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Times of Smithtown

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Stock photo

Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are investigating a two-vehicle crash that seriously
injured a driver and her two sisters in Lake Ronkonkoma on June 8.

Jesilynne Bauer was driving a 2010 Ford Focus southbound on Ronkonkoma Avenue, when the vehicle collided with a 2021 Jeep Gladiator traveling eastbound on the Long Island Expressway South Service
Road, at 6:28 a.m.

Jesilynne Bauer, 20, along with the two passengers in the Ford, Brooke Bauer, 19, and Madysen Bauer,
16, all of Centereach, were transported to Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment of serious but
non-life-threatening injuries.

The driver of the Jeep, Jay Perez, 27, of Shirley, and the passenger in the Jeep, Elizabeth Gutierrez, 54,
of Shirley, declined medical treatment at the scene. Both vehicles were impounded for a safety check. Any one with information on this crash is asked to contact the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452.

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Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine

By Emily Mandracchia

On May 27, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R) and Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina (R) were joined by Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. (D) and other town supervisors and county officials to announce the results of a large-scale crackdown of illegal cannabis shops involving multiple jurisdictions throughout the region. 

With the goal of maintaining public safety and wellness, New York State law officially stipulates the prohibition of cannabis and other THC-related products at mobile retail or civic settings that may include vendors, such as farmer’s markets, street fairs, historical or religious societies among others. 

New York State Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay

According to District 4 Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay (D, Port Jefferson), this crackdown also includes prerolled joints, THC vapes and edibles or tinctures containing THC. Regardless of whether the vendor possesses a license to operate a brick-and-mortar dispensary, the sale of such products is still considered illegal on the basis of the mobile venue sale. Violators are subject to what Kassay refers to as a “hefty” fine and any further disciplinary action deemed necessary.

Products that are listed to contain less than or equal to 0.3% THC are not restricted by NYS law insofar as they are properly labeled according to both federal and state cannabis and hemp product regulations. Kassay recalls that residents are often surprised when she informs them that, currently, there are “no licensed cannabis dispensaries in the Town of Brookhaven, and that any shop that has been selling intoxicating cannabis products has been doing so illegally.”

Accessibility to intoxicating products at pop-up venues enable their legality and accessible use to impart a more present danger onto the surrounding public. Kassay said herself that she had visited a street fair and witnessed a vendor unlawfully selling cannabis products firsthand. Kassay writes, “In speaking with the event’s coordinators, it came to light how many community members aren’t aware that it is currently unlawful for intoxicating cannabis products to be sold at pop-up markets in New York State.” 

Catalina stated similarly that there is a wealth of anecdotal evidence that suggests the cannabis sold to minors is often laced with unknown chemicals and additives; people have “no idea” what they are buying. Further, those who applied for licenses but have not been approved often still sell cannabis in the interim. Increase in road accidents, medical afflictions and the deterioration of the quality of business communities and public safety all served as catalysts for the agreement that the current NYS cannabis policy required further refinement.

New York State’s Office of Cannabis Management will be engaging the public with a proposal regarding future licenses for cannabis sales at pop-up events like street fairs and farmers markets, which would require both a licensed vendor and a licensed grower to be in attendance. 

For now, the crackdown offers a temporary solution to the problem — provided that the official proposal will most likely be introduced in June 2025 with a public comment period to follow.

In the meantime, it is recommended that any suspicions of illegal cannabis sale are reported to the NYS Office of Cannabis Management. Illegal sales encompass those that are without license, made to minors, illegally packaged products, incite adverse medical reactions, or otherwise spark enforcement concerns. For more information on these guidelines, visit cannabis.ny.gov/report-an-incident. 

To receive this NYS OCM proposal when it is released and to engage in the public comment opportunity or to share any other questions or concerns, please contact Kassay’s office by emailing [email protected] or calling 631-751-3094.

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Protesters outside Congressman Nick LaLota’s office. Photo by William Stieglitz
Protesters outside Congressman Nick LaLota’s office. Photo by William Stieglitz
Protesters outside Congressman Nick LaLota’s office. Photo by William Stieglitz
Protesters outside Congressman Nick LaLota’s office. Photo by William Stieglitz

By William Stieglitz

On Thursday, May 29, close to 100 people lined the streets outside Congressman Nick LaLota’s (R, NY1) Hauppauge office to protest planned cuts to Medicaid and other health programs under the One Big Beautiful reconciliation bill, passed by the House of Representatives the week before.

The rally’s speakers included grassroots organizers and health care workers, who argued that the bill LaLota voted for would cut health care funding for Long Islanders while giving tax breaks to billionaires. “The budget is a gift to the rich and a slap in the face to workers,” said Diane Cantave from Long Island Jobs with Justice. “We reject the idea that working families must carry the burden while the wealthy hoard more.”

The bill would place restrictions on Medicaid, including new work requirements to qualify, as well as on the SNAP and CHIP programs for food stamps and children’s health insurance. It would also reduce Medicaid funding by 10% to states like New York that provide health coverage to undocumented immigrants.

Dr. Eve Krief, speaking on behalf of Engage Long Island and the American Academy of Pediatrics, warned the bill would result in “tens of thousands of people right here on Long Island” losing their health care. “It’s going to raise our premiums regardless of what insurance you have, because hospitals are gonna be forced to provide uncompensated care to the uninsured… It’s gonna strain our hospital systems to the breaking point. They’re gonna be forced to cut staffing, and eventually, they’re gonna have to close their doors.”

Responding later, LaLota said, “You’re not gonna find anywhere that there’s a Medicaid cut” in the bill, describing the legislation as a commitment to Bill Clinton-era work requirements. “The main part of what this bill did was requiring able-bodied adults, so not pregnant women, not disabled people, not seniors… able-bodied adults to work or seek work for eighty hours a month. That burden is not too large to ask your neighbors to pay for your health care.” The other major aspect of the bill, he said, is that it will “check everybody’s qualifications” for Medicaid, and in doing so, “root out the waste, fraud and abuse in the system.”

However, Planned Parenthood Coordinator Kaitlyn Pawlukojc argued that the bill would also bar Medicaid funding toward Planned Parenthood so long as it provides its current abortions services. “Last year, Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic completed over 19,500 visits for Suffolk County residents,” she said, “providing vital health care like birth control, STI testing and treatment, and cancer screenings.” She added defunding Planned Parenthood would cost taxpayers “nearly 300 million dollars,” referencing the Congressional Budget Office estimates.

A further concern, touched on by Gender Equality New York Executive Director Juli Grey-Owens, is how the bill could threaten gender-affirming care for transgender youth. “For many, transitioning is crucial to continuing to live,” she said, adding that the surgery is a medical need for trans people suffering from gender dysphoria, and reduces suicide and depression. “We do not ask for special treatment. We ask to live safely, truthfully, and equally.” LaLota, when asked about the bill’s blocking of funds for gender-affirming care, stated, “I do not support using federal taxpayer dollars for transgender surgery.” Jennifer Capotorto, a local mother of two, said she worried about her children losing access to health care, as well as the impact for the rest of her family. “My sister will no longer be able to afford her rheumatoid arthritis medication and will live in chronic pain. In February, we lost our Navy vet father, and he suffered for months before his passing in a for-profit rehab that was neglecting him simply because they were understaffed.”

The bill also brings back SALT deductions, quadrupling the current $10,000 cap to $40,000, something many Long Islanders have argued for. 

 However, Suffolk Progressives founder Shoshana Hershkowitz said she does not support “gutting Medicaid” in exchange. “We can actually get our SALT deductions back, all they have to do is let the first Trump tax cuts expire.” Following the speeches, she and others marched to drop off letters to the congressman, also leaving salt packets while saying “Keep your SALT.” While the last group of people were dropping off letters, LaLota was walking to his office and spoke briefly with the group in defense of the bill before going inside.

These are arguments Krief touched on when she spoke, but claimed they were misleading. “The overwhelming majority of people on Medicaid do work,” she said. “So we’ll have these funding cuts without the actual [removal of] waste, fraud and abuse to make up for those cuts, which will then impact us all.”

The reconciliation bill now goes to the Senate, where it awaits its next vote.

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A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo
A scene from the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day. Photo by Dan Palumbo

By Dan Palumbo

Residents of Smithtown and alongside neighboring towns gathered on Sunday, June 1 along Main Street to celebrate the 36th annual Smithtown Festival Day, sponsored by The Smithtown Chamber of Commerce. 

Main St. was closed off for the duration of the afternoon, so dozens of vendors, including local businesses and restaurants, sold a wide array of goods, as well as  offering entertainment and raffles for the entire family to enjoy as they made their way along the busy street. 

Among the attendees were Uncle Giuseppe’s Marketplace, Maui Chopped Ice, Island Chimney Service, Liberty Tattoo Company and several local politicians. 

— Photos by Dan Palumbo

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File photo by Raymond Janis

Kathianne Snaden for mayor

As a Port Jefferson village resident and longtime Long Island business owner and entrepreneur, I’m proud to offer my strong support for Kathianne Snaden in her campaign for mayor.

Kathianne understands firsthand the challenges faced by our business community, whether it’s retail, restaurants or service-based industries. Having grown up in a small family-run business, she brings a deep, personal understanding of what it takes to keep a business alive and thriving. She knows that without the support of local government, small businesses can struggle to survive, especially in an ever-changing economy.

Over the years, Kathianne has proven her dedication to Port Jefferson’s business owners. Her track record speaks for itself. She listens, she shows up, and she works side by side with businesses. Whether it’s helping to navigate local regulations, advocating for improvements to our village infrastructure, or simply taking the time to hear concerns, Kathianne has been a consistent and reliable ally. Her accessibility and responsiveness have been critical in helping face both everyday challenges and larger, unexpected hurdles.

Having someone in office that understands business is crucial. I have seen unnecessary roadblocks and hurdles for local businesses that need to be addressed, so we need leaders that will take action immediately. Kathianne’s unwavering support and hands-on approach have made a real difference in our village, and I have no doubt she will continue this level of commitment as mayor.

We need leadership that prioritizes the success and sustainability of our local economy. Kathianne Snaden is that leader. She has the experience, the dedication and the heart to ensure Port Jefferson remains a vibrant and welcoming place to live, work and do business.

I urge my fellow residents to join me in voting for Kathianne Snaden for mayor. Our businesses and our community will be stronger for it.

[The  election is on June 17 at Port Jefferson Village Center.]

Joe Dovi

Port Jefferson Village

Silly season returns: Port Jefferson deserves better

As we enter another mayoral election season, it’s important to remember not just of what’s at stake — but what we’ve already witnessed.

The so-called silly season is in full swing. Yard signs are sprouting across lawns, social media is ablaze and performances are taking center stage while real policy takes a backseat. But elections aren’t theater. They’re about leadership, vision, policy and results. Unfortunately, some candidates still haven’t gotten the message.

In the last election, the Snaden camp engaged in questionable behavior and sadly, it hasn’t stopped.

Let’s remember:

• Worked to kick Lauren Sheprow off the ballot;

• Used fake social media profiles — created and operated by “friends” and surrogates — to launch personal attacks and spread misinformation; and

• Behind the scenes, then-Trustee and Deputy Mayor Kathianne Snaden was making questionable decisions — most notably involving Maryhaven, a project with long-term consequences for our Village and no public transparency.

And we can’t forget one of her most visible policy failures: the PassPORT Taxi service. Snaden’s program cost the Village thousands of taxpayer dollars to subsidize local taxi rides — a plan that ended up being far more expensive and far less efficient than simply utilizing services like Uber or Lyft. What was billed as innovative transit became a financial burden with little to show in return.

It’s no wonder Snaden lost. Not because she lacked visibility or resources, but because her policy advancements were failures, and her leadership didn’t deliver for the people of Port Jefferson. Performance may win applause in the moment, but residents care about outcomes — and in that area, she fell short.

Now, two years later, they’re back — repeating the same tactics.

She’s now offering “ideas,” but let’s be clear: nothing she’s proposed addresses fiscal management, sustainability, or real forward-thinking policy. And much of what she mentions has already been done — by others. If these issues were truly urgent, where was her action in the intervening years? Why wait until campaign season to suddenly care again?

So let’s ask some hard but necessary questions:

• How is it ethical for a then sitting Trustee to be paid by the Village as a photographer during her term? That’s a clear conflict of interest, or behavior, at the very least that should have been avoided to dispel any appearance of conflict. Then, she and her surrogates spoke out against the village’s new ethics code. Hard to fathom.

• And why would a former Trustee, who prematurely announced her candidacy, remain disengaged from all meaningful Village work — sitting silently in the back of the room during meetings, offering no value, no ideas, no policy, no involvement?

And yet, it’s doubtful any minds will be changed in the village Facebook pages, where vitriol and echoes are all that matter. These digital echo chambers reward outrage over insight, loyalty over logic, and spectacle over substance.

Leadership is not seasonal. It’s not something you dust off for campaign season.
True leadership is built through consistent engagement, ethical conduct, and a genuine commitment to serving the community — not self-interest. If someone seeks your vote, they should have already been doing the work, not just appearing when it’s politically convenient.

Port Jefferson deserves better. It deserves leaders who show up, speak up, and stand up for this community — all year long.

Let’s remember the past, recognize the patterns, and vote for substance over show.
Keep Lauren Sheprow Mayor of Port Jefferson.

 Drew Biondo
Former Trustee, Port Jefferson

Why we need to reelect Mayor Sheprow

As a lifelong Port Jeff resident and former village trustee, I enthusiastically support Lauren Sheprow’s reelection as mayor.

Mayor Sheprow has been a careful steward of our tax dollars. When a forensic audit of the capital fund uncovered a $1.3 million deficit left by the previous administration, she immediately put a plan in place to address the shortfall. And she still managed to keep taxes low and not exceed the tax cap, both this year and last, something that hasn’t been achieved in over a decade.

She also acted quickly to solve a long-standing problem with the carrying of firearms by our Code Enforcement personnel. The mayor worked with a unanimous board to eliminate this liability for the village, given that there is no legal authority to use guns in our village code.

One of the most distinctive achievements spearheaded by the mayor has been the creation of the Make a Difference program. These volunteer committees are filled with some of Port Jeff’s most talented residents, all of whom are devoting their time and expertise to work on the many challenges we face.
Given how effective Mayor Sheprow has proven to be in her first term, I believe she deserves the opportunity to continue her good work. We have been well served by her diligence, her dedication and her love for this village.

Please join me in reelecting Lauren Sheprow as our village mayor!

Virginia Capon
Port Jefferson Village

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METRO photo

With summer-like temperatures in the forecast this week, AAA Northeast is sounding the alarm that vehicular heatstroke can happen quickly — especially given that child deaths inside hot cars increased by nearly 35% last year.

In 2024, 39 children died in hot cars across the U.S., according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, including a 2-month-old infant who died on a 77-degree June day. That’s a significant increase over 2023, when 29 children succumbed to vehicular heatstroke. On average, 37 children die each year because of vehicular heatstroke.

The inside of a car can become lethally hot even on a cool but sunny day: Although most deaths occur when temperatures exceed 80 degrees, a child has succumbed to vehicular heatstroke in 70- to 80-degree temperatures in each of the past 11 years. A child died of heatstroke in Rossville, Georgia in January, 2016 when the outside air temperature was 52 degrees.

On a typical 80-degree summer day, the interior temperature of a vehicle climbs by 20 degrees in only 10 minutes and reaches a deadly 109 degrees in 20 minutes. On hotter days, the interior temperature can easily reach 120- to 140-degrees, and cracking the windows has little effect.

“While every family wants to believe this could never happen to them, the reality is a child dying from vehicular heatstroke is an unimaginable tragedy that can happen to any family,” said Robert Sinclair of AAA Northeast. “We urge families to take action to ensure children’s safety. Establish firm guidelines about heatstroke safety with family members and caregivers and put processes in place to ensure children — and pets — are never left behind. In some cases, a sticky note affixed to the steering wheel or a smartphone screen can help prevent a fatality.”

To prevent hot car deaths, AAA Northeast recommends caregivers practice the following:

Stop and look at the backseat before exiting a parked vehicle. Make it a habit to check the entire vehicle before locking the doors and walking away. Place personal items, like a purse or briefcase, on the floor in the back seat as another reminder to look before you lock. Ask childcare providers to immediately call if your child doesn’t show up for care as expected and always seek confirmation that your child was removed from the vehicle safely by anyone transporting them — including spouses, grandparents, other family members and close friends.

Lock your vehicle to prevent unsupervised access and a child getting trapped inside. Keep car keys away from children and teach them that the inside of a car should never be used as a play area.

Act fast, call 911 and take action if you see a child alone in a locked car. A child in distress should be removed as quickly as possible.

Statistics about hot car deaths:

Over 52% of deaths are caused by a caregiver forgetting the child in the vehicle, according to NoHeatStroke.org. And it’s often not a parent: 29% of the deaths related to children forgotten in vehicles involve a caregiver other than a parent. Be especially vigilant whenever there is a change in your childcare or drop-off routine.

Nearly 22% of deaths result when a caregiver knowingly leaves a child in the car (typically to run a quick errand or let the child finish a nap). The majority of the temperature rise occurs within the first 15 to 30 minutes, and caregivers may mistakenly assume that cracking the windows is sufficient to cool and ventilate the vehicle.

Nearly 25% of cases are related to the child gaining access to the vehicle without adult supervision and becoming trapped in the vehicle. An innocent game of hide-and-seek can lead to such tragedies; often the child enters the vehicle and closes the door or trunk and cannot get out. It is important for all drivers, not just parents, to lock their vehicles in driveways and parking lots.

Statistics about pets dying in hot cars are not tracked as closely, but the American Veterinary Medical Association reports that every year, hundreds of pets die of heatstroke in parked vehicles. Exercise the same care with a pet as you would with a child.

AAA Northeast is a not-for-profit auto club with offices in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Jersey, New Hampshire and New York, providing nearly 6.8 million local AAA members with travel, insurance, financial and auto-related services.

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By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

It isn’t often that you see a big picture of a toilet on a front page of The New York Times. But there was one on the Business section this past Friday, and it made me smile. The reporters had fallen in love with a bidet made by Toto, much as I had. Only I beat them, for I discovered this marvel when I visited Japan 10 years ago.

So what is a bidet? That was my question when I first saw the wash basin alongside the toilet bowl in a bathroom many years ago. I couldn’t understand why there would be two toilets and was enlightened by some patient soul to the bidet’s function. Although I am a fan of personal hygiene, it seemed like it provided a nice but unnecessary additional chore at the time. 

Just FYI, the word, “bidet” is French for “pony” due to the straddling position adopted in its usage, according to the internet, which also told me that it is considered an indispensable tool in Spain, Italy and Portugal, in addition to France. Also devotees of its use may be found in Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Egypt and Eastern Asia but rarely in sub-Saharan Africa, Australia and North America.

The electronic bidet featured in The NYT is built into the toilet seat, thus taking no extra room and requiring no additional movement on the part of the user. Many different controls make for a pleasant experience. Adjustable water pressure, adjustable temperature, direction of the spray, a heating element for drying the user’s bottom, a night light, a deodorizer, and even a knob for warming the toilet seat are common features. The control panel with these options can sit on the edge of the seat or hang on the wall. Or a wireless remote control may be employed.

The first electronic bidet, as opposed to a wash basin, I saw was in a restaurant in Japan. My travel companions waited a long time outside while I figured out how to use the feature. It was a life-changing moment for me and for them, too, after I re-emerged and told them what I had discovered. I was impressed to find bidets in Japanese department stores, hotels, the airport and in private homes on that trip. 

When I returned home, I called our plumber, explained what I wanted him to install and had to work hard to persuade him that such a product existed. He told me that if he could find it, he would order two: one for me and one for him. I guess it was a life-changing moment for him, too.

“From an environmental standpoint, bidets can reduce the need for toilet paper. Considering that the average person uses only 0.5 liter (1/8 US gallon) of water for cleansing by using a bidet, much less water is used than for manufacturing toilet paper…Scientific American has also reported that if the US switched to using bidets, 15 million trees could be saved every year,” according to the internet.

In 1982, an actress in a pink floral dress drops paint on her hand and tries in vain to wipe it off with toilet paper. She then looks into the camera and asks, “Everyone, if your hands get dirty, you wash them, right?”

She then continues, “It’s the same for your bottom. Bottoms deserve to be washed, too.” This was a commercial, according to The NYT, from Toto for its Washlet, and started the electronic bidet offering. It took decades for the Japanese overwhelmingly to accept the innovation, but they certainly have now. More than 80 percent of Japanese households have them, and, as I discovered, they are found in all sorts of public places.

Now Toto is looking forward to a similar swell in the US market, which measures only 2.5 percent currently. Helped by the COVID-19 pandemic, with its shortage of toilet paper, Washlets here flow on.

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METRO photo

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

Parenthood is filled with excrement, poop, and waste products. Call it what you will. It’s true.

We start out with this adorable lump of human flesh. And, for many of us, an anxiety that grows at a rate that far outstrips the pace at which the little person grows.

Wait? What! The baby was born at eight pounds. It’s now seven pounds? We must be screwing up. What are we doing wrong? Can I get someone on the phone immediately to explain what’s happening and how to fix it? No, I can’t wait.

Of course, we don’t know how good we have it until we enter the next stage. If, for example, our baby is drinking breast milk, its poop smells like roses and cherry blossoms on a beautiful, windy day compared with the cesspool stink that pours out of them once they start eating solid food or, heaven forbid, they get the Coxsackie virus.

But, of course, once you realize the magnificence of that early mild smell, it’s gone and you’re left trying to figure out how to get the particles of poop out from creases and crevices without causing discomfort to the small person whose sole mode of expression seems to be to cry and complain without end.

“Oh, that’s such a healthy cry,” they’ll say. “He’s a strong lad.”

“Oh, shut up! And stop calling her a lad.”

So, why am I writing about parenthood? Did I suddenly have to change 200 diapers last weekend?

No, you see, we’re about to welcome the first new member of our extended family in decades. Yeah, of course, we’re all excited and yes, I’m going to have the chance to be a great uncle when, up to now, I’ve been something between a regular uncle and perhaps an indulgent and slightly playful version of a run-of-the-mill uncle.

But, wow, our nephew’s wife is due any second, which kind of pushes us up the generational ladder.

We have heard about all the people of our nephew’s generation who are putting off or perhaps even ruling out parenthood.

But we also know that people are still having children and that those children are the ultimate form of optimism.

Sure, new parents, even if they’ve read 100 books, might not be completely prepared for every scenario. 

We went to all those Lamaze classes years ago around now as we prepared for the birth of our first child. And, you know what? They didn’t help one iota. Those classes were like giving us a toy steering wheel on a roller coaster. We could turn it however we wanted, but it wouldn’t affect the crazy ride that made us feel like our stomachs were going to drop out of our bodies on the next hair-raising turn.

If anyone actually thought about all the things they had to do as parents — staying up with a sick kid, worrying where those children are, thinking about all the germs that might hurt them (okay, I’m OCD, I admit it) — it’d be hard to prepare for, imagine and deal with the potential challenges. Most parenting playbooks are like New Year’s resolutions. Yeah, you’d like to be patient and even tempered, maybe lose some weight, sleep better, and all that good stuff, but things get in the way, including ourselves.

When you have a child, you not only have to worry about your sons and daughters, but you also have to manage the two or more families that always know better and whose ideas of everything from the right clothing to wear with variable temperatures to the right way to hold them to any of a host of other choices are likely different.

You can’t please everyone, including your relatives and the little crying, pooping child that doesn’t have work to do tomorrow and wants company late at night until he or she is ready to fall asleep.

Ultimately, parenting is a leap of faith. We all have to deal with craziness, discomfort, sleep deprivation and an uneasiness that comes from not knowing what to do next. And yet, during the best moments, when they’re truly happy, when that giggle bubbles out of them, massaging your ears and bringing a smile to your face, you realize what a spectacular privilege, excrement and all, parenting truly is. 

We get to see and share life with people whose thoughts, ideas, and resilience inspire us and, somewhere along the way, encourage us to share the best versions of ourselves.

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Do you recognize this woman? Photo from SCPD

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers and Suffolk County Police Fourth Precinct Crime Section officers are seeking the public’s help to identify and locate the woman who allegedly stole merchandise from a Lake Grove store last month.

The woman pictured above allegedly stole assorted clothing, valued at $611, from Primark, located in the Smith Haven Mall, on May 29 at 12:18 p.m.

Suffolk County Crime Stoppers offers a cash reward for information that leads to an arrest. Anyone with information about these incidents can contact Suffolk County Crime Stoppers to submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-800-220-TIPS, utilizing a mobile app which can be downloaded through the App Store or Google Play by searching P3 Tips, or online at www.P3Tips.com. All calls, text messages and emails will be kept confidential.

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Pixabay photo

By Frank Artusa

Try asking your Alexa, Siri, Google Assistant or any smart home device a similar question and you will get some variation of response assuring you that your privacy is important and the queried device is most certainly not spying on you. But how do these supposedly omniscient household oracles know to respond to their respective “wake” words if they’re not indeed listening to every sound wave to grace their diabolically helpful little speakers?

One thing is clear, these devices are indeed monitoring their local environments for all ambient and discrete vocal communications. Manufacturers of these devices, however, have repeatedly stated that no information is collected aside from the user instructions after activation with a wake word or phrase. This is when the device enters an active listening state of operation. Even if only post-wake word data is captured, the question is; what exactly happens to that data on backend servers? 

In 2019, Amazon admitted to employing personnel to listen to customer’s voice commands, albeit to help train and improve the Echo device and algorithm. Amazon in particular has recently changed the way data is handled. Previously, users were given the option to process requests on the local device, but as of March 28, all collected data will be sent to Amazon’s cloud environment for processing. This represents a significant potential opportunity for abuse of private data.

Trusting personal data to these tech behemoths can be a challenge, especially when data collection and selling is so lucrative since the information can be used for targeted advertising and other uses. Data brokers, organizations that buy and sell personal data about individuals, are estimated to earn over 200 billion per year worldwide and the industry continues to grow markedly year after year. They not only leverage personal data to assist advertisers, but this data is also used by retailers, credit agencies, employers and political groups. A big part of the problem is the erosion of consent when agreeing to use these devices. Buyers are faced with a barrage of privacy policies and end user agreements that are usually agreed to with a quick mouse click or touch of a phone screen.

Now with the advent of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) and Large Language Model technologies like ChatGPT, Google’s Gemini, Meta’s LLaMA and Apple’s expected enhancement to Siri, these devices will become even more robust and likely increasingly involved in day to day lives. One example is the significant growth in how GAI based tools are augmenting mental health services, particularly when individuals don’t have access to resources, funding, or health care coverage needed to visit an actual therapist. The adoption of this service and technology is a boon to individuals needing access to therapeutic services even if on a rudimentary level, but the privacy concerns associated with the capture of deeply personal and intimate information are significant.

Governments recognize the problem and have begun taking steps to mitigate the issue surrounding the exposure of personal digital information. Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation and California’s Consumer Privacy Act are two such examples of efforts being made to give control back to individuals. Ultimately, as society increasingly embraces smart technology and more sophisticated devices become available, individuals must weigh the benefits to quality of life against the potential exposure and misuse of sensitive information. 

Until privacy is the default and not the fine print, we’d all be wise to treat our smart assistants like strangers in the room.

Frank Artusa, a resident of Smithtown, is a current cybersecurity professional and retired FBI Special Agent.

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