Home Featured

Northport wrestlers win in court and then on the mat

by Steven Zaitz - February 13, 2025

0 1630

1 of 21

By Steven Zaitz

On Wednesday, Feb. 5, Northport High School wrestler Kingston Strouse was playing his saxophone in 9th period band class when the senior was asked to report to Athletic Director Mark Dantuono’s office.

When he arrived, he found his coach of four years, Thad Alberti, sitting in that office stone-faced and glum.

Alberti informed Strouse, who is ranked first in his weight class in Suffolk County, that due to an administrative error, he, along with five of his teammates, were ruled ineligible for post-season competition. There would be no League Championships, which was just days away, for Strouse and his mates.

That was the first domino — without Leagues, there was no path to Suffolk County or State championship tournaments.

As per New York State Public High School Athletic Association policy, a wrestler who exceeds the maximum number of tournaments, which is six, is ineligible for the remainder of the season and the coach of the wrestler is suspended from the team’s next two scheduled competitions. The reason for the rule is that wrestlers accumulate points over the course of the season and a wrestler who participates in extra matches will have potentially gained more points than his competitors.

“When I was first told the news, I remember being shocked, but I don’t think I had a single ounce of hate or a single ounce of regret for anything that had happened,” Strouse said. “I just remember feeling bad for my coach because he was sitting there and he just looked devastated. I was more concerned about how other people were feeling about the situation and I thought that if we really were together, we could get it overturned. I knew we were going to put up a fight about this.”

His teammates were more concerned about Strouse.

“Kingston is our leader and being that he’s a senior, I really felt terrible for him,” said teammate Peyton Hamada, who was one of the six also suspended. “I was more upset for him than I was for myself.”

As of Wednesday night, the season was over for Strouse, juniors Hamada and Lucas Rivera, sophomores Sebastian Stabile and Tyler Naughton and freshman Ryan Muller.

But it was Strouse– because of his top ranking in Suffolk County at 152 pounds, his stature on the team and his storied four-year career as a Northport wrestler –who became the face of this soon-to-be exploding media frenzy. The other kids will wrestle for Northport next year. Strouse will not.

The story was first reported by Newsday’s Gregg Sarra, who is the editor of the paper’s high school sports section. As of Feb. 6, he reported that the ‘Northport Six’ were disqualified, and as per Section XI Chief Tom Combs, the rule was clear-cut and the matter was now closed.

But the matter was not closed.

As social media became ablaze with the news, opinions for and against these Northport athletes being allowed to compete were split. Some were compassionate, not wishing the boys to be punished for a mistake that they themselves did not make.

But others were unsympathetic, posting that Northport has to play by the rules like everybody else. One post on X read “typical Northport athletics, always breaking the rules and never paying for it. Mistake my (foot)”.

As the Long Island wrestling world debated, the guys on the team, the booster club and the Northport and wrestling communities banded together with a plan of action. They set up a GoFundMe page that raised nearly $9,000 to retain a legal team to fight this in the courts. Attorneys Anthony Camisa and James Pascarella, both former Long Islanders wrestlers, were brought in.

The group, including the six wrestlers and some of their parents, travelled to the courthouses in Riverhead on Friday and were able to appear before Suffolk County Justice of the Supreme Court Peter R. McGreevy on an emergency basis. The League III championships were going to start — with or without these guys — in less than 24 hours.

“I told the kids and the parents that all I can do is get you guys before a judge and once that occurs, nobody knows what will happen,” said Camisa, who was a wrestler at Longwood and University of Albany before he passed the bar exam. “In this case, the kids did nothing wrong and not being able to wrestle would have caused them irreparable harm. I think that was the part of our argument that got us our stay.”

Strouse, who had been fighting a nasty cold all week, was ecstatic at the favorable result.

“When we got down there, it really seemed like we weren’t going to win the case and be able to wrestle,” said Strouse. “Everything was kind of stacked against us, so I can’t even put into words how grateful I am to the lawyers that were able to get this done. But I’m also grateful to the Northport community and the wrestling community as well. It’s a lot smaller than other sports and wrestlers back each other up. A lot of my friends from other schools on Long Island were reaching out to me, being supportive, and sending out our GoFundMe link. There are a lot of people to thank for this.”

It was now time to focus on wrestling

Strouse, still not at 100% strength due to his cold, now had to get ready for the match. He prowled around the Smithtown East gym with a hoody over his head, waiting for his turn.

When it came time, he beat both Andrew Schwartz of Newfield and John Zummo of Smithtown East handily but it would be close to three hours before his final match against North Babylon’s Jack Miller. He waited. He listened to his music. He took a nap in the bleachers until the match with Miller arrived.

Ahead in points for most of the contest, a sudden scramble at the beginning of the third period against Miller caused an awkward twist of Strouse’s left knee. As he lay face down on the mat, writhing in pain, it looked for sure that Strouse’s roller coaster week wouldn’t quite make it to its final turn. His day seemed done.

With his coach, Chris Posillico, who filled in for the suspended Alberti, and Strouse’s worried mom Lori looking on matside, Strouse rose to his feet.

After a few flexes of his leg and a swig of water, the match continued.

“Yeah, it was bad,” Strouse said. “But it wasn’t structural, so it was just a matter of dealing with the amount of pain that we sometimes have to deal with in this sport.”

Strouse powered through, won the match 14-5, and this long, grueling, but ultimately satisfying week was finally done. However, his journey is not. Despite his lingering illness and the issue with his knee, Strouse will compete for a county championship this weekend at Stony Brook University.

“Everything I did on the mat today just didn’t feel right,” said Strouse. “Every shot I took wasn’t fast. My decision making wasn’t on. I just felt so foggy and weak. Plus, I couldn’t breathe out of my nose. It seemed like everything was just stacked against me, but I got the job done, so I guess that’s all that matters.”

Yes, Strouse did his job on the mat, but without his eclectic crew of 11th-hour partners from all across Long Island, there would never have been a job for him to do.

Report finds no maintenance or repairs carried out on Port Jeff East Beach Bluff project

by Lynn Hallarman - February 6, 2025

0 3442

unnamed — PJ Country Club prior to collapse of gazebo and edge of tennis courts, undated photograph. Courtesy of PJ Village website

Phase 1 of the East Beach Bluff Stabilization was the first part of a $10 million initiative aimed at arresting bluff erosion and preventing the Village of Port Jefferson-owned country club from sliding down the slope.

This first phase of the project was completed in June 2023. By any official accounts of the time, Phase 1 was a success. But within months of completion a series of storms in late 2023 and early 2024 damaged the site, undoing costly work, setting back progress and hampering the goals of the project.

According to the May 2024 Bluff Monitoring Report covering the period from September 2023 to February 2024, conducted by GEI Consultants of Huntington Station (the engineering firm that designed Phase 1), the village had not implemented recommended repairs, increasing the risk of more complicated and expensive upkeep and repair in the future.

The report stated that “no maintenance or repairs to date were undertaken by the village following the storms,” further suggesting that the village implements “necessary repair to the project as soon as possible.”

The report’s findings have raised questions among residents and officials about the long-term viability of the stabilization efforts and financial resources needed for continued upkeep and repairs.

TBR News Media reviewed GEI’s 2024 Bluff Monitoring Report — required under the Department of Environmental Conservation permit for Phase 1 — and spoke to experts, village officials and residents, exploring the report’s recommendations and the obstacles confronting the village in completing its requirements.

Costs of phases 1 and 2

At the completion of Phase 1, a 358-foot wall of steel and cement was constructed at the base of a steep bluff, about 100-feet-tall, situated on East Beach, facing north toward the Long Island Sound.

As part of the project, the severely eroded bluff face — scoured and denuded by years of storms — underwent restoration. Native vegetation was planted and secured with eight rows of timber terraces, and coir logs (interwoven coconut fibers) at the lower section and, toward the crest, with burlap netting.

The total cost of the Phase 1 project according to village treasurer, Stephen Gaffga, is “$6,024,443 million, of which $677,791 is related to design/engineering/permitting/ surveying, and $5,346,652 was spent on construction.”

At the crest of the bluff, approximately 30 feet beyond the precipice, sits the country club. Phase 2 involves the installation of a 545-foot long, 47-foot-deep steel barrier driven into the bluff’s crest, just a few feet seaward of the country club. The barrier is designed to stabilize the area landward of the bluff and prevent erosion, further reducing the risk of the building collapsing.

The cost of Phase 2 will be partially funded by federal taxpayer dollars as a $3.75 million FEMA grant, the final approval recently completed this past week, allowing for the village to receive bids for the work in the coming months for the construction of the upper wall. Local taxpayer dollars will fund the remaining Phase 2 expenses.

According to Gaffga, the Phase 2 “complete expenses are yet to be determined,” he explained in an email. The total cost will be better understood once the village receives bids for constructing the upper wall

The stabilization project, since its inception in 2017 has been presented by village officials as an urgent necessity. With this imperative in mind, the trustees approved a $10 million bond resolution, without a community referendum, in 2021 to fund the project’s two phases.

In a January 2023 statement by former Mayor Garant, after permitting and plans had been finalized, she warned, “If immediate measures to combat and stop the erosion are not implemented, the building foundation will get exposed, will lose structural support, and slowly but surely will fail — causing significant structural damage first, followed by complete collapse of the [country club] building.”

2024 GEI report findings

Heavy rainstorms swept across Long Island in the early fall of 2023, beginning with Hurricane Lee on Sept. 12 followed by another severe storm on Sept. 23.

According to the GEI report, these storms caused “post-storm stress” to the new vegetation leading to plant die off, shifting sands and forming a small ravine — also referred to as a gully — past the western edge of the wall at the base of the bluff.

To prevent further damage, GEI recommended that the village “replant beachgrass in stressed areas of the bluff face and protect the western edge of the wall by adding a filter fabric and stone.”

Photograph of East Beach Bluff Phase 1 taken as part of the GEI post-storm inspection after Hurricane Lee on Sept. 12, 2023. Courtesy of PJ Village website

However, two additional major storms in December 2023 and February 2024 brought strong winds and heavy rainfall expanding the damage started in September. A GEI post-storm inspection in the days following the storms found that a large ravine had formed on the eastern edge of the bluff face, further damaging the vegetation, matting and terracing within the ravine.

Photograph taken as part of the GEI inspection report Feb. 22, 2024 showing extensive damage to the bluff in the vicinity of stressed growth identified in September 2023. Courtesy of PJ Village website

In total, the May 2024 report outlined detailed recommendations involving improved drainage, repairs to terracing, laying down of erosion control fabric and replacement of beachgrass. The report’s recommendations concluded with concerns about utilizing honeycomb grids by Coastal Technologies Corp. under consideration by village officials, namely: “GEI has expressed concern that such an installation may not be effective at East Beach due to the types of soils present and the steepness of the East Beach Bluff.”

Despite these concerns, the Board of Trustees at the Oct. 23 public meeting approved a resolution to use American Rescue Plan Act funds at the total cost of $33,920 to pilot test Coastal Technologies stabilizing devices, pending a revised permit from the DEC.

In response to GEI concerns, George Thatos, Coastal Technologies co-founder and head of design, said, “Our Cliff Stabilizer system stabilizes near-vertical slopes with vegetation, unlike terracing which requires major regrading and cliff-top land loss.” He added, “Our solution naturally reforests bluffs.”

According to DEC representative, Jeff Wernick, if a permit holder “cannot follow a report recommendations due to environmental conditions, DEC works with them to modify the permit to correct the issues. If the recommendations are not followed due to negligence, it could result in a violation of the permit and enforcement action.”

Port Jeff Citizens Commission on Erosion

This reporter attended a recent meeting of the Port Jefferson Citizens Commission on Erosion. Their mission, in summary, is to act as a volunteer resident advisory group to the village on matters of erosion confronting the village. So far, much of the group’s focus, chaired by village resident David Knauf, has been on the East Beach Bluff Stabilization project.

On Jan. 20, the committee submitted detailed written questions to Mayor Lauren Sheprow expressing concerns about the overall status of the stabilization project. It questioned plans to proceed with Phase 2 before implementing drainage recommendations and before updating the land survey of the upper bluff that is about three years old. The commission urged these steps be completed before soliciting bids for the construction of Phase 2.

”There was damage that occurred since the Phase 1 was completed that hasn’t been addressed, meaning that it keeps getting more pronounced. There were ongoing reports that were done during the past year,” Knauf said at the Jan. 23 commission meeting.

He added that repairs “should have been done up to now so that whatever was occurring [with Phase 1] didn’t get worse.”

The commission, to date, has not received a comprehensive update on maintenance done on the bluff/wall as recommended in the May 2024 report, according to Knauf.

According to village trustee Robert Juliano, any maintenance and repair done during the time frame of the 2024 report “was minor, such as grooming the beach by village employees.”

Other concerns brought up at the meeting included a request to review a retreat plan allegedly completed under former Mayor Garant and actively participating in vetting of contract bids.

Sheprow, present at the meeting, told TBR News Media her responses to the written questions from the commission, reviewed at the Jan. 23 meeting, would be posted on the village website.

“The village will look to enlist the Citizens Commission on Erosion to help facilitate an open forum where GEI will present the Phase 2 project design and a path forward for Phase 1 remediation and restoration,” the mayor said in an email to TBR News Media.

The 2023 Annual Post-Construction Bluff Monitoring Report dated May 2024 and related items can be viewed at the Port Jefferson Village website at: www.portjeff.com/ 206/East-Beach-Bluff.

For earlier reporting by TBR News Media, visit tbrnewsmedia.com and key in “East Beach Bluff Stabilization project.”

Three Village teacher on leave after Facebook post

by Sabrina Artusa - January 30, 2025

0 5069

By Sabrina Artusa

A science teacher at R.C. Murphy Jr. High School in theThree Village Central School District is now on leave after posting an incendiary political post on Facebook.

The teacher, Pamila Pahuja, wrote in the post, “To all Trump supporters – hope the next time you take a drink it doesn’t swallow right and you go get help but no one is there and you slowly wither away while struggling to gasp and you suffer long.”

The post has sparked outrage from some parents. Others feel Pahuja did nothing wrong.

“I always like to put the shoe on the other foot,” former teacher and Hauppauge resident Dan Simon said, noting that teachers still have the freedom of speech. He added, however, that what she posted was a mistake. “Should she be doing that? Probably not.”

A father of a middle-school child, Doug said, “Just saying that about another person – it’s not right.” His child does not go to a district school.

He said that middle-schoolers are still learning right from wrong, and to “say stuff like that, you are kind of brainwashing them. It gets them thinking differently.”

Litigator Andrew Lieb said that there is a case to be made under labor law 201-d, which protects against discrimination for participating in certain activities including political activities outside of working hours and off the employer’s premises. Lieb has worked on similar cases pertaining to teachers.

“That is a hyperbole that wasn’t a specific threat,” Lieb said. “As long as she was off working hours off working premises, she is allowed to do this stuff. She is working for the government and the government can’t block speech.”

“Imagine all these teachers wanting to speak and not being able to have a voice,” he said. “That’s what this does and that’s why these laws are so important.

Pahuja also wrote, “To all my friends and their families worried, stay safe. America is no longer the land of the free – we are prisoners of the governments. Only a matter of time before they come for all women. Welcome to gilead, it’s on the way.”

On Jan. 26, the district released a letter to parents notifying them of Pahuja’s absence.

“Please be assured that we have taken steps to ensure a smooth transition and continued high-quality instruction in science. A qualified and certified science teacher will be assigned to your child’s class in her absence,” the letter, signed by Principal Michael Jantzen, reads.

The Three Village BOE and the Three Village Teachers Association would not comment on matters of personnel.

Water main break on East Main Street in Port Jefferson

by Sabrina Artusa - January 29, 2025

0 854

A water main break on East Main Street in Port Jefferson causes water to be shut off while Suffolk County Water Authority executes repairs. Repairs are expected to take 1-2 hours. Buildings along East Main Street, from the East Main Street intersection at East Broadway to where East Main Street intersects with Main Street, will be affected.

Fire starts at Luca Restaurant in Stony Brook

by Sabrina Artusa - January 23, 2025

0 1347

Luca Restaurant in Stony Brook Village. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

At 2:30 a.m. Thursday, January 23 a fire started at Luca, a popular restaurant in Stony Brook.

Luca remains closed on Jan. 29, six days after the fire. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

The fire was in the back of the restaurant in the kitchen and did not spread to neighboring stores.

“We are trying to assess the damage, but it seems it was contained in the kitchen,” Gloria Rocchio said, president of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization (WMHO), a non-profit that owns the Stony Brook Village Center where the restaurant is located.

Six different fire departments responded to the fire, Rocchio said.

The building is owned by Eagle Realty Holdings inc., a subsidiary of the WMHO.

Over two years ago, a fire was reported outside Luca, between the restaurant and the neighboring Camera Concepts and Telescope Solutions. A fire had started in a laundry bin outside the stores.

The buildings in the Stony Brook Village Center share a cockloft, or a shared attic. Due to this, a fire could potentially spread at a faster rate between buildings.

Luca opened in 2022.

Rebecca Kassay defeats incumbent Ed Flood to represent New York State Assembly District 4

By Toni-Elena Gallo

After an extended vote-counting process, Rebecca Kassay has defeated incumbent Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson). Official results and certification are expected from the Board of Elections in the coming weeks. As of now, Kassay is leading Flood by 813 votes.

Kassay released a statement on her Facebook page Tuesday, Nov. 26, declaring victory in the race for New York State Assembly District 4. She wrote, “After a spirited campaign, I am declaring victory in the race for New York State Assembly District 4, having secured an insurmountable lead over my opponent, Ed Flood. Official results and certification are expected from the Board of Elections in the coming weeks.”

Kassay added, “I am heartened by our community’s trust in me to bring public service back to politics. It will be a great honor to represent District 4 in the New York State Assembly and to deliver resources to our communities. As discussed during civic debates and at residents’ doors throughout my campaign, I will serve with a community-up approach — one that prioritizes transparency, communication and meaningful action on pressing issues.”

Assemblywoman-elect Kassay has already begun laying the groundwork to ensure she and her team “hit the ground running and serve the district effectively on day one.”

“Throughout the coming weeks, I will be meeting with civic groups, school district representatives, nonprofits, first responders, local government officials and other community stakeholders to collaborate on the important work of shaping the projects and policies that will guide the district forward,” the statement continued.

Kassay invites residents or groups to connect with the incoming District 4 Assembly team by emailing [email protected].

Incumbent Ed Flood and challenger Rebecca Kassay release statements amidst continued counting of votes

Web_Photo_Editor — Left: Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-PortJefferson). Right: Rebecca Kassay. Courtesy Ed Flood and Rebecca Kassay for NYS Assembly's Facebook page

By Toni-Elena Gallo

In the wake of last Tuesday’s election, the race for NYS Assembly District 4 remains to be called.

With mail-in ballots still being counted, there is no exact timeline for when results will be in.

Rebecca Kassay released a statement last Thursday, saying, “We knew that the race for the NYS
Assembly seat in District 4 would be one of the most competitive races in New York State, and as of Wednesday, November 6, I hold a 211 vote lead. In a race this close, results will not be determined until the affidavit ballots and final mail in ballots are counted. This might take until late November, so in the meantime, our team is reflecting on our gratitude for the incredible individuals and community groups who we’ve connected with and built stronger relationships with during the journey of this campaign.”

“There is so much work to be done here in our district, our town, our county and our state, and I hope to have the opportunity to serve you as your Assemblymember,” Kassay continued.

TBR requested comment from Assemblyman Flood and his response was as follows: “As we await the final numbers, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to everyone who has supported me throughout this campaign. I remain deeply committed to representing, advocating for and listening to our community. This dedication is not new; it has always been the foundation of my work and will continue to guide me moving forward.”

“Serving our community is an honor, and I am committed to ensuring that every voice is heard and every concern is addressed,” he continued.

Three Village resurrects ‘Do No Harm’ Regents policy, celebrates cellphone protocol

by Mallie Jane Kim - October 17, 2024

0 811

WardMelvilleHS-700x517 — Ward Melville High School. File photo

By Mallie Jane Kim

New York Regents Exam scores can no longer lower student course grades in Three Village Central School District, after the school board unexpectedly resurrected a policy that directs teachers to only include the scores if they help a student’s GPA.

“I believe we have reached a point in time where it makes sense to let these grades help our kids and let that be their incentive to do well,” said board President Susan Rosenzweig, in bringing the issue back to the table at an Oct. 9 board meeting. “But if it doesn’t, their academic work through the course of the year should stand toward their final grade.”

Just before Regents exams began last June, a new wave of parent advocacy led the board to reconsider the so-called “Do No Harm” policy, but at that time trustees reaffirmed their November vote to include the scores at 10% — down from about 12% before the pandemic.

After the last Regents season, though, students did report lower grades due to exam scores. Superintendent of Schools Kevin Scanlon called out the physics Regents as one that particularly impacted student course grades.

“Teachers and administrators always want to see the students do their best on whatever we give them, and want to give them the best opportunity,” Scanlon said, adding that some comparable districts do not include the scores in final grades since the state does not require it. “It’s not a perfect system.”

This decision comes as the state’s Education Department is considering a new vision for graduation requirements, which would provide alternate means of demonstrating proficiency, rather than requiring the exams for everyone.

But district administrators made clear the exams themselves are not a waste of effort.

“The Regents Exams are extremely important to us as far as the data we get,” said Brian Biscari, assistant superintendent for educational services. “They are one of the only tools of standardization that we have that we can look at our instructional program and see how our kids are doing.”

Celebrating cellphone policy success

The district’s effort to reduce the use of cellphones at school is showing positive results, according to Scanlon. He indicated the culture within the junior high schools, in particular, is improving.

“Seeing students without their faces buried in phones and literally having conversations at cafeteria tables is a real heart boost for everyone,” he said. “We’ve sort of turned a corner on this.”

High school students have welcomed the policy, as well, according to senior Hazel Cohas, Ward Melville High School’s student representative to the board.

“In the past, there have been policies that have faced a lot of backlash,” she shared, pointing specifically to a vandalism-prevention policy instituted last year requiring students to carry their IDs and swipe them to use restrooms. But on limiting cellphone use, she hasn’t heard complaints: “I haven’t heard anything, and I think it’s going well.”

Bullying complaints have seen a “very large decline” from this time last year, Scanlon reported, and particularly those associated with social media.

Scanlon urged vigilance, though, because it is still early in the school year and since “students are very smart,” some may look for ways around the policy.

Junior high to middle school preview

Three Village junior high schools will get new names in fall 2025, officially transitioning to Paul J. Gelinas Middle School and Robert Cushman Murphy Middle School, both comprising sixth through eighth grades.

More will shift than just the name and grade makeup, according to Biscari, who called the focus on transition supports a “comprehensive philosophical change in our middle school model.”

The most significant change is the addition of a standalone nine-minute advisory period to allow a specific time for the Pledge of Allegiance and announcements, as well as for activities to build social skills, social emotional learning and relationships. The schedule can also shift to allow for an extended advisory period on days where the student body participates in special activities, like on Unity Day.

According to the presentation by junior high principals, Corinne Keane (PJG) and Michael Jantzen (RCM), advisory groups will be heterogeneous, allowing students who would normally be in different level classes to be together.

“They start to forge connections with people — with kids, with staff members — that are hopefully making them feel a little bit more connected to their school and their environment,” explained Keane, who said area middle schools she’s spoken to have implemented the advisory period concept. “It’s a cornerstone of middle school culture.”

Sixth grade will operate under “teaching teams,” where a cohort of students will all be assigned the same set of teachers in core academic subjects. This way, teachers can better collaborate to help students succeed, and parents can meet with all of their child’s core teachers at once.

Students will also be able to spread requirements for technology, art, and family and consumer science over three years instead of two, allowing space for an additional elective each year.

The schools are already collaborating with elementary schools to aid in the transition of two grade levels up to next year’s middle schools, and they are looking ahead to additional ways to bridge the gap between middle school and high school. One part of that plan is to allow for some dances, celebrations and a theme-park field trip to be joint affairs with both eighth graders from the middle schools and ninth graders from the high school.

“We want to make sure that the transitions are as smooth as they can be,” said Jantzen, adding that junior high administrators will continue talking with staff from the other schools to continue to fine-tune transition supports. “We are taking into account all concerns.”

Changing to middle schools, though, means saying goodbye to a seventh-through-ninth-grade junior high model that has been around Three Village for nearly 60 years. The principals want to use this year’s junior high yearbooks to recognize that.

“We’re both looking to use the yearbook as a tool to commemorate,” Keane said. “In 50 years when someone picks up the yearbook, they get the sense that this was the year — this was the last year as a junior high school.”

Ending epilepsy on the golf course, one swing at a time

by TBR Staff - October 11, 2024

0 921

golf open 6 — Irene Rodgers, left, and Janet Romeo, right, inviting guests to learn more about the Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island. Photo by Gabby Daniels

By Gabby Daniels

Is there anything better than a day on the golf course?

Just ask Joey and Nina Meyer, whose day was not only filled with golf, family, friends and fun, but was one that supported the cause so near and dear to their hearts.

In May of 2022, Nina Meyer was diagnosed with epilepsy, and it quickly took a toll on her life. Having been there through Nina’s two brain surgeries and watching her face an everyday battle with seizures and constant medications, her husband Joey knew he had to do something that could help turn this difficult disorder into something more positive.

Partnering with the Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island, Meyer organized the “2024 Open to End Epilepsy” fundraiser in hopes of making a difference. The event took place on Sept. 20, at the Willow Creek Golf and Country Club in Mount Sinai.

A day filled with donations, camaraderie, awareness and hope, the day not only celebrated the spirit of community, but also fostered a deeper understanding of epilepsy, ensuring that no one has to face this challenge alone.

**Joey Meyer happily welcoming guests out on the green. Photo by Gabby Daniels**

“When my wife was first diagnosed with epilepsy, it felt hopeless because we did not really know what to do,” Meyer said.

“Having this event, our goal was to get others talking about epilepsy so that those going through it could feel supported and seen. It was a great way to raise money and awareness for others going through a similar experience as Nina, and we can let people know about the epilepsy foundation and everything they provide in the process,” Meyer said.

The event proved to be more than impactful, raising over $15,000 from event tickets and sponsorships alone.

“Our goal was to raise at least $20,000 today, and we have made great progress already,” Meyer said. “We have raffle tickets for sale, games and dinner to follow the golf outing, so I think we are on track to hit our goal.”

Being quite the beautiful day on the golf course, event attendees were thrilled to take part in the event. “It has been so nice out today, getting to golf, hang out, and support a good cause,” stated Amber Ciccotto, a friend of the Meyers.

“Nina has told me so much about her experience with epilepsy, and I think it is so important to learn as much as you can about it so you can be there for your loved ones who deal with it.”

The course was also lined with other fundraisers, such as Charity Golf, and their long-drive competition.

Hosted by Michael Watson, who has appeared in 4 World Long Drive championships, golfers were offered the opportunity to participate in a ‘Hole in 2’ competition, with a minimum donation that could win them a 3-day trip to San Francisco’s Pebble Beach Lodge.

***Michael Watson promoting the ‘Hole in 2’ competition. Photo by Gabby Daniels***

“There have been so many generous people out here today,” Watson said. “We have gotten a lot of donations, and it has been really fun doing this for the Meyers and the foundation.”

With directing members Irene Rodgers and Janet Romeo of the Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island in attendance, anyone at the event was able to learn more about the disorder. The foundation, founded in 1953, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is “to improve the lives of people affected by epilepsy through education, advocacy, research and connection.”

“We were so touched and honored that the Meyers reached out to us because it gives us the chance to share the resources and education opportunities we offer within the organization,” said Rodgers.

“We are there for anyone and everyone that has a diagnosis, but we also support their loved ones, their caregivers, and anyone else interested. We provide support, information and referrals; we provide training in seizure recognition, and we advocate. Whatever they need, we want to be there.”

Gabby Daniels is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s
School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.

Port Jeff capital projects fund review uncovers years of sloppy bookkeeping, $1.27M budget shortfall

by Lynn Hallarman - October 2, 2024

0 1525

Bluff — Capital projects fund review of East Beach bluff stabilization shows an estimated $800,000 budget overspend. Photo by Lynn Hallarman

By Lynn Hallarman

The final report reviewing the capital projects fund was presented to the public by CPA firm, PKF O’Connor Davies of Hauppauge, at the Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees Sept. 25 meeting, ending a year of uncertainty over the financial condition of the fund.

The most significant conclusion was an estimated $1.27 million in overspending on capital projects done without an identified funding source. The largest overage was the East Beach bluff stabilization project of about $800,000.

Why the review was done

One year ago, concerns were raised by then newly-appointed village treasurer, Stephen Gaffga, about the bookkeeping practices that track the village’s capital projects fund. This prompted village officials to hire PKF O’Connor Davies to give a full historical accounting of the fund’s financial recordkeeping. The review spanned from May 2016 to May 2023.

“I noticed shortly after starting my position as treasurer in September of 2023 that our capital projects fund looked like every expense account had a negative balance, which immediately raised red flags for me,” Gaffga said in an interview with TBR News Media.

Gaffga noted that best practices recommended by the Office of the New York State Comptroller were not being followed, making it difficult to track how money was being spent on individual projects.

Ideally a capital project fund ledger should give a granular view of how money flows though different projects and meticulously accounts for funding and payments related to each project, according to the OSC.

The village additionally enlisted Charlene Kagel, CPA — former commissioner of finance for the Town of Brookhaven and ex-Southampton village administrator — as an expert municipal finance consultant to assist the village as it corrects bookkeeping practices to comply with state guidelines.

Reports findings

According to PKF O’Connor Davies, the purpose of the capital projects fund review was to identify which projects have been funded, which have been overspent and what grant funds for specific projects have not yet been reimbursed to the village.

The report provided a clearer picture of the capital fund financial state, especially addressing the overall negative balance observed a year ago. PKF detailed 26 projects as having a deficit fund balance.

Reviewers also noted that “recordkeeping varied by project” — or in other words, the bookkeeping lacked a consistent approach across the ledgers.

Overall, the review revealed an $8.1 million total deficit as of May 31, 2023. “Most of this deficit, an estimated $5 million, is due to grants expected but not yet received by the village,” Gaffga said.

The estimated $1.27 million shortfall comes from spending on a few large projects, most of which, $800,000, is attributed to the bluff stabilization project.

Gaffga explained that the additional spending on the bluff project occurred incrementally over several years starting in 2017, with board members approving these expenses without first identifying a funding source.

Recommendations

Recommendations to the village boil down to one improvement: Follow bookkeeping guidance outlined by the OSC.

The report also identifies the absence of a long-term capital projects fund plan for the village.

Kagel told TBR that an excellent capital plan should include a list of proposed projects by department heads and for municipalities to assign each project a “priority ranking” year by year.

“The board ranks what projects are most important and then figures out how they are going to pay for it,” she said.

Gaffga added, “There will need to be an identified funding source to correct that $1.27 million deficit in the capital fund.”

Gaffga pointed out, however, that this amount is an unaudited estimation. The village has hired a new accounting firm, R.S. Abrams & Co. of Islandia, to finalize the numbers cited in the report before village officials will move forward with a financial plan to reimburse the capital projects fund, as required by municipal law.

“Bottom line, it’s just bad bookkeeping. The village didn’t follow the recommended practice and accounting procedures that are set forth by the state and this is what happens when you don’t,” Kagel said.

Moving forward

The treasurer for a municipality is the custodian of all capital funds, responsible for tracking the finances of each project and developing financial reports for the board and the public.

“At the same time, the board is ultimately responsible for the oversight of the village financials,” Kagel said. “It’s pretty clear that municipalities aren’t supposed to overspend their budget, according to general municipal law in New York State.”

“Stephen [Gaffga] has implemented an OSC best practice, tracking each project financial detail to be sent to the board monthly, so the board can say, ‘Hey, how come we’re in the red on this project?’” she said.

“I’m glad we are now through the most difficult part of the capital projects fund review process and we now know exactly where the village stands,” Mayor Lauren Sheprow said in an email statement to TBR News Media.

“Now the village can proceed to develop a truly transparent capital project plan with guidance from our new Budget and Finance Committee and our incredible treasurer, Stephen Gaffga,” she added.

The full report can be viewed on the Village of Port Jefferson website at www.portjeff.com, and the next Board of Trustees meeting will be held on Oct. 9, as a work session.

Prev 123...98 Next

Page 2 of 98