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Dylan Friedman

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File photo by Raymond Janis

We need the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act

Toxic microplastics have invaded the Long Island Sound, harming wildlife and making their way into human bodies, too. Unfortunately, you can bet on this problem to get worse, because plastic production is projected to double nationwide in the next 20 years.

Plastic is polluting our lakes and oceans, filling our landfills, spewing toxins from garbage-burning incinerators and making us sick. On top of all that, it costs taxpayers millions to deal with all the waste that plastic pollution creates. We need to control this monster. Thankfully, New York is on its way to doing just that. 

Long Island’s state legislators can do their part by helping pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act: a bill that’s already backed by two thirds of New York voters. It will reduce plastic packaging by 30% over the next 12 years, require at least 75% of remaining packaging to be reused or recycled by 2052, outlaw 17 harmful chemicals and materials used in plastic packaging and require large companies to pay fees on packaging, thus reducing local taxpayers’ burden.

Plastic pollution is out of control, but we can live with safer packaging. Our health depends on it.

Judith Enck

President of Beyond Plastics and former EPA Regional Administrator

The reality of renewable energy on Long Island

In his letter [Feb. 27] about the transition from our present fossil-fuel- based electrical economy to one based on renewable energy, George Altemose calculates what he believes the necessary area that must be covered by solar panels in order to supply Long Island’s energy, including charging large batteries to carry us through several overcast days of low solar generation.

If the number of square miles of solar panels Altemose calculates appear daunting, it’s because he overlooks several important factors in our plan to end our use of fossil fuels on Long Island — the same fossil fuels that are producing the climate change that is now so obviously here.

First, it is planned that the largest source (49%) of our renewable energy needs will come from offshore wind turbines that will generate energy even after the sun goes down and solar panels stop producing; solar generation will be much less than that.

Second, the Long Island Solar Roadmap, released just before the COVID-19 outbreak after several years of research by the Nature Conservancy and the Defenders of Wildlife, indicates that 5,000 MW of solar generation — a number equal to Altemose’s worst-case scenario — could be installed on just one quarter of Long Island’s “low-impact” sites consisting of large flat roofs, carports, industrial land, brownfields, etc., without impacting any residential or wooded areas. But Long Island won’t need such a massive installation because we’ll have plenty of wind energy.

Finally, while we are a physical island, we are not an electrical island. The LIPA grid is currently connected to the mainland by five high voltage underwater cables that are used to import energy from New Jersey, Connecticut and Westchester when that is needed here. In addition, the Propel New York project will add two new cables linking us to the Bronx and Westchester. These would normally be used to export offshore wind energy that is landed here to locations in the New York City metro area and upstate, but they could equally be used to import energy from mainland sources if that were needed here.

All these carefully researched plans assume a rapid increase in the number of electric vehicles (these will be charged mostly at night, when electrical demand is lower than in the day), and the replacement of air conditioners and furnaces with efficient heat pumps that will reduce summer peak loads while increasing the lower demand we now have in the winter.

A massive transition to renewables is happening here and in the rest of the world; many major countries are well ahead of the United States because the United States is held back by those who would deny climate change in order to advance their own financial or political interests.

Peter Gollon 

Former LIPA trustee, Energy chair, Long Island Sierra Club Huntington

The EPA should be protected

A letter by Jim Soviero appeared in this newspaper on April 3 [EPA and media need accountability]  filled with innuendos and deceptive claims about the Environmental Protection Agency.  He calls for “accountability” for money already legally disbursed by the EPA as per the Biden legislation passed by Congress and signed into law, to fund beneficial projects to improve energy efficiency and reduce pollution. 

He’s echoing Lee Zeldin, our former Long Island congressman and now head of the Donald )Trump (R) EPA.  While in Congress Zeldin had a long record of opposing measures to safeguard air and water quality, instead serving the interests of the oil and gas industry, in spite of the fact that Long Island has no oil and gas industry.  If Zeldin really wanted “accountability,” why didn’t he protest when Trump fired the EPA Inspector General, whose one and only job is to hold the EPA accountable for its expenditures?  This IG, Sean O’Donnell, was appointed by none other than Trump himself back in 2020.  Could it be that Zeldin really wants not “accountability” but a more pliable IG to rubber-stamp the Zeldin-Trump agenda of climate denialism and environmental havoc?

Zeldin describes the mission of the EPA as “lower[ing] the cost of buying a car, heating a home, and running a business.”  No – the EPA is not the Commerce Department. The EPA’s mission, embedded in its name, is to protect the environment. I remember when the Cuyahoga River in Ohio was so polluted with oil slicks it caught on fire –  many times.  When Los Angeles was covered by a thick poisonous smog on a daily basis.  All before the EPA.  The EPA’s mission is to protect us from sickness and premature death from damaged lungs, heart disease, asthma and other consequences of the unchecked release of toxins into our air and water.  And it’s also about energy efficiency and reducing greenhouse gas emissions that threaten us, our children and grandchildren.

In spite of the letter writer’s innuendos, the rightful recipients of the funding Zeldin is trying to snatch back are reputable and longstanding organizations run by qualified professionals with years of experience in engineering, finance and energy efficiency.  The funds are being used for such things as increasing the affordability of modern, efficient heat pumps to replace inefficient gas or oil heating.  And the organization Power Forward Communities, so sneered at by the letter writer, is a coalition of some of the most trusted nonprofits in the nation, including Habitat for Humanity International and United Way Worldwide.

Dylan Friedman

St. James

Support our libraries

Please support our libraries in your publication! Interviews with librarians and patrons, and analyses of how our libraries support our communities. There are books, yes, but there is so much more. Our libraries are threatened, and we need to save them. They build community, support learning and critical thinking, offer classes and access to, e.g., internet to those who need it. And best of all, they’re a place you can go to get a lot without paying for anything.

Bente Videbaek

Port Jefferson

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Centereach High School

By Dylan Friedman

The March 26 Middle Country Central School District Board of Education meeting celebrated remarkable student achievements while delving into critical budget and special education discussions.

The evening highlighted several exceptional student-athletes, including Leah Norman from the Centereach High School Girls Basketball team. Coach Steve Greco praised Norman, noting she was thrust into a starting role after an early-season injury and helped the team achieve an impressive 18-4 record. “She was an amazing defender and rebounder, averaging 8.1 rebounds per game and chipped in on the offensive end as well, averaging 5.4 points per game,” Greco said.

Another standout athlete, Hayley Torres, was recognized for scoring 1,000 career points as a junior — a milestone achieved by only two previous female basketball players in the school’s history. Greco emphasized her dynamic playing style, stating, “She has been named to the Newsday Top 100 Players to Watch list in each of the past two seasons, [and] had been named all league four times, and all conference and all county three times, including this year, she is seen as one of the best guards in the county and constantly sees the toughest defensive matchups each game.”

The board also celebrated Hannah Hughes, a senior gymnast at Newfield High School, who won her third state vault championship — a feat no Long Island gymnast has accomplished since 1979. Her coach, Melissa Valentino, described a dramatic moment in a prepared statement: “She stepped up, executed her vault flawlessly, and stuck the landing with perfection,” Valentino said. 

The district’s Pupil Personnel Services department presented a comprehensive overview of special education programs. Director Jennifer Harrison revealed that approximately 1,607 students receive special education services, representing 16% of the district’s population — lower than the New York State and Suffolk County rates of 18%.

Harrison highlighted the district’s commitment to providing a continuum of services, including related services, resource room programs, integrated co-teaching services and out-of-district placements. The district is expanding its special education offerings, planning to add five kindergarten classes and an additional special education section at Newfield High School for the 2025-2026 school year.

According to Harrison, the PPS budget for the upcoming year (2025-2026) is approximately $61 million, a 7.1% increase from the current year. Salaries and benefits comprise approximately 72% of this budget. The department is also working diligently on Medicaid reimbursement, with current claims reaching an estimated $223,000.

In the budget development presentation, Assistant Superintendent Beth Rella provided insights into the district’s financial health. 

The district’s recent exit from the state comptroller’s fiscal stress designation doesn’t negate historical trends, which show a precarious financial position and suggest the potential for future difficulties. Rella’s presentation also revealed that the district hopes to build its reserves over the decade further, thus progressing in stabilizing its financial position.

Key budget cost drivers include contractual obligations, health-care costs, special education program expansion, transportation, utilities and technology. The newly proposed budget shows a 3.33% year-over-year growth.

Upon the presentation’s conclusion, one board member noted the potential impact of COVID-19 on special education enrollment, with the conclusion being that the pandemic likely partially affected early intervention and preschool service usage in the district.

The next Middle Country Central School District Board of Education meeting will take place April 23 at the Dr. Karen J. Lessler District Conference Center at Centereach High School.

For more information visit the school website: www.mccsd.net.

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Port Jefferson Village Hall. File photo by Heidi Sutton

By Dylan Friedman

The Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees held its monthly meeting Feb. 26. The meeting addressed a range of topics, including the ongoing bluff erosion issue, the financial status of the Port Jefferson Country Club and updates from the new Code Enforcement Department.

The meeting began with a moment of silence to remember long-time resident Don Pollock, who was often referred to as the “fifth trustee” for his frequent attendance and participation at board meetings. 

Public safety was a key focus, with the Suffolk County Police Department providing an update on crime statistics in the village. Officer Robert Dekenipp reported that overall criminal incidents were slightly up compared to last year’s period, with a notable increase in harassment cases. 

The code enforcement supervisors, Anthony Flammia and Kevin Cooper, then took to the podium to outline their activities over the past month. They highlighted meetings with local stakeholders, including the business community and residents, and enforcement actions taken, such as issuing violations for vacant storefronts without proper window displays.

Cooper emphasized the department’s focus on transparency, including the launch of an online complaint system for residents.

Additionally, a resident raised concerns about the village’s approach to the bluff erosion issue. Citing the recommendations of the bluff erosion committee,  he urged the board to seriously consider a retreat plan, arguing that the current restoration efforts are ultimately doomed to fail. 

“Mother Nature will eventually prevail,” he stated.

The resident also questioned the financial status of the Port Jefferson Country Club, saying that the facility is currently $700,000 in debt. “Who’s watching the ship?” he asked, criticizing the lack of transparency and calling for new elections for the club’s Board of Governors.

In response, Treasurer Stephen Gaffga acknowledged the need for greater financial oversight and transparency, noting that the board is working to correct past bookkeeping errors and improve budgeting practices. 

“We are asking [department heads] to work collaboratively with the treasurer and the goal is to maintain a flat budget while still building a contingency fund,” Trustee Kyle Hill explained.

Later in the meeting, the board also addressed several action items, including approving a busking program, extending a website and social media management services contract and authorizing various budget amendments to correct past accounting issues.

Notably, the board scheduled a public hearing for March 26 to consider overriding the 2% tax cap. Gaffga explained that this is a procedural step, and the board’s goal is to maintain a flat budget without the need to pierce the tax cap.

In closing, the board appointed a local business owner, to the Public Safety Advisory Council, recognizing the value of her perspective in addressing community concerns.

The next Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees meeting will be held March 12 in the courtroom on the second floor of Village Hall.

For more information visit www.portjeff.com.

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Board of Education meetings are typically held at William J. Brosnan School. Photo credit GoogleMaps

By Dylan Friedman

The Northport-East Northport Union Free School District Board of Education met Feb. 13 to discuss the district’s proposed budget for the upcoming school year. The meeting covered various topics, including the district’s five-year technology plan, facilities upgrades and security initiatives.

Technology investments

A significant focus of the meeting was the district’s five-year technology plan, presented by Director of Technology David Leis. 

“Every technology investment we make is aligned with instructional purpose and keeping student-centric decision-making in mind,” Leis explained. 

The plan outlines a strategic approach to upgrading the district’s technology infrastructure, including modernizing the fiber backbone, enhancing cybersecurity measures and expanding wireless capabilities to support digital learning and assessments. 

“As we move more into a digital world, making sure our wireless network is robust and can keep up with the demands of all the mobile devices and online experiences is necessary to support our students,” Leis said.

The technology budget also includes funding for the district’s one-to-one device program, which provides students with laptops or tablets.

 “We’ve developed a strategic plan to cycle in new devices for grades one, five and nine each year, aligning with key transition points in a student’s educational journey,” Leis noted.

Facilities upgrades

The district’s facilities and operations team outlined several capital projects and upgrades planned for the upcoming year. These include installing split-unit air-conditioning systems and heat pumps in large shared spaces such as cafeterias and auditoriums. 

“We’re focused on creating equitable access to air-conditioned spaces across the district, so students have a comfortable environment for learning, especially during high-stakes testing,” John Lackner, buildings and grounds director, said.

Other facility improvements include restroom renovations, swipe card access for classrooms and upgrades to the district’s intercom and fire alarm systems. 

Superintendent David Moyer explained, “We’re really trying to create learning environments that are conducive to our instructional priorities. “

Security initiatives

The district’s security team, led by John McEnroe, presented several security-focused initiatives in the proposed budget. This includes extending the district’s blue strobe lockdown system to interior spaces such as gymnasiums and auditoriums and adding a new server to expand video storage capacity for the security camera network.

“The most important layer of security is training and developing our staff,” McEnroe stated. “We provide ongoing training in areas like de-escalation, threat assessment and emergency response planning.”

Transportation enhancements

The transportation department, supervised by Patricia McGrane, is also slated for improvements. The budget includes funding for two additional full-time bus drivers, allowing the district to use more of its own fleet of buses rather than relying on contracted services.

“When we can use our own large buses, we save tens of thousands of dollars compared to contracting out,” McGrane explained. 

The department is also implementing a new “way-finder” system to provide bus drivers with voice-activated turn-by-turn directions.

Recap

The proposed budget reflects the district’s commitment to investing in technology, facilities, security and transportation to support student learning and well-being. 

As Moyer emphasized, “These investments are not just about numbers, but about how we can best support the educational experience for our students.”

The board will continue to review and refine the budget proposal in the coming months before presenting it to the community for a vote.

For more information visit www.northport.k12.ny.us.

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By Dylan Friedman

A proposed 48-unit apartment complex in Port Jefferson Station, Brook Meadows, has sparked a potential boundary restructuring between Brookhaven Town and Port Jefferson Village. Developer Northwind Group wants to annex the project site on Baylis Avenue to Port Jefferson Village. 

This unusual move comes after Northwind’s initial attempt to secure a zoning change from Brookhaven Town for the 5.6-acre parcel at 16 Baylis Ave. failed amid community and official opposition.

Baylis Avenue, a dead-end street with only 6 properties, presents a unique situation. While physically located within the Town of Brookhaven, its sole access point is via Sheep Pasture Road, which lies within Port Jefferson Village.

If both the town and village consent to the annexation, Brook Meadows would be assessed by Port Jefferson’s land-use boards instead of those of Brookhaven’s.

However, Ira Costell, president of the Port Jefferson Station-Terryville Civic Association, said in a recent Newsday article that he thinks the annexation “has the feel of a backdoor move to circumvent both the town and the residents of Port Jefferson Station” to bypass town zoning laws. 

“If this was a constant process and policy now, we are eating away at the margins of what’s been long-term, long-established as the governmental jurisdiction. It still remains part of our school district. Everybody around that parcel will be Port Jeff Station residents. I mean, what’s the logic behind this,” Costell said.  

There is a public hearing, scheduled for March 6 at Brookhaven Town Hall in Farmingville, is poised to be pivotal in determining the fate of the Brook Meadows development and its implications for municipal boundary adjustments. 

Ultimately, the fate of the annexation and the Brook Meadows project will hinge on a joint decision by Brookhaven Town and Port Jefferson Village.

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File photo

By Dylan Friedman

Northport-East Northport Union Free School District Board of Education held a meeting Jan. 23 to provide an initial overview of the district’s budget planning for the 2025-2026 school year. Superintendent David Moyer and Assistant Superintendent for Business Bob Howard presented details on the budget development process, expenditure projections, revenue sources and long-term financial planning.

“The objectives for the presentation are to provide an overview of timelines and the budget development process, review expenditures and five-year budget and facilities projections, and review anticipated revenue and levy history,” Moyer explained.

One key challenge the district faces is the shifting tax burden due to the LIPA settlement. As Moyer stated, “We recognize the challenges of the shifting tax burden to our community due to the LIPA settlement, and are sensitive to being as fiscally responsible as possible while maintaining the quality of programming that the community expects.”

The administration is also closely monitoring staffing levels amid declining enrollment. “This year, it is possible that the district may need to assess some staff to meet its programming needs and levy a budget target,” said  Moyer.

Providing an overview of the district’s five-year budget history, Howard noted that while personnel services costs have seen modest increases, the district has made continual reductions in staffing. “The fact that the total cost, despite those contractual increases, is only increasing by an average of 0.2% is illustrative of and showing the facts that there have been staffing and salary reductions,” he explained.

However, contractual expenses and employee benefits have faced higher inflationary pressures. As Howard stated, “These are the costs that are driving a lot of our budget increases so salaries are flat or relatively low. Contractual costs are inflationary sensitive areas [and] are higher than average.”

Looking ahead, the administration is anticipating modest increases in health insurance, salaries and BOCES tuition as well as a slight decrease in the teachers’ retirement system rate. “We’re expecting about a 3.5% increase in our BOCES tuition costs. They’re giving us an indication that, you know, maybe they’re trying to keep it under 4%,” Howard said.

The district also shared its five-year master facilities plan, which outlines a combination of “pay-as-you-go” capital projects funded through the annual budget and more significant bond-funded initiatives. As Howard explained, “The district has recently invested more in its facilities, budgeted more, and transferred more into capital to maintain its buildings than it has in the past.”

On the revenue side, the presentation reviewed the district’s tax levy history, which has been below the tax cap limit each year. The administration is projecting a tax levy increase between 2.1% and 2.3% for 2025-2026, which is lower than the current year’s 2.33% increase.

“We are committed to doing everything possible to minimize this year’s levy recommendation to the board,” Moyer said.

Despite the challenges ahead, the administration reaffirmed its dedication to fiscal prudence while prioritizing the continued excellence of educational programs for students. Their proactive approach aims to balance budgetary constraints with the community’s expectations for quality education, ensuring that every financial decision supports the district’s long-term goals and the success of its students.

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Photo from Wikimedia Commons by Derek Jensen

By Dylan Friedman

Suffolk County’s red-light camera program officially ceased on Dec. 1.

The program generated hundreds of millions of dollars in fines and fees since its inception 14 years ago.

“The intent for it was to make things safer for our roads,” Suffolk County Legislator Robert Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) said.  

However, despite the original intent, the program’s effectiveness has been a frequently contentious issue. Supporters emphasize a decline in severe accidents and fatalities as proof of its success. Conversely, detractors argue it has led to an uptick in rear-end collisions due to individuals stopping suddenly to avoid camera detection. Critics also label it a “cash grab” for the county, which reported earning approximately $13 million from the program in 2023.

In a recent CBS News report, county data showed an 11.3% drop in accidents with injuries and an 8.6% overall increase in crashes.

“The data showed that the rear-end accidents skyrocketed in those intersections [where the cameras were placed],” Trotta said.

According to Newsday, while Suffolk County had independently decided to terminate its red-light camera program, the decision swiftly followed a recent appellate court ruling invalidating Nassau County’s $100 surcharge on top of the standard $50 red-light camera ticket. The court found that Nassau County’s surcharge violates state law. It is worth noting that Suffolk County also previously collected a similar surcharge until 2023.

“If I saw road improvements or it went back to the school system, it would make me feel better about paying for these tickets,” said Nicholas Harding of East Patchogue in a CBS News interview.

Nassau County intends to challenge the recent court ruling that invalidated the county’s ability to levy surcharges on red-light camera tickets. Notably, the county’s red-light camera program remains operational during this appeal process.

However, according to a Fox News report, the recent appellate court ruling regarding the collection fees from these red-light cameras could potentially entitle drivers to “hundreds of millions of dollars,” although the exact amount remains uncertain.

“The purpose of the lawsuit is to get back every dime that was paid in excess of the statutory amount of $50 and $25 in Suffolk. In Nassau, it was even worse. It was an extra $100,” attorney David Raimondo said in a recent statement. “I’m hoping the residents of Nassau and Suffolk have some sense of justice … let’s hope they’re happy when they get their refunds.”

So, if the recent ruling is not directly related to the ending of the red-light camera program in Suffolk County, why else is the program ending?

According to Newsday, although former Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr. (D-Sag Harbor) sponsored an extension bill in the state assembly, no member of Suffolk’s senate delegation, comprised of four Republicans and one Democrat, introduced a corresponding extension bill prior to the adjournment of the last legislative session in June.

Additionally, according to Newsday, extending the program in Suffolk County would have required approval from both the county and state legislatures, a process that would have occurred during an election year, potentially increasing complexity and political considerations.

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METRO photo

By Dylan Friedman

Recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data indicates a significant increase in illness across the United States, with roughly 40 states reporting high illness activity levels in the past week.

So, what illnesses are hitting the hardest at the moment?

According to Carrie Reed, epidemiologist with the CDC Influenza Division, as reported in a recent NBC News Chicago article, “There is a lot of flu out there.”

Reed further emphasized that the current flu surge is being driven by multiple strains, a fact supported by the latest CDC hospitalization data.

According to the CDC, “flu symptoms usually come on suddenly.”

Some of the most common symptoms include fever or feeling feverish/chills, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, muscle or body aches, headaches and fatigue (tiredness). Some people may have vomiting and diarrhea, though this is more common in children than in adults.

According to the CDC, antiviral medications may be a treatment option if you contract the flu. These medications can potentially lessen the severity of illness and shorten the duration of sickness. They may also help prevent certain flu complications, such as pneumonia.

For optimal effectiveness, antiviral medications should be initiated promptly, ideally within the first two days of the onset of flu symptoms.

While the flu is prevalent at the start of 2025, it is essential to note that several pathogens, including COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus, can present with similar symptoms, such as fever, cough and sore throat. While RSV typically causes cold-like symptoms, it can pose significant health risks for infants and the elderly.

According to the CDC, people infected with RSV usually exhibit symptoms within four to six days after getting infected. The most common symptoms are runny nose, congestion, decrease in appetite, coughing, sneezing and fever.

It is also important to note that symptoms often appear in stages rather than simultaneously. While adults may experience more pronounced symptoms, they can be less noticeable in young infants. Although RSV typically causes mild cold-like illness, it can lead to severe conditions such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Preventive and protective measures against RSV infection vary depending on the age group. For adults, RSV vaccination is recommended for individuals aged 75 and older as well as those aged 60-74, who are considered at increased risk for severe RSV. In infants, two primary approaches are utilized to mitigate the risk of severe RSV infection. First, a maternal RSV vaccine can be administered to pregnant women, providing some level of protection to the developing fetus. Alternatively, an RSV antibody can be administered to infants after birth to enhance their immunity against the virus.

Additionally, the common cold can present with symptoms similar to both RSV and the flu, including a runny nose, sore throat and cough. While the common cold is generally considered a mild illness, it can cause significant discomfort and may lead to more serious complications in individuals with weakened immune systems, such as the elderly or those with chronic health conditions.

According to the CDC, the manifestation of cold symptoms usually reaches a peak within two to three days of infection and may include runny nose or nasal congestion, cough, sneezing, sore throat, headache, mild body aches and fever (usually low grade in older children and adults).

The common cold is a self-limiting viral infection that typically resolves without the need for specific medical intervention. It is crucial to understand that antibiotics are ineffective against viruses and, therefore, will not alleviate cold symptoms. 

Additionally, individuals experiencing cold-like symptoms who suspect a possible COVID-19 or flu infection, particularly those at elevated risk for severe illness, are strongly encouraged to undergo testing. 

Antiviral treatments are available for both COVID-19 and flu, and their efficacy is significantly enhanced when administered promptly following the onset of symptoms.

More information can be found on the CDC website: www.cdc.gov.

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Ira Costell, president of the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association. File photo

By Dylan Friedman

When two years ago, a significant development threatened to reshape the character of his tight-knit community dramatically, Ira Costell knew he had to act. 

As the recently elected president of the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association, Costell became more determined than ever to ensure his neighbors’ voices were heard.

“I figured, this was an opportunity for me to pitch in and try to do my best to give voice to those issues that I felt some of my neighbors and myself were concerned about,” Costell said.

Over the past two years, Costell has done just that, reinvigorating the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association and transforming it into a powerful platform for community advocacy. 

“I try to do it to the best of my ability. It’s a learning experience, but I think I’ve grown into the position, and [I] do my best to be an honest broker so that it’s not just about my opinion. I really try to facilitate what I think the group is trying to say,” Costell said.

Through Costell’s leadership, the organization has seen a surge in engagement. It has over 200 people on its mailing list, over 50 voting members and countless other community members who show up at meetings to voice their concerns. 

This grassroots mobilization has allowed the civic group to have a tangible impact on key issues facing the area, from influencing the outcome of a contentious rezoning proposal to securing a commitment for a comprehensive traffic study, all completed under Costell’s leadership.

While the association has accomplished many things under Costell’s leadership, his decades-long commitment to community service extends far beyond the organization.

“I have a background of giving service to protecting the environment. I was the former chair of an environmental commission in the county of Suffolk,” Costell said. “I [also] continuously give service as a family advocate for people struggling with problems with drugs and alcohol,  connect people to treatment and give them help, and I try to educate and assist families that are struggling with loved ones who are challenged with the disease of addiction,” Costell continued. 

Costell’s dedication to his community has not gone unnoticed. His tireless efforts and passionate advocacy have earned him the respect and admiration of his peers and neighbors.

“Ira Costell goes about his business in a quiet way. His planning background and decades-long residency in Port Jefferson Station and Terryville are priceless. He uses both to assist in his decision-making as it pertains to our community,” Lou Antoniello, treasurer of the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association, said. 

Costell’s ability to galvanize community support and his commitment to addressing local concerns have significantly impacted the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville community. His leadership has not only revitalized the civic association but also empowered residents to actively participate in shaping the future of their neighborhood.

As Costell continues to serve his community, he inspires others to get involved and make a difference. His story is a testament to the power of individual action and the importance of community engagement at every level. 

For his work with the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association, TBR News Media is pleased to name Ira Costell as a 2024 Person of the Year.

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Pixabay photo

By Dylan Friedman

Sons of Norway, Loyal Lodge 252, is gearing up to celebrate a significant milestone: its 100th anniversary in 2024. Initially chartered in June of 1924, the lodge also boasts the title of Smithtown’s oldest fraternal organization. 

“It’s pretty cool that we’re still here, 100 years later,” Eric Johansson, president of the loyal lodge, said. “We have got a lot of cool stories and history to share.”

The lodge’s website recounts that the organization’s early meetings were held in the cellar of former lodge president Carl Eriksen’s residence. As membership grew, the lodge’s members embarked on a construction project during the 1930s, erecting a meeting place to call their own, Norway Hall, located at 201 Seventh St., St. James.  

The completed hall, a substantial structure constructed of hollow tile, stucco and wood, quickly became a vital community hub.

In addition to serving as a designated meeting space for Sons of Norway, Loyal Lodge 252, the hall was also made available to various local organizations, including the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Democratic and Republican clubs, the Masonic Lodge, and the Boy and Girl Scouts. Moreover, as the organization’s website detailed, the hall previously functioned as a polling place for local elections.

While the hall has served as a physical hub for the community for decades, the organization’s commitment to connection extends beyond its walls. Johansson highlights the organization’s upcoming Annual Scandinavian Bazaar on Nov. 16 as an opportunity to showcase its philanthropic commitment to the community. 

The event will offer attendees a chance to immerse themselves in Scandinavian culture through live accordion music, a variety of Scandinavian holiday and household items, home-baked goods, traditional food (including lapskaus, waffles and open sandwiches) and a raffle.

As Sons of Norway, Loyal Lodge 252, celebrates its 100-year milestone, the organization continues to be a vibrant part of the community. With a rich history and a bright future, the lodge invites everyone to join in the celebration and experience the warmth of Scandinavian culture.

The Nov. 16 event will occur at the St. James Lutheran Church, located at 230 2nd Ave., St. James, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

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