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Do you recognize this person? Photo from SCPD
Do you recognize this person? Photo from SCPD

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

A man and a woman allegedly stole clothing valued at approximately $500 from Dicks Sporting Goods, located at 620 Smith Haven Mall on September 4 at approximately 6:50 p.m.

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

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Adam Gonzalez, PhD. Photo by Jeanne Neville/SBU

Adam Gonzalez, PhD, Associate Professor and Vice Chair of Behavioral Health in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health in the Renaissance School of Medicine (RSOM) at Stony  Brook University, is one of 11 fellows in New York State to be named to the State University of New York’s (SUNY)  Hispanic Leadership Institute (HLI) Class for 2024.

A licensed clinical psychologist and researcher, Dr. Gonzalez is an expert in cognitive behavioral treatment for mood and anxiety disorders, relaxation and mindfulness-based treatments, and behavioral medicine. His research, including work focused on evaluating stress management and resilience training programs, has been supported by over $5 million in federal funding.

“I am incredibly honored to have been selected as a fellow for the SUNY HLI 2024 cohort,” said Dr. Gonzalez, who will begin his 2024 HLI experience in January.  “Thank you to SUNY leadership for this opportunity. I look forward to learning from others and doing my part to advance SUNY’s mission.”

The Mastic Beach resident is the Founding Director of Stony Brook’s Mind-Body Clinical Research Center, which seeks to improve the mental and physical health of individuals and communities through providing integrative mental and physical healthcare, conducting basic and applied innovative research, and training tomorrow’s clinical research leaders. And much of his work with colleagues accelerated during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, with programs and services dedicated to both patients and healthcare workers.

“By working to increase Hispanic and ally representation in leadership positions, the HLI provides its fellows with the skills needed to ensure they are represented at the decision-making table and know they’ll be valued and supported throughout their careers at SUNY,” Chancellor King said in a statement, adding that Dr. Gonzalez and the other class members “are role models to colleagues and students, and we congratulate them as they start their HLI journey. I would also like to thank our legislative partners for their continued and unwavering commitment to the success of the HLI.”

Since its inception in 2017, HLI has named fellows to the program to take part in a demanding six-month experience for SUNY leaders of Hispanic descent and their allies that position them to develop further higher education leadership skills and proficiencies. HLI fellows participate in training sessions and webinars, and converse with national and statewide Hispanic leaders. HLI creates a pipeline for professional opportunities across SUNY and ensures alumni are networking and receiving continuous support and mentorship. HLI is housed within SUNY’s Office Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

For more information, see this SUNY press release.

 

Caption: Adam Gonzalez, PhD

Credit: Jeanne Neville

 

Editor’s Note: Adam Gonzalez lives in Mastic Beach, NY

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President John F. Kennedy's motorcade in Dallas on Nov. 22, 1963. Photo by Victor Hugo King/Public domain
By Bill Landon

On Nov. 22, 1963, I was a 7-year-old who had convinced my mother that I didn’t feel well enough to go to school that day. It was the Friday before Thanksgiving.

Not long after lunch, the TV began interrupting the regularly scheduled programs with news of a shooting in Dallas. No matter what channel I turned to — there were only 12 back then — it was the same. President John F. Kennedy (D) had been shot.

Later in the afternoon, my mother was talking with many people on the phone. As a 7-year-old, I didn’t understand what was happening other than my mother growing more hysterical as the day wore on. I faintly remember my older sister coming home from school early, but I still didn’t understand what was happening.

There was a palpable fog that hung over us that would just get worse two days later when we watched Dallas nightclub owner Jack Ruby shoot and kill Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged assassin, on live television.

I don’t remember anything about our traditional Thanksgiving dinner that year, but I remember the fog lasting for weeks.

Bill Landon is a sportswriter and photographer for TBR News Media.

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Voting booths at Rocky Point High School. File photo by Kyle Barr

By Carolyn Sackstein

I am a consumer of news.

In addition to writing for TBR News Media, I read, watch and listen to various news formats. The troubling reports of harassment and intimidation of poll workers across this country have both saddened and angered me.

I have long believed that citizens must actively engage in the democratic process. I get a thrill each time I vote. And so, it became incumbent upon me to do more than just vote and donate to organizations that promote the election process.

My journey to do more started in September when I participated in a League of Women Voters of Suffolk County event in Patchogue. After learning that there was a shortage of election workers, I was determined to do my part.

After the event, during which I handed out voter registration forms and voter information literature, I drove to the Suffolk County Board of Elections at 700 Yaphank Ave. in Yaphank. I was greeted by a friendly and professional staff, who assisted me in signing up for a position as an election inspector.

They verified that I met the requirements. The staff asked which of the yearly training dates I would prefer to attend. I was then informed that I would receive a letter confirming the date, place and time of my training.

Training occurred at Brookhaven Town Hall and was conducted by a SCBOE employee. Each trainee received a detailed booklet. The three-hour class covered matters of election law. The procedures for opening and closing the election site were quite detailed.

Yes, there was a test at the end of the class. Each prospective election inspector was required to pass the test before being certified and sworn in with an oath of office. Election inspectors are compensated for required training sessions and when they work on early-voting days and on Election Day at an assigned polling site. Before leaving, we were told to expect a letter in October that would inform us to report to our assigned site at 5 a.m. on Election Day.

On Tuesday, Nov. 7, I walked into my assigned polling site at 4:57 a.m. It was only five minutes from my house. An experienced co-worker greeted me. As the three other workers arrived, we began the setup process. We were fortunate in that our location served only one election district. Other sites may have multiple election districts. 

Our first voter arrived seconds after 6 a.m. The remainder of the day passed as a continuous stream of voters moved through the signature verification process and received their ballots. Our experienced coordinator helped those who needed assistance with a variety of issues.

Four people did not show up to work. As a result of being short-handed, we did not have any “breaks.” We watched for a lull in the line so we could go to the restroom. Rarely was the line backed up, and never by more than about seven people.

Next year, the demand for poll workers will be greater due to an expected larger turnout.

The main complaint was from people who did not recall getting instructions on their polling location and arrived at the wrong place. We verified their polling site and, if needed, provided directions. 

The voting public was courteous, and many thanked us for our efforts. One voter overheard our coordinator mention to a co-worker that he had not eaten all day. The voter returned with a dozen donuts to be shared. His appreciation and kindness made the long day worthwhile.

Polls closed at 9 p.m. We packed up and secured all equipment and ballots. Our day ended at 11 p.m.

As a first-timer, I had been a bit anxious. I was blessed with patient, helpful and supportive co-workers. My primary takeaway? Becoming an election inspector was worthwhile, fulfilling and deeply satisfying. I felt safe.

I encourage everyone who qualifies to become an election inspector. It is a singularly edifying and enriching experience. To lend a helping hand for the betterment of our democracy, please visit www.elections.ny.gov/becomepollworker.html.

The writer is a reporter for TBR News Media.

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File photo

By Samantha Rutt

Brookhaven Town Board held a public hearing on Thursday, Nov. 9, to consider the 2024-2028 Preliminary Capital Budget, exclusive of special districts.

The Preliminary Capital Budget is a plan for capital expenditures, which are projects expected to have a useful life of more than one year. The budget includes projects such as road repairs, parks improvements, building renovations and landfill expansion.

The town’s commissioner of finance, Tamara Branson, opened the hearing by presenting highlights of the 2024 preliminary operating budget. The total appropriations for the operating budget amount to just over $335 million. This represents an increase in spending of 1.6%, with a rise in the town property tax levy of about 1%. 

In her presentation, Branson noted the preliminary budget will use no fund balance to balance the budget in the seven major tax districts. Outgoing town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) — who is leaving office later this year to become Suffolk County executive — praised the budget.

“No fund balance has been used,” he said. “It’s all structurally balanced,” adding, “I think that’s important because some people lose that. Sometimes, you see towns using the fund balance or the reserves to balance a budget. We have not done that for years.”

The finance commissioner mentioned that the preliminary budget complies with New York State’s 2% levy cap, the town’s Tax Rate and Debt Management Cap and all fund balance policies adopted by the Town Board.

Branson’s presentation also noted no reduction in constituent services or total full-time staffing. The presentation further pointed out that the preliminary budget would lower property taxes across the nine ambulance districts by a combined 4.6%.

In the preliminary operating budget townwide summary, Branson noted the tax levy to be almost $195 million. Contrarily, to help balance the budget, the non-property tax revenues will equate to $140 million. To this, the finance commissioner commented on the work of the town Finance Department to help stabilize the budget.

“This is the area we have all been working on for the past decade,” Branson said. “To grow the non-property tax revenues.”

Romaine emphasized the importance of generating revenue from other sources, such as renewable energy.

“We want to encourage revenues from other sources, like solar,” he noted. “The more we grow non-property tax revenue, the less people have to pay — or the less we have to raise property taxes.”

Property taxes hold the most significant of the six major budget funds, supporting 54.5% of the total revenues. Second to property taxes, the town’s landfill, recycling and sustainability management contribute 22.3%. Building, fire prevention, and planning/environmental comprise the next biggest portion at 12.7%. The remainder of the total revenue includes parks, franchises, mortgage tax and state aid.

The preliminary budget’s planned expenditures are dedicated to employee compensation, employee benefits, contractual and equipment, and debt service. Romaine commented on the reduction of debt service, noting that the percentage of the town’s expenditures on debt service has decreased by 5% in the last decade.

The budget will feature new bond and reserve-funded projects totaling $47.9 million. Most of this sum will be allocated to highway development and improvement, focusing on roads, drainage, traffic safety, and updated machinery and equipment.

The remaining funds will support other projects such as parks and recreation facilities and equipment, open space preservation, public safety, planning and environmental, and landfill infrastructure improvements.

According to Romaine’s report of Sept. 29, the operating budget “reduces landfill revenues to reflect loss of volumes in 2023” and “grows the Landfill Post-Closure Reserve by $1 million to an anticipated $26 million.”

“I think this is a good budget,” the departing town supervisor indicated. “It is a very stable budget. It holds taxes very low — far below the rate of inflation — and allows us to move forward into the future.”

The board will consider the 2024-2028 Preliminary Capital Budget, exclusive of all special districts, during a public meeting on Thursday, Nov. 16.

To view the full hearing, please visit brookhavenny.gov/meetings.

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Photo courtesy Moloney’s Port Jefferson Station Funeral Home

Hazel Louise (Kanzler) Cardillo was a light so bright that her glow forever warms those blessed to know her.

As the sun rose on Monday, Nov. 6, Hazel succumbed to a valiant fight with ALS. She was 73.

Haze, as she liked to be called, was born on May 23, 1950, in Irvington, New Jersey, to the late John and Hazel (Hendry) Kanzler and stepfather Ernst Velle.

She spent her childhood in Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey, and graduated from Jefferson Township High School. At 15, she met Michael, her beloved husband of 54 years, while vacationing at Jones Beach. They made their home in the village of Port Jefferson, where they raised their two daughters, Nicole and Cherie, and welcomed four grandchildren to the world.

Haze was selfless, and her joyful, giving nature touched the lives of many, including the countless students she taught as an ESL teacher at Comsewogue School District and adjunct professor at Stony Brook University. Haze filled the world with song, playing piano and singing in the local United Methodist Church choir for many years. 

She lived a life of simple pleasures: strong cups of coffee in the morning, birds at her kitchen window, warm showers, beach walks, drives to the North Fork, wood-burning fires, cozy pajamas, old movies, brisk fall days, peaceful snowfalls and the sound of the ferry’s foghorn pulling into the harbor. Much like Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz,” she believed there was no place like home.

Haze was predeceased by her eldest brother, John, and is survived by her loving husband, Michael Joseph Cardillo; their children Nicole (Christopher) Barisic and Cherie (Jonathan) Totillo; grandchildren Claire, Mabel, Ada and Isaac; sisters Carolyn and Jean; many nieces and nephews; and their adored rescue dog, Mindy.

A memorial service was held Monday, Nov. 13, at Moloney Funeral Home in Port Jefferson Station, with a private burial following at Cedar Hill Cemetery.

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Long Island Champions. Bill Landon photo
Long Island Champions. Bill Landon photo
Ward Melville’s Nick Ragonese keeps the ball in play for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville’s Kyle Fagan battles at net for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior Andrew Desimone sets the play for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Ward Melville senior Andrew Desimone from the service line for the Patriots. Photo by Bill Landon
Long Island Champions. Bill Landon photo

By Bill Landon

The Ward Melville boys’ volleyball team finished the regular season in seventh place in Division I with an 8-6 record, entering postseason play as the No. 5 seed.

The road to the Long Island championship took the Patriots through Sachem North, the No. 4 seed, winning 3-0 Oct. 25 in the quarterfinal match which sent the Patriots to the semifinal round with a road game Oct. 28 against top-seeded Bay Shore. It would take five sets to determine the winner, but the Patriots prevailed with a 3-2 victory to advance to the Suffolk championship game with another road game against No. 2 West Islip Nov. 1. Again, it would take five sets in the Suffolk title game, but Ward Melville edged the Lions 3-2 to punch their ticket to the Long Island championship game against Syosset at Center Moriches High School Saturday, Nov 11.

The Patriots have peaked at the right time, sweeping Syosset and winning the Long Island title 25-20, 25-14, 25-22. Outside hitter Kyle Fagan was outstanding with 18 kills and seven digs. Ward Melville will compete for the New York State championship title game at the Albany Capital Center arena Saturday, Nov. 18.

According to New York State Public High School Athletic Association, “This is a digital-ticketed event. Cash sales will not be available on-site. Kids 5 and under are free.”

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Sachem North receiver Shane Reilly hauls in a 36-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville vs. Sachem North Nov. 10 2023 Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville vs. Sachem North Nov. 10 2023 Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville vs. Sachem North Nov. 10 2023 Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville vs. Sachem North Nov. 10 2023 Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville vs. Sachem North Nov. 10 2023 Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville vs. Sachem North Nov. 10 2023 Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville vs. Sachem North Nov. 10 2023 Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville vs. Sachem North Nov. 10 2023 Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville vs. Sachem North Nov. 10 2023 Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville vs. Sachem North Nov. 10 2023 Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville vs. Sachem North Nov. 10 2023 Photo by Steven Zaitz
Ward Melville’s Daniel Brausch Jr. did everything he could for the Patriots on Friday night. Photo by Steven Zaitz

By Steven Zaitz

In a game of punch-counterpunch, it was the Sachem North football team that got last licks against Ward Melville on Nov. 10 in Lake Ronkonkoma, knocking the Patriots out of the playoffs and ending their season.

Sachem North running back Lucas Singleton’s six-yard touchdown run with two minutes left in the fourth quarter propelled the Flaming Arrows to a 27-21 victory in the Suffolk Conference I semifinal game. They will face top-seeded William Floyd, who destroyed Longwood 49-13 on Saturday, at Stony Brook University to decide the Suffolk County championship for Conference I. This will be Sachem’s first trip to the finals since winning the Long Island Championship in 2013. Ward Melville was the 2022 county champion.

In a game filled with wild haymakers and explosive plays by both teams, Ward Melville managed to answer Sachem North touchdown for touchdown, erasing seven-point deficits on three separate occasions. But the Patriots were unable to stop the Flaming Arrows on 3rd down in the game-deciding drive that led to their postseason ouster.

Arrow QB Anthony Vino, who missed the final six games of the regular season due to injury, launched the first salvo in this one, hitting WR Brayden Tappin for a 40-yard score to start the game. Patriot QB Ethan Burgos hopped through a small crease and sprung himself 49 yards for a game-tying touchdown later in the first quarter.

WR Shane Reilly got behind the Ward Melville defense and Vino hit him for a 36-yard score midway through the second quarter. Burgos answered again, finishing off a 65-yard drive with a one-yard keeper. The drive was aided by two 4th and short conversions, one of which was a completion to WR Brody Morgan that deflected off the helmet of teammate Griffin Kramer, went straight up in the air and fell into the arms of a surprised and thankful Morgan, who was brought down at the Sachem 43-yard line.

Six plays later, Burgos took it in to tie the score at 14 with a minute to go in the half. It would become untied in short order at the start of the third quarter.

On the first play from scrimmage, Singleton took a handoff from Vino and immediately sensed that his path around left tackle was blocked off. He bounced it to the right, toward the Patriot sideline, and had only green astroturf in front of him. Eighty yards later, he was celebrating in the end zone with his teammates because he had given Sachem North yet another touchdown-sized lead.

After a Patriot three and out, Sachem was on the precipice of expanding their lead to two touchdowns as they drove the ball deep into Ward Melville territory. But do-it-all linebacker/running back/emergency kicker Daniel Brausch Jr. made a leaping interception in the end zone for the green and gold with five minutes left in the third quarter to keep it a one-score game.

“I saw the quarterback [Vino] step back, and when he threw the ball, I knew I had a chance to make a play for my team,” said Brausch, a senior.

He would make more plays for his team. After his interception, the Patriots would march 80 yards — all on the ground — in seven minutes, and it would be Brausch who would cap the drive with a one-yard plunge, tying the score at 21.

“Being a two-way player is an honor because it means the coaches believe in me enough to put me in those positions,” Brausch said. “I look at it as having twice the number of chances to make plays to help us win games.”

Brausch would help in even more ways than just those two. 

When Morgan, who is the Patriot kicker in addition to playing wide receiver, was injured in the first half of the game, Brausch took over on kickoffs and extra points. He made both of his kicks, and one of his kickoffs was nearly recovered by Ward Melville. He also returned kickoffs on special teams.

With 10 minutes remaining in the game, Ward Melville had forced the Flaming Arrows backward and Vino and company faced 3rd and 12 deep in their own end. A stop by the Patriots would likely result in getting the ball with good field position to get the go-ahead and potential winning score.

But in one of the most important and explosive plays of the game, Vino rolled right and hit WR Andrew Eaton for 24 yards and a 1st down. This was a Patriot backbreaker. Sachem would convert three more 3rd downs, consume eight minutes, and score on a six-yard run by Singleton with a smidgin over two minutes left in the game.

Brausch would block the extra point, which created the possibility of Ward Melville, with two minutes left and three timeouts, winning the game with a last-minute TD and an extra point conversion.

The Patriots moved the ball to midfield in short order. Burgos scrambled to the Sachem 35 with just over a minute remaining. But on 3rd and long, after a long delay caused by timeouts taken by both teams, the shotgun snap of center Bobby Ehlers flew over Burgos’ head. The quarterback did well to track it down and throw it away. But it was a waste of a valuable down, and it brought up 4th and 10 and the Patriots’ last chance.

Would they get off the mat and survive for yet a fourth time in this game?

Burgos dropped back but didn’t find anyone open. He tap-danced down the right sideline, cut back into the middle of the field and lunged forward. Would it be enough?

Despite his effort, the ball was spotted about three quarters of a yard short of the sticks. Sachem ball. The game was over.

“That last drive was tense,” said Burgos. “We had a limited amount of time and were trying to do everything as quickly as we could. It was a tough way for the season to end.”

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VFW Post 3054 in East Setauket hosted its annual Veterans Day service on Saturday, Nov. 11. Photo by Greg Catalano
VFW Post 3054 in East Setauket hosted its annual Veterans Day service on Saturday, Nov. 11. Photo by Greg Catalano
VFW Post 3054 in East Setauket hosted its annual Veterans Day service on Saturday, Nov. 11. Photo by Greg Catalano
VFW Post 3054 in East Setauket hosted its annual Veterans Day service on Saturday, Nov. 11. Photo by Greg Catalano
VFW Post 3054 in East Setauket hosted its annual Veterans Day service on Saturday, Nov. 11. Photo by Greg Catalano
VFW Post 3054 in East Setauket hosted its annual Veterans Day service on Saturday, Nov. 11. Photo by Greg Catalano
VFW Post 3054 in East Setauket hosted its annual Veterans Day service on Saturday, Nov. 11. Photo by Greg Catalano
VFW Post 3054 in East Setauket hosted its annual Veterans Day service on Saturday, Nov. 11. Photo by Greg Catalano
VFW Post 3054 in East Setauket hosted its annual Veterans Day service on Saturday, Nov. 11. Photo by Greg Catalano

By Greg Catalano

VFW Post 3054 in East Setauket hosted a moving Veterans Day ceremony at Setauket Veterans Memorial Park on Route 25A on Saturday, Nov. 11, paying tribute to U.S. service members and veterans of all generations.

After a performance of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and a touching prayer, members of the Three Village community, including Scouts, Daisies and members of the East Setauket Fire Department, among others, placed wreaths in tribute to all the local community members for their military service over the years.

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File photo by Raymond Janis

Clarifying recent events at Sherwood-Jayne Farm

Preservation Long Island would like to clarify the events that took place at the Sherwood-Jayne Farm on Nov. 8.

The entire 12.5-acre farm is private property, as are the grazing sheep and pony. We have made access to the animals and the property available to the public as a community benefit.

Considering that the farm site is not an active animal farm, we came to the realization earlier this year that the aging animals will soon require care beyond what we can provide. The decision was not financially driven — it was in the best interest of the animals.

While Susanna Gatz has undoubtedly been a loving caretaker, she is not the only person capable of caring for the animals. She was first made aware of PLI’s plans for the animals and the change in her status as early as April.

We understand how community members will miss the sheep and Snowball — as we will — but we have committed ourselves to finding a solution that will provide animals of an advanced age with the services they will require.

After working within the community and searching for the best possible fit, we found Berkshire Sanctuary Farm, a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing aging animals with a serene location and professional veterinary care.

When Susanna’s friends arrived to protest the transfer of the animals to Berkshire on Nov. 8, we did allow children onto our private property to say goodbye to the animals as a courtesy. Unfortunately, the noise and activity of Susanna’s adult protesters stressed the animals into a state where Berkshire felt it was not safe to humanely move them during the commotion.

We hope we have not lost the opportunity to provide the animals with a forever home at Berkshire.

Alexandra Parsons Wolfe

Executive Director

Preservation Long Island

Sherwood-Jayne Farm animals should be allowed to stay

Sherwood-Jayne Farm on Old Post Road in East Setauket is a jewel of our community.

Thanks to the actions of people within our community and elsewhere, the farm has remained a lovely and happy place for both adults and children to enjoy just as Mr. Howard Sherwood envisioned long ago.

Unfortunately, the owners of the farm, Preservation Long Island, have decided to remove the animals from the residence, sending the four sheep to Berkshire Farm Sanctuary in Peru, Massachusetts, and Snowball the pony to an undisclosed location on Long Island.

I googled the sanctuary to find out about its purpose. Their mission is “to rescue, rehabilitate and provide a safe haven for abandoned, abused and neglected companion and farm animals and promote humane education and compassion to all beings.” This is a beautiful mission, but the animals at Sherwood-Jayne have never been abandoned, abused or neglected. They have been tenderly and compassionately cared for all their lives.

On Wednesday, Nov. 8, the executive director of Preservation Long Island, Alexandra Wolfe, and a security guard arrived at the farm with minimal notice with the intention to promptly remove the animals from the farm. Ms. Wolfe then refused to give information to the current caretaker as to where Snowball would be heading or who would be caring for her.

This action showed medical neglect as there was no exchange of information about the care that Snowball has received to keep her alive and well. Thanks to the uprising of concerned local neighbors, this event was drawn to a halt, and at the end of the skirmish, the animals remained at the farm. None of these actions make sense to me, or to many community members.

The animals should be allowed to live out their remaining days in their happy and safe place at the Sherwood-Jayne Farm.

Bonnie Dunbar

Setauket

Notice of important civic meeting on Jefferson Plaza

As president of the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association, I want to inform my neighbors of the opportunity to shape the future of our community and have your voices heard. 

On Tuesday, Nov. 28, we will gather, as we do most months at 7 p.m. at the Comsewogue Public Library, 170 Terryville Road, and hold our regular civic association meeting. Check out our website at www.pjstca.org for future meeting notifications and join with others who seek to beautify, improve and celebrate Port Jefferson Station/Terryville. 

While I believe all our meetings are enriching and interesting, this particular meeting is of significance as it will be dedicated to the discussion of the redevelopment by Staller Associates of the Jefferson Plaza Shopping Center, where the Post Office is on Route 112.

The proposed project envisions the construction of 280 units of residential apartments in two structures, which could reach 50 feet in height, as well as include 49,000 square feet of new and updated commercial space to serve the new and existing residents.

Such a proposal presents this community with an opportunity as we seek to renew and revitalize an area that has been a concern to many and has focused us on quality-of-life issues in our community. But, as with any potential change, there are related impacts that have been raised by active members of our civic and the broader community as occurred in February 2022 when the developer presented this concept to 125 concerned citizens who attended that night.

More recently, I heard this past weekend that up to 80 people met at the shopping center on a cold Sunday morning to discuss the new project and connect with their neighbors.

It is my hope on Nov. 28 to facilitate an informative and vibrant discussion of all the implications — positive or negative — such an opportunity presents in order to develop consensus of how our community views this pivotal development. I am certain there will be spirited debate as there are many opinions to be aired by everyone. I also hope we can do so with an attitude of acceptance, decorum and mutual respect.

All of this activity is taking place in advance of a public hearing at 5 p.m. on Nov. 30 at Town Hall when the Brookhaven Town Board will consider this zoning change request. Therefore, I invite all those interested to join us on Nov. 28, so we can raise our voice two days later at the Town Board and help influence the future of this hamlet we are so proud of in a positive direction.

Ira Costell, President

Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association

Have our leaders ever traveled along the Port Jeff Branch?

You can learn a great deal about the priorities of our elected officials by what they do and don’t do when it comes to delivering funding for transportation projects.

Over the past few days, U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer [D-NY] and Kirsten Gillibrand [D-NY], joined by Gov. Kathy Hochul [D] and others, announced federal funding of $1.3 billion toward advancing the $1.6 billion East River Tunnel reconstruction, $1.6 billion toward the $3.1 billion Metro North Bronx East Penn Station Access, $3.4 billion toward the $7.7 billion New York City Transit Second Avenue Subway Phase 2 and $3.8 billion toward Amtrak’s $16.8 billion Gateway Tunnel (for two new tunnels plus rehabilitation of two existing Hudson River tunnels connecting New Jersey with Penn Station) projects.

Not a dime as a down payment to pay for any National Environmental Policy Act review, additional planning or preliminary design and engineering for the $3 billion-plus MTA Long Island Rail Road double tracking electrification of the Port Jefferson Branch.

This seed money, in the millions, is necessary if these improvements to the LIRR Port Jefferson Branch can become eligible for any future Federal Transit Administration Capital Investment Grants New Starts Core Capacity Full Funding Grant Agreement for $1.5 billion many years down the road.

Schumer, Gillibrand and Hochul, by their actions — or in this case, inaction — have clearly indicated no interest in supporting any advancement of future capital improvements to the Port Jefferson Branch. Commuters, residents, taxpayers, project advocates and others may want to consider withholding your potential campaign contributions and votes when they run for another term in office.

This is the only influence you have.

Larry Penner

Great Neck

Editor’s note: The writer is a transportation analyst and former director for Federal Transit Administration Region 2.

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