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Suffolk football universe breaks ground with Ward Melville press debut
By Steven Zaitz
The Suffolk chapter of the National Football Foundation held a countywide press conference at Ward Melville High School on Aug. 23. Coaches and players from more than 50 schools attended and introduced themselves to the media.
Len Genova, president of the James C. Metzger chapter of the NFF, hosted the event in partnership with the Suffolk County Coaches Association to help promote Section XI high school football.
There were two sessions, with players and coaches from Suffolk Conferences I and III participating in the morning and Conferences II and IV in the afternoon.
First-year Smithtown East coach Dave Bennardo spoke to TBR News Media exclusively before the formal press conference began.
“We want our kids to be sharp and crisp in everything they do,” said Bennardo, who has served as principal of Harborfields High School, superintendent of the South Huntington School District as well as a Huntington Town councilman before coming to Smithtown East. “My passion is teaching and coaching, and I want to make these kids believe in themselves. We have a climb, but I think we’re all pulling in the right direction.”
Bennardo opened his practice schedule one minute after midnight on Aug. 19 at the Sports Arena in St. James in the hopes of instilling a hardworking and winning culture at Smithtown East. That happened to be the night of the unexpected torrential storm.
“Everybody was okay,” said Bennardo. “We had already arrived at the place and were doing drills. I drove a few of the kids home because the conditions were such that I didn’t want to make the parents come back out, but all in all, it was a fun experience and helped us bond.”
Smithtown East is looking to improve upon its 2023 record of 3-5. Across town, Smithtown West was 4-4 and in 2024 moved up to Conference II. In the first round of 2023, they played in the second-highest scoring game in Suffolk County history, losing 70-68.
Nick DeVito will be taking over for the graduated Brayden Stahl at quarterback for the Bulls West.
“Brayden’s are big shoes to fill, but we are excited to get it going,” DeVito said.
Other area schools that participated in the press conference for Conference II include Northport, Newfield, Centereach and Huntington. North Babylon is also in Conference II, and led by rushing sensation Jawara Keahey, the Bulldogs were Suffolk County champions last year. Keahey ran for 2,609 yards and 37 touchdowns last year.
In a very fraternal and friendly setting, each coach took the podium and gave a briefing on the state of his team. They wished all the other teams in the room good luck and good health for the 2024 football season. Len Genova then put a cap on the event, addressing roughly 20 coaches and 125 players in the Ward Melville High School cafeteria.
“Cherish these moments with your teammates, and cherish the feeling that you get when you walk out on that football field together on Friday night or Saturday afternoon,” Genova told the crowd. “I played through high school and college, and I would give anything to experience that feeling one more time. Time goes by very quickly. Our memories of those games take on more importance each passing year.”
With that, Genova wished each team a successful and healthy season and helped organize a group photo of all the Conference II coaches.
In all likelihood, the next time these guys see each other, the setting will not be as friendly.
THRIVE Recovery Center holds International Overdose Awareness Day event and vigil
Press Conference Remembers Long Islanders Lost to Overdose
Family & Children’s Association (FCA), one of Long Island’s largest nonprofit health and human services organizations on Long Island, hosted its annual International Overdose Awareness Day event and press conference on Aug. 30 at its THRIVE Recovery Community and Outreach Center in Hauppauge.
The room was filled with families and friends of those lost to this public health epidemic, people in recovery, social workers, government officials, and the press. The morning’s agenda included a call to action, updated overdose statistics, testimony from community partners, firsthand remembrances and tributes from a variety of speakers, and Narcan training. The event closed with a candlelight vigil and a name reading of those lost to an overdose in the past year.
According to the CDC, between March of 2023 and March of 2024, the reported number of drug overdose deaths decreased by approximately 9.4%, from 110,082 to 99,684, while the predicted number of deaths also saw a decline of about 7.5%. Compared to the previous year, March 2022 to March 2023, in which there was a slight increase in reported and predicted deaths. There is still much work left to be done.
International Overdose Awareness Day, traditionally observed on the last day of August, aims to raise awareness of this critical public health issue, end overdose, honor without stigma those who have lost their lives, acknowledge the grief of families and friends, and encourage action and discussion on evidence-based overdose prevention and drug policies.
Speakers at the event included Jeffrey L. Reynolds, PhD., FCA President and Chief Executive Officer; Steve Chassman, Executive Director, Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD); Anthony Rizzuto, Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor of Seafield Center; Alana Urbont Marino, Director of Community Engagement, Human Understanding & Growth Services, Inc. (HUGS, Inc.); and Dr. Edmond Hakimi, Medical Director at Wellbridge. Victoria “Tori” Sholl spoke about the struggles of her daughter, Jessica and how it affected her entire family. Today, Jessica is in recovery and works as a Certified Recovery Peer Advocate and Program Supervisor in FCA’s Sherpa program, meeting with individuals and families within hospitals and the community who are struggling with Substance Use Disorder.
“Our hope is that this event is meaningful, informative, emotionally charged and ultimately healing for those who attend,” said Dr. Reynolds. “Our goal is always to end this epidemic and eliminate the need for an International Overdose Awareness Day.”
THRIVE envision a community that fosters health, safety, and support for individuals at every stage of recovery. The staff & volunteers assist individuals and families in finding, sustaining, and enhancing their recovery through peer-based support, resource and referral services, and interactive educational programs. They also provide a safe and welcoming environment for substance-free recreational and social activities.
Family & Children’s Association (FCA) leads the operations and oversight of THRIVE Recovery Community and Outreach Center in partnership with the LICADD, LIRA, Families in Support of Treatment (F.I.S.T.), and HUGS, Inc.. THRIVE is funded by the NYS Office of Addiction Services and Supports (OASAS) and through private contributions.
About FCA
FCA is a not-for-profit agency helping more than 35,000 Long Islanders each year. For 140 years, the organization has worked to protect and strengthen vulnerable children, seniors, families, and communities on Long Island.
FCA believes in the potential of Long Island – a place where no child, senior, family or community is left to struggle alone with barriers to health care, education, employment, or economic prosperity. Long Island continues to be one of the greatest places in the world to live and raise a family for many; FCA exists to ensure that be the case for all.
For more information about FCA, visit www.fcali.org
Flooding inflicts catastrophic damage on Smithtown Library
By Toni-Elena Gallo
The Smithtown Library is in disarray after the early morning hours of the Aug. 19 blindsiding storm that dropped at least 9 inches of rain on a chunk of Suffolk’s North Shore and caused flooding of dire proportions.
Rob Lusak, director of the library, described some of the catastrophic damage.
“On Monday, the water literally filled up to the ceiling,” he said. “On the lower level, water came rushing in with such pressure that it smashed through a double-hung window. We got to work at 7 a.m., and couldn’t even get into the lower level until 4:40 [that afternoon]. That’s when we began recovery mode.”
Rainbow Restoration, a flood remediation company, was called in to extract the water clogging up the stairwells, while the Smithtown Fire Department pumped out even more.
“Once the water made its way down, it settled in the stairwells,” Lusak said. “I mean, when you get about 11 inches of rain, in two hours … . And worse than that was the sludge — the muddy, wet sludge that filled everything up — the sheer amount of that water. It cannot be caught by storm drains and lawns. It just can’t.”
The library was far from the only location in the area hit hard by this once-in-a-lifetime storm, as “Smithtown Town Hall got 4 or 5 feet of water,” he added.
The damage to the library is — to put it lightly — extensive.
Lusak’s “guesstimate” of costs is around $10 million which would include the replacement of the LearnLab, an area that was equipped with 3D printers and computers, among other equipment, also carpets, sheetrock, etc. More or less, an entirely new lower level.
“We’ll be down to concrete and steel studs,” he said.
As of Aug. 27, the library still had no power. In the interim, employees have been relocated to the other libraries within The Smithtown Library family at Nesconset, Commack and Kings Park that were not badly affected by the storm.
Perhaps the most devastating impact this storm has had is on the library’s Richard H. Handley Collection of Long Island Americana. Full of priceless documents, this area of the library contained a vault that included documents from Richard Smith — the founder of the town — and paperwork signed by Thomas Jefferson.
That section of the library was hit the harshest of all, with flooding penetrating the vault and harming the artifacts.
However, there is hope for this one-of-a-kind archive.
“We were very lucky to have an archivist fly in from Detroit, to look at our crown jewels,” Lusak said. “He thinks they can be fully restored. Two tractor trailers pulled up, which took all of the artifacts in tubs, back to Detroit. The trucks are freezers, actually. Once they arrive, they will be thawed, sanitized and restored. But, it will be at least a year before we see them again.”
As for what’s next, Lusak said that Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine’s (R) Aug. 19 State of Emergency Declaration, and Sunday’s approval of Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) request for a federal Emergency Declaration were instrumental in getting things moving.
According to the state’s website (www.ny.gov), this declaration will allow “direct federal assistance,” through FEMA, “to provide emergency protective measures, including actions to protect critical infrastructure such as roads and bridges, water control facilities, utilities and mass transit facilities.” Additionally it will allow “disaster recovery experts … to work with local and federal partners, to determine the state’s ability to request a federal Major Disaster Declaration and low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.”
Lusak said that the library’s insurance has been contacted, and papers have been submitted: “We are cleaning up, and we will rebuild. Better than ever.”
Gov. Hochul secures federal aid for Suffolk as storm ravages county
By Toni-Elena Gallo
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R) and Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico (R), declared a State of Emergency, following the Aug. 18-19 devastating storm.
Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) responded by procuring President Joe Biden’s (D) approval for a federal Emergency Declaration. This allows for federal resources and assistance to be provided for the necessary repairs, prevalent in hard-hit western and middle Suffolk. FEMA will provide emergency protective measures, such as the protection of critical infrastructure facilities. According to the state’s website, “with this Emergency Declaration secured, New York’s disaster recovery experts are continuing to work with local and federal partners, to determine the state’s ability to also request a federal Major Disaster Declaration and low-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration.”
Hochul toured the damage of both Stony Brook University and the site of the Mill Pond dam collapse. At the event, Hochul said, “In the wake of unprecedented rainfall, we continue to support Suffolk County to ensure those impacted can get back to life as usual as quickly as possible. … But seeing the people of Long Island come together to rebuild, shows the true strength of New York.”
Over in Port Jefferson, the toll of the extreme weather event is still being felt.
Rob Gitto, of the Gitto Group in Port Jefferson village, was blindsided by the severity of the storm.
“We were watching the storm closely, as we do with other major storms. I went to bed at 11;30 p.m. We checked our cameras, watched our radars and it looked like everything was going to stop in an hour,” Gitto said.
“But, this was a unique storm, where it apparently came from the North to the South, so it was a different situation. In fact, one of my employees was on standby, and went down to both [our] buildings, at around 12:30 p.m., and everything seemed fine. But, I just happened to wake up at 1:30 a.m., and whenever I can see the floors of one of the lobbies glistening, I know it’s water,” he added.
Gitto went down to the area immediately, and walked into a disaster area.
“Unfortunately, there was nowhere to pump water at that point. This particular area is taking on quite a bit of the village’s stormwater. You can see it in video footage, coming down the hill, and hitting the CVS, Barnum property, first, and then it seeped into The Brookport property.”
He said that Brookport, on Barnum Avenue, was made with the “latest and greatest” drainage requirements, but the almost-11 inches overwhelmed the system. Flood doors were on some of the water entry points, but those were, also, quickly overcome. The properties do have flood insurance.
Gitto said his main priority in the coming months will be to replace the cardio equipment in the two gyms, rip up the carpets, take out the damp sheetrock and repainting.
Rocky Point is not faring much better. Hagerman Landing Road, a dead end street, had five homes severely flooded.
In the coming weeks, more information will become available about updated financial aid disbursements.
For all the latest coverage, go to our website at tbrnewsmedia.com.
Nathan Dean and The Damn Band hold End of Summer concert at Callahan’s Beach
Nathan Dean and the Damn Band returned to Smithtown for an unforgettable end of Summer Country Music concert at Callahan’s Beach. On Saturday, August 24th, 2024, the parking lot and camp grounds were transformed into an outdoor concert venue, as Nathan Dean and The Damn Band made Smithtown the last stop on their coast-to-coast Unsupervised Tour.
The free concert was sponsored by Cosentino Companies, and organized by David Capo in conjunction with Smithtown Supervisor, Ed Wehrheim, the Town Council, the Parks Department and Public Safety. Local families packed the parking lot with tailgate-style picnic setups, while residents wishing to be closer to the band, set up beach chairs and blankets to enjoy the live performance. The Show was emceed by David Capo.
“We were ecstatic when we learned that Nathan Dean and the Damn Band wanted to return to Smithtown. We were doubly blessed when Cosentino Companies generously agreed to sponsor the cost of the event for the second year running, so the community could enjoy a great show absolutely free. I’d also like to thank and acknowledge David Capo, who originally introduced us to the band, in addition to the Parks Department, Public Safety and local foodie favorites Ralph’s Famous Ices and Philly Pretzel Factory. This band is the real deal… They had us all dancing under the stars as the sun set on our gorgeous newly renovated Callahan’s Beach. Kids were playing in the new playground area, while friends found a great spot up by the campgrounds. It was a much needed break after dealing with a week of cleanup and storm damage. Everyone had a blast and I look forward to planning their return next Summer,” said Supervisor Ed Wehrheim.
About Nathan Dean and the Damn Band
Nathan Dean: Lead Singer and Guitar, Jason Judd: Lead Guitar and Back up Vocals, Bill Bogan: Drums and Back up Vocals, Chris Duke: Bass
Founded in Arizona in 2005, Nathan Dean and the Damn Band are a prime example of hard work paying off. Playing well over 200 shows a year and regularly touring across the country they’ve gone from a weekend warrior bar band to a high energy, crowd pleasing, headlining band, thanks mostly to their drive and their incredible fan base. From catchy and heartfelt originals to country/rock and pop favorites, once you see a show you’ll understand why they’re one of the most sought after bands on the touring scene right now. They’ve shared the stage with artists like: Dylan Scott, LOCASH, Big and Rich, Cody Johnson, Randy Rogers Band, Diamond Rio, Eric Church and countless others… They were recently nominated for 3 Josie awards in 2021 for Entertainer, Artist and Group of the year.
Man arrested for allegedly murdering ex-wife and her boyfriend in St. James
Suffolk County Police arrested a man on Aug. 29 after he allegedly killed his ex-wife and her boyfriend in Saint James.
Fourth Precinct officers responded to a home on Brasswood Road after a 911 caller reported a 15-year-old left the residence with her father, without her mother’s knowledge. Upon arrival, officers located two adults inside the home, dead from gunshot wounds.
Investigators determined Kelly Coppola, 50, and her boyfriend, Kenneth Pohlman, 53, who lived at the residence, were allegedly shot by Coppola’s ex-husband, Daniel Coppola.
Coppola, 50, of Head of the Harbor, was charged with two counts of Murder 2nd Degree.
Letters to the Editor: August 29, 2024
Disingenuous projection
Jim Soviero’s letter “Local Dems put politics first” (TBR News Media, Aug. 15), accusing Democratic politicians of avoiding “substantive talk of policy,” is a classic example of disingenuous projection.
Projection because it is Republicans who are avoiding discussion of their policy plans, from a national abortion ban to mass deportations. The Republican Party didn’t even bother to draft a new platform in 2020, instead officially endorsing whatever then-President Donald Trump [R] advocated on any given day.
The current Republican platform is a vague, self-contradictory manifesto — long on rhetoric but very short on specific policy prescriptions. And Republican politicians can’t distance themselves
quickly enough from Project 2025, the very specific federal overhaul playbook that will be implemented if Trump wins. Local U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota [R-NY1] claims to oppose a federal abortion ban, while having voted for multiple federal anti-abortion laws.
All this is unsurprising, given that Republican policy positions are incredibly unpopular. Significant majorities of Americans support reproductive rights, worker and union protections, stricter gun laws, marriage equality and higher taxes on corporations and the very wealthy. All are signature Democratic positions.
The Democratic Party, like all other mainstream political parties around the world, has a detailed written platform with numerous specific policy positions. For example, it supports a $15 per hour federal minimum wage, a 25% billionaire minimum tax rate and expanded Medicare drug negotiation authority, which has already resulted in a $35 per month cap on insulin and asthma inhalers. Mr. Soviero can consult that platform whenever he wants to understand what Democrats, both local and national, propose.
Most importantly, his accusation is disingenuous because this election is clearly not about specific policies. It is about fundamental questions of what government is for and what you think “The United States” should mean. Do you want a white, male, straight, single-party, Christian nationalist state run by a personality cult for the benefit of billionaires? Or do you want a secular, multiethnic, pluralist democracy under the rule of law?
There’s little point in debating detailed policies until we resolve that.
John Hover
East Setauket
Stony Brook’s flood fallout
The massive flooding and damage to Stony Brook village following the torrential rainfall of Aug. 18-19 is already well documented [“Storm ravages the North Shore,” TBR News Media, Aug. 22]. Now comes the process of rebuilding the dam and the washed-out segment of Harbor Road. Just hours after the catastrophe, officials from numerous were predicting “years” of reconstruction. The EPA, Army Corps of Engineers and a host of other agencies (i.e., red-tape), weighed in on the complexities of remediating the situation. Few could have predicted the 9-plus inches of rainfall within just a few hours, but after inspecting the wreckage at Harbor Road, it appears to have been just a matter of time.
Like the rickety Sheep Pasture Road bridge over the LIRR tracks in Port Jefferson, the dam at Stony Brook is a 19th-century design, and the opportunity for an updated/robust structure to replace the wreckage is now.
After surveying the scene on Aug. 21, it appears the destroyed section of Harbor Road sat atop an “earthen” dam, wooden pilings and an ancient sluice-gate system to manage the flow of water. Yes, there will be time needed for design and engineering plans, and hopefully the new structure will incorporate reinforced concrete and steel, rather than dirt. That said, we’re not talking Baltimore Harbor Bridge here but only perhaps 100 feet of roadway and its underpinnings.
The environmental crisis is here and now, not in the rebuild process. Maximum six to seven months to rebuild the structure and full restoration of the lake, a bit longer. Oh wait, I forgot something: this is New York State I’m talking about. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer [D-NY] stopped by the scene the other day … but Gov. Kathy Hochul [D]: “Hello, hello, where are you?”
Michael Meltzer
Old Field
Editor’s note: Gov. Hochul met with state and local elected officials Aug. 27 to tour the Mill Pond as well as Stony Brook University to assess storm damage.
Misguided optimism: A reality check on Smithtown’s storm damage
Supervisor Ed Wehrheim’s [R] statement that Smithtown was “fortunate” compared to surrounding areas, as reported in the news item “Storm ravages the North Shore” [TBR News Media, Aug. 22],” is highly misleading to say the least. Smithtown was inundated by the same 9 inches of rain as surrounding towns, and suffered similar damage.
Most notable were the devastation at Stump Pond — the centerpiece of Blydenburgh Park — and extensive damage to the main building of Smithtown Library.
The concrete dam at the west end of Stump Pond, long home to a variety of wildlife, was wrecked by the torrential downpour, causing the pond to empty out, much like what happened to Stony Brook Mill Pond. Hundreds of thousands of gallons of water came rushing out, flowing toward the Nissequogue River, flooding Paul T. Given Town Park, severely damaging nearby homes and flooding streets. All that’s left now is a pit of mud and tree stumps that haven’t seen the light of day for 226 years, since the pond was first formed by clearing forest and building a dam.
As for the library’s main Smithtown building, the entire basement floor was flooded from floor to ceiling. The Long Island History Room located there was badly damaged, particularly its priceless and irreplaceable collection of original materials dating as far back as the 1600s, including the original patent of Richard Smith. It was the most significant collection of historical archives on all of Long Island. In addition over 20,000 audiovisual materials were destroyed, as well as books, computers, wiring, shelving and other hardware. Now would be a good time to donate to the library or join the Friends of the Smithtown Library.
This is to say nothing of the many homes that suffered devastating damage and the streets that were flooded, including Main Street, and the 4 feet of water that flooded Smithtown Town Hall.
Instead of issuing a self-congratulatory statement after the storm, dubiously claiming that due to “proactive measures” and “recent upgrades” Smithtown was better off than neighboring towns, it would have been far better had town Supervisor Wehrheim acknowledged that, like them, it suffered painful and devastating losses. Unlike Supervisor Wehrheim, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine [R] gets it. He termed the losses “catastrophic.” “I don’t think we’re going to have to wait another hundred years for another storm like this,” he said. “It tells you the impact that climate change is having on our weather.”
David Friedman
St. James
Dam breach drains Stump Pond, leaving devastation at Blydenburgh Park
By Sabrina Artusa
Walking past the dead, dried grass littered with sharp stumps and intercepted by a slight meandering stream of water, longtime visitors of the beloved Blydenburgh County Park in Smithtown can hardly believe the hundreds of acres of mud and dead vegetation, yellowing in the sun, was once an 8-foot deep lake.
The lake, also known as Stump Pond or Weld’s Pond, was fed by the headwaters of Nissequogue river and maintained by a dam, which breached after the Aug. 18-19 storm produced over 9 inches of rain.
The section of land between the dam, which was approximately 50 feet wide, and the lake was completely washed away, leaving a large chasm.
As one of the least developed ponds on Long Island, it was enjoyed by kayakers, anglers, hikers, dog walkers, Boy and Girl Scout troops and horseback riders. Throughout its two centuries of existence, the pond has boasted large amounts of bass.
Fishing and boating are impossible now, and parts of the trail are closed. Two brothers, Tom and Frank, paid a visit to the lake that was the setting for many cherished memories.
“I caught my first fish here,” Tom said. The pair came to assess the damage and to see if there could be any fishing. Frank had been fishing at the pond since 1966. The only evidence of fish now was a small colony trapped in a shallow section of residual water.
“We don’t usually see devastation like this,” Frank said. Indeed, the pond was constructed in 1798 to service the Grist Mill and in the 200 years since, the dam has been breached only once before. But it was not a spillway breach and therefore not as extreme.
An employee of the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference said plans are in the works to restore the dam and refill the pond. The type of spillway that will be used in the new dam has yet to be determined.
The employee, who prefers to be anonymous, said that he is optimistic for the future of the pond. He cautioned against venturing too far along the trail. The thick mud is dangerously and decievingly deep. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R), who has lamented the destruction of several valued natural and historical sites, has spoken of his plans to get the area restored. The employee said that Romaine’s appreciation for the history of the area makes him hopeful that action will be taken swiftly and effectively.
“What we have seen in the last day is an ecological, environmental and economic disaster for parts of northern Suffolk County,” Romaine said at a press conference held at the pond.
“We have to take a look at our infrastructure, catalog it, not only to repair the damage that was done, but to plan ahead so we don’t have a worse disaster in the next storm,” Romaine said. He added that, in collaboration with others, he intends to analyze dams across the county.
On Sunday, President Joe Biden (D) issued a federal emergency declaration for Suffolk County. This is a crucial step in securing federal aid for relief and restoration and is in response to the over-2,000 reports of damage across the county.
A similar dam-breaching tragedy occurred at Stony Brook Mill Pond.
According to a representative for Gov. Kathy Hochul (D), the Department of Homeland Security is working with the county on a plan for relieving homeowners whose properties suffered damage.
At Blydenburgh Park, there was no damage to the Miller’s House, constructed between 1801 and 1803 and overlooking the pond; the Grist Mill, only around 50 yards from the destroyed dam; or Blydenburgh-Weld House.
While this history was preserved at Blydenburgh, it was a small victory among larger devastation. In the Smithtown Library, a special collection dating back centuries was damaged by water when the storm caused flooding to the building’s first floor, bypassing the library’s protective measures. The building is now coping with damage to the floor as well to the archive.
New York State Sen. Mario Mattera (R-St. James) called the storm “devastating” and expressed his desire for FEMA funds.
Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Smithtown) said, “I used to fish here as a kid. I used to ride my bike. It is one of the most beautiful spots in New York state. … We are going to rebuild this. We are going to restore this park to the glory we expect.”
D. None of the Above: I may not be running for office, but I’m sort of a good person
By Daniel Dunaief
I’m a good person. Really, I am.
What’s my proof? I don’t drink single use plastic bottles, which are bad for the environment.
I love the environment. I’m going to go hug a tree. Not that one, because it’s kind of prickly and it makes my skin itch. Not that one either, because it’s too wide and my arms are too short. The one over there doesn’t work either, because it’s too far in the woods and I might get poison ivy.
You know what? I’m not going to hug a tree literally, but I’m going to do it figuratively.
Wait, what’s that you’re holding? It’s a picture of me drinking out of a single use water bottle? That must have been taken a long time ago.
No? You have a date on it and it says it was taken in the last few months. Oh, well, I was helping someone and she needed a drink and I didn’t want her to feel like she was drinking alone, but it certainly wasn’t alcohol and I didn’t swallow the water because it was too hot.
You want to know who I was helping? That’s none of your business. Also, I don’t want anyone else to have to answer these kinds of questions, so to protect her privacy, I’m not going to tell you.
I don’t care whether you believe me. Okay, well, maybe I care a little. You’re right, you’re right, I wasn’t helping anyone, but that picture of me holding a water bottle? That’s not actually me. That’s someone else and I have 10 people who can confirm that I wasn’t drinking that water on that day, even though I don’t know what day it was and that shirt looks like one of the ones I wear all the time.
Other people have that kind of shirt, too. Yeah, I know it might be unlikely that someone would have the exact same soy sauce stain in the same place, but it’s still possible.
So, you get my point, right, about being a good person. Maybe the water bottle wasn’t a great example, but I used to coach sports and I won a bunch of championships.
I know I said that the championships weren’t about me and I didn’t win anything. But that was then. Today? I’m taking a little credit.
What did I do? Well, I gave my players advice. Yes, I know some of them ignored me, while others got their own coaches and played well despite my advice.
Still, I won those championships. Well, I mean, I didn’t do it alone, but I was the leader and you can be sure that the team wouldn’t have won without me.
How can you be sure? Well, for starters, you can’t not be sure, and that should be good enough.
So, we agree, right? I’m a good person. No? What’s it going to take?
Oh, you want me to hold the door open for you? Yeah, I would but the air conditioning might get out. You see? I don’t want to waste energy. Oh, I know it’s not a waste of energy for me to help, but I don’t want to waste the energy it would take to cool the hot air I’m letting in. That’s even better than that bottle example.
So, to conclude, I’m a good person because I’m sure, deep down inside, beneath all the complicated layers that undoubtedly make me interesting mostly to myself, I care about things, people and stuff.
Sure, I might not do as much about as I could or should and yes, I have done the opposite of what that good deepness might suggest, but I know I’m a good person and I never lie.
Except that one. That was a lie, but that’s the lie that proves the truth. Right? No, I’m not running for office. Lots of other people would do a better job or even an adequate job, which would also be better. I’m just letting you and everyone else know that, basically, and with no hidden agenda beyond, maybe hoping for a few giggles, that I am a pretty good person who might one day, turn out to be slightly better than I am now.
After all, I’m just a man, standing in front of a crowd, asking them not to dismiss him totally. Is that too much to ask from someone whose goodness may, one day, surprise us all and come out?
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