Village of Port Jefferson

Retiring Trustee Stan Loucks accepts a gift of thanks from village officials at June 25 PJ trustees meeting. Photo by Lynn Hallarman

By Lynn Hallarman

The Port Jefferson Board of Trustees passed several environmentally focused resolutions at its June 25 meeting, ranging from a ban on single-use plastics at the Village Center to a letter urging the governor to support the modernization of MTA rail infrastructure.

E-bike concerns

The meeting began with a report from Suffolk County Police Officer Casey Berry of the 6th Precinct, who addressed ongoing frustrations surrounding e-bike safety and the limited enforcement tools currently available. Berry cited an increase in unsafe riding by minors and pointed to a tangle of state laws that restrict what local police can do. 

“Our hands are tied in so many ways. We’re trying to ask ourselves, what can we do?” she said. 

This reporter spoke with several locals who are concerned about minors racing around the village without helmets, traveling the wrong way on one-way streets or failing to yield to pedestrians. New York State law requires minors to wear a helmet while riding. 

“I shared our concerns with Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay (D) to help us regarding state legislation regulating e-bikes,” said Trustee Kyle Hill, liaison to the safety committee.  

Low flying helicopters

Resident Barbara Sabatino voiced concerns about helicopters flying low during takeoff and landing at the Northwell Health’s Skyhealth Heliport at Mather Hospital. 

Sabatino described several incidences when the helicopters flew low over trees. The noise was so loud, in one instance, she had to pause a conversation with a neighbor.

“I would like to remind Mather that their helicopter service sits right in the middle of a residential area,” Sabatino said. 

Local aviation expert Robert Grotell explained in a phone interview that weather is often the reason for deviations from standard flight procedures.

“It’s not just rain— it could be wind, fog or low cloud cover,” he said.  

“We will be in touch with Mather Hospital’s Community Relations Office to convey your observations,” Mayor Lauren Sheprow said. 

Single-use plastics 

EcoLeague members Jennifer Vest and Holly Fils-Amie stand next to BYOC sticker displayed at the Secret Garden Tea Room & Gift Shoppe in PJ Village, Nov 2023. Photo by Lynn Hallarman

The trustees approved a resolution banning single-use plastic cutlery at rented events held at the Port Jefferson Village Center. The decision received cheers from environmental advocates, Myrna Gordon and Holly Fils-Amie, who led a two-year campaign for sustainable practices at municipal venues. 

‘Holly, I appreciate the kind of research that you did to make the business case. Thank you,” said Trustee Xena Urgrinsky, liaison to the village finance committee.  

Fils-Amie also highlighted the Port Jefferson EcoLeague’s BYOC (Bring Your Own Container) initiative, which promotes reusable containers at local eateries.  BYOC stickers identify establishments that have agreed to fill patron’s own container rather than use single-use plastics.  According to Fills Amie, village participating businesses— Southdown Coffee, Locals Café, Tiger Lilly Café, and the Secret Garden Tea Room & Gift shoppe display stickers in their windows.

“I think it’s a very good starting point for moving toward other green initiatives and marketing ourselves as a green community,” Fils-Amie said. 

Walkability efforts 

Myrna Gordon announced that Cynthia Brown, the Director of New York Coalition for Transportation Safety, will speak at the July 14 Port Jeff Civic Association meeting.

Walkability is increasingly a key factor in evaluating livability in U.S. communities. While Port Jefferson does not have an official walkability score, USA Today recently ranked New York City tenth nationwide, with Philadelphia taking the top spot.

“When you are using the crosswalks, make eye contact with the drivers, or wave to the drivers. If they don’t look like they see you, don’t cross,” Gordon advised.

LIRR electrification support

Trustees passed a resolution to send a letter from the board urging Governor Kathy Hochul to sign New York State Assembly Bill A08560A, also known as the “Furthering Rail Transit in Suffolk Count Act.”  

The bill, sponsored by Assemblywoman and former village trustee Rebecca Kassay, asks the state Department of Transportation to finalize a permanent access and construction easement for a 40-acre parcel at the Lawrence Aviation Industries Superfund site. The parcel would house a new rail yard essential for electrifying the Port Jefferson LIRR Branch. Trains would be shifted off of diesel fuel, eliminating unhealthy locomotive fumes.

The legislation mandates that the land deal be completed before a firm deadline of June 30, 2025 at a nominal cost of $10 to the MTA.  

“This legislation is important because it’s the linchpin to the MTA actually committing to electrifying the Port Jeff Rail,” trustee Hill said. “You can see the exhaust coming out of the current diesel trains.” 

The bill grants a permanent access and construction easement on property currently used for the Greenway Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail.

 “A small section of the Greenway trail will be rerouted just to the south. I wouldn’t support this legislation if it threatened our Greenway trail,” Kassay told TBR News Media.

The Board of Trustees will hold an organizational meeting July 9 at 5 p.m. on the second floor of Village Hall. 

Citizens Commission on Erosion members and Port Jeff Mayor Lauren Sheprow (front left, leaning) examine a blueprint of the PJ Country Club on Feb. 20. Photo by Lynn Hallarman

By Lynn Hallarman

A newly-released interim report from the Port Jefferson Citizens Commission on Erosion offers a candid appraisal of mounting risks and financial pressures surrounding the East Beach Bluff Stabilization.

The report cites worsening erosion, persistent drainage challenges and the likelihood of rising construction costs as factors that could drive up the long-term expenses of Phase 2. In light of these concerns, the commission urges officials to conduct a thorough cost-benefit analysis of alternative strategies before moving forward.

The planned wall of Phase 2 will be constructed seaward of the club building, which sits near the edge of East Beach Bluff on the municipally-owned Port Jefferson Country Club property. According to officials, Phase 2 construction is tentatively scheduled for the fall of this year.

Any strategy moving forward, the commission argues, should recognize that the club building — perched dangerously close to the bluff’s crest — will ultimately need to be moved in the wake of rising sea levels, increasing storms and accelerated global erosion of Long Island’s shoreline.

“The report outlines multiple pathways forward,” Village Trustee Kyle Hill said on his Facebook page. “But each underscores a shared reality — we must begin planning for a strategic retreat [of the club building].”

Overview of the project

In 2017, the village hired GEI Consultants, an engineering firm based in Huntington Station, to develop a plan designed at curbing the rapid erosion of the East Beach Bluff. In recent years, wind, surf and storms have scoured the bluff of vegetation and steadily eaten away at its edge, ultimately leading to the collapse of the club’s gazebo and a section of the tennis courts that once were set perilously close to the brink. 

Phase 1, completed in June of 2023, included the construction of a reinforced steel and cement wall at the base of the East Beach Bluff, along with a series of terraces and native vegetation planted along its slope. 

Destruction of costly Phase 1 work of the bluff face vegetation in the wake of a series of severe storms late in 2023 and early 2024 complicated the overall cost and timelines of the project. [For further information about Phase 1 see TBR News Media website, “Report finds no maintenance or repairs carried out on Port Jeff East Beach Project,” Feb. 6.]

Phase 2, includes the installation of a second wall landward of the bluff crest with the intention of preventing the building from collapsing onto the shoreline below.

The design of Phase 2 is currently being revised to address drainage issues complicating the wall build, according to GEI Consultants’ 2024 Annual Bluff Monitoring Report, submitted to the village this May.

As of yet, the village has not received the updated engineering plans, trustee Bob Juliano confirmed during a recent commission meeting. 

Port Jefferson Country Club prior to collapse of gazebo and edge of tennis courts, undated photograph. Courtesy of PJ Village website

Financial questions linger

In 2021, village trustees projected the initial cost at around $10 million for the Phase 1 and 2 wall build and bluff restoration. This figure assumes at least three decades of structural stability to justify the investment. However, these cost estimates now appear to be outdated with recent inflation spikes and unaccounted expenditure, including a large drainage project, bluff repair and long-term maintenance costs.

The commission report calls for an updated cost analysis factoring these additional projects as well as costs related to potential supply chain uncertainty and tariffs on critical construction materials such as steel. 

Phase 2 is supported in part by FEMA money. The commission expressed concern that this funding may be rescinded in the current political climate, leaving local taxpayers to make up the difference.

“The commission is concerned over the reliability of FEMA funding and whether those funds could be withdrawn,” the report states.

Despite calls for a cost analysis of all options, village officials have not yet initiated a publicly vetted fiscal plan for relocating the facility or other options — something that the commission deems a critical omission in its findings.

GEI report warns of new damage

The recently-released 2024 Bluff Monitoring Report in May, paints a mixed picture. Conducted by GEI, the monitoring period covers from February 2024 to this March.

While the lower bluff wall — reinforced with a steel bulkhead, stone armor and vegetative plantings — has held up, the upper slope is showing new signs of distress, according to the report.

Three storm events in 2024 exacerbated erosion along the western slope. Further displacement of coir logs and terracing, expansion of gully formation, vegetation destruction and signs of internal sediment movement were all documented in the report’s inspections. GEI notes that drainage remains a major vulnerability.

Recommendations include temporary seeding and erosion control matting over denuded areas of the bluff face, sand backfill in certain sections of the lower wall, repairing cracks in the lower wall, inspection and maintenance of the lower wall, replacement of the displaced coir logs and a soil boring analysis at the bluff crest to help define drainage issues.

The report emphasizes the need for permanent drainage landward of the club building and reconfiguration of the current building drainage system southward.

A drainage plan and long-term maintenance plan were not part of the initial design or cost analysis for the entire project — Phase 1 and 2 — according to the commission research on the history of the project.

CCE’s concerns

The commission reviewed the recent GEI report in detail at the June 19 meeting held at the club building. Members appreciated the comprehensive summary and visual timeline of project work but had many concerns about the recommendations.

“What is this [GEI] report trying to accomplish besides complying with the state?” one member asked. “The report should help the village identify problems but also guide the corrective action.”

Members point to vague directives without clear implementation plans, missing details in technical specifications for reconstituting bluff damage, and unexplained rationales for root causes of problems such as why the gullies formed in the first place and are now expanding. One member wants to see a priority ranking of potentially costly recommendations made in the report.

“Does it even make sense to do all these recommendations? Or are we just shoveling against the tide?” another member said.

Bluff base west of the concrete Phase 1 lower wall showing destroyed coir logs, as at March this year. Photograph from the commission’s report

The commission plans to submit questions to GEI and the village board of trustees about the report recommendations, requesting a priority list, cost estimates and a clear funding plan.

Long-term outlook

Trustee Juliano, at a recent Meet the Candidates night, said: “We don’t even know how much the next phase [Phase 2] will cost, and the loss of long-term revenue from the catering facility [that runs private events at the clubhouse] should be taken into account when weighing the monetary pros and cons.”

However, some longtime residents express frustration over the use of millions in taxpayer dollars to subsidize a building that is underutilized by the broader community, with little evidence that it generates sufficient revenue to justify the expense of the stabilization project.

Over the years, many residents say they have seen the club building evolve from a vibrant municipal community center hosting local activities to a catering hall primarily serving private events. There is currently no restaurant at the clubhouse.

“Sadly, this valuable piece of public parkland continues to be underused by our village residents,” resident Myrna Gordon said. She has repeatedly called for a reimagining of the site where the clubhouse sits, including rebuilding inland to protect the bluff and the long-term viability of a club facility as a community asset.   

The village board, under newly reelected Mayor Lauren Sheprow, appears to be moving forward with plans for Phase 2 construction to install an upper wall.

“Protecting public assets and ensuring our approach is sustainable — not just structurally, but economically and environmentally,” Sheprow said at a recent public meeting.

Residents are encouraged to review the interim commission report and the GEI Bluff Monitoring Report, which are publicly available on the village website, and to share their input with the board of trustees. To view the CCE report, visit the village website and search for “Citizens Commission on Erosion.” To view the GEI 2024 Annual Monitoring Report search for “East Beach Bluff.”

“This is a moment for long-term thinking,” Hill said. “It’s a chance not just to respond to erosion — but to reimagine how this space can better serve the entire community.”

Port Jefferson Village Hall. Photo by Heidi Sutton 2023

By Lynn Hallarman

The Village of Port Jefferson board of trustees held its June work session addressing several key topics, including recommendations by the Citizens Committee on Erosion regarding Phase 2 of the East Beach Bluff Stabilization Project. Trustee Stan Loucks was not present.

Infrastructure projects

The board reviewed major infrastructure investments funded in part by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other grants. Trustees allocated $85,798 for storm drain cleaning, with 35 problematic drains identified so far and $322,000 for Sand Lane culvert repairs following damage sustained during the August 2023 storm.  

“I’m so excited about this,” said Trustee Kyle Hill. 

L.K. McLean Associates, a Brookhaven-based engineering firm, is assisting the village in flood prevention efforts. Work is underway, including drone-based topographical mapping and meetings with local stakeholders, such as the Port Jefferson School District and fire commissioners. 

“They’ve hit the ground running,” said Mayor Lauren Sheprow. “There’s real potential for design solutions that make a difference.”

Public safety 

Hill updated the board on enforcement activities and public safety. He proposed extending noise ordinance protections to include federal holidays and suggested relocating a speed reader to East Main Street to address speeding complaints. 

Financial oversight  & technology

Treasurer Stephen Gaffga reported $1.9 million in golf club membership revenue and discussed preparations for the fiscal year 2025 audit. A finalized capital asset valuation report has resolved a decades-long material weakness flagged by auditors.  

The village is also implementing new software to enhance cybersecurity as it prepares to transition to a .gov domain. 

Single-use plastics

Trustees Bob Juliano and Hill reviewed a draft proposal to ban single-use plastics for renters at the Village Center.  The proposal emphasizes known environmental hazards linked to fossil-fuel-derived single-use plastics. Once discarded, these plastics are often incinerated at high temperatures, a process that requires hundreds of millions of gallons of water from Long Island’s aquifers, according to local experts cited in the proposal. 

The Port Jefferson=based Eco-League has offered to create an appendix listing sources for compliant cutlery and cups. The Main Street business, Simple Good, has volunteered to act as a local preferred vendor for eco-friendly alternatives, according to Hill.

Village residents Myrna Gordon and Holly Fils-Aime championed the initiative. Gordon rushed to Village Hall during the work group session to personally thank the board for moving forward with the initiative. The board will take a final vote at the next trustees public meeting. 

Bluff report

Residents Flemming Videbaek and Bob Laravie of the Citizens Commission on Erosion delivered a presentation on the East Beach Bluff Stabilization Project.  Chair David Knauf was unable to attend. Videbaek provided an overview of the commission’s interim report on Phase 2.

Sheprow formed the volunteer commission in the fall of 2024 after residents raised concerns that the multi-million-dollar, multiphase stabilization project lacked sufficient community input. 

The commission’s report evaluates plans for Phase 2, which includes installing a 545-foot-long, 47-foot-deep steel barrier along the bluff’s crest, just seaward of the Port Jefferson Country Club. The wall is intended to stabilize the club building and prevent it from collapsing onto the shoreline. 

“The main focus of the report is to analyze Phase 2, look at alternatives, assess the pros and cons of each option and conduct a risk analysis,” Videbaek said.

He stressed the importance of conducting a full cost-benefit analysis, including consideration of rebuilding the clubhouse to a less vulnerable inland site before moving forward with the Phase 2 wall build. 

“A detailed fiscal analysis of the total project cost and options should be presented to the taxpayers before construction begins,” he said.  “It must be emphasized that at some point the relocation of the building will be necessary.”

Laravie focused his comments on drainage issues at the bluff’s crest and the importance of coordinating plans with Lessing’s Hospitality Group, the newly contracted catering company for the country club, which is planning a “plantings beautification project” in the area affected by drainage problems. 

Hill commented on the importance of smart landscaping in this area, suggesting the use of native plants instead of nonnative ornamentals. 

“Native plants need to be watered less— I’m imagining we would not want to be running sprinklers right there every day” Hill said. 

The mayor did not comment on the commission’s request for comprehensive cost analysis including a possible retreat plan, but reiterated her goal is to develop a master plan for the country club that includes the future of the club building. 

“We need a master plan,” Trustee Xena Urgrinsky said. “I would love to see more reasons for nongolfers to visit. I’d also like to see a design for the green spaces.” 

To view the full report, visit the village website and search for “Citizens Commission on Erosion.” 

The next public meeting of the Board of Trustees is scheduled for June 25 at 6 p.m. at Village Hall.

Left to right: Kathianne Snaden, Lauren Sheprow, Mathew Franco, Robert Juliano and Julie Vitrano. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

By Sabrina Artusa

In anticipation of the June 17 vote, five candidates assembled at the Port Jefferson Village Center for a meet-the-candidates night, where they spoke on pressing village concerns and their leadership priorities.  The mayoral seat and two trustee seats are open, as Mayor Lauren Sheprow and trustee Robert Juliano’s two-year terms are at an end and each are up for reelection. 

The event, sponsored by the Port Jefferson Chamber of Commerce and the Civic Association of Port Jefferson, allowed each candidate to answer previously submitted questions from residents, with topics ranging from the East Beach Bluff Stabilization Project to transparency and communication. 

Incomers Matthew Franco and Julie Vitrano are also vying for a trustee seat left vacant with the exit of Stan Louks. Franco has 10 years of experience in construction, is an occupational therapist and has worked with disabled children. “Most importantly, I want to bring honestly and integrity and decency back into village government,” he said

Vitrano is a real estate agent and mother of three sons. With her 20-years experience in the real estate industry, Vitrano said she is knowledgeable about code compliance and mindful of commercial development. ”Yes, I am a real-estate agent but that doesn’t mean I want to overbuild”, she said.

Juliano is finishing his first term, during which he was deputy mayor, commissioner of the Department of Public Works and liaison for the Parks and Recreation Advisory Counsel, Conservation Advisory Council and the Citizens Committee  of Erosion. He was previously a clerk for the Village of Westbury and an administrator for the Village of Port Jefferson.

Former deputy mayor and two-term trustee, Kathianne Snaden is challenging Sheprow for mayor. In 2023, Sheprow defeated Snaden for the role, but Snaden said she is running to continue the service and to “bring back the heart and soul of the community.” 

“At the end of this meeting,” Snaden said. “I think you will see that I am not only prepared to become mayor, but am already doing the work.” 

As her term came to a close, Sheprow reviewed her policies and actions from the past two years and reiterated her position on issues such as the East Beach Bluff, the country club, flooding and transparency. She is the daughter of former Mayor Harold Sheprow and has raised her three children in the area. “Port Jefferson is on a better path because we have done the hard work together,” she said. “I am running for reelection because there is more to do.” 

Development and schools

Candidates emphasize collaboration with the school district, which is facing declining enrollment and the loss of LIPA’s tax contributions. With many of the candidates having children that attended the district, they acknowledged its tremendous 

To promote economic growth, Snaden spoke of several programs, such as an incentive initiative that would encourage residents to shop in the village through monthly events, a punch card, or a village-specific app that serves as a guide for residents and tourists while also promoting businesses.

Sheprow, who created the Economic Opportunity Task Force, said shop-front vacancies aren’t as big an issue as the larger vacancies like the Gap building and McDonalds might suggest, with the real number being around 9%. The task force works with the Business Improvement District to determine what shops would be appropriate. 

In 2013, the village created a comprehensive plan intended to guide village development for the following two decades. However, Sheprow said it may need an upgrade: an idea reiterated by Juliano, who said uptown development was one of the three major concerns in the village. 

“We can make all the plans we want but we have to make sure to put them into place,” he said, promising to work with Planning Commissioner Andrew Freeling to get uptown “to what we want.” A plan could help guide developers and provide a framework for unity in the village, balancing both respect for the village’s history and intentional progress. 

“We have to make sure they bring in businesses that are going to attract people to the community and revitalize some of Port Jefferson,” Franco said

“I can only name five rental offices or spaces that are vacant,” said Vitrano. She added that more festivals and events throughout the year would help “bring the society back to the village”.

Bluff and country club

Of the candidates, Franco was alone in speaking definitively against proceeding with the bluff project. He argued the town was simply buying time against the inevitable environmental deterioration of the area. “The real problem is that we are never going to beat Mother Nature…I don’t think we should spend millions of dollars of hard-earned taxpayer money to buy time,” he said, noting the continuing maintenance the wall would require. 

Juliano, the liaison for the Citizens Committee on Erosion, said they are meeting with engineers every two weeks and waiting for their proposed plan for the final stage of the bluff project.  “We don’t know what the other part of the project will look like,” he said. After those results come in, they will make an educated decision. Sheprow confirmed: they do not know what the following steps will constitute.

Vitrano, on the other hand, said she does not believe Phase I should have been approved without a “clear plan from the engineers.” Since it began, she said, the project has been entrenched with “questionable spending” and called for a public referendum before Phase II is considered. She stated needing to look at reports before making a decision on future bluff projects. 

Snaden argued the public was not involved enough throughout the process and that the current board is not truly exploring all options. The additional fiscal stress from losing LIPA’s contributions to the tax base concerns Snaden, so she said embarking on the expensive bluff project may not be in the village’s best interest. 

Juliano said they don’t even know how much the next phase will cost, and the loss of long-term revenue from the country club should be taken into account when weighing the monetary pros and cons.

Juliano said she is not committed to the bluff project and does not “have a plan ready yet” as she continues reviewing documents and plans with the engineering firm GEI. “We are challenging the engineering firm on every level,” she said, adding that she welcomes her constituents asking “the tough questions.” 

With Lessing’s Hospitality Group entering a new contract to lease the Port Jefferson Country Club, Franco protested the lack of stipulations requiring a restaurant; he listed the contract as one of the village’s three major issues. “There is no pressure to operate a restaurant…and we will be choked by that contract for a very long time,” he said. 

Snaden said the club “must become a self-sustaining community asset.” Lessing’s contract is doing just that, according to Sheprow, who said the previous contract was an “exhaustive liability” and Lessing’s, who operates restaurants at parks like Sunken Meadow State Park, is “committed to doing something really good.”

Transparency

Sheprow said she initially wanted to run after not being included in a vote on a $10 million bond during a time Snaden was on the board. Snaden responded that several public sessions were held before the vote took place. However, Sheprow criticized the lack of conversation and openness of the town hall at that time. “There was a lack of fiscal management [and] a lack of town hall,” Sheprow said.  

Snaden and Franco said Sheprow has not made vital bluff reports accessible to the Citizen’s Commission on Erosion, delaying the completion of their interim report. Franco said the reason for the delay is because the report advised for moving the building back. Jiuliano acknowledged a delay in providing some reports, but said they were going to hear the report the next day and will post it online thereafter. 

Increasing the accessibility of village hall is a point of pride for Sheprow, Snaden and Juliano, who host sit-downs once a month where residents can speak about their concerns or ask questions.

Snaden addressed an accusation that she unethically accepted money from the village taxpayers for photographs she took of the Dickens Festival; however, she said she recused herself from the vote that resulted in a village payment to her and it was included on the auditor’s report. “Everything was done in public,” she said. 

The upcoming election is preceded by fierce campaigning and fiery online and public discourse that was alluded to several times during the event. Before introducing himself, Franco condemned the “slanderous nonsense” and accused Vitrano of causing his family embarrassment. 

Vitrano, in her closing statement, made similar claims, saying members of the village were attempting to coerce her to not run. She said, “I’ve been told what to say, what not to say, who I should associate with and even who not to be friends with.” 

“This is not how our community works,” she said. “This is not how democracy should operate. This is nonsense and it needs to stop, no matter who wins this election.”

Snaden promised to revamp the public safety department if elected. “Currently we don’t have a public safety department,” Snaden said. “Our former code enforcement that prioritizes public safety and the safety of our community now focuses on parking tickets and building code violations. I want to bring an all new public safety department to our village.”  She said she would also promote collaboration with the Suffolk County Police Department. Vetrano agreed a bigger police presence is necessary. 

Juliano told the audience that, by law, the code enforcement cannot pull vehicles over. Sheprow said that enforcing the ordinances is an essential part of ensuring the code and that the village recently hired 11 new officers. “There are plenty of ordinances to enforce in our village code so they have their hands full,” she said.

The election is on June 17 at the Port Jefferson Village Center from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.

A picture of the property Tsunis proposed to be annexed. The upper gray portion indicates the Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson. File photo.

By Sabrina Artusa

The property owned by Northwind Group will remain under Brookhaven jurisdiction. The Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees and the Brookhaven Town Board voted against the annexation proposed by the developer. 

Developer Jim Tsunis and his son Demetrius petitioned for Brookhaven to annex the property to the Village of Port Jefferson, which would enable him to develop a 48-unit apartment complex. After Brookhaven rejected the zoning change that would authorize the project, Tsunis initiated the annexation request. 

In March, Tsunis, his son and his attorney addressed both the Town of Brookhaven and the Village of Port Jefferson in a joint hearing, where he and his attorney Michael Towey argued that the annexation would prevent the village from being impacted by any future development decisions the town would make. His 5.6-acre property off Baylis Avenue and Sheep Pasture Road is only accessible through the village.

The elder Tsunis addressed the board one final time on May 28 at a trustee meeting, prior to their vote. He urged the board to vote in support of the annexation. 

Brookhaven voted against the petition on May 22. The resolution findings state that the property and village lack “requisite unity of purpose and facilities to constitute a community.” This conclusion rests on the feedback from civic groups, concerns from the Terryville Fire Department and the disunity annexation would create for children who would live in the Village of Port Jefferson but attend Comsewogue School District. 

Further, the analysis states that “constructing additional residential dwelling units immediately adjacent to an active rail yard, where trains idle even when they are not moving, is not in the overall public interest.” The Baylis property sits next to the Lawrence Aviation site, where a new rail yard is set to be built, pending the MTA’s completion of purchase. 

“A vote against this annexation will burden the residents of the Sheep Pasture Road with the future of industrial buildings, trucks and traffic,” Tsunis said. “Don’t yield to the political pressure of the town of Brookhaven.” 

Other residents reiterated opposing arguments, warning the board that a yes vote would set a “dangerous precedent” of “municipality-shopping” when a proposal is rejected. Kathleen McLane, a member of the Port Jefferson Civic Association, said Tsunis is “presenting a false choice” in implying the land will be used for industrial purposes if the annexation does not take place. 

Tsunis has said that his motivation for the annexation is unrelated to Brookhaven’s rejection and solely for the best interest of the village where he resides. 

At the public hearing in March, Tsunis received over 50 letters of support. Supporters had mentioned that additional housing will help revitalize the community.

By Greg Catalano

Port Jefferson celebrates Memorial Day on May 26 with a ceremony at Port Jefferson Memorial Park at 10 a.m. 

Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setauket), Village of Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow, NYS Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay (D-Port Jefferson) and Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) spoke of the many sacrifices given by those who served their country. 

Boy scouts laid wreaths at the memorial. Taps played to close out the ceremony, which was held by the American Legion Wilson Ritch Post 432. 

–Photos by Greg Catalano

By Sofia Febles

The sun was beaming down on parkland located on Caroline Avenue in Port Jefferson May 3, where two families gathered to honor their fathers. Two pillars of Port Jefferson were honored today: Joe Erland and Harry Heywood. 

Joe Erland, also known as Mr. Port Jefferson, was a Port Jefferson Fire Department commissioner, village trustee and deputy mayor. A lover of softball, the field in Heywood Park was rededicated as Joe Erland Field. As Port Jefferson Village Mayor Lauren Sheprow mentioned during the ceremony, “Joe Erland has been described by his peers as humble, kind-hearted, and approachable…He always wanted to help people around him.” 

Harry and Lois Heywood were commended for their tremendous contributions to the village. Harry Heywood and his wife Lois were married in 1931 where they began developing their legacy. They were involved in many organizations including the Ground Observation Corps and the Aircraft Warning Service that Harry developed and volunteered at.

Harry Heywood developed Suassa park, where he constructed a 40-foot watchtower that serves as a lookout point for aircrafts during World War II. The Heywoods utilized the park for the town’s benefit, creating parks and athletic fields for kids and adults to play baseball, softball, and soccer for many years and more years to come. They donated the ballfield and creek to the community in the 1950’s.

Many people spoke at the dedication ceremony including Deputy Mayor Bob Juliano, Legislator Steven Englebright, former Parks & Recreation Director Ron Carlson, Pete Heywood and Steve Erland, Joe Erland’s son. The people who spoke talked very highly about Joe Erland and the Heywood family. Englebright said, “parks last forever.” Englebright said we want to “appreciate and remember these important people who contributed so much to Port Jefferson”. 

Erland has a son named Steve and two daughters named Michelle and Andrea. Steve Erland said his father “dedicated his life to this village.” 

Peter Heywood, Harry and Louis’ son, and Peter’s daughter Randi were amazed and honored to have the park named after their family. The mayor mentioned that this couple were” two pillars of Port Jefferson whose civic contributions and love story helped shape Port Jefferson Village for nearly a century.” Peter Heywood and his daughters Randi and Lisa have continued their legacy and have been contributing to the parks. Sheprow said, “All of Port Jefferson now proudly remembers this is not just a park, but as Heywood Park- where love, learning and legacy live on”. 

The Joe Erland Field at Heywood Park will always be a reflection of the impact Erland and the Heywoods have made in Port Jefferson.

Annual event benefits the Fortunato Breast Health Center

Join Mather Hospital in Port Jefferson on Sunday, May 18 for the annual Northwell Walk to Raise Health to support the Fortunato Breast Health Center.

Presented by Four Leaf Federal Credit Union, the Walk brings together family, friends and team members for a five-mile walk through the scenic villages of Port Jefferson and Belle Terre. The day includes music, raffles, photo props, a walker warm up session, and the return of the popular Pink Your Pooch contest for the best “pinked” pup! Check-in opens at 8:30 a.m. and the Walk steps off at 10 a.m.

Sponsored by New York Cancer & Blood Specialists, King Quality Roofing and Siding, Riverhead Toyota, and CSDNET the Northwell Walk to Raise Health at Port Jefferson raises awareness of the need for regular breast cancer screenings starting at age 40. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in the United States, except for skin cancers according to the American Cancer Society It accounts for about 30% (or 1 in 3) of all new female cancers each year. The average risk of a woman in the United States developing breast cancer sometime in her life is about 13%, or a 1 in 8 chance. 

The event will be held simultaneously with other walks in Riverhead, Jones Beach, Staten Island and Westchester County. Last year’s Northwell Health Walk was attended by more than 6,000 people who came together across five Northwell Health Walk locations to raise more than $1.14 million for local hospital programs and services.

According to Northwell’s website, the Walk began 15 years ago as the “Every Woman Matters Walk,” inspired by the vision of philanthropists Iris and Saul Katz. Since its inception, the Northwell Health Walk has raised more than $8 million and supports Northwell’s Outpacing the Impossible campaign, a comprehensive $1.4 billion fundraising effort that supports Northwell’s promise to the people it serves. 

The campaign’s objectives include improving hospitals and clinical programs, accelerating research and funding endowment.

On May 18, walk for a family member or friend fighting breast cancer, a breast cancer survivor, or in memory of someone whose life was cut short by this disease. Form a team with family, friends, or co-workers, join a team or walk as an individual, or sponsor a team or walker. Help raise funds for the Walk and collect Walk Fundraising Rewards. Participants can begin earning rewards by raising just $100! All rewards will be waiting for you at the Walk. To register, visit www.northwellhealthwalk.com.

EarthCam showing live footage of Port Jefferson Harbor. Photo courtesy of Earthcam

By William Stieglitz

On the morning of April 14, an approximate total of 30,000 gallons of partially treated sewage was discharged into Port Jefferson Harbor over the course of two hours. According to the Suffolk County Department of Public Works, the discharge was caused by an electrical malfunction on a ultraviolet disinfection unit.  Upon identifying the problem, the plant ran the effluent through a second UV system, while they repaired and tested the first, then returned to routine operations. While the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation confirmed that the plant is now operating normally, but there are still health concerns. 

Port Jefferson village put out an alert, saying the sewage reached the surface of the water, and without the sewage having been fully disinfected, it can carry high levels of pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Residents and visitors are warned “to take precautions before recreating in Port Jefferson Harbor.” Additionally, the DEC announced a temporary closure on shellfishing for the harbor and its tributaries. The closure impacts approximately 1,639 acres of shellfishing beds in the NS5 harvest area, including Setauket Harbor, the Narrows and Conscience Bay, and will last until the department determines shellfish in the area are safe to use for food.

The response from local environmental groups has been one of concern for both the human and ecological impact. “It’s early spring, which means it’s spawning and breeding time for many species,” said Adrienne Esposito, executive director of Citizens Campaign for the Environment. She explained that finfish like winter flounder were at risk, as well as turtles and birds of prey that feed on juvenile fish. The horseshoe crab was of particular concern, as its population is already in steep decline in New York’s north and south shores. “This is the time when we want to protect this species, not add pollution to the water, which would harm them.”

Esposito predicted it would take “at least a couple of days” before the waters return to a normal state, but that it “is dependent upon water circulation and the tide.” She also said it would help for the DEC to do an investigation of what caused the UV unit to malfunction. “Is it because the unit is old? Does it need to be upgraded?” she asked. “Accidents happen, alright. And we understand that. But they need to assess the root cause and prevent it from happening again in the future.”

The back of the property that was once the Gap clothing store. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

By Caroline O’Callaghan

During the April 10 Incorporated Village of Port Jefferson planning board meeting, town officials conceptualized potential expansions to various properties, as they grappled with hypothetical stipulations and amendment alternatives from zoning standard compliance to parking accessibility. 

Those properties included a long-overlooked site, 100 Arden Place, formerly known as the Gap clothing store location. 

Senior Planner Daniel Gross summarized the applicant’s plan of developing the site into a boutique hotel. The project, in preliminary stages, is a four-story proposal with “mixed-use developments on the ground floor, a hotel lobby, [and] two stories of a 40-unit hotel space on the second and third-story.” The fourth story would house a rooftop bar and outdoor dining space, potentially, something Gross said would be “a unique feature within the C1 district.” The impacts on parking accessibility were a concern. 

“Valet parking for hotel guests at St. Charles is the ideal solution,” said planning board member Laura Zimmerman. Zimmerman was referring to a lesser used parking lot located on the grounds of St. Charles Hospital. By giving the hotel guests free valet parking to the lot, this would avoid any further parking congestion issues in uptown Port Jefferson village. Parking is a big consideration for the project, since the rights to the parking adjacent to the Gap site have changed numerous times since it was initially bought in 1985. The Port Jefferson Gap was operational from 1992 to 2019. 

Board members addressed prospective zoning conflicts. The scope of the project may change over time and require rezoning, based on the State Environmental Quality Review Act classifications. The project is considered a Type 1 action pursuant to SEQRA, requiring a full environmental assessment based on the tall height of the building. Gross explained, “a short environmental assessment form has been submitted, but hasn’t been reviewed by SEQRA staff yet.” Gross mentioned potentially seeking rezoning from C1 to C2 district in order to maintain compliance, since C2 has a higher floor area ratio than that of the C1 district. 

The fourth-story bar and restaurant would require its own assessment in order to review how noise and lighting impact the community upon its completion.

The applicant of the proposal would prefer to have a larger restaurant space and smaller or less hotel units, citing it as being more convenient for the mobility of Port Jefferson village residents and visitors. Advertising would be seen from the ferry, all the way into Connecticut. 

The planning board discussed more than the hotel boutique. The meeting started with a review of draft minutes from last month’s meeting on village code: Chapter 129. The code aligns with issues pertaining to steep slopes and subsequent flood damage. They segued into other matters, which included another proposal for a four-story mixed-use property. 

“When it comes to impacts, SEQRA gives the board all the latitude beyond our code to look at things and issues and request supplemental information, so in this discussion I was saying that SEQRA and Chapter 129, which is the VEQRA — Village SEQRA — allows the staff to go

ahead and go contact [property owners] to work on these issues without having to have a code section that says steep slopes,” said Lee Rosner (planning board trustee), who led the meeting. Rosner continued, “Village SEQRA gives the board’s ability to review all the latitudes to pull up any steep slope of a property to see a slope analysis.” This renders 129 unnecessary. It was determined that the village should have some of its own guidelines while complying to SEQRA standards when it comes to steep slopes. 

The board motioned to approve the minutes as amended, citing that the code should state “allows staff to work with property owners to address environmental issues” rather than “allows staff to contact property owners.” 

Board members also heard a presubmission application of a four-story apartment building project at 1506-1512 Main Street. The current building would be demolished and replaced with a 35,000-square-foot apartment complex that would house 40 apartments — seven studios and 33 one-bedrooms. The building meets all zoning requirements and FAR standards.