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Brookhaven sets awareness dates, approves generator grant and extends housing program

by Peter Sloniewsky - September 20, 2024

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TOB screenshot — Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook). Photo courtesy Town of Brookhaven livestream

By Peter Sloniewsky

The Town of Brookhaven Town Board met on Sept. 12 to discuss a variety of issues.

After a number of routine matters, the board addressed its Resolution Agenda. First, it designated the month of October as National Bullying Prevention Month, declared the week of Oct. 23-31 as Red Ribbon Week for drug education and awareness, and designated Sept. 29 as National Veterans of Foreign Wars Day.

The board then moved to authorize a grant from the Critical Infrastructure Grant Program it had received from the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to fund a generator at its vehicle control facility. The board also voted to lease additional property at the town-owned Rolling Oaks Golf Course in Rocky Point, and to award bids to contractors for highway repair work, heavy-machinery repair work and at the Mill Pond Golf Course in Medford for cart path repair.

The board then voted to extend the Home Investment Partnerships Program with the Long Island Housing Partnership, which assists new homebuyers in financial need, through Dec. 16.

Lastly on to its Resolution Agenda, the board accepted donations of both money and land, authorized its attorney to settle claims against the town and authorized the qualification of the 2nd annual Long Island Law Enforcement Charity Car Show event to receive coverage under the Town of Brookhaven Programs for Public Good Insurance.

Beyond its Resolution Agenda, the Town Board set a date for a public hearing to amend the Uniform Traffic Code on Oct. 17. It also held public hearings for the town’s Planning Board and accepted comments from the general public.

The Town Board will meet again on Sept. 23 for a work session and publicly for a formal meeting on Sept. 26.

Fantasy novel comes true at Port Jefferson’s Dragon Boat Race Festival

by TBR Staff - September 20, 2024

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By Jenna Zaza

From sunrise to sundown last Saturday, Sept. 14, the air echoed with the rhythmic beat of drums, punctuated with bursts of cheers and shouts when they hit their last thump. Three aquatic dragon boats raced across the water, while vibrant red and yellow foam dragons soared among the scattered greenery of Port Jefferson’s Harborfront Park.

The typically tranquil village is transformed into a lively scene straight from a dragon fantasy novel as The Greater Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce hosted its 10th annual Dragon Boat Race Festival.

The festival brought together 20 teams made up of 20 paddlers, a steersman and a drummer, to compete in three racing heats that included two qualifying rounds and a championship round. The three-lane course ran 250 meters or approximately 820 feet.

Aside from the main attraction, there were all-day cultural performances and contests, local food trucks, vendors and family-friendly activities, creating a vibrant atmosphere for all attendees.

“It’s great to take advantage of our harbor to bring people together,” said Barbara Ransome, chamber director of operations. “It’s wonderful to celebrate our community’s culture and our differences. There’s nothing like it.”

Aside from the main attraction, there were all-day performances from the many talented organizations like the Long Island Chinese Dance Group and Taiko Tides Japanese percussion.

From the two qualifying heats, the top 12 with the lowest times made it to the championship round, which included four divisions. The teams that won gold were JPMorgan Chase’s Azure Dragons in Division I, Port Jefferson’s Rowing Club in Division II, Gregory Weyerhaeuser Piasecki Family in Division III and St. Charles Hospital’s Keeping the Faith in Division IV.

For the GWP Family, this race wasn’t just to get into the competitive spirit but to remember their uncle and cousin Piasecki who recently passed away.

The event continues to grow in popularity each year, drawing not only Long Island local teams but also participants from the greater New York area, according to Ransome.

For other teams, the waves and competition wasn’t the only challenging part of the races. “While it was physically exhausting, it was also [hard] controlling the emotions,” said Larry Ryan, one of the rowers for the Port Jefferson Dragons. “We’ve been together on the same team for nine years and we [raced initially] for the comradery, but now we do it in memory and to honor two people that are no longer with us.”

Even though the Dragon Boat Race Festival is significantly important in Chinese culture since it celebrates the life of patriotic Warring States Prime Minister and poet Qu Yuan, it is a festival all cultures can enjoy. Strolling through the park, attendees could hear a melody of the various different languages spoken around them like English, Chinese, Korean, Hindi and even the barks from the four-legged and flurry visitors.

“The amount of people and the enjoyment [the festival] brings, it’s always a good day,” said Denise Yazak, a science communicator at the Brookhaven National Lab and the team’s drummer. “I always meet new people and the sense of community here is really exciting.”

One of the highlights of the day was the mesmerizing lion dance performance by Authentic Shaolin Kung Fu, which captivated both children and adults alike. As the brightly colored lions danced their way through the crowd, their playful antics brought bursts of laughter and shrieks of delight from the younger audience members.

The lion dance is a traditional Chinese dance believed to bring good fortune and chase away evil spirits.

“The dance we did today is similar to what we do on Chinese New Year,” said Chris Quintero, an advanced student who has been training for about eight years. “A big part of [training] is being authentic to the culture and trying our absolute best in paying respect and being accurate to the culture.”

Jenna Zaza is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom.

Suffolk County Executive Romaine announces grant funding for homeowners impacted by historic August storm

by Press Release - September 19, 2024

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Residents are Advised to Apply Here; Deadline is October 7

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine announced today that new grant funding is available for homeowners who sustained damages from record flooding in Suffolk County on August 18-19. The program, which will be administered by the Long Island Housing Partnership, Inc. designated by the New York Homes and Community Renewal agency, seeks to offer emergency home repair assistance and reimbursement to impacted homeowners.

“Suffolk County experienced a catastrophic storm that impacted thousands of residents who are still recovering,” said Romaine. “As we continue to assess damage and work to provide our communities with relief, I thank our partners in New York State who will provide eligible homeowners with much needed financial assistance.”

Grant funding is available to eligible residents on a first come, first serve basis. Funds allocated under the program will be limited to emergency housing repairs necessary to make the home safe, sanitary and habitable. The program is intended to assist eligible homeowners whose damages were not covered by insurance or other disaster recovery funds. Non-urgent repairs are not eligible.

Under the program guidelines, homeowners must be income eligible, defined as an annual household income equal to or less than 150% of County Area Median Income based on household size. Homeowners may not qualify for full grant award, and in no event will the total grant award to any single applicant exceed $50,000. Homeowners associations are not eligible.

The deadline to apply is October 7, 2024. Residents are advised to apply here.

Residents with questions or who need additional information are advised to contact the Flood Relief Program at [email protected] or call 631-435-4710.

Letters to the Editor: September 19, 2024

by Press Release - September 19, 2024

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letters_page-scaled-1-700x467-1-1-1 — File photo by Raymond Janis

Applauding Cedar Beach environmental sentiments

I applaud the sentiments of “Trying to enjoy peace at Cedar Beach” in Letters to the Editor, Sept. 5.

I can’t count how many times I’ve been at the beautiful beaches and parks in our area — as well as parking lots — and felt similar feelings of bewilderment and anger when I see people sitting in their idling cars, often with the windows down. Why run the engine, especially on a beautiful day? It’s a waste of gas and money, and pollutes the air while creating unnecessary noise.

Perhaps our local leaders can put forth legislation that would fine those who idle their engines beyond the 3-minute limit acceptable by New York State law? Maybe some people don’t grasp the detrimental effects on the environment — not to mention the waste of their own money — but perhaps enforcing legislation and fines would provide a wake-up call. Let’s all enjoy fresh air and nature in peace and quiet, and be considerate of others.

Adriana Lubarsky

East Setauket

Keeping LIRR on track

Port Jefferson commuters should be concerned that the LIRR still needs to reach a state of good repair for existing fleet, stations, elevators, escalators, signals, interlockings, track, power, yards and shops. It also includes more and more stations reaching compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. All maintenance programs for all operating assets also need to be fully funded and completed on time to ensure riders safe uninterrupted reliable service. Since its creation in 1964, the Urban Mass Transit Administration (known since 1991 as the Federal Transit Administration) has provided billions to pay for many of these capital improvements.

The LIRR share of annual FTA grants to the MTA averages 15%. In 2024, this should represent $270 million of $1.8 billion in federal grant funding. The state Department of Transportation provides Statewide Mass Transportation Operating Assistance on an annual basis to the MTA and LIRR. Let us give thanks to both Washington and Albany for continued financial support for our very own LIRR — the nation’s largest commuter railroad.

Larry Penner

Great Neck

Voices of service: the true cost of new nonprofit oversight

Last month, Suffolk County Legislators Trish Bergin (R-East Islip) and Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) sponsored I.R. 1687, a bill that would amend the Suffolk County Code to provide the county more oversight into the internal fiscal operations of nonprofit entities seeking county subsidies and limiting the salaries of nonprofit executives.

I have worked in nonprofit leadership since 2011. Leading a nonprofit is often impossibly difficult. Over half of respondents in a recent survey from the Chronicle of Philanthropy noted that they struggle with a work-life balance. Nearly two-thirds of the nonprofit leaders in the Chronicle’s survey say the country’s polarization — over politics, race and culture — is making their work more difficult.

A third of survey participants say they are likely to leave their current organization in the next two years. Twenty-two percent say they are likely to leave the nonprofit world altogether. Other than retirement, top reasons include salary, the challenge of finding resources and the demands of the job.

I can’t think of any other industry that is on the edge of losing almost 25% of their leadership workforce.

A healthy relationship between nonprofits and their local, state and federal governments brings stronger programming and services to residents. Without the nonprofit sector, the government does not have the infrastructure or systems in place to provide the care we need.

My colleagues and friends who have devoted their life to this work are not money-hungry hoarders. But if our industry is going to recruit competitive talent to lead, we must be able to offer competitive salaries.

Perhaps our county legislators and others like them should rethink opportunities to increase their giving and partnerships so we can actually solve the problems facing nonprofit organizations, rather than attacking the people responsible for working to solve them.

Cindy Morris

Stony Brook

‘Matilda the Musical’ shines bright at Theatre Three

by Julianne Mosher - September 19, 2024

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By Julianne Mosher

One of the last musical numbers during Theatre Three’s latest production of Matilda the Musical is called “Revolting Children,” but the cast of this show is far from it.

Based on the beloved book by Roald Dahl and the 1996 movie starring Mara Wilson and Danny DeVito, the musical is a fun and enchanting twist that will make all ages in the audience smile.

Written by Dennis Kelly, music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and directed by Jeffrey Sanzel, Matilda follows the story of a spectacularly smart child who lives in an unhappy home with dimwitted parents. Matilda (played by the extraordinarily talented Sadie Mathers — who is readily on the path to stardom), finds solace in the library where she reads books upon books while also sharing tales she makes up in her head to the local librarian, Mrs. Phelps (Michelle LaBozzetta).

Her family, the Wormwoods, don’t read. In fact, they’re lazy and dumb. Matilda’s father, played by Steven Uihlein, is a crooked car salesman who refuses to acknowledge the young girl as his daughter, and her mother, played by Rachel Geiser, is an amateur ballroom dancer who only cares about her looks — not her family. Matilda has a brother, Michael, played by Jax Segal, who does not speak and stares at the TV throughout the entire show, remote in hand.

To teach her some discipline, Mr. Wormwood ships Matilda off to a private academy headed by Miss. Trunchbull (Liam Marsigliano), a former Olympian who hates children and wishes for a world without them. Luckily, Matilda and her classmates find comfort knowing their teacher, Miss Honey (Veronica Fox), loves them and tries to make their school days better despite their dreary and frightening walls.

Throughout the play, Matilda shares a tale of an escapologist (Eric J. Hughes) and his wife, the acrobat (Josie McSwane) that she makes up in her head. The characters, however, seem to match with certain people the young girl meets and encounters in her daily life.

Compared to the movie, the musical version of Matilda is set in England so the ensemble needed to not only learn the lyrics to difficult songs, but do it with a cockney accent — the child actors included. The talent of the entire cast is remarkable with its leadership from musical director Jeffrey Hoffman and choreography from Sari Feldman with dance moves and vocal ranges fit for Broadway.

And if you’re a fan of film, you’ll be surprised with a similar plot but with different twists and turns.

From the campy costumes full of color — minus the school uniforms, of course — (designed by Jason Allyn) to the set design that integrates video using TV monitors framing the stage (Randall Parsons), the attention to detail is nothing short from extraordinary.

So, you better go see this show or else you’ll be thrown in the chokey and give this group of actors the standing ovation they continuously deserve.

Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson presents Matilda the Musical through Oct. 20. Tickets are $40 adults, $32 seniors and students, $25 children ages 5 to 12, $25 Wednesday matinees. To order, call 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

All photos by Steve Kyle/Showbizshots

D. None of the Above: An easterner recounts a shaking desk on the 17th floor in L.A.

by Daniel Dunaief - September 18, 2024

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By Daniel Dunaief

I hadn’t been to Los Angeles in over 30 years. On our trip last week, I traveled with my wife, worked remotely, visited with our nephew, and purchased tickets to attend my first home Dodgers game.

During a visit that only lasted a few days, my wife and I stayed on Eastern Standard Time, which meant we were awake between 5:30 and 6:30 a.m. local time and were at work by 7 a.m..

My wife walked across a street to her office and I sat at a desk on the 17th floor of a hotel, laptop in front of me with my cell phone at the ready.

At around 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, I felt as if the desk in front of me were shaking.

At first, I figured it had to be some neurological quirk. After all, the older I get, the more inexplicable my sometimes random body signals are to me.

When the desk shook a second time, I made an announcement to the empty room.

“That’s an earthquake!” I declared, as if naming it and knowing what it was gave me some small measure of control. I walked around in circles and wondered what I should grab, where I should go, and what I should do.

I knew my wife was in meetings that morning, but called her immediately anyway.

She picked up in that hushed tone she uses when she’s on a phone or a zoom call.

“What’s happening?” she whispered.

“Did you feel the earthquake?” I asked. “What are you doing about it over there?”

“Earthquake? What earthquake? No,” she said, as she quickly typed into her computer.

Sure enough, within seconds of the quake, she had found something online confirming the event.

“What do you want to do?” she asked.

I was staring out the window, which probably isn’t the right place to go, and watched people casually walking along the sidewalk, cars navigating through crowded streets and birds flying between the buildings.

“I’m going to call the lobby,” I said. I told her I’d get back to her immediately if there was anything we should do.

“Hi,” I stammered, “is this the front desk?”

“Yes,” the woman said. “How can I help you?”

“I’m on the 17th floor and I just felt an earthquake,” I announced.

Silence. I suspect the woman in the lobby was thinking something along the lines of, “You’re not from around these parts, are you?”

“What should I do?” I asked.

“Oh,” she sighed. “Well, if you’re worried or if things are falling from the ceiling, you can take shelter.”

“Shelter? Where? What should I do?”

“You can go under your desk or wait in a door frame. We also have a communication system on every floor and we can let you know if you need to evacuate.”

“So, what do I do?” I asked again.

“Whatever makes you comfortable,” she sighed. “Can I help you with anything else?”

“No,” I said, hanging up the phone. I grabbed my wallet, put on my shoes, and made sure I had everything I might need. I stood in the middle of the room in earthquake sensing mode. I had become a human seismometer, with my arms out, my feet spread apart and my palms pointing down to sense any vibrations.

I kept checking online, where I read coverage of an earthquake that didn’t seem to have caused any damage.

My wife and I traded texts and decided to continue working.

Later that day, we discussed the quake with friends and strangers, triggering all kinds of stories about earlier quakes and the ones people felt at different times.

I’m sure people in New York don’t hear honking taxis, people in the southeastern United States barely register screeching cicadas, and people in Phoenix somehow adjust to the searing heat.

I don’t think I’ll ever be enough of a Californian or a would-be Californian not to worry about the Earth moving under my feet.

Oh, and I did get to the Dodgers game the night before. The stadium was magnificent, the sushi was remarkably good, and the fans were delighted by the other-worldly performance of Shohei Ohtani, who crushed a home run and stole a base.

The explosive sounds of a thrilled crowd of close to 50,000, the excitement of people jumping out of their seats, and the celebratory flashing lights were far more familiar than the shaking desk I felt the next morning.

Between You and Me: The day I saw America’s Princess

by Leah Dunaief - September 18, 2024

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512px-Grace_Kelly_Promotional_Photograph_Rear_Window — Grace Kelly in a promotional photo for 'Rear Window' by Paramount Pictures. Wikimedia

By Leah S. Dunaief

While England had its favorite Princess Diana, we in America had a princess of our own for years. Many now were born after her death in 1982, but for those of us who remember her, she had terrific charisma. She was Princess of Monaco, her name was Grace Kelly and she came from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Last Saturday marked the anniversary of her death, also like Diana, in a horrible automobile accident on the steep slopes of the French Riviera. She was 52.

Hers was a true fairy tale story until the end.

Unlike many stars of stage and screen, Grace Kelly did not come from a hardscrabble background but was born into a wealthy Irish Catholic family, the third of four children. By all accounts, hers was a handsome household, and she was sent to good schools. Starting her career as an actress at 18, she began with helpful connections. Her uncle was a Pulitzer Prize winner in California and certainly smoothed her way with important introductions.

One well known story about her that came to symbolize her demeanor and rapid rise to success was her early interview with a director. She appeared well dressed and wearing a hat and white gloves. As her mother explained many times in subsequent years to the press, that was what a well brought up young lady wore to an appointment mid-century. Along with her blonde, blue eyed good looks, she carried a finishing school poise wherever she went. That certainly impressed many in Hollywood.

She also impressed the movie world by refusing to sign a long term contract with any of the studios, thus assuring her independence. Initially she found work as a commercial photographer’s model, but then she started getting small parts in movies and quickly moved up. Within a remarkably short, five-year period, she starred in movies with some of Hollywood’s most famous, and virile, leading men, including Clark Gable, Cary Grant, Gary Cooper, Jimmy Stewart, Louis Jordan, Stewart Granger and even did a famous duet with Bing Crosby in the movie, “High Society.” She also won an Academy Award for her role in “Country Girl,” in which she had a non-glamorous lead.

Grace Kelly was, by popular accounts, Director Alfred Hitchcock’s favorite actress and his lead in two of his movies. When she was sent to film “To Catch a Thief” on the French Riviera, she was introduced to Prince Rainier III of Monaco, who at the age of 32 was considered one of Europe’s most eligible bachelors. Monaco was known to Americans as a luxurious tourist resort famous for its Monte Carlo Casino. It was, and still is, a small sovereign principality on the Mediterranean, alongside France and close to Italy, ruled by the Grimaldi family since 1297 but only so long as the family produces an heir.

At the time of her marriage in 1956, Kelly was 26, and to the sorrow of many, retired from her acting career. While she was regarded, since she was an American and an actress, with some coolness at first by the Monegasques, they certainly took her into their hearts when she produced the Grimaldi’s first of their three children in 1957. That insured their tax-free status and Monaco’s continuation.

Not unlike Princess Diana, whom she met shortly after Diana’s marriage to Prince Charles, she worked hard on behalf of charities, especially for children. And according to an interview with her son, Albert, in 2014, Kelly was a “hands-on” mom, keeping their home as normal as possible in the midst of glamorous European life. Kelly even insisted on turkey amid Thanksgiving celebrations, neither one of which was common for Europeans.

I met Grace Kelly when I was an early teenager and infatuated with movies. It was an evening on a Sunday, and I was peering into a shop window on Madison Avenue in the upper 70s in New York City. I don’t remember what I was looking at, but I became aware that there was someone next to me also glancing into the closed shop. I turned to face the woman, who then turned toward me. I knew that face.

“Are you Grace Kelly?” I asked, thrilled. She had sea blue eyes and fabulous skin, which was so impressive to me in my early acne years.

“Yes,” she said smiling. “I am.” I noted that she had perfect white teeth.

After a moment, during which I froze, she continued smiling and walked uptown, past me.

Best spots for leaf peeping on the North Shore

by John Turner - September 16, 2024

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By John L. Turner

As summer melds into autumn, the changes in temperature and daylight length are hardly, if at all, noticeable to us. But not so with the trees of Long Island’s forests. They are attuned to incremental changes in environmental conditions and have begun to prepare for the impending winter although it is still several months away.

The first and most conspicuous sign of this preparation is the color change in the countless leaves adorning the almost countless trees. During the summer leaves are filled with chlorophyll pigment necessary for plants to photosynthesize. As summer wears on, trees begin to break down chlorophyll pigments, reabsorbing the vital nitrogen and as a result other pigments are revealed. The color of the leaf depends on which pigments appear — anthocyanin produces red colored leaves, xanthophyll creates yellow, and carotene results in orange and gold. A fall season with cool nights and warm sunny days produces the most intense colors.

There are a dozen or so tree species along the North Shore providing the riot of color a that a spectacular autumn burst can bring. Two wetland trees are especially colorful, indeed brilliant — red maple and black tupelo. Their leaves turn an intense orange-red, so colorful it appears if they are illuminated from an internal light source. Tupelo starts turning early — beginning in mid-August.

Add to this the butter yellow of the hickories, the lemon-yellow of sassafras, the bright red of scarlet oak (easy to understand how it got its name when you see it in autumn splendor), the similarly colored red oak, the solid tan of beech, the duller orange of black oak, and the solid gold of black birch, and it’s clear that Long Island’s forests can paint an eye-pleasing show!

Fortunately, there are many parks and preserves along the county’s North Shore where you can see leaf change. Caleb Smith State Park Preserve in Smithtown can be a go-to locale given the amount of red maple and tupelo growing in and along the park’s numerous wetlands. The same goes for the adjacent Blydenburgh County Park. Cordwood Landing County Park in Miller Place, a gem situated on the shore of Long Island Sound, produces a nice palette of color that includes two rarer orange-leaved trees — Hornbeam and Hop Hornbeam.

A walk along the Long Island Greenbelt Trail in Arthur Kunz County Park on the west side of the Nissequogue River, accessed from Landing Avenue in Smithtown, can be good for leaf peeping with an added bonus of beautiful views of the river and its marshland, the grasses of which turn an attractive russet color in the fall.

Makamah County Nature Preserve in Fort Salonga is similar — colorful woodland scenes with peeks out to the adjacent marshland. A less well-known county park, fine for leaf peeping, is Rassapeague County Park located in the Village of Nissequogue along Long Beach Road.

A little further afield, the 100,000 acre Pine Barrens Preserve of central and eastern Suffolk County offers many places to view the leaf change and is especially beautiful in certain areas as the bright red and orange of the red maples and black tupelos blend with the tans, browns and burgundy of various oaks. Adding to the palette here are the medium green colors of Pitch Pine and in some places the darker greens of Atlantic White Cedar.

Good places in the Pine Barrens to see the leaf change are the Quogue Wildlife Refuge, Cranberry Bog County Nature Preserve accessed by County Route 63 in Riverhead, and The Nature Conservancy’s Calverton Pond Preserve in Manorville.

A resident of Setauket, author John L. Turner is conservation chair of the Four Harbors Audubon Society, author of “Exploring the Other Island: A Seasonal Nature Guide to Long Island” and president of Alula Birding & Natural History Tours.

This article originally appeared in TBR News Media’s Harvest Times supplement on Sept. 12.

Port Jeff BOE unveils flood recovery, summer highlights and fun run plans

by Aramis Khosronejad - September 13, 2024

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ALI — Superintendent of Schools, Jessica Schmettan. Photo by Aramis Khosronejad

By Aramis Khosronejad

A Port Jefferson Board of Education meeting was held at Edna Louise Spear Elementary School in the afternoon of Sept. 10. The meeting was led by Superintendent of Schools Jessica Schmettan.

The report began with a review of the damage caused by the flash floods that swept through the Port Jefferson community in August and the possible repercussions. Then the report shifted to an overview about the summer programs that were available to students over the summer. Toward the end of the meeting, the chair of the Port Jefferson Royal Educational Foundation, Leza Di Bella, covered news on the annual fun run, which aims to fund projects in the school district.

Schmettan’s report opened up with updates on the flood damage the local schools suffered due to the flooding that took place. The band room in the high school lost a wall, the entirety of the lobby was flooded with rainwater, the “bowl” in front of the high school was entirely flooded and ruined, as well as various losses to school materials and tools.

The cleanup was quickly and impressively done before the school reopened. Deputy Superintendent Sean Leister addressed the funding that would need to take place in order to facilitate the repairs done to the school such as replacement of “music stands and chairs.” Leister explained how the district hoped to make Port Jefferson eligible for recovery funding. Meanwhile, he warned the board to anticipate some budget transfers.

A few updates at the high school were highlighted during the meeting. The high school has implemented a new retaining wall behind the school, the middle school family consumer science classroom was redone, and a shining new computer lab was constructed which was an initiative led by Robert Neidig, the assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction.

Summer programs

Award recipient, Tracy Zamek. Photo by Aramis Khosronejad

The meeting then moved to an overview of the different, eclectic programs the school district facilitated over the summer. Jodi Cahill, the director of special education, took the podium and began by describing the extended summer program held for special needs students. The program was divided into three age-based cohorts with 25 children total. Highlights included a “clowning around” event with Jester Jim, a Paris 2024 Olympics-themed program, a Holtsville Ecology Center field trip, an under-the-sea collaboration with Cornell Cooperative Extension and bowling at Port Jeff Bowl. The program concluded with a field day, in partnership with Sayville BOCES, featuring activities for the children.

Michael Caravello, director of music and fine arts, then took over and talked about the various music programs that were available for students over the summer. The programs were aimed to encourage “collaboration and problem solving in a relaxed, fun atmosphere” according to Caravello. He mentioned how next summer they hope to broaden their array of programs beyond just musical instruments and onto further fields of fine arts.

Next, Adam Sherrard, director of health, physical education and athletics, talked about the eclectic collection of sports. The athletic programs included football and tennis through volleyball, all meant to encourage younger children to become passionate and engage with Port Jeff athletics in the future. Older high school students also participated in these programs and helped coaches train and practice with these kids. In a turn of events, the summer athletic program this year increased in participation after a steady decline in recent years. Summer programs also consisted of a book club, social skills program, as well as STEM for both secondary and elementary students.

Di Bella took the podium and talked about the annual fun run. An award was given to Tracy Zamek, a BOE trustee, for her contributions to the school district. It was in fact her idea to facilitate the fun run which has funded so many Port Jefferson School events. The run this year will be held on Sept. 28.

Port Jefferson Royals girl’s soccer eases past the Baymen

by Bill Landon - September 13, 2024

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By Bill Landon

Having won their season opener convincingly with an 11-2 blowout over Wyandanch, the Port Jefferson Lady Royals soccer team made it two in a row in a home game against Hampton Bays Tuesday afternoon, Sept. 10.

Port Jeff senior, Emily Snyder, broke free in the final minutes of the first half and drilled a shot to the back of the net unassisted to break the deadlock. Nina Gnatenko’s shot to the corner of the net provided the insurance goal but the freshman wasn’t finished yet. She struck again with a header into the back of the net off a corner kick to put her team ahead 3-0 for a comfortable victory.

Port Jeff hit the road with an away game at East Hampton on Sept. 11 but the result was not available before press time. The Royals next home game will be against Babylon on Friday, Sept. 13. Game time is slated for 4:30 p.m.

— Photos by Bill Landon

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