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Sabrina Artusa

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The historical structure at Tesla Science Center after the fire on Nov. 21, 2023. Photo courtesy Tesla Science Center

By Sabrina Artusa

After the 2023 fire, the Tesla Science Center in Shoreham is on its way to rebuilding. In November 2023, the center was in the process of a $20 million restoration: the culmination of fundraising and a grassroots effort to turn the historic and dilapidated property into something educational and productive. 

While the fire poses an unfortunate hurdle to the center’s reopening, the board of directors are continuing to move ahead to offer at least a part of the center to the public: the Visitors Center. 

Marc Alessi standing in front of the Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe in Shoreham before the 2023 fire. File photo

“It is the beginning of the whole property, but right now it is everything,” said Marc Alessi, executive director. “It is the advertiser of what this will be. There is going to be one exhibit and a classroom and they can hold events and field trips.”

He expects to get the Visitors Center to open in 2026, having already secured a contractor to work on the building at the end of April. 

The nonprofit has already raised $14 million from across the country, in addition to federal grants that they will receive once the work those grants are designated for is complete. The fire, however, added $3.5 million to their original estimate of $20 million, as well as another year, at least, to their timeline until reopening. 

The Tesla center’s history has been spotted with difficulty. It took over a decade for the property to be secured, and then several years before enough money was raised to hire engineers and apply for permits. 

The historic nature of the buildings as well as the fact that it is situated on a brownfield, a property that could be contaminated by past use, contributed to making the center “the most complicated museum project in the country right now.” 

The site is not ideal, but in order to honor the 120-year-old building and the significance of the location to Tesla’s legacy, the complicated construction is worth it to Alessi, the rest of the staff and the board of directors as well as over 30,000 people who donated to the cause. “If it wasn’t Tesla’s historic lab, it wouldn’t be happening on this site…This is hallowed ground and a historic site in the making,” Alessi said. 

To honor the historic nature of the buildings, Alessi said they had to find a contractor with expertise in historic renovations. Their last contractor fell through and denied the insurance claim after the fire, he said. 

Now, the center has recently appointed four new board members with diverse backgrounds in an effort to expand the center’s mission. Matt Inman, one of the initial advocates for the center, cartoonist and creator of the popular card game “Exploding Kittens” is bringing “a new way of thinking“ and “a network we wouldn’t have known of,” said Alessi.

Kara Cannon, CEO of Enzo Biochem; Matt Domo, an innovator with a background in technology; and Romain Murenzi, a professor of physics at Worcester Polytechnic Institute with experience in science policy, joined the board of directors last month. 

“[Murenzi] has experience setting up science programs in nations across the world. If we want to be a global science center we have to get people like this involved who have that reach; and it will be an international board eventually,” Alessi said.

The center is expected to bring international visitors – perhaps tourists who are visiting New York City but make the trip to Long Island to visit the site of Tesla’s abandoned lab with all the exhibits and technologies it has to offer. Board members expect 180,000 visitors a year. 

Once the museum is established, they would like to employ traveling exhibits in the future, where other museums borrow from their niche collection. The museum will tell Tesla’s story but will be equally focused on new ideas and technologies. Alessi said, “[Tesla] was a ‘futurist. That is the kind of thinking we want to embrace and celebrate.”

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From left, Anthony Anatol, Luke Jantzen, Jon Seyfert and Andrew Senf after running the relay. Photo courtesy of David Seyfert

By Sabrina Artusa

The Ward Melville High School boys track team have proven themselves as formidable competitors repeatedly this season — the Ward Melville name consistently high on the rankings. In this year’s winter season, the Ward Melville Patriots upheld their reputation.

On March 8 senior Jon Seyfert stepped up to the line for the 1600-meter race telling himself that winning was the only option. Seyfert, usually calm before racing, was nervous. 

Jon Seyfert running his leg of the 4 x mile relay at the New Balance Nationals. Photo courtesy of David Seyfert

He knew he wanted to give his coach and parents a state championship. His goal was to secure a position in front in the first 100 meters. Having done so, he held his position, waiting for the right moment to push ahead. In the seventh lap, he took the lead: a move that did not go unchallenged. 

“Another kid comes out from [lane] three or four trying to cut off,” Seyfert said. “[He] either had to go faster or go behind me and at that point I was like, ‘I got this.’” 

The other runners were unable to catch up and Seyfert, remembering his coach’s advice to run through the line, flew past it with 13 others chasing behind, making Seyfert the state champion in the mile.

He completed the mile in 4:15:68, utilizing months of hard summer and fall training to push him past the competition. 

“[There was] a lot riding on it,” he said. “You don’t know how many chances you are going to get for a state championship.”

“From the time the gun went off, I couldn’t be more excited as a coach,” Coach Ryan DeLuca said. “He took his experiences from his past races and experiences and did everything right.” 

From the initial positioning to mid-race strategy to patiently waiting to make the final move in the seventh lap, Deluca said the race was Seyfert’s “best executed race in four years.” 

Last year, Seyfert came in second in Suffolk County’s cross-country championships. Now, he is first in the state in the indoor 1600 meters. 

Having become a state champion, Seyfert said his primary goal in every race is to reach his potential. “I just want to say I couldn’t have gone any faster. I want to finish and say I gave it my all. I really did try.”

On March 8, running the 1600 meters, Seyfert tried and succeeded. 

New Balance Nationals

On March 14 and 15, the Patriots were back for the New Balance Nationals for the distance medley relay and the 4x mile relay. 

After not performing as well as they hoped in the distance medley relay, sophomore Andrew Senf, juniors Anthony Anatol and Luke Jantzen and Seyfert approached the 4x mile race hopeful and ready. They had trained for months, 

DeLuca told his team, ‘You guys can rebound from this in a big way. And the race that didn’t go well was a good chance to flush [your] legs.” 

“They came back with vengeance,” he said. 

Senf was the lead-off runner. As he prepared at the line holding the baton, he endeavored to set up his teammates for a good race by getting out in front and pushing the pace in the last 300 meters. With the disappointing distance medley relay behind him, he felt that there “was no pressure” and that being at nationals was itself an accomplishment.

Senf ran a personal best and “took charge” early on, according to Seyfert, who said “it was really cool to see.” He created such a large gap between himself and the next runner that, when he handed off the baton, completing his mile in 4:26, Jantzen was in “no man’s land,” as Seyfert put it. 

Jantzen, excited to race, knew that they were going to break the school’s record for this event. He visualized the race and tried to mentally prepare for the mile ahead of him. 

He handed off the baton to Anatol, who held the team’s position and, with the help of Senf and Jantzen, was able to lap some of the competition. Seyfert took the baton from Anatol and finished the last leg. The four finished with a time of 17:51:90, making them 12th fastest in the country. 

“After that night we came back the next day and we put it all together. We did what we were supposed to,” Jantzen said. 

“A lot of what helped get us to this point is that we all have such a good dynamic as a team and not just the four of us on the team but the guys that didn’t go as well,” Senf said. “Being with the coaches and the other kids is just such a pleasure. If I were on another team I don’t know if I would find the same enjoyment. The people just make it so fun.”

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

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A scene from the Hands Off! rally in Port Jefferson Station on April 5. Photo courtesy Dee Hensen
A scene from the Hands Off! rally in Port Jefferson Station on April 5. Photo courtesy Dee Hensen
A scene from the Hands Off! rally in Port Jefferson Station on April 5. Photo courtesy Dee Hensen
A scene from the Hands Off! rally in Port Jefferson Station on April 5. Photo courtesy Dee Hensen
Some locals traveled to New York City to participate in a Hands Off! march. Photo by Michael Vincenti

By Sabrina Artusa

Port Jefferson Station was one of over a thousand across the country to participate in a “Hands Off!” demonstration on April 5. 

The protest was organized as an objection to the Trump administration and Elon Musk’s involvement in government affairs. Residents stood along the intersection of Route 347 and Route 112 voicing their opposition to the Department of Government Efficiency, the sidelining of climate issues, cuts to veteran affairs, deportations and the increased tariffs. 

The North Brookhaven Democratic Club was the main host of this arm of the “Hands Off!” movement. 

Dee Hensen, president of the club since its inception 6 years ago, said this protest was the largest one she has ever attended. 

“It was really energizing and it gives you a little bit of comfort knowing there are so many people out there with similar concerns,” Hensen said. “It is great to be a part of a big movement.”

The communal passion and dedication exhibited during the protest revitalized Hensen in her mission. “It gives you confidence that you can fight these things and make it better,” she said.

This protest comes after several protests across the Brookhaven, Smithtown and Huntington areas since President Donald Trump (R) took office. In March, there was a protest every weekend. Furthermore, residents have taken to demonstrating outside the offices of their elected officials. Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY1) has had two protests outside his Hauppauge office, with residents criticizing his lack of town halls and compliance with some federal initiatives. 

Michael Vincenti, a Stony Brook resident who attended a “Hands Off!” march in New York City, said, “It was great to be surrounded by like-minded people. I was astounded to see so many people show up in the rain and stop traffic for miles.”

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Left to right: Rep. Nick Lalota (R-NY1), Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY2), Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-NY3) and Laura Gillen (D-NY4). Screenshot from a livestream of the meeting

By Sabrina Artusa

An hour-long conference was held in Woodbury on March 28 by the Long Island Association for their What’s New in Washington series. Congress members Nick LaLota (R-NY1), Tom Suozzi (D-NY3), Laura Gillen (D-NY4) and Andrew Garbarino (R-NY2) met to answer pressing questions regarding present federal policies. Moderator Matt Cohen led the discussion. 

SALT

The four congress members spoke of their bipartisanship and dedication to serving Long Island together. Suozzi commended LaLota and Garbarino on going against their party in opposing the SALT cap, which restricts tax deduction on income, sales or property taxes to $10,000. The cap expires this year

“The continuation of that cap will not pass because there are enough of us that will vote against any bill that tries that,” Garbarino said.

“Our leadership knows that we are absolutely strong and steadfast in our position here, to take us seriously. I am willing to vote ‘No’ if there isn’t enough SALT in that reconciliation package,” LaLota said. 

Gillen said that she is working in a “bipartisan fashion” to get rid of the cap. Garbarino said that President Donald Trump (R) has said he was on board with eliminating the cap. Indeed, Gillen said the president campaigned in her district on that claim.

Off-shore drilling

LaLota said he supports the safe extraction of natural resources through drilling, which would be “good for jobs, good for the environment [and] good for the economy.” 

Suozzi, a self-proclaimed “big environmentalist,” said that it takes “too long to get stuff done in America” due to partisanship and excess rules and regulations: a roadblock that he says diminishes the immediacy of environmental acts. 

Federal cuts

Suozzi and Gillen are firmly against the appropriateness and rationale of the cuts of the Department of Government Efficiency, with Suozzi calling the cuts “reckless” and strewn with hasty firings and “mistakes” leading to the removal of essential researchers. While Suozzi acknowledged the importance of efficiency, he argued that attrition and early retirement packages were suitable alternatives. 

“Laying off the lowest wage people is creating this fear and panic. I understand the need to disrupt things. I buy that need. I just think it has been too cavalier in how it is affecting people and how it is affecting services that have to be provided,” Suozzi said. 

LaLota said, “We need to put the country on a better track and this is the start.” He added that the government is in desperate need of budget changes and that the budget hasn’t been balanced “in 25 years.” 

The Long Island Association is the region’s leading nonprofit and nonpartisan business organization. We look forward to more such conferences. To check out other events go to: www.longislandassociation.org.

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Brian Crowe and Leilani Garcia on their trip. Photo courtesy Leilani Garcia

By Sabrina Artusa

Leilani Garcia and Brian Crowe learned a lot over their five-day, 80-mile hike from Robert Moses State Park in Babylon to the Montauk Lighthouse. They learned that short breaks every hour help them tackle their long 20-plus-mile days and how to adjust their 50-lb backpacks, crammed with food and fresh water, to better disperse the weight. They learned where the best beach camp spots are and how to follow the tides. Over the course of five days, they endured wind and rain, high tides and high mileage not just to reach their destination, Montauk, but to raise awareness for colon cancer. 

Crowe, a Huntington native, was diagnosed with colon cancer two years ago in its late stages. Experiencing intense pain in his side, he went to see his gastroenterologist for the first time. A CAT scan revealed a tumor in his large intestine. The severity of the growth, which grew from seven centimeters to nine over the course of a week, was removed with the assistance of Crowe’s friend and surgeon Joesph Vazzana in in a 12-hour life-saving surgery. The 9-month recovery was “exasperating” for Crowe, who said he couldn’t walk or eat immediately after the operation.

“I was miserable,” Crowe said. “But he saved my life.” 

Throughout their hike, Crowe and Garcia spread their mission and succeeded in reminding people of the importance of getting a colonoscopy. 

Crowe said that cancer often goes untalked about. After getting it himself, he said he felt there was an “embarrassing” stigma surrounding the disease. “I didn’t want to talk about it and I didn’t want anyone else to talk about it,” he said. 

After finding out he had colon cancer, he discovered that several family members have also had cancer, including three of his aunts.  Now, he realizes that as a survivor, he has an “obligation” to talk about his experience and hopefully encourage others to routinely get a colonoscopy. 

“Reaching out to the community can save lives,” said Garcia, who has had family members affected by cancer.

Garcia and Crowe met at Decker’s Nursery and Florist, where Garcia, tired of her conventional Christmas tree, was perusing other indoor plants to decorate. There she met Crowe, who worked there and suggested the spiky Japanese orange bush Garcia ended up buying. 

When Crowe told Garcia about his longtime aspiration of traveling from Robert Moses to Montauk, Garcia took to the idea and helped bring it to fruition, creating a website to broadcast their mission. 

The trip

While the trip is dedicated toward raising awareness for colon cancer, Garcia and Crowe also went with the mission of reconnecting with nature and themselves.

The pair started their day at sunrise and usually walked until sundown, clocking as many miles as they could while also taking in “how unbelievable Long Island is.” Garcia and Crowe started their mornings by setting their intentions for the day. 

Fueled by Kind bars, dark chocolate and peanut butter, they traversed the coast, sometimes stopping to pick up interesting scallop shells, admire the view or talk to curious beachgoers. 

One man asked them what they were doing. When they told him about their “Mission to Montauk,” he immediately returned to his home, remembering to schedule his own colonoscopy. “It’s like holding the door for someone else,” Crowe said. 

When one of them got tired or discouraged, the other made sure to offer encouragement. Garcia mentioned how during a difficult portion of the hike, where she just wanted to stop and pitch the tent, Crowe encouraged her to sing, something he knows she loves to do. “We were kind of joyful in that chaos,” Garcia said, adding that both she and Crowe, who is also a music producer, have a deep appreciation for music. 

The wind was a challenge, and often required them to cover their faces. “We kind of opened up our minds a little bit going into the sand storm. Respect it, appreciate it, and see what goodness comes out of it.” 

Despite the challenges, Crowe and Garcia look at the experience with appreciation. “I felt so grounded and connected,” Garcia said.” It was meditative. . .it’s just like life. There are some challenges but with each challenge you become stronger [and] resilient.”

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Cary Staller talks to the group and addresses concerns. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
The plan designs. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
The plan designs. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Cary Staller talks to the group and addresses concerns. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Of three proposed architectural designs for the buildings, this one was voted most popular, according to a raise of hands. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Of three proposed architectural designs for the buildings, this one was voted in the middle, according to a raise of hands. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Of three proposed architectural designs for the buildings, this one was voted least popular, according to a raise of hands. Photo by Sabrina Artusa
Community members at the Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association meeting on 3/25/25. Photo by Sabrina Artusa

By Sabrina Artusa

Port Jefferson Station/Terryville Civic Association met on March 25 with Staller Associates Realty and its architect to discuss possible architectural designs for the Staller’s 280-unit, three-story apartment complex, which would replace the abandoned shopping center on Route 112, between Cherub Lane and Terryville Road. 

John Lewis from NELSON Worldwide, described as a “masters of suburban mixed-used development master plans” by Staller Associates Vice President Valentin Staller, presented three possible designs for the civic’s consideration. The three buildings were all angular, with long wrap-around balconies, large windows, discrete first-floor parking garages and glass elements. 

The first design was mostly brick with a “warehouse or mercantile kind of feel,” said Lewis, who was inspired by feedback about the Staller’s property in Farmingdale, The Lofts on Main; the second integrates more color and other textures and materials with sleek white columns, while the third is more geometric, contemporary and mostly white. 

“A more residential tone is more of a tone of exclusivity than inclusivity. A commercial feel allows people to feel welcome and draws them in,” Lewis said, saying later that the property will be a community center as people walk from store to store. 

Some residents repeated the complaint that it is reminiscent of Brooklyn and Queens; others thought it was trendy and would be popular among the younger generation; many wanted a more subdued, classic New England feel — something that would mesh more with Port Jefferson. 

While aesthetic discussion revolved mostly around feel, but some residents wanted specific elements such as a unique trim, no shutters or more cast stone.

“They are a little sterile. I like the idea of making it more farmhouse or colonial,” said a Port Jefferson resident. 

“We are the gateway to Port Jefferson…is there a way to make this more to that kind of perception?” asked another. 

Staller had previously lowered the building height at the request of the civic. The property will have a 25-foot setback, be 35-45 feet tall and will not include balconies in the back where the building faces a residential area as well as a larger buffer. 

PJS/Terryville Civic President Ira Costell appreciated the effort to involve the community, but was dissapointed with the renderings. He said a computerized model that displayed the depth and other aspects of the project would have given a “real sense of the feel of the place” and allowed for more effective communication in the future. The meeting which was attended by around 70 people and lasted 2 hours.”It is a starting point rather than ending,” Costell said.

Staller Associates President Cary Staller said construction will start in two to three years. He still intends to devote 20% of the units to people with disabilities, although he doesn’t have a price point per unit approximation. Staller Associates is still looking for vendors, and the civic responded with many suggestions, ranging from a health food grocery store to a bakery, a suggestion that was enthusiastically received. 

Bike lanes and sidewalks are part of the plan, and Cary Staller said he is trying to connect the bike lane to the existing lane. “We are going to have bike lanes from Terryville throughout the site and then to [the Greenway] and we think that will make the Greenway a lot more desirable,” Cary Staller said. 

Lewis said there will be some construction traffic but roads will remain open. 

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Sanchuan Feng
Junlin Wang
Chanwoo Jung

By Sabrina Artusa

Three students from the Stony Brook School sat down on March 19 to take one of the most difficult mathematical exams for high school students in the country. 

The exam could potentially make them eligible for the country’s olympic math team. After an exceptional performance in the American Mathematics Competitions, and the subsequent American Invitational Mathematics Examination, they moved on to the next round of exams, the USA Mathematical Olympiad. The simple fact of their progression is an accomplishment and proof of their skill as they join the ranks of America’s competitive student mathematicians. 

Junior Joseph Jung and sophomores Sanchuan Feng and Junlin Wang participated in the AMC with 300,000 other students before progressing to the AIME, where they answer 15 questions in three hours. 

Ten students from the SBS advanced to the AIME, placing them in the top 5% of AMC scorers; Jung and Feng were selected to continue to USAMO and Wang was selected to continue to the USA Junior Mathematical Olympiad. The SBS only had two students qualify for the USAMO in the past 18 years. 

The AMC is a 25-question examination and consists of three levels: AMC 8, AMC 10 and AMC 12. The levels are based on grade level — a student, however, can choose to take an exam above their grade level, so they can take several. Level AMC 12 can be taken by any student in 12th grade or below; Feng, a sophomore, was admitted to the USAMO based on his performance in AMC 12, two grades above his own. 

It isn’t rare for SBS students to qualify for the AIME; however, it is rare for a student to progress to the USAMO, “the third level in the competition ladder,” according to SBS Math Department Head Steve Stortz.

“I was thrilled and genuinely surprised,” Jung said, recalling his reaction to learning that he was chosen to continue. “It’s rewarding to see the hard work pay off, especially considering the high level of competition. Advancing further motivates me to continue learning and improving.”

“Their success is truly impressive,” said SBS Academic Dean Jeffrey Smith. “Scoring in the USAMO category means these three stood out among tens of thousands of students nationwide, landing in the top 250–300 or so. It’s a huge accomplishment that shows off their incredible problem-solving skills and mathematical creativity — stuff that goes way beyond typical high school math.”

While the SBS isn’t considered “specialized” in math, it has an advanced mathematics program that is rapidly evolving and expanding. In addition to advanced math classes such as linear algebra, advanced topics in math, and Advanced Placement calculus, the SBS is attempting to grow its math olympiad team and make it more “formal,” according to Stortz. 

Stortz said that the advanced courses help enable students like Wang, Feng and Jung to reach their potential. In previous years, the highest level the school offered was AP calculus. Now, students can take linear algebra and multi linear calculus as part of Stony Brook University’s Accelerated College Education program.

“Here they are, high school students, and they are doing math that, if you were a math major and you were maybe in your junior year, you will reach some of these questions,” Stortz said.

The USAMO and USAJMO take place over two days: 4.5 hours one day and 4.5 hours the next. The nine-hour exam consists of only six questions. Stortz said that the students typically use all of the time. 

Jung, the vice president of the math club, said that these competitions help fuel his passion for math. “Early recognition in competitions like the AMC 8 and various school honors further inspired my ongoing passion for math,” he said. “I think of math as a language: how people can communicate with each other through numbers and letters.”

Jung hopes to build upon his mathematical skill in a career in technology, “particularly in areas like space exploration or cryptography.”

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The northern dusky salamander in Anita Lago’s hand when she found it on Sept. 1, 2024. Photo courtesy Anita Lago

By Sabrina Artusa

Anita Lago was walking along a stream leading to the emptied Stony Brook Mill Pond on Sept 1, overturned earth and strewn twigs littering her path, when she spotted a black object. Thinking it was a fishing lure she picked it up.  

“It was not a fishing lure, it had legs,” she said. 

Lago put it back and showed a picture of the salamander to John Turner of the Seatuck Environmental Association, who shared it with Smithtown High School East senior and Four Harbors Audubon Society board member Gabe Finger. Finger and Turner identified the salamander as a northern dusky salamander.

A light form of the northern dusky salamander. Photo courtesy John Turner

The northern dusky salamander isn’t known to live on Long Island — the only traces of it having existed on the island are nearly a century old. One of the only samples was secured by Long Island naturalist Roy Latham. 

Finger and Turner returned to the pond. Finger overturned a rock and found another. Wading in the stream, Turner and Finger found four more salamanders of two different morphs: two salamanders were darker gray and two were a lighter, sandier color. The genetic expression of the salamander allows for wide varying appearances, Turner said, just like people. 

The finding was pure “serendipity,” according to Turner. “No one was looking for it.” 

“It is remarkable for a species that is thought to be gone for almost a century and to still be here and to be here in a fairly suburban part of Long Island,” Turner said. “I would not think of Stony Brook as where you would find it. I would think it would be further out east, maybe by the pine barrens, and it is hiding in plain sight.”

Gabe Finger presenting the discovery of the salamander at the Long Island Natural History Conference at Stony Brook University on March 21. Photo courtesy SCSD

Finger, who will be attending Cornell University to study sustainability and wildlife biology. gave a presentation about the finding at a Long Island Natural History Conference at Stony Brook University on March 21. “Since I was very, very little I’ve always been just fascinated with animals and I knew from a very young age that all I wanted to do with my life was study animals,” he said. 

Since the salamanders found at the Stony Brook Mill Pond have likely been geographically separated from their ancestors for tens of thousands of years, it is possible that they evolved into a new species —an offshoot of the northern dusky salamander.

The northern dusky salamander resides in cold, trickling waters. The small, fast flowing tributaries of the North Shore fit these criteria: the streams aren’t in the sun long enough to get warm and are fast-flowing enough for a quick turnover of water. The salamander also lurks in the muddy stream banks, maybe hiding under a rock or log. 

Turner and Finger can’t pursue their studies further until they have permission to take a small toe clip of the salamander to study its DNA. “There’s been a lot of red tape to go through,” Finger said. 

Once they have a DNA sample and the salamanders become more active in the warmer weather, researchers can begin employing environmental DNA collection techniques to detect the presence of salamanders by simply testing the water of streams in which they potentially reside. 

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Rendering of the Smith Haven Mall after intended renovations. Photo courtesy Simon Property Group

By Sabrina Artusa

The Smith Haven Mall will undergo “major redevelopment” this summer, including new stores, an outdoor green area and new flooring. The work is expected to be completed in 2026. 

 The process of renovating has already begun with the addition of stores like Primark and Ford’s Garage. Sur la Table, a former favorite that filed for bankruptcy in 2020, will return. The court between Barnes & Nobles and the mall entrance will be transformed to allow for more seating and open space. 

“At Simon, we are committed to making significant investments across our portfolio to ensure that our centers continue to deliver exceptional customer experiences for today’s shoppers,” said Mark Silvestri, president of development at Simon, a property group that owns Smith Haven Mall.

Other shops to be added include fashion retailers Zara and Mango and a golf facility with a bar called Golf Lounge 18. 

Smith Haven Mall management were unable to disclose additional information. More information can be found at https://www.simon.com/mall/smith-haven-mall

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A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president
A scene from the rally at the Northport VA Center on March 14. Photo courtesy Bob Dennis, AFGE Local 1843 president

By Sabrina Artusa

Veterans and members of the American Federation of Government Employees assembled Friday, March 14, in front of the Northport Veterans Affairs Medical Center to protest cuts to the federal workforce, particularly in relation to veteran services. 

According to a March 5 video statement from the U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Doug Collins, the department aims to decrease staff by 15%. Currently, the department employs 470,000 people, according to Collins, which he aims to get down to the 2019 level of 399,957. “The federal government does not exist to employ people. It exists to serve people,” Collins said. 

“In response to President Trump’s (R) Department of Government Efficiency Workforce Optimization Initiative, VA is conducting a department-wide review of its organization, operations and structure,” he said. This includes eliminating “not mission critical” contracts.

The Department of Veterans Affairs provides benefits and health care through VA medical centers in addition to access to housing loans and grants, educational programs and support the transition back to civilian life.

The VA centers cater to the unique needs of veterans, both mentally and physically. AFGE Local 1843 President Bob Dennis attended the rally, “The doctors are familiar with their cases, They love coming to the place because they know they will get the care they deserve.”

AFGE represents some of the employees of the VA center. He said for years the medical experts have endured long hours and short staffing. In fact, he said in the past, the goal was to grow and advertise the services of the VA.

“Our big goal was to grow,” he said. “We used to send out a medical unit that could be driven … so we would go to other places and the veterans would know we are coming to support them with patient care.” 

In his statement, Dennis asserted that cuts would not diminish veteran care but eradicate unnecessities. 

Dennis has spoken with some officials, like Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) whom he says recognized the threat embedded in cuts. 

“We are trying to get the best thing we can possibly get for our nation’s heroes,” Dennis said. “We protect the people that deserve to be protected. We want to honor our veterans. And that is one thing we won’t change.”

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