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Times of Huntington-Northport

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A scene from the visual immersion concert at the Vanderbilt Planetarium. Photo by Jennifer Donatelli

By Jennifer Donatelli

On November 10, as strings played, music and the cosmos united in a concert that took its audience on a journey through time and space at the Suffolk County Vanderbilt Planetarium’s annual Strings Under the Stars event. 

Performing to a sold out crowd, professional musicians from Long Island Chamber Music played a program of introspective classical music, as visuals of space were projected onto a 60 foot dome.

Dave Bush, Program Director of the Planetarium, explained the dome video sequences displayed “things related to outer space.”

“[Some things shown] are stellar nurseries and explosions, paired with scenes that are slow moving, all set to music, so it’s comforting and transportive at the same time,” Bush explained.

““The music,” he went on, “is amplified by the sound system, and the visuals have been specifically picked to match the mood of all of the pieces.”

Long Island Chamber Music is a non-profit organization, founded by husband and wife team, Eric Huckins and Gergana Haralampieva. Their mission is to make professional classical music of the highest caliber accessible to Long Island audiences. 

Huckins said the artists they work with are world-class musicians from Long Island and New York City and are chosen from institutions such as Carnegie Hall’s Ensemble Connect, the New York Philharmonic, the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Concert Artist Guild, among others.

“In addition to being leaders in their art form, our musicians are teaching artists, entrepreneurs, and socially-minded advocates for classical music,” Huckins explained.

Haralampieva elaborated, explaining that the immersive quality of concerts like these makes it easier for a wide range of audiences to “connect with classical music.”

Bush added that this type of show has grown in popularity through the years, and that Long Island Chamber Music consistently added new music and visuals to their performances.

Marc and Daniela Wong of Huntington, enjoyed their night out under the stars.

“We go to concerts a lot, but I have never seen or heard anything quite as spectacular as this. The music is amazing and the immersive idea is brilliant,” said Wong.

For more information on upcoming concerts and educational programs held by Long Island Chamber Music, visit their website at, www.longislandchambermusic.com. And to see upcoming events held at the Vanderbilt Museum, Mansion & Planetarium, visit www.vanderbiltmuseum.org.

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Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R) at the Nov. 4 press conference. Photo courtesy TOB

On Nov. 4,  Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R) announced a new initiative to strengthen enforcement against illegal housing, which includes increased fines for rental permit violations aimed at repeat offenders. The effort seeks to enhance housing safety and compliance across Brookhaven, addressing the negative impact of illegal rentals on neighborhood quality of life.

“Our goal is code compliance to ensure Brookhaven remains a place where people live in clean, safe neighborhoods,” Panico stated. “We’re going to break the slumlord business model, with exponentially higher fines through robust enforcement.”

The announcement took place at a press conference at Brookhaven Town Hall, attended by all six Town Council members, Suffolk County Legislators James Mazzarella (R-Mastic,) Nick Caracappa (C-Selden) and Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue,) as well as civic leaders from across Brookhaven.

The new fines will include increased penalties for violations of the Neighborhood Preservation Code and Zoning Code, such as operating a rental without a registration permit and failing to obtain required building permits. These measures aim to discourage landlords from viewing violations as simply a cost of doing business.

Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) highlighted the impact of the higher fines. “For too many irresponsible landlords, the relatively low cost of fines has just been part of the cost of doing business,” he said. “By raising the minimum fine, we hope to deter abusive landlords, protect tenant rights and safety, and improve quality of life in our neighborhoods.”

Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point) echoed this sentiment, noting, “Ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents is a top priority. Stronger enforcement isn’t just about fines; it’s about safe neighborhoods, protecting residents from unsafe conditions, and preserving the integrity of our town.”

Councilman Michael Loguercio (R-Ridge) emphasized the safety risks. “Some of these housing violations are major safety issues that can very easily cause fire, injury or death. By addressing violators, we protect communities and save lives.”

Suffolk County Legislators voiced their support. Mazzarella stated, “Suffolk County is committed to working with Brookhaven to address quality of life concerns with substandard housing and code violations. We will explore legislation to ensure those receiving county assistance live in safe conditions that comply with all local ordinances and codes.”

“We have to crack down on that. These steps the town is taking today to increase fines are a big step.” Thorne also commended the effort, saying, “This is a welcome cooperative effort on the part of the town and county, and I applaud the program to deter our neighbors from breaking the law,” Caracappa added.

Community leaders expressed their support as well. Frank Fugarino from the Pattersquash Civic Association said, “We welcome this effort and commend the Town for this initiative at both the Town and County level,” while Kareem Nugdalla from the Coram Civic Association called it “a very good first step to improve the quality of life in Coram.”

Deputy Supervisor and Councilman Neil Foley (R-Blue Point) and Councilman Neil Manzella (R-Selden) both noted the town has streamlined the rental compliance process.

“It’s disheartening to see both first-time and repeat offenders undermining the efforts of responsible property owners,” Manzella said.

Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig (R-Manorville) shared an outlook on next steps, stating, “I look forward to the Nov. 19 public hearing, where the town board will adopt the resolution to significantly increase fines for these illegal rentals.”

Acting Commissioner of Public Safety David Moran praised the town’s actions, adding, “Raising these quality-of-life violation fines is a great step in the right direction to protect our residents’ quality of life.”

“The good people we represent are our best eyes and ears in our communities, and those are the people we serve,” he said.

“We are grateful to our County partners who are reviewing potential changes at the County level dealing with Department of Social Services (DSS) housing.”

Visit brookhavenny.gov and brookhavenny.gov/housing, for more information.

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Photo by Raymond Janis

Three Village BOE’s costly sleep experiment

At the meeting held Oct. 23, the Three Village Board of Education made another one of its brilliant decisions. Despite [Superintendent Kevin] Scanlon advising both the board and the public that a change in school start times would put a considerable strain on the budget, the board unanimously passed this ridiculous initiative. This change, which has been debated ad nauseum for nearly 2 years, is an enormous waste of money and time. Advocates for this lunacy truly believe that a 30-minute change will have some definitive effect on the sleep patterns of students and their academic success. What they are choosing to ignore is the simple fact that the millions of dollars that this alteration requires will now be taken away from other areas of the budget.

What’s going to happen when programs are discontinued and class sizes rise because we had to pay for the 30 extra minutes kids could stay up on their phones? I won’t keep you in suspense, I’ll just share the result. There will be an exponential uproar and a reconsideration.  Much like the dazzling decision to abolish Do No Harm at this time last year, the board will be forced to rethink the start time aberration as well. And, of course, this is all contingent on the budget vote, which may have several community members rethinking their decision come May. There’s a reason there was so much foot dragging before this vote happened.  Perhaps caving to fantasy beliefs about the sleep fairy granting everyone better grades and stronger attendance was not the best idea. 

      Stefanie Werner

       East Setauket

Campaign thank you letter

Dear Friends, 

I want to express my deepest gratitude to each and every one of my volunteers and supporters for your unwavering dedication throughout my NYS Senate campaign.

Whether you knocked on doors, made calls, donated resources or simply stood by myside, your commitment and hard work have made all the difference, and I am grateful and inspired.

After experiencing seven challenging campaigns as a Suffolk County legislator, I can tellyou first hand that it’s not easy running for political office. I first ran for school board trustee in 2005, and in 2011, I ran for the county legislature and won the 6th Legislative District seat as a Democrat in one of the most Republican county districts, winning seven elections until I was term limited. I overcame political divisiveness by putting people over politics and finding common ground so we could get work done by making communities safer, cleaner and more affordable.

Knowing the local issues and having both foresight and experience, I am proud to have facilitated many successful programs including partnering with law enforcement to create the School Active Violence Emergency (SAVE ) Hotline to provide a direct link for school emergency; chairing Suffolk County’s Addiction Prevention and Support Advisory Panel to address the opioid epidemic, mental health and suicide prevention; creating veterans and seniors resource guides; creating a county business hub and website to expedite the health permit process helping businesses build and expand; working to address the dangers of social media and liquid nicotine to protect our kids; educating our senior citizens on scams; supporting the construction of the North Shore Rail Trail for a safer alternative to recreate; spearheading the cleanup of ocean pollution in Long Island Sound and local harbors; supporting the acquisition of open space to protect our drinking water; and preserving our farmland legacy.

Affordability will continue to be the top issue as we enter into a very turbulent political climate. While this election is over, the work we’ve started doesn’t stop here. The connections we’ve made, the conversations we’ve had, and the ideas we’ve sparked will continue to shape the future. It has been my honor to have worked alongside some of the most dedicated and inspiring people in this county as we continue to make a difference. I wish my opponent the best and look forward to a continued partnership between government and community as we address our future goals.

Sincerely,

        Sarah Anker

  Former Suffolk County legislator and 2024 candidate for NYS Senate

Holiday tips from the postmaster of Selden

As the postmaster for Selden, I want to assure you that the U.S. Postal Service is primed and ready to deliver exceptional service during the 2024 holiday rush. Thanks to the substantial progress USPS has made under the Delivering for America plan — a $40 billion investment aimed at revitalizing the national postal network — our operational, transportation and delivery processes have never been more finely tuned.

My dedicated team and I are fully prepared to handle the peak holiday season surge once again.

As you and your family prepare for the holidays, it’s always a good idea to Ship It Early! We encourage everyone to send their holiday mail and packages well in advance to ensure they reach their destinations on time, but we understand that sometimes cards or packages are sent at the last minute.

 This year, our recommended send-by dates for expected holiday delivery within the continental U.S. before Dec. 25 are:

•Dec. 18: USPS Ground Advantage service; First Class Mail service

•Dec. 19: Priority Mail service

•Dec. 21: Priority Mail Express service

For a complete list of recommended holiday mailing and shipping dates, please visit usps.com/holidayshippingdates. And remember:  the earlier you send, the better — Ship it Early!

We are honored and grateful for your trust in the U.S. Postal Service. Your postal team at the Selden Post Office is proud to be the most affordable, reliable way to send cheer this holiday season, and we’re ready to deliver exceptional service during the holidays and beyond.

Warmest regards,

    Valarie Faria

      Postmaster Selden Post Office

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METRO photo

By Daniel Dunaief

My wife and I have visited with another couple, whom I’ll call Ben and Jill, several times through the years. We’ve attended sporting events and chatted at meals in different cities.

They are both pleasant and agreeable and seem pleased to reconnect with us each time.

Recently, we had an unhurried dinner where the stories went from the routine to the sublime.

Jill is worried about her second son, who is working incredibly long hours and doesn’t seem to have much, or any, work-life balance.

Her husband Ben, who is in a similar line of work to their son, worked incredibly long hours in the first years of their marriage, too.

Indeed, back in his day, Ben would work all day, come home to take a shower while a car service waited outside and then would return to work, without so much as a meal or a rest.

“I wasn’t as worried about Ben,” she said, as she spent her waking hours taking care of three children who required her considerable attention.

Like many other parents of children in the 30-ish range, Jill is eagerly waiting for her oldest son, who has been in a relationship for years, has purchased a house with his girlfriend and shares custody of a dog, to take those next steps that would not only net her a daughter-in-law but would also bring her grandchildren.

“Honestly,” she shrugged, “I thought I’d be a grandparent by now.”

Speaking of grandparents and grandchildren, Jill shared that her grandfather died last year at the age of 105.

Doing quick math, I realized that he was born the year before the Spanish Influenza of 1919 and died after the end of Covid, which means that he was one of probably a select few who lived through two pandemics in different centuries.

He had served in World War II in Washington state as a code breaker and was a widower for the last few decades of his life.

When her grandfather was 90, he needed heart surgery. Doctors wouldn’t normally perform such a procedure on a 90-year old, but they said he was much more like a typical, healthy 80 year-old.

They put a device in his heart that was supposed to last 10 years. When her grandfather reached 101, the device faltered and he had sepsis. This, the family thought, could be the end of his long life. He rebounded, however, and lived another four years, enduring vision limited in part by reduced visits to the ophthalmologist during Covid.

The conversation turned to baseball, as Ben and Jill are avid Mets fans.

I told them my memories from Game 6 of the 1986 World Series, when I was living in the Boston area and was surrounded by giddy Red Sox fans on the verge of their first championship since 1918.

Ben’s eyes lit up and he told us that he and Jill attended Game 7 of that series.

No, they hadn’t purchased tickets. They knew two people who had worked at Shea Stadium as vendors, but hadn’t worked in a while. They borrowed their vendor badges, which didn’t have their names or pictures on them, arrived at Shea two hours before the game started, and casually walked through the gate.

When they sat down in left field seats, a security guard asked them what they were doing there and they said they worked at the ice cream vendor in left field. The security guard informed them that there were no ice cream vendors in that area. They considered leaving, but instead hid in a stair well until the crowds came in.

They found an usher who allowed them to sit on the concrete steps — empty seats were unlikely in a winner-take-all game — and watched the Mets come back to clinch the title.

Whenever anyone asks Ben to share something people don’t know about him, he relates the story of their bold and successful effort to watch live the last Mets team to win a World Series.

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METRO photo

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

This is an invitation for you, readers of our newspapers, viewers of our website, followers of us on social media and listeners to our podcast. We encourage you to send us nominations for our special edition, People of the Year.

Many of you know that we publish People of the Year, filled with the exploits of local “heroes,” who go the extra mile to make our communities the wonderful places they are, between Christmas and New Year.

These are people who live or work or in some way directly affect our lives here. They don’t just do their jobs well. They go far beyond what is expected of them, and in so doing, improve our lives.

We solicit these names from you because you know who they are, whether from the cohort of government workers to the unstinting volunteer on your block. By putting the spotlight on them and their unselfish efforts, we make their work a little easier.

Plus, no matter who they are, it feels good to be appreciated.

So think about who helps our villages and towns the most. They can be in any field: healthcare, the economy, elected officials, business people, the arts, science, civics, historical societies, service organizations, education, sports and more.

 And don’t tell them you told us. We like to surprise them when we publish their stories the last week in December.

Thank you & Happy Holidays!

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Pixabay photo

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and the Suffolk County Department of Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services (FRES) announced on Nov. 12 that Suffolk County has deployed members from 10 fire departments to Orange County to assist with the ongoing Jennings Creek Wildfire.

The following departments responded: Central Islip, Eastport, Amagansett, Dix Hills, Huntington, West Islip, Southampton, East Hampton, East Marion, and Orient.

“Our first responders are always prepared to answer the call to help wherever they are needed. I am proud of their commitment, and we thank them for their sacrifice,” said Romaine. “Our region has experienced one of the driest months on record, leading to extremely dry conditions and a real possibility of rapid fire spread if ignition occurs so we recognize the urgency of this matter.”

Suffolk County is currently under a Red Flag Warning. According to the National Weather Service, a Red Flag Warning means that critical fire weather conditions are expected or are occurring. A combination of strong winds, low relative humidity and dry fuels would create a significant elevated fire growth potential.

“Our residents can be assured that Suffolk County is home to 109 fire departments and still has sufficient resources to respond to emergencies locally,” said Suffolk County FRES Commissioner Rudy Sunderman.

Suffolk County FRES urges residents to be cautious and provides the following safety tips to prevent further incidents: Avoid recreational fires, always have a fire extinguisher nearby, fully extinguish any flames, and report uncontrolled fires immediately.

The Suffolk County Parks Department has issued a ban on all campfires and open flames in all County parks. Please be cautious when extinguishing cigarettes and remain aware of any signs of fire.

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File photo

Suffolk County Police Second Squad detectives are investigating a single-vehicle crash that killed the driver and injured four others in Melville on Nov. 11.

Daishun Jones Rains was driving a 2004 Nissan Sentra eastbound on the Long Island Expressway, near the Pinelawn Road overpass, when he lost control of the vehicle, which exited the roadway, crashed into trees and overturned at approximately 5 a.m.

Jones Rains, 30, of Huntington Station, was pronounced dead at the scene by a physician assistant from the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner.

Passengers Marcellus Cheek, 28, of Ronkonkoma, and Nadja Hamilton, 27, of Huntington, were both transported to Good Samaritan University Hospital in West Islip for treatment of serious injuries. Shatiek Crowell, 29, of Central Islip, and Enajah Oakes, 24, of Central Islip, were both transported to local hospitals for treatment of minor injuries. The vehicle was impounded for safety check. Detectives are asking anyone with information on this crash to call the Second Squad at 631-854-8252.

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Girl Scouts of South Huntington third annual Veterans Luncheon. Photo by Jennifer Donatelli
Girl Scouts of South Huntington third annual Veterans Luncheon. Photo by Jennifer Donatelli
Girl Scouts of South Huntington third annual Veterans Luncheon. Photo by Jennifer Donatelli
Girl Scouts of South Huntington third annual Veterans Luncheon. Photo by Jennifer Donatelli
Girl Scouts of South Huntington third annual Veterans Luncheon. Photo by Jennifer Donatelli
Girl Scouts of South Huntington third annual Veterans Luncheon. Photo by Jennifer Donatelli
Girl Scouts of South Huntington third annual Veterans Luncheon. Photo by Jennifer Donatelli

By Jennifer Donatelli

The Girl Scouts of South Huntington honored our nation’s veterans at their third annual Girl Scouts Veterans Luncheon on Nov. 5. Assemblyman Steve Stern was the guest speaker, thanking the veterans for their service and for serving as examples for others to follow. The event took place at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Cold Spring Harbor, with more than 50 veterans in attendance. The veterans were welcomed with live patriotic music by the Strum Bow Long Island Chamber Ensemble, and 95 Girl Scouts greeted them with candy-filled goody bags and personalized cards.

 

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Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. Photo courtesy Cold Sping Harbor Laboratory website

By Daniel Dunaief

A stock fund is taking a page out of the Newman’s Own playbook.

The food company which was started by the late actor Paul Newman and author A.E. Hotchner donates its after tax profits to charity through the Newman’s Own Foundation, enabling consumers to feel that they aren’t just covering their salad with tasty dressing but are helping the world through their consumer choices.

Range Cancer Therapeutics, an exchange-traded fund that purchases a broad basket of cancer therapeutic stocks, created a new partnership with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory to contribute to cancer research.

The fund, which was started in 2015, plans to contribute 23 percent of its revenues, reflecting the 23 pairs of chromosomes in the human genome, each quarter to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

“The contribution from Range will directly benefit the research efforts at CSHL, underscoring our commitment to advancing scientific innovation in oncology therapeutics,” Range ETF’s founder and CSHL Association Board Member Tim Rotolo, said in a statement. The ETF provides “exposure to nearly the entire lifecycle of drug development and distribution, and this new collaboration with CSHL provides an opportunity for investors to also see their money go toward the earliest stages of cancer breakthroughs.”

Revenues collected by the fund are likely to vary by quarter, depending on the amount of money the fund manages. With an estimated $12.1 million in assets under management as of the end of September and an expense ratio of 0.79%, the fund could contribute about $21,850.

“Hopefully, people will feel when they’re buying the ETF that they are in some ways supporting cancer research,” said Charles Prizzi, Senior Vice President for Advancement & Special Advisor to CSHL President Bruce Stillman.

Prizzi anticipates that the funding could support the lab’s efforts to conduct a broad range of research as CSHL’s staff, who come to the site from all over the world, seek to address the kinds of questions that can lead to advancements in a basic understanding of processes as well as to translational breakthroughs that can help in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.

Prizzi hopes this partnership will attract attention and inspire other fund managers or businesses to contribute to the lab, particularly amid periods when the budgets for federal funding agencies that support research rise and fall.

Borrowing from the language of genetics, Prizzi hoped that this kind of arrangement will be “replicated” by others.

 NASDAQ event

The NASDAQ stock market, which is where the Range Cancer Therapeutics Fund trades under the ticker CNCR, will celebrate the partnership on November 14th in New York City.

The Nasdaq tower will feature a visual display, while Range ETFs and CSHL leadership and guests come together at the Nasdaq podium to mark the ongoing contribution.

Dave Tuveson, head of the Cancer Center, Professor Adrian Krainer, who developed an effective treatment for spinal muscular atrophy using antisense oligonucleotide to affect gene splicing, Vice Chair Howard Morgan, and Goldman Sachs’s Roy Zuckerberg, and others will attend the event.

d Spring Harbor Laboratory President Bruce Stillman. File photo

“Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory is one of only seven national basic biological research cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute in Washington, DC,” Bruce Stillman, CEO of the lab said in a statement. “The institution is investing heavily in the growth of our cancer program, specifically in multidisciplinary, collaborative ventures as part of our new brain-body physiology initiative.”

Prizzi is often searching for novel ways to support research and was pleased with the contribution and hopeful that it would spur other creative donations and support.

“I hope people will learn from it and copy it,” Prizzi said. “It will benefit the lab for many years to come.”

Rotolo joined the board at CSHL earlier this year and has supported the lab for about a decade.

Rotolo had approached the lab to establish this financial commitment.

The laboratory is a 501c3 nonprofit institution, which means that donations to the lab are tax deductible.

Prizzi suggested that interested donors often reach out to him towards the end of December.

“We would love to have more people support what we’re doing,” said Prizzi.

CSHL is home to eight Nobel Prize winners and employs 1,000 people, including 600 scientists, students and technicians.

The Meetings & Courses Program bring in more than 12,000 scientists from around the world each year, offering opportunities for researchers to meet and establish collaborations and to learn about the latest scientific breakthroughs.

CSHL is in the first phase of a Foundations for the Future project, which is a seven-acre expansion effort that will tackle research in neuroscience, neuro-AI and the brain-body. Scientists will pursue better patient outcomes by exploring cancer’s whole-body impacts.

In the second phase of the project, the lab will create a new conference center and collaborative research center.

As for the connection with Range, Prizzi added that CSHL is a “lab, we like experiments. This is like an experiment. I hope it goes well and other people build off of it.”

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