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Port Times Record

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Photo by Raymond Janis

Letter from a third grader

Hello! I am a third-grade student in northern Virginia. Our class is learning about the United States, and I will be teaching our school about the state of New York. In May, I will create a display for our State Fair that I hope will make you proud.

Although I have gathered facts about your state from books and websites, I think that I can receive the best information from the people who live there. This is why I am writing to you. I am hoping that you would be willing to send me some items to help me learn more about the best things in your state. You might consider sending items such as postcards, pictures, souvenirs, newspaper articles or any other unique items that would be useful to show your state’s pride. Here are a few questions:

Why do you live in your state? What first brought your family there?

How do you make money? What is your job?

What does your state look like?

What do people do for fun?

What animals live there?

What traditional food/recipes does your state have?

What type of music is native to your state?

Do you have a state athletics team?

What geographical features are unique to your state?

I will need to gather all of my information by the second week of May. You can mail items to this address: The Langley School, 1411 Balls Hill Road, McLean, Virginia 22101. I really appreciate your help!

Connor

McLean, Virginia

Local roots to global stages

Thank you for your article — first of two — on the T20 cricket World Cup competition to be played this June in Eisenhower Park [“International cricket coming to Long Island,” TBR News Media].

I am the father of Donald Lockerbie, who is the ICC’s director of competitive facilities for the 2024 events. He tells me that the applications for tickets have risen to more than 6 million. And already, the going price for the India/Pakistan game exceeds $10,000! 

Don was born in Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson and attended the local public schools through grade six, then The Stony Brook School — where I was dean of faculty — through grade 12. He was Suffolk County champion in track events, then at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, where he was Atlantic Coast Conference champion at 800 meters. Two years after graduating from UNC, he was appointed head coach of cross country track and field, at that time the youngest head coach in NCAA Division 1. 

One day, the UNC athletic director informed him that the North Carolina Legislature had just approved $1 million dollars for a new track/field facility. “Spend it wisely,” the A.D. said. So Don set about learning about artificial turf and all-weather tracks. At the first meet held on the 400-meter track built under his supervision, Renaldo Nehemiah set a world record in the 110-meter hurdles. Thereafter, Don became an “expert” witness in various lawsuits over faulty tracks, from which avocation he moved fulltime into sports facilities development.

He has been responsible for competitive facilities at every Olympic Games since 1988. For the 1994 FIFA World Cup, he was responsible for the nine USA sites, including growing grass on top of the artificial field at Giants Stadium. For the 2007 cricket World Cup in the West Indies, he was responsible for all the sites, following which he accepted the position as CEO of USA Cricket. He now leads the sports event and facility branch of The Parker Company, responsible for such stadiums as the Las Vegas site of the Super Bowl. In addition to these major events, he has supervised the construction of hundreds of municipal/school/college sports facilities throughout the world.

 Don worked one summer as sports editor for The Village Times Herald.

D. Bruce Lockerbie

East Setauket

Call to action for a cleaner community

As I drive and walk around the Three Village area, I am disheartened to see excessive amounts of trash strewn along our streets, highways and wooded areas. There is trash along all of our roads and highways, including along Old Post Road, Nesconset Highway, East Setauket’s Main Street, and most notably along the forested stretch of Belle Mead Road, which, as it is a wooded recreational area, is especially egregious and disheartening. 

Litter is an eyesore, but it’s also dangerous. Loose trash can cause accidents when large objects fly into traffic, it clogs water drainage areas and sewers, it pollutes our waters and it hurts wildlife. I’ve registered complaints with local and state officials, to no avail. Cleaning crews must be dispatched along all roads on a regular basis. 

We also need stronger, enforced laws against littering and dumping, as well as countywide anti-litter campaigns to discourage this abusive behavior and set an example for our children. More frequent organized, volunteer cleanups are needed as well. This is a solvable mess, but it will take more public awareness and leadership from officials. If trash is not cleaned up, people will continue to think it’s OK and ignore it, and won’t change their behavioral patterns. It’s a quality of life issue as well as an environmental issue. 

I know I’m not the only one who is perturbed by this issue, so please contact your local officials and let’s clean up our beautiful island!

Adriana Lubarsky

East Setauke

Response to concern for electric school buses

Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson) stated what he thought were the downsides of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s [D] proposed all-electric school bus mandate. Unlike Flood’s ideas, the Hochul proposal is based on facts, not hearsay or fiction. As such, here is my counterargument to Flood’s points:

Cost: While transitioning to electric buses does involve initial investment, studies suggest that the long-term operational and maintenance costs of electric buses are lower than those of traditional diesel buses. Additionally, with advancements in technology and potential government subsidies, the cost barrier is gradually decreasing.

Tax increase: While there might be initial costs associated with implementing electric buses, the long-term benefits, such as reduced health care costs due to decreased air pollution and job creation in the clean energy sector, can offset these expenses. Moreover, targeted funding sources, such as federal grants or revenue from carbon pricing mechanisms, can be explored to mitigate the impact on taxpayers.

Reliability: Modern electric buses are becoming increasingly reliable as technology advances. Manufacturers are continuously improving battery technology and bus design to enhance performance and durability. Moreover, many cities worldwide have successfully integrated electric buses into their fleets, demonstrating their reliability in real-world scenarios.

Battery safety: While any energy storage system carries inherent risks, stringent safety standards and protocols are in place to mitigate these risks. Advances in battery technology, such as thermal management systems and robust battery enclosures, have significantly reduced the likelihood of battery-related incidents. Additionally, proper training for maintenance personnel and emergency responders further enhances safety.

Temperature fluctuations: Extreme temperatures can indeed affect battery performance, but modern electric buses are equipped with sophisticated thermal management systems to regulate battery temperature and optimize performance in varied climates. Moreover, ongoing research and development aim to improve battery resilience to temperature extremes, ensuring reliable operation in diverse environments.

To summarize: While transitioning to electric buses involves challenges, dismissing them outright based on outdated or exaggerated concerns undermines the potential benefits of sustainable transportation. Decision-makers should prioritize evidence-based policymaking and consider the long-term environmental, economic and public health advantages of electrifying the transportation sector. Additionally, engaging stakeholders — including industry experts and community members — can facilitate informed decision-making and address legitimate concerns through collaboration and innovation.

Harvey Miller

East Meadow 

 

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By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

A long time ago, I joined a Freshman Outdoor Program trip before the start of college. The venture provided us with a chance to meet other incoming college students, to enjoy hiking, and to ask upper class students who were leading the effort questions about classes, places to eat on campus, and anything else that crossed our minds.

I was excited and anxious about my trek along the trail, in part because I was unaccustomed to relieving myself anywhere other than on a porcelain throne.

Recognizing my trepidation, my father, who sensed an opportunity to tease me, asked in the weeks before my trip how I was going to “poop in the woods.” My fear of taking care of business out in nature was even greater than my concern about my class selection, my choice of major or the unfamiliar roommates I would meet upon my arrival on campus.

In the days leading up to the trip, which lasted about a week, I tried to cut back on my food intake and I planned to use a bathroom with indoor plumbing as often as possible before climbing aboard the Appalachian-trail bound bus. For more than a day, I successfully shut my system down, avoiding the normal routine. Somehow, for close to two days, I managed to eat, carry about 60 pounds on my back, hike up and down mountains, and avoid pooping in the woods.

Then, as if my body refused to obey my stubborn will, I couldn’t take another step. Seeing me freeze on the trail, one of our upper class guides asked me what was wrong. Did my feet hurt? No. Did I need some water or food? No and no. Was I in pain? Yes, but not in the way I wanted to discuss.

I indicated that I had to “use the bathroom.” The guide told the group to stop, at which point I removed my backpack, took the small shovel we used to create our own buried fertilizer, and raced off to the left. How far, I wondered, would I have to go to avoid being seen by my fellow students, but be close enough that I didn’t seem like I was reading the New York Times while awaiting the arrival of the number two train?

With each step, my system recognized that I was getting closer to relieving itself, which meant that I couldn’t go much further without risking soiling myself. I picked a spot that had what looked like poison ivy. Moving over, I found another place that looked nothing like the comforts of home, but would have to do. After I dug a small hole, I squatted. I immediately felt something brush against my right butt cheek.

I turned around quickly and realized, with relief, that it was just a branch.

Throughout the decades that followed, I have put considerable effort into finding a toilet and to avoiding unpleasant restrooms. The search for a relatively clean and manageable bathroom has involved walking into nice hotels in cities around the country and world. 

To my great surprise, the McDonald’s at the Spanish Steps in Rome, which has a surprisingly appetizing-looking pasta bar that we couldn’t get ourselves to sample while in Italy, had remarkably clean bathrooms, which my wife and I used many times while trekking around the historic city.

Central Park, which is improbably spacious and beautiful amid the concrete jungle of Manhattan, has a web page with the locations of public restrooms around the park, although, despite living there for over a decade, I rarely ever used.

Throughout Manhattan, I have searched for restaurants, museums and bars, where the bathrooms don’t become stadium-level sullied until well after happy hour begins.

With the advent of social media, which took off well after I left New York City, I have found several pages dedicated to the process of finding a bathroom, including one called @poopersguide, which has pictures of the facilities.

Recently, I went to a fancier restaurant outside the city. To set the mood, the lighting was fairly dim. An accommodating waiter even came over, took out his iPhone and smoothly shined his flashlight over the menu.

When I excused myself to use the restroom, I came back with a small smirk on my face and was met with expectant looks.

“Well, that was the cleanest restaurant bathroom I’ve ever used,” I laughed. “I was a little concerned about using it. Oh, and I know where we can read the menu next time. The lighting in there was brighter than anywhere in my house.”

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By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

The debate over the value of a college education continues. If anything, it has intensified, with the answer usually given in relative earnings over a lifetime, as if we were evaluating buying a house compared to renting an apartment. While education has its economic side, there is so much more to consider on the subject.

First the obvious. A four year college degree has always been thought of as a ticket to a better life because of the financial advantages it is thought to offer. College grads, in the main, earn higher wages, suffer lower unemployment, and as a result of having more income, enjoy better health and easier access to home ownership, the traditional wealth builder.

However, today there are jobs that don’t require a college degree but do pay well. These might include those in construction, those that offer professional certificates in technology, bootcamp coding, in short jobs that come with trade school degrees, associate degrees or apprenticeships. This path works if the student already has such a goal and knows what he or she wants to do.

But what else do students get from a college experience besides, perhaps, a substantial amount  of debt? Student debt is the highest category of debt in the United States, totaling $1.76 trillion according to recent data. That is the result of private colleges averaging $223,200 over the course of four years, and even public institutions costing $104,000.

So what could make college worth the price? For starters, how many 17-year-olds know what career they want for the rest of their lives? College gives students a chance to discover themselves, be exposed to different disciplines and see what appeals to them. Those years are unlike any other, if the student is fortunate for the luxury of their focus on study without other responsibilities, like holding a job, caring for a spouse and children, paying a car loan or even a mortgage. So often, students enter college with vague ideas of a major only to switch dramatically by the third year.

College students often have opportunities for travel, for research and certainly to network professionally and socially. Just meeting others from different regions, religions and cultures provides enormous knowledge and often encourages friendships that last a lifetime. While those possibilities certainly exist for those outside a college environment, the bonding that results from sharing a campus and even a dorm increases those contacts. College is a privileged cocoon in which to grow up.

Some of the debate about the value of college has been brought on by the colleges themselves. While historically over the last half century prices have risen perhaps three percent, the annual cost of college has increased by six percent. There had to be a time of reckoning as a result of that disparity, and the time has now come.

College offers knowledge, which is not so say that people cannot learn outside of those base paths. College also offers education, which is somewhat different in my opinion. Anyone can learn facts. Just reading the daily newspapers or books conveys knowledge. A college education, however, is a more systematized attempt to show how different disciplines developed, leading to today. It encourages personal and intellectual growth in a structured way.

Education, and more is better, is a tremendous benefit not only to the individual but also to society. We have an example of that with the GI Bill after WWII. That legislation made it possible for millions of people of ordinary means to gain a college degree. What followed was an unprecedented half century of growth and prosperity for the United States. Education was the ladder that made such possible.

Today we are facing the opposite. As a result of the pandemic, education has suffered a substantial setback for our students, a gap we may never bridge. And further debate over the value of education in a college setting is further risk for progress. Other nations put so much importance on education that they make college free for all their members. We are going in the opposite direction at considerable risk to our national standing.

It would be nice if all youngsters experienced the tremendous satisfaction of learning. To attend college in order to get the diploma is one thing. For some of the reasons stated above, that can be a goal. But to learn for the sake of learning, and not just to do well on Jeopardy!, is another. 

To make that clearer, I would liken the brain to a muscle. When we exercise the muscle systematically and regularly, it grows and becomes stronger. It also feels good to experience that exercise, especially after a visit to the gym. The more we stretch the brain with knowledge, the more it will grow. And with growth, life becomes more satisfying. No one wants to stagnate.

My mother, who passionately valued education, used to say, “Someone might take away your possessions, but no one can take away your education.” In our world, with so much uncertainty, how clever it would be to build on something so secure as education. And to graduate from college is to acquire more of that great asset, for ourselves and our country.

Now all we have to do is figure out how to make our higher education free. 

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Pictured: Left to right: Matthew Schettino, Suffolk Credit Union Senior Vice President Marketing; Frank Trotta, Suffolk Credit Union Board of Directors Vice Chairman; Councilwoman Jane Bonner; Michele Dean, Suffolk Credit Union President & CEO; Councilman Neil Foley; Supervisor Daniel J. Panico; Councilman Neil Manzella; Laura Racioppi, Suffolk Credit Union Vice President Corporate & Community Partnerships; Christine Fetten, Commissioner of Recycling and Sustainable Materials Management; and Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig. Photo from Suffolk Credit Union

-Program provides convenient document shredding and disposal of electronics and medications-

Suffolk Credit Union announced it is sponsoring the Town of Brookhaven’s Special Recycling Events in 2024. Twelve E-Waste, Paper Shredding and Drug Take Back events will be held in the spring and fall at various locations.

The initiative will provide thousands of Brookhaven residents with convenient opportunities to safely shred documents and dispose of electronic waste and old medications—keeping harmful material out of landfills and waterways. All shredded documents will be recycled.

Suffolk Credit Union presented a donation of $5,000 at the program launch on February 28, held at the Brookhaven Town Hall. Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico, Town Council members and representatives of the credit union were on hand to express their support for this community program that promotes both financial and environmental safety.

“This is a great way to help prevent identity theft and financial fraud by shredding documents as well as protect our beautiful environment here on Long Island,” said Michele Dean, CEO and President of Suffolk Credit Union.  “It aligns with our credit union’s dedication to helping people achieve financial security and ongoing commitment to giving back to our communities.”

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Daniel J. Panico said, “We are happy to have Suffolk Credit Union on board for our recycling events. I thank them for being partners as we work to keep the environment clean. Every year, thousands of residents participate by dropping off their electronics, paper, cardboard and unused prescription medicine. I expect this year to have the same results.”

The 2024 Special Recycling Events will be held on Saturdays between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Following are the dates and locations:

  • April 13: Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, Port Jefferson Station
  • April 20: Holtsville Ecology Center, 249 Buckley Road, Holtsville
  • May 4: Rose Caracappa Senior Center, 739 Route 25A, Mt. Sinai
  • May 18: Sachem Public Library, 150 Holbrook Road, Holbrook
  • June 1: Eastport-South Manor Junior-Senior High School, 543 Moriches-Middle Island Road, Manorville
  • June 15: Middle Island Fire Department, 31 Arnold Drive, Middle Island
  • Sept. 14: Bayport-Blue Point Public Library, 186 Middle Road, Blue Point
  • Sept. 28: Middle Country Public Library, 101 Eastwood Boulevard, Centereach
  • Oct. 5: Rose Caracappa Senior Center, 739 Route 25A, Mt. Sinai
  • Oct. 19: Center Moriches Free Public Library, 235 Montauk Highway, Center Moriches
  • Oct. 26: Setauket Fire Department, 394 Nicolls Road, Setauket
  • Nov. 2: South Country Library, 22 Station Road, Bellport

For more information, call: 451-TOWN (8696) or visit: www.BrookhavenNY.gov/RecycleEvents

About Suffolk Credit Union
Suffolk Credit Union is a local not-for-profit cooperative financial institution owned and operated by its members. It was chartered in 1967 by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). The volunteer-directed credit union has assets in excess of $1.8 billion, 10 branches and over 70,000 members, including partnerships with Suffolk County employees and unions. Membership is open to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or regularly conducts business in Nassau and Suffolk counties as well as immediate family members of current membership. To learn more, visit www.suffolkcu.org or call 631-924-8000.

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Photo by Raymond Janis

Environmental matters

I was delighted to see John Turner’s new column (“Living Lightly”) in the Arts & Lifestyles section, Feb. 15. Mr. Turner is a well-regarded figure in the environmental movement on Long Island, and his contribution to your paper in the form of a column of practical advice for a more Earth-friendly lifestyle is greatly appreciated.

All too often, we fall into a funk of inaction regarding the overwhelming challenges of the environmental crisis. It can seem quite impossible for any one person to effect change when the problems we are facing are so huge. Mr. Turner’s column will hopefully look at, and remind us all, of the simple choices we can make as individuals to move toward a cleaner and healthier planet.

On the theme of a cleaner and healthier planet, I was also very pleased to see your Feb. 15 editorial on the future of the Town of Brookhaven landfill [“Where does Brookhaven’s garbage go from here?”]. I’m astounded that the town makes no significant effort to inform its populace of future plans regarding the landfill. Similarly, the town’s general lack of communication about waste collection is baffling. We could all use a little guidance about how best to sort recyclable plastics and metals, for instance. Helpful hints about reusable plastics and disposal of organic and inorganic waste, provided on a regular basis by mail, email and/or press releases would go a long way toward generating trust and pride among Brookhaven’s residents.

Douglas Baldwin

Sound Beach

Port Jeff school board needs three candidates to assess the future 

Good day Port Jefferson School District parents, it is decision time! 

Since I left the Board of Education in 2006 the educational quality of our district has been in a freefall (see The Washington Post surveys). 

Parents need to put forward three candidates for the board who will look closely at the state of the district and make decisions based on the educational needs of your kids.

 You can do this! America is about intelligent people — and Port Jefferson School District has an abundance — stepping forward and bringing their skills to a collective entity, the Board of Education, for the best outcomes for our kids.  

 The current board seems obsessed with the needs of the lacrosse team. Millions have been proposed to this end — and rejected by residents. Educational opportunities for your kids have been decimated over the years.

 Do we want to: 

Keep the Port Jefferson schools the way they are?

Merge with the Three Village school district — assuming Three Village is of like mind? (Merge in total or merge at the high school level only.)

Or tuition our kids to the Three Village district – sending only our high school kids to Three Village.

You must gather together for your kids. There are people who will support you for election and as a board member. The future is in your hands if you do not let it slip through your fingers. Talk among yourselves. You have the people who can lead!

Bruce Miller

Port Jefferson

 

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By Sabrina Artusa

In January, the Nassau and Suffolk counties police departments, the New York City Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation formed a task force designed to tackle burglaries and thefts across Long Island. The collaboration, “a multijurisdictional burglary and stolen car task force,” as described by Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R) at the conference announcement in January, is the result of criminals crossing county and state lines. 

In Suffolk, 1,471 vehicles were reported stolen in 2022, up 20.8% from the 1,218 taken in 2021 — the most since nearly 1,600 cars and trucks were swiped in 2010, Newsday reports.

At a recent civic meeting in Port Jefferson Station, Suffolk County Police Department provided a COPE report from Jan. 23 to Feb. 27 for the respective area. Officier Efstathiou provide the report stating, “Out of the four grand larcenies [for this area] two were related to stolen vehicles. A Honda and a Hyundai right out of one’s driveway and one in front of one’s house both with no keys. Both still not recovered.” 

In September 2022, Hochul announced a five-step plan to combat the increasing numbers of car thefts across New York. 

“Too many New Yorkers have experienced the shock of waking up to an empty driveway … that is why we are supporting local law enforcement to prosecute and prevent these thefts,” she said.

Last month Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) reported that the DMV recovered 286 vehicles worth $8.6 million in 2023 under the Comprehensive Auto-Theft Reduction Strategy. A total of 142 were recovered in New York City and 42 on Long Island.

Kias and Hyundais are mainly being targeted, Hochul announced in September. After videos exposing how to steal these cars started circulating on social media, Hyundais and Kias remain most vulnerable. However, both companies have developed upgrades to offset the thefts.

“There was a big spike … a lot of it is associated with the COVID pandemic … crime surged, not only in New York, but all across the nation,” Hochul said. 

While it is true the national rate of motor vehicle theft in 2022 was the highest it has been since 2008, it is undetermined what role the pandemic played in this change. 

Part of Hochul’s five-part plan was to implement harsher punishments, fund more advanced technology for law enforcement, increase intervention or preventative programs for at-risk youth and to strengthen the prosecution of cases dealing with vehicle theft. She also sent a letter with Mark Schroeder, state Department of Motor Vehicles commissioner, to Kia and Hyundai owners, informing them of their vehicles’ susceptibility.

“Fortunately, there are some common-sense steps you can take to help prevent your car from being stolen, such as always locking your car doors and parking in well-lit areas,” the letter reads. “In addition, Kia and Hyundai have agreed to provide tools to strengthen your car’s anti-theft protections, including a software update and a window sticker.”

In November, state Sen. Jeremy Cooney (D-Rochester) proposed the Car Theft Prevention Act to counter the rising rates of car thefts. In Rochester, more than 3,800 motor vehicle thefts were reported in 2023. That number is nearly three times the total in 2022, which itself was a record year. 

This new bill adds the felony offenses of criminal possession of stolen property in the first through fourth degrees as bail-qualified offenses. 

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By Samantha Rutt

The Town of Brookhaven board met on Thursday evening, Feb. 22. The meeting, held at Town Hall, in Farmingville, addressed matters ranging from proposed budget adjustments to zoning regulation changes and environmental concerns.

At each meeting, the board allows a section for public comments. Thursday evening saw many concerned residents speak before the board.

Up first, Lou Antonio, a Port Jefferson Station resident, addressed his concerns with a proposed development known locally as the Staller Project — a plan to build on the 49,400 square feet of commercial space located on Route 112 in Port Jefferson Station which includes restaurants, a proposed food hall and an estimated 280 apartments with a heavy skew toward one bedrooms. 

Antonio expressed concerns with the developers saying, “We have not heard from the Staller’s since the first time they came to our civic [Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association]. They have addressed this board stating they have made many concessions. They may have — we haven’t seen them. As far as we are concerned, it is the same exact architectural design that came in the first time, which is unacceptable for our community.” 

Antonio urged for open communication between developers and the community.

Following Antonio, another Port Jefferson Station resident, Paul Sagliocca, spoke before the board. Sagliocca noted his membership in the People of Port Jefferson Station Alliance, mentioning the organization’s receipt of 380 signatures supporting stronger traffic regulations to address communitywide concerns. He also mentioned the Friends of Lincoln Avenue committee and their continued concerns for traffic congestion. 

Sagliocca referred to the increased development in Port Jefferson Station, stating that he welcomes development if it is done right. “We’re basically here looking for a cohesive vision for Port Jefferson Station,” he said. “The community, the supervisor and our councilmember have all thought that the project is just bigger than what’s currently going on at the Port Jeff Station shopping center. We want this all-in-one cohesive unit. We welcome the redevelopment of this if it’s done right.”

In previous Port Jefferson Station civic meetings, Sagliocca had been an advocate for regulating traffic patterns as it concerns the potential developments. He continued advocating for traffic concerns and safety before the town board stating, “The Friends of Lincoln Avenue want to have traffic calming measures put in place so we can move on to projects that showcase what Port Jefferson Station truly is.” 

Gale Lynch-Bailey, an advocate for the Take Back 25 initiative and Middle Island Civic Association also spoke before the board. Bailey took the time to advocate for the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program — a program that provides funds for regional, local and tribal initiatives through grants to prevent roadway deaths and serious injuries. Currently, over $3 billion is still available for future funding rounds. 

Bailey called for the addition of sidewalks to several roads near her residential area in Coram, Middle Island and Gordon Heights. 

“It’s the perfect time for Brookhaven to apply for implementation grants for sidewalks along the parcels it owns on Middle Country Road,” Bailey said. “We have a broken patchwork of pedestrian safety along our Main Street, we rely on private developers to add sidewalks when they want to build a business there on the property that they own. We need to do the same with municipally owned parcels along our main business corridor. Open space is wonderful, but pedestrians still deserve the ability to walk safely along Middle Country Road.” 

Also speaking before the board was John McNamara, an environmentalist and Brookhaven resident. McNamara spoke about recycle and save programs with special regard to low-income people. McNamara presented research he has personally conducted providing ways to reduce waste as well as to be more cost effective in doing so. 

“Various municipalities have come up with solutions like, number one, they can reduce the poor household waste collection charges for eligible residents by a set amount. Secondly, they can offer a percentage discount. Thirdly, they can provide a credit on the overall bill.” McNamara continued listing several other ways to best reduce the burden on low-income residents. 

Following the public comment segment, Supervisor Dan Panico (R) addressed some of the issues discussed during this section. 

“We hear you. We understand the issues associated with Lincoln Avenue and the problems coming off of New York State DOT, ” Panico said. “I have been in conversation with [county Legislator] Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) trying to get the DOT to make that switch on Terryville Road, which will hopefully alleviate a lot of the issues.” 

To see more from this meeting please visit the town’s website, brookhavenny.portal.civicclerk.com. 

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By Emma Gutmann

First-time homebuyers in the Suffolk County Home Consortium have until this coming Friday, March 1, to apply for the Down Payment Assistance Program. If approved, an essentially zero-interest deferred loan of up to $30,000 will be provided toward the down payment of an owner-occupied, single-family residence. According to the program guidelines, deferred loans “are forgiven after 10 years.” 

The Down Payment Assistance Program is designed to combat a recurring and ever-so-prevalent theme Long Islanders are facing — affordability. As an island with limited space that’s adjacent to the high-cost major metropolis of New York City, it stands as one of the highest taxed regions in the nation, making it challenging for young people, retired people and others to live comfortably and own property.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R) announced Feb. 21 that the assistance fund still has $167,000 left, and there is about $2 million in additional U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development funding that could be partially funneled into the program as needed. Romaine encourages prospective homebuyers to apply and touts the down payment assistance as an auxiliary toward the American Dream.

 “I am enthusiastic about the prospect of assisting many more individuals and families in Suffolk County achieve the American Dream of home ownership,” Romaine said. “Previously we were able to offer up to $14,000 per homeowner, and this year I am proud to say that we were able to increase that amount to $30,000 per homeowner. Together let us build a brighter future for our communities through the power of homeownership.”

Even with the smaller grants of previous years, the program has been able to bring many families and homes together following its launch in 1993. Since January 2018, a total of $630,000 has been paid out on 48 closings.

In order to be eligible, applicants must be first-time homebuyers, meaning that the household has not owned a home during the three years prior to the purchase of a primary residence. This requirement will be waived for U.S. military veterans with a DD-214. 

It is also necessary that the household income is low to moderate, with a minimum allowable income of $40,000 and a maximum dependent on the household size and the area median annual household income. A chart laying out the 2023 HUD income guidelines can be found on the application (at scdownpayment.com).

Residences must be single-family homes, condominiums or cooperative apartments to be deemed eligible. The maximum appraised value of an existing home cannot exceed $532,000 and a newly constructed home cannot exceed $555,000. 

Finally, the applicant must agree to occupy this property as their principal residence for at least 10 years and have sufficient financial resources and credit to qualify for a mortgage. Each individual named on the mortgage must attend a mortgage counseling session at a HUD-certified not-for-profit housing agency. 

The funds will be provided to the recipient by Suffolk County at the closing, and the buyer will be responsible for the rest of the down payment as well as closing costs.

Rosanne D’Agostino, associate broker at Douglas Elliman Real Estate, asserts that down payment assistance can be very beneficial to the buyer both before and after closing. In an email interview, she explained that this tool can help buyers get into a property and possibly even afford renovations with the money saved. This opportunity is especially fortuitous considering that the prices of Long Island homes have increased significantly over the past few years.

“The only downside is that it can be more time-consuming, potentially adding a few weeks to the sale process. However, in the end, buyers are able to receive monies they would not have otherwise had and extend their budgets,” D’Agostino said.

The associate broker mentioned that much of the inventory on the Island exceeds the maximum appraised home values aforementioned in the guidelines. As a result, the program serves as a boon to many but not a given for all cases. “I do hope that grants like this continue to be options, so that it can open more possibilities for people who hold the goal of being homeowners,” she added.

According to the program guidelines, “Applicants must purchase a home within the Suffolk County Consortium HOME Selection Area.” This includes the townships of Huntington and Smithtown, but not Brookhaven, which “does not participate in the Suffolk County HOME Consortium of municipalities.” 

For a chance at a smoother path to the American Dream, visit scdownpayment.com to download an application and submit to the portal by March 1.

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Buying a house should not be a pipe dream, but it has become more and more unrealistic for Long Island residents.

Even if extra houses and apartments are built, one issue has become painfully clear — home properties are too expensive for many Long Island residents. According to OneKey MLS, the median sales price of a home in Suffolk County in January 2024 was $600,000, an annual increase of 9.1%.

This leaves many different residents with the difficult question of whether or not to leave their beloved hometowns to move to a more affordable place, or even try to buy a home here in the first place.

If young couples cannot afford to start a family here, then there is a potential that school districts are impacted, whether losing funds due to lack of enrollment or having to shutter their doors completely.

Naturally, this problem doesn’t just end at school districts. Our small businesses need the local population to not just shop, but to work. Yet the state minimum wage of $16 per hour does not even come close to being high enough for people to realistically afford a mortgage or rent payments. According to the MIT Living Wage Calculator, two working adults would need to make $19.85 an hour each in order to have a living wage — and that’s before having one child, which would then bring it up to $29.60 with both working. The required annual income before taxes, with both adults working, is $82,580, rising to $123,139 with one child. 

This is why programs, such as Suffolk County’s Down Payment Assistance Program, are necessary to secure the future of our towns. The program could provide eligible first-time homebuyers with up to $30,000 for a down payment for a single-family residence that they must live in for at least 10 years. 

While this may just be for the down payment, it can potentially still help couples from falling into the trap of becoming “house poor,” a situation in which a large amount of a person’s income has to go to paying bills covering their home, not leaving them enough money for other obligations and needs.

Furthermore, it is important to remember that young couples are not the only ones who are impacted by Long Island’s unaffordability. Adults aged 60 and over account for roughly 20 percent of Suffolk County’s population according to a 2022 report from the Suffolk County Office for the Aging. Many find themselves having to retire elsewhere, forcing them to leave behind decades of relationships and memories in exchange for more affordable prices.

Overall, the Down Payment Assistance Program is a great step toward keeping Long Island affordable, but a systemic change seems increasingly necessary to stop everyone, across all age demographics, from being forced to choose between affordable housing and a neighborhood they love.

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‘A Disturbance in the Force’ will be screened at John F. Kennedy Middle School in Port Jefferson Station on May 6.
'Story and Pictures By'
OVERCOME WITH NOSTALGIA Catch a screening of the documentary ‘Flipside,’ a comical attempt to save a New Jersey record store and confront a mid-life crisis, at Theatre Three on April 8. Photo courtesy of PJDS
'Stewart Udall: The Politics of Beauty'
'We Are the Warriors'
'Confessions of a Good Samaritan'
'Ukraine: The Other Frontline'

By Tara Mae

From the first actuality motion pictures running a minute or less to present day feature length documentaries, nonfiction films have captured the imagination and provided intimate insight into people and situations that inhabit the world with us.

On select Mondays from March 4 to May 20 at 7 p.m., the Spring 2024 season of the Port Jefferson Documentary Series (PJDS) covers seven tales of the audacity of authenticity, unity in adversity, togetherness in triumph, communal solitude, singular sacrifice for an uncommon goal, and whimsy in misadventure. 

Held at either Theatre Three, 412 Main St., Port Jefferson or John F. Kennedy Middle School, 200 Jayne Blvd., Port Jefferson Station, screenings will be followed by Q&As led by Tom Needham, executive producer and host of “Sounds of Film” on WUSB. Guest speakers, involved in the film or experts in its subject matter, will answer questions from Needham and audience members.

Documentary filmmaking is a frank language of cinema, and these conversations are a means by which to continue the dialogue. 

“Film, like other art forms, provides an emotional connection for people to ideas and to one another,” PJDS co-chair Kelly DeVine said. “…This Spring line-up offers seven films and seven opportunities to celebrate cinema and community. The program spans subject areas and moods.” 

Despite divergent topics, emotional comprehension, whether through trauma or triumph, faith or farce, longing for it or security in it, is a theme that permeates the films. 

Sponsored by Maggio Environmental and Wellness; Covati & Janhsen, CPAs; Port Jeff Storage; and the accounting firm Saranto Clamas, CPA with support from Suffolk County and the Greater Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council, the season opens with Ukraine, The Other Frontline. It follows five Ukrainian journalists who have the courage to continue doing their jobs, and in doing so, become part of the larger story of Ukrainian resistance to Russia’s war in their country.  

Story and Pictures By explores the efforts of today’s children’s book authors to create stories as diverse as themselves and their readers. 

Flipside chronicles filmmaker Chris Wilcha’s attempt to save the record store that sustained him as a teenager while he examines ideas of artistic identity.

Stuart Udall: The Politics of Beauty traces the life trajectory of Stuart Udall, who served as the Secretary of the Interior for Kennedy and Johnson, championed quality of life over quantity of consumerism, and espoused a political philosophy that celebrated life’s simple pleasures and beauties. 

A Disturbance in the Force honors the seemingly nonsensical “Star Wars Holiday Special” that George Lucas produced in 1978. 

We are the Warriors depicts citizens of Wells, Maine, contending with the town’s colonial history, how its modern manifestations effect the Indigenous residents, and the 2017 incident that galvanized citizens to seek common ground. 

Confessions of a Good Samaritan traces director Penny Lane’s generous decision to donate a kidney to a stranger and how this decision leads her on a quest to unearth the meaning of altruism. 

(For dates and times, please see Film Schedule below)

Those involved in arranging and implementing the Series, including PJDS’ film board as well as volunteers, are eager to enjoy these documentaries with audiences and encounter their original reactions. 

“[We] are looking forward to another exciting season…” co-chair Wendy Feinberg said. She selected Stories and Pictures By. DeVine selected the other six documentaries. It is the first time that the documentaries were not submitted by individual board members and chosen by vote of the board as a whole. 

This change in protocol reflects a shift in leadership. Though they remain on the board, Lyn Boland and Barbara Sverd, co-directors with Feinberg, sought to take a step back from organizing and running the Series. Boland and Weinberg became co-chairs; Sverd is now the community outreach coordinator. Their titles are different this season, but their love for documentaries and PJDS has not waned.

“What I didn’t expect was the bitter-sweet feeling I was left with once I cut the cord. I will miss the relationships made with film makers and the thrill of the chase when trying to land a new film. I do intend to help Kelly during this transition which is going smoothly and remain involved in the PJDS,” Sverd said. 

Once a board member, DeVine was invited by Boland to rejoin and lead the Series. She previously worked as a programmer/acquisitions member for the Independent Film Channel (IFC) and still serves as programmer for the Great Peace Film Festival in Florida.

“I really think this was a very lucky break for the documentary series. Kelly is giving us the benefit of things she has seen. I am staying involved, but my role is changing. People should expect some things to be different and much to remain the same,” Boland said.

Even as alterations to its setup were taking place behind the scenes, DeVine and the other board members made sure that key elements of PJDS’ ethos, such as attention to attendees’ interests, stayed essential to its mission. 

“I start with the audience when considering a film…For PJDS, I am still centering the community in the curation process,” DeVine said. “While a film series like this one provides the opportunity to bring the world to Port Jefferson, I also look to make connections between these stories and our own lives and concerns.”

By identifying commonalities and spotlighting individuality, PJDS strives to foster communication, artistic recognition, and interpersonal acceptance. It continues to incorporate documentaries that appeal to the Series’ existing patrons and invite new appreciators to participate. It is a community that honors its fans and welcomes fresh faces.  

“The most rewarding part of programming is always the audience connection. …I am looking forward to seeing the reaction to the programs, hoping to continue to appeal to the existing audience base for the PJDS while bringing in new audience segments along the way,” DeVine said. “For me, programming is a conversation with audiences, and a conversation that I find enriching.” 

An award winning documentary series, organizers, documentarians, and audiences continue to be inspired by PJDS’ dedication to sharing tales well told and amplifying voices that may otherwise be less audible to the public. For those in attendance, it endeavors to offer insights into the world around them and each other. 

“The stories are important, but almost as important is the opportunity to come together in a  social setting. The purpose of public arts is to celebrate and sustain community. Watching a film by yourself has one effect, but sharing the experience with others and maybe learning something about yourself or others in the process is something else altogether,” DeVine said.

FILM SCHEDULE:

◆ The Spring 2024 season kicks off with a screening of Ukraine, The Other Frontline  at Theatre Three on March 4 at 7 p.m. How is wartime news produced in Ukraine? A gripping and fascinating insight into the upheavals of everyday life in television newsrooms. Guest speaker will be Sarah Baxter, Director of the Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting at SBU.

◆ Story and Pictures By, the first feature documentary to take audiences behind the scenes to meet the boundary pushers who create children’s picture books, will be screened at JFK Middle School on March 25 at 7 p.m. Guest speaker will be filmmaker Joanna Rudnick.

◆ Next up is Flipside at Theatre Three on April 8 at 7 p.m.  Filmmaker Chris Wilcha revisits the record store he worked at as a teenager in New Jersey, he finds the once-thriving bastion of music and weirdness from his youth slowly falling apart and out of touch with the times. Guest speaker will be Director Chris Wilcha.

◆ Stewart Udall: The Politics of Beauty will be screened at JFK Middle School on April 15 at 7 p.m. The film examines the trajectory of Udall’s life from his childhood to his years as Secretary of the Interior under the Kennedy and Johnson administrations, focusing on his effectiveness as a dedicated, bi-partisan public servant. Guest speaker TBA.

‘A Disturbance in the Force’

◆ The season continues with A  Disturbance in the Force at JFK Middle School on May 6 at 7 p.m. A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…In 1978 George Lucas was talked in to cashing in on the STAR WARS craze by producing a holiday variety TV special.  What could possibly go wrong? Answer: Everything. Guest speaker will be Director Jeremy Coon.

◆ We Are the Warriors will be screened at JFK Middle School on May 13 at 7 p.m.  For nearly 70 years, students and alumni of Wells High School in Maine have called themselves the “Warriors.” The school’s mascot, variations of a stoic Native American head in profile with braids and feathered headband, has drawn both support and criticism in the past. However an incident in 2017 shocks the town and reignites the debate. Guest speaker TBA.

◆ Confessions of a Good Samaritan heads to Theatre Three on May 20 at 7 p.m. Director Penny Lane’s decision to become a “good Samaritan” by giving one of her kidneys to a stranger turns into a funny and moving personal quest to understand the nature of altruism. Guest speaker will be filmmaker Penny Lane.

Tickets are $10 per person; season passes are $58 each. For more information, visit portjeffdocumentaryseries.com.  

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