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Rebecca Kassay: a true advocate for our community

One morning in the spring of 2021, I was invited by Port Jefferson Village trustee Rebecca Kassay to join her for a cup of coffee. At that time, I had just been elected to the Brookhaven Town Council, and she wanted to meet to discuss some of the issues being faced by the community we serve. I was immediately impressed by her collaborative approach to working together, the depth of her knowledge and experience, and her love for public service.

Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to witness firsthand how Rebecca truly embodies the spirit of leadership that our community needs. She takes the time to be well-informed on issues, engages deeply with stakeholders and is always focused on solutions. I believe it’s reasonable for the public to expect an elected official to have a genuine passion for public service and a commitment to put the needs of the community above party affiliation or any other consideration. Rebecca does exactly that.

Another thing I have observed about Rebecca is that she doesn’t just run from event to event looking for a photo op. She engages deeply with community members and our important organizations in meaningful ways, and takes the time to get to know the players and build relationships. This has helped her develop a detailed understanding of the community’s needs. Her leadership isn’t about serving a political party — it’s about serving us, the people of this community.

Rebecca’s candidacy for the New York State Assembly stands out because she is driven by a strong sense of responsibility to the public. When elected officials have deeper connections to the community they serve, they become less reliant on a political machine to elect them and are answerable directly to the people. Rebecca is not going to Albany to push a political agenda — she’s going there to represent us, and to fight for what matters most to the people of our community.

I urge my fellow residents to support Rebecca Kassay for New York State Assembly. She has the heart, experience and commitment to serve us all with integrity and vision.

Brookhaven Councilmember 

Jonathan Kornreich

 (D-Stony Brook)

Securing Suffolk’s future: Why Prop 2 matters for clean water

After years of delays, Suffolk County voters will finally be able to make their voices heard on a key challenge facing our region — restoring water quality. As Long Islanders, we treasure our pure drinking water, beaches, harbors and bays. If approved this November, Prop 2 will ensure that our ground and surface water resources are uncontaminated and useful for all present and future generations.

Currently, nitrogen pollution from untreated sewage is degrading both Suffolk’s groundwater and recreational waterways. The Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act is a critical step

toward reversing this trend and achieving a sustainable future, and would enable investment into tested and proven clean water technologies to replace our outdated septic systems.

This measure will also bring expanded sewer services to many of the most densely developed parts of our county, help secure additional federal and state funding, create thousands of good local jobs, revitalize business districts and boost property values. 

Most importantly, if confirmed, this referendum will protect the health and well-being of every Suffolk County resident. This year, we have the power to protect our water and our future. We urge all Suffolk County residents to vote YES on Prop 2 this Nov. 5.

The Suffolk County Legislature Democratic Caucus:

Minority Leader Jason Richberg; Legislators Tom Donnelly,

Rebecca Sanin, SamuelGonzalez, Steve Englebright and Ann Welker

From capes to camouflage: teaching kids about real heroes

As part of our American Halloween tradition, children look forward to dressing up in their best-loved costumes, including as their favorite superhero. In a world where the term “hero” is often attributed to celebrities, athletes and fictional characters, we must remind our kids that our real heroes are America’s military brave men and women, who have dedicated their lives protecting our nation, securing our freedoms and preserving peace.

Through the lens of veterans’ experiences, we can teach kids the importance of standing up for what is right, even in the face of danger, and putting the greater good above self-interest. These lessons are particularly important in our society that often emphasizes individual success and instant gratification. We can teach children the value of military heroism by:

• Incorporating veterans’ stories into education by including lessons about military history and veterans in school curricula. Invite veterans to share their experiences in classrooms and during school events.

• Celebrating national holidays by using Veterans Day, Memorial Day and other national holidays as opportunities to discuss the significance of these days and the heroes they honor.

• Visiting historical sites and memorials by organizing trips to military museums, memorials and cemeteries. These visits can provide tangible connections to the past and the sacrifices made by veterans.

• Engaging in community activities by writing letters, sending care packages or volunteering with organizations that assist veterans.

• Inviting veterans to share personal stories that can make the lessons more relatable and impactful.

By understanding and honoring the sacrifices and contributions of veterans, children learn valuable lessons about courage, sacrifice, patriotism, empathy and civic duty. Veterans have played a critical role in shaping and defending our nation. Their service and sacrifices are the bedrock upon which our freedoms and way of life are built. By highlighting genuine acts of bravery, we help children distinguish between fantasy and reality, and appreciate the profound impact of our military heroes.

 Sarah Anker

 Former Suffolk County Legislator

                NYS Senate Candidate

‘Do No Harm’ is more harm than good

Why should anyone worry about whether or not the grade on a Regents exam might pull down a student’s grade point average? [See letter, “Rethinking grades: the return of the ‘Do No Harm’ policy,” TBR News Media, Oct. 17.] It seems to me that the concern is misplaced. Regents exams were always hard and, once upon a time, graduating with a Regents diploma rather than a general diploma meant something. 

Rather than fussing about GPAs, shouldn’t we be concerned that students haven’t mastered the material well enough to get good grades on the Regents exams?

         Jane O’Sullivan

    Setauket

Celebrate Long Island Restaurant Week all year long

Why not patronize your neighborhood restaurants during Long Island Restaurant Week Oct. 27-Nov. 3 with a wide variety of lunch and dinner specials all year long. During this event, participating restaurants are offering two-course lunches for only $24 or three-course dinners ranging from $29, $39 to $46.

My wife and I don’t mind occasionally paying a little more to help our favorite restaurants survive. Don’t forget your cook and server. We try to tip 20 to 25 percent against the total bill including taxes. If it is an odd amount, we round up to the next dollar. If we can afford to eat out, we can afford an extra dollar tip. When ordering take out, we always leave a dollar or two for the waiter or cook. It is appreciated. 

The restaurant industry employees hosts, bartenders, waiters, busboys, cooks, cashiers and parking valets, wholesale food sellers, distributors and linen suppliers. There are also construction contractors who renovate or build new restaurants.

Our local entrepreneurs work long hours, pay taxes and provide local employment especially to students during the summer. If we don’t patronize our local restaurants, they don’t eat either. Why travel into Manhattan when we have so many great neighborhood restaurants in Suffolk County to select from.

      Larry Penner

        Great Neck

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Saving our resources

Thank you, county Legislator Steve Englebright [D-Setauket] for your marvelous Port Jefferson Civic Association meeting presentation this past Monday, Oct. 14, regarding the natural geological forces that continue to reshape our North Shore.

The lecture explained why the North Shore harbors east of Mount Sinai have been washed away over the millennia, and why Mount Sinai is the next of six remaining harbors in nature’s destructive pathway. In the 1930s, Mount Sinai harbor entrance jetties were constructed to prevent the natural eastward drift of Port Jefferson beach sediment from occluding its entrance.

Not only did this help preserve the harbor’s spawning grounds for fish and its riparian habitat for wildlife. It also provided storm flood protection and preserved its wonderful recreational resources for boating, fishing, swimming and other outdoor activities. Its sediment drift prevention stabilized the foot of our bluff and permitted its millennially denuded surface to develop a lush vegetative cover over a span of eight-decades.

These benefits ceased by 2017 when the unmaintained western jetty succumbed to three decades of storm destruction. Its loss produced accelerated sand drift and foot erosion that led to the collapse of the bluff’s vegetated surface by 2019. Reconstruction of the jetty in 2020 is again preventing eastern beach drift, and the section with seawall construction is no longer experiencing toe erosion.

It appears that we will be able to piecemeal recover from this tragedy after expediting the experts’ plans for controlling drainage from above by: (a) removing all cliffside courts; (b) building an effective storm drainage system and berm; (c) establishing absorptive crest vegetation; (d) repairing the breakthrough areas of bluff erosion; and (e) moving new tennis and pickleball courts far from areas with drainage issues — perhaps to the lower parking lot with use of East Beach for overflow venue parking.

The sophisticated engineering and ongoing maintenance efforts of seawall “dikes” in the Netherlands is considered a global model for highly successful coastal flood defense, and proper maintenance of a seawall provides protection for high-rise buildings 20 feet from the sea in Miami. With proper maintenance, man can battle natures erosive forces. Although changes in our Phase II project would be bureaucratically inconvenient, perhaps we should consider saving taxpayers the burden of the expensive upland steel-wall component with the understanding that clubhouse relocation may be needed in the future.

Brookhaven Town should also be convinced to develop a comprehensive Water Protection Plan (including Port Jefferson) similar to that developed by Southampton Town. Visit www.southamptontownny.gov and click on “Coastal Res. & Water Prot. Plan.”

                                        Al Cossari

          Member of the Port Jefferson Erosion Commission

Rethinking grades: The return of the ‘Do No Harm’ policy

At the Three Village Board of Education meeting held on Oct. 9, President Susan Rosenzweig reopened a discussion concerning the district’s currently defunct “Do No Harm” Policy.

Last fall the board, in its less than infinite wisdom, made the decision to abolish this policy which had been in place for several years and stated that if a grade on a Regents exam would lower a student’s final grade it would not be counted as part of that grade. If the score enhanced the final grade, it would indeed count.

After the Grading Committee led by Brian Biscari, assistant superintendent for educational services, made a determination to rescind this option and count Regents grades as 10% of a student’s final grade, the board voted to instate the new policy. A large majority of parents were appalled by this decision and made their feelings known, but to no avail. Now, seemingly under the radar, this policy was brought to the forefront with no notice, at a board meeting with little-to-no attendance.

Rosenzweig introduced the discussion with the assertion that after the June 2024 Regents season it was necessary to reconsider the decision that was made last fall. Her point was such that several school districts of our caliber (Jericho and Syosset) do not count the exams in students’ GPAs and our students could be put at a disadvantage by doing so. The scores in Three Village had not moved when the “Do No Harm” option was available and since New York State does not recommend factoring their exams into a GPA, it is simply not necessary. Karen Roughley, vice president, was in strong support of Rosenzweig’s argument as other trustees remained as wishy-washy as expected: Vinny Vizzo refused to articulate a solid opinion, claiming to see both sides, and Shaorui Li repeated her ridiculous attestation that the board “should not override a decision made by a committee of 35 educators.”

Trustee David McKinnon, the voice of consistency and specificity, strongly supported keeping our students on par with other districts by allowing them the advantage of not being penalized by state exams that do not necessarily embody the proper assessment of children’s knowledge and skills. His strongest point was that the state doesn’t stand behind their own tests so why should Three Village students have their grades affected by them?

In the end, after Biscari restated his belief that Regents exams have “value” and are “important for data collection” and Scanlon reiterated that the state is not doing away with the tests — they are simply instituting new pathways to graduation — the board took a vote. In what seemed like a unanimous decision, the board voted to reinstate the “Do No Harm” Policy in regards to the New York State Regents Examinations.

It was not clear, but I would hope for the sake of our kids that “Do No Harm” will be in effect for the January 2025 Regents exams and that parents and students will be made aware of the policy’s restoration. Since this discussion was not part of the Oct. 9 meeting agenda it is highly unlikely that anyone who did not watch and/or take part in the meeting is cognizant that this change was made.

As an informed parent I encourage those with students who are enrolled in courses culminating in a Regents exam to pay attention to the changes that are apparently coming with no notification. Thankfully the unplanned discussion led to a positive development, one that can only help our children. Granted, it’s no 30-minute start time adjustment, but at least our kids will have some relief from Regents anxiety. If only last year’s final grades could be recalculated to undo any harm that may have been done.

    Stefanie Werner

   East Setauket

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Notice: Suffolk County 5th District office relocating to East Setauket

Dear Constituents,

I am writing to inform Suffolk County’s Fifth Legislative District constituents thatmy office is moving from 306 Main Street in Port Jefferson to 36 Route 25A in East Setauket. Our first day at the new location will be Tuesday, Oct. 15.

Please feel free to visit our new location to discuss concerns or to share yourideas for improving our communities. My staff and I can also be reached by calling 631-854-1650 or emailing [email protected].

Please note that LD5 includes Belle Terre, East Setauket, Old Field, Poquott, PortJefferson, Port Jefferson Station, Setauket, Stony Brook, Stony Brook University, South Setauket, Terryville, and parts of Centereach, Coram and Mount Sinai.

We look forward to seeing you at our new office.

Steven Englebright

Suffolk County Legislator

District Office 5 

A call to support Frank Melville Memorial Park

To the Esteemed Residents of the Three Village Community,

I write to you today on behalf of the Frank Melville Memorial Park, a cherished haven of natural beauty and wildlife, which many of you have supported and enjoyed over the years. The park, as you know, stands as a testament to our collective commitment to preserving both the splendor of nature and a sense of peace for all visitors, human and animal alike.

However, it is with a sense of deep concern and urgency that we must address a troubling issue that has recently grown more acute: The repeated violations of our strict no-fishing policy, particularly by adults and teenagers who seem to regard this rule with a mix of indifference and defiance.

Despite clear signage and our tireless efforts to educate the public on the importance of this policy, we are witnessing an alarming frequency of insubordination. The rule against fishing is not arbitrary since it serves to protect the delicate ecosystems of the pond and surrounding habitat. Our policy reflects a profound respect for the intricate balance of wildlife that calls this park home — creatures whose survival is intimately tied to the careful stewardship of their environment. Yet, we have found our efforts met with flagrant disregard and, regrettably in some instances, with outright disrespect for the park’s mission.

These actions undermine the very fabric of what we strive to accomplish at Frank Melville Park: To maintain a sanctuary where humans and nature can coexist harmoniously. When individuals violate this fundamental policy, they not only endanger wildlife but also tarnish the atmosphere of safety and order that we work so diligently to preserve.

To address this growing concern, we are asking for your support. In order to uphold the park’s regulations and ensure a safe, respectful environment for all, we must increase our security presence. This step, while necessary, comes at a significant financial cost, one which we are unable to shoulder alone. We appeal to the broader Three Village community — those of you who value this park as much as we do — to assist us through donations, which will allow us to fund additional security measures and personnel.

Your contributions will directly support our ability to safeguard the park’s natural beauty and uphold the standards that we all hold dear. Together, we can ensure that Frank Melville Park remains a space of serenity and sanctuary, free from the disorder that threatens to erode the very essence of what makes it so special.

We trust that the community’s profound appreciation for this space will inspire a shared responsibility in preserving it. Let us act now, not only to protect the park from further harm but to honor the legacy we have inherited and ensure that it thrives for future generations.

Board of Directors 

Frank Melville Memorial Park

Setauket

Finding balance in Brookhaven’s development debate

I appreciated reading the letter to the editor in last week’s issue [“Brookhaven Town Board rejects suburbia”] from our neighbor, the Three Village Civic Association, regarding the recent approval by Brookhaven Town of the proposal by Staller Associates at Jefferson Plaza. Charles Tramontana and George Hoffman rightly point out the precedent-setting nature of the new CRD code the town used to approve a zoning change which will yield a density never seen before anywhere in Brookhaven. While I applaud the call for a review of a code many believe to be vague and without clear metrics as to how the density bonuses were set (and by whom), future revisions will leave Port Jeff Station/Terryville residents watching the barn door being closed after the horse has galloped away.

In our situation, we are now facing the reality of a face-changing project which can yield up to 280 apartments — nearly three times what any other multifamily development could yield. Additionally, the developer has the benefit of constructing 49,000 square feet of commercial space on this 10-acre parcel. 

Our organization has been clear and consistent for the past two years that we wanted to welcome the redevelopment of this long-neglected shopping center and are mindful of the need for attainable housing for our young people. So, our considerable efforts to identify concerns associated with this intensive proposal are intended to minimize negative impacts and not to oppose all change. 

However, we advocated many issues be addressed ahead of this zoning change which will surely change the character of our community. While some input was considered, the final product appears changed mostly around the margins. Presently, the density can be maxed out, there are still many areas with four-story buildings, first responder access and resources needs to be discussed, traffic concerns remain, as well as an architectural design providing true public spaces and sense of a place. 

Also, the price point of apartments starting at $2,200-$2,400 leaves us still figuring how to retain our young, and the public benefit many developers provide to address the impacts on a community is quite miniscule in comparison to the scope of this project. Most importantly, this large-scale development will occur without a full and comprehensive planning process to help our hamlet properly digest this growth-inducing facility along the entire Route 112 corridor.

I will note, at our request, Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich [D-Stony Brook] persuaded the town to take a look at traffic patterns which will be affected regionally — and not just site specific to Jefferson Plaza. Also, the councilmember has provided there will be a process for a visual preference survey that we suggested to guide and shape the architecture with community input. 

Kornreich has often tried to assure our area that many of our valid concerns can be addressed during the site plan review process, which will now begin. While I strongly believe our neighborhood would have been well served to have these issues ironed out in advance, I take him at his word and trust we will make a strong effort to partner with the town and hold them to that promise. It will take all our voices to shape the face of our future in a way which improves our community and I urge all my neighbors to help in this process.

Ira Costell, President 

Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Associatio

A farewell to six years of growth and community

For the last six years, I have had the honor and privilege to serve as the Three Village Chamber of Commerce president. 

Together we have accomplished so many of the goals set at the beginning of my term. A complete overhaul of our monthly accounting has resulted in the chamber being in the best financial position in its almost 50-year history.

Our real accomplishments were never planned. The business community faced unprecedented challenges in March 2020. The worldwide pandemic brought initial chaos and confusion to the ever-changing governmental regulations of trying to keep the doors open for business. The Board of Directors led the charge to work with our elected officials and within a very short period of time, we were assisting our community’s businesses in these unchartered waters. This was a very difficult environment for everyone.

As a longtime board member, I can say with great confidence I am leaving the chamber in good hands as my term as president comes to an end

So many positive and rewarding activities have come to mind over the last six years. Giving to the annual George Rehn Scholarship to high school seniors as the first chamber president to graduate from Ward Melville High School — and certainly not the last. The West Meadow Beach barbecues of the past, the current golf outings and many holiday parties that brought our business community together will always be cherished. 

I want to thank my fellow board members and our executive director, Jane Taylor, for their commitment and continuous support, making this one of the best and most viable service organizations I have ever been part of.

The chamber leadership will continue to prosper under its new president, Carmine Inserra, and the current Board of Directors. I wish them well and I am here to always help to keep our business community vibrant and healthy.

I have personally enjoyed all the friendships and business networking contacts among our membership and I will look forward to my new role as president emeritus. I love this community and I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve through this wonderful organization.

I look forward to the continued success of the Three Village Chamber of Commerce.

Charles A. Lefkowitz

Three Village Chamber of Commerce

Editor’s note: The writer is chairman of the Suffolk County Water Authority.

 

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Brookhaven Town Board rejects suburbia

Last week the Brookhaven Town Board rang the death knell for suburbia by downzoning the sleepy Jefferson Plaza shopping center in Port Jefferson Station to allow the development of a mega city of unaffordable apartments and large multistory buildings. 

The proponents, mostly the building industry lobby and the developer, who will reap millions of dollars in increased rent, took advantage of an industry-promoted zoning classification called Commercial Redevelopment District which allows city-like density in underperforming shopping centers throughout Brookhaven.

The new code was a byproduct of the dark days of COVID-19 when many thought that local shopping centers wouldn’t survive the loss of customers who were staying at home because of the pandemic.

Unsurprisingly, most shopping centers have now rebounded, but the Town of Brookhaven has not rescinded the urban density code that was promoted by developers and builders over the objections from several community civic organizations.

A Queens-like development this size and scale will alter the suburban character of upper Port Jefferson Station and lead to the further urbanization of the communities throughout the town.

Because of the Staller Center rezone, lawyers representing other shopping center owners have already made inquiries to the Brookhaven Town Board about rezoning their clients shopping centers to CRD as well.

It’s time for the Town Board to take a hard look at the CRD zoning code, realize how it will radically change the character of most communities throughout the town and build into it protections that would limit the size and scale of future redevelopment of shopping centers — and make it less destructive to the suburban character of communities we cherish.

Charles Tramontana, President, George Hoffman, Trustee

Three Village Civic Association

A timeline: Careful money management yields results

In 2011, Suffolk County announced a $500 million deficit. And in that same year, 2011, Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) was elected to the Suffolk County Legislature and she asked to be assigned to work with the fiscal committee. To our benefit, Sarah insisted that with careful planning and foresight, Suffolk County could trim the budget and tighten spending while offering the same services and assistance to residents. For 12 years, Sarah pushed this version of fiscal responsibility, then she was term-limited out of the Legislature. 

The outcome of Sarah’s effort was everything we could have hoped for. In 2023, the Suffolk County Legislature announced that the $500 million deficit was eliminated and that the county’s bond rating had moved strongly upward. Before she left the Legislature, Sarah Anker brought stability to Suffolk County finances. 

I am grateful that Sarah Anker puts People Over Politics. Sarah Anker has my vote for NYS Senate.

Judy Black

Shoreham

Rebecca Kassay: A force for good, leading with heart and purpose

Rebecca Kassay (D-Port Jefferson) is someone I’ve had the privilege of knowing and watching blossom into a true leader over the years. From the moment I met her, I could tell she had a deep passion for both her community and the environment. It has been remarkable to see how she’s transformed that passion into tangible, meaningful action. Watching her grow, both as a small business owner and as a community leader, has been an incredibly personal inspiration to me.

One of the things that has always stood out to me about Rebecca is her dedication to environmental governance. After graduating from SUNY New Paltz with a degree in Environmental Studies, she returned to Long Island and dove right into environmental work. I remember how she launched a youth environmental volunteer program at Avalon Park and Preserve. I watched her work tirelessly with local teens, teaching them to care for and protect our natural environment. Her enthusiasm was contagious, and she wasn’t just teaching them about the environment — she was inspiring a sense of responsibility and love for the land. Seeing her in action made me realize that this wasn’t just a job for her — it was a calling.

Rebecca’s entrepreneurial journey is just as impressive. In 2013, she and her husband Andrew purchased a fixer-upper in Port Jefferson and transformed it into The Fox and Owl Inn, a bed-and-breakfast that quickly became a cornerstone of the community. I saw firsthand how much effort and care they put into the business. But more than that, I saw how deeply Rebecca became involved in the local business community. Through her work with both the Port Jefferson Rotary Club and Chamber of Commerce, she’s been a driving force in helping local businesses thrive. I’ve had many conversations with her about how to build a sustainable local economy, and her commitment to balancing economic growth with environmental responsibility is something I deeply admire.

When the pandemic hit, Rebecca’s leadership took on new meaning. She quickly organized the Long Island Open Source Medical Supplies initiative, rallying volunteers to produce PPE for frontline workers. It was a shining example of her ability to mobilize people for the greater good. In a time of crisis, Rebecca brought hope and unity to the community.

Watching Rebecca grow has been an inspiring journey for me. She leads with her heart and never loses sight of her values, making her a true force for good.

Indu Kaur

Port Jefferson Station

Transparency needed: Voters deserve answers from Assemblyman Flood

As a resident of Setauket I was distressed to hear that my Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson) was disbarred last week.

As a lawyer I am concerned that Assemblyman Flood did not even bother to respond to the complaint against him even though he was charged that he “engaged in conduct involving dishonesty, fraud, deceit or misrepresentation with regard to both clients” and the courts. To merit disbarment, as opposed to censure or suspension, the alleged conduct must have been very serious.

As a voter I believe I am entitled to know what he was accused of.

Assemblyman Flood should make a full disclosure of what occurred. The voters deserve to know.

Chris Murray

Setauket

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An open letter to the residents of Port Jefferson Station and Terryville

Many local residents are aware that there is a planned redevelopment at the Jefferson Plaza Shopping Center. However, not all our neighbors necessarily know the specific details which will shape the face of our community along the major thoroughfare of Route 112. This large-scale proposal may allow for up to 280 apartments and 49,000-plus square feet of commercial space on that 10-acre parcel. This intensive use has presented us all with an opportunity to see growth and revitalization of our area, but also the challenge to address potential negative impacts to the existing neighborhood.

Members of the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association have worked diligently for the past two years to impress upon the Town of Brookhaven that we welcome this opportunity but that changes could help improve the project. In particular, we expressed a need for a comprehensive traffic study of the area which takes into account surrounding developments. 

Others pointed out concerns about the unprecedented height of four-story buildings, voiced a desire for architectural design which could provide a sense of place, or questioned the need for full environmental review for a project which will nearly triple the density of any other multifamily developments in the town to date.

This entire proposal has its roots in a 2020 revision to the Town Code in the form of a Commercial Redevelopment District crafted and approved during the COVID-19 pandemic. This code, as written, seems vague and without any true metric on which to base a determination of the related density bonuses offered within the district. It is this CRD code which Staller Associates — owner of the Jefferson Shopping Center — is now pursuing for a precedent-setting change of zone on that property. It is my understanding that Brookhaven is prepared to vote on this motion and likely to approve it at its next Town Board meeting on Sept. 26 at Town Hall.

Last November, over 65 residents appeared at a public hearing to provide their input on what they wished to see for our community. Some of those comments have been incorporated by the developer into a few changes by the developer, at the urging and help of our Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook). However, much still appears unresolved in the areas of public benefits, clarity on the commitment to a comprehensive traffic study, developing consensus on architectural design and a decision on the ultimate level of density upon buildout. Some believe we should trust this all gets dealt with during the site plan review process. I am hopeful and have advocated that these issues should be addressed before the zoning change is approved in order to achieve the best, transparent outcome possible for all parties.

I solicit my neighbors, regardless of your viewpoint, to go to Town Hall this Thursday evening so that your voice is heard. More “eyes and ears” on this pivotal project will helpfully inform our local decision-makers what the public feels about how best to proceed to take pride in the place we call home. In any event, stay engaged and get involved.

Ira Costell, President

   Port Jefferson Station/ Terryville Civic Association

Port Jefferson electrification stuck in the slow lane

There is no funding allocated in the MTA’s proposed $68 billion 2025-2029 Five Year Capital Plan, just released, for advancement of the proposed $3.1 billion LIRR Port Jefferson Branch electrification project. Critical initial funding was not provided to pay for planning, preliminary design, engineering and the National Environmental Policy Act review to start advancement of this project. The next opportunity for funding will be under the 2030-2034 Five Year Capital Plan. Following the federal NEPA process is necessary to preserve future Federal Transit Administration funding eligibility.

There is only a vague reference in the plan to “improvements” on the Port Jefferson Branch. Contrast this with a specific reference to “looking at the feasibility to extend electrification of the Ronkonkoma Branch east from Ronkonkoma to Yaphank.” 

Riders east of Babylon to Patchogue and Speonk can also only count on a vague reference to “improvements” which doesn’t include electrification. No specific dollar figures, detailed scope of work or implementation schedule are attached to either Port Jefferson or Speonk Branch improvements.

MTA Chairman Janno Lieber would have to request permission from the FTA to enter this project into the agency’s Capital Investment Grants (New Starts/Core Capacity) national discretionary competitive grant program. 

Funding for final design and engineering, property easements, land acquisition and utility relocation could be allocated under the 2035-2039 Five Year Capital Plan. This would be followed by $1.6 billion — probably far more due to inflation — in local MTA funding included in the MTA 2040-2044 Five Year Capital Plan. These dollars are necessary to leverage FTA funding. 

Based upon my past experiences on other FTA-MTA-LIRR projects, even if all goes well as I’ve outlined, Port Jefferson Branch electrification may not be completed until 2050. With inflation over time, the final project cost could easily grow to $4 billion and more.

 The LIRR 1960s motto “Line of the Dashing Dan” should be changed to “Line of the Slow Moving Sloth” when it comes to completing LIRR Port Jefferson Branch electrification. The concept of electrification was first proposed back in the 1950s!

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

 

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Applauding Cedar Beach environmental sentiments

I applaud the sentiments of “Trying to enjoy peace at Cedar Beach” in Letters to the Editor, Sept. 5. 

I can’t count how many times I’ve been at the beautiful beaches and parks in our area — as well as parking lots — and felt similar feelings of bewilderment and anger when I see people sitting in their idling cars, often with the windows down. Why run the engine, especially on a beautiful day? It’s a waste of gas and money, and pollutes the air while creating unnecessary noise. 

Perhaps our local leaders can put forth legislation that would fine those who idle their engines beyond the 3-minute limit acceptable by New York State law? Maybe some people don’t grasp the detrimental effects on the environment — not to mention the waste of their own money — but perhaps enforcing legislation and fines would provide a wake-up call. Let’s all enjoy fresh air and nature in peace and quiet, and be considerate of others.

Adriana Lubarsky

East Setauket

Keeping LIRR on track

Port Jefferson commuters should be concerned that the LIRR still needs to reach a state of good repair for existing fleet, stations, elevators, escalators, signals, interlockings, track, power, yards and shops. It also includes more and more stations reaching compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. All maintenance programs for all operating assets also need to be fully funded and completed on time to ensure riders safe uninterrupted reliable service. Since its creation in 1964, the Urban Mass Transit Administration (known since 1991 as the Federal Transit Administration) has provided billions to pay for many of these capital improvements.

The LIRR share of annual FTA grants to the MTA averages 15%. In 2024, this should represent $270 million of $1.8 billion in federal grant funding. The state Department of Transportation provides Statewide Mass Transportation Operating Assistance on an annual basis to the MTA and LIRR. Let us give thanks to both Washington and Albany for continued financial support for our very own LIRR — the nation’s largest commuter railroad.

Larry Penner

Great Neck

Voices of service: the true cost of new nonprofit oversight

Last month, Suffolk County Legislators Trish Bergin (R-East Islip) and Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) sponsored I.R. 1687, a bill that would amend the Suffolk County Code to provide the county more oversight into the internal fiscal operations of nonprofit entities seeking county subsidies and limiting the salaries of nonprofit executives.

I have worked in nonprofit leadership since 2011. Leading a nonprofit is often impossibly difficult. Over half of respondents in a recent survey from the Chronicle of Philanthropy noted that they struggle with a work-life balance. Nearly two-thirds of the nonprofit leaders in the Chronicle’s survey say the country’s polarization — over politics, race and culture — is making their work more difficult.

A third of survey participants say they are likely to leave their current organization in the next two years. Twenty-two percent say they are likely to leave the nonprofit world altogether. Other than retirement, top reasons include salary, the challenge of finding resources and the demands of the job.

I can’t think of any other industry that is on the edge of losing almost 25% of their leadership workforce.

A healthy relationship between nonprofits and their local, state and federal governments brings stronger programming and services to residents. Without the nonprofit sector, the government does not have the infrastructure or systems in place to provide the care we need.

My colleagues and friends who have devoted their life to this work are not money-hungry hoarders. But if our industry is going to recruit competitive talent to lead, we must be able to offer competitive salaries.

Perhaps our county legislators and others like them should rethink opportunities to increase their giving and partnerships so we can actually solve the problems facing nonprofit organizations, rather than attacking the people responsible for working to solve them.

Cindy Morris

Stony Brook

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Cancer and our environment

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, New York has the fifth highest cancer rate in the country. Each year over 110,000 New Yorkers are diagnosed with cancer and 35,000 die from the disease. One in every two men and one in every three women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. So, we must ask the question why?

In 2001, I founded the not-for-profit, Community Health and Environment Coalition, to address the high rate of cancer in my community. New York State Department of Health released cancer maps which showed areas with elevated cancer rates and as a concerned mother, environmental advocate and a dedicated community leader, I wanted answers. My coalition partnered with elected leaders, medical professionals and residents to challenge the state to do something about this issue, and it did. The state DOH moved forward with the New York State Cancer Mapping Project, also known as the Cancer Surveillance Improvement Initiative, and focused its investigation in Coram, Mount Sinai and Port Jefferson Station as a follow-up investigation.

It’s been 18 years since the report was released, and as I look back and see the higher-than-average elevated breast cancer rates highlighted on the cover of the report, I must ask why isn’t more being done to address the exposure to toxic cancer-causing chemicals?

I was never paid as I led the community in our quest to find answers. I worked with elected officials across party lines, and with Long Island’s most renowned breast cancer advocates including Huntington’s Karen Miller, West Islip’s Lorraine Pace and Babylon’s Debbie Basile. Most folks I worked with thought it was our water, and now decades later experts have identified concerning chemicals in our water including PFAS forever chemicals, and 1,4-dioxane used extensively by military contractors. 

After the follow-up cancer investigation report was released, I found that the state DOH used mainly data from its database and did not come to our town to take soil, water and air samples. If a farmer used a pesticide that was not registered, that information was not included. If a company dumped toxic chemicals in the ground, that info was not included. This left more questions than answers.

People are finally understanding that exposure to carcinogen and cancer causing chemicals can have a delayed cancer diagnosis, and it can take decades to see the consequence of toxic exposure, as we’re seeing with 9/11 first responders.

Come on folks, we should expect better than this.

I sat on the Brookhaven National Lab Community Advisory Committee for years as the committee partnered with BNL to clean up contamination. Northrop Grumman and the Navy should do the same for the residents of Bethpage.

I was born on a Navy base. My dad proudly served for decades in the military, but we must hold those who pollute accountable. Mistakes were made decades ago when chemicals were released into our environment. We know better now, and we’ve got work to do so let’s work together to clean up polluted sites and protect residents.

Years ago, I was one of only about five people to attend and advocate to clean up Lawrence Aviation’s groundwater contamination at a public hearing in Port Jefferson.

What followed was a massive effort by the EPA, DEC and Suffolk County Department of Health Services to remediate the contaminant plume.

The government needs to do the same for the groundwater in Bethpage and other contaminated areas on Long Island. I encourage residents to get involved and be part of the solution. Let’s do this together.

So many lives count on it.

Sarah Anker

Mount Sinai

Founder of Community Health and Environment Coalition

Former Suffolk County Legislator

Current NYS Senate Candidate

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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

 

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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

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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

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