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Times of Huntington-Northport

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New York State Attorney General Letitia James

New York Attorney General Letitia James has secured more than $3.2 million from eight Nissan dealerships in New York City, the Hudson Valley, and on Long Island – Action Nissan, Bay Ridge Nissan, Legend Nissan, Garden City Nissan, Huntington Nissan, Rockaway Nissan, Smithtown Nissan, and Teddy Nissan – for allegedly overcharging more than 1,700 New Yorkers who wanted to purchase their leased vehicles at the end of their lease term. The announcement was made on May 6.

An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) found that these dealerships added junk fees or falsified the price of leased vehicles that customers wanted to buy when their lease ended, forcing them to pay higher costs. As a result of OAG’s investigation, eight dealerships will pay penalties for overcharging on end-of-lease buyouts and pay full restitution to more than 1,700 consumers who paid more for their vehicles than they were promised. Attorney General James has now stopped deceptive practices at 15 Nissan dealerships and recovered more than $1 million in penalties and $4.5 million in restitution for more than 2,800 New Yorkers.

“Buying a car is a major financial decision, and no one should have to worry about dealers using illegal junk fees to drive up the price,” said Attorney General James in a press release. “These car dealers misled their customers with bogus fees and other costs to cheat them out of their hard-earned money. My office’s investigation will put money back in the pockets of defrauded New Yorkers and require these dealers to steer clear of violating our laws and deceiving consumers.”

The OAG opened an investigation into Nissan dealerships after consumers reported they were being overcharged and given inaccurate receipts for end-of-lease buyouts after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The investigation found that the consumers leased their Nissan cars under an agreement that gave them the option to purchase the vehicle for a set amount after the lease term ended. However, when they returned to the dealerships to buy their car when their leases were up, the dealerships substantially overcharged them. The dealers either added miscellaneous “dealership fees” or “administrative fees,” or inflated the vehicle’s price on the invoice given to the consumer.

Under the agreements announced on May 6:

  • Action Nissan in Nyack, Rockland County will pay $157,958.59 to 192 overcharged consumers and pay a $47,920 penalty;
  • Bay Ridge Nissan in Brooklyn will pay $23,624 to 46 overcharged consumers and pay a $11,960 penalty;
  • Garden City Nissan in Hempstead, Nassau County will pay $824,013 to 361 overcharged consumers and pay a $89,624 penalty;
  • Huntington Nissan in Huntington Station, Suffolk County will pay $426,654 to 275 overcharged consumers and pay a $68,750 penalty;
  • Legend Nissan in Syosset, Nassau County will pay $333,482 to 233 overcharged consumers and pay a $20,000 penalty;
  • Rockaway Nissan in Queens will pay $308,918 to 177 overcharged consumers and pay a $44,250 penalty;
  • Smithtown Nissan in St. James, Suffolk County will pay $643,640 to 321 overcharged consumers and pay a $80,250 penalty; and
  • Teddy Nissan in the Bronx will pay $108,773 to 156 overcharged consumers and pay a $35,560 penalty.

New Yorkers entitled to restitution do not need to take any action to receive the payment. The dealerships have already begun paying restitution through mailed checks in the full amount of the overcharge and will continue to do so throughout the year. The dealerships have also agreed to reform their invoicing practices to ensure all lease buyout customers are neither overcharged nor provided with inaccurate receipts.

Attorney General James has secured settlements with 15 different Nissan dealerships for cheating customers with illegal fees and inflated prices when they attempted to buy out the leases on their cars. In June 2024, Attorney General James secured $350,000 from two Nissan dealers on Long Island. In March 2024, Attorney General James secured over $1.9 million from five Nissan dealers in New York City and Long Island.

Attorney General James asks any consumers who may have been affected by deceptive or fraudulent lease buyout practices to file a consumer complaint online.

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorney General Alec Webley of the Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau, under the supervision of Bureau Chief Jane M. Azia and Deputy Bureau Chief Laura J. Levine. The Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau is a part of the Division of Economic Justice, which is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris D’Angelo and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

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Eva Casale during the 7-day marathon challenge. Photo courtesy Alyssa Nightingale
Eva Casale kneeling in honor by the grave of veteran Robert Christopher Pope. Photo courtesy Alyssa Nightingale
Eva Cassale runs past the Huntington Veterans Plaza with other members of her team. Photo courtesy Alyssa Nightingale

By Dylan Friedman

Continuing a remarkable tradition, ultra-runner Eva Casale this past week (April 27 – May 3) traversed Long Island for the ninth time in as many years, completing her seven-marathon-in-seven-days challenge – an enduring tribute to the legacy of America’s veterans.

“I started running local veteran races, and during those races, I met Gold Star families,” Casale explained. “I wanted to see if there’s a way we could continue to remember them.” Gold Star families are those who have lost loved ones during active military service. 

What began as a personal mission has evolved into nine annual Every Veteran Appreciated (EVA) Weeks and counting, challenging physical limits and serving as a moving educational platform. 

Each day, the marathon is strategically dedicated to different fallen heroes, with over 20 Points of Honor. Casale and other participants pause at certain businesses and military memorials to learn about specific veterans and their sacrifices.

“Each time I read those plaques, it really reminds me that I am here because of them,” Casale said. “I am able to run these streets and have freedom because of them. That gives me strength when I’m tired.”

Another critical component of the week involves engaging younger generations. Casale aims to create meaningful connections to veterans’ experiences by inviting high school students to participate. Patchogue-Medford High School and Copiague students ran in this year’s event, while learning about military memorials and placing roses at significant locations throughout the journey.

“We took [the students] to a memorial as part of the 5k run that we do at the end of the day,” Casale explained. “After I put down my first rose, I would share with some of the other students, [and] they would do the same thing. They were actually understanding why it was there and why it was important.” 

Casale’s personal connection to the military is rooted in her father’s experience of serving in the Korean War. “He never spoke about it much, if at all,” Casale recalled. “But I think there is a certain generation that does not speak about it, but they still need to be thanked for their service, so that is what I am trying to teach,” Casale continued.  

For Casale, whose athletic background already encompassed feats of extreme endurance, the demanding seven-day marathon format emerged as a fitting and impactful way to amplify her message.

With a background in ultra-running —having completed 50- and 100-mile events — the seven-day marathon format was a natural choice. “I did this seven-day format once before [doing this event annually],” Casale said. “I chose this format because it brings more and more awareness over an extended period.” 

Maintaining physical readiness for such a grueling challenge requires careful recovery strategies. Each night, Casale used compression boots for several hours, a ritual she credits with making “the world of difference” in her ability to continue running day after day.

When asked about the event’s future, Casale maintains that she will continue doing it as long as possible.

“I mean, every year I have been asked the same question, right?” Casale said. “I would say as long as I can, my team is really excited, because next year is the 10th year. So we will do the same format, we are excited, and then we will see from there. At this point, my answer is always, as long as I am able to do it, and as a way to thank our veterans, we will continue with our mission.” 

As the event approaches its milestone next year, it is a powerful testament to the enduring spirit of gratitude and remembrance. Through seven marathons, countless stories are shared, and a commitment to honoring those who have served, Casale continues to transform athletic achievement into a profound act of remembrance.

“We want people to recognize that gentleman sitting in the diner wearing the Korean War hat and say, Thank you, thank you for your service,” Casale said. “We want people to thank the woman across the street who served in the Army or the Navy. We want them to say, thank you for your service. That is where part of our mission is. We know we have that opportunity to remind people to do that.”

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File photo by Raymond Janis

Common sense approach

As the former chairman of the Huntington Town Zoning Board of Appeals, I worked tirelessly to balance the interests of residents, landowners and prospective applicants.

New York State Zoning Law requires that neighbors and other residents’ interests be represented in hearing applicant requests. The burden of consideration by the applicant, under the law, covers at least five explicit considerations for area variances requests: an undesirable change, feasible alternatives, substantiality, adverse effects and self-created hardship. As a board we emphasized careful review of potential undesirable changes to neighborhoods, always lending a sensitive ear to the neighbors.

You may have met me at your door during some of these applications, as I would often take the time to walk a neighborhood impacted and speak to residents instead of putting the burden on them to show up at a ZBA meeting.

Residents shouldn’t have to leave their house during a cold winter night, wait hours to speak at a public hearing to fight to defend their zoning and quality of life every time a development application comes up. That is a strict responsibility of the board; residents should not be on the defensive.

Our Town Board and the individuals they appoint have a duty and responsibility to represent us, not simply facilitate development.

The need for the Zoning Board and Planning Board’s independence in this Town is paramount if we are to restore trust in the Town’s zoning process.

Land-use rules and laws protect our most precious investment, our homes. Good zoning and land-use guidance is the most important responsibility of Town government, it is what knits our communities and neighborhoods together. Applications for exemptions from prevailing laws deserve careful review, but that review should never be at the disadvantage of neighbors and residents.

Now, more than ever, we need this balanced common sense approach.

John Posilico

Former Chairman of the Huntington Town Zoning Board of Appeals 

Questioning ‘Elder Parole’ for cop killers

It’s common for politicians to send out “constituent surveys.”  Ostensibly, the goal is to get feedback from local voters on specific issues. But it would be a rare survey indeed, that did not frame certain questions in ways aimed at getting politically desired responses.

Newly elected Assembly member Rebecca Kassay pretty much followed that template with her May mailer.

A couple of seemingly “feel good” proposals were the Second Look Act, and Elder Parole. Maybe state polls are looking to save some dollars on a staggering state budget that’s twice the size of Florida and Texas combined?  Money aside, the goal is to give judges and parole boards the power to reconsider early release for “elderly individuals” so long as the felons have “demonstrated growth and rehabilitation.”  

Here are two important unknowns.   What would be the specific criteria for the above mentioned, and how it might be applied to those who’ve murdered law enforcement officers?  This is especially critical because the PBA has cited 43 cop killers released by our NYS Parole Board in just the last 8 years, 

As of this writing,waiting on the sidelines to possibly become lucky number 44, is David McClary. On Feb. 26, 1988, he snuck up behind rookie NYPD Officer Edward Byrne, and shot him five times in the head.  The 22-year-old was guarding a witness waiting to testify against a notorious drug lord.  

Edward’s brother Ken spoke to ABC News.  “Referencing the murder he said, “’It was a horrible scene, we were in shock. It was just beyond devastation.…’ “This is always a difficult process because every two years with the parole board we have to reive everything.” It’s that family’s eighth time.  

Who has had the most sway in picking and managing the group tasked with deciding which felons will be freed?  That would be former governor Andrew Cuomo, and his Democrat heir, Kathy Hochul (D). This board is a direct reflection of their views on policing and made up of a majority of fellow Dems.  

One of the members would be Tana Agostini, who was appointed by Cuomo in 2017. She married convicted killer Thomas O’Sullivan while he was still in prison. Tana used her influence as a staffer of the state Assembly committee overseeing prisons in 2013 to advocate for the parole of O’Sullivan. His stint in prison included an escape and biting off part of an inmate’s nose. It’s hard to see much “growth and rehabilitation” there. 

Imagine the unrelenting heartache, revisited every 24 months by long “suffering NYPD families, who are sitting in front of an NYS Parole Board that has released an average of five cop killers yearly since 2017.  We can bet these kinds of “feel good” proposals feel anything but good to them.  Let’s remember and help protect slain, heroic police officers and their grieving loved ones, 

Hard “No” on survey query number 7.   

Jim Soviero

East Setauket

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Cookie the Pom. Photo from Unsplash

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

Dear Paw Landers,

I’ve never written a letter like this before. Truth be told, I’ve never written a letter of any kind.

But I understand you live far away and that you dispense valuable advice that I could use in my everyday life with the guy and his family.

The guy spends most of his days sitting at this thing typing, so I guess I can do it for an hour or so, which, you know, is more like seven hours for him.

I was thinking of asking you about that rumbling noise that scares me so much when it gets incredibly dark out and when the ground gets wet. Those sounds make me want to find cover somewhere, but no matter where I go, I can still hear it and feel the terrible vibrations. It’s like if a pack of, you know, us were running around the neighborhood, growling so loudly outside the door that we caused the floor to vibrate a second or two after a flash of light.

No, no, I’ll save the questions about those noises for some other letter. This one is about the delicate social business of interacting in the neighborhood.

You see, my guy varies in his social energy and interests. Some days, he speaks with everyone we run into and bends down to pet other dogs.

That doesn’t bother me, the way it did with Fifi last week, when she complained that her owner pets other dogs more readily and happily than she pets Fifi. I’m fine if my guy wants to scratch other dogs behind their ears or rubs their back. Frankly, there are times when I think he needs a hobby to get out all of his scratching, squeezing and high-pitched voice energy that he reserves for me and, once in a while, for small people when they come to the house.

Other times, he barely waves or acknowledges people and their pets. He’s either staring into his phone and talking to himself or he’s making lists out loud and telling himself what he needs to do that day.

When he does stop to chat with neighbors and their companions, he often talks about me while the other human talks about their dog. I’m kind of tired of hearing about how I don’t like to swim, how I’m not that high energy and I don’t fetch.

Everyone doesn’t have to fetch or swim, right? But, then, he also talks about how sensitive I am and how supportive I am whenever anyone is feeling sad in the house. Hey, we all have our strengths, right?

When he’s chatting, sometimes about me and sometimes about the weather, I’m not always sure how long the pause in our walk will go.

I sometimes sit or lay down near him, while other dogs jump or sniff around me. Other times, I’m so happy to see one of my neighbors that she and I try to tie the two leashes into a knot in the shape of a heart. My guy and the neighbor never see it, but it’s so obvious to us.

Every so often, I meet someone intriguing and, you know how it is, right? I have to sniff them, the way they have to sniff me. The question is, how long can I sniff their butts before it becomes socially awkward, either for them or for the humans?

I mean, I can tell when my guy is in an intense conversation about something, when his voice drops or shakes and I want to help him. At the same time, I have this need to sniff.

Clearly, sniffing butts at the wrong time or for too long can become a problem for the guy and the other person.

If we do it too long, their conversation ends and he walks away, muttering and puling on me until we get inside.

So, what’s the ideal, allowable butt sniffing time? And remember that none of us is getting any younger, so, you know, if you could write back soon, it’d help. You can’t see me, but I’m looking up at you with my big brown eyes and wagging my tail. That usually works with the guy.

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METRO photo

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

Tuesday was National Teacher Appreciation Day, which reminded me of Miss Rigney, who changed my life. 

Miss Rigney was my sixth grade teacher in the perfectly ordinary elementary school I attended. Housed in a cement building, in the midst of a residential area, it served the neighborhood according to the rules for education in mid-century New York City, with two classrooms and two teachers for each grade. I was assigned to 6A. Next door was 6B.

Soon after entering sixth grade, we became aware of the goal for the coming year. We needed to pass the Hunter Test for the honor of the school and our own benefit.

The Hunter Test, we discovered, was a one day affair that, if successfully navigated, would win us admission to Hunter College High School where classes started with seventh grade and ended with graduation from high school. Open to students from each sixth grade in all five boroughs, a handful of us would be eligible, after scoring well on a standardized test in fifth grade, to travel to the school on the appointed day to take the test.

I liked the sound of that because it was the closest junior high school to where I lived. I sympathized with those students who would have to ride from Brooklyn, Queens and even Staten Island.

There were several special schools throughout the city whose admission was via a challenging test: Stuyvesant, Bronx High School of Science and Brooklyn Tech were three. They were also public schools and were run by the Board of Education with the idea of giving some students a head start. 

But Hunter was different. It was initially started in 1869 as a model school in which to train teachers who were matriculating in Hunter College and was administrated by the Board of Higher Education. Its 1200 students in six grades “represent the top one-quarter of one percent of the City” based on the test scores, according to the school. It was composed of all girls for its first 105 years. The student-teacher ratio was 13:1, and its faculty for the most part had advanced degrees.

“Aim of the entire course through which the Normal students pass is not so much to burden the mind with facts as it is to develop intellectual power, cultivate judgment, and enable the graduates to take trained ability into the world with them,” wrote Harper’s Magazine in 1878.

Now we kids didn’t know any of this. I just wanted the shortest commute, and it was impressed on us that Hunter was a good place to be. So we prepared for the test, which was months away, with the coaching of our teachers, four girls from 6B and two from 6A. 

Only Miss Rigney, a trim, freckle-faced redhead with a gentle manner, who seemed old to me, but was maybe 28, stayed after school twice a week and drilled Carol and me with a workbook. When we didn’t do the homework she then gave us, both arithmetic and English, she was uncharacteristically stern with us. It was clear that this was a challenge she wanted us to surmount.

On the day the results of the Test were sent to the school, the principal called the six of us down to her office, along with the teachers, and with a great deal of excitement, opened the envelope and read the results out loud. Carol and I had been admitted; no one had from the other class.

There was screaming and moaning. Miss Rigney smiled, quietly congratulated the two of us and returned to her classroom. I was happy because I thought I should be. I knew my parents would be pleased, but I had no understanding of what had just happened.

I had no idea that my life would be unalterably changed — that I would be attending what was thought to be one of the finest high school in the country, ranked number one by The Wall Street Journal, one of only 225 pupils, with some of the most accomplished teachers for whom teaching was an art, that I would mingle with far more sophisticated students, and because of them, freely explore the City. 

I had a remarkable high school education. When I landed in college, I was immediately offered second year standing because of my AP classes. Miss Rigney knew. 

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Rite Aid

By Heidi Sutton

The signs were already there with empty shelves that were never restocked but now it’s official. Rite Aid Pharmacy announced on May 5 that the business will be selling or closing all of its locations in the next few months, including 178 in New York, as it files for Chapter 11 proceedings for the second time in less than two years. The company currently operates 1,245 stores in 15 states, according to its website.

During this process, Rite Aid customers can continue to access pharmacy services and products in stores and online, including prescriptions and immunizations. In connection with the sale process and court-supervised proceedings, the Company is working to facilitate a smooth transfer of customer prescriptions to other pharmacies, according to the press release.

“For more than 60 years, Rite Aid has been a proud provider of pharmacy services and products to our loyal customers. While we have continued to face financial challenges, intensified by the rapidly evolving retail and healthcare landscapes in which we operate, we are encouraged by meaningful interest from a number of potential national and regional strategic acquirors. As we move forward, our key priorities are ensuring uninterrupted pharmacy services for our customers and preserving jobs for as many associates as possible,” said Matt Schroeder, Chief Executive Officer of Rite Aid.

“I will be forever grateful to our thousands of associates for their commitment to Rite Aid and its mission, and I thank our entire team – from store associates to corporate employees – for their dedication to our customers and our company. With their support, we have played a critical role in supporting the healthcare needs of countless Americans across the communities that we are honored to serve,” Schroeder added.

Following the announcement, Rite Aid posted on its website that starting May 6 Rite Aid Rewards points will no longer be issued for qualifying purchases. All accrued points and BonusCash will expire per standard terms & conditions available at riteaid.com/rewards/terms-and-conditions.

The website also said that Rite Aid would no longer honor Rite Aid gift cards or accept any returns or exchanges beginning June 5.

To support Rite Aid during its sale process, which it intends to conduct under section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the Company has secured commitments from certain of its existing lenders to access $1.94 billion in new financing. This financing, along with cash from operations, is expected to provide sufficient funding during the sale and court-supervised process. The Company intends to divest or monetize any assets that are not sold through the court-supervised process. Rite Aid has filed a number of customary motions with the Court seeking authorization to support operations, including continued payment of employee wages and benefits, according to the release.

Currently there are 12 Rite Aids in Suffolk County, including Eastport, Hampton Bays, Huntington, Kings Park, Lindenhurst, Middle Island, Mount Sinai, North Babylon, Selden, Shirley, Southampton, and West Islip. Stores will begin to close or be sold within the next few months.

For a full list of New York Rite Aid locations, click here.

 

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Photo from John W. Engeman Theater

The John W. Engeman Theater in Nothport has announced its 2025–2026 Main Stage season. The exciting line-up brings together a Tony Award-winning hit musical, a heartwarming holiday tradition, iconic musical legends, epic love stories, and a blast of ’80s fun. Season tickets are available now. Single show tickets go on sale on May 20.

“We are so proud to present such a powerful and entertaining lineup,” said Richard Dolce, Executive Producer of The John W. Engeman Theater. “This season celebrates unforgettable storytelling and iconic music, and I can’t think of a better way to mark our 100th Main Stage production. Audiences are in for a season full of joy, heart, and spectacular performances!”

COME FROM AWAY
September 11 – October 26, 2025
Our milestone 100th Main Stage production opens the season with the critically acclaimed, award-winning musical COME FROM AWAY. On 9/11, the world stopped. On 9/12, their stories moved us all. Set in the small town of Gander, Newfoundland, this moving true story follows the 7,000 stranded passengers who were welcomed with open arms in the wake of tragedy. Full of hope, humanity, and soaring music, COME FROM AWAY is a testament to the power of community and compassion.

A CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE MUSICAL
November 13 – December 28, 2025
Celebrate the holiday season with this lively musical adaptation of Charles Dickens’ timeless tale. A CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE MUSICAL follows Ebenezer Scrooge on a magical journey guided by the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Featuring a delightful score by Alan Menken (Beauty & The Beast, The Little Mermaid) and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens (Seussical, Once On This Island), this festive production is the perfect holiday treat for the whole family.

RING OF FIRE
January 15 – March 1, 2026
Feel the rhythm of the legendary Johnny Cash in this musical tribute that tells the story of his life through his iconic songs. RING OF FIRE features a toe-tapping collection of country, rock ‘n’ roll, gospel, and heartfelt ballads, brought to life by a cast of extraordinary actor-musicians. From “I Walk the Line” to “Folsom Prison Blues,” this show celebrates the man in black like never before.

THE BODYGUARD
March 12 – April 26, 2026
The smash-hit film comes to life on stage in this breathtaking musical adaptation. When a former Secret Service agent is hired to protect a superstar singer, they find more than danger—they find love. Featuring the chart-topping Whitney Houston soundtrack, THE BODYGUARD includes show-stopping hits such as “I Will Always Love You,” “I Wanna Dance with Somebody,” “So Emotional,” and more.

CAMELOT
May 14 – June 28, 2026
Rediscover the legendary tale of King Arthur, Queen Guenevere, and Sir Lancelot in the sweeping and romantic musical CAMELOT. With its soaring score and timeless story of honor, love, and betrayal, this classic from Lerner & Loewe features beloved songs including, “If Ever I Would Leave You,” “The Lusty Month of May,” and the title song “Camelot.”

THE WEDDING SINGER
July 9 – August 23, 2026
Close out the season with a high-energy celebration of the ’80s! Based on the hit Adam Sandler film, THE WEDDING SINGER brings big hair, big dreams, and big laughs to the stage. Follow Robbie, a charming wedding singer with a broken heart, as he finds new love in this hilarious and feel-good musical packed with catchy tunes, retro vibes, and romance.

Tickets & Information:
Tickets can be purchased by calling (631) 261-2900, visiting www.engemantheater.com, or in person at the Box Office located at 250 Main Street, Northport.

For a complete show schedule and more, visit www.engemantheater.com or call (631) 261-2900.

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Nobel Laureate Mario Capecchi being interviewed by Ludmila Pollock.

By Daniel Dunaief

Ludmila “Mila” Pollock isn’t a scientist, but she has made significant contributions to the field over more than a quarter of a century. In fact, the Executive Director of the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Library & Archives has contributed so meaningfully to sharing scientific information and celebrating scientists and their history that she was recently elected a fellow of the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science.

“It’s just a privilege to be among all the other fellows,” said Pollock, who calls herself a “keeper and promoter of knowledge and scientific legacies related to molecular biology and genetics.”

Pollock, who has been at CSHL since 1999, founded the lab’s History of Science Meetings in 2008 and created an oral history project in 2000 in which she has interviewed over 170 pioneers in molecular biology, genetics and technology.

People who have worked with Pollock praised her work, passion and dedication, suggesting that her energy and focus inspired them and will likely encourage future generations of scientists.

“The resources [Pollock] has brought to life offer a trove of educational material that can help inspire young students to explore and hopefully pursue an education and eventually a career in biomedical research,” said Kevin Davies, Editorial Director of Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News and author of Cracking the Genome and Editing Humanity. “She is a treasure!”

Davies and Pollock helped compile the Annotated Scholarly Guide to the Human Genome Project.

Davies suggested that Pollock “conceived and drove” the guide to completion and that it “simply would not exist without her energy and commitment.”

While Pollock appreciated the recognition, she suggested that the work she has done at CSHL has been a product of numerous collaborations.

At the History of Science meetings, most of the speakers are prominent researchers. One or two speakers can include a historian. Attendees are typically researchers, students, historians, journalists and others.

Pollock is delighted to share the historical scientific narrative and, in some cases, to have these gatherings become a part of the ongoing story.

Indeed, when Katalin Karikó won the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2023 for work that laid the foundation for effective mRNA vaccines against Covid-19, she told the Nobel Prize committee she had just returned from a meeting at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, which celebrated 50 years of recombinant DNA technology.

“That was a very good promotion for us,” said Pollock.

As for the oral histories, Pollock spoke with four Nobel Prize-winning female scientists last year, including Jennifer Doudna and Emmanuelle Charpentier, who won the prize for creating the gene-editing tool CRISPR.

Scientists appreciate the opportunity to hear directly from the scientists through the oral history project. By cross referencing replies from researchers, viewers can compare what scientists said in response to the same question.

“The result is a much richer source of history than any one interview could provide,” Bruce Alberts, a biochemist who was president of the National Academy of Sciences from 1993 to 2005, explained in an interview.

A girl in a library

Pollock grew up in Vitebsk, Russia, a geographic origin now in Belarus that she shares with artist Marc Chagall.

When she was four and went to an adult library with her father, she was disappointed that only librarians could go behind the desk to browse through all the books. She told her parents she would become a librarian so she could browse through the books at any library.

As a librarian and archivist, she has been an advocate for open access. She sees many similarities between the hard work Nobel Prize winners and other scientists who haven’t received some of the top honors in their fields yet do.

Pollock appreciates the connections she has made with scientists. “Everyone I have spoken with is truly remarkable,” she said.

The scientists feel the same way about her.

Alberts recalled attending a tribute to the scientist Sydney Brenner in 2022, where Alberts was a speaker. Alberts had left his walking stick in a taxi on the way to the meeting. Pollock gave him a cane that he took back to San Francisco.

Pollock has “an outgoing, warm personality that makes every encounter with her a memorable event for me,” Alberts said.

Nancy Hopkins, the Amgen, Inc., Professor of Biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, suggested the oral history project represents a “huge amount of work” from the archives.

“Imagine the excitement of a student who falls in love with the field and then discovers that they can listen to — almost talk with — key figures who shaped the science that is their passion!” Hopkins said. “I think this is a gift that will grow in value beyond what we can imagine today.”

Pollock has enjoyed many of the conversations she’s had with scientists over the years. The scientists have revealed a great deal about themselves and their lives. In particular, she found an interaction with former director John Cairns, who was discussing Nobel Prize winner Barbara McClintock, enlightening.

While many scientists shared their admiration for McClintock’s work on jumping genes and appreciation for her work, Cairns shared a different side of her.

“She was [an] immensely difficult person who specialized in being difficult,” Cairns recalled in the oral history. She specialized in being difficult with the director of the lab.

“She would always tell me how marvelous [Millislav] Demerec [the namesake of a building on campus today] was, and how awful I was, and one day, I got very fed up with this so I went to [the director of the Department of Genetics] Al Hershey.”

Hershey told Cairns that McClintock “hated him” and that he did not want to talk to her because he thought speaking with her would give him a stroke. 

‘Force of nature’

Collaborators and supporters inside and outside of CSHL recognized and appreciated Pollock’s contribution and the energy and passion she brings to her work.

Davies and CSHL CEO Bruce Stillman both described Pollock as a “force of nature.” Stillman nominated Pollock as an AAAS fellow.

“She absolutely deserves this recognition,” Stillman said. Pollock has advanced the CSHL archives to become one of the most valuable archives in genetics and molecular biology,” which includes archives of numerous Nobel Laureates. Stillman and former CEO James Watson hired her as a librarian in 1999.

The current CSHL CEO described the meetings Pollock coordinates and runs as “some of the most important discoveries in the history of the life and medical sciences.”

As far as the oral histories, Stillman suggested the scientists share their views on people and ideas in a way they would not if they had to write answers.

Indeed, the meetings and oral histories not only serve as valuable parts of the public record, but also provide material for college educators.

Dr. Stephen Buratowski, Hamilton Kuhn Professor of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology at Harvard Medical School, emailed Pollock to let her know that one of the video links on the website wasn’t working.

He indicated that he often used these videos for teaching PhD students “as the stories told breathe life into the papers we are reading,” he wrote. “These talks are a treasured historical resource.”

Sir Richard Roberts, a Nobel Prize winner and Chief Scientific Officer at New England Biolabs, believed the history of science meetings provide a “very good view of how science evolves from a small starting point into a major field. This can give ideas of both how to do things and sometimes how not to do things to young people just getting started.”

These meetings can also inspire would-be authors to write books and ensure a permanent record with expert comment, Roberts added.

“Best of all, they are great fun to attend,” Roberts wrote.

 

History of Science Meetings
https://www.cshl.edu/education/center-for-humanities/history-of-science-meetings/

Oral History
https://library.cshl.edu/oralhistory/

 

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An aerial view of Stony Brook University

When 11 Stony Brook students’ visas were terminated early this month, a state of uncertainty descended on the school and community. Immigration and Customs Enforcement revoked the students’ records, destabilizing them when they should be learning and growing. Their largest concern, no longer exams and school work, was whether they would be able to stay in the country to finish their education.  Hundreds of international students across the country were notified by their schools that their visas were revoked, and many times without a public reason. 

The school extended resources to help, students and staff gathered in swaths to support the affected students, and local politicians like Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay (D-NY4) used their resources to help protect and prepare the students for what came next. 

While SEVIS records can be terminated on the basis that the student has a criminal record, the federal government has also revoked records of politically active students, reasoning that they interfered with foreign policy. The revocation of the records does not necessarily mean the next step is deportation; however, it is a step in that direction as the student no longer has the legal records to protect against removal proceedings.

Stony Brook University has over 3,000 international students bringing valuable skills and unique perspectives to the Stony Brook community. Their experiences and perspectives prove valuable to the classroom and the broader community; the breadth of cultures and backgrounds produce well-rounded, empathetic and curious professionals. 

Once it the government became more aggressive with visa terminations, some students across the U.S. began “self-deporting”, saying they no longer felt safe here. Thankfully, none of the 11 students who had their visas revoked left the country. With the support of the school and their classmates, they kept going to classes. They kept learning. 

The visas have been restored and imminent risk of deportation has been abated, but the uncertainty lingers. The federal government reversed itself while under pressure from lawsuits that argued due process was neglected. As ICE hone their criteria and protocols for visa termination, it is unclear whether these students will again be at risk. The school that admitted these students and the local politicians who represent people in the area remain ready to assist these international students as they become a part of the country’s ongoing experiment with democracy.

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File photo by Raymond Janis

Problems for the Bess Task Force 

We now have a newly formed BESS Task Force, assembled for the purpose of evaluating the safety risks of proposed lithium-ion battery systems, apparently concentrating on thermal runaway. One issue that should be addressed by the Task Force is the effect of the discharge efficiency of the battery, which may lead to significant heating in the battery systems. One example is the system proposed by New Leaf Energy, which will provide 8.75 MW of power for 4 hours. Based on experience, a typical lithium-ion battery discharge efficiency is 10-15%. To be conservative, let us assume a discharge efficiency of 15%. Thus, if 8.75 MW is delivered to the external loads (or homes) for 4 hours, the internal power dissipated in the BESS is 1.54 MW. The BESS must have a cooling system capable of removing the heat generated by this power, to prevent the internal temperatures of the BESS cells from reaching temperatures capable of causing thermal runaway.

Although the occurrence of thermal runaway is clearly a cause for concern, it appears that the attention of the BESS Task Force will address only peaker applications, which will remain powered primarily by “fossil fuel” plants. But problems that are much more serious, and much more complex, will be encountered when we attempt to achieve an emissions-free economy, possibly by 2050. If we attempt to accomplish this by utilizing only solar arrays and windmills as our source of power, we will inevitably face the possibility of blackouts, subject to the available activity levels of the sun and wind. By drastic increases in the size and complexity of our solar arrays, windmills and BESS installations, the probability of a blackout can be decreased, but not eliminated entirely. Once the BESS Peaker Task Force has completed their analysis and issued their report, perhaps they can redirect their attention to this problem.  

George Altemose 

Setauket

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