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New Leaf Energy presents a plan for a 8.75-megawatt project on Feb. 20, 2025. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
New Leaf Energy presents a plan for a 8.75-megawatt project on Feb. 20, 2025. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
New Leaf Energy presents a plan for a 8.75-megawatt project on Feb. 20, 2025. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

By Sabrina Artusa

At the Sterling Woods Condominium annual meeting on Feb. 20, New Leaf Energy Senior Director of Business Development Michael Conway spoke to the residents, whose condominiums neighbor the proposed site at 1575 Route 25A in Port Jefferson Station. 

This proposal comes after the Town of Brookhaven rejected a rezoning application by New Leaf Energy in June 2024. 

Now, New Leaf Energy, a renewable energy developer, is planning an 8.75-megawatt battery energy storage system in an area with the appropriate light industrial zoning. The system would occupy 22,142 square feet and can power 8,500 single-family homes for 4 hours. 

Conway, joined by Energy Safety Response Group co-founder Paul Rogers, reviewed the site plan, which neighbors a gas station. The property will be encompassed by a 10-foot-tall fence and vegetative screening and will include a 50-ft setback. 

“Dense places are the most difficult places to get electricity to,” Conway said, addressing the location. “We need to have electricity whether it comes through a fossil plant, or it comes in through a solar plant, or it comes in through transmission lines. Energy storage systems are an efficient way to deliver more electricity to an area without building more poles and wires all over the place and more power plants.”

One resident said, “I don’t think we disagree with technology. I don’t think anyone does. We have to look forward. But where are you putting it? There is no benefit to be putting this here, absolutely none. Basically, you want us to be a test case for your business.” 

New Leaf Energy will be working with manufacturers to develop the system and will then sell the BESS. Defined as a business that “establishes important partnerships with landowners, utilities and local communities to brainstorm, secure, design and permit community and utility-scale renewable energy,” New Leaf Energy essentially works to give the project momentum and get it approved before then selling to another company for around $3 million to $4 million.  

“Our business model is to transfer ownership to a long-term asset owner just prior to construction,” Conway said. It usually takes 6-8 months to find a buyer. The buyer will then be responsible for the safety and operation of the system, including the battery monitoring system. 

The oldest BESS New Leaf Energy has created was built in 2018. The largest is 200 megawatts. 

This system will help manage the grid during peak hours and potentially save PSEG from having to purchase additional equipment. The BESS will be privately owned so will not, in theory, be the direct cause of rate increases from PSEG. Instead, the system will store energy in times of low demand and sell it back during high-demand times. 

Rogers, who has been a prominent figure in the battery energy storage conversation throughout Brookhaven, says that manufacturers are required to permit large-scale controlled failures on their equipment. This could mean burning cells or, in some cases, modules. 

Rogers said that thermal runaway is caused when the cells are interfered with or abused and are unable to regulate normally, thus causing the liquid within the cells to turn to gas. For instance, if a container is not sealed properly when it is raining, the water could cause electrical problems. 

Rogers, who has helped implement and navigate the various safety codes, said that the BESS has to be listed under Underwriters Laboratories UL9540, which authorizes that the equipment is up to standard, and must adhere to precautions listed in the National Fire Protection Association codebook as well as New York State codes. 

The Moss Landing fire, which burned for days and led to the evacuation of residents, was described by Brookhaven Councilman Jonathan Kornreich (D, Stony Brook) as “sobering.” The old and outdated system consisted of nickel manganese cobalt batteries as opposed to lithium iron phosphate, which is less energy dense, and was situated in a designated-use building.

Rogers said of the 750-megawatt system, “we would never use that technology today.” 

“This is fairly new technology,” said Kornreich. “It is almost as if the car had been invented and they said oh this is a great way to make deliveries and drive around town but they haven’t invented the brake pedal yet…we don’t know yet and that is why we have to go slow with these things.”

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File photo by Raymond Janis

Transitioning to solar power 

If we are to transition from our conventional fossil-fuel electrical power plants to units based on solar power, we must have at least a reasonable forecast of the number of solar panels that will be required, along with the land area that will be needed to locate them. At the present time, Suffolk County uses an average continuous power of approximately 1,233 MW. If we are to produce this power using solar panels, let us assume that each panel can provide 400 W of power, when bright sunshine is available.

If this sunshine were available continuously, the number of panels required would be approximately 3.1 million. However, at our best, this sunlight is available for only 8 hours of each 24-hour period, or 1/3 of the time. For this reason, we will require 3 times the number of panels, or 9.3 million, to provide the average power necessary. During each 8-hour active period, these panels will generate 3,720 MW, of which 1,240 MW will be used to power the grid, and the remaining 2,480 MW will be charging the battery energy storage system (BESS) facilities, which will power the grid during the next 16 hours, when sunlight is not present, and the solar panels are not active.

To estimate the area required for the installation of these panels, let us assume that the area of each panel is 10 square feet. Therefore, the required land area to support the 9.3 million panels will be 93 million square feet, or 3.3 square miles, which is slightly more than twice the area of the SUNY Stony Brook college campus.

On those occasions when we have one or more consecutive days with cloudy or overcast skies, an additional 9.3 million solar panels will be required for each day without sunlight, if we are to prevent power blackouts. Thus, for one day without sunlight, 18.5 million panels will be needed, on land space of 6.6 square miles. For two consecutive days, 27.7 million panels will require 9.9 square miles. And for three overcast days, 36.7 million panels will need 13.3 square miles. It should be noted that these are “ballpark estimates,” and a number of factors may serve to increase, or decrease, the number of panels required to avoid power blackouts.

To reduce this number, power may be contributed from other sources, possibly windmills or other venues, such as Nassau County or Connecticut. However, we will also need to consider likely significant increases in projected power requirements, including power for memory banks for artificial intelligence, increased use of EVs, expanded electrification of the Long Island Rail Road and numerous other applications, which will lead to a need for greater numbers of solar panels, and more land space on which to mount them.

George Altemose

Setauket

Congressman LaLota’s vote to cut Medicaid

Despite repeated reassurances on social media that he would “protect” Medicaid, Congressman Nick LaLota (R-NY1) joined his Republican colleagues in voting to advance the House Budget Resolution, which calls for $880 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next 10 years. Mr. LaLota claims that he does not support deep cuts to Medicaid, however, his support for this bill says otherwise. He has made multiple references to disenrolling undocumented immigrants from Medicaid despite undocumented immigrants already being ineligible for federal Medicaid funding with the exception of emergency care. Under the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act of 1986 all hospitals with an Emergency Room must provide emergency evaluation and care to anyone presenting to the ER, regardless of their immigration status or ability to pay. Emergency Medicaid is a lifeline for hospitals and allows them to defray the cost of providing necessary care.

LaLota’s support for work requirements likewise is projected to save approximately $110 billion over the next 10 years, while simultaneously cutting health care for thousands of CD 1 residents. Additionally LaLota levies accusations of waste, fraud and abuse in Medicaid, but fails to support this claim with any data. Medicaid fraud by recipients is rare. Most fraud is perpetuated by unethical providers; however, there is no evidence to suggest that there is $770 billion worth of fraud. It is also worth noting that many times the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services deems payment to providers as inappropriate; however, upon receiving further clinical documentation the decision is reversed. As a Medicaid provider I am subject to routine audits of my work at the county, state and federal levels. Medicaid reimbursement rates are so poor that many providers do not participate. Medicaid recipients already face a limited network of providers.

Elderly and disabled Medicaid recipients disproportionately account for program expenditures. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation individuals with disabilities account for 21% of Medicaid enrollment but 52% of Medicaid expenditures. The only way for House Republicans to reach their stated goal of $880 billion dollars in cuts over the next decade is to target these expenditures, which include medications, rehabilitation, congregate care and medical devices.

Everyone deserves access to high-quality, affordable health care. LaLota just made it more difficult for his constituents to do so. Furthermore, he helped lay the groundwork for the most vulnerable among us to lose access to lifesaving care.

Kathryn Twomey

Port Jefferson Station

WRITE TO US … AND KEEP IT LOCAL We welcome your letters, especially those responding to our local coverage, replying to other letter writers’ comments and speaking mainly to local themes. Letters should be no longer than 400 words and may be edited for length, libel, style, good taste and uncivil language. They will also be published on our website. We do not publish anonymous letters. Please include an address and phone number for confirmation. 

Email letters to: [email protected] or mail them to TBR News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733

 

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Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson continues its Mainstage season with Ring of Fire: The Johnny Cash Musical Show from March 1 to March 30.

From the heart of the songs of singer-songwriter Johnny Cash comes a unique musical show about love and faith, struggle and success, rowdiness and redemption, home and family. RING OF FIRE captures America’s legendary Man in Black in an exhilarating, tuneful, foot-stomping celebration. His life story is told through the songs he composed, recorded, and shared with the world, including “Country Boy,” “A Thing Called Love,” “Daddy Sang Bass,” “Ring of Fire,” “I Walk the Line,” “I’ve Been Everywhere,” “The Man in Black,” and his final hit, “Hurt.

Come early and enjoy a cocktail or snack, downstairs at Griswold’s Cafe. Opening night, Saturday, March 1, will feature Me, Like Many performing your favorite country hits on the second stage from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The MainStage season continues with Wait Until Dark from April 18 to May 11 and Half Time from May 24 to June 22.

Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students, $25 children ages 5 to 12. To order, call 631-928-9100, visit www.theatrethree.com or click here.

 

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METRO photo

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

I went to the bank to deposit a check recently. My daughter, of course, doesn’t do any such foolish activities. She knows how to deposit her checks without leaving her apartment.

Yes, technology is wonderful, but I still like to go to the bank and get a receipt that I promptly add to the pile of random papers that is almost as tall as I am.

Several hours before the bank closed on a Friday, the stories and queries about weekend plans were all the rage.

“What are you doing this weekend?” one teller asked excitedly. She smiled so broadly that she could easily be in the finals for a game show hosting competition or, at the very least, win extra points for customer friendliness.

“I’m having such a great day,” the teller offered before I could muster a noncommittal reply.

“Why?” I asked, as I glared at the machine that seemed to be refusing to take my check. A hint here: machines don’t care if you glare.

“Well, my manager made nachos today and she brought in home baked cookies,” she said. “They were amazing. I was planning to get a salad but this is so much better.”

“Sounds great,” I said, as I willed the machine to take the check. “I’m not sure how many of those I could eat in a day and get away with it.”

She looked me up and down and laughed.

“Yeah, well, I’m young and I still can’t get away with it,” she suggested.

Yup, I’m older. What gave it away? My gray hair? The fact that I’m depositing a check at the counter? The wrinkles? The indulgent impatience blended with a need to check off the next errand box?

“My daughter is having a sleepover,” one man sighed. “I’m going to grill for them. My wife is going to handle the rest, but…”

Yes, but you might need to take on some responsibility. And who knows how late they’ll stay up. And, of course, who knows if they’ll break any of the rules they promised to uphold before your and your wife agreed to allow this party.

Like my parents, I was never a huge fan of sleepovers. The sleep part often didn’t materialize, making the kids grumpy and surly the next day, sabotaging any quality, hah!, family time or even household peace.

Another person at the bank planned to travel with her daughter for a cheer competition.

“If I knew then what I knew now, I’m not sure I would have encouraged that,” she grinned.

I couldn’t help smiling at that.

“You know,” I said looking away from the machine that still refused to take my check the way a young child refuses to open his mouth when you’re giving him medicine, “It kind of doesn’t matter what activities your children choose. Once they’re in, you’re along for the ride.”

I ticked off all the sports our children did. 

“So, which was your favorite?” she asked.

“Volleyball and soccer,” I said, picking one from each child.

“Why?” she grinned. The machine had started to make some promising coming-to-life noises that were the electronic equivalent of the groans my dog makes when I get him up too early.

“Volleyball is amazing because a player can mishit the ball twice in a rally and the team can still win the point. It’s a forgiving sport, unlike baseball or softball where one ball might come to a player per hour.”

“And soccer?” she asked.

“Oh, that’s easy,” I shrugged. “I knew nothing about the sport, so I wasn’t tempted to be an annoying judgmental over the top father who needs my children to be the absolute best player on the field. Not that he wasn’t, of course, but I could honestly offer him encouragement without being even mildly tempted to provide advice.”

At that moment, the check finally went through. 

With that, the cookie-making banker handed me my receipt, I waved to everyone and wished them well with their weekends.

Some Mondays can’t come soon enough.

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Pixabay photo

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

Almost everyone I have ever asked hates housekeeping. Who wants to be scrubbing floors, cleaning bathrooms and dusting furniture when one could be taking a walk, reading a book or just visiting with a friend? Well, here comes a solution, if not immediately, then before too long. It’s called a domestic robot.

Robots that clean swimming pools and sweep carpets have been in use for many years, but according to news reports, more personal robots are on the way. If you were to own one, in theory at least, what would you have it do?

I would gladly yield to a robot that could sew on a button, or fold the laundry at the end of the wash cycle and put the items away in the drawers. How about one that could iron? Talk about spoiled! 

I can clearly remember when, as a small child, I would watch my parents washing their clothes by rubbing them against  a “wash board” in the soapy work sink, then hanging them, with a myriad of clothes pins, to dry. We thought we had come so far when washing machines and dryers were invented. Now I am asking for an unpaid valet to do the job of several maids over 100 years ago in Downton Abbey.

I would also appreciate a robot that could take out the dog for a walk on freezing or snowy or rainy days when I would prefer to stay nicely warm under the covers in bed.

“Edgar,” I would say, for I would have already named my robot, “Please take the dog as far as the stop sign this morning and dry him off before he comes back into the house.” The dog, of course, would have to get used to the robot first, but with a little patience that could be managed.

Then there could be a sous-chef robot. “Cut the red onions, mushrooms, red pepper, cucumber and radishes for a salad, Edgar. And tear apart the Boston lettuce. While you are at it, put all the ingredients in a bowl and set it on the table along with oil, balsamic vinegar and serving tongs.”

Now I don’t mind cooking. In fact, I rather enjoy it. But it would encourage me to make more complicated dishes than tuna fish with mayonnaise if I could summon Edgar to clean up after I was finished. While I was cooking, Edgar could set the table, and when we were finished eating and were leaving the dining room, Edgar could put the dishes in the dishwasher and turn it on. 

Remember how excited we were in the olden days when dishwashers appeared in our lives? Now I’m looking to have them filled, then unloaded, with the dishes put back in the cabinet, ready for the next meal. Sounds ridiculous? It’s not.

According to Wikipedia, “A domestic robot or homebot is a type of service robot, an autonomous robot that is primarily used for household chores, but may also be used for education, entertainment or therapy. While most domestic robots are simplistic, some are connected to WiFi home networks or smart environments and are autonomous to a high degree. There were an estimated 16.3 million service robots in 2018.”

Robots have been designed since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution to help with production, but personal robots started to appear, according to Wikipedia, in the 1980s. “People could use it to play songs, games, wake people up in the morning, notify important events, and even guard the home.” The robot can be programmed with a computer and some software or it could be controlled with an infrared transmitter and a remote pad.

So guess what?

In addition to cleaning floors, there does exist an ironing robot, a laundry-folding robot, and even a cat litter box-cleaning robot. There also exist robots that can make rotis and tortillas. And robots can patrol the house with night vision to protect against intruders.

All of these will, I suspect, become family members soon. 

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Eastport-South Manor High School

Over 500 students from 32 Suffolk County public and private high schools are currently participating in the 2025 New York State High School Mock Trial Program, the largest the Suffolk County program has ever seen. The Suffolk County Coordinators, Glenn P. Warmuth, Esq. & Leonard Badia, Esq., head up this annual educational program co-sponsored by The Suffolk County Bar Association and The Suffolk Academy of Law.

Northport High School

The New York State High School Mock Trial Program is a joint venture of The New York Bar Foundation, the New York State Bar Association, and the Law, Youth and Citizenship Program. In this educational program, high school students gain first-hand knowledge of civil/criminal law and courtroom procedures. Thousands of students participate each year.  Objectives of the tournament are to: Teach students ethics, civility, and professionalism; further students’ understanding of the law, court procedures and the legal system; improve proficiency in basic life skills, such as listening, speaking, reading and reasoning; promote better communication and cooperation among the school community, teachers and students and members of the legal profession, and heighten appreciation for academic studies and stimulate interest in law-related careers.

The 2025 Mock Trial case is a civil case entitled Leyton Manns vs. Sandy Townes. In this hands-on competition, the teams argue both sides of the case and assume the roles of attorneys and witnesses. Each team competes to earn points based on their presentation and legal skills. “Judges”, usually local judges and attorneys who volunteer their time, score the teams based on ratings on preparation, performance, and professionalism.

While the Mock Trial program is set up as a “competition,” emphasis is placed on the educational aspect of the experience which focuses on the preparation and presentation of a hypothetical courtroom trial that involves critical issues that are important and interesting to young people.

The first round of the competition began on February 5, 2025 with four weeks of random team matchups. The top 16 teams will then head to Round 2 at the John P. Cohalan, Jr. Courthouse in Central Islip, New York, for three weeks of “Sweet 16” style competition leading to the Finals on April 2, 2025 at Suffolk County Surrogate’s Court in Riverhead with the Honorable Vincent J. Messina, Jr., Surrogate, presiding. The Suffolk County champion will then compete in the New York State Finals in Albany on May 18-20, 2025.

The Suffolk County High Schools involved in the 2025 High School Mock Trial competition are: Bay Shore High School, Babylon High School, Brentwood High School, Central Islip High School, Commack High School, Walter G. O’Connell Copiague High School, Comsewogue High School, Connetquot High School, Deer Park High School, East Hampton High School, East Islip High School, Eastport-South Manor High School, John H. Glenn High School, Greenport High School, Half Hollow Hills High School East, Half Hollow Hills High School West, Hampton Bays High School, Harborfields High School, Huntington High School, Kings Park High School, Lindenhurst High School, Mattituck High School, Miller Place High School, Newfield High School, Northport High School, Shoreham-Wading River High School, St. Anthony’s High School, St. John the Baptist Diocesan High School, Southampton High School, The Stony Brook School, Ward Melville High School, and West Islip High School.

For interest in joining the High School Mock Trial program for 2026, please contact Suffolk County Coordinator, Glenn P. Warmuth, Esq., at (631) 732-2000 or [email protected]. Mock Trial can be an after-school club, an elective class, or part of your school’s curriculum. An attorney will be provided to you to help coach the students in the matters of the legal profession.

The Suffolk County Bar Association, a professional association comprised of more than 2,600 lawyers and judges, was founded in 1908 to serve the needs of the local legal community and the public. For more information about these or other Suffolk County Bar Association programs or services, call 631-234-5511 x 221 or visit www.scba.org

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Superintendent of Schools, Jessica Schmettan. Photo by Aramis Khosronejad

Dear Port Jefferson School Community, 

I am writing to inform you about an important matter that significantly impacts our school  district’s financial health and, ultimately, our students. In 2019, Governor Andrew M. Cuomo  signed the Child Victims Act (CVA) into law. This legislation created a “look-back window”  allowing victims of sexual abuse to file civil litigation against alleged abusers and institutions  that may have enabled such abuse, regardless of when the incidents occurred. The look-back  window opened in August 2019 and closed in March 2021, resulting in over 10,000 claims filed  against various institutions, including numerous school districts across New York State. Port  Jefferson had seven claims filed during this period.  

While the CVA was enacted with the critical goal of providing justice to survivors of abuse, it  has also led to unintended financial consequences for school districts like ours. Port Jefferson  settled all of the CVA-related lawsuits in November of 2024, totaling 16.5 million dollars. In  order to pay for this settlement, the District was able to utilize 5.1 million dollars from our  reserve funds and additionally, borrow a one-year Bond Anticipation Note (BAN) for 11.4  million dollars. A BAN is a short-term financing option that allows the District to make an  interest-only payment for one year. 

During our first work session budget presentation on Jan. 28, 2025, Deputy Superintendent  Sean Leister outlined the District’s plan for making this first BAN payment of $370,445 in the  2025-2026 school year. A copy of the presentation and video link of the meeting can be accessed  from our website. Beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, the District will need to convert the  11.4 million dollar debt into a fourteen-year long term bond unless we have some legislative  relief.  

These substantial future bond payments will place a heavy financial burden on our district,  impacting our ability to deliver the quality education our current students deserve. While we  remain deeply sympathetic to the victims and recognize the seriousness of the allegations, we  believe it is unjust for our present-day community and students to shoulder this financial burden. 

To address this issue and advocate for fair solutions, we are urging our elected officials to support the following measures at the state level: 

1. Partial Reimbursement: Establish a budget initiative to offer partial reimbursement  for CVA settlements or judgments. This can be accomplished through a formula similar  to the existing building aid model for school infrastructure. 

2. Tax cap exemption: Allow districts a tax cap exemption specifically for CVA related expenditures. 

3. CVA fund: Create a dedicated fund to reimburse uninsured school districts for  settlement and judgment expenses under CVA. 

4. Liquidation Bureau: Expand the look-back period for school districts to submit  insurance claims to the New York State Liquidation Bureau. This bureau is an entity that  receives no funding from the taxpayers and protects policyholders of insurance  companies that have been declared insolvent.  

5. Access restricted reserves: Allow districts to access restricted reserve funds through a Board of Education resolution for payments of debt associated with CVA judgments or  settlements. 

Any one of these solutions could provide much needed relief to our district and lessen the long term bond implications. These proposed legislative solutions seek to balance justice for CVA  victims with the need to preserve educational resources for current and future students. We ask  for your support and advocacy to ensure that the education of our students remains a top priority,  free from the unpredictable financial hardships that result from events beyond all of our control. 

Please consider reaching out to state legislators and advocating alongside us for these necessary changes to protect our schools and our students. Templates can be found on  our website along with directory information for our local elected officials.  

Thank you for your continued support of our district and our mission to provide a high-quality  education for all students. 

Sincerely, 

Jessica Schmettan 

Superintendent of Schools

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Julia and Valerie D’Amico. Photo courtesy of D’Amico family

In 2025, labels are toxic, political and problematic.

DEI? Not allowed anymore. Woke? There’s undoubtedly an executive action to rid the nation of anything that fits under this large umbrella.

Fortunately, during last week’s final stage in a contest run by Stony Brook University’s Institute for Advanced Computational Science, politics didn’t enter the room, even though women, girls, families and boys met for a science competition.

The IACS unveiled the winners in their competition a few days after the International Day of Women and Girls in Science.

The competition helped over 150 local students learn about women scientists who may not be household names, but who made significant contributions to their fields.

Some of these historical role models were firsts. Mary Jackson was the first female Black engineer. Marie Curie was the first woman to earn a degree from the University of Paris.

Others made significant, and sometimes overshadowed, contributions to their fields. Rosalind Franklin, for example, provided key x-ray crystallography images that uncovered the double helical structure of DNA.

For students in the area, the competition was not only an opportunity to learn about the history of these women and the challenges they overcame, but was also a chance to conduct their experiments and present them to a receptive audience.

All the competitors were not girls. The participants, whether or not they won, appreciated the opportunity to learn and compete.

Parents of these precocious children were thrilled that this contest provided an enrichment learning opportunity, built their daughters’ confidence, and gave the next generation a sense of the myriad opportunities the sciences might present to them.

Each of these students — and some of them worked in teams — produced a one minute video explaining who the scientist was, why she was important and how they conducted their own experiment.

Some of them extracted DNA from strawberries, while others, like co-winner Allison Wong launched small objects through the air with their own miniature catapults, measuring the time marbles, cotton balls, ping pong balls and bottle caps were in the air and the distance these objects traveled.

Even amid concerns about future funding for all kinds of science and educational programs, this second annual competition was clearly a success for the competitors and a source of great satisfaction for parents, science teachers, and extended family members.

This kind of educational outreach program is exactly what every area needs, as students not only competed to win cash prizes, but also asked about future opportunities for scientific learning and advancement.

We congratulate the IACS and the co-chairs of this effort, Professors Marivi Fernandez-Serra and Monica Buggalo at Stony Brook University, for putting this great event together. We also hope that this kind of community service and outreach continues to provide necessary opportunities for personal growth.

These students expanded on the typical effort to study for a test, memorize dates or answer multiple choice or short answer questions for a class assignment. These videos took days to produce and edit.

We thank women scientists of the past for everything they did in and out of the limelight and we take great comfort in pondering a future led by the boundless enthusiasm of the competitors who are in the early stages of their own journeys.

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Flu season is hitting New York and the country as a whole especially hard this year. Stock photo

By Daniel Dunaief

The flu season has hit with a vengeance in February, as a seasonal virus that can be deadly has  become the dominant cause of illness in the area.

Suffolk County hospitals reported 337 residents with influenza in the week ending Feb. 1, according to New York State Department of Health data.

Dr. Sharon Nachman

Just last year, for the 2023-2024 flu season, Suffolk County hospitalizations peaked on Dec. 30 at 52. Even in the year before, when people were starting to wear masks much less frequently than during the peak covid years, flu hospitalizations in the county peaked at 50 on Dec. 17.

“We are definitely seeing more people sick” with flu, said Dr. Sharon Nachman, chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. The emergency room is “wildly full, and even urgent care walk in is full.”

The number of positive cases of flu A at Stony Brook University Hospital in January was 800. That compares with 400 cases for the same strain last year, according to Nachman.

While the flu is cyclical and can cause different levels of infections from year to year, local doctors suggested that the overall flu vaccination rate was lower this year, which may have increased vulnerability to the virus and extended the time people exhibited symptoms.

The number of people vaccinated is “incredibly lower compared to past years,” said Nachman. On top of that, people may not have been exposed to the flu for several years amid measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

Residents’ immune systems may have “no good memory response” if the last exposure to the virus occurred some time before 2020, Dr. Nachman added.

The dominant strain of the flu this year is the A strain, which accounts for about 80 percent of the cases.

Nachman suggested that people who were vaccinated in early September may not have as much resistance to the flu this month, as their peak resistance, which typically lasts about three months, has wained.

Health care professionals added that people who haven’t been vaccinated could still receive the shot, as the flu season could continue to last for a month or more.

Dr. Adrian Popp

“It is not too late to get the flu shot,” Dr. Gregson Pigott, Commissioner of the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, explained in an email.

Dr. Adrian Popp, chair of Infection Control at Huntington Hospital, said the staff has been offering flu shots for residents who have were not already immunized.

“I don’t know how much longer this will last,” said Popp. “It’s still cold and it’ll be cold in March.”

Typically, it takes two weeks for the body to receive full protection from the shot. The shot does provide some incremental benefit immediately.

“You start building immunity from the moment you get” the shot, said Popp.

So far this year, there have been two deaths at Huntington Hospital, which is not unusual for the flu.

Mortality from the flu is “turning into what it used to be,” said Popp, with deaths at about pre pandemic levels.

High risk patients

High risk patients are typically older or have preexisting conditions.

People who have an inability to fight infections can get “much sicker from the flu,” said Dr. Alan Bulbin, St. Francis Hospital and Heart Center Director of Infectious Disease.

Dr. Gregson Pigott

Health care workers urged those who are in higher risk groups either to see their doctors if they start developing symptoms or to use some of the at home tests, including a recent one that can test for flu A and B, as well as Covid.

“If you are immunocompromised, you should have a low threshold,” said Bulbin. “You should speak with a doctor, go to urgent care, and do a swab. That may differentiate influenza” from other infections such as respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and Covid.

The antiviral treatment Tamiflu can be effective if people start taking it within 48 hours of developing symptoms. Paxlovid, meanwhile, can also help within a few days of developing covid.

“We urge residents, especially those at risk for severe illness, to contact their medical providers at the onset of symptoms,” Pigott explained in an email.

Lower Covid and RSV levels

While the flu has infected a larger number of people than in previous years, the incidence of RSV and Covid has declined.

In Suffolk County, 90 residents are hospitalized with Covid, while the number of deaths from the virus is 29 since the start of the year, according to the New York State Department of Health.

That compares with 190 residents hospitalized last year and 96 deaths from Covid from Jan. 1 through Feb. 14.

“The virus that causes Covid-19 is still circulating and causing disease, although not as aggressively as in previous years,” Pigott explained.

RSV, meanwhile, rose in the fall, peaked in late December and has been falling since then.

RSV accounted for 0.2 percent of emergency department visits on Feb. 1, Pigott added.

Future ID doctors

Specialists in infectious disease were unsure how the pandemic affected the interest among doctors in training and residents in their field.

For some, the appeal of reacting to fluid circumstances and to gathering insights about a developing disease that could and did affect billions of lives could be appealing. For others, however, the demands, the hours, and increasing politicization of medicine as well as the divided response to vaccines could have pushed them in other directions.

“Am I concerned that not enough people are going into the specialty?” Nachman asked. “Yes.”

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Port Jefferson Middle School production of 'Imaginary'
Port Jefferson Middle School production of 'Imaginary'
Port Jefferson Middle School production of 'Imaginary'
Port Jefferson Middle School production of 'Imaginary'
Port Jefferson Middle School production of 'Imaginary'

Port Jefferson Middle School recently presented Imaginary, an enchanting new musical that explores the magic of childhood, the power of imagination, and the journey of growing up. This exciting production, from Jan/ 31 to Feb. 2, was the New York premiere of the musical and captivated audiences with its heartfelt storyline and talented performers.

Featuring catchy tunes and touching ballads, Imaginary follows a young protagonist as they navigate a mystery at their new school—why are all these students acting like zombies? To save the day they must learn to harness the power of friendship and imagination. As the story unfolds, the audience is reminded of the importance of nurturing creativity and connection in a world that often emphasizes the pursuit of perfect grades instead.

“The themes of Imaginary resonate deeply with children and adults alike,” said Christine Creighton and Laurel Ormiston, the directors of the musical. “It’s a story about holding onto the magic of your imagination while embracing the changes that come with growing up. We were incredibly proud to bring this inspiring production to the stage for the first time in New York, and to be able to give that unique opportunity for both cast and audience to experience something brand new.”

The cast, comprised of Port Jefferson Middle School students, showcased their months of dedicated work by delivering joyful, expressive performances. “We could not be more proud of these students. For many, this was their first show, and we hope that this was the start of their journey here with our phenomenal Royals’ performing arts community,” said Dr. Michael Caravello, the Port Jefferson Director of Music and Fine Arts.

The musical was also brought to life through exquisite lighting, props, costumes, and beautifully crafted sets which were the result of generous efforts by both parent volunteers and Port Jefferson staff. “Our students and families have been one of the best to work with because of their enthusiasm, teamwork, and talent,” noted Creighton.

The Port Jefferson Middle School community came together to enjoy this extraordinary event, with many students, teachers, and families attending the performances. The success of Imaginary marks another milestone in the school’s long history of producing high-quality theatrical productions.

For more information regarding the Port Jefferson School District and its students’ many achievements, please visit the District’s website at https://www.portjeffschools.org and follow its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PortJeffSchools.

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