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File photo by Greg Catalano

By Sabrina Artusa

Three Village Central School District Superintendent Kevin Scanlon released a letter on March 21 informing families of incidents of antisemitism in the schools and assured them that the district is going to tackle the issue.

“There have recently been incidents of antisemitism in our schools,” the letter reads. “We believe that there is a larger issue occurring that we need to address.”

The letter suggests that a conglomeration of incidents is leading the district to initiate programs and curriculum changes: “Although some individuals may perceive these incidents as isolated, we cannot afford to take them lightly.”

Rabbi Aaron Benson of the North Shore Jewish Center said he has been in touch with some families whose children have been affected by antisemitism with Three Village middle schools. Benson said his understanding is that no major altercation occurred, but that on one or multiple occasions, students made an antisemitic remark that was heard by several other students, including Jewish students.

“As I understand it, the comments weren’t particularly directed at anybody but there were Jewish students present,” he said. “But also comments of that sort should not be tolerated regardless if a Jewish person is present.”

Rabbi Joshua Gray from Temple Isaiah emailed Scanlon after receiving the letter. Scanlon invited him to the school for a conversation, following through on the district’s commitment to “work together as a community” as written in the letter.

The conversation went “very well” according to Gray, and he left the meeting feeling assured that the district is addressing the issue with consideration and care.

“They are being very proactive,” he said. “It is good when people call it by its name and say it as it is.” Benson, too, was glad that the district acknowledged the issue and is taking an active role in combating hate speech.

“These are all the things I want them to be doing and I am thankful that they are,” he said. Benson, who has been an ordained rabbi for over 20 years, said he likes “to believe that there is just simple ignorance combined with perhaps a desire to be shocking or irreverent” but that there is “a stronger presence of antisemitic commentary that is out there and trickles down to kids.”

Both rabbis live in the district and have children. They said that they have noticed an uptick in antisemitism since Hamas attacked Israel Oct. 7, 2023.

Stefanie Werner, whose child attends a Three Village school, said that her child had experienced antisemitism over five years ago. Glad that the village acknowledged the issue, but upset that antisemitism is still present enough to warrant a letter, Werner called the letter “a double-edged sword.”

“I hate that it has gotten to this point,” she continued. “We’ve gotten this letter and we don’t exactly know what has happened.”

Werner said she would like to see more discussion integrated into the curriculum, a step Scanlon plans to take, according to the letter. Werner said that it is clear that preexisting programs, like assemblies, talks or electives, aren’t enough.

“We have to teach them that it is not okay,” she said. “They don’t see the line.”

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From left, Bob Willemstyn, restaurateur and owner of the Country House; Madiran's owner and sommelier, Jacqueline Malenda; Tom Manuel, founder of The Jazz Loft; and Elaine and Enzo Micali, owners of Elaine’s restaurant. Photo courtesy of The Jazz Loft

The signs of spring on the North Shore bring more than warm breezes and the return of the ospreys. Jazz music will once again be filling the air as The Jazz Loft’s Swing Into Swing Festival 2025 returns from March 18 to 22, not only boosting everyone’s spirits but also at local businesses. There will be an assortment of opportunities to hear live Jazz music throughout the community at five local restaurants in the Stony Brook/East Setauket area.

From left are Tom Manuel, founder of The Jazz Loft; Bob Willemstyn, restaurateur and owner of the Country House; Madiran’s owner and sommelier, Jacqueline Malenda; and Enzo and Elaine Micali, owners of Elaine’s restaurant. Photo from The Jazz Loft

Local restaurants featuring live jazz include: Bliss, located at 766 Route 25A in East Setauket; Elaine’s, located at 316 Main Street in East Setauket; The Country House, located at 1175 North Country Road in Stony Brook; Madiran, located at 209 Route 25A in East Setauket; and Schnitzels, located at 77 Main Street in Stony Brook. 

“We are excited to be part of the Jazz Loft’s Swing into Spring event,” said Elaine Micali,  owner of Elaine’s in East Setauket. “It’s a great way to spread a little Jazz throughout the Three Village community!” 

“I believe that the annual Swing into Spring is something to which the community looks forward to,” said Madiran owner and Sommelier Jacqueline Malenda. “It’s a fantastic opportunity to expose our friends and neighbors to such tremendously talented local musicians. It’s how I began a monthly gig with The Jazz Loft a few years ago, and I’m so happy that I have!”

“The Jazz Loft is a gem in our community,” said Jane Taylor, Executive Director of The Three Village Chamber of Commerce. “The quality of the performances are outstanding and we are fortunate to have The Jazz Loft in our backyard with its quality musicians, while also sharing with the community the history of Jazz, and how it has influenced our culture. I would encourage all to take advantage of the upcoming Swing into Spring Festival.”

The five-day music festival will also feature concert performances at The Jazz Loft, 275 Christian Ave., Stony Brook including a Community Jazz Night with Carl Safina, Rod Borrie and John Ronconi on March 18; Bakithi Kumalo Ensemble on March 20;  the Mitch Marcus Quintet on March 21 and Frank Vignola and his Birdland Quintet on March 22. 

Funding for the Festival comes in part from the Suffolk County Department of Economic Development & Planning and Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright.

“Music has the power to draw people out and bring people together,” said The Jazz Loft founder Tom Manuel. “I am always excited each year to bring music with the Swing into Spring festival throughout the Three Village community. I am so proud to partner with our community businesses. It’s a great feeling to see our restaurants bustling with people, and filled with the sound of live Jazz.”

Schedule of Events:
Tuesday March 18:

The Jazz Loft (7-9:30PM)

Community Jazz Night: Rod Borrie & Free Range, Carl Safina & Moment’s Notice, John Ronconi & Cafe Society

$30, $25, $20, $15, Kids 5 and under FREE

Bliss (6-8PM):

Steve Salerno, guitar, John Marshall, tenor saxophone

Elaine’s (6-8PM):

Tom Manuel, cornet, Phil Rinaldi, piano

Madiran (6-8PM):

Dean Johnson, bass, Al Marino, guitar

 

Wednesday March 19:

Madiran (6-8PM):

Phil Rinaldi, piano, Mark Wade, bass

Bliss (6-8PM):

Steve Salerno, guitar, Tom Manuel, cornet

Elaine’s (6-8PM):

Kevin Clark, guitar, Chris Donohue, tenor saxophone

The Country House (6-8PM):

The Jazz Loft Trio

Dean Johnson, bass, Rich Iacona, piano, Darrell Smith, drums

The Jazz Loft (4-5:30PM):

Improvisation & Jam Session Techniques Workshop

Dean Johnson, bass, Rich Iacona, piano Tom Manuel, cornet, Darrell Smith, drums

$10 All

The Jazz Loft: (7-9:30PM)

Jam Session / The Keenan Zach Trio

$10, $5 at 8PM

Thursday March 20:

Country House (6-8PM):

Mala Waldron, piano

The Jazz Loft (7-9:30PM)

Bakithi Kumalo Ensemble

Bakithi Kumalo, bass, Miho Nobuzane, piano/vocal, Kate Curran, vocal, Dylan Kries, saxophone, Ray Marchica, drums

 Friday March 21:

Country House (6-8PM):

Rich Iacona, piano, Tom Manuel, cornet

The Jazz Loft (7-9:30PM)

Mitch Marcus Quintet

Mitch Marcus, tenor saxophone, Evan Francis, alto saxophone/flute, Jeff Miles, guitar, Peter Brendler, bass, Jerad Lippi, drums

$30, $25, $20, $15, Kids 5 and under FREE

 

Saturday March 22:

The Jazz Loft (7-9:30PM)

Frank Vignola Birdland Quartet

Frank Vignola, guitar, Ted Rosenthal, piano, Alex Raderman, drums, Gary Mazzaroppi, bass

$30, $25, $20, $15, Kids 5 and under FREE

Schnitzels (5-7PM)

Vinny Raniolo, guitar, Tom Manuel, cornet

 

All tickets can be purchased by visiting: https://www.thejazzloft.org/tickets

For more information call 631-751-1895.

 

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Luca Restaurant in Stony Brook Village. The Hamptons Wedding Photography

The Stony Brook Village Center is excited to announce the much-anticipated reopening of Luca Restaurant, 93 Main Street, Stony Brook on Thursday, March 13 at 5 p.m. for dinner service. After temporarily closing in late January due to a fire, Luca is ready to welcome guests back for dinner and lunch with an exceptional dining experience and new spring menu items curated by Chef Luke.

To celebrate its reopening, Luca will offer dinner service on the following schedule:

● Thursday: 5:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

● Friday & Saturday: 5:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

● Sunday: 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.

Regular hours will resume on Wednesday, March 19, including lunch service Wednesday – Sunday from 12:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.

For full hours, menus and reservations, visit lucaitalian.com or call (631) 675-0435.

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By Sabrina Artusa

A science teacher at R.C. Murphy Jr. High School in theThree Village Central School District is now on leave after posting an incendiary political post on Facebook.

The teacher, Pamila Pahuja, wrote in the post, “To all Trump supporters – hope the next time you take a drink it doesn’t swallow right and you go get help but no one is there and you slowly wither away while struggling to gasp and you suffer long.”

The post has sparked outrage from some parents. Others feel Pahuja did nothing wrong.

“I always like to put the shoe on the other foot,” former teacher and Hauppauge resident Dan Simon said, noting that teachers still have the freedom of speech. He added, however, that what she posted was a mistake.  “Should she be doing that? Probably not.”

A father of a middle-school child, Doug said, “Just saying that about another person – it’s not right.” His child does not go to a district school. 

He said that middle-schoolers are still learning right from wrong, and to “say stuff like that, you are kind of brainwashing them. It gets them thinking differently.”

Litigator Andrew Lieb said that there is a case to be made under labor law 201-d, which protects against discrimination for participating in certain activities including political activities outside of working hours and off the employer’s premises. Lieb has worked on similar cases pertaining to teachers.

“That is a hyperbole that wasn’t a specific threat,” Lieb said. “As long as she was off working hours off working premises, she is allowed to do this stuff. She is working for the government and the government can’t block speech.”

“Imagine all these teachers wanting to speak and not being able to have a voice,” he said. “That’s what this does and that’s why these laws are so important. 

Pahuja also wrote, “To all my friends and their families worried, stay safe. America is no longer the land of the free – we are prisoners of the governments. Only a matter of time before they come for all women. Welcome to gilead, it’s on the way.” 

On Jan. 26, the district released a letter to parents notifying them of Pahuja’s absence. 

“Please be assured that we have taken steps to ensure a smooth transition and continued high-quality instruction in science. A qualified and certified science teacher will be assigned to your child’s class in her absence,” the letter, signed by Principal Michael Jantzen, reads.

The Three Village BOE and the Three Village Teachers Association would not comment on matters of personnel.

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A scene of destruction in Western North Carolina after Tropical Storm Helene. Photo courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/NCDOTcommunications

By Kurt Johnsen  

On August 19, 2024, a “thousand-year” rain event breached Harbor Road and drained the Stony Brook Mill Pond. TBR News Media published my memoir of my personal relationship with the pond and my deep sorrow of its loss on Aug. 29.

I live in Asheville, North Carolina and on September 28, I awoke to a Natural Disaster that was beyond my comprehension. Tropical storm Helene had scourged our beloved Western North Carolina.  I’ll first note that my wife and I were fine, and our home only suffered minor damage. I stepped outside and began to witness what was soon to be apparent destruction of “biblical” proportion.

Overnight, 40 to 100 miles-per-hour winds had ravaged our region. Asheville received 14 inches of rain, much of Western North Carolina received two feet of rain and even up to 30 inches, all in the previous two days. Trees were downed everywhere and with them thousands of power lines cutting off electricity and making even simple travel down the road impossible. Soon, the magnitude of the destruction started to become evident. 

Close to 900,000 acres of forest were downed or damaged, thousands of homes were destroyed and 150,000 people were displaced. If you haven’t yet, you can go on YouTube and watch the hundreds of videos showing events that, before this, we only witnessed from afar often in third world countries. Two miles from our house  Biltmore Village was flooded and EVERY business was gutted or ripped down. Eighty percent of our beloved River Arts District was destroyed. The torrents caused massive mudslides. Across the region, houses were torn apart and floated  like balsa wood along powerful rivers that, two days prior, were small streams and brooks. 

There are 104 verified storm-related deaths. It is Incredulous this number isn’t higher. Vehicles, homes, businesses were piled like matchsticks. People’s lives were upended and, for many, will never be the same. Even now, as you drive out to smaller towns that were virtually destroyed,  you proceed through a “tunnel” of the hulks of demolished cars, trucks, houses and other flotsam.

The main Pipeline from the reservoir that supplies most of Asheville with water was shattered and under 28 feet of thick muck! Water immediately ceased flowing out of the tap for, in most cases, months and even longer to become potable. Asheville’s unemployment rate jumped from three to 9 percent overnight. The lack of affordable housing, already a crisis for service industry employees in our tourist-based economy, was extraordinarily exacerbated overnight.

Stop reading for a minute and imagine the all-too-real picture I have painted above. Now, let me put this in perspective. The Mill Pond is approximately 11 acres in size. That is 0.001 percent of the area that was impacted in WNC from Helene. And now, much of Los Angeles looks like Dresden after the firebombing. I will not go far out on a limb to say we have reached the “tipping point”; climate change is now ravaging our planet.  James Taylor sang “I’ve seen fire and I’ve seen rain.” He had no idea how prophetic his prose would become. 

Author Kurt Johnsen, who grew up in idyllic Stony Brook,  now resides in  Asheville, North Carolina.

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2024 Temple Isaiah Menorah Lighting. Photo by Donna Newman
2024 Temple Isaiah Menorah Lighting. Photo by Donna Newman

By Donna Newman

Taking advantage of the concurrence of Christmas and the first night of Chanukah, Rabbi Joshua Gray opened Temple Isaiah’s Menorah Lighting to the entire Stony Brook community on Dec. 25.

Approximately 130 people RSVPed and the turnout delighted congregants and guests alike. Christians, Jews and Muslims all similarly celebrate Festivals of Light at this dark time of year – with special foods and the singing of songs. Inviting people to partake in a happy holiday tradition highlights the similarities of our faiths. Sharing our religious and ethnic customs brings us closer together.

Said Rabbi Gray, “As we light the menorah, we recognize that each individual candle creates one unified light. We add our light to the world, and pray that its warm glow finds its way to any in the world who need it.”

 

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Ernie Canadeo, Chairman, LIMEHOF. Photo by Barbara Anne Kirshner

By Steven Zaitz

If you have not been to the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame in Stony Brook Village, you might not know just how many musical giants are from around here. 

Billy Joel, Mariah Carey, Eddie Money, Twisted Sister and the Stray Cats are just a few of the household names who grew up on Long Island, and made it big in the industry. They are now inductees in the hallowed halls of the LIMEHOF, which just this month celebrated its 20th anniversary.

Another musical giant, who is not on this list and will probably never sell out Madison Square Garden or make a platinum record, is Ernie Canadeo. Canadeo has been the Chairman of LIMEHOF for 10 years, and was the driving force behind transforming it from a rolling exhibit in a Winnebago, to the state-of-the-art 8,800-square-foot facility it is today.

Canadeo, who grew up in Westbury and now lives in Glen Cove, is the founder and Chairman of EGC Group, one of the largest advertising and digital marketing firms on Long Island. Last month, Canadeo was inducted into the Long Island Business Hall of Fame for not only his work at EGC, but also his membership on the board of directors for many Long Island non-profit organizations. Additionally, he is on the Executive Committee of the Long Island Association, which is the foremost business and commerce organization on the Island. 

Canadeo has also spearheaded and supported many philanthropic endeavors, such as TeachRock, which promotes music in the classroom, and the National Stuttering Association.

Despite these achievements in the hyper-competitive digital marketing industry, Ernie is renowned for maintaining a sweet touch and sense of family with everyone in his orbit — business associates and loved ones alike. 

“Ernie is huge on family,” said his wife Catherine Canadeo, who is the CEO of her own Corporate Wellness Advisory firm. “Everything he does focuses on that zest, that love of life, of food and friends and family, and of course, music.”

His experience in the music industry began in the 1970s when he worked as an advertising exec and promoter at RCA, A&M and Arista Records. Ernie promoted acts such as Hall & Oates, The Police, Diana Ross, The Kinks and R.E.M during the punk, glam and early disco eras of the ‘70s and ‘80s, until he founded the EGC Group in 1985. After landing some big accounts like Blockbuster Video and Häagen-Dazs ice cream, EGC established itself as a major national player in the advertising world, despite not having an office overlooking Madison Avenue.

“LIMEHOF was founded primarily by musicians and educators,” said Canadeo, who is a Stony Brook and Fordham University alum. “But in 2006, they asked me to be on the board because there wasn’t really a business person on it. I was happy to lend my expertise, and a few years later, I was named chairman.”

Fellow board member and LIMEHOF founding father Jim Faith recalled the early days of Ernie’s tenure. “Money was always a problem for us in the beginning, and with Ernie’s vision, we have been able to take a huge leap,” said Faith. “He’s a great businessman who also happens to be a great lover of music. Getting that deal for the Stony Brook building was so important to us and has enabled us to do so many other things.”

One of Canadeo’s first orders of business as chairman was to establish a permanent home for LIMEHOF. “We tried over the years to have a real hall of fame, and a great mobile museum, but what we really wanted was a home,” Canadeo said. “In 2022, I got a call from Gloria Rocchio, a real estate broker in Stony Brook, who asked me if we were still looking. So I went up there and fell in love with the place, but told her we could never afford this. She said, ‘Yes, you can,’” he continued.

For 85 years, the Ward Melville Heritage Organization has preserved historic properties donated by Ward Melville, to support non-profits that promote culture and education through history, art and music. And this just so happens to be LIMEHOF’s exact mission.

Canadeo ends the story with this wonderful fact: “We signed a 25-year lease for a grand total of one dollar a year and moved in a few months later.”

Since taking over the facility on the northeast corner of Stony Brook Village, LIMEHOF has showcased a fascinating collection of artifacts, from concert-used instruments and outfits to memorabilia spanning decades — from Broadway legend George M. Cohan to doo-wop icons like Little Anthony and the Imperials, and even rap megastars Run-D.M.C. The space was conceptualized by famed artist and designer Kevin O’Callaghan, and there is a steady stream of homegrown music emanating from the concert area every weekend of the year. This past Thanksgiving weekend, the organization celebrated its anniversary with two days filled with live performances from over a dozen bands — all with Long Island ties.

Across the hall, an entire wing of the museum houses the “Billy Joel – My Life, A Piano Man’s Journey” exhibit, which is filled with over 50 years’ worth of memorabilia — much of which came from the Piano Man’s personal collection. The exhibit opened to the public in November of 2023 and has been seen by more than 10,000 people.

LIMEHOF founder and board member Norm Presslin, a Stony Brook University professor of media, who has also been in radio for close to half a century, first got to know Ernie decades ago when the ad man guest spoke in the professor’s classroom, discussing the topics of music marketing and business. Presslin was impressed with Ernie’s ability to communicate, with warmth, the vagaries of challenging industries. 

“I’ve observed many people in the advertising and marketing world, and many of them never adjusted to the rapid changes,” said Presslin. “Ernie’s ability to adapt has served him well and has served LIMEHOF well. Essentially, what he has done is create a home for Long Island musicians and people who love music that they never had before.”

While Ernie holds the title of chairman at his namesake EGC agency, his current CEO, Nicole Penn, handles much of the day-to-day operations. She has worked with Ernie for 20 years and has ridden shotgun with him as the industry transformed from traditional newspaper and television ad campaigns to the current digital-heavy, social media-driven model it is today. 

“In the 21st century, no other industry has changed as much as ours,” Penn said. “Ernie has always been a great sounding board and mentor. He’s caring, but also astute and has a great lens at looking at a problem from different angles. If it’s a client challenge we are trying to solve, he always seems to have relevant experience and the right instincts. What he has done at LIMEHOF  is a by-product of this and it is so great because music has always been his passion,” she added.

Music and passion. For someone who loves to cook Italian food as much as Ernie does, these two ingredients are like the white wine and garlic in his famous Chicken Scarpariello. So much so that when it came to professing his love for Catherine on their wedding day five years ago, Ernie sang an original composition called ‘10,000 Kisses,’ just for the occasion. He performed it in front of 100 guests at their home. On keyboards was pianist Christopher Clark of the band Brand X, and on sax was Lords of 52nd Street saxophonist Richie Cannata, who played with Billy Joel for decades.

“To see him with that microphone, I was completely blown away,” Catherine said. “We have parties here at our house, and sometimes we have musicians come over, but I had no idea that Ernie was actually going to sing. When he did that, my heart was so full, so overwhelmed with admiration and fondness for his sweetness.”

“To do that in front of all of our friends, singing just to me — he was singing to my heart, and that showed his love on so many different levels,” she continued.

Ernie and Richie have been friends for many years, and it was Cannata’s then-girlfriend who introduced them. “Ernie and Cathy are a match made in music heaven, and I couldn’t be happier for both of them,” said Cannata, who was inducted into the LIMEHOF in 2014. “I’ve known Cathy for a long time, and it’s a beautiful thing for all of us — way bigger than words.”

That night, as a party favor, Ernie handed out a CD OF ‘10,000 Kisses’ to all of his guests — a fitting metaphor for all Ernie has given to Long Island, the local music community and everyone who has had the pleasure of meeting him.

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Photo courtesy of Stony Brook Athletics

The Stony Brook women’s basketball team secured a 54-40 victory over Cornell to close out non-conference play on Dec. 22 on the Island.

Stony Brook was paced by Zaida Gonzalez who led the Seawolves with 20 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Shamarla King tacked on 14 points, six rebounds and two steals, while Breauna Ware chipped in with nine points from the bench.

Stony Brook grabbed 39 rebounds compared to Cornell’s 34, led by Gonzalez’s seven boards. The Seawolves’ defense held the Big Red to only zero percent shooting from beyond the arc and 35.2 percent from the field.

After falling behind 2-0, Stony Brook went on a hot 9-0 run with 8:07 left in the first quarter, culminating in a bucket from King, to take a 9-2 lead. The Seawolves then lost some of that lead but still entered the quarter break with an 11-6 advantage. Stony Brook did most of its first quarter damage in the paint, scoring eight of its 11 points close to the basket. Gonzalez, King, and Janay Brantley accounted for the offensive spark.

The Seawolves used the second period to increase their lead and entered halftime with a 19-12 edge. It was a low scoring half as the Seawolves held their opponent to less than 10 points each quarter through one half… the first time since last season on Feb. 18 against Elon.

After intermission, Stony Brook held on to its advantage and owned a 35-29 lead, showcasing a team effort coming from Gonzalez, King, Brantley, Ware, and Devyn Scott tallying 16 points.

Stony Brook kept widening its lead, expanding it to 44-35 before going on a 10-0 run, finished off by a Gonzalez jumper, to grow the lead to 54-35 with 2:13 to go in the contest. The Big Red narrowed the margin somewhat before the game was over, but the Seawolves still cruised the rest of the way for the 54-40 win.

After the holiday break and new year, the team will return to the court for the start of CAA conference play on Jan. 3 at Northeastern. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. Coverage will be be available on FloCollege.

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Florence Aghomo

Stony Brook University has announced that doctoral student Florence Aghomo won the Young Women in Conservation Biology (YWCB) Award from the Society for Conservation Biology (SCB) Africa Region. Aghomo is a doctoral student in the Interdepartmental Doctoral Program in Anthropological Sciences (IDPAS) and a member of the Institute for the Conservation of Tropical Environments (ICTE) under the supervision of State University of New York (SUNY) and Stony Brook Distinguished Service Professor Patricia C. Wright.

This annual award presented to a woman aims to recognize and applaud contributions to conservation. Aghomo was selected for her:

  • evidence of leadership, creativity, self-motivation, and enthusiasm in the execution of conservation work;
  • evidence of service to conservation biology; and
  • ability to work with others across gender, social class, and ethnicity to achieve concrete conservation outcomes.
Florence Aghomo

Since June 2019, Florence is the coordinator of the Red Colobus Conservation Network project under the Primates Specialist Group of the Species Survival Commission of the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN/SSC/PSG), Re:wild and the African Primatological Society (APS). Under this project, she is technically and administratively coordinating the implementation of the Red colobus Conservation Action Plan (ReCAP) and an international network (more than 300 primatologists). She is responsible for sourcing collaboration with conservation partners and organizations, fundraising and reviewing members’ proposals. She is also responsible for hosting, organizing, and steering meetings with international partners and members, sustaining digital platforms, monitoring and evaluating achievements, and supporting youth professional growth through training and mentorships.

Before this position, Aghomo’s research/work involved studying the behavior and ecology of endangered Red colobus monkey as well as establishing practices to ensure their protection and safety in the Korup National Park in Cameroon. Her work takes her into dense forests where these monkeys live and she explores the canopies of trees looking for these large primates.

“They [Red colobus monkeys] are so special because they are very beautiful, unique, and perfect indicators of ecosystem health or habitat change since they are usually the first group of primates to leave a habitat when any disturbances or degradation occur,” said Aghomo. “Moreover, their diversity reflects the various bioregions of the African forested areas at large.”

Passionate for primate well-being and conservation, in 2020, Aghomo facilitated the creation and legalization of the Cameroon Primatological Society (CPS) and organized the 1st and the 2nd General Assemblies with the support of Re:wild. In Madagascar, she created a Language and Environmental Center in Ranomafana under her foundation “Flor’Afrique” to support education and conservation in this part of the world, which is home to a high biodiversity (Biodiversity hotspot) and the world’s second leader in primate diversity.

“Florence is a conservation hero, who has already made an incredible difference in saving wildlife in Africa,” said Professor Wright. “I am pleased to see her apply her skills to Madagascar and to graduate school here at Stony Brook. We are looking forward to sharing in her future accomplishments. She is a winner!”

The YWCB Working Group was established in 2005 by the Africa Region of the SCB, based on the need to fill the gap created by the limited numbers of women professionals in the field of conservation science in Africa. It was further mandated to act as a platform for early career African conservation biologists to share experiences (albeit with a major emphasis on women), generating incentives and mentorship opportunities to strengthen female conservation biologists in their careers.

Aghomo currently resides in Stony Brook while studying at Stony Brook University.

 

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Photo of Gould General Store taken circa 1890. Photo courtesy of Three Village Historical Society.

By Beverly C. Tyler

The post office in Stony Brook has a long history of service to the community. Until the 20th century, the postmaster was the only person authorized to handle letters and write money orders. Each rural post office had one representative of the postal system, the postmaster, who was appointed by the president of the United States with the advice and consent of the Senate.

A postal system existed in Massachusetts as early as 1639. In 1672, New York Gov. Lovelace established service between New York and Boston along the future Boston Post Road. Benjamin Franklin was appointed Postmaster General for the British Colonies in America in 1753 and served until 1774, when he was dismissed by the Crown. He was reappointed by the Continental Congress in 1775 and served for 15 months, establishing a sound postal system. The U.S. postal system was created when Samuel Osgood was appointed the first Postmaster General on Sept. 26, 1789.

A portion from the 1873 Atlas from Beers, Comstock & Cline, showing Stony Brook Village. Photo courtesy of Three Village Historical Society.

The first Stony Brook postmaster was Nathaniel Hallock. According to National Archives records, he was appointed on March 21, 1826, and served until June 24, 1836. Little is known about Hallock or his post office, but it was likely part of a general store, as was typical of post offices on Long Island in the 19th century.

The cost of posting a letter weighing less than 1 ounce was six cents until 1847, when stamps were first issued. Letters were single sheets of paper folded, addressed, and delivered for six cents within 30 miles. Beyond 30 miles or for heavier letters, the cost increased slightly, with a maximum charge of 25 cents for a letter traveling more than 400 miles. For example, a letter sent to “Mr. William S. Mount – Stony Brook – Long Island – N.Y.” in 1841 from Monticello, Georgia, was marked, folded, sealed, and addressed in the customary manner of the time.

The second Stony Brook postmaster was James N. Gould, who was appointed in 1836 and served until 1861. He was reappointed on March 29, 1867, and served until 1870. Gould owned and operated a general store, which was located just north of where the Reboli Center now stands. The store was demolished before 1900, as was Gould’s home, which stood just north of the store. Both were removed to make way for the village improvements in the 1940s by Ward Melville.

According to local lore, it was said to be impossible to ask for any item James Gould didn’t have in his store. On a bet, a customer once asked for a pulpit, and Gould amazed everyone by producing one from the store’s attic.

The third postmaster, Edward Oakes, began his service in 1861 as the Civil War began at Fort Sumter. He served until 1867, when James Gould resumed the position. During this period, the post office introduced the money order system in 1864 to allow soldiers to send money home. Only the postmaster could process money orders, as he was the sole postal employee.

Oakes’ general store was located north of Gould’s store and home, on the west side of the business triangle along what was then Main Street. Residents recalled a long horse block in front of the store where men gathered for evening chats. Oakes served as postmaster again from 1870 to 1885. During this time, the store was known as “Oakes and Topping,” later “Topping and Smith,” and eventually, around 1901, “E.E. Topping.”

William O. Gould succeeded Oakes as postmaster in 1885, taking over his father’s general store. He served until 1889, during which time the post office expanded its services. In 1885, the special delivery service was introduced, allowing for prompt mail delivery, which marked a shift from the rural post office’s general store model to independent operations.

From 1889 through the end of the century, Stony Brook had five postmasters. John W. Copley was appointed in 1889, followed by David R. Rayner in 1892. Charles J. Williamson succeeded Rayner on Aug. 4 of that year. William O. Gould returned as postmaster in 1893. On May 1, 1895, Nellie E. Smith became Stony Brook’s first female postmaster. In 1898, Daniel W. Arnold became postmaster, serving for less than two years.

The turn of the century brought stability to the post office as it continued to grow and adapt to the needs of the community.

Beverly C. Tyler is the Three Village Historical Society historian and the author of books available from the Three Village Historical Society, 93 North Country Road, Setauket. Tel: 631-751-3730.

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