CLOSE
Tags Posts tagged with "letters to the editor"

letters to the editor

by -
0 608
File photo by Raymond Janis

Vote for democracy this November

My car has a single bumper sticker supporting a Democratic candidate. On Sunday, I was driving home from doing some shopping. For the second time in a little over a week, a motorcyclist behind me at a stop light cursed and threatened me.

He called me un-American and threatened to vandalize my car. How can anyone believe that threatening to vandalize someone’s car because of the candidate that they support is consistent with our country’s values?

Neighbors, whatever party you belong to, I beg you this November to vote for the candidate who will protect our democracy. I have to believe that the vast majority of us, regardless of party affiliation, don’t want to live in the sort of country that some motorcyclists would like to create.

Rachel Kreier

Port Jefferson

Balancing restoration with resilience

I join county Legislator Steve Englebright [D-Setauket] in favoring the restoration of the iconic Stony Brook Mill Pond.

As the interim president of the Frank Melville Memorial Foundation, custodians of the dams and Setauket Mill Ponds, I thank Steve for his mention of our ponds and the credit given to our dam’s construction [“Perspective: Restore and protect Stony Brook Mill Pond,” TBR News Media, Aug. 29]. 

I would add to the story, however, when Steve says that we were subjected to the same storm event as the Stony Brook Mill Pond. While it is likely that we shared the same amount of water and climate violence as Stony Brook, we were the beneficiaries of a years-long Save The Ponds campaign in which we lobbied for the installation of the recharge basin at Detmer Farm (thank you, Suffolk County) and a cascade system to slow the runoff of rainwater from Main Street, Old Field Road and Christian Avenue (thank you, Town of Brookhaven) and yes, even Route 25A (thank you, New York State).

While our focus was on restoration of the ponds, the first stop, led by Chuck Hamilton — then a member of our board and a former regional enforcement officer for DEC — was to identify and address root causes. In our case, there was too much road runoff, sand and dirt flowing into our ponds.

Add to this that we have done a series of engineering assessments. The most recent of these was performed by Thomas O’Dwyer of HomePort Engineering who donated his services and was led by Robert Reuter, one of our board members and a past president. Our dam and sluiceway were reinforced under Robert’s oversight within the last two years. 

So yes, I vote to restore the Stony Brook Mill Pond, but not without a plan to manage the velocity and volume of water running down 25A and not without a commitment to inspect and maintain the dam itself.

Timothy Glynn

South Setauket

Restoring our roots

I am writing in response to Kurt Johnsen’s enjoyable and nostalgic guest column [“Stony Brook Mill Pond — a warm childhood memoir,” TBR News Media, Aug. 29]. His writing was both informative and captivating.

One can easily picture a somewhat different time in our not-too-distant past. For all that must have changed, much has remained. Three Village continues to share a strong sense of community along with the bucolic landscapes that fill our windshields from school pickups to grocery shopping to visits with friends.

The disasters at the Stony Brook Mill Pond and along Harbor Road are indeed impressive, in the scariest sense, especially when visited in person. Happily there was no loss of human life. Considering our hometown has been unique since the very beginning as explained by Mr. Johnsen, I am hopeful that our sense of place helps us restore what was lost and build something lasting for our children and grandchildren to share with their families and create memories not so different from the ones made nearly 60 years ago.

Mr. Johnsen would also be pleased to know there are wood ducks which frequent the Mill Pond. I do not know if they nest in the boxes he built all those years ago, but it’s not impossible to think his hope-filled project changed the trajectory of this particularly stunning waterfowl.

Rebuilding gives us an opportunity to do something special and future-focused. Thank you for inspiring us.

Craig Beale

Setauke

Trying to enjoy peace at Cedar Beach

People come to the beach for many reasons: fresh air, the scenery or to escape their problems. None of which can be enjoyed with you sitting in your car with the windows rolled up, while you scroll on your phone. It makes no sense! If you don’t want to enjoy all that our wonderful Island has to offer, fine. But, you not only get in your own way, but you ruin it for others.

I’ve gone to Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai to see the sunset several times this summer and without fail there’s someone doing this very thing. With their car running! It’s late in the season, late in the day so it’s not hot and yet people pull in with their windows rolled up.

Unfortunately, I cannot walk to the shore because of health reasons. So I sit on the beach right by the parking lot, away from the noisy Beach Club. I try to enjoy some peace on our beautiful beach.

But I can’t.

I didn’t come here to listen to your engine or to smell your car’s exhaust. So let me ask: Why are you here?

Deniz Yildirim

Port Jeff Station

Come meet Sarah Anker

If you’ve been asked to vote for Sarah Anker as your next New York State senator for District 1 and your answer is that you don’t know who she is, here is your chance to learn more about her.

Come meet Sarah on Saturday, Sept. 7, at 12:30 at The Shoppes at East Wind, Suite T, Wading River. Hear what supporters have to say about her, pick up literature and lawn signs, and eat some pizza. Of course, if you want to help reach out to voters, consider volunteering to help spread Sarah’s message. There’s a lot to be done between now and Nov. 5.

You can help canvas/knock on doors; make phone calls either from home or the office; reach out to your friends or people in your network, sharing with them why they should vote for Sarah; help with voter registration; getting lawn signs to put in your yard; or any other way you can think of to help Sarah become your next state senator.

On Nov. 5 it is crucial that you vote for those national candidates that will secure our democracy. Sarah will work for that goal and so much more. She will do what she’s done as a county legislator — she will have our backs.

So, come meet someone who will protect everyone’s rights. For more information about Sarah, go to her website at www.sarahanker.com. She will continue to put people over politics.

Ernestine Franco

Sound Beach

WRITE TO US … AND KEEP IT LOCAL 

We welcome your letters, especially those responding to our local coverage, replying to other letter writers’ comments and speaking mainly to local themes. Letters should be no longer than 400 words and may be edited for length, libel, style, good taste and uncivil language. They will also be published on our website. We do not publish anonymous letters. Please include an address and phone number for confirmation. Email letters to: [email protected] or mail them to TBR News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733

 

by -
0 456
File photo by Raymond Janis

Disingenuous projection

Jim Soviero’s letter “Local Dems put politics first” (TBR News Media, Aug. 15), accusing Democratic politicians of avoiding “substantive talk of policy,” is a classic example of disingenuous projection.

Projection because it is Republicans who are avoiding discussion of their policy plans, from a national abortion ban to mass deportations. The Republican Party didn’t even bother to draft a new platform in 2020, instead officially endorsing whatever then-President Donald Trump [R] advocated on any given day.

The current Republican platform is a vague, self-contradictory manifesto — long on rhetoric but very short on specific policy prescriptions. And Republican politicians can’t distance themselves

quickly enough from Project 2025, the very specific federal overhaul playbook that will be implemented if Trump wins. Local U.S. Rep. Nick LaLota [R-NY1] claims to oppose a federal abortion ban, while having voted for multiple federal anti-abortion laws.

All this is unsurprising, given that Republican policy positions are incredibly unpopular. Significant majorities of Americans support reproductive rights, worker and union protections, stricter gun laws, marriage equality and higher taxes on corporations and the very wealthy. All are signature Democratic positions.

The Democratic Party, like all other mainstream political parties around the world, has a detailed written platform with numerous specific policy positions. For example, it supports a $15 per hour federal minimum wage, a 25% billionaire minimum tax rate and expanded Medicare drug negotiation authority, which has already resulted in a $35 per month cap on insulin and asthma inhalers. Mr. Soviero can consult that platform whenever he wants to understand what Democrats, both local and national, propose.

Most importantly, his accusation is disingenuous because this election is clearly not about specific policies. It is about fundamental questions of what government is for and what you think “The United States” should mean. Do you want a white, male, straight, single-party, Christian nationalist state run by a personality cult for the benefit of billionaires? Or do you want a secular, multiethnic, pluralist democracy under the rule of law?

There’s little point in debating detailed policies until we resolve that.

John Hover

East Setauket

Stony Brook’s flood fallout

The massive flooding and damage to Stony Brook village following the torrential rainfall of Aug. 18-19 is already well documented [“Storm ravages the North Shore,” TBR News Media, Aug. 22]. Now comes the process of rebuilding the dam and the washed-out segment of Harbor Road. Just hours after the catastrophe, officials from numerous were predicting “years” of reconstruction. The EPA, Army Corps of Engineers and a host of other agencies (i.e., red-tape), weighed in on the complexities of remediating the situation. Few could have predicted the 9-plus inches of rainfall within just a few hours, but after inspecting the wreckage at Harbor Road, it appears to have been just a matter of time.

Like the rickety Sheep Pasture Road bridge over the LIRR tracks in Port Jefferson, the dam at Stony Brook is a 19th-century design, and the opportunity for an updated/robust structure to replace the wreckage is now. 

After surveying the scene on Aug. 21, it appears the destroyed section of Harbor Road sat atop an “earthen” dam, wooden pilings and an ancient sluice-gate system to manage the flow of water. Yes, there will be time needed for design and engineering plans, and hopefully the new structure will incorporate reinforced concrete and steel, rather than dirt. That said, we’re not talking Baltimore Harbor Bridge here but only perhaps 100 feet of roadway and its underpinnings. 

The environmental crisis is here and now, not in the rebuild process. Maximum six to seven months to rebuild the structure and full restoration of the lake, a bit longer. Oh wait, I forgot something: this is New York State I’m talking about. U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer [D-NY] stopped by the scene the other day … but Gov. Kathy Hochul [D]: “Hello, hello, where are you?”

Michael Meltzer

Old Field

Editor’s note: Gov. Hochul met with state and local elected officials Aug. 27 to tour the Mill Pond as well as Stony Brook University to assess storm damage.

Misguided optimism: A reality check on Smithtown’s storm damage

Supervisor Ed Wehrheim’s [R] statement that Smithtown was “fortunate” compared to surrounding areas, as reported in the news item “Storm ravages the North Shore” [TBR News Media, Aug. 22],” is highly misleading to say the least. Smithtown was inundated by the same 9 inches of rain as surrounding towns, and suffered similar damage.

Most notable were the devastation at Stump Pond — the centerpiece of Blydenburgh Park — and extensive damage to the main building of Smithtown Library.

The concrete dam at the west end of Stump Pond, long home to a variety of wildlife, was wrecked by the torrential downpour, causing the pond to empty out, much like what happened to Stony Brook Mill Pond. Hundreds of thousands of gallons of water came rushing out, flowing toward the Nissequogue River, flooding Paul T. Given Town Park, severely damaging nearby homes and flooding streets. All that’s left now is a pit of mud and tree stumps that haven’t seen the light of day for 226 years, since the pond was first formed by clearing forest and building a dam. 

As for the library’s main Smithtown building, the entire basement floor was flooded from floor to ceiling. The Long Island History Room located there was badly damaged, particularly its priceless and irreplaceable collection of original materials dating as far back as the 1600s, including the original patent of Richard Smith. It was the most significant collection of historical archives on all of Long Island. In addition over 20,000 audiovisual materials were destroyed, as well as books, computers, wiring, shelving and other hardware. Now would be a good time to donate to the library or join the Friends of the Smithtown Library.

This is to say nothing of the many homes that suffered devastating damage and the streets that were flooded, including Main Street, and the 4 feet of water that flooded Smithtown Town Hall.

Instead of issuing a self-congratulatory statement after the storm, dubiously claiming that due to “proactive measures” and “recent upgrades” Smithtown was better off than neighboring towns, it would have been far better had town Supervisor Wehrheim acknowledged that, like them, it suffered painful and devastating losses. Unlike Supervisor Wehrheim, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine [R] gets it. He termed the losses “catastrophic.” “I don’t think we’re going to have to wait another hundred years for another storm like this,” he said. “It tells you the impact that climate change is having on our weather.”

David Friedman

St. James

by -
0 541
File photo by Raymond Janis

A haiku for your consideration

August

South Shore cousins want

tough soles negotiating

Pretty sound beaches

Joan Nickeson

Terryville

Thank you, Father Pizzarelli

It warmed my heart to read Father Francis Pizzarelli’s moving tribute honoring Father Gerald Fitzsimmons, who passed away in July [“Plain Talk: The loss of a bridge builder,” Aug. 8, Arts & Lifestyles, TBR News Media]. Father Fitz, as he was known, was our pastor at St. Mary Gate of Heaven R.C. Church and grade school in Ozone Park, Queens, during my childhood. He was known to be kind and understanding. Years later, he performed our wedding ceremony there in 1986 and, coincidentally, passed away on our anniversary.

I met Father Pizzarelli in junior high school when he was still “Brother Frank” at SMGH. My grade made our holy confirmation under his guidance where we forged unbreakable bonds between our classmates. We were challenged to “dare to be different” as we make our way through life, and we all took that very seriously. 

I’m happy to know that these two extraordinarily compassionate faith leaders were able to spend many years working and supporting each other. Their work has been a blessing to those in need and an inspiration to many more.

Father Fitz will be missed and I feel fortunate to have known him.

Joan Loscalzo Dickinson

Lake Grove

Setting the record straight: the real story behind West Meadow Beach cottages

I would like to address John Hover’s response to my letter to the editor regarding the West Meadow Beach cottages [“Gratitude not complaints,” Aug. 8, The Village Times Herald].

While Mr. Hover is entitled to his perspective, his characterization of the cottage community as one of privilege and exclusivity is not only inaccurate but also deeply unfair to the families who cherished this place for generations.

The cottages at West Meadow Beach were not the domain of the privileged or politically connected. They were a special place for ordinary families who built memories and passed down traditions. To dismiss their attachment as mere privilege is to overlook the genuine love and dedication these families had for West Meadow Beach, whose loss is profound and personal. What’s truly strange and sad is the lack of appreciation, compassion and sensibility toward the pain caused by an extreme and unnecessary legislative action led by political activists, contrary to the narrative used to justify their actions. More troubling is the fact that these people are still doing victory laps two decades later, without any appreciation for the history.

Originally private property, the land at West Meadow Beach was settled in the 17th century as part of the larger Setauket settlement, one of the earliest communities on Long Island. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, West Meadow Beach had become a popular area for summer cottages, where families built seasonal homes and enjoyed the natural beauty of Long Island. Over time, the Town of Brookhaven began acquiring this land, and by the mid-20th century the cottages were on town-owned land leased to families under long-term agreements.

However, starting in the 1960s and 1970s, legal battles emerged over the ownership and use of the land, often framed as environmental concerns. While some pushed for expanded public beach access, which could have been a reasonable compromise, the political activists were not satisfied. They pursued the complete removal of the cottages, pushing for the land to be reclassified as public parkland, which paved the way for the destruction of the cottages. This reclassification was achieved in 1996, when the New York State Legislature passed legislation under the guise of environmental preservation.

However, the true intent of these activists was not to protect the environment but, in fact, to destroy the cottages. This represents a clear case of political lawfare and abuse of office as the actions taken were not for the public good but to satisfy their political agenda. This counters the narrative that the cottages were occupied by a well-connected elite when, in fact, it was the well-connected activists who orchestrated this outcome. Yet somehow, Mr. Hover suggests that those who lived in the cottages should be “quietly grateful” for the time until their land was seized.

The scarcity of these cottages should not be mistaken for exclusivity. Anyone who was interested was eligible to secure a cottage for a modest price. This was not a community of elites but of everyday people who found solace and joy in a simple, beautiful place.

It’s important to remember that the value of heritage and tradition cannot be easily quantified. The families who occupied these cottages did not view them merely as their property but as a legacy, a connection to the past that is increasingly rare in today’s transient, Airbnb-driven culture. The cottages, unlike the opulent mansions in neighboring Old Field, were humble homes that provided a retreat for everyday people. The families who occupied the cottages were stewards of this land, not exploiters of it. Contrary to the false narratives used to justify the actions taken, it’s about more than land — it’s about losing a place that held the stories of their lives. The loss was not because they felt entitled to it, but because a beloved piece of their history was taken from them.

The cottages were rare and precious, and the people who loved them were not motivated by privilege, but by a deep connection to the community and their family heritage.

Jen Schaedel

Stony Brook

by -
0 591
File photo by Raymond Janis

Why ‘divisive’ hits the mark

Art Billadello objects to the word “divisive” headlining a TBR news article [Aug. 1] about the gigantic “In Trump We Trust” sign put up on a building at the main intersection of Port Jefferson, right across from the ferry terminal. He ignores the obvious: Of course a sign like that is divisive.

This was not a campaign sign. It was put up in January 2020, immediately before President Joe Biden’s [D] inauguration and shortly after the attack on the U.S Capitol sparked by the lie that former President Donald Trump [R] hadn’t lost the election. Some 20 feet long and some 3 feet high, it was displayed on the building’s second story balcony. It took our national motto, “In God We Trust,” and swapped out “God” for “Trump.” How is that not divisive?

When I moved to this area over 35 years ago there were no political signs outside of election season, let alone a gigantic sign erected in the middle of town three months after the election, implicitly claiming God-like status for the losing candidate. All that changed after 2016. After that election was over and Trump won, his flags and banners didn’t come down. They remained prominently displayed throughout his entire term. Then, when Trump lost in 2020, the Trump flags and banners still didn’t come down after the election. Why is that? What is the purpose of this other than to provoke and inflame division within our community? It’s not exactly the kind of thing expected of a good neighbor. It expresses the opposite of what unites us.

As for the letter writer’s attempt to draw a false equivalence between Trump and Biden as equally divisive, it’s just more gaslighting. The Biden administration passed the first major infrastructure bill in decades with bipartisan support, in spite of opposition from the extreme left and the extreme right. Trump, on the other hand has trafficked in race-baiting and ethnic stereotypes, hurled childish and vitriolic insults at his political opponents, and refused to disavow the most extreme and violent of his supporters, even to the extent of refusing to condemn their threats to hang his own vice president for performing his constitutional duty.

David Friedman

St. James

Local Dems put politics first

During interviews with TBR, several local Democrats could barely hide their excitement over the change at the tippy-top of their party’s ticket [“Local Democrats see new political energy and interest after Biden withdraws,” TBR News Media, July 25].

John Avlon said, “People are excited to be a part of something bigger than themselves.” Dems are becoming “fired up” about their political prospects. 

Steve Englebright was especially upbeat: “Everybody who I’ve talked to is energized. … I see the ascension of a Democratic candidate … who is a woman of color, a woman of substance, in terms of her accomplishments, as validating the idea that women are equally ready” to serve in any political office.

Hitchhiking on that idea, Rebecca Kassay added, “I’m energized and inspired to be running with our first potential female president.”

Suffolk County Democratic Committee campaign manager Keith Davies saw all this as a “great opportunity for local candidates to not have to worry about exciting Democrats.” Davies also added those running won’t have to spend much time fielding questions about President Joe Biden’s “cognitive abilities.”

All that uncontested “happy talk” was weeks ago. Missing then and, as of this writing, missing now, is any substantive talk of policy from the two candidates atop their ticket.

Both the vice president, Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Tim Walz, currently remain basically mute regarding specifics on how they’d manage inflation, illegal immigration, two wars started on their party’s watch, growing antisemitism especially on college campuses, fracking, police funding or restarting ICE “from scratch.”

The aforementioned, a partial list of important issues, does not include Harris’ 2019 call for ending private health insurance.

Campaign staffers trying to “walk back,” some would say flip flop, on her more extreme and unpopular positions are a poor substitute for answering probing questions in her own voice.

But, perhaps the most troubling part of the interview was Davies’ apparent relief that Biden’s “cognitive abilities” may no longer be a pesky political liability. The implication, in this time of multiple global existential crises, is that the fitness of POTUS is off the table. This, despite the fact that Biden’s significant cognitive disabilities remained purposely hidden, until after his awful debate. How then, without careful, unbiased scrutiny, could we know if the current president is fit to run our nation for the next six months?

It’s that kind of deliberate media incuriosity that has cost them credibility and gotten us to the point where unchallenged partisans can put their politics first, and celebrate muted candidates, with little fear of blowback.

Jim Soviero

East Setauket

The community we love

Every Saturday, my husband Bill and I head for the Rolling Pin Bakery at the Three Village Plaza in East Setauket to load up with goodies. This Saturday, when we entered the store, the manager called us over and surprisingly gave us an envelope with a $20 bill in it. 

It was found on the floor last week. They looked at the security video and lo and behold … it was us!

The point of all this is that it is really satisfying to know that we live in a community with such honest and caring people.

Thank you to the staff at the Rolling Pin Bakery. You made our day as uplifting as those raisin scones.

Patricia Martin

Stony Brook

Errors in Joseph ‘JOJO’ LaRosa Foundation article

I want to bring your attention to two errors in the recent article that was published about the Joseph “JOJO” LaRosa Foundation golf outing on Monday, July 29 [“Celebrating the life of JoJo LaRosa,” The Village Times Herald, Aug. 1].

The first being at the beginning of the article where you refer to our foundation in parentheses as “Forever JoJo Strong.” This is not accurate. JoJo’s father — and our dad — has a separate foundation with that name. JoJo and I’s parents are divorced and therefore made two separate foundations. 

The second error that needs to be corrected is when you refer to “JoJo’s dad” based on a comment by my mom Gina. In the interview she said, “my husband” when referring to the person JoJo used to play with at St. George’s Golf and Country Club and that is because her husband is JoJo’s stepdad, not his father. As I mentioned above, JoJo’s father is not married to my mom and has a separate foundation from JJLF.

I do apologize for the confusion, however, these are very important errors that need to be retracted or revised.

Emily LaRosa, Vice President

Joseph “JOJO” LaRosa Foundation

Editor’s note: We regret these errors and thank Emily LaRosa for bringing them to our attention.

by -
0 508
File photo by Raymond Janis

Poor choice of word

The word “divisive” in the headline of your article regarding the “In Trump We Trust” banner in Port Jefferson (TBR News Media, Aug. 1) is misleading. It infers that the banner indicates former — and, hopefully, future — President Donald Trump (R) is “divisive.” I’m sure that the papers wouldn’t have used the word “divisive” in the headline had the banner stated the name of the actual divider-in-chief currently occupying the White House.

Art Billadello

East Setauket

Gratitude not complaints

Jen Schaedel’s long, angry letter (“Unjustified dismantlement of West Meadow Beach cottages,” (TBR News Media, Aug. 1) is a classic case of the aphorism, “When you’re used to privilege, equality feels unjust.”

Whether the nearly-free early-1900s waterfront property leases were favors for the politically connected, or just gross municipal malpractice, giving away perpetually renewable rights to valuable public property for private use was always a violation of basic American principles.

Good-faith debates could be had over the proper fate of the buildings. But, the idea that leaseholders deserved to renew the leases forever was always morally indefensible, regardless of how wholesome the community was. So it is shocking to see anyone still defend it, let alone portray themselves as victims.

Rather than complain about public officials reclaiming public property for public use, all the people lucky enough to have been associated with the cottage community over the years should, instead, be quietly grateful for the decades of cheap, exclusive use of land they didn’t own.

John Hover

East Setauket

Brother, can you spare the MTA $15 billion

Port Jefferson Branch LIRR riders should be concerned that MTA Chairman and CEO Janno Lieber said he will take Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) at her word — when she promised to restore the $15 billion she cut from the transit agency’s $51 billion 2020-2024 Five Year Capital Plan due to her pause of congestion pricing — is wishful thinking on his part.

Hochul continues to not provide the financial source for her $15 billion. She has kicked the can down the road until the next state budget is adopted — nine months from now.

In 2019, Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) and the state Legislature, instead of providing hard cash, gave the MTA congestion pricing. This was supposed to raise $15 billion toward the MTA 2020-2024 capital plan. Albany’s financial watchdog, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli (D), said nothing. With real cash, virtually all of these state-of-good-repair projects would have already been under way.

Hochul claims she can find additional state and federal funding to make up for the missing $15 billion in congestion pricing. The MTA will receive $1.8 billion in annual formula grants supplemented by competitive discretionary grant program allocations from the Federal Transit Administration in federal fiscal year 2024 (Oct. 1, 2023-Sept. 30, 2024).

Other than these resources, there are no other FTA pots of gold to cover the missing $15 billion previously accounted for from congestion pricing.

Clearly Hochul and her staff, who advise her and ghost write her speeches, have little understanding of how Washington funding for the MTA works. When it comes to MTA financing, Hochul reminds me of the old cartoon character Wimpy. He was fond of saying, “I’ll gladly pay you on Tuesday for a hamburger today” — or in this case $15 billion worth of MTA capital transportation projects tomorrow.

Larry Penner

Great Neck

WRITE TO US … AND KEEP IT LOCAL 

We welcome your letters, especially those responding to our local coverage, replying to other letter writers’ comments and speaking mainly to local themes. Letters should be no longer than 400 words and may be edited for length, libel, style, good taste and uncivil language. They will also be published on our website. We do not publish anonymous letters. Please include an address and phone number for confirmation. Email letters to: [email protected] or mail them to TBR News Media, P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733

 

by -
0 656
Photo by Raymond Janis

Unjustified dismantlement of West Meadow Beach cottages

I am writing in response to last week’s article concerning the new West Meadow Beach sign which memorializes the cottages that once stood there [“New West Meadow Beach sign evokes old controversy,” The Village Times Herald, July 25]. Like the sign, the article fails to reflect the more nuanced story of the West Meadow Beach cottages and their significance to our community. As someone deeply connected to this community, I must address the misrepresentations and the devastating loss we have suffered.

Steve Englebright [D-Setauket], the former state assemblyman [and current county legislator], has shown himself to be a disgrace. Even if his story from his 20s about landing on the beach and being chased away were true, his relentless pursuit to remove the beach cottages was an abuse of his office. Englebright’s personal crusade and the narrative he and his associates crafted used circumstantial evidence to paint a false picture of a community that I knew intimately.

The beach cottages were not the domain of a privileged few but a bucolic community of families who created memories and contributed to the fabric of Stony Brook. Englebright’s claim that “most of the people of Brookhaven Town were denied access to their own public land” is simply untrue. Instead of addressing a genuine community concern, he pursued a personal agenda with the help of a few local activists who exploited his political influence to achieve an extreme outcome.

Herb Mones, of the West Meadow Beach Advisory Committee and one of the privileged homeowners behind West Meadow Creek, pursued a hateful agenda rather than working with the community on solutions. His group started the first legal challenges against the cottages in 1991, resulting in rulings that public parkland didn’t belong to private interests. This act has torn a hole in our marvelous town and demonstrated a cruel use of legislation to destroy a special place for so many. Rather than seeking an alternative zoning plan to balance access and preservation, Englebright and his cohorts chose destruction.

Today, the strip of land where the cottages once stood is a barren wasteland, neglected and unprotected. The community that once thrived there is gone, and the town is poorer for it.

Englebright’s defeat from his Assembly seat is a small consolation, but he should be further removed from any position of power. His version of events starkly contrasts with the experiences of many other town residents. My stepfather, for instance, was welcomed and rescued by the cottage community when his boat ran ashore. Similarly, I witnessed my late father coming to the aid of a pilot who crashed his lightweight aircraft on the beach. We welcomed the pilot into our home, shared stories, and my father helped him repair his aircraft.

Englebright’s defensive claims and narrative paints a very different picture than The New York Times story from 2004 [www.nytimes.com/2004/06/27/nyregion/long-island-journal-cottages-at-west-meadow-beach-face-end.html] reflecting a community of caring residents who became legislative victims. Nancy Solomon, a folklorist and executive director of Long Island Traditions, rightly pointed out that the bungalows reflected local architectural tradition and that tearing them down was a loss of history. George Barber, president of the Brookhaven Bathing Association, feared that the removal of the cottages would lead to the beach becoming a garbage dump, which we now see happening.

If there is to be a second sign, it should inform the community of Englebright’s abuse of office and the destruction of a cherished treasure of the Three Villages. He and his cronies should be ashamed of themselves, and their actions will not be forgotten.

Jen Schaedel, Stony Brook

Editor’s note: Our front-page story covered the erection of a new sign at the beach and was not a detailed history of the cottages controversy, which was still discussed.

An alternative view of the West Meadow cottages controversy

Last week’s Village Times Herald article, “New West Meadow Beach sign evokes old controversy,” reminded me that it’s been 19 years since the beach liberation. 

Back then, our local newspaper was besieged with letters, including those from owners who promised dire consequences if the cottages were razed — arson, crimes, drugs, pollution and increased traffic. I was one of the people who wrote letters arguing that they must come down, and that the beach be returned to the public.

I thought back to a Brazilian trip where all the beaches were accessible to the public. No hotels or houses were built along the waterfront. A local explained to me that such building was illegal because beaches belong to the public, not the wealthy, would-be homeowners.

Here on Long Island we have a system where, generally, people of means reside on the waterfront and the rest of us share the places that remain public. The West Meadow Beach cottages were one of the worst examples of beachfront land abuse, because it was rented at a discount to those who “voted correctly.” And, yes, I was approached by more than one cottage owner who menacingly advised, “We know where you live.”

A champion of the beach reclamation was Herb Mones who first brought the issue to the taxpayers. And Steve Englebright will always be considered a heroic figure to me because he risked his career against overpowering odds and personal threats in order to do the right thing.

The dire predictions never materialized. No arson, crime, crack houses or increased traffic — just less sewage. It’s a joy seeing people taking that beautiful, serene walk on our peninsula, which is slowly evolving back to its natural state. 

Bruce Stasiuk, East Setauket

Horseshoe crabs need our help!

To readers of this newspaper there is good news about horseshoe crabs but your help is needed.

Legislation to prohibit the harvest of horseshoe crabs has passed the New York State Assembly and Senate (A10140/S3185-A) and awaits action by Gov. Kathy Hochul [D].

Please take a moment to urge her to sign the bill into law. You can do this by either:

1.  Calling her office at 518-474-8390.

2.  Sending a letter of support to:

The Honorable Kathy Hochul

Governor of New York State

New York State Capitol Building

Albany, NY 12224

3.  Going to this website: www.governor.ny.gov/content/governor-contact-form and type in a comment in the message box.

We have never been closer to stopping the killing of tens of thousands of horseshoe crabs —NYS regulations allow baymen to kill 150,000 annually for bait — and your voice is needed.

Horseshoe crabs have declined significantly over the past several decades and the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission earlier in 2024 determined that New York’s horseshoe crab fishery is in “poor condition” — the only state along the East Coast with this troubling designation. 

This poor condition is borne out by our personal experience: Who over the age of 50 doesn’t remember our bay and harbor bottoms once being filled with these iconic animals? This species, known as a living fossil, plays a vital role in the coastal ecosystem with their eggs being eaten by a number of migratory shorebird species, including the red knot which is protected by the federal Endangered Species Act. Their eggs are eaten by many fish species too and the adults are consumed by sea turtles, also listed and protected in the Endangered Species Act. 

There are bait alternatives baymen can use that have proven effective. Over the past 25 years about 3.6 million horseshoe crabs have been killed for bait. It’s time that New York joins our neighboring state Connecticut, which recently enacted a statewide ban on the taking of these living fossils and stops the slaughter. These fascinating animals deserve better. We call on Gov. Hochul to sign the ban into law. It is vital the governor hears from the public by expressing your support for the ban. Please contact Gov. Hochul today!

John Turner

Four Harbors Audubon Society

St. James

by -
0 652
File photo by Raymond Janis

Big thanks to local good Samaritans

After completing our shopping trip at the Trader Joe’s store in Lake Grove last week, my daughter and I placed our purchases in the trunk of my usually-reliable automobile. This time it decided not to start. The electrical system was completely dead. We couldn’t even open the trunk to retrieve our frozen food (note to automakers: please install a manual trunk release in all vehicles).

Yet almost as soon as we raised the hood, passersby began to stop to offer help. A succession of kind souls provided jumper cables, moved their vehicle so that it would be in position to give us a jump, offered advice, went into Trader Joe’s to ask for help and even offered us a snack. (Unfortunately, the jump didn’t work.) The AAA roadside assistance person came quickly and was equally kind (and proficient). This note is a thank you to all of the good Samaritans in our community. We will pay your kindness forward.

Marci Lobel

Setauket

Local public transport has benefited from Americans With Disabilities Act

Let us all celebrate the 34th anniversary for the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). This was signed into law by President George H.W. Bush [R] on July 26, 1990. The Federal Transit Administration has done an excellent job during this period when it comes to investing in public transit to bring capital assets into compliance with ADA.

Billions of dollars in FTA grants to over 900 transit agencies across America, including the MTA Long Island Rail Road, Suffolk County Transit Bus and Huntington Area Rapid Transit (HART) Bus, have paid for tens of thousands of buses, paratransit vans, light rail, subway cars, commuter rail and ferries that are ADA accessible. Numerous subway, light rail and commuter rail stations, bus and ferry terminals, along with other transportation facilities, are accompanied in many cases with elevators and/or ramps and have also become ADA compliant.

Larry Penner

Great Neck 

by -
0 830
File photo by Raymond Janis

Exploring the potential for using hydrogen fuel

Two weeks ago, on June 28, Port Jefferson Village Mayor Lauren Sheprow, then-trustee-elect Xena Ugrinsky and I visited the Advanced Energy Research & Technology Center at Stony Brook University. The AET is doing cutting-edge research on future hydrogen technologies and other projects that create businesses on Long Island. We were welcomed by David Hamilton and Kathleen Ferrell. 

The connections with Stony Brook University departments, New York technology leaders, researchers and public agencies that were made in this short visit were quite extraordinary and many appointments were made for future discussions.

The mayor knew Hamilton and Ferrell professionally. Our visit was designed to dovetail with the efforts of the Port Jefferson Power Plant Working Group that Ugrinsky chairs. The PWG is exploring the potential for repowering our base load plants using hydrogen fuel and we will be exploring this possibility with Haiyan Sun when she is scheduled to tour our plant on a trip from Albany July 10.

Sun heads NYSERDA’s (the state’s Energy Research & Development Authority) hydrogen and renewables division and is responsible for evaluating grants and New York State priorities for this fast-evolving future technology. I am proud to be a part of this village’s forward-thinking and well-connected leadership. Port Jefferson is fortunate to be able to have people with these kinds of professional experience and networks working for its residents.

Bruce Miller

Port Jefferson

Comsewogue Community Garden is a special place

My name is Danny, and I am a Life Scout working on the Communication merit badge. I recently started work on my Eagle Scout project at the Comsewogue Community Garden on Terryville Road in Port Jefferson Station. I am replacing the current garden shed with a new one. 

I am writing because I would like to share how impressed I am with the garden and the amount of work that volunteers have put into making the garden so beautiful and welcoming. This includes growing fresh vegetables and a pollinator garden. More recently a Girl Scout troop started a sensory garden. 

This is a special place in the community and I think more people should know about it. I am hoping that students can take field trips to visit the garden and community members can take advantage of this beautiful space. 

Daniel Cappiello 

Troop 354 Port Jefferson Station

Happy 60th birthday to public transportation on Long Island

This July marks the 60th anniversary of federal government support for public transportation. The success of public transportation can be traced back to one of the late President Lyndon Johnson’s (D) greatest accomplishments which continues benefiting many Americans today. On July 9, 1964, he signed the Urban Mass Transportation Act of 1964 into law. Subsequently this has resulted in the investment over time of billions of dollars into public transportation.

Millions of Americans today on a daily basis utilize various public transportation alternatives. They include local and express bus, ferry, jitney, light rail, subway and commuter rail services. All of these systems use less fuel and move far more people than conventional single occupancy vehicles. Most of these systems are funded with your tax dollars thanks to Johnson.

Depending upon where you live, consider the public transportation alternative. Try riding a local or express bus, para transit or commuter van, ferry, light rail, commuter rail or subway. 

There is MTA LIRR, NYC Transit bus and subway, Suffolk County Transit Bus, Huntington Area Rapid Transit (HART) Bus and Nassau Inter-County Express (NICE) Bus.

By using MTA Metro or OMNY cards, there are free transfers between the subway and bus. This has eliminated the old two-fare zones making public transportation an even better bargain. Purchasing a monthly LIRR or MTA subway/bus pass reduces the cost per ride and provides virtually unlimited trips. In many cases, employers can offer transit checks which help subsidize a portion of the costs. Utilize this and reap the benefits. It supports a cleaner environment. 

Many employers now allow employees to telecommute and work from home. Others use alternative work schedules which afford staff the ability to avoid rush-hour gridlock. This saves travel time and can improve mileage per gallon. Join a car or van pool to share the costs of commuting. 

The ability to travel from home to workplace, school, shopping, entertainment, medical, library, etc., is a factor when moving to a new neighborhood. Economically successful communities are not 100% dependent on automobiles as the sole means of mobility. Seniors, students, low and middle income people need these transportation alternatives. Investment in public transportation today contributes to economic growth, employment and a stronger economy. Dollar for dollar, it is one of the best investments we can make.

What better way to honor the late President Johnson and all that has been achieved these past 60 years in public transportation by continuing funding the federal Highway Trust Fund and Mass Transit Account. 

Larry Penner

Great Neck

by -
0 568
File photo by Raymond Janis

Putting the record straight

In response to Drew Biondo’s “A letter correction” in last week’s Letters to the Editor, I wholeheartedly stand by my declaration that “all elected trustees attended and sat at the dais,” regarding the town hall meeting about the East Beach bluff.

For the record, Drew Biondo was not elected. He was appointed. So yes, all elected trustees attended and sat at the dais.

Kathianne Snaden

Former Port Jeff Deputy Mayor

Port Jefferson 

 

Prom season is upon us

Prom season is upon us and there is probably no greater community tradition than the Port Jefferson Senior Prom. Since 1958, the senior prom has been a highly anticipated community event in our village. Valued partnerships with the school district, Village Hall, code enforcement and local businesses allow the Prom Committee to create a one-of-kind event not only for the senior class, but for the entire community.

We’ve been fortunate to have the extraordinary commitment of parents and community volunteers — some of whom have been volunteering with the prom for decades — to support us all along the way. Now, after a busy year of fundraising, creating, painting and constructing, we ae ready to build the prom! 

We begin Prom Build on Thursday, June 27, at 9 a.m. and will continue through Prom Night on Monday, July 1. We encourage community members to come lend a hand and take part in the transformation of the high school gym into an awe-inspiring venue, complete with custom designed vignettes, props and theatrical lighting. On July 1, we proudly show our creation to the public from 4-6 p.m., with the Drive-Up Procession and Red Carpet entrance following afterward. 

If you have never experienced the excitement of the Prom Build, we invite you to join in the amazing transformation of the high school. If you have volunteered at the prom before, we hope to see you and your friends again this year. The senior prom truly embodies the spirit of volunteerism and community, with volunteers of all ages and backgrounds working together to carry on the beloved tradition that is the Port Jefferson Senior Prom. 

Paul Braile 

President, Port Jefferson 

Senior Prom

May day

Russian nuclear missiles from Cuba have targeted the very heart and soul of America and shall be more destructive than Pearl Harbor. 

“Lord, what fools these mortals be” (Shakespeare). God bless America

Leonard Henderson

Port Jefferson

by -
0 678
File photo by Raymond Janis

Marsha Laufer endorses John Avlon for Congress 

John Avlon picked up the endorsement of Marsha Laufer, former chair of the Brookhaven Town Democratic Committee. Laufer’s endorsement comes as Avlon continues to consolidate local support in his campaign to flip New York’s 1st Congressional District.

“In the 2024 Democratic primary election for New York’s 1st Congressional District on Long Island, we are fortunate to have two strong, dedicated Democratic candidates for this highly challenging, competitive seat. I am enthusiastically endorsing John Avlon in the primary because of his extensive experience and knowledge dealing with political, governmental, and democratic issues. He presents these clearly to potential voters in his speeches and writings, where he places issues in meaningful historical contexts. John is generating enthusiasm and excitement in the 1st Congressional District, a potential key seat for Democrats to take the majority in the House of Representatives and make Leader Hakeem Jeffries the next speaker of the House. Electability is key to winning this seat, and I believe John Avlon is the candidate best able to secure the seat and make his mark as a centrist, inspiring leader in the halls of democracy,” Marsha Laufer said.

“Marsha Laufer is a legendary figure among Long Island Democrats. She was an exemplary leader of the Brookhaven Democratic Town Committee and created a culture of excellence that inspires to this day. She is wise, kind, generous, and utterly determined to defend our democracy by making Hakeem Jeffries the next speaker of the House. I’m deeply honored to have earned her support as we face a Democratic primary on June 25, and I look forward to working closely with her in the weeks, months, and years ahead,” John Avlon said.

John Avlon has been endorsed by:

NYS and Nassau County Democratic Chairman Jay S. Jacobs

Assembly Member Fred Thiele

Assembly Member Steve Stern

New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) 

Riverhead Town Democratic Committee

Huntington Town Democratic Committee 

East Hampton Town Democratic Committee

Southampton Town Democratic Committee

Shelter Island Democratic Committee

Southold Town Democratic Committee

Suffolk County Legislator Rebecca Sanin 

Suffolk County Legislator Ann Welker

Town of Huntington Receiver of Taxes Jillian Guthman

Candidate for Assembly and Southampton Town Councilmember Tommy John Schiavoni

East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez

East Hampton Deputy Town Supervisor Cate Rogers

East Hampton Town Councilman David Lys

East Hampton Town Councilman Ian Calder-Piedmonte

East Hampton Town Councilman Tom Flight

Former NY-1 congressional candidate and Suffolk County Legislator Bridget Fleming

Former Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman

Former State Senator Jim Gaughran

Former NY-1 candidate Perry Gershon

Former Congressman Max Rose 

Former United States Senator Doug Jones

Common Sense Democrats 

Parkland Gun Safety And Gun Violence Prevention Advocate and Huntington resident Linda Beigel Schulman

Marsha Laufer

Old Field (formerly)

Environmentalists for Kassay

We are reaching out to you knowing you care deeply about our environment and making sure that 

our community is represented in Albany by someone who is experienced and committed to fighting climate change and keeping our state on the path to a greener and less polluting future. 

As leaders of the environmental community in our area, we are writing to urge you to vote for Rebecca Kassay in the June 25 Democratic primary for New York State Assembly. 

It’s time to elect another environmental leader who will work tirelessly like former Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) on behalf of clean water and clean air in our region and our state. 

We represent many environmental organizations with different missions and goals, but we all agree that Rebecca Kassay, the current Port Jefferson Village deputy mayor, is the kind of dedicated public official who has a strong track record of working for a better environmental future for our planet. 

As a longtime environmental advocate and educator, Rebecca created and directed a youth environmental volunteer program at Avalon Park in Stony Brook, secured federal funding for a compound flood study in Port Jefferson village, consistently implemented science-based climate resilience strategies, and worked alongside many of Suffolk County’s environmental professionals and organizations to enhance environmental stewardship across Long Island. 

That’s why former Assemblyman Steve Englebright has endorsed Rebecca Kassay and is working hard with all of us to get her elected to the Assembly 4th District seat that he worked from so effectively for more than three decades. Englebright believes that we also need strong environmental leadership in Albany today. 

Unfortunately, we have seen how ineffective the current assemblyman has been in representing 

our neighborhoods and community, and we have seen his critical failure to bring back much-needed 

environmental funding to the district for open space purchases, upgrading costly clean water infrastructure, and promoting living shorelines. 

We desperately need Rebecca’s advocacy and environmental experience in Albany. While 

we don’t know what will-happen in the national elections in November, it’s important for us to elect 

someone now who will work in Albany to stop the rollback of many of New York’s innovative and landmark environmental laws that have kept our state a leader on the environment. 

Please mark down Tuesday, June 25, on your calendar and join us in voting for Rebecca Kassay in the 

Democratic primary for New York State Assembly. 

Steve Englebright

Carl Safina

John Turner

Laurie Vetere

Malcolm Bowman

Elaine Maas

Jane Fasullo

George Hoffman

Keep the community ‘attractive’

The residents of our community know and appreciate the benefits of attractive “streetscapes.” Properties along local roadways that are free of litter and are attractively landscaped help create a “sense of place.” It boosts property values, promotes civic pride and, yes, can even calm vehicular traffic. 

An increasing problem in the Three Village community, and elsewhere, is the gradual deterioration of our “streetscape” due to the number of illegally placed “lawn signs” that appear on our street corners and roadsides. There is really no escaping these inexpensive hard-plastic placards that pop up throughout the year. We now see primary election signs, general election signs, school board election signs, business signs, yard-sale and garage-sale signs, special event signs, sports camp signs, team registration signs, holiday signs — the list goes on and on. 

Essentially, we the public, are given a steady, visual stream of “sign graffiti.” Is there a solution to this visual pollution? Of course. 

Those insisting on using lawn signs should place them on their own private property and, with permission, the private property of their friends. And, really, anyone wanting to “message” the public, should use methods that can be as effective or probably even more effective: mailings, news advertising, flier distribution, social media, door-to-door contact, etc. 

And most importantly, our Town of Brookhaven must be more involved in enforcing its own sign code. This can be as simple as directing Highway Department work crews to immediately remove any and all “street graffiti.” Wouldn’t that be something!

Herb Mones

Charles Tramontana

Patty Schindler 

George Hoffman

A letter correction

Kathianne Snaden’s letter to the editor in the June 13 issue of The Port Times Record declares that “all elected trustees attended and sat at the dais,” regarding the town hall meeting about the East Beach bluff.

For the record, I was not there.

Drew Biondo

Port Jeff Trustee

Flooding in the village: a second presentation by Campani and Schwarting Architects

We are the architects working as consultants to the Village of Port Jefferson to make a Climate Resilience Plan for Storm Surge and Flood Mitigation in the watershed through a grant from New York State Department of State under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund.

We made a presentation to the community last April and will make our second presentation on Thursday, June 20, at Village Hall 6-8 p.m. We will present proposed projects to study further designs to cope with stormwater runoff from the uplands areas and the storm tide surges from the harbor. This will be an interactive workshop and we would like your input.

Hope to see you there.

Frances Campani and 

Michael Schwarting

Campani and Schwarting Architects

Port Jefferson

The irony of the messenger

At a time when the military is floundering in recruitment and its disarrayed messages exhibiting a poverty of self-awareness, what is to be done to determine a better outcome in rebuilding our Armed Forces? 

World War II saw no lack of individuals ready to defend our country, and the world, from forces uncompromising in their resoluteness to erase freedom from the Earth. My father enlisted at 17, with the written permission of his father. He served on a destroyer for four years, and was reticent in discussing his experiences. He took them to his grave. But I could see in his face the cloistered heartaches of humanity’s nightmares. 

Wars are real; they are not distant, covert decisions of round table demagogues who deploy men and women to their potential death. As such, war must be regarded with unparalleled solemnness. To be fought during times of imminent danger to our country, to be fought with a wisdom of reflection and sobriety, and to be fought by individuals who are proud to defend a country they love. 

And here we are. For several years, the message to our citizens, young and old alike, was that the United States is a country permeated by shameful deeds, past and present, irredeemable in its conduct, and those that love it in spite of these messages, those that see the good, respect the brilliant, historical creation of our government, and have hope for the future, are dangerous “nationalists.” It is in these times of promoted self-loathing of the nation, that we then wonder why so few refuse to lay down their lives for their country.

Georgia Poulianos

Port Jefferson

A poem for my grandmother

I recently shared a poem I had written for my grandmother at her wake. My grandmother saved my life. We both are addicts and survivors. She had 40 years of sobriety at the time of her death and I am approaching five years myself. 

It was my grandmother to whom I first admitted I had a problem. She was a guiding and stabilizing force. She was the world to me. Poetry has always been my way of communicating. A way to cope. A local writer was in attendance. We met and spoke about writing, life, grief and many other things. She shared with me that maybe my poem could be helpful to others. To maybe give voice to the reverence we have for those so important to us, to give voice to our grief, I will share the poem. Thank you to those who read this little message and poem.

For AnnaLee Emery:

Your words always soothing,

This affection I embrace,

If I could change the tides for you,

Wavering at your fate,

I would grasp the sun just to stop the changing days.

Captured moon in stills and freeze expanding milky ways,

Placing a small seedling that you so slowly grew,

Imbuing me with indigo and vibrant hues of blue,

Nourishing my soul awash with your love so true,

A piece of you a part of me eternally in bloom.

Michael Jacobs

Strong’s Nec

‘Do No Harm’

In light of the recent proposal of the New York State Department of Education to eliminate the passage of Regents exams as a requirement for graduation, a large contingent of parents reached out to the Three Village board of education and central administration regarding their repeal of the “Do No Harm” policy.

In November of 2023, the board, and by association the upper administration, made this heinous decision despite parental pushback and a disregard for the detriment that this nullification would have on our children. With this week’s release of information regarding the changes that are forthcoming regarding graduation pathways in New York, a majority of parents with children in grades eight through 12 are in agreement that the board of education needs to do their due diligence and amend the blunder they made in November by reinstating “Do No Harm.”

At the board of education meeting on Wednesday June 12, board President Susan Rosenzweig made a statement specifically regarding the overwhelming response they received from district parents regarding the issue of the “Do No Harm” policy. 

Following these assertions, Rosenzweig then dismissed the pleas of parents and students with a rather disparaging reply. Her statement was simply that their decision was made, a vote was taken, “a vote is a vote” and they would possibly “revisit” the policy sometime in November. No cognizance was exhibited for the fact that nearly every student who will be taking Regents exams this year has had the benefit of “Do No Harm” for the past several years. 

The irresponsible decision to omit this safety net may have dire consequences on those who suffer from test anxiety and/or mental health issues, those who are ill on test day or distracted by outside issues and those who may not have the ability to regurgitate a year or more’s worth of information on one three-hour exam. 

Students’ GPAs, college/university acceptances and scholarship opportunities may be overwhelmingly affected by one poor score and this is simply unacceptable. The fact that the Regents exams are highly flawed, particularly as the formats and grading rubrics are constantly overhauled from one year to the next, should be forefront in the minds of our board members and administrators yet they have failed our students with their callous repeal. 

The NYSDOE does not require, nor recommend, that Regents exams be factored into final course grades. It is unfortunate that our board of education feels they know better, despite the fact that the majority of the board has never taught at the junior high or high school level. 

To them, their vote to count a Regents score as 10% of a final course grade was a compromise, when in reality it was an irresponsible impugnment of our children’s capacity to be judged on four quarters of hard work and achievement. I am extremely disappointed that the board is refusing to indulge the parents and students of our district and reconsider their November decision. No student, regardless of ability level or academic standing should enter exam season anticipating the harm they may endure as a result of one three-hour test. If New York State does not require their exams to figure into final grades there is absolutely no reason that the Three Village Central School district should do so. It is my sincere hope that our children do not suffer for the resolutions made “on their behalf”.

Stefanie Werner

East Setauket

 

Prev1...345...10Next Page 4 of 10
TBR News Media is your local news and entertainment website.
We provide you with the latest breaking news and information for your community.
Contact us: [email protected]

Most Viewed

©