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Photo by Raymond Janis

Sugar kelp farming is a win-win 

Suffolk County has a unique opportunity to lead in sustainable aquaculture by adding seaweed farming to its existing lease program. Seaweed cultivation offers immense environmental and economic benefits, including improved water quality, carbon sequestration, and the development of innovative industries such as sustainable plastics, animal feed, and biodegradable materials.

Non-profit organizations like Lazy Point Farms and its partners have demonstrated their commitment to supporting this industry through research, infrastructure development, and community education. The Town of Brookhaven is committed to collaborating with organizations like this to build sustainable practices, and we have a chance to help pioneer a robust model for providing critical resources to local growers. This initiative will not only create new economic opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs but also help New York catch up with neighboring states already thriving in seaweed production. 

The opportunity is clear: there have been numerous inquiries from businesses for our locally grown seaweed, but not nearly enough supply to meet that demand. Seaweed production is truly a win-win, because as it generates revenue, it also helps drive the development of sustainable products and helps improve water quality in our bays and harbors. 

Concerns about potential conflicts with boating and visual impact are addressed by the seasonal nature of kelp farming, which occurs outside peak boating months. Additionally, kelp farms enhance marine life and mitigate harmful algae blooms, benefiting all who rely on our waters.

By supporting this initiative, we can position Suffolk County and the Town of Brookhaven as leaders in sustainable aquaculture: creating jobs, protecting our waters, and strengthening our local economy. For more information, check out lazypointfarms.org or do some research on sugar kelp harvesting. It’s an effort worth supporting!

Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich 

(D-Stony Brook)

WRITE TO US … AND KEEP IT LOCAL We welcome your letters, especially those responding to our local coverage, replying to other letter writers’ comments and speaking mainly to local themes. Letters should be no longer than 400 words and may be edited for length, libel, style, good taste and uncivil language. They will also be published on our website. We do not publish anonymous letters. Please include an address and phone number for confirmation. 

Email letters to: [email protected] or mail them to TBR News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733

 

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Protestors line the sidewalk outside the Tesla Showroom in Smithtown. Photo by William Stieglitz
Protestors line the sidewalk outside the Tesla Showroom in Smithtown. Photo by William Stieglitz
Protestors line the sidewalk outside the Tesla Showroom in Smithtown. Photo by William Stieglitz
Protestors line the sidewalk outside the Tesla Showroom in Smithtown. Photo by William Stieglitz
Protestors line the sidewalk outside the Tesla Showroom in Smithtown. Photo by William Stieglitz
Protestors line the sidewalk outside the Tesla Showroom in Smithtown. Photo by William Stieglitz
Protestors line the sidewalk outside the Tesla Showroom in Smithtown. Photo by William Stieglitz
Protestors line the sidewalk outside the Tesla Showroom in Smithtown. Photo by William Stieglitz
Protestors line the sidewalk outside the Tesla Showroom in Smithtown. Photo by William Stieglitz
Protestors line the sidewalk outside the Tesla Showroom in Smithtown. Photo by William Stieglitz

By William Stieglitz

On Saturday, March 1, Long Islanders lined the sidewalk outside the Tesla Showroom in Smithtown to express their grievances with Elon Musk, the Tesla CEO who simultaneously oversees the Department of Government Efficiency  established by President Donald Trump (R) this year. Protesters stretching a quarter mile down Smithtown Bypass held signs expressing concerns over corruption and the endangerment of democracy. 

The rally was part of the nationwide Tesla Takedown movement, which has spawned a multitude of protests since mid-February. More than 50 happened Saturday, March 1, alone, with the protests encouraging people to “sell your Teslas, dump your stock, [and] join the picket lines” in order to strike back financially against Musk. With Tesla stocks having fallen 28% last month, organizers believe it to be working. Many of these protests were also part of the nationwide Indivisible organization.

The Smithtown rally was organized by the newly created United Voices for Freedom, which describes itself as “a grassroots group that serves to amplify progressive voices in the northern central region of Long Island.” Tiffany, who founded the group and wanted her last name kept private, said, “We’re all worried about the overreach of Musk and his ransacking of our federal agencies. No one elected Musk.” The concern of Musk being “unelected” was repeated by nearly every attendee interviewed, each having a wide range of grievances regarding the billionaire.

“He has a tremendous conflict of interest,” said Deborah Roberts, an attendee who previously organized a rally for congressional town halls. “He just ended the Verizon contract and put Starlink in, he controls communications and platforms online… he’s interfering in our economy and ruining our guardrails for safety in this country, but he’s not chipping away at his welfare program for Starlink and for SpaceX. And not only that, he’s dismantling bureaucracies that have oversight for both of those programs. He doesn’t want anyone looking.” 

Roberts spoke too on concerns of Musk operating within the executive branch while neither having been vetted by Congress nor having divested himself of personal financial interest. His accessing of Americans’ private information was something many there found especially dangerous. “If you wanted a template for corruption,” said attendee Paula Fries, “this is it.”

Others elaborated on issues of what DOGE is cutting, expressing fear for Medicaid and Social Security, as well as concern that DOGE, having not gained congressional approval, has no legal standing to make those cuts. Attendee Ian Wilder described DOGE as “doing things that are frightening and destructive, like taking people out of the FAA, taking people who are in charge of nuclear weapons out.” There is some concern that because federal workers in the Social Security Admisitration have been fired, Social Security checks and Medicaid payments will not be made on time to help recipients.  

Laura Lesch, another attendee, said this was not the way to run a government. “It might be the way to run a tech company,” she said, “but the way he’s going about this, just slash, slash, slash, without any regard for any of the fallout, is just not acceptable to me.”

More expressed concerns over Musk and Trump’s actions being those of oligarchs, and spoke to fear of authoritarianism. Future elections, multiple people expressed, would not be a certainty with this administration, unless they were fought for. “This could be our last hope for democracy,” one person said. “Unless people mobilize in large, large numbers, we’re screwed.”

In this sense, the protest, for many, had nothing to do with partisan preference. Robert Schaller, who described himself as having formerly been a Republican his whole life, said, “The whole thing is just ridiculous. I can’t even believe if a liberal ever turned around or the Democratic Party went out there and did a Hitler salute like he did, and then they try to backtrack it. … I mean, to alienate our allies the way they’re doing, is embarrassing. If my father and grandfather and the people that fought in World War II saw this today, they would be turning over in their graves.” 

This sentiment was echoed by Fries, who made a similar statement. “My father is a World War II vet,” she said. “He fought in World War II, he fought against fascism, and this is the least I can do, is to show up and protest.”

Among the American flags waved by the protesters were Ukrainian flags too, the striking yellow and blue a reminder of the incident at the White House the day before. “I was appalled by yesterday’s news conference with Zelenskyy,” said attendee Lesch. “Our entire international relationships are going to go right down the tubes. It just doesn’t make sense to abandon all of Europe, which is what we’re doing, in effect.” She elaborated how at the conference, news groups such as the Associated Press were not allowed into the Oval Office, but “the Russian press was… and when asked how they got in, the answer was they just snuck in.”

A final issue among attendees was a desire to express all these concerns at an in-person congressional town hall, which has not occurred in Suffolk County since 2017. Roberts was collecting signatures at the event to petition for one. “My congressperson is Nick LaLota of CD1,” she said, “and he never has a public town hall meeting where he answers these important questions.” The petition has gained popularity with an online version as well, which thus far has garnered over 1,000 signatures.

The rally, overall, lasted two hours with over 500 people in attendance, according to the organizer, and a follow-up is planned for later this month. At the Tesla Showroom, no one was available for comment. 

Nationally, there are Tesla Takedown protests scheduled through at least the end of the month, with protests scheduled outside the United States in Iceland, Portugal and the United Kingdom as well. Responding to the nationwide presence of the protests, the United Voices for Freedom organizer Tiffany said, “I think it shows that everyone is really unhappy with this, I think that people are really concerned about the state of our democracy and that we’re quickly falling into fascism, and people feel the need to get out and stop it, or at least try to stop it.”

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A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan
A scene from the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Photo by Rita J. Egan

By Rita J. Egan

Spring-like weather provided a “great day for the Irish” in Kings Park on Saturday, March 1.

A few thousand people lined up along the hamlet’s main thoroughfares to cheer on participants in the 15th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Grand Marshal Susan Benjes led the procession and was joined by Scouts, fire department members, elected officials, Irish step dancers and more. Parade participants marched up Lou Avenue and Pulaski Road and continued on Main Street before turning north on Church Street and stopping at William T. Rogers Middle School.

Many spectators, who in the past would visit Main Street Pub for a drink during the parade, stopped by nearby tents to donate to the establishment this year. A few days before the parade, the fire left the bar and Euro Barber Shop with extensive fire, heat and smoke damage. Main Street Pub owner Scott McKinnon and his employees were on hand Saturday to thank those who donated by handing out refreshments.

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A collection of yellow snapper. Photo by Daniel Dunaief
Several needle fish. Photo by Daniel Dunaief
A stingray. Photo by Daniel Dunaief
A trumpet fish. Photo by Daniel Dunaief
A sand diver. Photo by Daniel Dunaief

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

Nature rocks!

I know that’s not such a startling revelation, particularly to those people who go hiking, snorkeling or scuba diving.

It’s just that the world around us, and perhaps a flight away, puts the one we’ve created in perspective.

My wife and I recently took a vacation without the kids gasp!— for the first time in over two decades. We didn’t leave them home with a babysitter. They’re both grown up and out of the house, so we left our empty-ish nest, which still had two cats a dog and a vibrant and active bird feeder, to travel to a Caribbean island.

Yes, I know. These vacations can make just about anyone feel rhapsodic. You step off the plane onto a tarmac that’s invitingly warm and bright, you hear Bob Marley music, you feel the refreshing wind on your face, and you tilt your head back, feeling the tension ease out of your muscles more rapidly than if you were on a massage table.

While all of that is amazing, the time we spent communing with, appreciating, observing and feeling genuine awe towards nature were among the most remarkable and enjoyable moments of our travel.

Nature is the currency of communication in our household. Years ago, we were on long drives with children who wanted to know how much longer until we got wherever we were going and we’d see a fox scurrying across the road. We’d pull over and watch for a while, forgetting, for the moment, that we hadn’t arrived and feeling as if we were exactly where we should be.

So, yes, all four of us delight in the opportunity to observe, interact with, or appreciate nature, whether we’re far away or taking a walk through the neighborhood. On my morning walks with our dog, I often take pictures of the hawks that land nearby and the worms that wriggle on the sidewalk after a rainstorm and send them to my wife and children.

Anyway, my wife and I rocked back and forth on a boat that was taking us out to a coral reef, reveling in the pristine air and marveling at the pelicans that glided inches above the water, following their beaks to the next fish meal.

Even before we arrived, we saw turtles swimming near the boat, sticking their colorful heads out of the water so they could take a long gulp of air.

As we prepared to exit the boat, I was delighted to put on my prescription dive mask. Typically, I use a regular mask and try to connect the vague shapes I see at the bottom of the reef with the clearer images we have on our dive card.

This time, as soon as I looked down, I could see the white sand eight feet down and the contours and colors of the fish and the technicolor reef below.

As we made our way along the reef, we searched for the usual striped sergeant majors, green and blue parrotfish, multicolored tilefish, red squirrelfish and orange and white tobacco fish. Each of these residents of the reef contributes to a vibrant scene.

For a while, we tracked a stingray my wife spotted. We also spied the magnificent and svelte barracudas, with their conspicuous underbite and their shimmery silver sides.

Even though we went snorkeling at the same site several times, we witnessed something new with each visit. We watched a sand diver as it stopped on the bottom and perched on a rock, the way a movie studio might envision a mermaid preening on a rock near shore.

The snorkeling instructors required us to wear yellow flotation belts to keep us at the top of the water. That made diving to the bottom challenging, as these belts counteracted my efforts to kick myself closer to the reef. I secretly took mine off, handed it to my wife, and got a close up of the sand diver, which looks like a cross between a lizard and a fish.

On one of our days away, we took an excursion to a nearby island, where we watched an improbably large hermit crab slowly make its way across the sand, dragging its enormous shell. Nearby, lizards of different sizes chased each other as they searched for food or perhaps a preferable place in the sand.

While stepping away from work, concrete sidewalks, cooler air, and various responsibilities in and of itself was refreshing, immersing ourselves in nature offered transcendent peace.

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Geraldine Ferraro with Ivan and Leah S. Dunaief. Photo courtesy Leah Dunaief.

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

Frankly, we are concerned. The tariffs on Mexican and Chinese goods are worrisome. But especially for the print journalism industry, the one on Canadian imports could be deadly.

We get much of our newsprint, on which we send you the local news, from Canada.

We have already endured a significant increase in printing costs because our old printer closed shop and new printers, with whom we have no seniority, are considerably more expensive. So we have not been our happy selves. 

That is until Tuesday evening, when I had the good fortune to see a documentary film called “Geraldine Ferraro: Paving the Way” at the Long Island Museum in Stony Brook.

Now Geraldine Ferraro was the first female to be a Vice President nominee on a major national party Presidential ticket. She ran with Walter Mondale in 1984 against Ronald Reagan, as the Democratic candidates for the top offices in the land, and while they lost, she was an inspirational leader.

She inspired women to run for political office. She also inspired men and women to believe their dreams were achievable. She was a true trailblazer.

Her story is told by her older daughter, Donna Zaccaro, a filmmaker in her own right, and Andrew Morreale, talented editor. It was produced in 2011, the year Geraldine Ferraro died. Before reaching that pinnacle, Ferraro’s life  began with a hardscrabble childhood after her father died when she was 8. Encouraged by her mother, she went on to become a lawyer, then District Attorney in Queens, followed by election to Congress, to her eventual nomination for Vice President.

She changed the way people thought of the role of women in American politics at a time when Women’s Liberation was beginning to roar.

It is a moving tribute by not only her daughter, but also commentary by leading political figures. They included President George H.W. Bush and Barbara Bush, Vice President Walter Mondale, President Bill Clinton, Secretary Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator Barbara Mikulski, Senator Olympia Snowe, Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi, ABC reporter Cokie Roberts, former Wall Street Journal reporter Al Hunt, Republican campaign consultant Ed Rollins, and Eleanor Smeal, President Feminist Majority Foundation. The list reads like a Who’s Who of political operatives of that era.

Geraldine Ferraro was the keynote speaker at the 1985 New York Press Association Convention, and we got to know her a bit then. We marveled at her ability to connect to each person. This was the 40th anniversary of her run for vice president, and her struggle for women’s rights is as pertinent now as it was then.

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Menopause The Musical®
A  Hilarious Celebration of Women and The Change

It’s back! Menopause the Musical returns to the Smithtown Performing Arts Center, 2 East Main St., Smithtown from March 15 to April 6.

Come join the sisterhood! Four women at a lingerie sale have nothing in common but a black lace bra AND memory loss, hot flashes, night sweats, not enough sex, too much sex and more! This hilarious musical parody set to classic tunes from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s will have you cheering and dancing in the aisles! See what more than 15 million women and fans worldwide have been laughing about for over 20 years!

Saturday March 15 2 PM

Sunday March 16 2 PM

Friday March 21 8 PM

Saturday March 22 8 PM

Sunday March 23 2 PM

Friday March 28 8 PM

Saturday March 29 8 PM

Sunday March 30 2 PM

Friday April 4 8 PM

Saturday April 5 2 PM

Saturday April 5 8 PM

Sunday April 6 2 PM

Tickets are $61.50, $56.50 seniors. To order, call 1-800-595-4849 or visit www.smithtownpac.org.

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The 9/11 Memorial Park in Smithtown. Photo from Town of Smithtown

The Town of Smithtown was recently selected as a recipient of National Grid’s Community Engagement Grant. The $5,000 grant will support the reconstruction of the waterfall at the 9/11 Memorial Park on Main Street in Smithtown, ensuring that this cherished landmark continues to serve as a place of remembrance and reflection for the community.

Photo from Town of Smithtown

“We are deeply grateful to National Grid for their generosity and dedication to supporting local projects that enrich our community. The restoration of the waterfall at 9/11 Memorial Park is not just a necessary improvement—it is a meaningful tribute to the heroes, families, friends and neighbors we lost on that tragic day. In Smithtown, we made a promise nearly 24 years ago to never forget the lives lost and the extraordinary acts of bravery and selflessness witnessed. This waterfall is more than a peaceful sanctuary for remembrance; it stands as a powerful symbol of that promise. It represents our unwavering unity, faith, and resilience—the same spirit that guided us through our darkest hours and continues to inspire us today,” said Smithtown Town Supervisor Edward R. Wehrheim.

As part of the grant agreement, the Town of Smithtown and National Grid will collaborate to promote the project, highlighting the program and partnership. This initiative will include new public awareness, ceremonial ribbon cutting, and employee engagement opportunities for National Grid staff to participate in the restoration efforts.

The 9/11 Memorial Park serves as a place of remembrance, honoring Smithtown residents who were tragically taken from us on September 11, 2001. The waterfall has always been a symbolic and tranquil feature of the memorial, providing a special place for reflection and healing. The reconstruction efforts will ensure that future generations continue to have a dedicated space to honor and remember the fallen, keeping a promise to never forget.

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Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine

There have been reports of deceased birds being found across the county. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) recommends the following guidance if you encounter this situation on your property.

In cases where DEC field staff cannot collect samples or carcasses from the landscape, please limit direct contact with dead wildlife and keep children and pets away. To dispose of a dead bird safely, DEC provides the following guide:

  • Wear disposable gloves, a mask, and eye protection, like safety glasses or goggles.
  • Avoid direct contact with the carcass or carcass fluids by using a shovel or a garbage bag to pick up the bird.
  • Carcasses should be triple bagged (garbage or contractor bags) and placed in an outdoor trash receptacle.
  • Remove and throw away your gloves. Wash your hands with soap and water immediately after removing gloves.
  • Change your clothes and wash them after disposing of the bird.
  • If you use a shovel, clean it with hot, soapy water and disinfect it with diluted bleach (1/3 cup bleach added to a gallon of water).

For additional information or to make a report, please call the DEC at 844-332-3267.

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Police car stock photo

Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a motorcyclist in Lake Ronkonkoma on March 1.

Dariusz Sokolowski was operating a 2015 Harley Davidson eastbound on Portion Road, approximately 80 feet west of Hawkins Avenue, when the motorcycle struck a 2024 Subaru Crosstrek that was pulling out of a parking lot and making a right turn onto Portion Road at approximately 8:10 p.m.

Sokolowski, 54, of Centereach, was transported to Stony Brook University Hospital where he was pronounced dead. The driver of the Subaru, Haley Entenmann, 29, of Lake Ronkonkoma, was transported to the same hospital for treatment of minor injuries. Both vehicles were impounded for safety checks.

Detectives are asking anyone with information on the crash to contact the Fourth Squad at 631-854- 8452.

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Photos courtesy of Town of Smithtown

The Town of Smithtown reported in a press release that one of their park rangers was injured on March 1.

On Saturday at approximately 7:53 p.m., Smithtown Park Ranger Leyland Crocilla was on routine patrol when he observed a vehicle with substantial front-end damage traveling northbound on Landing Avenue. As the vehicle attempted to turn eastbound onto Edgewood Avenue, it struck a westbound vehicle and fled the scene.

Park Ranger Crocilla immediately initiated a vehicle and traffic stop. The suspect, later identified as Gregory Babigian of St. James, initially stopped but then reversed and rammed the Park Ranger’s marked vehicle before fleeing. The suspect repeated this act two more times before his vehicle became disabled.

The suspect was taken into custody and charged with alleged Driving While Intoxicated (DWI), Resisting Arrest, Assault, Criminal Mischief, Reckless Endangerment, and Leaving the Scene of an Accident. Both Park Ranger Crocilla and the suspect were transported to local hospitals and later released with non-life-threatening injuries.

Smithtown Supervisor Edward R. Wehrheim issued the following statement in support of Park Ranger Crocilla’s heroic actions: “First and foremost, I am incredibly grateful that Park Ranger Crocilla, and all others involved, are safe and on the road to recovery. His courageous decision to put himself in harm’s way to stop a dangerous drunk driver speaks volumes about his bravery, selflessness, and unwavering dedication to protecting our community. His swift and heroic actions undoubtedly saved lives last night. On behalf of a deeply appreciative community, we salute Park Ranger Crocilla for his outstanding service and commitment to keeping us safe. Wishing him a full and speedy recovery … I also want to commend the entire Department of Public Safety for their tireless efforts in maintaining order, deterring crime, and supporting our law enforcement agencies around the clock. Having a highly trained, well-equipped, and dedicated public safety team working alongside SCPD—whether on land or sea—is a tremendous asset to our town. Their commitment ensures the safety and well-being of our residents every single day.”

“I am grateful that our officer and no other motorists sustained serious injuries during last night’s incident. This situation could have had a far worse outcome, and I am relieved that everyone involved is on the road to recovery. This incident serves as yet another example of the outstanding work performed by the dedicated men and women of the Smithtown Department of Public Safety. Their commitment to protecting our community, responding to emergencies, and upholding public safety is truly commendable,” said Chief Thomas Lohmann, Department of Public Safety Director.

The Smithtown Park Ranger Division consists of trained, uniformed law enforcement personnel who patrol all town parks, beaches, and town-owned facilities. As New York State Peace Officers, Park Rangers are authorized to enforce state and local laws, including the NYS Vehicle and Traffic Law, Penal Law, and Environmental Conservation Law. They play a critical role in preserving town property, deterring crime, responding to emergencies, and working in close coordination with the Suffolk County Police Department, NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and other law enforcement agencies.

“This incident highlights the importance of the The Department of Public Safety and its five operating divisions: in ensuring public safety. The Town of Smithtown remains committed to supporting our law enforcement personnel and providing the resources necessary to maintain the highest level of public safety for all residents,” read the release.

 

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