Perhaps you don’t listen to the radio much, or at all. It’s a great way to turn to the latest news when we are driving in the car, where we in the suburbs spend so much of our time.
I have my dial set at CBS NewsRadio on 880 AM, and I flick it on whenever I am on the road. I will also listen to the all news station just before I go to sleep at night and right after I wake up in the morning. I am, after all, in the news business and need to be aware of what is happening both in the world and on Long Island. Besides, I have always been something of a news junkie. So you can imagine my disappointment when I heard the latest news from the station.
CBS NewsRadio will no longer broadcast the news 24/7.
The station gave no explanation, but of course I know why: not enough advertising.
The media is being devastated in the pocketbook. It’s not just newspapers that are feeling the squeeze to the bottom line. It is also television, cable and radio. Many people are getting their news from online and social media. But those sources are not vetted and subject to the higher standards of a free press or broadcasting. They often contain biased or even total untruths and can dangerously spread misinformation.
This is a genuine threat to our democracy, which can only exist if people are correctly informed of what is happening around them and thus can support those officials who properly represent them. Even The New York Times, with a huge circulation in New York, has now decided to stop endorsing candidates in the state.
Again, while the newspaper doesn’t give a reason for the omission it announced, I can fairly well guess why. It takes a lot of extra time and effort to interview candidates for national, statewide and local offices, and then to discuss the results and ultimately write up the endorsements. We know about that. And time means money.
Yes, endorsements sometimes result in hurt feelings and displeasure on the part of the party or candidates not selected, but that has always been a factor in elections. Unendorsed officials, political parties and the media need each other, and after an election, they resume their sometimes shaky relationship. That, in itself, is not a reason for discontinuing the highly valuable service for readers of publishing the impressions of journalists who cover the candidates on a regular basis and have privileged personal access to them during interviews. “It mattered because it helped keep candidates honest, from taking cheap shots and saying what’s popular instead of what’s hard,” was one observation from a political source.
The issue is money.
CBS NewsRadio offered a broad range of news categories, from international and national, to state and local information. It also gave health, economic, weather, traffic and sports overviews in a structured half-hourly schedule. All of that readily available news will be missed.
The pressure on news outlets is extreme today. Based on the old fashioned model, news has been supplied to the public freely with the underwriting of advertising support. But that model is broken.
Advertising has drifted to the much followed digital services like Google and Apple, leaving traditional media adrift. While some advertising continues to flow to these media, not enough does to sustain all the outlets.
For example, 6000 newspapers used to exist in the United States. Today, that number is about 2500 and are beset with financial woes. The New York Times decided to shift its base of support from solely advertising to the customers of their information, the readers. It installed a paywall for the readers. While that business strategy seems to be working for the NYT, it has so far failed any number of others.
Community news media are also suffering. “Truth of the matter is, who I elect to the school board affects me much more than who I vote for for president,” was said by one media specialist. We, too, need help.
The Memorial Parade of Boats can be viewed from Harborfront Park in Port Jefferson. File photo by Bob Savage
View Memorial Parade of Boats at Harborfront Park prior to race
It’s time once again to sail for a cure as the 15th annual Village Cup Regatta, a friendly competition between Mather Hospital and the Village of Port Jefferson, returns on Saturday, Sept. 7.
Presented by the Port Jefferson Yacht Club in partnership with the Village of Port Jefferson, the Regatta raises funds for Mather Hospital’s Palliative Medicine Program and the Lustgarten Foundation, the largest private funder of pancreatic cancer research in the world. Last year’s Regatta raised more than $100,000, which was divided between Mather Hospital and the Lustgarten Foundation. The event has raised almost $960,000 over 14 years and is poised to reach $1 million in donations this year.
The Regatta consists of Yacht Club-skippered sailboats divided into two teams representing Mather Hospital and the Village of Port Jefferson. Employees from the Hospital and Village, along withvillage residents, help crew the boats, which race in one of three classes based on boat size. The festivities begin in Harborfront Park in Port Jefferson Village at 10 a.m., where you can purchase shirts,commemorative hats, nautical bags and mugs. The Memorial Parade of Boats begins at 11 a.m. at the Port Jefferson Village dock. All sailboats participating in the Regatta will pass by the park dressed in banners and nautical flags on their way out to the racecourse on Long Island Sound.
Actor, director and local resident Ralph Macchio will once again serve as Village Cup Regatta Celebrity Ambassador for the event. Macchio has helped to publicize the important work of the two programs funded by the Regatta for the past 11 years. Macchio’s wife, Phyllis, is a nurse practitioner in Mather Hospital’s Palliative Medicine Program.
Following the Regatta, a celebratory Skipper’s Reception and presentation of the Village Cup will take place in a restored 1917 shipyard building that today serves as the Port Jefferson Village Center.
To sign up as a crew member for the Mather Hospital team, contact Cindy Court at 631-476-2723 or [email protected]
To sign up as a crew member for the Port Jefferson Village team, contact Sylvia at 631-473-4724, ext. 219 or email [email protected].
Businesses, organizations and individuals can support the Regatta and the programs it funds by sponsoring, donating, or purchasing tickets to attend the Skipper’s Reception or view the Regatta on a spectator boat. For more information and to purchase tickets please visit http://portjeffersonyachtclub.com/community/village-cup/ or www.facebook.com/villagecupregatta.
In June, waste-incinerator Covanta agreed to pay the Town of Brookhaven $1 million to settle a lawsuit alleging the company trucked hazardous ash to the town’s Yaphank landfill. While the settlement is pending in the Nassau County Supreme Court, town Supervisor Dan Panico (R) said he has “no reason to believe that it wouldn’t be approved.”
The lawsuit was filed in 2013 by whistleblower Patrick Fahey, a former Covanta Hempstead employee, on behalf of local governments that sent municipal waste to the Covanta plant in Westbury. Brookhaven accepted the resulting ash at its Yaphank landfill.
Covanta, which announced in April a name rebranding to Reworld Waste, has denied any wrongdoing.
Fahey’s attorney, David Kovel, has said that his client “doesn’t think the town is acting in the best interests of its citizens” in agreeing to settle for $1 million, and opposed the settlement with a court filing. Kovel added that only the state Attorney General’s Office has standing to settle, and that “it is astonishing that the Town of Brookhaven would sell out its citizens” by accepting such a “sweetheart” settlement.
Members of the Brookhaven Landfill Action and Remediation Group shared similar sentiments in a June 6 statement at a Brookhaven Town Board meeting. Group co-founder Monique Fitzgerald said, “It is despicable that this settlement would give Covanta a pass, while continuing to force community members to carry the burden,” adding, “This agreement comes without any input from the community.” She noted that Covanta would be absolved of any future financial responsibility for pollution cleanups in the area.
BLAR group has also called for the immediate closure of the landfill, which was previously slated to be closed in 2027 or 2028, and for there to be an immediate cleanup of the North Bellport community’s air, land and water. Town officials have yet to provide a firm timeline for closing the Yaphank facility.
Panico, when asked whether the town will earmark the settlement money for the benefit of the North Bellport community or for remediation at the landfill, said, “We’re doing work far in excess of that $1 million figure. Our commitment to the people of North Bellport is long-standing and strong.”
Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R), New York State Sen. Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue) and county Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. (D) released public safety announcements to remind the public of the dangers of drunk and drugged driving. They further discussed the importance of staying at the scene of a crash, as well as the legal and financial ramifications of a criminal arrest.
“We are more than half-way through this year’s ‘100 deadliest days of driving.’ In Suffolk County alone, there have been at least 20 fatalities since Memorial Day weekend, many of which were caused by drunk or drugged drivers. That is almost three lives lost per week, many of which were completely preventable, and despite the prevalence and convenience of ride-shares,” Tierney said.
“Drunk and drugged drivers threaten the lives of random and innocent roadway users of every age, gender, ethnicity and economic status, every single day throughout [our state],” he added.
In 2022 Long Island saw 245 people die in crashes, with 164 in Suffolk County alone — a third of which involved DWIs. According to a member of the SCPD, “Suffolk County holds the trophy for [these accidents], and it’s not a good trophy to hold.”
Murray, Toulon and Tierney doubled-down on their pledge to fight for the safety of all New Yorkers.
“Drunk and drugged drivers threaten the lives of random and innocent roadway users of every age, gender, ethnicity and economic status, every single day throughout [our state],” Tierney said.
They further urged all Long Islanders not to drive under the influence of any alcohol/drugs, regardless of the amount, since the officials want everyone to remember that any amount of alcohol or drugs in a person’s system is too much when it comes to driving.
Furthermore, these officials stressed the desire to have the Deadly Driving Bill passed in Albany, “to save countless lives, and make our roadways safer across New York State.”
This bill would call on lawmakers to close a great many of the loopholes in drugged driving laws. More specifically, the Deadly Driving Bill would end the allowance of an individual to avoid arrest and prosecution for operating a vehicle while drugged, unless the officer can pinpoint the drug by which the driver is impaired — while said drug must be listed in Section 3306 of the Public Health Law, as well.
Murray voiced concern over the specifics of legalized marijuana, as he feels that many have been left wondering whether it is appropriate to ingest any amount of it before taking the wheel.
“When New York State rushed through legislation to legalize marijuana, it was done so in a way that left many questions unanswered. Who can legally sell it? Who can legally buy it, use it or consume it?” Murray said. “There is definitely a need to educate the public [on this], and I’m thrilled to team with Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney and Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon Jr. to put these PSAs out to the public, to help facilitate that process.”
All public safety announcements can be found on the Suffolk County District Attorney’swebsite at www.suffolkcountyny.gov/da.
Student falling asleep at his desk. Courtesy MetroCreative Connection
By Daniel Dunaief
Imagine a typical school classroom filled with adults, listening as intently as they can to a detailed lecture about the finer points of tax law or multivariable calculus.
The adults in the room who weren’t particularly interested in the topic might struggle to concentrate, and several of them might try — perhaps unsuccessfully — to stay awake.
Now, bring a group of 8-year-olds into the same room, with the same instructor, and the same material. The likelihood that any of those younger students would fall asleep in their chair is far lower.
One reason for that difference is that the younger set, consistently, gets more sleep, while the older generation, from high school students on up the chain, typically, are not as well-rested.
“We think it’s normal, if you’re bored, to fall asleep, but it’s not,” said Dr. Steven Feinsilver, director of the Center for Sleep Medicine at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital. “Falling asleep in a lecture that doesn’t interest you means that you either have a sleep [problem] or, more likely, are sleep deprived.”
Indeed, the percentage of the population that is sleep deprived is estimated at around 50% or more, a staggering number, which means that at least half the population needs more restorative sleep.
With the start of another academic year just under a month away, sleep experts are urging students to start shifting back to their respective school sleep schedule in the coming weeks.
These sleep experts suggest that students who may sleep until 9 a.m. or later during the summer, but will soon get up for school at, say, 6 a.m., are experiencing a type of jet lag people often feel when they travel across the Atlantic.
Sleep experts say that changing an adolescent’s schedule to an earlier waking routine, a week or more before school starts, can ease that school-year transition, while others recommend shifting up wake-up time, by an hour earlier per day during the September lead-up.
“If you know you’re going to have to be waking up at 6 a.m. for the first day of high school, you should be starting to wake up within that hour, within three days or so, before that so your body gets used to it,” said Lauren Hale, professor of preventive medicine and sleep behavior expert at Stony Brook Medicine.
Routines, including getting enough sleep, are important in preparing for the mental effort required to meet daily learning challenges.
“Our brains like a consistent schedule,” said Brendan Duffy, director of Sleep Services at Catholic Health, which includes Port Jefferson-based St. Charles Hospital and Smithtown-based St. Catherine of Siena. “It’s important to get up at the same time,” even on weekends.
Teenagers need more sleep
The academic age group that needs the most sleep is the one that is often getting the least.
High schools often start just after 7 a.m., in part because after-school activities such as athletic practices and events, as well as other extra-curricular activities, take up the hours between the end of school and the onset of darkness.
“Between 15 and 25, everybody’s clock tends to run slow,” Feinsilver said.
The school districts that have pushed high school start times back have seen their test scores go up, added Feinsilver.
He acknowledged that it’s challenging for parents who are managing their own work schedules to balance their children’s academic hours. Parents and schools can and should try to compromise, he urged.
Benefits on the athletic field
Boy chases a soccer ball. Pixabay photo
A return to school also means the restarting of athletic programs, some of which begin before the first day of the new academic calendar.
Student-athletes are pushing their minds and bodies, as they juggle demanding academic requirements with training and competition.
Sleeping the estimated optimum of seven to nine hours per night not only helps improve an athlete’s competitive skills but also helps prevent physical problems.
Sleeping enough is a “way to avoid injuries,” said Duffy, who has been talking to students in a range of ages all the way through college.
Duffy added that professional teams are also encouraging athletes to budget for the sleep their minds and bodies need.
Additionally, he suggests sleep is a form of prehab, as sufficient rest can prevent injuries that would require rehabilitation.
Duffy has spoken with several area teams about the importance of sleep, including the Stony Brook women’s soccer team.
“For 90% of the players, this is the first time” they hear about the importance of sleep athletically, said Tobias Bischof, the head coach of SBU women’s soccer team. “My players are 18-to-22 years old and it’s not on their radar yet how important sleep is.”
He describes sleep as “probably the greatest recovery tool we have” and believes it’s “super important for injury prevention.”
As a coach, Bischof has started journaling his sleep patterns and believes he and others can be better coaches with enough rest.
He suggested that coaches are under tremendous pressure and sleep helps him become more patient.
Numerous factors contribute to success on and off the field with these student athletes, including nutrition, hydration, self-care and relationships with their families, as well as sleep, Bischof added.
The soccer coach doesn’t ask about sleep when he’s speaking with high school players who might join the SBU team, but it comes up when athletes ask about ways the school works with athletes beyond training.
He describes mental health support as well as sleep education.
“You always want to make them a better version of themselves,” Bischof said.
Jim Taylor, who specializes in the psychology of sports and parenting and who has been a consultant to the U.S. and Japanese ski teams, met Duffy when they were on a podcast panel related to sport psychology in 2022. Taylor suggested that sleep is much more than a physical process, as it has psychological and emotional implications.
“One of the most powerful tools that athletes have is sleep, which impacts them in so many ways,” he explained in an email.
Taylor, who competes in triathlons, has seen his results improve from top 20 in his age group to two national championship titles and three world championship podiums.
“Of course, I’m sure other factors contributed to my improved results, but I know that improved sleep was a key contributor,” he explained.
Mental health
Sleep can also be a sign of, or a contributing factor to, mental health issues.
In a Sleep-to-Rise campaign, the Sun Belt Conference suggests that talking about sleep is a gateway to discussing mental health.
Not getting enough sleep or poor sleep quality can increase the risk for mental health issues, while poor sleep itself can reflect mental health challenges.
In its sleep-to-rise online effort, the conference urges athletes to consider sleep a “competitive advantage.”
“With student-athletes, we emphasized the importance of prioritizing your sleep,” Lauren Shear, assistant commissioner of Championships & Sports Administration at the Sun Belt Conference, explained in an email. “This meant highlighting how sleep affects both mental health and physical health.”
Shear added that the conference tries to provide educational resources on mental health, nutrition, sleep and other factors to equip the student-athletes with the information they need to succeed in and outside competition.
She tries to get seven to eight hours of sleep per night and has noticed that when she gets six or less, she’s more irritable and lethargic. She’s also more likely to get sick.
Stony Brook’s Hale added that sleep, unlike diet or other life changes, can provide a noticeable benefit.
“People can see immediate results quicker than other behaviors,” Hale said. “If you choose not to have dessert, you might feel like you lost something and you don’t see a benefit the next day. If you actually got a full night of sleep, you might feel the benefits that day.”
Sleep tips from SBU’s Hale
•Prioritize your sleep health
• Try to have regular sleep times, even on
weekends
• Make sure you get morning light
• Avoid substance use, like caffeine late in
the afternoon
• Put screens away before bedtime
• Sleep in a cool, dark, quiet place
• Pay attention to your body. Figure out when you get restorative rest compared with when you don’t.
According to Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R), motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 24, with the leading causes being reckless driving and distracted driving while, often, under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Since Memorial Day weekend, drunk/drugged driving in Suffolk has claimed approximately three lives a week, and since 2018, the trend of drugged driving deaths has grown exponentially — 35% — statewide.
Suffolk County is a prime contributor to that number.
Maureen McCormick, Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office Vehicular Crimes prosecutor, recently said that the innocence of most of these vehicular crime victims is what is truly alarming about these cases.
And, with the state’s push to treat individuals intoxicated with drugs as firmly as those found drunk at the scene of a crash — as of now, a drugged driver in the state can only be charged with a DUI if the officer can name the drug the person has taken, and if said drug is included in a catalog of substances commonly tested for — why has a coalition of advocates been getting turned down in Albany for many years? And, why is America one of a quarter of countries that has a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.08, while the rest of the world only allows a limit of 0.05?
So, what can we do about the dangers of drunk/drugged driving? Here are some tips to stay safe on the roads.
• When going out, be sure to secure a nondrinking driver, ahead of time, to ensure a plan, and avoid in-the-moment confusion.
• Alternate drinking alcoholic beverages with soda, juice or water.
• Do not mix alcohol with other drugs, including over-the-counter and prescription medications.
• Do not get into the car with an impaired driver. Use other means of transportation such as a taxi, public transportation or driver who is sober.
• It is wise to have no substances in your system when operating a vehicle, even if you are within legal limits.
• Keep in mind: Even if you take prescription medication, avoid driving if it makes you drowsy, or lowers your energy levels. A substance does not have to be illicit to cause danger to yourself and others on the roads. Have someone drive you, when possible.
• Buckle up! If hit, a seatbelt reduces the risk of serious injury by 50% in the front seats, and up to 75%, in the rear seats.
• If you suspect an impaired driver is near you while on the road, slow down and consider turning away. When it is safe to do so, pull over and dial 911.
In this way, we will keep ourselves and our roads safe in Suffolk County and elsewhere.
After the removal of former head coach Chuck Priore in Nov. 2023, the Stony Brook football team has found his replacement in hopes that brighter days are ahead.
Finishing the 2023 season with an 0-10 record — the worst in program history — was not the way the Seawolves hoped to bounce back from 2022 that ended with a 2-9 finish. Just under a month after removing Priore, Stony Brook hired former Western Michigan University offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Billy Cosh to fill the role.
Cosh, 32, a resident of Smithtown, started his coaching career at Concord University in 2015, soon getting the position as a graduate assistant and quarterbacks coach for Indiana from 2016 to 2017. Cosh made the move to the Virginia Military Institute in 2018, serving as the wide receivers coach in 2018 and 2019, then getting promoted to offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach for the 2020 and 2021 seasons.
Cosh jumped to Richmond in 2022 where he led a top 20 offensive SP+ rating, advancing to the second round of the FCS playoffs in his lone season. After serving as offensive coordinator at Western Michigan for the 2023 season, Cosh was named the third head football coach in Stony Brook history. At 31 years old, he became the second-youngest current head coach in NCAA Division I football.
Coaching at Richmond in the Coastal Athletic Association (CAA) — the same conference as the Seawolves — Cosh said he has “always admired Stony Brook from afar.” In his first head coaching position, Cosh will look to pull the Seawolves out of the cellar.
“I knew this place has a chance,” Cosh said. “I knew they had the capability, so that’s kind of what attracted me to the job.”
Football is in Cosh’s blood. Bouncing around from place to place during his upbringing, he is the son of Chris Cosh who played linebacker for Virginia Tech from 1977 to 1981. Chris coached for 40 years at multiple FCS schools such as UNLV, Maryland, Michigan State, South Carolina and many more. He currently serves as an analyst at Western Michigan.
Billy Cosh (right) set to coach Seawolves football for the 2024 season. Courtesy Stony Brook Athletics
“I thought my dad had the coolest job in the world,” Cosh said. “I was like a sponge; I was around the game all the time. I got to see different players that played in the NFL and watched how they work and watched how coaches coached, it was really unique.”
Cosh was raised with his brother, James, who went on to play football at the United States Naval Academy from 2007 to 2011. James is currently a scout for the Chicago Bears in the NFL.
Being brought up around football, Cosh was destined to be a star on the field. Attending Arundel High School in Gambrills, Md. from 2006 to 2009, Cosh won the job of starting quarterback his junior year. He went on to break seven state records that season including most passing yards (3,909) and touchdowns (56), but it paled in comparison to his senior season.
Cosh’s senior year was special, throwing for 3,913 yards and 56 touchdowns. He set Maryland state records for career completions (594), passing yards (7,433) and touchdowns (112), finishing his high school career with a 22-3 record and leaving college coaches clamoring to have him on their team.
Though Cosh’s achievements on the field spoke for themselves, he credits playing with future NFL wide receivers RJ Harris and Alec Lemon for much of his success at Arundel.
“That kind of made a big difference,” Cosh said. “I wasn’t a great player, but I was very appreciative of the guys around me.”
When the college recruitment process came around, the choice was rather simple for Cosh. At the time, his father was the defensive coordinator at Kansas State University. A chance to play at a Big 12 school and have his father guide the way was too good for Cosh to pass on, deciding to play college football as a Wildcat.
Unfortunately, when things seem too good to be true, they often are. Cosh’s coaches opted to give him a freshman redshirt his first season at Kansas State, meaning he would be sidelined and not see action the entire season.
Looking ahead to his sophomore season, Cosh realized there may not be an opportunity for him to play anytime soon. With three quarterbacks on the roster that were returning the following season, all of them were ahead of him on the depth chart. He was paid a visit by James Madison University’s head coach Mickey Matthews who told Cosh he would have a better opportunity playing for him, so Cosh made the move.
Transferring to James Madison for his sophomore year hoping that he would have the chance to play, Cosh’s wishes were not answered. Again, Cosh was at the bottom of the depth chart and did not see action the entire season, later claiming that the move from Kansas State was one that he regretted.
“I really made a rash decision to leave, Coach [Bill] Snyder told me I would regret it, and he was right in some ways,” Cosh said. “I went [to James Madison] and was kind of told I wasn’t good enough, which was probably true, I wasn’t the greatest player, but I was never really given a shot.”
Cosh realized that he would have to step down a level if he wanted to get any real playing time, opting to transfer again, this time to Butler Community College in the NJCAA. Making the move in hopes to impress scouts and get back to the Division I level, Cosh did just that.
Stony Brook football is set to open the 2024 season on Aug. 31 at Marshall University in West Virginia. Courtesy Stony Brook Athletics
Stepping down a level gave Cosh the opportunity to see the field, but the talent pool in the NJCAA was very deep. He played with “12 to 15” future NFL players and against current All-Pro players such as Tyreek Hill, Alvin Kamara and Cordarrelle Patterson.
Cosh’s lone junior college season was described as a “rebirth” for him by Butler head coach Troy Morrell. He turned heads by throwing for 2,856 yards and 25 touchdowns in 2012, but he would soon face another obstacle. Cosh tore his ACL in the NJCAA junior college championship game and lost to Iowa Western, 27-7.
Despite the sour ending, Cosh reflects on his time at Butler fondly.
“I loved that time,” Cosh said. “I loved my teammates. I loved the coaching staff … so that was awesome.”
Despite the injury, Cosh had impressed college scouts enough to receive some offers. He committed to the University of Houston before the conclusion of the 2012 season, successfully making his way back to the NCAA Division I level.
However, Cosh soon faced another roadblock. His commitment to Houston came before the injury to his knee, something that he thought would lead the team to pulling his scholarship. To Cosh’s surprise, the Cougars chose to keep him around.
Still rehabbing his ACL tear, Cosh missed the entire 2013 season due to injury. He made his debut in 2014, and though he only saw the field three times at Houston, he was able to end his college career on his terms, not others’.
Though Cosh’s time at Houston was underwhelming on the field, it was where he met his wife, Kelsey.
Being around the game of football his entire life, Cosh has faced plenty of adversity throughout his career. Due to these challenges, it makes sense that Stony Brook Athletic Director Shawn Heilbron believes that Cosh is the man for the job to bring the Seawolves back to relevance.
Kenny Spurrell is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (right.) File photo
By Toni-Elena Gallo
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R) held a Zoom press conference with local media publications Friday, July 26.
Romaine’s opening remarks emphasized the importance of local media, and his desire to give the press an opportunity to “write the stories you need to write.”
He then briefly discussed some of his seven-month tenure’s accomplishments, including the approval of the Water Quality Restoration Act that aims to rectify Suffolk’s sewer systems subject to a referendum on Election Day, Nov. 5.
Romaine is looking to put sewer infrastructure “on steroids,” as 70% of the county utilizes pollutant-rich cesspools.” His plan is to put “densely populated areas of Suffolk, whenever possible, on sewers,” and the less densely-populated areas on Innovative/Alternative septic systems that will denature the ground and surface water.
Romaine stated that the county will be purchasing new vehicles for the Suffolk County Police Department as well, and he intends to improve police and county government’s mental health services.
Additionally, the county executive expressed concern that Long Island is being “short changed” by the state and federal governments, in which the Island “does not get its fair share.”
“I want to know what happened to the infrastructure money that I supported that President Biden [D] put forward, or the environmental bond issue that the governor put forward, which I supported. … I just don’t see that money flowing to Long Island,” he said.
He gave a local example where Suffolk is deprived of comparative support: “For bus transportation and funding, we get $40 million. Nassau County, which is one-third the size of Suffolk, gets $103 million.”
Romaine went on to share that recently he submitted “one of the largest capital budgets in Suffolk’s history.”
This comes from his wish to fix many of the county’s dilapidated properties that have lacked maintenance. “It’s time that we maintain our roads, our bridges and our infrastructure,” he said.
Romaine went on to discuss his objective to lessen the Island’s high traffic congestion: “How about redoing the bridge over Nicholls Road? How about adding a third lane to the Sagtikos/Sunken Meadow Parkway?”
Furthermore, Romaine spoke of some of his disappointments with the state’s relationship with Suffolk.
For example, when discussing the Long Island Rail Road, Romaine said, “I come from a county where electrification stops at Babylon, Huntington and Ronkonkoma, and everything east of that being diesel. Really? Why aren’t we subject to getting electric trains? Why do we have to put up with dirty diesel?”
Behold the beauty as seen through another’s eyes with the Port Jefferson Photography Club’s (PJPC) exhibit, Through the Camera Lens, at Emma Clark Library, 120 Main Street in Setauket.
On view through the month of August, the exhibit features approximately 30 photos by club members Ralph Baldasarra, Barry Bernstein, Wendy Beaton, Michael Boren, William Hammer, Terry Murphy, Kathy Pisculli, Darlene Prowse, Anneliese Scheef, Irene Stern, C. Visconti, and Peter Willstein.
Housed on the walls of the library’s new Level Up Kitchen Library Café on the first floor next to the reference desk, all images in Through the Camera Lens have a card that lists the title of the photo, the photographer’s name, and contact information. Many of these photos are for sale; visitors are encouraged to contact the photographer if interested in purchasing a photo.
The images illuminate a spectrum of perspectives and personalities, taking the viewer on a tour of instances and ideas.
“We have such a diverse, well-traveled membership that we ask members to display what they would like to share with the audience. Travel, black & white, landscape, architecture, animals, portraits, etc,” said Prowse.
A variety of outlook and style enables attendees to see the world from individual points of view: common sights may reveal uncommon insights and fleeting moments are made forever spellbinding.
“It gives us an opportunity to share with others the places we have been, the way we see the world and our creativity in unusual and artful creations,” Prowse added. “It is like sharing a family photo album with someone who is really interested in what you are showing them. It is also an affirmation of the work we have put into creating an image.”
Satisfaction comes from sharing their passion not only with each other, but the public. To this endeavor, the PJPC seeks to exhibit its work in community spaces as a means of connection.
Now in its 12th year, the club has an ongoing installation at Port Jefferson’s Pasta Pasta restaurant which changes seasonally. Among other accolades, its booth won first place at a recent St. James Art Walk. And PJPC has also displayed work at Gallery North’s Outdoor Art Show in Setauket, Watermark Galleries in St. James, and Bayport-Blue Point Public Library in Blue Point.
August’s show at Emma Clark Library follows July’s exhibit at the Port Jefferson Village Center. Having both personal and pragmatic benefits — friendships, greater exposure, and refinement of craft — the library exhibit is the members’ latest foray into artistic communication with an audience and one another.
“…it shows that our area has an interest in the arts and appreciates local clubs and organization involvement. Hopefully, this will encourage others to show an interest in the PJPC,” Prowse said.
In addition to its community involvement, PJPC cultivates its artistic presence in part by facilitating its social network. The club hosts monthly lectures and goes on monthly field trips, visiting museums, beaches, New York City, etc. for group bonding, motivation, and inspiration.
“Photography gives me a chance to be creative and I love to show off my work…I love the social aspect of it,” said the Club’s Vice President Barry Bernstein.
Participating in the organization allows its members to focus the poetic precision of photography while benefiting from the camaraderie of a shared passion. It galvanizes participants to hone their craft and nurture their artistry.
“What I think is most rewarding about photography is the ability to capture a moment in time; to be able to freeze a moment of a bald eagle flying, to capture the colorful sunrises or sunsets, and to add my own creativity to what I photograph. It can be done anywhere, at anytime, with a group of people or by myself,” said PJPC President Anne DePietri.
The PJPC is committed to nurturing the creative nature of its members. Its outreach endeavors are part of a diligent effort to foster imaginative understanding and entice an engaged network.
“Belonging to a group is so inspiring. There might be a day that is gloomy and I’m not motivated to go out and find something interesting to shoot. It helps to know that my fellow members are expecting me to present something I looked at in a different way and made an interesting photo,” Prowse said
From those presentations, PJPC expands dialogue to move behind the club: its exhibit at Emma Clark Library is broadening the conversation between artists and audience, inviting individuals not only to observe but to partake in the process.
Photographers of any level are invited to join PJPC, which meets on the second Tuesday of the month at Port Jefferson Free Library and on the fourth Tuesday of the month over Zoom.
“We welcome new members who want to explore photography or enhance their skills,” Prowse said. “Belonging to a group is so inspiring.”
For members of PJPC, getting to show their work with their community is as gratifying and a source of continuous encouragement.
“I think one of the most rewarding parts of being a member of the Port Jefferson Photography Club is the non-judgemental support of everyone and the eagerness to share and learn from each other,” DePietri said.
To learn more about the PJPC, visit portjeffphotoclub.org or email [email protected].
Long Island prides itself on its beautiful weather — but, more specifically — on its gorgeous summers.
That is why this past weekend, Port Jeff locals and visitors were asked: “What do you like to do during the summertime on Long Island?
Photos by Ava Himmelsbach
Carolyn and Julie
Many Long Island residents thrive in the summer weather and enjoy spending time outdoors when the sun is out. Julie highlighted her relaxing visits to the local beaches: “We just got a parking permit for the beach, so we go on the beach, drive on the beach, that’s fun.” She, also, noted her enjoyment of going fishing and eating out.
“She’s from Florida,” Julie added with regard to Carolyn, who replied, “I used to live here!”
Amanda, Michelle, Kaitlyn and their children
“My favorite thing to do in the summer is go to the Shirley Beach splash pad with the toddlers,” Michelle said.
She loves that spot due to its free admission combined with the opportunity of play time outside for her children.
“Going to the ocean, [especially] Smith Point,” Kaitlyn added. She mentioned that she enjoys the beaches, closer to home, as well. “My favorite thing is to go to the parks around us,” Amanda stated.
Gallya (right,) and her friends, Sima and Sandra
Gallya, a Long Island resident, was joined by her visiting friends Sima and Sandra, who had just arrived on the Island that day.
“Walking through Port Jefferson, it’s such a great little village,” Gallya noted. “I like to go on the fishing boat, I like to go eat ice cream at the shack, I like to bring my closest friends that come from different parts of the world — presumably in reference to her friends Sima and Sandra — to share the beauty of this part of America.” Port Jefferson is undoubtedly a favorite for locals and visitors alike in the summertime. “I like to go to the restaurants in town, the meditation center and all the little boutique shops. I love to walk on the waterfront where they do sailing and rowing,” Gallya added.
As for the rest of Long Island, she enjoys visiting the wineries and farms out east, as well as hiking at Avalon Park.
Anne and Zoey
“The beach!” Zoey said when asked about summer activities. “Yes, the beach. We love to go to West Meadow Beach with the grandchildren while they’re here. Anything fun for kids to do, like Rocketship Park,” Anne added, in regard to the location of the interview.
Zoey and Anne agreed that Kilwins, in Port Jefferson, is a fun spot to grab ice cream. “There’s a wonderful park up near Ward Melville [High School], I think it’s Washington Avenue Park,” Anne continued. “We love going there.”
“Also, the library, Emma Clark Library [in Setauket,]” Zoey concluded.
“We spent a lot of time there yesterday. It’s amazing how much energy you can spend in a library with two kids.”
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