Voting for the 2022 Kids’ Book Choice Awards is now underway with Long Island author Jerry Mikorenda in the running in two prestigious categories.
The Northport author’s teen novel The Whaler’s Daughter was nominated in the Favorite Character Crush category for the character of Figgie, and himself for Best Stellar Storyteller.
“It’s an honor just to be considered with all these great authors and I’m particularly happy to see the character of Figgie recognized,” said Mikorenda. “He’s just about the coolest indigenous dude you ever want to meet, and the best friend ever to have on an adventure.”
The Whaler’s Daughter (Regal House Publishing), is a historical seafaring novel that takes place in 1910 on a whaling station in New South Wales, Australia. There twelve-year-old Savannah Dawson lives with her widowed father. She’s desperate to prove to him that she can carry on the family legacy, but no one wants a girl in a whaleboat—that is, until Figgie helps Savannah hone her whaling skills and learn about the Law of the Bay. The story is about unexpressed grief, and how friendship can turn revenge into repentance, anger to empathy, and hurt into hopefulness.
“This award program is great on so many levels because it gives the intended audience final say over the results while also teaching the importance of civic participation and the responsibility of voting,” added the author. “I’d encourage all eligible kids to vote for their choices.”
The Kids’ Book Choice Awards are the only national book awards chosen solely by kids and teens. The Children’s Book Council is the nonprofit trade association of children’s book publishers in North America, dedicated to supporting the industry and promoting children’s books and reading. The first round of voting is underway and goes until August 20.
U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-NY1) was speaking at a campaign event upstate when a man approached him and allegedly tried to stab him.
Zeldin is the Republican Party and Conservative Party nominee for New York State governor. The congressman was speaking at a VFW post in the Village of Fairport on the Erie Canal on July 21, when the man approached him after walking on the congressman’s platform. According to a July 22 post on Zeldin’s Facebook page, the congressman said, “His words as he tried to stab me a few hours ago were, ‘You’re done.’”
Zeldin grabbed the attacker’s wrist, and several attendees, including his running mate Alison Esposito, tackled the man. The congressman served active duty in the U.S. Army for four years and is currently a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve. Esposito is a former NYPD deputy inspector. The alleged attacker was taken into custody by local law enforcement.
The alleged attack happened at approximately 8 p.m., according to a press release from the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. The male, identified as David Jakubonis, 43, of Fairport, allegedly had a weapon in his hand, according to the police. The sheriff’s office said he “swung it toward Zeldin’s neck.”
There were no injuries, and the candidate was able to finish his speech, according to his staff.
The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office charged Jakubonis with attempted assault in the second degree. He was arraigned and released on his own recognizance.
On July 23, U.S. attorney Trini Ross announced that Jakubonis was arrested again, according to a press release from the U.S. District’s Attorney’s Office, Western District of New York. This time the alleged attacker was arrested by the FBI and was charged with assaulting a Congress member using a dangerous weapon. According to the press release, Jakubonis can spend up to 10 years in prison if found guilty.
The defendant allegedly “extended a keychain with two sharp points” toward Zeldin, according to the press release.
Jakubonis is being held pending a July 27 detention hearing.
According to a federal criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court by an FBI special agent, Jakubonis, who served one tour in the Iraq War, drank whiskey on the day of the event. He walked onstage to ask Zeldin “if he was disrespecting veterans.” He told Monroe County investigators he didn’t know who the congressman was when he approached him.
“When shown a video of the incident, Jakubonis stated in sum and substance, that what was depicted in the video was disgusting and that he ‘must have checked out,’” according to the criminal complaint.
Zeldin criticized the release of Jakubonis by the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and was grateful that federal authorities stepped in.
“I’m thankful that federal authorities came in to do what New York State’s broken pro-criminal justice system could not: Uphold the rule of law,” Zeldin said in a press release. “The state must start prioritizing the safety of law-abiding New Yorkers over criminals. Cashless bail must be repealed and judges should have discretion to set cash bail on far more offenses.”
A representative from Zeldin’s office said the congressman’s security has been increased.
The Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, 180 Little Neck Road, Centerport hosts Cactus Kids, a workshop for children ages 8 to 12which introduces junior gardeners to the joys and challenges of raising cacti, on Thursday, July 28 at 1 p.m. Participants will plant a cactus pot, discover how to take care of their specimens, and explore the unique attributes that allow cacti to thrive in hot desert environments. Workshop will take place in the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum’s “Superintendent’s Cottage,” which is located across the street from the main campus. Plants and workshop materials are included in the price. $35 per child, $25 members. To register, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org or click here.
Northport Public Library, 151 Laurel Ave., Northport will host a Job Fair on Wednesday, July 27 from 10 a.m. to noon.Meet representatives from Elara Caring, SCOPE, Forest Hills Financial Group, NYS Dept of Corrections, NY Life, Citation Healthcare Labels, Developmental Disabilities Institute, Retail Management Inc, Federal Bureau of Prisons, Circor, Suffolk County Police Dept, Suffolk Transportation and more! Bring your resume and dress to impress. To register, visit bit.ly/NorthportDOL. For more information, call 631-261-6930.
For many in the area, Wednesday from 1 to 3 p.m. is a time they put aside to talk about stocks and investing.
Through the pandemic, Steven Kelman, of Port Jefferson Station, and Bill Greenbaum, of Fort Salonga, have been offering the Bates House Investment Group through Zoom. The workshop provides those interested in learning about investing with a weekly discussion and learning experience. Members discuss different investments such as stocks, bonds and more. They also talk about how current events affect portfolios, and the workshop leaders share insights into investing, investment resources and analyzing the stock market.
“We had some people that started with absolutely no knowledge at all, and they’re presenting reports like they’ve been doing it for 20 years now,” Kelman said.
The workshops initially were offered through Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Stony Brook University, better known as OLLI. Before the pandemic, the class was moved from SBU to the Bates House in Setauket. When COVID-19 hit, and the pandemic lockdowns began, Zoom enabled Kelman and Greenbaum to reach more people, even those who don’t live in the Three Village area or on Long Island. Kelman said with non-OLLI members interested in participating, the workshop leaders decided to make it available to anyone interested and no longer offered the class through OLLI.
Greenbaum said Zoom has worked out well for them.
“During the pandemic, it’s really been wonderful that it was a connection point for everyone,” he said.
Greenbaum, who was a global controller in the finance department of Disney before he retired, said when he was younger, he would look over his grandfather’s shoulder when he read stock reports. Kelman, who for 42 years worked for the Federal Aviation Administration after serving in the U.S. Air Force, said he’s been interested in investing on and off for 30 years.
The approximately two dozen workshop members are nonprofessionals, Kelman said, and they range in experience from advanced to beginners. He added that a few have lost a spouse and weren’t sure what to do regarding investments, and the workshop has provided a good starting point.
Greenbaum said it’s impressive to see newcomers who sometimes might sit back at first, but as they begin to learn become more experienced. The two have also learned from the members, Kelman said.
“The diversity of the group is quite amazing, people from all walks of life,” Greenbaum said.
Members attend for free, and no money is actually invested in the market. Each individual picks a stock and researches it. They each then present their choice to the class and the group will discuss and then virtually buy it if they all agree on it. The members keep track of how the stock does and have a mock portfolio. After investing in a particular stock, they will also discuss if they made the right decision.
Kelman said they track about 35 to 40 stocks. He said it constantly changes as they set up a fictitious figure of $250,000. Once they get to that amount, they have to sell something to buy additional stocks, which also teaches when to sell.
Even though the group doesn’t actually invest, many take what they learn and invest on their own.
Greenbaum added that with the market going down recently, the group also provides a form of moral support.
“It’s nice to have a group of people that you could share that with,” he said. “Normally you can’t. This topic is not for everybody.”
For more information, contact Steven Kelman at 631-473-0012.
Alexis Semevolos-Velazquez and ensemble in a scene from the show. Photo from Engeman Theater
Sofia Jarmel and Vincent Ortega in a scene from the show. Photo from Engeman Theater
Alexis Semevolos-Velazquez in a scene From the show. Photo from Engeman Theater
A scene from 'On Your Feet!'. Photo from Engeman Theater
Victor Souffrant and Alexis Semevolos-Velazquez in a scene from the show. Photo courtesy of Engeman Theater
Victor Souffant and ensemble in a scene from the show. Photo from Engeman Theater
A scene from 'On Your Feet! . Photo courtesy of Engeman Theater
By Rita J. Egan
Before Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine filled the airwaves with their Latin-inspired pop music and heart-wrenching ballads. On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan is now playing at the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport, and local theatergoers can discover the Estefans’ story through Aug. 28.
The theater was nearly sold out on July 16, press opening night. The audience members were ready to be entertained and were not disappointed. Director Dana Iannuzzi and the Engeman cast skillfully share the inspiring tale of achieving the American Dream through infectious music and dynamic dance numbers.
The musical by Alexander Dinelaris takes place from 1975 to 1991 and highlights the early days of the Estefans’ climb to fame. It also incorporates a few flashbacks to even earlier periods. The show ran on Broadway from 2015 to 2017.
The day Emilio, of the Miami Latin Boys, visited the home of Gloria’s family was the moment that musical history began. The husband-and-wife team’s first encounter led to chart-topping hits such as “Rhythm is Gonna Get You,” “Conga,” “Get on Your Feet,” “Anything for You,” “Coming Out of the Dark,” and more. The songs are incorporated throughout the story, along with “If I Never Got to Tell You,” which was written for the musical. Each one is perfectly placed, whether it’s an upbeat number to mark a happy time in the couple’s life or a ballad to remember their adversities. The songs are not always sung by the Gloria character which puts a new spin on some well known tunes.
There are moments during the musical that will leave the audience teary-eyed as they are taken back in time to when young Gloria misses her father, who is fighting in Vietnam. A few years later, he is battling multiple sclerosis, and she helps care for him. There are also flashbacks to when Emilio’s and Gloria’s families escaped Cuba. The couple’s story would not be complete without including the bus crash in 1990, when Gloria was left with a broken back and unable to walk for months. She battled the fight of her life to get back on stage, which she did at the 1991 American Music Awards.
Alexis Semevolos-Velazquez is a stunning Gloria Estefan. She has mastered the singer’s alto voice range, where at times, one may feel as if they hear Estefan herself. Semevolos-Velazquez delivers on every number, especially during “Coming Out of the Dark.” The song marks the climax of the musical as Gloria takes to the stage at the AMAs. During the musical, the actress seamlessly goes from a sweet, young Gloria to a determined woman who will not let anything stand in her way.
Victor Souffrant is so convincing as the determined and focused Emilio Estefan that when he first sings during “I See Your Smile,” it’s hard to believe that the sweet, soothing vocals are coming from him, but they are. He sings beautifully with Semevolos-Velazquez and in Act 2 with Nicole Paloma Sarro, who plays Gloria’s mother, during the tearjerker “If I Never Got to Tell You.”
While the audience may want to dislike Sarro as Gloria Fajardo, the jealous mother who tries to keep her daughter from pursuing her musical dreams, one just can’t. She not only shines when she sings with Souffrant but also during “Mi Tierra” in the first act. Carol Beaugard, as Gloria’s grandmother Consuelo, and Gabriela Moscoso, who plays the singer’s sister Rebecca Fajardo, are both endearing. Moscoso sings backup on many of the songs and joins Semevolos-Velazquez on “Anything for You.” It’s evident her strong vocals are why she was chosen as Semevolos-Velazquez’s understudy, and she won’t miss a beat if she needs to step in as Gloria for a performance.
Ryan Morales plays Gloria’s father, Jose Fajardo, and it’s a delight to hear his bari-tenor singing voice during “When Someone Comes Into Your Life,” a duet with Semevolos-Velazquez. The song is bound to have many reaching for their tissues.
Sofia Jarmel is precious as young Gloria, and her singing voice stands out, even in a cast where she is one of the youngest. Luca Silva plays Nayib Estefan, a young Emilio and a couple of ensemble parts. The actor is adorable, and while he only has a few lines, his timing is perfect.
What else is perfectly done during On Your Feet! is the storyline covers the adversities in the Estefans’ lives without turning too somber. In addition to the infectious sounds of the Miami Sound Machine to keep audience members’ spirits lifted, there are some well-timed comedic lines. David De Almo, Phil the record label executive, especially had people laughing in their seats. The whole ensemble is a pleasure to watch.
Conductor Erika R. Gamez and the band nail the brass- and percussion-driven songs, while choreographer Sandalio Alvarez has crafted energetic, Latin-inspired dances. The costumes designed by Cecilia X. Gutierrez help to capture the various years depicted in the musical, and Gloria’s concert outfits are eye-catching.
Make sure to bring your tissues and dancing shoes because the Engeman’s production of the Estefans’ story will pull at your heartstrings and have you on your feet dancing before the night is over.
The John W. Engeman Theater, 250 Main St., Northport, presents “On Your Feet” through Aug. 28. Tickets are $80 on Saturday evenings and $75 all other performances. To order, call 631-261-2900 or visit www.engemantheater.com.
David Calone, left, with state Assemblyman Steve Englebright. The assemblyman is one of the local leaders who encouraged Calone to run for county executive. Photos from Calone’s campaign
A former congressional primary candidate is aiming for Suffolk County’s executive seat.
Last week, Setauket’s David Calone announced his intention to run for county executive on the Democratic ticket in 2023. Due to term limits, Steve Bellone (D) will not be running.
“I would bring a lot of different perspectives and a lot of backgrounds to the regional leadership of the county executive position,” Calone said in a phone interview.
Running for the office is something he has been thinking about for a few months. The candidate said he became more committed to his goal after conversations with many who provided strong moral support, such as John Durso, president of the Long Island Federation of Labor, state Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket), county Legislator Kara Hahn (D-Setauket) and Town of Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook).
Without any formal fundraisers, Calone has already raised nearly a million dollars for his campaign, he said.
Currently, Calone, a former federal and state prosecutor, is the only one who has thrown his hat in the ring, but candidates have until early next year to submit their petitions. If other candidates decide to run for county executive on the Democratic ticket, a primary would be held.
The candidate said he wanted to start campaigning early because Suffolk County is a vast area to cover.
“I’m looking forward to meeting with people across Suffolk County over this next year and hearing their ideas and issues, and then we can work to solve those challenges,” he said.
When he ran in the Democratic primary for Congress in 2016 in the 1st Congressional District, he lost to former Town of Southampton Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst by a slim margin of slightly more than 300 votes. He said from the experience he learned how to run an extensive campaign.
“I was able to learn about all the issues affecting people across Suffolk County,” he said. “Many issues are common across the whole area, but there were also some very specific local issues,” adding while some may worry about environmental issues, in contrast others are trying to make ends meet.
Background
Calone grew up in Mount Sinai and graduated from Port Jefferson high school. He went on to achieve his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and his law degree from Harvard. He and his wife, Presbyterian minister Kate Jones Calone, have three children and moved to Setauket 10 years ago when Jones Calone joined Setauket Presbyterian Church.
While a federal prosecutor, his focus was terrorism and international corporate fraud. As a state prosecutor, he fought health care fraud, and won a case that, at the time, was one of the biggest returns of taxpayer money — more than $70 million, according to him.
He is president and CEO of Jove Equity Partners LLC, which helps to start companies and works with owners to build their businesses.
“I’m looking forward to meeting with people across Suffolk County over this next year and hearing their ideas and issues, and then we can work to solve those challenges.”
— David Calone
County issues
Calone listed protecting the environment, improving transportation and economic development among his biggest concerns.
Working in the private sector and being involved in various businesses for more than 15 years, he said experience has provided him with a good deal of knowledge regarding economic development.
The candidate said he believes in supporting small businesses and providing workforce development to make sure “people get the skills they need for the next generation of jobs.”
“I think it is going to be critically important, too, because we live in a very high cost area,” he said. “We need to have people getting good paying jobs to be able to afford to live here.”
His company also created the Long Island Emerging Technologies Fund to help launch businesses coming out of local research labs, which in turn creates local jobs.
As board chair of Patriot Boot Camp, which was recently acquired by Disabled American Veterans, Calone has played a part in helping veterans, active military members and their spouses start their own businesses. He said while the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs holds job fairs, they don’t focus on entrepreneurship, which many military members may be well suited for due to being disciplined and hardworking
He also feels there are different ways to bring town governments together to address similar problems.
When he was chair for eight years of the Suffolk County Planning Commission, the group worked on streamlining solar panel permits throughout the county as each town had a different set of rules, which caused headaches for solar panel companies. The towns came together and agreed on one form, which made the process more streamlined, and the committee received the National Association of Counties 2012 National Achievement Award for the effort.
Calone said he would also like to improve transportation in the county, pointing out that many of the buses are empty or nearly empty and therefore a waste of fuel. He said he would like to see the pilot program that county Legislator Bridget Fleming (D-Noyac) started in Southampton expanded to the whole county. When someone needs transportation, they use a cellphone app and smaller buses are used. He said requesting a bus would be similar to using Uber or Lyft and the service overall would be more efficient.
Regarding development in the county, he said developing near major roadways and travel hubs such as Ronkonkoma train station, as other elected officials have suggested in the past, makes sense. He also said it’s important to create more affordable housing.
“We need to have more housing that works for people at different times of their lives,” he said. “One of the key things is if young people move away, because they can’t find housing here, they’re more likely to stay away and not come back. But if we can keep them here because we have the kind of housing that they need, and the good-paying jobs that they need, they’re more likely to stay here and be the buyers of those single-family homes in the future.”
I was born in March, so, of course, I wished I were born in the summer.
My brothers were both born in the heat of the summer, which means they could go to a warm beach on their birthdays, sail across some waterway around Long Island, and celebrate the passage of another year without a midterm on their big day or, even worse, the day after their birthday.
But, the real reason I wished my birthday came during the summer was so that I could attend a Yankees game.
When my birthday rolled around, pitchers and catchers were often reporting to spring training, getting ready for the marathon of each baseball season.
When my son was born in July, sandwiched between a host of other family birthdays on both sides of the family, I figured he would have the chance to pursue the kind of unfulfilled baseball fantasy that I could only imagine as I was memorizing facts, figures and formulas for another set of tests before, during and immediately after my annual rite of passage.
Recently, we celebrated his birthday by going to one of the last few Yankees games before the All-Star break.
We had the privilege of attending a weekend game, when neither of us felt the need to work or meet a deadline.
My son is taking a summer course for which he was supposed to have a virtual test the day before we went to a game. The computer system crashed that day, and the professor suggested everyone take it the next day.
The system, however, continued not to work, perhaps obeying a secret wish my son made over his customized birthday cake, giving him the opportunity to enjoy the entire day with little to no responsibility other than to reply to all the well wishers and to compliment them on their melodic singing.
The game itself became a blowout early, as the Yankees scored run after run, and the Red Sox seemed to retreat to the safety of the dugout soon after coming up to bat.
Both of us ate more than we normally do in a day, celebrating the outing and reveling in the moment, high-fiving each other and the reveling strangers in Yankees jerseys in front of us.
While the packed stadium started to clear out when the game seemed out of reach for the visitors, we remained in our seats until the last pitch, soaking up the sun, predicting the outcomes of each pitcher-hitter match up and observing the small games-within-a-game that comes from watching the defense change its positioning for each hitter.
It still confounds me that a team could leave the third base line completely open, shift all the infielders towards right field, and still, the hitter won’t push the ball in a place where he could get a single or double. After all, if they heeded the advice of Hall of Famer Willie Keeler who suggested they “hit it where they ain’t,” these batters could get a hit, raise their batting average and contribute to a rally just by pushing the ball to a huge expanse of open and unprotected grass in fair territory.
Amid the many relaxing and enjoyable moments of connection with my son, he shared that he kind of wished he had born in the winter. After all, he said, he loves hockey and always imagined going to an NHL game on his birthday.
I suppose the grass is always greener, even on your birthday.
To be fair, though, he did add that wasn’t a genuine wish, as he was thrilled to attend baseball games on his actual birthday, and he was pleased that, in every other year, he didn’t have to worry about exams.
On Feb. 24, 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin directed his troops into neighboring Ukraine, and the killing began. Ukrainians, Russian soldiers, mercenaries, sympathetic foreign fighters, civilians — all shot each other. Eastern Ukrainians were deported into Russia by the thousands, cities throughout Ukraine were destroyed, families were ripped apart, millions of Ukrainians fled to other countries, schools stopped, medical services halted, commerce and cultural activities were squelched, random bombings put lives in a lottery. Those are just some of the horrific consequences of Putin’s order against one country.
But the repercussions of that one act are being felt around the globe. Countries that depended on wheat and other agricultural supplies grown and shipped from Ukraine and Russia, are now frantically seeking alternate sources, if they can afford them. Oil and gas, primarily piped from Russia and Ukraine, have been cut off. Exports of hundreds of other products from these two countries have stopped. Oil and gas prices have skyrocketed, leading the way to global inflation. Nations have realigned geopolitically and militarily or strengthened their defense pacts by sending troops and weapons to allies. And other campaigns, to control climate change and suppress the coronavirus, have diminished as national budgets are modified.
What does Putin want?
There has been much speculation about his goals and his fears. They may have crystalized during these ensuing months, or Kremlin watchers may have caught on. One such scholar, who writes about Russia’s politics, foreign policy and, for a score of years, has studied Putin’s behavior, has put forth a cogent scenario in this past Tuesday’s The New York Times. Tatiana Stanovaya believes that Putin has a grand scheme whose goals are threefold.
The first is the most pragmatic: the securing of a land bridge through the Donbas region of the southeast to Crimea. Russian troops seem to have already captured Luhansk, which is part of the Donbas. Apparently, Putin believes the West will accept that Russian troops cannot be dislodged from there and will not cross any red lines to directly engage in such a military effort, eventually abandoning the idea and the territory to Russia.
The second goal is to force Kyiv and the Zelensky government to capitulate from exhaustion and demoralization after one or two years. Russia would then launch a “Russification” of the country, erasing Ukrainian culture and nationhood and imposing Russian language, culture and education. Thus Russia would have expanded its territory and stopped NATO from reaching Russia’s current borders.
The third goal is the most ambitious: Putin wants to build a new world order. “We are used to thinking that Mr. Putin views the West as a hostile force that aims to destroy Russia,” according to writer Stanovaya. “But I believe that for Mr. Putin there are two Wests: a bad one and a good one.”
The “bad” one is the one currently in power and led by elites who are “narrow-minded slaves of their electoral cycles who overlook genuine national interests and are incapable of strategic thinking.” And the “good West”? He believes that “these are ordinary Europeans and Americans who want to have normal relations with Russia and businesses who are eager to profit from close cooperation with their Russian counterparts.”
Today, Putin is convinced, the bad West is declining while the good West is challenging the status quo with nationally oriented leaders like Viktor Orban in Hungary, Marine Le Pen in France, and Donald Trump, “ready to break with the old order and fashion a new one.”
The war against Ukraine, with its undesirable consequences like high inflation and soaring energy prices, “will encourage the people to rise up and overthrow the traditional political establishment.” This fundamental shift will then bring about a more-friendly West that will meet the security demands of Russia.
If that has a familiar echo, it is not so different from the Communist expectation that the proletariat will rise up and embrace Marx and Lenin. We know how that turned out.
The first is of a spinner shark swimming among a school of bunker. Photo from Chris Paparo
After four confirmed shark bites in the last three weeks on the south shore of Long Island, state and local authorities are actively monitoring swimming areas for these apex predators, with lifeguards, helicopters and drones on the lookout for a variety of sharks.
A sandbar shark with a satellite tag. Photo from Chris Paparo
“As New Yorkers and visitors alike head to our beautiful Long Island beaches to enjoy the summer, our top priority is their safety,” Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) said in a statement. “We are taking action to expand patrols for sharks and protect beachgoers from potentially dangerous situations.”
Earlier this month, a lifeguard was engaged in a safety exercise at Smith Point beach when a shark bit him in the chest. A paddle boarder, meanwhile, was bitten by a shark in Smith Bay on Fire Island.
Responding to the potential threat of interactions between swimmers and sharks, Hochul added several safety measures. Park Police boats will patrol waters around the island, while federal, state and county partnerships will share resources and information about shark sightings and better support to identify sharks in the area.
State park safety guidelines will suspend swimming after a shark sighting so the shoreline can be monitored with drones. Swimming may resume at least an hour after the last sighting.
Shark researchers said these predatory fish have always been around Long Island.
The southern side of Long Island likely has more species of shark than the north.
“The Atlantic Ocean, on the south shore of Long Island, has seen a notable increase in shark activity and sightings over the last two years,” a spokesman for Gov. Hochul explained in an email. The Long Island Sound, on the north shore, “has sharks but not this level of activity.”
The three most common sharks around Long Island are the sandbar shark, the dusky shark and the sand tiger shark, said Christopher Paparo, Southampton Marine Science Center manager at the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences at Stony Brook University.
Shark expert Dr. Robert Hueter and his team were tagging and gathering data on great white sharks in 2021 in Nova Scotia. Photo fromOCEARCH/ Chris Ross.
Conservation success
The increase in shark populations around the island is a “conservation success story,” particularly because sharks around the world are on the decline.
“We have something special in New York,” Paparo said.
From the 1950s until the 1970s, sharks around the area were heavily fished to the point where the populations declined precipitously.
At the same time, cleaning up the waters around Long Island by reducing ocean dumping and enforcing regulations has made it possible for the sharks and the fish they hunt, such as bunker, to recover.
“The habitat has improved and it can house more sharks in the summertime” than earlier, said Dr. Robert Hueter, chief scientist at OCEARCH, a global nonprofit organization collecting unprecedented data on sharks to help return the oceans to balance and abundance.
“Finally, a good story in marine conservation and a return of our oceans to health and abundance,” Hueter added.
While shark attacks generate considerable headlines, the threat from these marine fish is considerably less than it is for other dangers, such as driving to the beach, which produces far more injuries due to car accidents.
Last year, Paparo said, fewer than 100 shark attacks occurred throughout the world.
“I understand the fear of sharks,” driven in part by movies about them, Paparo said. But “people aren’t afraid of their cars” and they aren’t as focused on drownings, even though about 4,000 people drown in a typical year in the United States.
Hueter said he typically cringes around the Fourth of July holiday because that week is often the height of the beach season, when the larger number of people in habitats where sharks live can lead to bites.
More often than not, the damage sharks around Long Island inflict on humans involves bites, rather than attacks.
“Long Island is becoming the new Florida,” Hueter said. In Florida, people are bitten on their ankles or hands, as small to mid-sized sharks are not interested in people, he added.
While sharks have increased in numbers around Long Island, so have marine mammals, such as whales. On a recent morning last week, Paparo saw three humpback whales before he came to work.
People hunted whales, just as they did sharks, through the 70s, causing their numbers to decline.
Shark expert Dr. Robert Hueter and his team were tagging and gathering data on great white sharks in 2021 in Nova Scotia. Photo fromOCEARCH/ Chris Ross.
Measures to lower risk
People concerned about sharks can take several steps to reduce the risk of coming into contact with them.
Residents and guests should try not to swim at dawn and dusk when sharks typically feed more often.
Additionally, swimmers who encounter a school of bunker, also known as Atlantic menhaden, should avoid the area, as sharks might mistake a person as a larger and slower swimming part of such a school.
Sea birds hovering over an area may be an indication of schooling bunker, a Hochul spokesman explained.
While it’s less likely here than in Cape Cod, seal colonies are a potential threat, as they can attract adult great white sharks. Long Island has become home to some juvenile great white sharks, which are about 4 feet in length.
The governor’s office also encouraged people to swim in lifeguarded areas and with a buddy.
If a shark bites, experts suggest getting out of the water. A swimmer can try to fend off a shark by hitting it in the nose. People should also avoid swimming near areas where others are fishing.
Shark bites, Hueter said, require medical attention because of the damaged skin and the bacteria from shark teeth.
“You want to get good medical help to clean the wound” if a shark bites, Hueter said.
Still rebuilding
Hueter and Paparo added that the number of sharks still hasn’t reached the same levels as they had been decades ago.
“We do have some healthy shark populations,” Hueter said. “Others are still rebuilding. We are not even close to what they used to be if you go back before the overfishing in the 1950s and 1960s.”
Last week, Setauket’s David Calone announced his intention to run for county executive on the Democratic ticket in 2023. Due to term limits, Steve Bellone (D) will not be running.
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