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Sarah Anker and Anthony Palumbo: Candidates for Senate District 1

by Peter Sloniewsky - October 31, 2024

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Anker-Palumbo combined_ copy — Sarah Anker and NYS Sen. Anthony Palumbo. Photos by Toni-Elena Gallo

By Peter Sloniewsky

In their recent debate at the TBR News Media office, State Senate District 1 candidate Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) and incumbent Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) highlighted their diverse experiences, local and statewide issues, and emphasized their relatively moderate stances. Senate District 1 covers the East End towns of Southampton, East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island and Southold as well as part of eastern Brookhaven Town along the North Shore to Stony Brook.

Legislative service and issues

Sarah Anker is running for New York State SenateL District 1.

Firstly, Anker and Palumbo both spent time focusing on their history of legislative service. Anker served for 13 years as a Suffolk County legislator until she was term-limited. Beyond that, Anker emphasized that she had been, and still is, an active citizen, describing herself as a “community advocate.” This background supported Anker’s enthusiasm for hyper-local issues, which have highlighted her time as a county legislator.

Correspondingly, Anker’s platform is based upon local issues. Stating that, “The most important part of being a legislator is the needs of your constituents,” Anker spoke extensively on issues like traffic safety and water management, often with specific examples and detailed background. She also focused on solving the opioid crisis on Long Island.

Palumbo served as a Suffolk County assistant DA before being elected state assemblyman 2013-20. Palumbo is the Republican Deputy Floor Leader in the New York State Senate alongside his roles as the ranking member of the Codes and Judiciary Committees. Palumbo’s platform was largely based in state politics considering his extensive time there, and he took note to emphasize his highly productive track record in office.

Palumbo’s platform is largely defined by pro-taxpayer policies and fiscal conservatism in opposition to government wastefulness. Additionally, in line with his stances on property tax issues across Long Island, he spoke about support for new homebuyers from the state. A centerpiece of his platform, however, is his support for criminal-justice reform on the state level — Palumbo is strictly opposed to bail reform and views it as a misguided Democratic agenda item.

Staller development at Port Jefferson Station

Both candidates also discussed the Staller proposal for Port Jefferson Station development in different terms. Anker stated she felt that the community had been under involved in the process — that “we want more people to come and stay here,” but that the proposed buildings were obtrusive and it was most important to preserve the suburban character of the area.

Alternatively, Palumbo thought that Staller should receive the benefit of the doubt as a multigenerational, experienced developer. He framed the question simply: “We’re really asking what the state can do — the state can stay out of it.” Additionally, to him, debate over the project was emblematic of wider issues in New York’s focus on tenant-centered policy.

Political moderation

Despite these differences, the candidates agreed on most issues and spent time emphasizing their relative political moderation. Anker noted that Palumbo’s mailers cast her as a progressive while she self-describes as “one of the most moderate and fiscal-conservative Democrats you can find,” with experience winning “seven times as a Democrat in one of the most Republican districts out of the legislative districts in Suffolk County.” Moreover,

Palumbo focused on what he depicted as commonsense issues which are more moderate than his widely-assumed agenda as a Republican.

Long Island school costs

Both candidates also advocated for a reexamination of Long Island school costs. Palumbo advocated for consolidation, and claimed that immigrants were taking advantage of public schools. However, the center of his point was that he would look to reduce an “abundance of administration and staff while not compromising the education of the kids.” Anker also advocated to reexamine administrative pay, and claimed she was looking into an “alternative” way of funding schools to lessen the strain on homeowners.

Criticisms and consensus

Both candidates took a few digs at their opponent. Palumbo attacked Anker’s record as a “full-time legislator,” claiming that she reported income from two independent business ventures while also a legislator — a claim that she did not directly respond to. He also criticized what Anker described as her proudest legislative achievement — a hotline for school shootings instituted after the Sandy Hook attack — as an “unfunded mandate” that doesn’t solve any parts of the underlying issue.

Anker criticized Palumbo’s track record as not being local enough. She pointed at his policy proposal for a community preservation fund as something that had already been attempted in the Town of Brookhaven, and used his efforts on a bill to assist the Montauk Native Americans to describe him as lacking focus, even as Palumbo called himself “a Brookhaven guy.”

Overall, both candidates reached consensus on a good number of issues but found room to criticize each other on lines beyond their partisan differences.

Election Day is Nov. 5. Early voting is still available through Sunday, Nov. 3. See www.suffolkcountyny.gov for Suffolk County locations and times.

Happy Halloween from TBR News Media!

by TBR Staff - October 31, 2024

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Happy Halloween! Wishing everyone a day full tricks and treats! — Your friends at TBR News Media

Here are some last minute events to celebrate the most fun time of year:

Halloween at the Mall

Drop by the Smith Haven Mall, Moriches Road, Lake Grove for a spooktacular, fun trick-or-treating for all the little ghouls and goblins on Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. (while supplies last*) Retailers and restaurants that have tricks or treats for the little ones will have pumpkin in their windows. Free. 631-724-1433

Safe Trick or Treat

The Shoppes at East Wind, 5720 Route 25A, Wading River invites all goblins & ghouls & children dressed in costume to enjoy a safe outdoor Trick or Treating on Oct. 31 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free. 631-929-3500

Halloween at the Heckscher

Families are invited to celebrate Halloween at the Heckscher Museum of Art, 2 Prime Ave., Huntington on Oct. 31 from noon to 5 p.m. Create a spooktacular art activity, make a haunted Digital Action painting, and take home a festive treat! Free admission. Costumes encouraged. Free. 631-380-3230, www.heckscher.org

Halloween Festival

The Ward Melville Heritage Organization hosts its 34th annual Halloween Festival at the Stony Brook Village Center, 111 Main St., Stony Brook on Oct. 31 from 2 to 5 p.m. with trick or treating in the shops and restaurants, Halloween parade, games and Monster Mash dancing. Free. 631-751-2244, www.wmho.org

Halloween Costume Parade

The annual Downtown “Hauntington” Village Halloween Costume Parade returns to the Town of Huntington on Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. Line-up at the Huntington Post Office, 55 Gerard St., Huntington for a parade. Trick or treat at designated village merchants before and after the parade. Free. 631-351-3173

Spooky Woods & Trick O’ Treat

Smithtown Historical Society, 239 East Main St., Smithtown presents a family-friendly Spooky Woods and Trick O’ Treat event on Oct. 31 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Take a spooktacular walk through a haunted trail, where little ones will have a great time seeing Halloween displays on one side and farm animals on the other. Enjoy trick o’ treating and say hi to craft and food vendors (and maybe some jolly ghosts) at this unique Halloween experience for the entire family. Don’t miss the hayride (additional charge) through the spooky woods! $10 per person, kids under 3 free. 631-265-6768

Guest column: With Proposition 2, Suffolk’s future is in your hands

by TBR Staff - October 30, 2024

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415507696_122093790860180810_1190846810702090748_n — Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine

On Election Day, voters will cast their votes for president, U.S. Senate, Congress and state legislators. In Suffolk County, voters also have a once-in-a-generation chance to safeguard the future of Suffolk County’s surface and groundwater in Proposition 2.

The proposition allows Suffolk County to begin the process of updating our wastewater infrastructure for the 21st century. Whether it is sewering our downtowns or supporting neighbors installing I/A systems to combat nitrogen pollution, the successful passage of Proposition 2 gives us the tools we need.

Passage of Prop 2 establishes Suffolk’s eligibility for state and federal funding. Recouping as many tax dollars from New York state is important to operate Suffolk County.

Proposition 2 also continues the highly successful Suffolk County Drinking Water Protection Program (SCDWPP), which has preserved thousands of acres of environmentally sensitive land, stabilized sewer rates and supported clean water efforts.

We don’t have to look far to see the need for improved wastewater infrastructure. Harmful algal blooms, brown tides, rust tides, mahogany tides and hypoxia fill our summer headlines and cause many beach closures each season.

We know, though, that with sewers, smart zoning and open space preservation, the damage is reversible. The obstacles we face are steep but not insurmountable.

Building sewage infrastructure creates jobs and helps small businesses and downtowns flourish. Advancing our downtowns creates permanent jobs in our communities and expands housing options for young people starting out and older folks looking to downsize. Our legacy fishing industry and emerging aquaculture industry will be able to expand employment and production as the environment improves.

It’s no exaggeration to say that passage of Proposition 2 is the most important measure voters have had on the ballot in generations. Its passage will strengthen our environment and protect the way of life that is a cornerstone of Suffolk County. This is not a political issue; it affects every present—and future—resident of Suffolk County and beyond.

Remember to vote on Nov. 5 or take advantage of early voting. For more information on voting, please visit: https://suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/BOE.

Ed Romaine

Suffolk County Executive

D. None of the Above: From wanting a horse to riding a pony, people share their earliest birthday memories

by Daniel Dunaief - October 30, 2024

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By Daniel Dunaief

I recently attended a wonderful 65th birthday celebration for Jeff that included his wife, children and their significant others and his 90-something father.

As I looked across the table at Jeff, who was sitting beneath large helium balloons with the number 65, I thought about how remarkably young he looked and about these kinds of celebrations for him throughout the years.

“What’s your first birthday memory?” I asked through the festive noises around us in a crowded Queens restaurant.

He recalled how his parents bought him a glow-in-the-dark skeleton costume, which he not only got to wear on his birthday with his friends, but also several days later on Halloween.

The costume party-birthday party combination worked so well for him that he had similar such festivities over the years.

In fact, many years later, I attended one of his birthday parties in which he asked people to come dressed as one of his favorite things. Several people dressed as M&M’s, one came as a bottle of ketchup and I dressed as Yoda, reflecting his love for Star Wars.

As with any other day, birthday memories are not only festive and joyful, but can also involve the same kinds of feelings that reside in the brains of the characters in the Pixar movie “Inside Out.”

“I vividly remember steering a ferry, sitting on a fire truck and sounding the horn on a train in the same day!” said Michael, who was four during this momentous event.

Benji, meanwhile, ran around in costume outside for one of his early birthdays. Born in the spring, he wondered whether he, like Jeff, should have been born closer to Halloween.

Every year since she was three, Heidi enjoyed her mom’s home cooked noodles and meatballs with string beans, followed by a Friendly’s Jubilee Roll. She always wished for a Palomino horse and was happy to live later in life on a farm that boarded horses in Nissequogue.

Speaking of horses, Mandi, who is a twin, recalls having ponies come to her house during an early birthday. Her pony stopped to drink and her mother said, “You can lead a horse to water…” At the time, Mandi didn’t know what that meant. Amid the pleasant parts of her birthday, she also recalled hating that she was born in July, which meant she couldn’t bring cupcakes to school.

Some people weren’t sure whether they remembered particular events around their birthdays or whether they had turned the pictures they have seen over the years and the stories they heard into a virtual, story-driven memory.

Rebecca recalled her fourth and fifth birthday confabs at a gymnastics studio, where she raced around over and through various gymnastics apparatuses.

Greg recalled having extensive birthday plans outdoors. Rain, however, prevented him from bringing everyone outside. He recalled pressing his nose against the screen door, looking out at the raindrops that altered his plans.

Larry recalled a first or second grade party when he had a cake shaped and decorated as a train engine. Before the group sang happy birthday, he plucked off the Lifesaver wheels. “Mom scolded me and I was upset during the whole party,” he remembered.

Julia shared how her brother tortured her at every birthday celebration, diminishing the enjoyment of the gathering.

Some people struggled to recall any of their earlier birthday parties.

Jill’s earliest birthday party memory was of her fifth grade celebration, when her mom made a pink and green alligator cake, reflecting the IZOD phase of life, and she went roller skating.

Sue, who works in a supermarket, remembered a part when she turned 12. Her parents invited her girlfriends over and they made soup for dinner and cake for dessert. The girls stayed up late, playing and chatting long into the evening.

Megan sat around the dining room table after dinner and had cake with her immediate family, who sang to her. At around seven, she got a host of presents and remembered receiving pens, which she really wanted, among the gifts.

Rachel, meanwhile, enjoyed two backyard barbecues each year: one with her friends and one with family and family friends.

Adam enjoyed a sports birthday party that his considerably older cousin and his cousin’s close friend ran at a local gym, where he wore a sports jersey and played basketball and deck hockey.

Between You and Me: ‘A well-informed electorate is a prerequisite to democracy’ – Thomas Jefferson

by Leah Dunaief - October 30, 2024

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By Leah S. Dunaief

Newspapers themselves made the news this week before the election. Both The Los Angeles Times and The Washington Post decided not to endorse either candidate for President of the United States. This is so unusual that it made the national news.

What are the reasons behind this remarkable decision?

I’ll tell you the reasons given by the papers, and I’ll tell you what the pundits are declaring. I may even share my own thoughts on the matter.

After almost 50 years of making presidential endorsements, The Washington Post declared they would not be doing so in this election, or any future presidential election, according to Will Lewis, the chief executive and publisher. “We are returning to our roots of not endorsing presidential candidates.” This was after the editorial board had already drafted an endorsement of Kamala Harris, according to The New York Times’ article of October 26. The decision appeared to have come from Post’s owner, billionaire Jeff Bezos, who also has lucrative business contracts with the government, including through Amazon and the aerospace company, Blue Origin.

The decision drew criticism “from reporters, editors and readers, along with an unusual rebuke from the legendary Post journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein,” according to The Times. The newspaper was accused of “cowardice with democracy as its casualty,” by Martin Baron, The Post’s former editor featured in the movie, “Spotlight,” dealing with systemic sexual child abuse by numerous priests.

The Post tried to explain. David Shipley, the newspaper’s opinion editor, said The Post was no longer going to tell people how to vote but rather “trusting readers to make up their own minds.”

So far this year, “The Post has endorsed candidates in House and Senate races in Virginia and Maryland,” said The Times. The decision not to endorse a presidential candidate was “clearly a sign of pre-emptive favor currying” with Mr. Trump, according to Robert Kagan, a long time writer and editor at large of The Post. In a dissenting editorial, 18 Post opinion columnists signed their names to a column calling the decision not to endorse a “terrible mistake,” since the paper all along has been emphasizing that Donald Trump is a threat to democracy.

The owner of The Los Angeles Times, billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong, had also recently quashed presidential endorsements, again seemingly due to conflicts of interest.

The Times Beacon Record, before each Election Day, publishes a section with interviews of the candidates that take place in our offices with the editorial board. In our section, to be found elsewhere in the papers and on the web today, we also print endorsements. We are an independent news organization, favoring neither major political party. Hence our endorsements run the gamut, neither red nor blue, settling on our choice of the best possible candidates to represent us.

Why do we do this?

It takes a great deal of time to catch up with the office-seekers, schedule their interviews, preferably with each other, pose questions to them, write up their responses and decide on whom to vote for. And that is our role: to tell you finally, as a result of our proximity to them and their previous efforts, as well as their stated goals, that these are the ones we would vote into office.

We are decidedly not trying to push you, our readers, into your choices. We have enough confidence in you to assume you can decide if given enough information, and our role is to do just that. We try to reflect the candidates’ positions with our interviews, tell you how they registered on us, then reveal how we would vote. The rest is up to you.

What we are adamant about is the responsibility each of us has to vote. People in distant lands fight and some even die for that privilege. Because we take it for granted, statistics show that many of us don’t bother following the candidates and voting for the best choices. When that happens, we get what we deserve: government we don’t want.

Please vote, and also vote on the two propositions at the back of the ballot.

BNL invites the community to celebrate Nobel-winning discoveries, physics’ future on Nov. 22

by Press Release - October 29, 2024

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decade-of-discovery-1000px — Image from BNL

At the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory, scientists make history while expanding the frontiers of discovery.

Brookhaven Lab will host a celebration for the milestone anniversaries of two Nobel Prize-winning discoveries — as well as future explorations in physics. This symposium will be held at Brookhaven Lab on Friday, Nov. 22, from 1 to 6 p.m. EST in Berkner Hall.

The event, titled “Decades of Discovery at Brookhaven National Laboratory: Charge-Parity Violation, J/psi, and Future Endeavors in Physics,” is free and open to the public. Visitors to the Laboratory ages 16 and older must bring valid, government-issued photo ID. Digital IDs and copies cannot be accepted.

Those who can’t join in person may attend virtually.

Whether participating in person or virtually, attendees are asked to register as soon as possible.

About the event

This symposium will feature talks on the discoveries of charge-parity (CP) violation, the J/psi particle, and their impacts on physics research.

“Physicists study particles to unlock mysteries of how the universe works,” said JoAnne Hewett, director of Brookhaven Lab, theoretical physicist, and a featured speaker at the event. “As we celebrate and build on these discoveries, we look ahead to experiments around the world, including the future Electron-Ion Collider, which will use the J/psi for precise measurements inside the atom’s nucleus. We have questions that, today, are unanswered and will be resolved years from now.”

The event will also provide insights on current and future experiments to advance our understanding of the universe, particularly at the:

Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider, a DOE Office of Science user facility for nuclear physics research at Brookhaven Lab
Large Hadron Collider, located at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research
Belle II at SuperKEKB, which is at KEK, the High Energy Accelerator Research Organization in Japan
Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment, an experiment that will span from DOE’s Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory in Illinois to the Sanford Underground Research Facility in South Dakota

The list of speakers scheduled to present — including Hewett, Nobel Laureate Samuel Ting, distinguished physicist Martin Breidenbach, former Brookhaven Lab Director Nicholas Samios, historian Robert Crease, and others — is available here.

Refreshments will be served for those who attend in person. The symposium will conclude with a toast to discovery science’s past, present, and future.

About the Nobel Prize-winning discoveries

enlargeFrom left: Nobel Laureates Val Fitch and James Cronin

60 years since CP violation discovery: This occurred at Brookhaven Lab in 1964, when Val Fitch and James Cronin led a team that discovered a violation of charge conjugation (C) and parity (P) — called “CP violation” — in an experiment at the Alternating Gradient Synchrotron (AGS). Fitch and Cronin were presented with the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1980.

enlargeNobel Laureates Samuel C.C. Ting (front) with collaborators

50 years since J/psi discovery: This occurred in 1974, when the J/psi particle was discovered by teams at both Brookhaven Lab and the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center (SLAC), which today is DOE’s SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Samuel C.C. Ting and his team discovered what he called the “J” particle using the AGS at Brookhaven. Burton Richter and his team found the same particle, which he called the “psi,” at SLAC. Ting and Richter shared the Nobel prize for Physics in 1976.

These discoveries are two among seven recognized with the Nobel Prize at Brookhaven Lab.

SLAC is also hosting an event to celebrate discovery of the J/psi particle. That symposium will be held on Friday, Nov. 8. For more information, visit the event webpage.

Brookhaven National Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy. The Office of Science is the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States and is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit science.energy.gov.

Editorial: Let’s not be a deer caught in headlights this rutting season

by TBR Staff - October 27, 2024

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N2409P53028C — Photo from MetroCreative Connection

With deer rutting season upon us, it’s crucial to remember that while these creatures nibbling on our properties or suddenly running in front of our vehicles can be irritating, they were here first.

Tens of thousands of deer call our Island home. This delicate ecosystem relies on their presence — perhaps not an overabundance, but a presence nonetheless. They influence the types of trees and vegetation that grow here by selectively browsing certain plants, meaning they eat some species more than others. They also contribute to overall biodiversity.

If we’re concerned about our gardens, we can try fencing, netting or chicken wire around problematic areas. If a deer runs toward our car at night, we should stay calm and do our best to drive straight, brake firmly and blow the horn, protecting both the vehicle’s passengers and the deer. Above all, we must not feed them. Not only is it dangerous to the deer’s health, but it also increases elopement rates and puts us in harm’s way. Deer may be gentle but can become aggressive when approached. If they learn that food is available in a specific area, they’ll return with friends, perpetuating a cycle of overpopulation in densely populated areas.

While the Island’s abundance of deer can be a nuisance, rutting — or mating season — is a natural part of this species’ biological function. They have added beauty and importance to our region since the days of our Setalcott predecessors.

They aren’t trying to hurt us or harm our land; they are simply following their instincts.

So let’s remain calm this rutting season. There are only two months of this hyperactivity among our deer, after which everything will return to business as usual.

Mount Sinai BOE highlights financial health and student recognition

by Jennifer Donatelli - October 25, 2024

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MountSinai_HighSchool_Donlonw-700x357 — Mount Sinai High School. File photo

By Jennifer Donatelli

At the Oct. 16 Mount Sinai Board of Education meeting, Jill Sanders, of certified public accountants Cullen & Danowski, presented the results of the June 30 financial statement audit, reporting a smooth process and strong internal controls. She emphasized that the district remains in good financial health despite challenges related to health care and pension costs.

Superintendent Christine Criscione noted that School Board Recognition Week, held from Oct. 14 to 18, celebrated the theme Supporting Success for All Students. The board enjoyed a musical performance from students in the high school orchestra from the Music and Applied Arts Department, which was intended to express gratitude for the board’s support, highlighting the essential role of the arts in fostering creativity and critical thinking among students.

Christina Romeo, assistant high school principal, recognized the Talented Tech students for crafting a wooden sign for the board. In a celebration of academic achievement, five high school students were commended for their participation in the National Merit Scholarship Program, ranking among the top 50,000 from PSAT results.

The meeting also covered updates on fall sports and ongoing capital items. Recent projects included heating, ventilation and air conditioning improvements and library flooring upgrades, while state approval is pending for this year’s security enhancements and athletic field updates

Upcoming events including Financial Aid Night and Halloween festivities were announced, as well as new programs at the elementary and middle schools, emphasizing character education and community service initiatives.

In addressing community concerns, the district reassured parents about mold remediation efforts following a recent inquiry about air quality.

The next BOE meeting is scheduled for Nov. 20, with a livestream available on the district’s Facebook and YouTube channels.

Kent Animal Shelter hosts gala celebration to build ‘furever home’

by Tara Mae - October 24, 2024

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Lily is one of Kent Animal Shelter's longest-term residents.

By Tara Mae

The Furever Home Gala is going to the dogs! On Thursday, Nov. 7, from 6 to 9 p.m., Kent Animal Shelter will host a fundraiser at the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead to raise money for its new facility in Calverton.

Attendees will have access to different areas of the aquarium and be ensconced in the vibrant vista of wall-to-wall fish tanks as they partake in an evening that offers dinner, drinks, and entertainment.

Creator, producer, and former host of News 12 Long Island’s “The East End Show,” Doug Geed, will emcee the event. The now retired, 10 time Emmy Award winning anchor/reporter first became involved with Kent when he and his family adopted Jessie, a pitbull mix, from the shelter in 1996.

“As a reporter, you do so many terrible stories, having to interview people who went through tragedies. I like being involved with good people united for a good cause and feeling the positive energy in the room while rallying around an important cause,” said Geed in a recent interview.

Featuring well outfitted special guests (the aquarium’s African penguins will make an appearance before they go to bed) the festivities should satiate the senses. An open buffet will have seafood, meat, and chicken dishes as well as vegan and gluten-free options with complementary wine and beer provided by Atlantis Banquets and Events. Local folk-rock band Phoenix Rising will perform. A plethora of raffle prizes will be available, and an auction will boast a variety of entertainment and experience opportunities to bid on.

Ophelia is one of Kent Animal Shelter’s longest-term residents.

Proceeds from the gala will go towards the shelter’s $4.5 million in-progress project to demolish its existing dog kennel structure in order to rebuild and upgrade its complex; $2,250,000.00 has already been raised.

“This will be a really fun night. It is kind of an end goal of what we have been trying to do for 20+ years: build a new shelter,” said Kent Animal Shelter Executive Director Pamela Green.

“We finally came up with a plan that everyone is happy with and we are moving forward. It will be a beautiful new state-of-the-art kennel: 32 runs; heating and air conditioning; play yards; and a quarantine for new dogs while they get vet care before they go into the general population,” she added.

To aid this effort, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine secured a county grant for Kent, which also received two New York State grants. In memory of a beloved Long Island Equine and Large Animal Veterinarian Dr. John Andresen, national animal welfare organization Maddie’s Fund will match donations up to $200,000, not limited to money garnered at the gala.

“If people have a few dollars to could spare … I know there are a million tremendous charities out there, I know money is tight for everybody, but a few dollars will make a difference,” Geed said.

As it continues fundraising and awaits construction of the new facilityk, Kent’s commitment to its charges remains unchanged. The organization is temporarily housing its rescue dogs at Bideawee in Westhampton, including its longest-term residents: Ophelia, an eight-year-old shepherd mix rescued from a meat market in Thailand, and Lily, a five-year-old terrier mix.

Kittens up for adoption at Kent Animal Shelter.

They, along with approximately 13 compatriots, are adoptable from the temporary shelter. About 30 adoptable cats remain on the Calverton property, which additionally has Snowball’s Place, a feline retirement home for cats who have outlived their humans.

Established in 1968, several thousand animals have come through Kent on their way to their forever homes. On average, approximately 650 animals are adopted from the shelter each year, though this year has had fewer adoptions since the Westhampton accommodations are more limited.

In addition to its adoption operations, Kent has a low-cost clinic. Since 1974, more than 200,000 animals have been spayed or neutered there. Maddie’s Fund recently awarded Kent the Dr. John Andresen Wellness Grant to give assistance to pet owners who need their animals spayed, neutered, and/or vaccinated.

At its very core, Kent Animal Shelter exists to both protect and improve the lives of creatures who cannot advocate for themselves. This gala is in service to that mission. Any money collected for the cause gets Kent that much closer to its goal and enables more animals, a number of whom come from out of state or even another country, to be helped by the shelter.

“This is a huge celebration of this building project that we have been trying to and are finally able to do,” Green said. “The new facility will be a healthier, more comfortable environment for the animals.”

Tickets to the gala are $150 per person. To purchase, visit https://kentanimalshelterfureverhome.eventbrite.com. For more information, call 631-727-5731.

Wildwood State Park hosts final Patriot Run in honor of Thomas Cutinella

by Bill Landon - October 24, 2024

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By Bill Landon

It was the final edition of the Patriot Run to honor the legacy of Thomas Cutinella, who tragically lost his life following a head injury sustained on a varsity football field Oct. 1, 2014.

Thomas’ football jersey No. 54 has since been retired and the Shoreham-Wading River Wildcat Athletic Club, which sponsors the event, established the race distance at 2.54 miles in his memory.

The finale was held Sunday morning, Oct. 20, at Wildwood State Park in Wading River. The runners were met with mild temperatures and brilliant sunshine, and were treated to a barbecue after the race.

The fundraising event raises money for the Thomas Cutinella Memorial Foundation, whose mission is to improve awareness of football-related head injuries, stress the importance of being an organ donor and keep Thomas’ legacy alive.

The foundation awards scholarships to local area students who exhibit characteristics of kindness, modesty and selflessness, as well as a genuine concern for improving the condition of the community at large.

For more information visit www.tom54.org.

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