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Tom Theodorakis holds a West Point football jersey with Number 31 at his introductory press conference. Theodorakis was named Black Knight’s 31st Athletic Director in February and is a graduate of Ward Melville High School. Photo Courtesy West Point Athletics

By George Caratzas

After a long career as a collegiate athletic executive, Ward Melville graduate Tom Theodorakis was recently named the athletic director of the United States Military Academy at West Point.

Theodorakis — who attended Ward Melville from 2000 to 2002 — was a standout on the lacrosse field, eventually going on to play at the collegiate level at Syracuse. As a member of the Orange, Theodorakis made four NCAA tournaments, making three final four appearances and won the national championship in 2004.

“Lacrosse afforded me a lot of opportunities,” Theodorakis said. “To go to a place like Syracuse as a student-athlete just had a really profound impact on my life … I don’t know where I’d be without them. I came in as a proverbial punk kid and left school as an adult.”

Still, Theodorakis credits much of his start to the place where he spent his early years.

“I am very fortunate to grow up in a fantastic part of Long Island that afforded me a lot of great opportunities,” Theodorakis said. “One of those was going to Ward Melville High School. Not only was I surrounded by great teachers, but also first-class athletics.”

Fast forward 20 years, Theodorakis was named West Point’s 31st Athletic Director in February of this year. Previously, he served as a deputy director under Mike Buddie who he credits as an instrumental piece in his transition into the new role.

“It was a sudden change,” Theodorakis said. “I was fortunate that Mike empowered me on a lot of initiatives and responsibilities in our department. He really helped prepare me for this role.”

Working at a service academy poses a unique set of challenges, especially on the athletic level. While some of Theodorakis’ career stops have prioritized athletic excellence, West Point’s top goal remains to prepare cadets for future military experience.

“You have to recruit the right individuals that are thinking long-term,” Theodorakis said. “It takes a special type of individual that is able to say, ‘this is the sacrifice that I want to make.’ Ultimately, these individuals want to serve their country and set them up for success.”

West Point is not the first service academy that Theodorakis has called home. In fact, his first job out of college was an internship in the athletic department of the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. This role gave him all sorts of different experiences, including some not so glamorous ones.

“Air Force is definitely a smaller athletic department which let me have my hands on a lot of things,” Theodorakis said. “Sometimes this included cleaning out the closet or being the mascot, but those are the things you do in an entry level position. For me, I just loved all of it because I was just so excited to be a part of college athletics.”

His tenure in Colorado Springs was a jumping off point for various roles at the University of Arizona, UCLA and Harvard, before landing in the Hudson Valley.

“I knew that if someone’s going to give me an opportunity — or at least crack the door open — I am going to work my tail off to turn that into a full-time job,” Theodorakis said. “I grew up in New York, went to school in New York. I think getting out of my comfort zone personally and professionally was a really good thing and that came from moving out west.”

All along, Theodorakis’ plan was to return to the East Coast, a move he made in 2022.

“Ultimately, I always had the goal of moving back to New York, but I realized that it may take some time,” Theodorakis said. “These careers are not linear, and for me it took close to 15 years to get to Harvard and get back to the East Coast.”

Despite a lengthy career, Theodorakis stays true to his roots on Long Island’s north shore.

“It’s hard for me not to look back on my time growing up on Long Island and not to thank the amazing moms and dads that understood the value of sports,” Theodorakis said. “Whether it be coaching teams or volunteering, I still rely on a lot of those lessons today. It had such an impact on my life and they believed in the community and what we were doing.”

George Caratzas is a reporter with The SBU Media Group, part of Stony Brook University’s School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom program for students and local media.

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From left, Board VP Karen Roughley, President Susan Rosenzweig, Superintendent Scanlon and Dr. Kerman. Photo by William Stieglitz

By William Stieglitz

The April 30 Three Village Central School District Board of Education meeting began with updates on the question of whether to arm school security guards. The district surveyed around 1,400 employees, with 55% saying they were for armed security and 45% saying they were against. Of the 55% in favor, 81% wanted security armed both inside and outside of the school. The board plans to survey the community next and said that, when ready, they will likely make the survey available through either an online link or the student database system Infinite Campus.

The board also announced that the ZeroEyes security system, an artificial intelligence weapons detection software that the district has been looking into since October, is finally up and running. The system connects school cameras to AI that scans the footage firearms and alerts the district and authorities in a matter of seconds if something is found.

“We got a chance to do some calibration and test it at this building and Mount Elementary,” said security coordinator Jack Blaum, speaking from the North Country Administration Building. “And I will tell you, I am absolutely impressed with the system.” He said that while the technology is only one part of a solution, he is confident it will act as a deterrent and that other local districts have expressed interest in implementing ZeroEyes as well.

In school funding news, the board announced that following their April 9 decision to remove earlier high school start times from this year’s planned budget, they were left with $1,014,000 to spend on other programs, as well as an additional $100,000 from savings in the textbook code. The board unanimously chose to use $760,000 from this to restore seven elementary school teachers and thereby reduce class sizes, which left around $340,000 to discuss. 

One option was to use $100,000 to restore fourth-grade science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Unlike the district’s previous STEM program, which ended during COVID and had allowed a STEM teacher in every building for every grade level, this would start smaller by having a STEM teacher go to each school for one day a week. Another option would be to restore the Intellectually Gifted Program, though with $100,000 costs for both staffing and transportation, this would be twice as expensive. A third option was to use an estimated $70,000 to restore summer reading programs, which would also require a new program coordinator.

Following debate, the board voted 5-1 (David McKinnon was absent) for using the funds to restore STEM and summer reading, with the rest being saved for future costs. While funding for fourth-grade IG was also discussed, this only received two out of six votes. “Whereas IG services a smaller number, the STEM program would service an entire grade level,” Superintendent Kevin Scanlon said when weighing the benefits of each. “We’re talking over 400 students being addressed there.”

The board also reviewed the district’s success in programming for Autism Acceptance Month. Schools such as Arrowhead, Minnesauke, W.S. Mount and Murphy elementary schools and Gelinas Jr. High school held assemblies, fundraisers, schoolwide walks and other related activities. “I think it’s important that we recognize all the students that we have in our district,” said Scanlon. “The population of autism has been diagnosed more readily in the more recent years, and I think that’s where we excel in this district, because of our attention to our students with special needs… I think this is a way of recognizing them in a special way.”

Another kind of assembly, exclusive to eighth graders at Gelinas, was a live performance of “From the Fires: Voices of the Holocaust,” which included a discussion with the cast. This was paired with interactive classes, led by Principal Corinne Keane and social studies teacher Christina Cone, on how to identify and combat antisemitism and other hate speech.

One more thing that brought students to school theaters this month was the spring musicals. These included performances of “Finding Nemo Junior” at Minnesauke, “Seussical the Musical” at Mount, “Beauty and the Beast” at Nassakeag Elementary School, “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” at Setauket, “Newsies” at Gelinas and “Anastasia” at Murphy.

For more information visit the school website: www.threevillagecsd.org.

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File photo by Raymond Janis

Common sense approach

As the former chairman of the Huntington Town Zoning Board of Appeals, I worked tirelessly to balance the interests of residents, landowners and prospective applicants.

New York State Zoning Law requires that neighbors and other residents’ interests be represented in hearing applicant requests. The burden of consideration by the applicant, under the law, covers at least five explicit considerations for area variances requests: an undesirable change, feasible alternatives, substantiality, adverse effects and self-created hardship. As a board we emphasized careful review of potential undesirable changes to neighborhoods, always lending a sensitive ear to the neighbors.

You may have met me at your door during some of these applications, as I would often take the time to walk a neighborhood impacted and speak to residents instead of putting the burden on them to show up at a ZBA meeting.

Residents shouldn’t have to leave their house during a cold winter night, wait hours to speak at a public hearing to fight to defend their zoning and quality of life every time a development application comes up. That is a strict responsibility of the board; residents should not be on the defensive.

Our Town Board and the individuals they appoint have a duty and responsibility to represent us, not simply facilitate development.

The need for the Zoning Board and Planning Board’s independence in this Town is paramount if we are to restore trust in the Town’s zoning process.

Land-use rules and laws protect our most precious investment, our homes. Good zoning and land-use guidance is the most important responsibility of Town government, it is what knits our communities and neighborhoods together. Applications for exemptions from prevailing laws deserve careful review, but that review should never be at the disadvantage of neighbors and residents.

Now, more than ever, we need this balanced common sense approach.

John Posilico

Former Chairman of the Huntington Town Zoning Board of Appeals 

Questioning ‘Elder Parole’ for cop killers

It’s common for politicians to send out “constituent surveys.”  Ostensibly, the goal is to get feedback from local voters on specific issues. But it would be a rare survey indeed, that did not frame certain questions in ways aimed at getting politically desired responses.

Newly elected Assembly member Rebecca Kassay pretty much followed that template with her May mailer.

A couple of seemingly “feel good” proposals were the Second Look Act, and Elder Parole. Maybe state polls are looking to save some dollars on a staggering state budget that’s twice the size of Florida and Texas combined?  Money aside, the goal is to give judges and parole boards the power to reconsider early release for “elderly individuals” so long as the felons have “demonstrated growth and rehabilitation.”  

Here are two important unknowns.   What would be the specific criteria for the above mentioned, and how it might be applied to those who’ve murdered law enforcement officers?  This is especially critical because the PBA has cited 43 cop killers released by our NYS Parole Board in just the last 8 years, 

As of this writing,waiting on the sidelines to possibly become lucky number 44, is David McClary. On Feb. 26, 1988, he snuck up behind rookie NYPD Officer Edward Byrne, and shot him five times in the head.  The 22-year-old was guarding a witness waiting to testify against a notorious drug lord.  

Edward’s brother Ken spoke to ABC News.  “Referencing the murder he said, “’It was a horrible scene, we were in shock. It was just beyond devastation.…’ “This is always a difficult process because every two years with the parole board we have to reive everything.” It’s that family’s eighth time.  

Who has had the most sway in picking and managing the group tasked with deciding which felons will be freed?  That would be former governor Andrew Cuomo, and his Democrat heir, Kathy Hochul (D). This board is a direct reflection of their views on policing and made up of a majority of fellow Dems.  

One of the members would be Tana Agostini, who was appointed by Cuomo in 2017. She married convicted killer Thomas O’Sullivan while he was still in prison. Tana used her influence as a staffer of the state Assembly committee overseeing prisons in 2013 to advocate for the parole of O’Sullivan. His stint in prison included an escape and biting off part of an inmate’s nose. It’s hard to see much “growth and rehabilitation” there. 

Imagine the unrelenting heartache, revisited every 24 months by long “suffering NYPD families, who are sitting in front of an NYS Parole Board that has released an average of five cop killers yearly since 2017.  We can bet these kinds of “feel good” proposals feel anything but good to them.  Let’s remember and help protect slain, heroic police officers and their grieving loved ones, 

Hard “No” on survey query number 7.   

Jim Soviero

East Setauket

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Cookie the Pom. Photo from Unsplash

By Daniel Dunaief

Daniel Dunaief

Dear Paw Landers,

I’ve never written a letter like this before. Truth be told, I’ve never written a letter of any kind.

But I understand you live far away and that you dispense valuable advice that I could use in my everyday life with the guy and his family.

The guy spends most of his days sitting at this thing typing, so I guess I can do it for an hour or so, which, you know, is more like seven hours for him.

I was thinking of asking you about that rumbling noise that scares me so much when it gets incredibly dark out and when the ground gets wet. Those sounds make me want to find cover somewhere, but no matter where I go, I can still hear it and feel the terrible vibrations. It’s like if a pack of, you know, us were running around the neighborhood, growling so loudly outside the door that we caused the floor to vibrate a second or two after a flash of light.

No, no, I’ll save the questions about those noises for some other letter. This one is about the delicate social business of interacting in the neighborhood.

You see, my guy varies in his social energy and interests. Some days, he speaks with everyone we run into and bends down to pet other dogs.

That doesn’t bother me, the way it did with Fifi last week, when she complained that her owner pets other dogs more readily and happily than she pets Fifi. I’m fine if my guy wants to scratch other dogs behind their ears or rubs their back. Frankly, there are times when I think he needs a hobby to get out all of his scratching, squeezing and high-pitched voice energy that he reserves for me and, once in a while, for small people when they come to the house.

Other times, he barely waves or acknowledges people and their pets. He’s either staring into his phone and talking to himself or he’s making lists out loud and telling himself what he needs to do that day.

When he does stop to chat with neighbors and their companions, he often talks about me while the other human talks about their dog. I’m kind of tired of hearing about how I don’t like to swim, how I’m not that high energy and I don’t fetch.

Everyone doesn’t have to fetch or swim, right? But, then, he also talks about how sensitive I am and how supportive I am whenever anyone is feeling sad in the house. Hey, we all have our strengths, right?

When he’s chatting, sometimes about me and sometimes about the weather, I’m not always sure how long the pause in our walk will go.

I sometimes sit or lay down near him, while other dogs jump or sniff around me. Other times, I’m so happy to see one of my neighbors that she and I try to tie the two leashes into a knot in the shape of a heart. My guy and the neighbor never see it, but it’s so obvious to us.

Every so often, I meet someone intriguing and, you know how it is, right? I have to sniff them, the way they have to sniff me. The question is, how long can I sniff their butts before it becomes socially awkward, either for them or for the humans?

I mean, I can tell when my guy is in an intense conversation about something, when his voice drops or shakes and I want to help him. At the same time, I have this need to sniff.

Clearly, sniffing butts at the wrong time or for too long can become a problem for the guy and the other person.

If we do it too long, their conversation ends and he walks away, muttering and puling on me until we get inside.

So, what’s the ideal, allowable butt sniffing time? And remember that none of us is getting any younger, so, you know, if you could write back soon, it’d help. You can’t see me, but I’m looking up at you with my big brown eyes and wagging my tail. That usually works with the guy.

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METRO photo

By Leah S. Dunaief

Leah Dunaief,
Publisher

Tuesday was National Teacher Appreciation Day, which reminded me of Miss Rigney, who changed my life. 

Miss Rigney was my sixth grade teacher in the perfectly ordinary elementary school I attended. Housed in a cement building, in the midst of a residential area, it served the neighborhood according to the rules for education in mid-century New York City, with two classrooms and two teachers for each grade. I was assigned to 6A. Next door was 6B.

Soon after entering sixth grade, we became aware of the goal for the coming year. We needed to pass the Hunter Test for the honor of the school and our own benefit.

The Hunter Test, we discovered, was a one day affair that, if successfully navigated, would win us admission to Hunter College High School where classes started with seventh grade and ended with graduation from high school. Open to students from each sixth grade in all five boroughs, a handful of us would be eligible, after scoring well on a standardized test in fifth grade, to travel to the school on the appointed day to take the test.

I liked the sound of that because it was the closest junior high school to where I lived. I sympathized with those students who would have to ride from Brooklyn, Queens and even Staten Island.

There were several special schools throughout the city whose admission was via a challenging test: Stuyvesant, Bronx High School of Science and Brooklyn Tech were three. They were also public schools and were run by the Board of Education with the idea of giving some students a head start. 

But Hunter was different. It was initially started in 1869 as a model school in which to train teachers who were matriculating in Hunter College and was administrated by the Board of Higher Education. Its 1200 students in six grades “represent the top one-quarter of one percent of the City” based on the test scores, according to the school. It was composed of all girls for its first 105 years. The student-teacher ratio was 13:1, and its faculty for the most part had advanced degrees.

“Aim of the entire course through which the Normal students pass is not so much to burden the mind with facts as it is to develop intellectual power, cultivate judgment, and enable the graduates to take trained ability into the world with them,” wrote Harper’s Magazine in 1878.

Now we kids didn’t know any of this. I just wanted the shortest commute, and it was impressed on us that Hunter was a good place to be. So we prepared for the test, which was months away, with the coaching of our teachers, four girls from 6B and two from 6A. 

Only Miss Rigney, a trim, freckle-faced redhead with a gentle manner, who seemed old to me, but was maybe 28, stayed after school twice a week and drilled Carol and me with a workbook. When we didn’t do the homework she then gave us, both arithmetic and English, she was uncharacteristically stern with us. It was clear that this was a challenge she wanted us to surmount.

On the day the results of the Test were sent to the school, the principal called the six of us down to her office, along with the teachers, and with a great deal of excitement, opened the envelope and read the results out loud. Carol and I had been admitted; no one had from the other class.

There was screaming and moaning. Miss Rigney smiled, quietly congratulated the two of us and returned to her classroom. I was happy because I thought I should be. I knew my parents would be pleased, but I had no understanding of what had just happened.

I had no idea that my life would be unalterably changed — that I would be attending what was thought to be one of the finest high school in the country, ranked number one by The Wall Street Journal, one of only 225 pupils, with some of the most accomplished teachers for whom teaching was an art, that I would mingle with far more sophisticated students, and because of them, freely explore the City. 

I had a remarkable high school education. When I landed in college, I was immediately offered second year standing because of my AP classes. Miss Rigney knew. 

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Members of the Anna Strong Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Photo by Michael Rosengard
Gretchen and Herb Mones. Photo by Michael Rosengard
From left, Brookhaven Town Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich, Herb Mones dressed as George Washington, and Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico.
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico speaks at the event.

It’s a National Celebration of the birth of America – and it kicked off right here in the Three Villages. On May 2, the Anna Smith Strong Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution hosted a special celebration titled “250 Years STRONG” at the Setauket Neighborhood House.

While many might not know- across the country events are being planned to mark America’s Semiquincentennial.  It was 250 years ago that the “Shot Heard Around the World” rang out during the battle of Lexington and Concord – considered to be the first military engagement of the Revolutionary War.  On Long Island, the Strong family played a pivotal role during the Revolution through their actions in the Culper or Setauket Spy Ring.

The Culper Spy Ring is credited by George Washington as being a major factor in turning the tide of the American Revolution by providing valuable intelligence to at great risk to themselves.

The Anna Smith Strong Chapter was named for a courageous member of the celebrated Culper Spy Ring, and hosted an event commemorating her role and honoring the American spirit.

Participants enjoyed an evening of history, community and celebration in a picturesque setting – the Setauket Neighborhood House. Keynote speaker and local historian Margo Arceri spoke of the remarkable life of Kate Wheeler Strong. There were raffles, awards and patriotic provisions provided by chief sponsor, David Prestia of Bagel Express. Costumes were optional but fun!  People came in Revolutionary War dress to make things more festive.  Sponsor Michael Rosengard of North Island Photography & Films created an art installation (that included Anna Smith Strong’s clothesline and more) and was the official event photographer. 

Recognized at the event for their historic preservation and education contributions were:  Margo Arceri, local historian/Tri-Spy Tours/Three Village Historical Society; Beverly C. Tyler, author/historian/Three Village Historical Society; and Gloria Rocchio, President of the Ward Melville Heritage Organization. 

The Anna Smith Strong Chapter received Proclamations from NYS Senator Anthony Palumbo, NYS Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay, Suffolk County Legislator Steve Englebright and Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico and Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich.

There was an entire ‘regiment’ of sponsors that helped guarantee the success of the event: Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum, The Ward Melville Heritage Organization, Krista’s Design Studio, Margo Arceri, Scott Heaney Mill Creek Agency, Inc., Legislator Steve Englebright, The Setauket Neighborhood House, Guy Nicosia/ CEO Strategic Planning, Beth Shatles, Joe Ventimiglia Fine Art, P Mones and Herb Mones, Island Federal Credit Union, Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay, Colleen Keneflick, Dr Nora Galambos, RADIANCE by the Harbor, and the Reboli Center for Art and History.  In addition, dozens of local businesses donated raffle prizes.  

Several of the community’s leading organizations showcased their activities, literature and programs in the Lakeside Room including the New York Marine Rescue, Suffolk County Vanderbilt Museum and Planetarium, Ward Melville Heritage Organization, Three Village Community Trust, Three Village Garden Club, Reboli Center and the Rocky Point Historical Society who all shared information and more. 

Interest was ‘revolutionary’ – and the event quickly sold out. Money raised will go towards education, historic preservation and patriotic/veteran’s endeavors.  Check the DAR’s website for further information on the event or to see what will be happening during the upcoming year: https://annasmithstrongnsdar.org

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The U.S. Postal Service unveiled stamps based on artwork from the classic children’s book “Goodnight Moon” during a ceremony on May 7. The event was held at The Rabbit hOle in North Kansas City, MO, a museum that brings to life a century of American children’s literature, including the book’s iconic Great Green Room.

“These nostalgic stamps not only celebrate the timeless charm of ‘Goodnight Moon’ but also highlight the enduring relevance of both stamps and children’s literature in a digital age,” said Lisa Bobb-Semple, the Postal Service’s stamp services director, who spoke at the event. “The enthusiastic response from the public about these stamps has been exciting — a reminder that the joy of stamps continues to inspire all generations.”

Written by Margaret Wise Brown with artwork by Clement Hurd, “Goodnight Moon” revolutionized children’s publishing when it debuted in 1947 and has since become favorite bedtime reading for millions of families around the world. A celebration of the everyday, this quiet, lullaby-like book encourages children and their parents to imagine themselves in the book’s familiar Great Green Room, saying goodnight to everything they see. The sense of peace and security that the book brings helps ease children to sleep, reassuring them that all the familiar things of daily life will still be there in the morning.

Pete Cowdin, co-director of The Rabbit hOle, said the exhibit was an ideal setting for the stamps’ unveiling.

“We knew that the Great Green Room exhibit would kindle a powerful emotional connection with some of our visitors, but the impact of the room has exceeded our expectations. Walking into the exhibit is like walking into the book itself, a time machine that sets free a flood of memories and reconnects adults with their families and their own childhood. It reaffirms what we know already — that ‘Goodnight Moon’ is not just an American classic but a cultural touchstone that celebrates and spans all generations and all demographics.”

Children’s book creator and son of the illustrator of “Goodnight Moon,” Thacher Hurd read the book and discussed his father’s legacy as part of the unveiling.

“I’m sure Margaret and Clem would have loved the beautifully designed stamps created by Derry Noyes and USPS,” he said. “And it’s wonderful that the unveiling of the new ‘Goodnight Moon’ stamps will take place at The Rabbit hOle, with its delightful Great Green Room. It’s the perfect place for this exciting happening.”

One of the first books written for very young children that focuses on everyday experiences, “Goodnight Moon” reflects philosophical shifts in early childhood education that had begun in the early 20th century.

Brown wrote the first draft of “Goodnight Moon” one morning in 1945.

“In the great green room,” the book begins, “There was a telephone / And a red balloon.”

Told in spare, simple language, the book allows children to feel as if they are inside the cozy room, where a young bunny has been tucked into bed.

“Goodnight clocks / And goodnight socks,” reads the text. “Goodnight little house / And goodnight mouse.”

The lilting, hypnotic rhythm perfectly mimics the slow approach of sleep, casting a tender spell over young listeners, who bid goodnight to everything they see in the book — from the toy house and kittens playing on the bedroom floor to wall paintings, a red balloon, and the moon in the night sky. The book also encourages children and parents to look around their own rooms and improvise on the comforting bedtime ritual in any way they would like.

In early 1946, Brown sent the manuscript of “Goodnight Moon” to her friend Hurd (1908-1988), who spent most of the next year working on the book’s illustrations.

Hurd’s images alternate between panoramic scenes of the bedroom rendered in vibrant color and black-and-white close-ups of particular objects in the room, including a pair of mittens hung up to dry and an uneaten bowl of mush on the bedside table. His attention to detail has delighted generations of readers: A copy of “Goodnight Moon” sits upon the nightstand, the time on the clock moves forward, and a tiny mouse scurries about the room. At first brightly lit, the “great green room” grows gradually darker over the course of the book, echoing slumber’s slow descent. In the final scene, the table lamp is off, the moon has risen, and the bowl of mush has been eaten.

Published by Harper & Bros. in September 1947, “Goodnight Moon” sold an initial 6,000 copies, but sales soon dropped off. The book’s remarkable rise in popularity began in the 1950s, in large part because of word of mouth among parents. In 1996, the New York Public Library, which did not add the book to its own collection until 1972, included “Goodnight Moon” on its Books of the Century list.

Today, “Goodnight Moon” has sold a total of more than 48 million copies, placing it among the best-selling children’s books of all time.

Derry Noyes, an art director for the Postal Service, designed the pane using existing art by Hurd.

The Goodnight Moon pane of 16 stamps are issued as Forever stamps, which will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1-ounce price.

Postal Products

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, First Day of Issue Ceremonies and stamp inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com.

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Nursing students engage in trauma simulation, guided by an instructor, to build essential emergency care skills in a realistic learning environment. Photo by Amy Prokop

Initiative will enhance and broaden nursing education with funds totaling $20.5 million

The Stony Brook University School of Nursing has been selected as a State University of New York (SUNY) Regional Nursing Simulation Center, one of only three in New York State. Governor Kathy Hochul announced the news this month about the selected centers, which will involve an overall $62 million investment to bolster nursing training at many levels throughout the state.

Stony Brook will receive $10 million from SUNY, with matching funds of $10.5 million from Stony Brook University. The total of $20.5 million will be used to create a new simulation center at Stony Brook that includes the latest simulation technologies to help train more nursing students and enhance the overall experience of nursing education.

The selected campuses include the University of Buffalo, named the SUNY System-Wide Nursing Simulation Center of Excellence, and SUNY Canton and Stony Brook as the regional centers. Each center will provide high-quality, hands-on training for some of the most needed clinical practice areas in health care, such as labor and delivery, high acuity cases, and community health.

According to the Governor’s office, with their investments, each campus has committed to significant prelicensure nursing program enrollment growth, leveraging the legislation Governor Hochul signed in May of 2023 permitting nursing students to complete up to one-third of their clinical training through high-quality simulation experiences.

“By investing in nurses of the future, we’re investing in the talent of aspiring professionals across our state and in the health care workforce we all rely on,” says Governor Hochul.

“As Suffolk County’s only academic medical center, Stony Brook University is proud to be at the forefront of healthcare education and workforce development,” says Dr. William A. Wertheim, Executive Vice President for Stony Brook Medicine. “This designation as a SUNY Regional Nursing Simulation Center reflects our long-standing commitment to preparing the next generation of nurses. Through this important partnership with SUNY, we will expand access to high-quality, hands-on clinical training – helping to address the critical nursing shortage, grow the healthcare workforce and ensure our communities have skilled professionals they need to thrive.”

The new regional nursing simulation center at Stony Brook will support a 19 percent increase in prelicensure (baccalaureate) nursing enrollment in the first-year post-project completion. There is a projected 27 percent increase over the next five years.

“We are grateful to Governor Hochul, SUNY, and Stony Brook University for this opportunity to expand and enhance nursing education through simulation-based learning,” says Dr. Patricia Bruckenthal, Dean of the Stony Brook School of Nursing. “Our NEXUS Innovation Center epitomizes our commitment to advancing nursing education through innovation and collaboration. By integrating cutting-edge simulation technologies, we are not only enhancing the clinical competencies of our students and students across the region but also fostering an environment where interdisciplinary teams can engage in transformative learning experiences. This center stands as a testament to our dedication to preparing nurse leaders who will shape the future of healthcare delivery.”

According to the plan as a regional center, Stony Brook will significantly expand its simulation space footprint to enhance in-person nursing education. Additionally, the center will leverage advanced simulcast software technology to provide remote learning opportunities across Long Island.

Currently, simulation baccalaureate nursing curriculum is integrated into every clinical course in the School of Nursing. Due to space constraints, students are rotated through the Learning Resource Center in small groups, which enables hands-on experiences in the simulation lab under the supervision of the lab director and clinical faculty. The expansion of simulation training and a new dedicated center will streamline this workflow.

The announcement of the three nursing simulation centers across the state also builds on previous efforts by SUNY to expand and enhance nursing education through simulation-based learning. Last October, SUNY Chancellor John B. King Jr. announced the inaugural class of the SUNY Nursing Simulation Fellowship, which includes Dr. Debra Giugliano from Stony Brook Nursing; and SUNY has invested $3.7 million through its High Needs Nursing Fund to further advance simulation-based education across 40 of SUNY’s nursing programs.

 

 

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Rite Aid

By Heidi Sutton

The signs were already there with empty shelves that were never restocked but now it’s official. Rite Aid Pharmacy announced on May 5 that the business will be selling or closing all of its locations in the next few months, including 178 in New York, as it files for Chapter 11 proceedings for the second time in less than two years. The company currently operates 1,245 stores in 15 states, according to its website.

During this process, Rite Aid customers can continue to access pharmacy services and products in stores and online, including prescriptions and immunizations. In connection with the sale process and court-supervised proceedings, the Company is working to facilitate a smooth transfer of customer prescriptions to other pharmacies, according to the press release.

“For more than 60 years, Rite Aid has been a proud provider of pharmacy services and products to our loyal customers. While we have continued to face financial challenges, intensified by the rapidly evolving retail and healthcare landscapes in which we operate, we are encouraged by meaningful interest from a number of potential national and regional strategic acquirors. As we move forward, our key priorities are ensuring uninterrupted pharmacy services for our customers and preserving jobs for as many associates as possible,” said Matt Schroeder, Chief Executive Officer of Rite Aid.

“I will be forever grateful to our thousands of associates for their commitment to Rite Aid and its mission, and I thank our entire team – from store associates to corporate employees – for their dedication to our customers and our company. With their support, we have played a critical role in supporting the healthcare needs of countless Americans across the communities that we are honored to serve,” Schroeder added.

Following the announcement, Rite Aid posted on its website that starting May 6 Rite Aid Rewards points will no longer be issued for qualifying purchases. All accrued points and BonusCash will expire per standard terms & conditions available at riteaid.com/rewards/terms-and-conditions.

The website also said that Rite Aid would no longer honor Rite Aid gift cards or accept any returns or exchanges beginning June 5.

To support Rite Aid during its sale process, which it intends to conduct under section 363 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, the Company has secured commitments from certain of its existing lenders to access $1.94 billion in new financing. This financing, along with cash from operations, is expected to provide sufficient funding during the sale and court-supervised process. The Company intends to divest or monetize any assets that are not sold through the court-supervised process. Rite Aid has filed a number of customary motions with the Court seeking authorization to support operations, including continued payment of employee wages and benefits, according to the release.

Currently there are 12 Rite Aids in Suffolk County, including Eastport, Hampton Bays, Huntington, Kings Park, Lindenhurst, Middle Island, Mount Sinai, North Babylon, Selden, Shirley, Southampton, and West Islip. Stores will begin to close or be sold within the next few months.

For a full list of New York Rite Aid locations, click here.

 

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Photo from Stony Brook University Athletics

For the third year in a row, the No. 19 Stony Brook women’s lacrosse team has won the CAA Championship after defeating the No. 2 seed Drexel, 12-10, on May 3. With the win, the Seawolves earn their 12th straight appearance in the NCAA Tournament, a streak that dates back to the 2013 season. Stony Brook captured its 11th conference championship title in program history (three CAA, eight America East) and won its 10th on the home turf of Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium.

Charlotte Wilmoth led all players with a game-high five points (three goals, two assists) to pace the scoring for the Seawolves. Isabella Caporuscio, Alexandra Fusco, and Kylie Budke registered a pair of goals, while Riley McDonald, Casey Colbert, and Courtney Maclay all tallied one goal apiece.

Defensively, Avery Hines continued her defensive dominance as she caused six more turnovers and set a new Stony Brook single-season record. With her 67 caused turnovers, she outdid her 66 caused turnovers last season for the most caused turnovers in a single season in program history.

Four Seawolves earned All-Championship Team honors for their standout play in the tournament. Caporuscio, Allie Masera, and Molly LaForge were named members of the All-Championship Team, with Budke taking home the Most Outstanding Performer honor.

The Seawolves opened scoring with a pair of goals from Caporuscio and Colbert before Drexel responded with three goals of their own. With 45.5 seconds left in the first quarter, Wilmoth was left wide open right outside the crease to even things up at three.

The back-and-forth affair would continue with a game-high seven goals through the second quarter. Wilmoth and A. Fusco dominated on the offensive front, tallying five points combined. With 1.1 seconds left in the half, Masera would go coast to coast dishing it out for a Wilmoth goal to take a 7-6 lead into intermission.

Coming back from the break, Drexel scored two goals to take an 8-7 lead before the Seawolves scored three straight for their first two-goal advantage since the start of the contest. Stony Brook would take a 10-8 advantage into the final quarter.

The Dragons scored a pair to start the fourth quarter and tie it up at 10 apiece. Budke’s standout performance began with just 3:27 remaining in the fourth quarter, breaking through her lone defender and finding the back of the net to give the Seawolves a 11-10 lead. She then scored back-to-back on an identical play, cutting through the eight-meter and dodging her defender for a two-goal advantage. With less than 30 seconds, Julia Fusco intercepted a wild pass from the Dragons to ice the clock and secure Stony Brook’s 11th conference championship.

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