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Port Jefferson

Port Jefferson’s East Beach on Jan. 25. Photos courtesy Myrna Gordon

By G.T. Scarlatos

The future of the Port Jefferson Country Club is still unclear as concern from local residents grows over the East Beach bluff stabilization project. The 170-acre coastline property, purchased by the Village of Port Jefferson in 1978, lies atop the East Beach bluff. The bluff, which has been rapidly eroding, now leaves the clubhouse dangerously close to the edge of the cliff. Without remediation, the significant village asset could fall into the Long Island Sound within years. 

Elected officials from the Village of Port Jefferson have been aware of this issue for over half a decade and have been in discussion with the Department of Environmental Conservation, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and teams of coastal engineers to come up with a solution for the pressing matter. In cooperation with GEI Consultants, a Huntington Station-based coastal engineering firm, the village introduced a two-phase stabilization initiative in an effort to curb erosion and restore the bluff. 

In 2021, the village obtained a state DEC permit to begin work at the cliff’s base and a $10 million bond was appropriated toward the double-wall system stabilization project. The first phase of the project was completed in the spring of 2023, with the construction of a lower toe retaining wall. But in spite of these efforts, aggressive deforestation, scouring and severe erosion have continued to persist with storms and striking waves wreaking havoc on the bluff. The inadequate efforts to solve the time-sensitive issue has left members of the community alarmed. 

“When the construction [of Phase 1] was first done, it looked really good. It was meshed down, the plantings were in place and the toe line was down at the bottom about 4 or 5 feet high,” Myrna Gordon, a Port Jefferson village resident for over 50 years said. “Then it was hit so badly,” she added. “They [the village] had all of the millions and millions of dollars put into the restoration, which sadly have not worked. So, my question to the village is ’What’s next’? What is the plan? Or is there any plan? The environmental change that’s taken place is so noticeable you can see the erosion all over the place, with the gullies and with the terracing.”

Despite growing concerns, the village looks to continue with the start of the initiative’s second phase. Funding for Phase 2 has been made available through FEMA’s Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant program, with the village receiving $3.75 million for the proposed upper wall at the country club. The FEMA-funded project will consist of the installation of steel sheeting at the crest of the bluff and a structural tie-back system to offset the heavy weight of the embankment.

“We’re working with FEMA through the process of finalizing the grant application and making sure that we are being responsive to their requirements to secure the grant,” Mayor Lauren Sheprow said. “What we’re all waiting on right now is for FEMA’s approval to move forward with Phase 2.”

Gordon voiced her dissatisfaction with how village officials have handled matters regarding the stabilization project, saying, “This has been a very sensitive issue with our board and there has been very little communication going back and forth with the residents. Many of us wanted a referendum addressing what should be done with a bluff, which we never got.”

“The village has to act quickly,” Gordon urged. “They need to stop looking at the clubhouse as this sentimental structure that meant so much to their lives and face the hard facts. They’re not dealing with the environmental crisis along our shoreline in the best possible way, they’re dealing with it with emotion and sentimentality.”

Rich Daly doing a live carving on day one at the Port Jefferson Ice Festival. Photo by Julianne Mosher

By Julianne Mosher

The 5th annual Port Jefferson Ice Festival didn’t disappoint, yet again, with hundreds of people coming near and far to enjoy this winter wonderland. 

Spearheaded by the Port Jefferson Business Improvement District and partnering with the, the festival gives visitors and residents a bunch of fun activities great for all ages. 

The common denominator each year is the fantastic ice sculptures created by Rich Daly — owner and ice sculptor with Ice Memories, based in Mastic Beach. Daly said he spends three weeks preparing for the two-day-long festival, creating 30 ice statues to distribute around Port Jefferson. From dogs outside Skinmed Spa to a cheeseburger outside Tommy’s, there is quite the variety. For this festival alone, Daly said he carved 225 blocks of ice (that’s 70,000 pounds) slated for the weekend.

The festival began Saturday, Jan. 27, and was supposed to go into the Sunday. However, a rainy forecast postponed the second day until this coming Sunday, Feb. 4. While disappointing for some, people who missed the first day can now have another chance to enjoy the festivities. Some of those festivities include admiring Daly’s sculptures around town, character appearances — Spider-Man and Barbie were spotted — and horse and buggy rides. 

But the biggest crowd draw is the three live ice sculpture experiences by Daly occurring throughout the day. 

Daly became the world’s fastest ice carver, according to Guinness World Records, back in 2013. 

“I carved 18,000 pounds of ice into 61 different carvings in two hours and 52 minutes surpassing the old record by over an hour and a half,” he said. “So now we’re 11 years in, and it’s still my record, thankfully.”

Last Saturday, Daly stood with a 300-pound block of ice in the Meadow Parking Lot behind PJ Lobster House with nearly 100 people and children cheering him on. He took his ice pick, carved out a rough design of a dove and then started up his chainsaw to carve out the bird. In under 30 minutes, the bird was ready and admirers could be photographed with the new creation.

This year’s Port Jefferson Ice Festival will have its grand finale on Sunday, Feb. 4, featuring all-new ice designs throughout the village along with Daly’s live carvings. Parking is free.

Joan T. McCool-Kelly. Photo courtesy Bryant Funeral home

Joanie was born in Brooklyn to Joan B. (Geoghan) and Hugh B. McCool on Feb. 5, 1958. In 1965, she moved with her parents and sister Susan to Port Jefferson, the place that Joanie treasured most. 

She was a graduate of Infant Jesus School, Seton Hall and then Mercy High School and Niagara University. Joanie’s bachelor’s degree in transportation, travel and tourism landed her a management position at Amtrak. It was there that she met and married Chuck Szynkiewicz and moved to Princeton, New Jersey. While there, Joanie began a new career as a mortgage lender. 

Life eventually brought Joanie and Chuck back to Port Jefferson, where life was good. Joanie was a member of the initial team that got the Jefferson’s Ferry Lifecare Community off the ground. Joanie and Chuck, along with their beloved yellow Lab, Jack, enjoyed life in Port Jefferson and had many friends. This abruptly ended when Chuck passed away suddenly on the morning of Dec. 5, 2005. Joanie’s tremendous courage sustained her through this loss, as well as several serious health issues.

In December 2006, she met Pat Kelly, whom she married on Sept. 9, 2011, at St. Charles Chapel. Joanie and Pat enjoyed life on Long Island, spending time in Port Jefferson and taking in beautiful sunsets at the harbor. Every year, usually around June, they went on a cruise to Bermuda. 

Joanie was completely devoted to her parents and took great pride in her niece and nephew, Annie and Timmy. She will be remembered for her extreme generosity and kind heart, her courage and loyalty and her sense of humor, mischief and fun. Joanie’s passing will leave a painful void in the lives of her family and countless friends. 

She is survived by her husband Pat Kelly; her mom Joan McCool; her sister Susan Facciola; her niece Annie Facciola; and nephew Timmy Facciola. One of Joanie’s favorite charities was the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, where donations in her memory would be greatly appreciated (www.t2t.org).

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Domenico 'Dom' Parillo. Photo courtesy Bryant Funeral home

Domenico “Dom” Parillo, age 57, of Port Jefferson, passed away on Jan. 3. Born and raised in Brooklyn, Dom loved life to its absolute limits. Dom loved traveling to Atlantic City and Las Vegas where the atmosphere was as full of life as he was. Dom also cherished spending time with family, making memories and making people laugh with his quick wit and hilarious comments.

Moving to Port Jefferson in 1993, Dom immediately made his presence known by committing himself to the betterment of Port Jefferson. Either by assisting tenants or lending a hand to community sponsors, his goal was simple, to improve Port Jefferson for everyone. After 30 years of making a positive impact, it was easy to see why “everyone knows Dom.” He is survived by his sons Ralph Joseph and Dominick Anthony; ex-spouse Maria McCauley; father Raffaele; brother Pietro and his wife Lori; niece Victoria; nephew Peter; and longtime girlfriend Debra Pennell.

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School. File photo by Elana Glowatz

The Port Jefferson School District Board of Education held its first meeting of 2024 on the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 9. Though the meeting was relatively brief, the evening highlighted positive student engagement as well as things to look forward to in the coming new year. 

The spotlight illuminated the commendable work of the student government at Edna Louise Spear Elementary, focusing on the active involvement of students in grades three to five. The election process, involving students delivering persuasive speeches to their peers, results in the selection of two representatives from each class.

Crafted by the students themselves, the student government’s mission statement defines their purpose — to contribute positively to the school, town and global communities, emphasizing the significance of kindness and support. The integral role played by advisers Michele Smith and Dana St. Pierre in guiding and shaping the student government’s initiatives was highlighted during the meeting, underscoring the collaborative effort that drives the success of these endeavors.

The student government’s diverse activities include fundraisers and events meant to foster unity within the school. Notable among these are the highly anticipated movie nights, a recurring event attended by students in grades three through five. The representatives take charge of the event, managing everything from snack distribution to movie selection, creating an enjoyable experience for students and parents alike.

Fundraising initiatives were given special attention during the meeting, showcasing themed dress days and contributions to various charitable organizations. Local charities such as Island Harvest and the Infant Jesus food pantry were beneficiaries of the student government’s active support. Moreover, their commitment to positive change extended globally, with initiatives supporting UNICEF and earthquake victims in Turkey and Syria.

Furthermore, the meeting shed light on the student government’s pivotal role in organizing schoolwide events that promote unity and school spirit. Flag Day, planned and executed by student government representatives, features performances by the school orchestra, band and chorus. Another noteworthy project is the Kindness Rocks initiative, where students aim to deliver kindness rocks throughout the community, spreading positive messages and goodwill.

The meeting also covered details about the upcoming New York State science exam, which will be administered to students in grades five and eight. Notably, this year’s exams will be computer-based, representing a shift in the assessment format. Additionally, the discussion touched upon the NYS Blue Ribbon Commission’s recommendations from 2019. The commission proposed 12 recommendations, categorized into areas such as the number of diplomas, credit and program requirements, assessment alternatives and modifications to graduation requirements for non compulsory students. The proposed changes aim to enhance education and better align with evolving academic needs.

From the floor, resident Gail Sternberg expressed concerns on the implications of the projected high school falling enrollment numbers, but no response was forthcoming from the board.

The highly anticipated bleacher project at Earl L. Vandermeulen High School began construction Dec. 20. Starting with upgrades to the press box, the work will include demolition and reframing of the front door, adding a viewing window in the front, reconstruction of the ladder for access from the back, as well as much more. The board also assessed that tree removal for the middle school retaining wall project is set to commence in the spring, and neighbors in the area will be notified when a definitive timeline for the project is determined.

Trustees work session on Jan. 10. Snapshot from the trustee's website

On Wednesday, Jan. 10, The Village of Port Jefferson Board of Trustees held its first work session of 2024. 

The Education & Arts Conservancy 

At the request of Mayor Lauren Sheprow, Lisa Perry, president of the Port Jefferson Harbor Education & Arts Conservancy, kicked off the three-hour work session to discuss the conservancy’s relationship with the village.  

Perry explained to board members that the conservancy is a non-profit working on behalf of the Port Jefferson Village Center and the Jeanne Garant Harborfront Park. The conservancy was established almost two decades ago to help fundraise for village center activities and projects.                                                                                      

“We’ve probably donated over $300,000 either in kind or money over the years,” she said. 

Perry reviewed the many fundraising projects the group has undertaken recently, including grants to purchase the Zamboni for the skating rink, funds for the beautification of the harbor front, and the restoration of Rocketship Park. The group is discussing a possible fundraiser to obtain a bandshell for the harbor front. Perry tells the board that the group is in the process of revamping its mission statement and is hoping to attract new members. 

A discussion ensued about the current written agreement between the conservancy and the village and to establish regular meetings with village representatives.

“The village can’t solicit donations from the conservancy,” village treasurer Stephen Gaffga said. 

Instead, the village and the conservancy can keep an open dialogue and collaborate on projects. 

Village attorney David Moran wrapped up the discussion by informing the board that he had reviewed the agreement stating,“It is fine as is.” 

“I don’t want to over-lawyer a very good agreement and add confusion,” he said.

Revamping tech security

Village clerk Sylvia Pirillo put forth a resolution to accept the proposal by Island Tech Services to enhance the security of the village servers and emails. Emails will be mitigated to ‘.gov’ addresses, and Microsoft SharePoint will be installed for interoffice communications and document reviews.

“This has been a long time coming. We’re looking forward to this very needed change,” she said. 

Pirillo also informed the board that the village received about 60 proposals from vendors to revitalize the village’s website and calls for a resolution to accept a proposal from CivicPlus web designer. 

“We are confident in the choice of CivicPlus and are very excited to move forward,” she said. 

Bluff storm erosion

Sheprow updated the board on storm damage placing emphasis on  the Port Jefferson Country Club bluff. Sheprow reports that two sections of the east side of the bluff were damaged by recent storms, and additional damage occurred on the west side of the bluff from the storm overnight.   

Pirillo put forth a resolution to accept the proposal from GIT Consulting to move forward with aerial drone surveillance of the bluff to help surveyors follow topological changes in the bluff over time. 

“We need to proceed with these sooner rather than later, especially given recent [storm] events,” Pirillo said. 

Code enforcement

A draft letter to be sent to all Port Jefferson business owners from the building and planning department’s new director, Andrew Freleng, was also discussed. The letter encourages owners to comply voluntarily with the village’s building and zoning laws. 

“This is a first letter, is putting everyone on notice,” says Moran.

The draft letter suggests business owners check in with the building and planning department with questions and concerns. The letter can be found in the appendix of the meeting agenda for this work session.  

Ethics guidelines

Attorney Steven Leventhal, ethics counsel to the village, continues the ongoing discussion about new ethics guidelines and the process for forming an ethics review board.

Leventhal describes a four-part process to developing a robust ethics program for the village:

  • Adopt the ethics code.
  • Produce educational materials.
  • Have the board of ethics implement the code.
  • Have a presence on the website for submitting inquiries, accessing the code, and accessing the educational materials.

The Mayor will nominate the members, and the board will appoint them. Community members are welcome to put forward their names or someone else for consideration.

Leventhal further comments that there is an “epidemic of ignorance in ethics out there. It takes a real commitment of understanding [by ethics committee members].”  

Comments from the public about the new ethics guidelines are open until the next board of trustees meeting, scheduled for Jan. 31. Comments can be sent to the village clerk at [email protected]

Friends of Port Jefferson village resident, Ana Hozyainova, reflect on her work as a local change agent

Photo by Lynn Hallarman

By Lynn Hallarman

Ana Hozyainova’s house in Port Jefferson village sits nestled among the native garden she has been coaxing into maturity. The garden reimagines a former suburban lawn, once jammed with ornamental flowers and bushes meant for show. She points to a thicket along the perimeter. “You see that shrub, it doesn’t belong here, and its berries are junk food for birds — they have no nutrition,” she tells me on a walk around her property.

I met Hozyainova about two years ago, shortly after her failed bid to become a Port Jefferson Village trustee. After hearing her speak at a campaign debate, I was impressed with her approach to village issues and wanted to get to know her. We met for coffee and talked. As it turned out, this first meeting began a series of conversations between us about her vision of the village as part of, not instead of, the surrounding natural world. “When you talk with people about the natural landscape, it is difficult to turn the thinking away from the land as a commodity from which wealth is to be extracted,” she said. She wants to help people get out of their heads to connect with others and nature.

Her campaign platform for village trustee translated this vision into a practical plan — she wanted sidewalks, lots of them, in smartly configured networks. She wanted to redesign village roads to heal a long-standing safety problem with speeding vehicles. She wanted, in other words, for the village to slow down.    

Hozyainova, 43, seems taller than her 5-foot-6-inch frame, with lanky arms and legs and shoulder-length blond hair, almost always tied with a scrunchy. She is the kind of person who prefers to walk barefoot. She has, it seems, an encyclopedic knowledge of local flora and fauna. Ask her about her choice of plantings for her garden, and she will tell you it is designed to be undisturbed and native, producing some food but “mainly functioning as a sanctuary for insects, birds and small mammals.” She offered me a starter planting for my garden.

Hozyainova emigrated to the United States 20 years ago to attend the Columbia School of Social Work, where she graduated with a master’s degree. Sometime after, she met her now-spouse, and they moved to Port Jefferson for her to pursue a career as a clinical social worker. She is fluent in five languages: English, Russian, Farsi, Uzbek and Kyrgyz — the native language of Kyrgyzstan, where she was born. Some describe her vocal cadence as a calming balm when speaking at contentious village meetings. She never voices an opinion without doing her homework and brings data into any discussion to back up her arguments.

This quality of critical thinking impressed her neighbors. So much so that Michael Mart and Myrna Gordon, longtime residents and regular village government gadflies, volunteered to help her with her trustee campaign. They were drawn to her ability to think beyond the immediate issue to see a solution in a broader context. “She can think forward and not accept, without questioning, unexplained government actions,” Mart said.

Hozyainova, about a year ago, brought the long-dormant Port Jefferson Civic Association back to life. I asked her, on another walk, why she wanted to restart the group. She paused momentarily to pull out an invasive weed, seemingly contemplative. The civic association, she tells me, is her attempt to do what other actions have failed to produce for resident engagement — consensus building around local issues of concern. 

“I wanted people in the village to believe again that they have a say in how the government conducts itself,” she said.

The group is growing, even attracting younger people and recent village transplants. Almost everyone showing up will tell you Hozyainova is bringing them. “We shall see if the civic takes hold,” she tells me. The group, she muses, still needs its walking legs.

For her dedicated work in building the Port Jefferson Civic Association and for environmental preservation, TBR News Media makes Ana Hozyainova a 2023 Person of the Year.

Downtown Port Jefferson was ready for Santa as the shops and businesses of the village continued a popular tradition this holiday season. 

— Photos by Bill Landon

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St. Charles and elected officials at the emergency room groundbreaking. Photo by Aidan Johnson

By Aidan Johnson

Port Jefferson’s St. Charles Hospital, a part of Catholic Health, held a ceremonial groundbreaking on Monday, July 24, for its upcoming emergency department expansion.

The expansion will be 4000 square feet, to include 10 more treatment bays, an expanded waiting room and additional nursing and changing stations, according to a Catholic Health press statement.

“The ED expansion will also include an ED-dedicated advanced diagnostic imaging room with a fully outfitted CT scan to decrease wait times and improve patient flow from the ED to the inpatient setting,” the statement said.

The project cost of $10 million was partially funded through a $4.2 million grant from the NYS Statewide Health Care Facility Transformation Program.

During the ceremony, hospital President James O’Connor thanked the people involved throughout the process, including local officials, the Catholic Health executive leadership, local first responder organizations and the architects.

“As many of you know, St. Charles was founded in 1907 by four sisters of the order of the Daughters of Wisdom, helping homeless children with disabilities,” O’Connor said during his speech. “Their mission continues … over 116 years later as we continue to help those in need.”

Construction will officially begin on July 31 and is expected to conclude before the end of summer 2024.

Local officials blast MTA over 'shocking neglect' of Long Island

Village of Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow speaks at a July 25 press conference as Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine looks on. Photo by Raymond Janis

A dilapidated bridge and longtime public safety hazard on Sheep Pasture Road in Port Jeff will come down.

“I’m concerned that the MTA has forgotten about this section of Long Island.”

—Ed Romaine

Local and state officials held a press conference Tuesday, July 25, at Brookhaven Town Hall in Farmingville, celebrating a $15.8 million grant through the state Department of Transportation’s BridgeNY Program to replace the bridge. 

The new bridge will be owned and maintained by the town.

The Sheep Pasture Road railroad bridge has facilitated vehicle traffic since 1906. The Town of Brookhaven and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority had split the tasks for maintaining the structure — the town supervising the vehicle roadbed and the MTA responsible for the physical structure and its replacement.

“The bridge that’s there did belong to the MTA,” said Brookhaven Superintendent of Highways Dan Losquadro (R). NYSDOT “still gave the Town of Brookhaven $15.8 million to build our own bridge. That tells you how serious the concern with the existing structure was and the unwillingness on the part of the MTA to address the concern.”

Town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) underscored the troubles surrounding the bridge’s structural integrity. “Our fear was that this bridge would collapse,” he said.

The supervisor noted that none of the town’s three train lines are fully electrified, suggesting a lack of public attention or investment.

“I’m concerned that the MTA has forgotten about this section of Long Island,” he added.

Village of Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow attended the press event, expressing her support for the project under town supervision.

“On the north side of Sheep Pasture Road, those folks have been anxious for this development for a very long time, as have most of the residents utilizing that bridge,” she said. “The Village of Port Jefferson could not be more excited by the development that there will be a new bridge.”

“I’ll quote a congressman from New Jersey, who said the best way to understand the MTA is looking at the MTA backward. MTA spelled backward stands for ATM.”

— Dan Panico

Brookhaven Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook), whose 1st Council District includes Port Jefferson and Port Jefferson Station, thanked Gov. Kathy Hochul’s (D) office for “answering the call” of the state delegation. 

Kornreich nonetheless acknowledged the need for greater attention by the MTA.

“I’ll echo my colleagues who have pointed out the seeming disregard the MTA has had for our plight and the safety of our residents,” he said. “It’s really been a case of shocking neglect.”

Continuing this theme, Deputy Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Manorville) condemned MTA’s position toward Long Island.

“I’ll quote a congressman from New Jersey, who said the best way to understand the MTA is looking at the MTA backward,” Panico said. “MTA spelled backward stands for ATM.”

New York State Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson) referred to MTA’s inaction on the public safety hazard as “egregious,” decrying the perceived lack of investment by the public railroad into the local area.

“The MTA has no problem increasing taxes on us, our payroll taxes,” the assemblyman said. “Every time they seem to need to go to the well, it’s communities like ours that seem to foot the bill, and we don’t get the proper services.”

Referring to the bridge replacement, he added, “This is just a win for the citizens up here.”

With funding secured, Losquadro said his office is moving toward the planning phase for the project. He maintained that coordinating with emergency services is already underway.

“We will make sure that this process moves as expeditiously as it possibly can,” he said. “We have already spoken with emergency services and first responders to make sure that we have a plan that when this bridge does come down, it will be for the minimum amount of time before the new structure is in place.”