks one time for a generously discounted fee.”
Library patrons who take advantage of the Suffolk County Library Parking Permit Pilot Program will enjoy a first-hand experience of a county park for a day and may decide that purchasing a Parks Green Key Card is a worthwhile investment. The Green Key Card entitles holders access to all Suffolk County parks and reduced fees for activities.
“This pilot program is intended to get people moving to reduce their risk serious chronic illnesses,” said Dr. Gregson Pigott, Suffolk County Health Commissioner. “We hope to engage all communities to visit their local parks and participate in activities they may not know are available to them as Suffolk County residents.”
“The Parks department is happy to partner with the Suffolk County Health department and local libraries with the new Parking Permit Pilot Program. The County has amazing natural resources, and our hope is that residents get out and explore what they have right in their own backyard” said Commissioner Giannott, “Our goal is for residents to discover places they may not have ventured to in the past and enjoy Suffolk County for all it has to offer.”
“Libraries are all about connecting people to resources that benefit them. We look forward to partnering with Suffolk County to assist local residents with exercising their minds at our County’s amazing libraries and their bodies are our County’s beautiful parks” said Suffolk Cooperative Library System Director Kevin Verbesey.
As part of the pilot program and to better understand the communities we serve, Suffolk County officials will collect data, report, and formulate recommendations for the future.
Part two of Suffolk County’s Active People, Healthy New York Action Plan is the health department’s Nature Walk Program that offers walking and learning events featuring health and environmental specialists. Part three of The Plan involves changes to infrastructure in the latter part of 2025 & 2026.
Ward Melville High School. File photo by Greg Catalano
By William Stieglitz
Over a hundred people attended the March 26 Board meeting for Three Village Central School District, where reported incidents of antisemitism were discussed. The week before, Superintendent Scanlon had sent out a letter saying the incidents were part of “a larger issue occurring that we need to address” and that the district “is planning immediate and long-term, systemic methods to address antisemitism, racism and hate speech.” The meeting’s high attendance required the use of two overflow rooms, where community members watched the meeting down the hall via livestream.
Scanlon said the incidents “occurred at our middle level” and “most incurred speech and insensitive acts or remarks,” though there were no acts of violence or threats. Under state regulations, he could not comment on the specifics as a matter of protecting students’ privacy, though the public comments from community members, along with the district’s proposed solutions, did provide context.
Community member Shelly Samson thanked Scanlon for the letter following what she described as “the antisemitism incident that occurred at Gelinas Junior High School… in a social studies class after viewing a film on the Holocaust,” expressing concern for the “very insensitive remark.” According to Scanlon, the board had met with the Westchester Holocaust Center following the incidents and Christina Cone, the director of social studies, will be bringing in a Holocaust survivor on April 9 for 10th grade students to meet. Additionally, he announced they have been communicating with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and the Jewish Partisan Educations Foundation (JPEF), and that the board will be looking at training for teachers and reviewing the current curriculum. “It doesn’t matter if it was 1 or 41,” he said regarding the incidents. “One is enough.”
Everyone who made public comments on the incidents thanked or praised the board for their handling of the matter thus far. Community member and parent Galia Lahav said she’d like to see education on implicit antisemitism in addition to the “very explicit antisemitism” of the recent incidents. Rabbi Aaron Benson from the North Shore Jewish Center spoke on the number of antisemitic incidents nationwide, saying there were 3,697 reported in 2022, then 3,291 from the time of the October 7, 2023 attack in Israel to the end of the year alone. Deborah Peretz, from the Israel advocacy group Stand With Us, asked for learning related to current issues, in addition to Holocaust education. “The Jewish people are living through history right now…. There’s a 23-year-old,” she said, referring to Israeli American solider Omer Neutra, who was reported killed during the October 7 attack. “He’s dead but he’s in the Gaza tunnels right now. He’s from Plainview. It’s 30 minutes away.”
Rabbi Josh Gray from Temple Isaiah did not speak during the public comment portion, but said afterward that he had met with Scanlon that week and is grateful the district is being proactive. Speaking on what actions community members can take to combat antisemitism and other forms of discrimination he said, “the best thing to do is to speak up when something is said… Call out hate wherever we see it. Be an ally to marginalized communities, and don’t let it slide. I think if we all stick together and stick up for each other we can create a community of communities, which is the ultimate goal.”
The other matters discussed at the Board meeting included the questions of whether to arm school guards and whether to take money from the emergency reserves to fund the budget. “The district is bankrupt in the sense that we can’t make payroll,” said trustee Dr. David McKinnon, who added they are currently projected to lose about 80 employees. The proposed budget is set to be adopted on April 9 with the community vote on May 20.
Brian Crowe and Leilani Garcia on their trip. Photo courtesy Leilani Garcia
By Sabrina Artusa
Leilani Garcia and Brian Crowe learned a lot over their five-day, 80-mile hike from Robert Moses State Park in Babylon to the Montauk Lighthouse. They learned that short breaks every hour help them tackle their long 20-plus-mile days and how to adjust their 50-lb backpacks, crammed with food and fresh water, to better disperse the weight. They learned where the best beach camp spots are and how to follow the tides. Over the course of five days, they endured wind and rain, high tides and high mileage not just to reach their destination, Montauk, but to raise awareness for colon cancer.
Crowe, a Huntington native, was diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago in its late stages. Experiencing intense pain in his side, he went to see his gastroenterologist for the first time. A CAT scan revealed a tumor in his large intestine. The severity of the growth, which grew from seven centimeters to nine over the course of a week, was removed with the assistance of Crowe’s friend and surgeon Joesph Vazzana in in a 12-hour life-saving surgery. The 9-month recovery was “exasperating” for Crowe, who said he couldn’t walk or eat immediately after the operation.
“I was miserable,” Crowe said. “But he saved my life.”
Throughout their hike, Crowe and Garcia spread their mission and succeeded in reminding people of the importance of getting a colonoscopy.
Crowe said that cancer often goes untalked about. After getting it himself, he said he felt there was an “embarrassing” stigma surrounding the disease. “I didn’t want to talk about it and I didn’t want anyone else to talk about it,” he said.
After finding out he had colon cancer, he discovered that several family members have also had cancer, including three of his aunts.Now, he realizes that as a survivor, he has an “obligation” to talk about his experience and hopefully encourage others to routinely get a colonoscopy.
“Reaching out to the community can save lives,” said Garcia, who has had family members affected by cancer.
Garcia and Crowe met at Decker’s Nursery and Florist, where Garcia, tired of her conventional Christmas tree, was perusing other indoor plants to decorate. There she met Crowe, who worked there and suggested the spiky Japanese orange bush Garcia ended up buying.
When Crowe told Garcia about his longtime aspiration of traveling from Robert Moses to Montauk, Garcia took to the idea and helped bring it to fruition, creating a website to broadcast their mission.
The trip
While the trip is dedicated toward raising awareness for colon cancer, Garcia and Crowe also went with the mission of reconnecting with nature and themselves.
The pair started their day at sunrise and usually walked until sundown, clocking as many miles as they could while also taking in “how unbelievable Long Island is.” Garcia and Crowe started their mornings by setting their intentions for the day.
Fueled by Kind bars, dark chocolate and peanut butter, they traversed the coast, sometimes stopping to pick up interesting scallop shells, admire the view or talk to curious beachgoers.
One man asked them what they were doing. When they told him about their “Mission to Montauk,” he immediately returned to his home, remembering to schedule his own colonoscopy. “It’s like holding the door for someone else,” Crowe said.
When one of them got tired or discouraged, the other made sure to offer encouragement. Garcia mentioned how during a difficult portion of the hike, where she just wanted to stop and pitch the tent, Crowe encouraged her to sing, something he knows she loves to do. “We were kind of joyful in that chaos,” Garcia said, adding that both she and Crowe, who is also a music producer, have a deep appreciation for music.
The wind was a challenge, and often required them to cover their faces. “We kind of opened up our minds a little bit going into the sand storm. Respect it, appreciate it, and see what goodness comes out of it.”
Despite the challenges, Crowe and Garcia look at the experience with appreciation. “I felt so grounded and connected,” Garcia said.” It was meditative. . .it’s just like life. There are some challenges but with each challenge you become stronger [and] resilient.”
Sprouts & Friends 
Studio Art Acrylics & Drawing Class
Sketch-N-Stretch
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