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Village Beacon Record

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Damage to a home and vehicle from the Eaton Fire in northern Altadena, California in January 2025. Photo from Wikimedia Commons. Public Domain

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

It may have started as a new year filled with hope, but this is a difficult week. The terrible fires in Southern California have burned entire neighborhoods to the ground, from mansions to mobile homes. We already know about the displaced and the deaths, but more destruction may yet come. Weather forecasts from the National Weather Service are predicting fierce winds ahead that may drive the fires into new areas.

The end is not in sight.

While this horror is on the other side of the country, it is not remote. Many of us have friends and relatives who live, work, study or are retired there, driving the tragedy right into our midst and into our hearts in a deeply personal way. These are not only abstract numbers of people and homes about which we would feel a humanitarian empathy. These are our people. These are our forests and our lands. The dreadful irony of it all, remembering the 1972 Albert Hammond song, “It Never Rains in Southern California.”

While there was already a serious homeless population for Los Angeles, the newly displaced are trying to figure out what to do next. The lucky ones have relatives or friends with whom they can seek shelter. It may be long weeks, even months before they can return, if their homes miraculously are still standing. What if they are not? Will the insurance companies hold up to enable rebuilding, or will some of them declare bankruptcy, as they have done in similar cataclysmic situations, like the one in the Caribbean Island St. Croix? Can FEMA bear the entire load?

Private citizens can be counted on to respond generously, as we have with virtually every disaster in the world. With such an enormous catastrophe, the entire national economy could take a hit. How will the new administration respond? 

Speaking of the government, we have less than a week before the new administration is sworn into office. The change of political parties may in itself contribute to some emotional reaction this week, regardless of one’s party affiliation.

Many Dems are worried, while many members in the GOP are optimistic. There has been much talk of changes to come, from buying Greenland for its exotic minerals to changing the name from the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Perhaps more seriously, there may be a tax cut in the future, some change in immigration policy and new tariffs imposed or at least threatened.

Some good news did emerge this week. There may be a truce in Gaza after 15 months of violence, with some hostages to be exchanged for Palestinian prisoners and specific movements of Israeli troops. While the atmosphere surrounding the peace talks remains tense, according to media reports, there now seems some hope.

According to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, the negotiators are only awaiting Hamas’s sign off. Perhaps the imminent changeover of presidents from Biden to Trump in the United States hastened the deal. The governments of Qatar and Egypt have also directly participated in the talks.

Perhaps now the fighting in Ukraine and the fires in Southern California can also be brought to a halt. Then we could return to hope.

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Pixabay photo

The Town of Brookhaven’s Parks & Recreation Department is ringing in the new year with a series of new classes and programs at our various recreation centers. Learn more about what we have to offer and register online today!

Centereach Administration Building
286 Hawkins Road, Centereach
631-451-6112

Indoor Winter Bocce League
Meet and play with different people each week. 2 games per week. individual sign up.
Dates: Tuesdays, January 7, 14, 21, 28, February 4, 18   OR   Thursdays, January 9, 16, 23, 30, February 20, 27
Time: 10:00AM – 12:00PM
Fee: $32.00 per person per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Indoor Winter Night Bocce League
4-6 players per team. Each team plays 2 games per day. 12 points or 25 minute rounds.
Dates: Tuesdays, February 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25
Time: 6:00pm-9:00pm
Fee: $185.00 per 6-week session per team
Click HERE to register online.

Henrietta Acampora Recreation Center
39 Montauk Highway
Blue Point, NY 11715
631-451-6163

Yoga
Yoga that meets you where you are today. This class includes standing postures, strengthening exercises on the mat, seated stretches and guided relaxation. Our practice supports strength, agility, flexibility, and balance, while reducing stress and having fun. Please bring a yoga mat, yoga blocks or rolled towel. 
Dates: Mondays, February 3, 10, 24, March 10, 17, 24
Time: 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Fee: $47.00 per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Watercolor Painting Class
Meet fellow artists, try a new hobby or work on an old project. Bring your own material and work in a relaxed environment. Instructor will give demonstrations along with group and individual guidance.
Dates: Tuesdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18, 25
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Copper Repousse’ Decorative Metal Workshop (18+)
Create a design in relief (a sculptural technique where figures or scenes are carved into a flat background, creating the illusion that the sculpted material has been raised above the background) using copper sheet and embossing stylus tools. Students must bring your own simple design drawn in a coloring book style or use a class supplied design. 
Dates: Tuesdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25
Time: 12:00PM – 2:00PM
Fee: $25.00 per 4 week session PLUS $7.00 material fee paid to instructor the first day of class.
Click HERE to register online.

Adult Art Class
Meet fellow artists, try a new hobby or work on an old project. Bring your own material and work in a relaxed environment. Instructor will give demonstrations along with group and individual guidance.
Dates: Thursdays, February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20, 27
Time: 10:30am – 12:30pm
Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online. 

Sprouts & Friends Baby Class (Ages 3-12 months)
Join Sprouts & Friends for a fun, safe and creative way to learn to move through music and release energy. Our mission is to create joy while helping your little ones grow, learn, develop, and explore through playful activities. Please bring a blanket for baby to lay on. Non-walkers only. 
Dates: Fridays, February 7, 14, 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28, April 4
Time: 1:00pm – 1:45pm
Fee: $57.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Country Line Dancing
These classes welcome advanced beginner and intermediate dancers (improver level). Classes will teach students popular line dances being done across the country while having fun and getting exercise as well.
Dates: Mondays, March 31, April 7, 14, 21, 28, May 5, 12, 19
Time: 2:30pm – 4:00pm
Fee: $57.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

New Village Recreation Center
20 Wireless Road
Centereach, NY 11720
631-451-5307

Zumba
This high-energy cardio aerobics class combines Latin and international beats with salsa, merengue, cha-cha, samba, hip-hop and belly dancing. 
Dates:Fridays, January 24, 31, February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 7, 14
Time: 5:30pm – 6:30pm  
OR  
Dates: Mondays, January 27, February 3, 10, 24, March 3, 10, 17, 24 
Time: 10:30am – 11:30am
Fee: $52.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online for the Friday session.
Click HERE to register online for the Monday session.

Koga Lite
These classes are a unique workout combination of kickboxing and yoga. Classes are designed as a gentle introduction to exercise/weight loss without the intimidation. Sneakers, weights and water are recommended.
Dates:Mondays, January 27, February 3, 10, 24 March 3, 10, 17, 24
Time: 6:00pm – 7:00pm
OR
Dates: Wednesdays, January 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26 March 5, 12, 19
Time: 10:00am – 11:00am
Fee: $62.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online for the Monday session.
Click HERE to register online for the Wednesday session.

Kids Karate (Ages 6-12)
Kids will learn confidence, concentration and respect.
Dates: Tuesdays, January 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18
Time: 6:30pm – 7:30pm
Fee: $52.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online. 

Adult Self-Defense (Ages 13+)
Learn how to build confidence and self-esteem.
Dates: Tuesdays, January 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18
Time: 7:30pm – 8:30pm
Fee: $52.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Jump Bunch Junior (Ages 3-5)
Learn a new sport each week. Includes sports such as soccer, football, lacrosse, volleyball and basketball. No equipment necessary. Just bring water.
Dates: Tuesdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11
Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Fee: $62.00 per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online. 

Jump Bunch Kids (Ages 6-9)
Learn a new sport each week. Includes sports such as soccer, football, lacrosse, volleyball and basketball. No equipment necessary. Just bring water.
Dates: Tuesdays, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11
Time: 5:15pm – 6:15pm
Fee: $62.00 per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online. 

Watercolor Painting Class
Meet fellow artists, try a new hobby or work on an old project. Bring your own material and work in a relaxed environment. Instructor will give demonstrations along with group and individual guidance.
Dates: Wednesdays, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Adult Drawing Class
Unleash your creativity and explore the versatile mediums of pencil, charcoal, and pastels. This hands on course is designed for artists of all levels. Students will learn to capture light, texture, and depth, using pencil for fine details, charcoal for bold contrasts, and pastels for vibrant, expressive color. Join us and discover new ways to bring your drawings to life!
Dates: Fridays, February 7, 14, 21, 28, March 7, 14, 21, 28
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Mixed Media Adult Art
Meet fellow artists try a new hobby or work on an old project with your choice of medium. Each week there will be still life and fine art drawing exercises to help students develop their skills.
Dates: Saturdays, February 8, 15, 22, March 1, 8, 15
Time: 10:00am – 12:00pm
Fee: $42.00 per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Country Line Dancing for Beginners
Want to learn country line dancing? Classes will teach students popular line dances being done across the country while having fun and getting exercise as well.
Dates: Wednesdays, April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30, May 7, 14, 21
Time: 11:30am – 1:00pm
Fee: $57.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Robert E. Reid, Sr. Recreation Center
Defense Hill Road & Route 25A
Shoreham, NY 11786
631-451-5306

Yoga
This is a slow-flow yoga class for all levels, moving at a slower pace and holding poses a little longer. Breathing and relaxation exercises are incorporated to help de-stress. Please bring a yoga mat or towel.
Dates: Mondays, January 27, February 3, 10, 24, March 3, 10
Time: 5:45pm – 6:45pm
Fee: $47.00 per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Dance for Tots (Ages 2 1/2 – 3)
These classes are a great way to introduce dance to young children. Classes combine jazz and ballet and are suitable for children with or without experience. Learning becomes fun!
Dates:Wednesdays, January 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19
Time: 10:00am – 10:45am
Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Dance for Tots II (Ages 3 1/2 – 4)
These classes are a great way to introduce dance to young children. Classes combine jazz and ballet and are suitable for children with or without experience. Learning becomes fun!
Dates:Wednesdays, January 29, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19
Time: 11:00am – 11:45am
Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Watercolor Painting Class
Meet fellow artists, try a new hobby or work on an old project. Bring your own material and work in a relaxed environment. Instructor will give demonstrations along with group and individual guidance.
Dates: Tuesdays, January 28, February 4, 11, 18, 25, March 4, 11, 18 
Time: 12:30pm – 2:30pm
Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Mixed Media Adult Art
Meet fellow artists, try a new hobby or work on an old project. Bring your own material and work in a relaxed environment. Instructor will give demonstrations along with group and individual guidance.
Dates: Wednesdays, February 5, 12, 19, 26, March 5, 12, 19, 26
Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm
Fee: $47.00 per 8-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Jump Bunch Jr. (Ages 3-5)
Learn a new sport each week. Includes sports such as soccer, football, lacrosse, volleyball and basketball. No equipment necessary. Just bring water.
Dates: Thursdays, January 30, February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 6
Time: 4:00pm – 5:00pm
Fee: $62.00 per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online.

Jump Bunch Kids (Ages 6-9)
Learn a new sport each week. Includes sports such as soccer, football, lacrosse, volleyball and basketball. No equipment necessary. Just bring water.
Dates: Thursdays, January 30, February 6, 13, 20, 27, March 6
Time: 5:15pm – 6:15pm
Fee: $62.00 per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online.

St. Michaels Recreation Center
Wilson Ave.
Medford, NY 11763
631-451-6112

Zumba
This high-energy cardio aerobics class combines Latin and international beats with salsa, merengue, cha-cha, samba, hip-hop and belly dancing. 
Dates: Saturdays, January 25, February 1, 8, 15, 22,
March 1
Time: 9:30AM – 10:30AM
Fee: $42.00 per 6-week session
Click HERE to register online.

OTHER UPCOMING PROGRAMS…

Adult Softball (Ages 18+)
Spring/Summer season – April thru August
Fall season – September and October
Visit BrookhavenAdultSoftball.TeamPages.com

Senior Softball (Ages 60+)
Spring/Summer season – May thru August
Visit SuffolkSeniors.TeamPages.com

Call 631-451-6128 for more information.

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METRO photo

As winter enters it’s peak, drivers should be ever-conscious of the dangers the season poises to drivers and pedestrians.

The short winter days provide limited sunlight and therefore, limited visibility to drivers returning home during rush hour. With the sun setting at the early time, most people drive home from work in the hazy twilight. The early sunset often means that many are forced to drive towards the intolerable glare of the sun, blinding drivers who forgot their sunglasses.

Flurries crowd the window and accumulate on the ground. In the following days thirty degree weather is projected after last weeks hiatus of slightly warmer temperatures. Snow is in the forecast.

During times like these, it is imperative that we practice defensive driving. This means putting our blinkers on the ensure others can see our vehicles (even if there is next car is far away, remember, it is illegal to switch lanes without using your blinker), cleaning the frost off our cars so that it doesn’t blend in with the surroundings, and pumping the break and testing the acceleration on icy days. After snow, the roads are full of salt, moisture, and black ice–all of which affect the traction of the tires on the road.

In neighborhoods, folks who walk their dogs after getting home from work have to do so in the diminishing sunlight. We need to be cautious. As eager as we may be to get home, we must resist the urge to press the accelerator a little more as we round the bend to our homes. Sidewalks are not ubiquitous and dogs aren’t always well-behaved and walking calmly next to their owner. Pedestrians, wear bright, reflective colors, carry flashlights, and to the extent possible, walk on quiet streets.

The dangers to public safety from cold, early, snowy days are, of course, paramount, but the dangers to the state of our vehicles is not to be ignored. To save yourself hundreds in repairs, we must ensure that our vehicle is in top condition.

•Check the tire pressure. The cold weather can cause the air to contract and result in under-inflated tires.

•Clean the exhaust. Condensation build-up can cause the exhaust system to rust.

•Lift the wiper blades upwards off the windshield when it snows so they don’t break. Wipe down the rubber lining of the car door so the rigid rubber doesn’t make it difficult to open in freezing temperatures.

•Let the oil circulate. Oil gets thicker in colder temperatures, so we need to be conscious of allowing time for the oil to warm up or switch to oil with a lower viscosity for the winter.

Enjoy the sight of snow-lined trees and slowly descending flakes, but we should not let the precautions slip from our mind. Drive safely.

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Newfield senior Brandon McDaniels fights his way to the rim for the Wolverines. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai’s Alex Campanelli throws a buzzer beater from three quarters court for the Mustangs in a home game against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai’s Brock Kolsch scores for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai’s Dominic Pennzello battles his way to the rim in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield’s Ranard Fields fights his way to the rim for the Wolverines. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield’s Ranard Fields drives the lane for the Wolverines. Photo by Bill Landon
Jump ball. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai’s Blake Kolsch drains a three pointer for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai senior Marcus Magloire scores for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield senior Aiden Hill drives the baseline for the Wolverines. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield senior Josh Hayes hits a three pointer from the corner. Photo by Bill Landon
Brian Vales scores for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai’s Brock Kolsch scores for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai’s Brock Kolsch scores for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Brian Vales lays up for two for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai freshman Andrew McNeely takes flight for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai senior Marcus Magloire in traffic for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Foul? Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai senior Marcus Magloire keeps the ball in play for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai senior Blake Kolsch drives the lane for the Mustangs in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Mt. Sinai’s Dominic Pennzello drives the lane in a non-league matchup against Newfield. Photo by Bill Landon
Senior Marcus Petit Frere lays up for two for Newfield in a non-league matchup against Mt. Sinai. Photo by Bill Landon
Newfield senior Jay Deliat splits a pair of defenders for the score. Photo by Bill Landon

By Bill Landon

Mount Sinai took an 11-point lead into the halftime break keeping the Newfield Wolverines at bay in a non-league basketball matchup Jan. 3, but the Mustangs’ advantage evaporated in the third quarter. Newfield’s offense sprang to life to tie the game and then took the first lead of the game with 2 minutes left in the quarter. The Mustangs were able to shut down the Wolverines’ scoring frenzy in the final 8 minutes of play to hold on for a 76-73 victory.

Brian Vales led the herd for the Mustangs with nine field goals and three free throws for 21 points. Seniors Dominic Pennzello banked 17 points and Blake Kolsch netted 14.

Josh Hayes topped the scoring chart for the Wolverines with 23 points with teammates Marcus Petit-Frere notching 18 and Ranard Fields added 10. .            

– PHOTOS BY BILL LANDON

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File photo by Raymond Janis

LIRR funding shortfall

LIRR commuters should be concerned about insufficient funds being programmed to bring bridges, viaducts, tunnels and other basic infrastructure that are in poor or marginal condition up to a state of good repair in the proposed MTA $68.4 billion 2025-2029 Five Year Capital Plan.  This also applies to Metro North Rail Road and NYC Transit.  It is questionable if $600 million is sufficient funding for LIRR critical infrastructure projects under the proposed next Five Year Capital Plan. Can this eliminate the growing backlog of critical infrastructure repair.  Too many critical capital assets remain in daily service beyond their anticipated useful life. There is still a $33 billion shortfall to fully fund the proposed upcoming Five Year Capital Plan.

Safety, state of good repair, reliable on time performance with a minimum of service disruptions at a fair price should be a higher priority than system expansion projects.  The $7.7 billion Second Avenue Subway Phase 2, $5.5 billion Queens Brooklyn Light Rail Inter Boro Express and $3.1 billion Metro North Bronx East Penn Station Access projects all need to be put on hold.  Funding for all three would be better spent on critical infrastructure projects benefiting over 4 million NYC Transit subway, 200,000 plus LIRR and 200,000 plus Metro North daily commuters.  MTA Chairman Janno Lieber and MTA Board members have a fiduciary responsibility to protect the interests of riders and taxpayers.

Larry Penner

Great Neck

Keep those letters coming…

Congratulations to my fellow 2024 Letter to the Editor writers.  Surveys reveal that “Letters To The Editor” is one of the most widely read and popular sections of newspapers.   

Most newspapers will print letters submitted by any writer regardless of where they live so long as the topic is relevant to readers.  

It helps to have a snappy introduction, good hook, be timely, precise, have an interesting or different viewpoint to increase your odds of publication. Papers welcome letters commenting on their own editorials, articles or previously published letters to the editor.

I’m grateful that TBR News Media affords both me and my fellow letter writers the opportunity to express our views, as well as differing opinions on issues of the day.  

Please join me along with your neighbors in reading TBR News Media.  Patronize their advertisers; they provide the revenues necessary to keep them in business. This helps pay to provide space for your favorite or not so favorite letter writers.

Larry Penner

Long Time Reader 

and Frequent Letter Writer

Great Neck

Armed guards aren’t the answer

As has become the norm in the Three Village Central School District members of the community have discovered a cause to champion that needn’t be raised.  Now that the start time phenomenon has become a budget-contingent coming attraction, armed guards in our schools are the latest call to action.  A knee-jerk reaction to an unfortunate, yet thankfully harmless, incident at Ward Melville High School this past fall, has been the demand to arm our security guards.  The reasoning behind this charge is the all too familiar claim that “the only way to fight a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun.”

Decades of research by the highest and most well-trained law enforcement agencies in the country have debunked this “theory” and proven that many times the presence of armed guards in school settings has invited and/or intensified the violence committed.  Anyone with recollection of the atrocities in Uvalde and Parkland knows firsthand that armed security did nothing to deter the perpetrator and no lives were saved.  As a mother and an educator there is nothing more important than safety in school buildings and I would never begrudge any parent the feeling of security when a child is in an academic setting.  However, there are myriad other approaches to avoiding threats to our children today and they do not include arming security guards. 

The pushback will of course be the previously noted adage about fighting a bad guy with a good guy gun, especially since many of the guards are former law enforcement officers.  None of the crusaders of this battle are willing to note the fact that we are actually very lucky.  Long Island has fortuitously been spared any instances of mass gun violence in our schools.  And the one scary instance that Three Village experienced was handled responsibly and transparently.  Yes, a gun entered our high school.  Yes, there was a chance something horrific could have occurred, but it didn’t.  The true concern is that a weapon came through the doors.  The best defense against a repeat situation is a system of detection (and not metal detectors) not an addition of guns.  

At this juncture we need to trust that our district security experts have the best interests of our children at heart and will continue to keep them safe.  Guns in and/or around our schools is not the answer.

Stefanie Werner

East Setauket

The opinions of columnists and letter writers are their own. They do not speak for the newspaper.

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

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

 

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Henry John Romanowski of South Setauket and formerly of Mattituck, passed away on Friday, Dec. 13, 2024. He was 78 years old.

Henry was born on March 14, 1946 in Riverhead, NY to Rose and Henry Romanowski. After high school, he took on the family business of Romanowski Farms. From there he would eventually go to work as a farm operator for Delea Sod Farms for 37 years.

Henry is survived by his fiancé Linda McGlynn of South Setauket, NY; children Kevin Romanowski (Paige) of Mattituck, Henry Romanowski Jr. of Laurel and Stacey Matyas of Rhode Island, and grandchildren Peter and Ryan.

A Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Saturday, Jan. 11th at 11:00 A.M. at Saint Isidore R.C. Church in Riverhead. A Celebration of Life Reception will be held following the mass at Polish Hall in Riverhead from 12-3:30 P.M.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Mattituck Lions Club would be appreciated.

DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck is serving the family.

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METRO photo

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

It’s hard to come up with a short list of the pros or cons of skiing. The experience, with everything from getting there, to being there, to trekking home, is filled with, if you’ll pardon the pun, ups and downs.

I’d like to share a few observations from our recent venture to the slopes.

For starters, just being in the mountains is extraordinary. The air is fresh, clear and clean and the views of snow-capped peaks and valleys are inspiring. Of course, you have to get to those mountains, which can require anything from a long drive to a flight filled with challenges and delays.

On a recent trip, our flight to those magnificent mountains involved sitting in a row on the plane that was exceedingly hot. When I asked the flight attendant why the plane was so warm, she explained that we were likely sitting near the engines.

The way home was no picnic either, because those wonderful winter storms that bring snow caused us to have a five hour delay, coupled with another hot ride home that suggested that the entire plane must have been sitting too close to the engines. Other passengers complained that they were wearing tank tops and jeans and sweat through their pants.

Back to the positive, the chairlift experience often is an opportunity to meet interesting and compelling people during a short but jovial journey. In one such conversation, I met a precocious nine-year old boy named Stephen, who told me he and his family, including his mother with whom we rode the lift, had recently visited London and Paris. He said he liked the food better in Paris, but that the food in London had improved over the years.

“And how would you know that?” his flabbergasted and amused mother asked. 

He shrugged.

“My mom travels a lot for her work, so she’s not always around,” Stephen said. “Sometimes, we get to go with her to fun places, though.” That statement seemed to offer an interesting window into the dynamic in their household.

Those chair lift rides, however, can take longer to board and to ride than expected. The lifts can  stop at inopportune times, near a snow gun that blankets skiers and snowboarders with snow we’d prefer were beneath our feet rather than trickling down our necks. Other times, people on those lifts swing their legs back and forth, making me feel as if I’m on someone else’s suspended rocking chair.

On a trip down the slopes, the speed and movement can be exhilarating. The swishing sound of the snow and the speed of the wind, without any mechanical noise from an engine, can allow us to experience the world at higher speeds, as the sound of rushing air and sliding skis combine to form a whispering symphony. At the bottom, our tired but rejuvenated muscles can relive the excitement from our self-directed ride.

We are not the only ones on the slopes and, while we might enjoy the thrill of a high speed run, we may also brace ourselves for the possibility that other skiers or snowboarders might push themselves beyond their limits. We could become bowling pins on a mountain, as others lose control, barrel into us and knock us down.

In the moment, the great unknown over the next plateau presents the opportunity to anticipate and embrace the terrain ahead. Perhaps the untrodden snow just past the peak has perfectly packed powder, the mogul (or bump, in modern parlance) is the right height and dimensions to catch some air, or the width and steepness of the slopes is exactly as we imagine when we dream of the ideal slope.

The other side of that peak, however, may have thin cover, with grass or even exposed rock, while someone may have taken a spill just beyond what we can see, turning them into obstacles we have to avoid.

While the pieces of equipment makes it possible for us to traverse snow covered mountains deftly, they are not designed for everyday maneuvering. Walking through a parking lot in ski boots can be torture for our shins, which may take days or more to forgive us for our skiing indulgence.

And, finally, the weather can offer the kind of glorious sunshine that transports us into an Ansel Adams poster or inserts us into picture postcard, with light shimmering off the tops of mountains, causing snow covered trees to glow. Then again, Mother Nature doesn’t care how much you spent on lift tickets and is perfectly happy to throw wind, rain, sleet and snow at you from every direction.

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By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

They weren’t really New Year’s resolutions but rather goals I set out for myself during the holidays when the office would be closed and we would be on a staycation. Did I meet them? Even though I was ill with a nasty upper respiratory infection for the entire time off, I did manage to accomplish the desired result.

What were they? I wanted to read two unusual books, recommended by The New York Times, over the 10 day period. And I did.

Now that may not sound like such a challenge to most people, but my reading, because of my job, is to keep up with the news. After all, I am a newspaper publisher and newspapers provide the first draft of history

So reading books, for me, is a luxury, and I’d like to tell you what two books I read because I found them engaging and would, in turn, readily recommend them. One was the beautifully written, “Horse,” by Pulitzer-prize winning author, Geraldine Brooks. I should tell you that my favorite reads are historical fiction and biographies. Those are, for me, effortless ways to learn history and any other subject with which the characters are involved.

“Horse” is indeed about a four-legged animal named Lexington, probably the most famous American racehorse in our history, who lived in the mid-1800s and about art. The horse is the literary device that ties the characters, who live in three different centuries, together. Some of them live before and after the Civil War, some in mid-century 1900s and the rest in the 2019. With that temporal range, Brooks touches on key themes: class, race, regional cultures, war, and the intelligence and loyalty of animals. The book, to a remarkable extent, is based on real people, as evidenced by the extensive research provided by the author in the coda called, “Lexington’s Historical Connections,” and it has a riveting plot.

Now I happen to love horses, always did from my earliest memories, when I was enchanted by the horses and riders on the trail in Central Park and begged to join them. I believe that’s a passion handed down through our genes. My mother’s father, I was told, was something of a horse whisperer, and my father was persuaded to take time from his work, something he almost never did, and accompany me one afternoon on a horseback ride through the park when I was about six years old. Since he had grown up on a farm, riding was familiar for him, although he did ask the stableman where we rented the horses if he could ride bareback rather than on what he called the “postage stamp” English saddle. The groom leading out the horses for us was stunned. Surprisingly he let us ride away toward the park.

But back to the book. It is not only the tale of the remarkable horse that engages the reader of this beautifully written novel. It is the rendering of the time and place in which each character lives, the deftly drawn personalities of the people who populate the stories, the challenges and tensions of their times, and ultimately how much and also how little times have changed.

And if you are an animal lover, the true heroes of the book are the animals.

The second book, which I happened to read first, was “The Wildes,” by Louis Bayard. While it doesn’t have the runaway narrative of “Horse,” it is more of a look back in time at the way Victorian England viewed homosexuality. The theme is developed through the lives of Oscar Wilde’s wife, Constance, and two sons. We meet them half a dozen years before his infamous trial in London, when they seem to be living a luxurious and loving pastoral existence. He is highly regarded as a famous author, playwright and witty companion, and she is involved in feminist causes.  Enter the aristocratic young poet, Lord Alfred Douglas, and the reality of life at that time begins to change the narrative. Ultimately it is Douglas’s provocative father, who causes Wilde to sue for libel, throwing his life open to titillating and legal inspection that brings ruin to the whole family.

The book is both witty for its clever dialogue and sad for all the shadows it reveals about the Wildes, society at the end of the 19th century, and what might have been in modern times.

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The flag at the Centereach Post Office flies at half staff in honor of former President Jimmy Carter on Jan. 6. Photo by Heidi Sutton

To honor former President Jimmy Carter’s death on Dec. 29, 2024, President Joe Biden announced that all U.S post offices will be closed on Thursday, Jan. 9. Carter was 100 when he died at his home in Plains, Georgia. The funeral for the country’s 39th president will be held on Thursday, and the federal government will be closed to honor the National Day of Mourning. As a result of the post offices’ closure, our paper will be mailed on Friday,  Jan 10.

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Photo courtesy of Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation

The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation is pleased to announce it has donated a total of $8,098,574 in grants to historic organizations across Long Island and beyond during calendar year 2024. Grant recipients were recognized during two rounds of awards luncheons hosted by the Smithtown Historical Society in June 2024 and Old Westbury Gardens in December 2024. Grants will be used by a variety of Long Island historic sites to fund initiatives ranging from educational programs and exhibitions to publications, scholarships, and construction and renovation projects.

Recipients of the First Round 2024 Grant Awards are:

Association of Public Historians of NYS

Byrd Hoffman Water Mill Foundation

Caumsett Foundation, Inc.

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory

Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society

Fraunces Tavern Museum

Greater Westhampton Historical Museum

Long Island Children’s Museum

Long Island Library Resource Council, Inc. – Long Island and NY State History Day

Long Island Museum of American Art History and Carriages

Long Island Seaport and Eco Center

Montauk Historical Society

New York University

Queens Museum

Waterfront Museum

Whaling Museum & Education Center

 

Recipients of the Second Round 2024 Grant Awards are:

Friends of Raynham Hall, Inc.

Jewish Historical Society of Long Island

Long Island Library Resource Council, Inc. – Long Island History Day

Long Island Maritime Museum

Nassau County Museum of Fine Art

New York Historical Society

Sag Harbor History Museum

The Church

The Cooper Union

The following organizations received grants as part of the Gardiner Foundation’s new Challenge Match Grant program. The program recognized each organization’s fundraising efforts by matching up to $10,000 raised for new offerings during 2024.

Conscience Point Shellfish Hatchery, Corp.

Fireboat Firefighters Museum

Friends of Lakeview Cemeteries

Historical Society of Greater Port Jefferson

Historical Society of Islip Hamlet

Long Beach Historical and Preservation Society

Mattituck Laurel Historical Society

Miller Place Mount Sinai Historical Society

North Sea Community House

Oyster Bay Railroad Museum

Quogue Historical Society

Rocky Point Historical Society and Museum

Victor D’Amico Institute of Art

Wading River Historical Society

The Gardiner Foundation also awarded $1,600 to each of 35 historic organizations for employing young people as part of the 2024 Gardiner Young Scholars Program. To learn more about the program, visit https://www.rdlgfoundation.org/news/77.

“Fulfilling the historic educational vision of Bob Gardiner is a great privilege for our Board and all at the Foundation,” said Kathryn M. Curran, Executive Director of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation.

ABOUT THE ROBERT DAVID LION GARDINER FOUNDATION

The mission of the Foundation is to educate, cultivate and encourage the study and understanding of Long Island and New York’s historic role in the American experience. The Foundation also supports scholarships and historic preservation, including study, stewardship and promotion of Long Island’s historic educational aspects. The Foundation was established by Robert David Lion Gardiner in 1987. Robert David Lion Gardiner was, until his death in August 2004, the 16th Lord of the Manor of Gardiner’s Island, NY. The Island was obtained as part of a royal grant from King Charles I of England in 1639. The Gardiner family and their descendants have owned Gardiner’s Island for 385 years. The Island remains private and is owned and maintained by direct Gardiner descendants to this day. The Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation remains inspired by Robert David Lion Gardiner’s personal passion for Long Island and New York history. Since 2015, the Foundation has awarded over $45 million to support historical societies, museums, archives, research, scholarships and renovation, restoration and adaptive reuse of historic sites.

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