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The 3rd Place winner was Bill Kaye with his 1970 tan Chevy Nova. Photo by Aidan Johnson
The 2nd place winner Dan Esposito with his 1994 deep jewel/green Metallic Ford F350 Crew Cab 4-wheel drive. Photo by Aidan Johnson
The Kids Choice Award winner was Gabriel Alliagro with his blue 1932 Model B. Photo by Aidan Johnson
The 1st place winner of the car show was Mike Sartori with his red 1931 Ford. Photo by Aidan Johnson

By Aidan Johnson

The Port Jefferson chapter of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association, also known as AHEPA, held its 3rd annual car show Saturday, June 29, at the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption, 430 Sheep Pasture Road, in Port Jefferson.

George Kallas, president of AHEPA, estimated that there were about 100 cars in attendance, including a red 1931 Ford that won first place.

The proceeds of the car show will be donated to the Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption, AHEPA Service Dogs for Warriors, and AGAPE Meals for Kids, a Long Island organization that addresses childhood food insecurity and hunger.

During the car show, Brookhaven Town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) presented the chapter of AHEPA with a certificate of congratulations, expressing his appreciation for the organization for everything it has done for Greek Americans, along with the children of the community by donating to AGAPE Meals for Kids. 

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Pixabay photo.

By Rich Acritelli

It was 248 years ago when men such as George Washington, John Adams and Benjamin Franklin declared their intention of working toward a permanent separation from the British Empire. After years of protesting “no taxation without representation,” Thomas Jefferson was given the task of writing the Declaration of Independence — a declaration against King George III with the intention of creating a new nation.

Once written, this document had to be signed before it could be delivered to the king. Patriots like William Floyd, who lived among loyalists, became one of two signers of the declaration from Long Island. Floyd ran a prosperous farm in Mastic. Entering local and state politics, he represented this part of Long Island in the First and Second Continental Congress and later became a general in the Suffolk County militia. Although not as well known, Francis Lewis was the second Long Islander to add his signature to the Declaration of Independence.

Once the war moved onto Long Island, Floyd was a targeted patriot who was forced to move his family to Philadelphia. From the British takeover of Long Island to the Treaty of Paris in 1783, Floyd experienced both the difficulties and triumphs of this conflict. He later served in the First Congress in 1789, which carried out the earliest functions of the Constitution and saw the election of President George Washington. Today, thousands of people visit the 613-acre William Floyd Estate — with its impressive Old Mastic House — part of the Fire Island National Seashore in Mastic Beach.

Setauket native Benjamin Tallmadge was only 22 in 1776. While attending Yale University, Tallmadge became friends with Nathan Hale. After the battles of Lexington, Concord and Bunker Hill, Tallmadge enlisted as a lieutenant in a Connecticut regiment in the Continental Army. Like Floyd, Tallmadge experienced the dark moments of the Revolutionary War that saw the Continental Army on the brink of defeat by the British.

Culper Spy Ring

Rising in rank, Tallmadge served in the cavalry, fought in the battles of Brandywine and Germantown, and by 1778 Washington utilized him to establish an intelligence network. The Culper Spy Ring collected information on the actions of the British in New York City, sent it to Setauket and later guided it across the Long Island Sound to Tallmadge in Fairfield, Connecticut. Tallmadge’s work with the Setauket spy ring increasingly targeted British operations on Long Island through his contacts in this North Shore loyalist area.

This successful operation was aided by Tallmadge’s friends Abraham Woodhull and Caleb Brewster to prevent the British from attacking the 6,000 French soldiers expected to land at Newport, Rhode Island. The British were given incorrect information that Washington intended to attack New York City, creating a safe passage for these allied soldiers. Tallmadge also discovered the treachery of Gen. Benedict Arnold and the failed British capture of the West Point military base on the Hudson River. 

The Culper Spy Ring was supported by Setauket tavern owner Austin Roe, who often traveled to Manhattan to purchase supplies for his business. As a secret patriot courier collecting enemy intelligence, Roe worked with Anna Strong, who defied the British and helped ensure it was safe for patriot whaleboats to land near Setauket Harbor to transport this information back to Tallmadge in Connecticut, where it was eventually read by Washington.

Throughout the war, Tallmadge supported activities to help the Americans win their independence and was promoted to lieutenant colonel and remained in Connecticut, where he later became a Federalist Party representative in Congress from 1801 to 1817. Millions of television watchers enjoyed the AMC series “Turn” that chronicled the patriotic and dangerous activities that took place on Long Island. Characters such as Floyd and Tallmadge helped ensure the permanent freedom of the patriots who fought in order to bring the meaning of the Declaration of Independence to the new nation. 

This Fourth of July, may we never forget the past, present and future importance of service to always protect and preserve the ideals of America.

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Ruby Ray competes in the 2024 Olympic Trials. Photos courtesy of Madeleine Kristoffersson.
Ruby Ray competes in the 2024 Olympic Trials. Photos courtesy of Madeleine Kristoffersson.
Ruby Ray competes in the 2024 Olympic Trials. Photos courtesy of Madeleine Kristoffersson.
Ruby Ray competes in the 2024 Olympic Trials. Photos courtesy of Madeleine Kristoffersson.
Ruby Ray competes in the 2024 Olympic Trials. Photos courtesy of Madeleine Kristoffersson.

 By Daniel Dunaief

At shorter distances, she can walk faster than some people can run in a sport she only entered over two years ago. Driven to succeed, Ruby Ray competed on a national stage this past weekend, trying for a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team heading to Paris next month in the 20 kilometer (or 12.4 mile) racewalk.

A graduate of Earl L. Vandermeulen High School in Port Jefferson, Ray, 19, didn’t make the team, finishing in 9th place at the Oregon trials on Saturday, with a time of one hour, 54 minutes and 15 seconds. That is an average of 9 minutes, 13 seconds per mile for the entire race.

Ray, who had swollen glands and a fever from a cold the morning of the competition, made it through the race, rising as high as fifth place at the 2500 meter mark before dropping back to ninth.

“It was a wonderful experience competing in person with the greatest athletes in the United States,” said Ray. “I was a little disappointed with my performance.”

While her coach Gary Westerfield, founder of WalkUSA, was also hoping for a better time, he appreciated her effort under difficult conditions.

“I give her a lot of credit,” said Westerfield. “She could have dropped out.”

Westerfield expects Ray, who is a rising sophomore at St. John’s University, to build on this experience as she takes aim at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

A life-changing request

Ray followed an unconventional path to the Olympic Trials.

An aspiring field hockey player, Ray was disappointed when the school no longer competed in the sport. Ray switched to Track and Field.

One day when Ray was in her junior year, Brian Snow, the head coach of the women’s varsity Track and Field team, asked if anyone would be willing to try race walking as a way to earn more points for the team.

After watching a video of a sport that receives considerably more attention in places like Ecuador, Mexico and China than it does in the United States, the five-foot, eight-inch Ray agreed to give it a try, race walking up and down the hallway of the school, impressing Snow enough to encourage her to prepare to compete in high school races.

“That first year, she did really well,” said Snow. “She really helped the team. She was able to score points in important meets.”

Ray was named the Athlete of the Year in 2022 by USA Track and Field in racewalking for competitors under 20.

Snow appreciated not only how much she improved, but also her willingness to step up for the school.

“If we needed someone in a relay, she would do it,” said Snow. 

The track coach recalled how Ray fainted during the school day. She went to the hospital to get checked out and then returned for the rest of the day. Ray volunteered to participate in the meet, but Snow opted against allowing her to race.

“She cheered on the team,” he said. “She put the team first. Her teammates always knew she was destined for greater things.”

In her first year of track, Ray was race walking at an event. Westerfield, a track official at the competition who is an accomplished racewalker and coach, asked her parents if he could start working with her. 

Intense focus

An accomplished race walker who has only been in the field for two years, Ray brings a discipline and focus to a wide range of challenges.

Like her mother Madeleine Kristoffersson, who is an accomplished opera singer, Ray has put her vocal skills to work, joining the church at St. John’s as a cantor.

Ray has dual citizenship between the United States and Sweden, where her mother was born and raised.

Ray was also an equestrian. When COVID-19 shut down some of the events, she poured her energy into track.

When Ray started to compete in race walking, her mother knew about the event.

“In Sweden, that is a huge sport,” she said. “I have seen this from childhood and knew what it was. She looked like the people I had seen walking” in races.

Ray has received considerable help and encouragement from her parents. She trains twice a week with Westerfield. On the other days, her mother has gone with her to the track, recognizing when her daughter needs water or when she’s having a tough day.

“I live and breathe this with her,” said Kristoffersson, who traveled with Ray to Oregon for the Olympic trials.

A country commitment

For Ray and her parents, representing the country at the Olympics would be a significant honor.

Being the parent of an Olympian “would be the most wonderful experience I could ever have had,” said John Ray, Ruby’s father, who has a law practice in Miller Place. “I love my country. She grew up to love her country. She feels like she’s representing Port Jefferson and Long Island in the trials.”

Ray’s father, who suggests his singing skills are limited to the shower, has his own athletic pedigree, having played lacrosse for the last 58 years, including as a goalie on teams with men considerably younger than he.

Ray herself felt like being a part of the Olympics would be “incredible” and that she would be representing Long Island, Port Jefferson, Suffolk County, and “all the things I love. I would be showcasing it off to the world in the Olympics.”

In addition to contributing to her country with her athletic skills, Ray also joined the Reserve Officers’ Training Corp at St. John’s in the Army Rangers Program.

“My family has a long history in the military,” said Ray. “It’s a great honor to fight for your country and then come back and your family and county are proud of you.”

Ray regularly wakes up at 4:30 am for Ranger training. She has scars on her knees from crawling across the ground and bruises on her back from hiking with a heavy backpack.

“You have to stay dedicated,” she said. “You have to be willing to do what is required.”

She has had to sacrifice some time with friends, while avoiding temptations that might derail her athletic or academic goals as well as her ROTC training.

Ray is in the English Honors program at St. John’s, where she has a full scholarship.

While Ray is talented and focused, she shared a few guilty pleasures, which include dark chocolate Reese’s peanut butter cups, ice cream and cheesy popcorn.

Ray has three goals in mind. She’d like to make the Olympic team in 2028 and win a gold medal in Los Angeles, she’d like to make the track team at St. John’s, likely competing in the 5K running race, and she’d like to join the Judge Advocate General.

“I want to help people buried under the system,” said Ray, who participates in her father’s pro bono work. “My dad puts his heart into his effort and I want to do the same, especially in the military for people who fought for our country and deserve support.”

People who have known Ray for years wouldn’t bet against this determined teenager.

Ray will “do some amazing things in her life, regardless of what happens with race walking,” said Snow.

Ray reflected positively on her experience in Oregon.

“I was just astonished by the fact that we were there” at the trials, she said. “This new experience has given me hope to grow stronger.”

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Pixabay photo

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

Our senses are such an exquisite gift, at any time of the year.

During the summer on Long Island, we can close our eyes, which is home to our most dominant sense, and breathe in the other stimuli.

For me, the sounds of summer form a symphony, with notes coming from nearly every part of my imagined orchestra.

First, the water and everything on and around it reminds us of the pageantry of the island.

The regular horn from the Port Jefferson/ Bridgeport Ferry warns other boats of its movements even as the horn carries great distances.

The summer surf, which can be so variable, can offer a calming, rhythmic shushing sound, as the water laps on the shore or slowly feels its way up the rocks.

With stronger winds or a storm brewing in the Atlantic, those same waves can crash down more violently, as if someone put an amplifier along the beach. Instead of offering a peaceful shush, they provide more of a vibrating symbol, announcing their presence on shore, pulling rocks and sand back out to the ocean amid a more violent undertow.

Then, of course, there is the welcome sound of merriment coming from the water, with children squealing with delight as they play “Marco Polo,” race back and forth in a pool, splash each other, or have chicken fights.

Often at the beaches, the slow progression of an ice cream truck, playing “The Entertainer” or some other redundant musical variant, calls to parents and adults, luring us with cold sweets to offset hot days.

Depending on where you walk, drive, or bicycle, you might also hear the sound of a well struck tennis ball or the disappointed grunt or unprintable word that follows a missed volley, a double fault, or a backhand that sailed long.

Growing up, I was part of a sailing family. In addition to the constant chewing sound that came from the nonstop floating meals, we also heard the fluttering and unfurling of a sail, the regular crashing and splashing of the boat on the waves, and the sudden and frantic maneuvers of passengers on a boat that’s heading into shallow water or towards another vessel.

All manner of birds call to each other from the trees, with the familiar tweet, tweet, screeeeech coming from red-winged blackbirds who always seem to be trying to one-up each other with their aggressive squawking.

Our noses also become more active during the summer, as we can smell the salt water even before we round that last turn on the way to the beach. We can also enjoy the scent of mouth-watering Fourth of July barbecues or, perhaps, the smell of late night s’mores.

Those of us fascinated and delighted by the weather also might catch the scent of an approaching rain storm before the first drops arrive, as the sudden change in humidity or cooler air serves as a preamble for approaching precipitation.

Speaking of cooler, our skin, which we, of course, should protect during the brighter and longer days of summer, can also partake in a wide range of experiences.

For starters, we can cool off during the unbearably hot days by diving into a cool pool or running through the surf and plunging below the surface.

After we take long walks along a hot path, we can enter a heavily air conditioned room, where we might consider grabbing a long-sleeved tee shirt or a light sweatshirt despite the searing outdoor heat.

The tastes of summer also sweeten the season, with fresh fruit and pies serving as the finale to a satisfying meal.

Even without looking at the fireworks, we can appreciate the percussive cadence of these exploding colors. We can hear the long whistle of fireworks hissing their way against gravity, until they explode into a shower of sparklers. As the fireworks celebrations build, we can hear the more rapid explosions, which typically conclude with loud, rapid sounds whose echoes sometimes interfere or amplify the boom from the next set of entertaining sights and sounds.

Then, of course, we can enjoy the wide range of colorful light that uses our homes and neighborhoods as a posterboard, enabling even mundane speed limit signs to irradiate with oranges, yellows and reds.

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Pixabay photo

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

My parents married for the second time on July 4th. That was 99 years ago, and it was the religious wedding. Three years earlier, they were married in a civil ceremony during their lunch hour in New York’s City Hall. How did that come about? 

I will tell you the story.

When my dad was 13, he was told by his father that he was now a man and should go off to the city and start his own life. So he left the dairy farm in the Catskill Mountains, where he was raised, and joined his older brother in Brooklyn at a boarding house. It was the beginning of the 20th century, and that was where renters, usually men, slept and got their meals. 

One day, his brother told him he had gotten engaged and asked if my dad would like to join him for a visit to his fiancée’s home in Queens. The two of them entered the house just as the fiancée’s younger sister was coming downstairs. To hear my dad tell it, he looked up, saw this beautiful young lady in a red dress descending the stairs and instantly fell madly in love. I can vouch for the fact that he stayed that way for all the rest of his life. She became his wife and he adored her always.

But I get ahead of myself. 

They both worked in the Wall Street area, and my father would contrive to have lunch with my mother as often as possible. One day, when she was 15 and he 17, he suggested they walk over to City Hall and get married. 

Now my father was clearly a romantic. My mother, by contrast, was a clear-headed, practical woman. She, too, must have been in love because she agreed on the spot. They overcame the obstacle of not having any witnesses by asking men who were getting their shaves in the barbershop on the block to help. Two men gallantly agreed, threw off their bibs, wiped their faces and proceeded to swear that my parents were 18 and therefore of age to marry. Their signatures on my parents’ wedding license has forever endeared them to me, though they were total strangers.

Not knowing what to do next, they went back to their jobs and then to their respective abodes.

When my mother returned home that night, she encountered a raging father. He had been reading the local evening newspaper, in which those who married that day were listed, and he was both furious and terribly hurt. Head hanging, she acknowledged her deed. When he finally calmed down, her father laid down the law.

My father, his new son-in-law, would move into their home but two floors separately from my mother. He would join the family at meals and in every other non-marital activity, and if they all agreed, there would be a “proper” religious ceremony to consecrate the marriage when my mother turned 18.

So it was decreed and so it happened. The extended family, who all lived in the three story house, came to love my father during those ensuing years, especially my mother’s aunt. She shared memories with him about the “old country” and the family that was left behind when they immigrated to America a decade earlier. He said they would sit together in front of the coal stove, in the parlor, until late in the evening, as she told her stories. That is what I am lucky enough to know about the family’s history, for he in turn enjoyed telling me.

At the assigned time, my parents married and moved out of the house to start their own family. A couple of years later, my brother was born. My parents are gone now, and with remarkable coincidence, my brother joined them, dying 64 years later on July 4th.

Wherever they are now, they must be having a great party.

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Legislator Steve Englebright. Photo courtesy Office of Leg. Englebright

By Ava Himmelsbach

Introduced by county Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) at the Suffolk County Legislature’s April 9 meeting, bill I.R. 1371 may change how Suffolk County treats the environment.

If passed by the Legislature and signed by County Executive Ed Romaine (R), this bill would ban restaurants and third-party delivery services from providing single-use utensils and condiment packages unless requested by a customer. The goals and potential impacts of this bill were discussed during the Legislature’s May 7 general meeting and voted upon during last week’s committee meeting but failed to pass.

Englebright emphasized that this bill is meant to help the environment, which could concurrently help the community. “We’re trying to basically keep the extra plastic — that nobody even really uses in many cases — from just being callously or carelessly disposed of. It often ends up on our beaches, clogging our street drains and breaking down into microparticles that are able to be inhaled in some cases, or that are taken up in the food chain by organisms that concentrate the plastic going up the food chain.” 

“So, this is not a ban on plastic,” Englebright clarified. “It’s simply an effort to cause people to be more thoughtful.”

This seemingly simple and nonrestrictive proposal has caused disagreement that seems to be rooted in political variance. Nonetheless, Englebright believes that the issue of microplastics and environmental concerns should not be viewed from an argumentative perspective. 

“There’s really no reason, in my opinion, not to implement this — because it doesn’t hurt anybody and it only has the potential to be helpful. You know, there are three Rs in the environment.” Englebright explained why limiting plastic distribution should be prioritized. “I’m talking about reduce, reuse, recycle. And those three Rs for the environment are really very important to keep in mind. They are listed in priority order. Recycling is the least appropriate way to deal with contaminants, pollutants and excessive litter, or in this case plastic debris. The most important is to not create the problem in the first place. That’s ‘reduce.’ And so, reduction is the highest priority. That’s what this bill does.”

Less plastic being thrown away could mean a better quality of life for Long Island residents. “The reduction of the line of plastic into the environment is really something that shouldn’t be controversial, because it saves money for food establishments that sell takeout food and it certainly prevents people from encountering problems with plastics,” Englebright said. He highlighted an often-overlooked impact of plastic waste: “Plastics have the potential to collapse or compromise parts of our largest industry, which is tourism.”

Despite some disagreement, this bill has been met with plenty of positivity and understanding by Suffolk County residents. “We’ve had very strong support, there were a number of speakers who spoke in support,” Englebright said. These supporters included local civic leaders and numerous speakers from waterfront communities and nonprofits.

Due to a tied vote, I.R. 1371 failed to move out of committee last week. However, Englebright stated that he intends to reintroduce it in the near future. “We’re going to redouble our efforts. There is every intention on my part to reintroduce the bill, and we may add some adjustments, making it more difficult to see a repeat of that action. So, some of the comments that were made on it by the presiding officer [Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst)] before he made his vote, we’re going to study those and see if there’s a way to apply some of those to the bill.”

Romaine would like to see the language of the bill, and he believes that with a thorough understanding of its contents, he would potentially be supportive of its passing. “I have some concerns about this bill,” he said. “But should the bill arrive at my desk, I would definitely consider signing it.”

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Senator Murray and Assemblyman Smith introduced “Nick’s Law” in 2023 (S6051/A6520) which will increase penalties for those convicted of leaving the scene of an accident involving a death. Photo courtesy Office of Dean Murray

By Samantha Rutt

A hit-and-run incident in Patchogue March 2023, which claimed the life of 25-year-old Nicholas Puzio, has spurred local leaders into action. Puzio, a resident of Farmingville, was tragically struck by two separate vehicles while crossing Route 112. Both drivers fled the scene, leaving him to die. 

Hit-and-run collisions are those in which at least one person involved in a crash flees the scene before offering any, or sufficient, information or aid to the other involved person or fails to properly report the crash. Hit-and-run violations – which are criminal offenses – can create additional burdens for law enforcement and for families looking for remediation as well as medical and insurance support.

Although Long Island roads are among the deadliest, few drivers involved in crashes that kill pedestrians or cyclists face criminal charges. That is, unless they are caught after fleeing the scene, or it can be proven they were drunk, under the influence of drugs or speeding.

Walk Safe Long Island, a collaborative of health and transportation safety educators from Nassau and Suffolk counties, says over the past three years in Nassau and Suffolk counties, 515 people have been hit and injured while walking, jogging or biking.

Pedestrian safety continues to be a serious concern. The Institute for Traffic Safety Management & Research states that from 2016 to 2020, pedestrians accounted for almost one quarter of the fatalities on New York’s roadways.

According to information from the National Center for Health Statistics, Long Island averages 18.2 roadway deaths per month. However, in the summer months this number trends upward as it nearly doubled, reaching 31 in August of last year.

In response, state Sen. Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue) and Assemblyman Doug Smith (R-Holbrook) introduced “Nick’s Law” in 2023. The proposed legislation aims to increase penalties for those convicted of leaving the scene of an incident involving a death. The move comes in the wake of a lenient six-month sentence handed down to one of the drivers involved in Puzio’s death, highlighting the inadequacies of current laws.

“Two drivers made reckless choices and left my son dying in the street. Who does that? Does anyone have regard for human life? The laws in New York State are far too lenient,” Puzio’s mother, Terry Puzio, voiced her anguish and frustration in a statement.

Under current laws, individuals caught fleeing the scene of a fatal incident face a Class D felony and a fine of up to $5,000. “Nick’s Law” would elevate the crime to a Class B felony with a fine of $30,000. This increase in penalties is aimed at deterring drivers from fleeing the scene to avoid harsher consequences for other offenses such as driving under the influence.

The need for this legislation is represented by the alarming statistics. According to multiple sources, in 2023, Suffolk County alone witnessed 16 fatal hit-and-run incidents. This year, multiple similar incidents have already occurred, including the recent death of 22-year-old volunteer firefighter Christopher Hlavaty in East Patchogue.

Hlavaty’s mother, Janine Hlavaty, shared her desire for the bill’s passage in a statement, saying, “My hope for the passage of ‘Nick’s Law’ is that people will think twice before leaving the scene of these horrific, life-altering accidents.”

The push for “Nick’s Law” has garnered support from local lawmakers and officials who have emphasized the importance of holding hit-and-run drivers accountable. 

“When people can face lighter sentences if they are involved in an accident while drunk or on drugs by leaving an injured person in the road, there is a clear benefit to them to run and hide. That is unacceptable and it must be changed as soon as possible,” state Sen. Mario Mattera (R-St. James) said in a statement.

The community’s outcry and the introduction of “Nick’s Law” showcases a collective demand for justice and safety on the roads. For now, the community awaits legislative action, hoping that “Nick’s Law” will bring about the change to deter future hit-and-run tragedies and provide justice for those who have lost their lives on the roads of Long Island.

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Steven A. Hayduk alongside his father, Stephen G. Hayduk. Photo courtesy Peter Scully

By Serena Carpino

Hayduk Engineering recently celebrated the opening of its new office near MacArthur Airport. 

“The firm’s move became necessary because of the growth of the firm over the past 10 years. The addition of dozens of new employees resulted in the need for an expanded office space, leading to relocation from the former office space,” Hayduk’s director of business development, Peter Scully, said. He is a former NYSDEC regional director and Suffolk County deputy county executive.

Stephen G. Hayduk, who founded the company in 1984, began as a one-man operation from his house. Over the past 40 years, his firm has grown to 42 employees in what can be described as a “rags to riches” story.

After dropping out of Deer Park High School, Hayduk worked as a truck driver on Long Island before enlisting in the U.S. Army Aviation School at 18 years old. He spent three years serving in the Vietnam War as a member of the U.S. Army 57th Assault Helicopter Company.

According to Hayduk, Vietnam motivated him to improve himself. “I was a good student but I was interested in other things, not college. Vietnam helped me with my maturity and to put things back into perspective. When I came back, I used the GI Bill to go to college. So, even if it was in many ways a negative experience, I turned it into a positive one,” he said.

Hayduk returned to Long Island in 1971 and soon enrolled in Suffolk County Community College, earning his associate degree in 1974. He furthered his education at Rochester Institute of Technology, graduating in 1976 with high honors and obtaining a bachelor’s degree.

Over the next several years, Hayduk gained experience at local engineering firms, even becoming the chief engineer of a 75-employee firm. At the same time, he taught courses in the engineering technology division at SCCC.

In 1984, he founded Hayduk Engineering. That same year, he earned the Young Engineer of the Year award from the New York State Society of Professional Engineers and the Suffolk County Chapter of the NYSSPE.

The NYSSPE Suffolk County Chapter awarded him the 1990-91 Engineer of the Year. In 1991, Hayduk helped with the construction of the Suffolk County Vietnam Veterans Memorial, located atop Bald Hill. He described this experience as “a very emotional time with thousands of people there.” It inspired him to have a reunion and, two years later, Hayduk met with 75 members of his unit and a Green Beret in Florida.

In 1992, Suffolk County Executive Robert Gaffney (R) appointed Hayduk as the commissioner of the county’s Department of Public Works. Hayduk served in this position for five years, during which time he shut down his own firm.

As commissioner, Hayduk held many responsibilities, including the maintenance of county buildings, highways, bridges and waterways. In addition, he oversaw hazardous and toxic waste removal, county fleet maintenance and other related tasks. He also served as the chairman of the Suffolk County Sewer Agency, Dredging Project Screening Committee and the Space Management Steering Committee.

In 1997, Hayduk decided to return to operating Hayduk Engineering. He managed the firm as a sole proprietorship before turning it into an LLC in 2002.

Years later, in 2015, Hayduk Engineering was certified by New York State as a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business.

“Hayduk Engineering’s status as both a New York State Certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Business and federally Certified Service-Disabled Veterans Business Enterprise has contributed significantly to the growth of the firm since 2016,” Scully said. 

Today, the firm is run by Hayduk and his son, Stephen. They provide many services, including civil and site engineering, highway engineering, water and wastewater engineering, stormwater management and construction administration. The firm’s clients include both private sector customers, including developers and owners of private sewer plants and government agencies, including the Nassau County and Suffolk County departments of public works, the towns of Babylon, Brookhaven, Smithtown and Southampton, the New York State Thruway Authority, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, New York State Department of Transportation, the Long Island Rail Road, Metropolitan Transportation Authority and the State University of New York, among others. 

Hayduk’s work has been recognized with numerous awards, including several for the Town of Smithtown Callahan’s Beach project and for Best Engineering Firm courtesy of Long Island Business News.

“The company is continually recruiting new staff and anticipates hiring additional employees in the months and years ahead,” Scully said.

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Pixabay photo.

By Ava Himmelsbach

Among growing anticipation to hear the plans and propositions of the United States presidential candidates, the long-awaited first presidential debate for the 2024 election is scheduled to take place this Thursday, June 27.

With this political face-off right around the corner, TBR had a question for locals: “What topics would you like to see addressed in Thursday’s presidential debate?”

Photos by Ava Himmelsbach

Muriel and Patricia, Smithtown 

Muriel and Patricia are interested to see how the candidates will address various relevant topics. “Well, number one is immigration,” Patricia mentioned. “Climate control is important,” Muriel later brought up.

Additionally, Muriel and Patricia shared that they would like to hear about the economy in the presidential debate. They are curious to hear how the candidates will speak about topics such as the housing market, Wall Street and student loans.

Barbara Thompson and Kevin Thompson, Islip

Barbara Thompson and Kevin Thompson, Former Islip residents now residing in Florida. They hope to hear conversations free of banter and full of respect in the upcoming debate. “There should always be things on the docket regarding our educational systems and our welfare systems, of course,” Kevin noted. “And the subject of firearms, it’s all a very debatable thing, but no one seems to be making any decisions regarding it. They all seem to be fighting over it.” Barbara added that she and Kevin now reside close to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, a place devastated by a mass shooting in 2018. This tragedy has contributed to their attention to the topic of firearm ownership.

Among these concerns and curiosities involving the topic of firearms, Barbara and Kevin also stated that they hope Thursday’s debate includes topics of social security for the future, welfare for the elderly and aid for immigration.

Nancy and Paul

Nancy and Paul highlighted their interest in topics related to immigration and the economy, as well as oil and its sources. They are both curious to see how the subject of the economy will be addressed in the debate. Paul specified that he is interested to hear more about economic changes that may arise under the elected candidate. 

Nancy and Paul declined for their picture to be taken or other personal information to be included.

Mike and Kristen, Port Jefferson 

Mike emphasized “dealing with foreign affairs” as the primary topic that he hopes is discussed in the debate. He mentioned the need for attention toward the country’s global relations, noting his interest in “strengthening our relationships overseas” and “eliminating the possibilities of going to war.”

“Mental health concerns for everyone should be covered,” added Kristen. They both agreed that access to health care, including care for mental health, should be addressed.

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'Nick's Law'. Photo from Senator Dean Murray Facebook

In recent months, our community has witnessed a surge in hit-and-run incidents, leaving families heartbroken and raising serious concerns about road safety. The tragic incident in March 2023, when 25-year-old Nicholas Puzio of Farmingville was struck and left to die by two separate vehicles, and the hit-and-run incident that recently killed 22-year-old firefighter Christopher Hlavaty of East Patchogue underscore the need for action. This rise in hit-and-runs not only devastates families but also places a heavy burden on law enforcement and emergency services.

Hit-and-run incidents, defined as collisions where drivers flee the scene without providing aid or information, are a growing menace. Current penalties for these offenses, such as a Class D felony and a fine of up to $5,000, are insufficient deterrents. In response, elected officials have introduced “Nick’s Law,” which proposes to elevate the crime to a Class B felony with a fine of $30,000. This legislation aims to ensure that those who commit these acts face more appropriate consequences.

One significant factor contributing to the increase in hit-and-run incidents is distracted driving. Drivers today face numerous distractions that can divert their attention from the road, including texting, making phone calls and using apps as well as many other potential factors such as interacting with infotainment systems, consuming food or beverages, engaging in conversations or attending to children or pets; billboards, roadside activities and other incidents can divert a driver’s attention. 

While legislative action such as “Nick’s Law” is crucial, it is equally important for pedestrians to take proactive steps to ensure their safety. Here are some measures pedestrians can adopt:

● Wear bright or reflective clothing, especially at night or in low-light conditions.

● Always cross at designated crosswalks and obey pedestrian signals.

● Avoid using headphones or mobile devices while walking near traffic.

● Ensure drivers see you before you cross the street.

● Where there are no sidewalks, walk on the side of the road facing oncoming traffic.

● Just like drivers, pedestrians should avoid walking near roadways while impaired.

As a community, we must work together to address the dangers of distracted driving and the rise in hit-and-run incidents. Drivers need to minimize distractions, stay vigilant and prioritize safety. Pedestrians must take precautions to protect themselves and remain aware of their surroundings.

The push for “Nick’s Law” is a reflection of the collective demand for justice and safer roads. However, it will take a concerted effort from both drivers and pedestrians to make our roads safer for everyone. As we honor the memories of those we have lost, such as Puzio and Hlavaty, we must commit to safer practices on our roads and support legislation that holds reckless drivers accountable.

Together, we can combat the rise in hit-and-run incidents, ensure justice for victims and create a safer community.

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