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Meet the candidates: Mount Sinai BOE

by TBR Staff - May 14, 2021

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Schools_MountSinaiHighSchoolw-e1520379614138-1024x575 — File photo

By Kimberly Brown

Karen Pitka and Paul Staudt are running Tuesday, May 18, for two available seats for a three-year term on the Mount Sinai School District Board of Education.

Karen Pitka

Pitka has lived in Mount Sinai since 2011. Celebrating her 20th year as a fourth-grade teacher this fall, she is an educator in the school district. She has experience in teaching second and fifth grade, and spends her free time being director of the school’s drama club.

Having the experience in teaching elementary school, Pitka also was the leader of her schoolwide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports team and has created presentations to faculty, staff and other Long Island educators about motivating and engaging elementary classroom practices.

When Pitka isn’t working, she spends time with her three children who are 7, 6 and 2 years old.

Having been recently nominated by the district administration and selected to serve on a standards committee for New York State educators, she is prepared to run for the school board.

“Being an elementary school teacher, I feel that I am well versed in what our children need,” she said, “All of our children have suffered greatly from the closure of the school in 2020 along with the hybrid learning plan into 2021. During these unprecedented times, I feel I will be able to offer the proper guidance as to what our students truly need due to being involved in it every day in my own classroom.”

Having young children in the community, Pitka has a vested interest in the well-being of all Mount Sinai students. She also feels having longevity in the district is important.

Paul Staudt

Staudt, a heavy equipment technician for Komatsu America Corp, was born and raised in Mount Sinai. He has two children who are currently attending Mount Sinai schools. Both Staudt and his wife Krista have grown up in the same town and have been married for 19 years.

After battling a very tough year with the pandemic, Staudt felt it was imperative to run for the school board. Despite the current BOE doing their best to work through the COVID-19 crisis, he believes he can offer a different perspective if elected.

“Obviously over the last year, some issues and concerns have arisen from both the parents and teaching perspective,” he said. “There’s been a lot of issues with clarity. Their communication to the community, in my opinion, is outdated.”

With a broad background of different jobs Staudt has accomplished throughout his life, he feels he is well rounded and will be able to aid the board in achieving transparency.

“I am a nine-year military veteran, I have 23 years as a volunteer fireman, I am also a tradesman,” he said, “All of these things, coupled with my life in Mount Sinai, bring a different perspective to the board.”

Staudt said he feels the board needs more diversity: “I think that is what a school board needs, people of varying backgrounds with different perspectives. We, as a board, need to put our personal experiences together and use that to make decisions in the best interest of all of our children.”

As the school district makes the transition from online meetings to in-person, Staudt hopes the same amount of people who have been attending the online meetings will translate into coming down for the actual board meetings.

“I’ve been around a long time, I grew up in this town, so to be able to step into this role and be able to look at things through a different lens is something you need to have on a board,” he said.

Voting

The school budget and board of education votes take place Tuesday, May 18, at the Mount Sinai Elementary School back gym at 118 North Country Road, from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Meet the candidates: SWR School District Board of Education

by TBR Staff - May 14, 2021

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Shoreham-Wading-River-High-Schoolw-e1522078131450-1024x601 — File photo

By Harry To

The Shoreham-Wading River board of education will be conducting its budget vote and board elections on May 18. The two candidates are running unopposed.

Robert Rose

Trustee Robert Rose is running unopposed, making this his fourth reelection since 2012.

In an email interview with TBR, Rose highlighted his success in getting students back in the classroom.

“I think the biggest accomplishment has been getting our students back in school every day,” he said. “I think our teachers and staff have done a great job during this global pandemic. I also think that our facilities have drastically improved over the last several years.”

Rose has more-than 20 years of experience in education. For the past 15 years, he has served as the assistant principal at Smithtown High School East.

James Smith

Board member James Smith is also running unopposed. He was first elected in 2018 after his second run for office.

In the 2018 election Smith ran on a campaign of greater psychological and emotional resources for students, calling for more psychologists and social workers in schools.

Smith has been an active Shoreham resident for about nine years. In that time, he became vice president of the PTA. He also coached kids through Sound Beach Soccer Club and Father Joe’s Soccer.

Smith did not respond to TBR’s request for comment.

Voting

Board elections will take place with the budget vote for a 1% tax levy increase and two capital project propositions Tuesday, May 18, from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Shoreham-Wading River High School gym, located at 250A Route 25A in Shoreham.

Rocky Point School District’s Lisa leaves lasting likability

by TBR Staff - May 14, 2021

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Rocky-Point-High-School_2016_01_barkleyw-700x357 — File photo

By Chris Cumella

Michael Lisa is looking forward to serving on the Rocky Point Board of Education after running unopposed.

Along with incumbent Edward Casswell, Lisa plans to claim two open seats on the trustee’s board on May 18 after what will be a landslide victory for both candidates.

Caswell did not respond to a request for a conversation from TBR.

Working in the Massapequa school district for over 23 years, Lisa is a high school social studies teacher, but yearns to partake in a larger conversation about the future of education.

His unique experiences garnered over two decades of being an educator is what Lisa believes will make him a benefit to the district upon election.

“I have aspired to become a member of the board,” Lisa said. “I’m ready to represent the Rocky Point community members in any way which I can.”

While managing projects on the technology committee for the Rocky Point School District, Lisa said that he had seen firsthand what has worked and what has not when it comes to tech in education.

Remote learning is a hurdle that Lisa said must be overcome by providing a safer, cleaner in-person learning environment for students and staff to return to in the fall.

Within his classes, Lisa noticed a decline in classroom productivity resulting from remote learning, a compromise that has proven safe yet challenging for many in the school district.

“If we do get back to a sense of normalcy, of course, there will be some difficulty transitioning back,” Lisa said. “This social isolation has brought a great deal of anxiety among students. Not being in person, no real interaction with your classmates, it’s a struggle to reach many of these learners remaining at home.”

Further collaboration with teachers, members of the board, teachers, and students — Lisa is advocating for continuously collecting input from the Rocky Point community to reflect on what is working in their system and what must change.

Lisa has analyzed the school district from various perspectives as a teacher, a community member and a father.

Now he is taking the initiative to give back to his community by providing an optimal in-person educational experience for the youth of Rocky Point.

“I’m looking forward to engaging with our students and others to bring back this sense of normalcy that we all need for our wellbeing,” he said.

Mather Hospital completes new cardiac catheterization labs

by Julianne Mosher - May 13, 2021

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mather cath lab, julianne mosher — Nicole Hoefler, director for cardiac cath services at Mather Hospital in the new cardiac catheterization lab. Photo by Julianne Mosher

It’s finally here.

Mather Hospital announced this week its new cardiac catheterization lab is completed and is ready to serve patients — as soon as it receives its final Department of Health inspection and approval in the upcoming weeks.

According to Nursing Director for Cardiac Cath Services Nicole Hoefler, Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson is joining the few places on Long Island in hosting a cardiac catheterization lab to provide less invasive heart-related services to patients who need it.

“We’re here to basically help prevent serious heart attacks,” Hoefler said. “And prevent heart attacks that might be evolving.”

The labs specialize in using X-ray guided catheters to help open blockages in coronary arteries or repair the heart in minimally invasive procedures. These range from stenting to angioplasty and bypass surgery — that are less traumatic to the body and speed recovery.

“Sometimes, if a patient had a positive stress test, they’ll come in here so we can see what’s causing that pain they might have been having,” she noted. “Sometimes they need to have it for surgery clearance, like if they saw something on their EKG.”

The two new state-of-the-art rooms were approved by Northwell Health last year, alongside three other Northwell facilities. Construction began on the new spaces in August 2020, completing and turning over to the clinical staff on April 19.

By adding the two labs into Mather, Hoefler said they can help save a life.

“Every minute that passes when you’re having a heart attack slows your heart muscle,” she said. “So not having to transfer the patient out, and just bring them in from upstairs will be life changing.”

Both rooms will be able to accommodate approximately 20 patients per day with the 12 hours the labs are open.

The addition of the more than 3,000 square foot space is just another space that Mather can now provide patients better.

“I think the community just loves Mather,” Hoefler said. “Having this service
is just another reason to come here.”

These local men are traveling cross-country to raise money for Wounded Warriors

by Julianne Mosher - May 13, 2021

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pj wwp, julianne mosher — Aidan Malinowski and Jordan Suarez before their fundraising cross-country trip. Photo by Julianne Mosher

They’re using CrossFit to go cross-country.

Jordan Suarez and his friend Aidan Malinowski, both SUNY Cortland students who are avid CrossFit participants, are planning to visit a gym in each state starting May 17.

The reasoning isn’t a vacation by any means — they’re hosting a fundraiser that will help raise money to go towards the Wounded Warrior Project.

“We both have veterans in our family,” Malinowski said. “And we both are into CrossFit — it’s been a huge part of our lives, especially this past year with the pandemic and quarantine.”

The plan is starting this week, the duo will be going to one CrossFit affiliate gym in every state in the U.S. (excluding Alaska and Hawaii). By doing workouts at each place, they will ask fellow CrossFit members for donations and plan on spreading awareness about the nonprofit that has helped saved thousands of lives.

In just two months leading up to their travels, they have already raised almost $6,000.

“We really just want to spread the awareness,” Malinowski said. “One big thing that stood out to me is that a $20 donation to Wounded Warriors gets them a one-hour session of PTSD treatment, which I think is amazing.”

Suarez said they will kick off their trip at the Port Jefferson Station location and then take the ferry up to Connecticut. The goal is to be back home by June 14.

“Wounded Warriors helps out any veterans that have been hurt, whether it’s physically or mentally during their time in the military,” he said. “It’s just a great organization that gets them the necessary resources to help them recover.”

The two Port Jefferson locals teamed up with the foundation about three months ago. That’s when they were introduced to Jeremiah Pauley, currently in California, who is a spokesperson for WWP.

Pauley deployed to Iraq in 2006 as a staff sergeant in the U.S. Army. Four months into the deployment, his team had cleared a house in the city of Tal Afar, and just as they left the house to go back outside enemy forces detonated an improvised explosive device. Shrapnel shredded through Pauley’s right arm, and if it weren’t for the immediate treatment he received from his team’s medic, he may not have survived.

Later on, he found out that one of his soldiers died in the attack. Pauley was overcome with survivors’ guilt and PTSD.

For years, he struggled with depression and he almost took his own life as a result. He received a call from WWP who invited him to a multi-day cycling event, Soldier Ride.

Utilizing the services from WWP, his recovery progressed, and he eventually took a job working with the nonprofit.

Pauley said he, too, is an avid CrossFit enthusiast, so when he got a call from two young men on the East coast looking to fundraise using the gyms, he was completely on board.

“They submitted a request to do a fundraiser with the organization so that the money can be tracked,” he said. “And they had this crazy idea that they wanted to go to all the 48 lower states and visit a CrossFit box in each state.”

Pauley said he thought it was the “perfect trifecta of ideas” combining working out, friends and family and a good cause.

The money that Suarez and Malinowski will raise will help go to services to help veterans like Pauley.

“All of our programs and services that we offer to warriors and their family members are absolutely free,” he said. “We never ask a warrior for a penny — ever — and we have a variety of programs and services that we offer.”

Pauley said he is excited to meet the guys from Port Jefferson when they hit the gym by him in a few weeks.

“It’s going to be a great event,” he said.

You can follow Jordan and Aidan’s journey on Instagram @Wod.USA or YouTube. To donate to the fundraiser, gofundme.com/f/wod-usa.

Baseball bringing a communities together

by Rich Acritelli - May 13, 2021

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This past week, baseball played a huge role in brining the two communities of Mount Sinai and Rocky Point together for a dynamic cause.

“Home Runs for Easton” was organized between these two baseball teams that played in front of almost 1,000 people at the Town of Brookhaven Diamond in the Pines Park.

The players had a home run derby and a scrimmage in front of fans that also enjoyed a massive raffle, food, refreshments, hat and shirt sales, and plenty of smiles towards a worthy endeavor.

Long-time Mount Sinai baseball coach Eric Reichenback was proud of the unyielding efforts that were presented to make this fundraiser into a successful function. He wanted to thank his school’s football coach Vinny Amarato, the girl’s basketball coach Mike Popperlotto, Joanne Rentz, and especially his wife for spending so much time to help the family of his middle school baseball coach Dave Clark.

Easton was treated for this serious spinal cord condition at Stony Brook University Medical Center and at Shriners Hospital for Children.

Reichenback is no stranger to playing and coaching big games at almost every baseball level, but perhaps this one of the finest moments of his career. He was extremely pleased to help bring some comfort to one of his coaches in one what Reichenback called a “colossal effort” to bring this game together.

Easton’s dad is a physical education teacher and coach at Mount Sinai High School, and he was a talented baseball player that was a catcher at Sachem High School. He later played at New York Tech.

With family members, friends, baseball players, teachers and parents from both districts, they watched a homerun derby that gained applause from the fans, where they saw Rocky Point Coach Eric Strovink, need only one pitch to hit the ball over the fence at the Diamond at the Pines baseball field.

Owner of the All-Pro Sports Academy and instructor Scott June tossed batting practice for over 40 players from both teams that tried to take him deep on every swing. He is a good friend and former Sachem teammate of Easton, who delivered many pitches to the young men that dug in at home plate.

This event that was run by these two teams raised over $25,000, to help this family endure the long and costly road to recovery.

Rocky Point Assistant Baseball Coach Eric Strovink was elated at the positive response that was demonstrated by fans that traveled from near and far to watch these local boys play for Easton.

This local baseball hitting figure that once tormented high school and college pitchers, is a “gentle giant” that has helped steer the Rocky Point baseball team towards helping others through numerous visits to a local soup kitchen and homeless shelter.

One of the numerous people that Strovink identified in helping this event was Eric Fritch. He is a volunteer at Shriners Hospital, where he has donated money and support in helping families cope with severe medical hardships. This was no different, as Fritch was a dominant volunteer to help Easton on this day.

There was no shortage of help, as many members stepped up to the plate to help run this fundraiser.

Anthony and Eleni Sorice represented one of the many families that gave their time to help make this event possible and they believed that it was a “total team effort between these two towns to bring this event alive.”

There were gift cards of every kind that were donated by local restaurants, bars, and Tuscany Market from Miller Place. And those that donated money through the massive raffle were able to win sports memorabilia items that were signed by former New York Yankee Greg Nettles, New York Met Todd Zeile, current Yankee Clint Frazier and items from Nascar.

Rocky Point Senior Nash Thixton, a pitcher, hit one home run in the derby, where he also won a signed jersey of New York Yankee Pitcher Luis Severino. Thixton was pleased to participate in this game and he believed that it was “good for both communities to supremely come together to aid a family in need.”

Over the last several years, these two teams have gained notable experience in working together towards charitable causes to support these North Shore communities.

They have scrimmaged against each other during the “Live Like Susie” event.

This baseball tradition remembers the tragic loss of Susie Facini, a graduate of Rocky Point High School, who passed away from a sudden heart attack in 2011.

The Eagles and Mustang baseball teams established their own “spring classic” to recall the efforts of this kind young lady who positively touched everyone within her school district.

Whereas both teams always want to do well against each other within the lines of this game, they have exhibited a unique sense of class to bring awareness to local causes that have brought our residents together through the spirit of baseball.

One of the most important aspects, is the experience of goodwill that these young men have learned from their coaches that have partook within this local tradition.

Most importantly, these players someday pass this baseball compassion onto teams that they will coach and to their own children in helping others through athletics.

This tradition of giving back was established by former Rocky Point High School coach Andrew Aschettino to his successor Anthony Anzalone, and the mighty presence of Strovink, and Reickenbac. They have utilized our National Pastime to foster the importance of giving back through major fundraisers like that of “Home Runs for Easton.”

Anzalone was pleased to be a part of this event and he stated, “It was an honor to be a part of such an amazing day.

We have a long standing relationship with the coaching staff at Mount Sinai and when asked to join forces, it was a no brainer.”

Although it is never easy to see a child go through a difficult health condition, the warmth of baseball helped brighten a poor situation for this family.

Again and again, baseball has proven through every type of crisis, to be a pleasant distraction from negative times, to bring our people together, as was demonstrated at the Diamond in the Pines on Thursday, May, 6.

Rich Acritelli is a social studies teacher at Rocky Point High School and an adjunct professor of American history at Suffolk County Community College.

North Shore groups team up to clean up

by Julianne Mosher - May 13, 2021

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cleanup, anker — Above: Leg. Sarah Anker with Bea Ruberto and volunteers at the Adopt-a-Spot in Sound Beach during Saturday’s cleanup. Photo from Sarah Anker

The Sound Beach Civic and North Shore Youth Council joined together to clean up a spot that will soon be home to a frontline hero dedication.

Bea Ruberto, president of the civic, said that the group was joined by local scouts and the NSYC to clean up parts along New York Avenue. With all groups combined, more than two dozen community members helped prepare for the tribute that is set to be installed at their Adopt-a-Spot this summer.

From 9 a.m. until 12 on Saturday, May 8, Ruberto said it was a successful event.

“Everything was done by noon because pretty much everybody was there by nine, and everybody just jumped in and started working,” she said. “They were really great.”

Volunteers cleaning up from the North Shore Youth Council. Photo from NSYC

Stephanie Ruales, director of communications and public relations, and executive director Robert Woods said a handful of kids from NSYC joined in the cleanup, and stayed to make sure the spot was perfect.

“We love working on community projects with our local organizations and are always looking for ways to get our young kids involved in community service,” they both wrote in an email. “It’s also a great way to raise awareness about initiatives that our civics are working on and the great things happening in our towns.”

While there, the volunteers from the youth council helped edge out one of the garden beds and weed and prepped the area for some new plantings and transplants.

Ruberto said cleaning up the spot is paving the way for the tribute they began planning months ago. The idea is to have a large stone, adorned with a plaque honoring frontline workers who worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. A tree will be planted behind it.

To raise funds for the project, the civic created a cookbook, “Signature Dishes of Sound Beach and Beyond,” earlier this year. Donations were made in exchange for the book, and the civic “sold out” of the first 100 copies almost immediately.

“It was because people want to support this,” Ruberto said. “People really care about saying thank you to all the people who work to keep us safe.”

Ruales and Woods said not only was the cleanup helpful to the future tribute, but it also instills a sense of community in young people.

“It helps them feel connected to where they live, especially as we continue to navigate the pandemic,” they wrote. “There’s that feeling of accomplishment that they contributed to something greater than themselves.”

Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) stopped by to help, too.

“It is thanks to our committed community volunteers that our community’s green spaces stay beautiful and clean,” she said. “The Adopt-a-Spot will be the perfect place to honor and thank our frontline and essential workers who continue to keep us safe during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

SBUH honors nursing staff during National Nurses Week

by Julianne Mosher - May 13, 2021

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sbuh nurses 1, sbuh — Photo from Stony Brook Medicine

To kick off National Nurses week, Stony Brook University Hospital rolled out the red carpet for its nursing staff, cheering them on as they made their way into work.

On Thursday, May 6, the 6:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. shifts were welcomed into the hospital with a red carpet and balloons to thank them for their efforts — especially throughout the last year.

Since the early 90s, May 6 through May 12 (ending on Florence Nightingale’s birthday), nurses across the country have been thanked for the work they do.

But 2020 showed a new appreciation for nurses during the COVID-19 pandemic. SBUH decided last summer to put out the red carpet, as nurses ventured into work during the height of the coronavirus crisis.

And for the second year in a row, more than 3,400 RNs, LPNs, nursing assistants, nursing station clerks and more were thanked as they readied a 12-hour shift like a celebrity.

Carolyn Santora, chief nursing officer & chief of regulatory affairs, said the red carpet was just one way of saying thanks.

“Our nurses are stars, and they’re wonderful,” she said. “We wanted to show our appreciation.”

Santora said that throughout the whole week, nurses and nursing staff were recognized for their hard work. One day they were delivered ice cream, another they were given awards.

“The staff, I can’t say they’re not weary and tired — it’s been a long, long year — but they’ve been incredible,” she said. “They come to work dedicated every single day, take care of our community and support each other in the process.”

Santora said the staff were appreciative of the hospital’s efforts.

“The importance of this is understanding and recognizing them for their skills, for their dedication, for their talents and for their heart,” Santora said. “Taking care of all of these patients every single day, it’s just remarkable what they do.”

Miller Place Panthers pounce on Kingsmen

by Bill Landon - May 10, 2021

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Kings Park stayed with Miller Place trading goal for goal to make it a one goal game at the half but it was Robbie Cunningham’s stick that ruled the day for the Panthers where the sophomore midfielder scored five goals to lead his team to an 11-7 victory in a League II contest at home May 7.

Miller Place co-captain Anthony Bartolotto notched a hat-trick, Nicholas Belvedere scored twice and teammate James Sternberg stretched the net.

Kings Park senior Paul Freyre had a pair of goals for the Kingsmen as did Dom Mastromonica and Nico Laviano as Chris Panetta found the back of the net.

The win lifts the Panthers to 2-0 in the division where Kings Park searches for their first win of this COVID-compressed spring season.