TH031909

The TIMES HUNTINGTON Edition

HUNTINGTON • HUNTINGTON BAY • GREENLAWN • HALESITE • LLOYD HARBOR • LLOYD NECK • COLD SPRING HARBOR Volume 2, No. 19

March 19, 2009

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Photos by Alan Pearlman

Baldrick’s angels As a tribute to Jordan Yurkew, who died of cancer at the age of 13, his mother, Andrea, sister, Danielle and family friend Erin — all of Centerport — spoke about him last Friday night at the St. Baldrick’s fundraiser in Northport’s Brosnan school. That night, Jessie Mueller, at left, got her hair shaved by Dominique Magno of Halo Hair in Centerport.

Other St. Baldrick’s events are planned for Elwood Middle School, Monday, March 30, 6:30 pm, 100 Kenneth Ave., Greenlawn and Walt Whitman High School, Wednesday, March 25, 301 West Hills Road, Huntington Station.

Senate run? Maybe. Marriage? Absolutely.

A year of big decisions for Legislator Jon Cooper

BY ARLENE GROSS arlenegross@tbrnewspapers.com

Like a juggler, the quintessentially multi-tasking Legislator Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Neck) is entertaining a run for U.S. Senate in New York and planning his wedding.

Having been approached over the last few weeks by several different people he did not wish to name — fundraising types and constituency representatives — Cooper began thinking seriously about a Senate run soon afterward, he said.

“I started to outreach to some groups that I maintained contact with since the Obama campaign. …

I got extremely positive reactions.”

An early supout to two of his porter of Obama’s ‘The question is what is friends: Rep. Steve presidential bid, Israel (D-Dix Hills) Cooper became the driving Sen. Gillibrand’s and Rep. Carolyn candidate’s Long change of heart on issue McCarthy (DIsland campaign after issue.’

Mineola) — both chairman. Since the of whom are widely — JON COOPER expected to run for idea came up, the stream of encourthe Senate seat now agement from supporters has con- occupied by Kirsten Gillibrand. tinued to flow.

She was appointed by Gov. David “It’s just begun to grow expo- Paterson to finish out the one-year nentially, although it’s still in the Senate term vacated by now Secrevery preliminary stage and I haven’t tary of State Hillary Clinton. made any decision as to whether One thing that concerns CooFile photo/Arlene Gross this is something I definitely will per about Gillibrand, which he Jon and Rob Cooper, of Lloyd Neck: making it legal after 28 be pursuing.” said also concerns those who are years of partnership.

Continued on page A2 Cooper said he has reached

Facing down a violence spree

Online extras

Cardiowise Café at Mather

Meet LI business and professional women

Parents, school reps cry out for more patrols, and get them

Starter picks for Harborfields BOE

Protect your family and learn to live better, longer

Our annual feature focusing on their success, how they do it

Pages A3-A5, A10

On our website

Page B9

Page B28

For breaking news, visit www.northshoreoflongisland.com

PAGE A2 • TIMES OF HUNTINGTON • MARCH 19, 2009

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‘After 28 years being by Jon’s side … it’s great to be able to legally be recognized as a family.’

cluding gun control and equal rights for — ROB COOPER gays and lesbians.

“The question is what is driving Sen. Gillibrand’s change of heart on issue af- September of 2000 when Rob and I had ter issue. … If it was heartfelt, then that’s our commitment ceremony service,” he great. But if it’s for political expediency, said. Back then, the couple celebrated if she’s only hewing to these new posi- with congregants of the Unitarian Unitions because it’s politically advanta- versalist Fellowship of Huntington and a geous but it’s not what her heart dictates, few hundred of their closest friends and family, reportedly the largest wedding then that’s of some concern.”

While he considers his options, which service their church had ever held.

The new nuptials will be strictly a priwill definitely include running for a sixth and final legislative term this November, vate affair.

Notwithstanding their children’s Cooper is keeping an eye out for other candidates. With a crowded primary happiness in seeing their parents legalof five or six candidates, Cooper con- ly wed, Cooper said the couple’s decision to marry is largely jectured that he might symbolic, since without have a better chance of federal legislation, sameprevailing “because I ‘ … it’s written that sex couples are still not wouldn’t need to get 51 New York state will entitled to most of the percent of the vote. May- recognize any marriage major benefits affordbe I would need to get 15 percent of the vote. It that is legally conducted ed to straight couples who wed. “It’s more the changes everything.” anywhere else. Of symbolism and the sigTies to the Obama nificance of being legally grassroots organizations course, ... they weren’t married, more so than and fundraising opera- thinking same-sex getting additional toasttives would be helpful, marriage.’ ers,” he said. “Whether Cooper expects, as he — JON COOPER it’s medical decision has already heard from making rights, whether several Obama people who have called to offer their support. it’s adoption rights, whether it’s pen“But I haven’t decided what I want to do sion benefits, or social security benefits yet. … Obviously this is something very — or the 1,400 other benefits that accrue serious. If I was going to do this, unless I — they come automatically with straight could give it my thousand percent effort, marriage.”

At this time, same-sex marriage canit’s not fair to anybody. And also, I don’t not legally be performed in New York, like losing.”

He added, “If I’m going to do this, I Cooper said. “However, according to want to give it a lot of thought and get the state constitution,” Cooper said, “it’s an idea of what the political landscape is written that New York state will recoglike. … If I’ve learned anything in this nize any marriage that is legally conducted anywhere else. Of course, when that business, it’s to never say never.” part of the constitution was written, they weren’t thinking same-sex marriage.”

Taking care of business Rob Cooper said he was thrilled. on the home front “It was about time,” Rob said. “It’s just Before considering a run for Senate, Cooper will tie the knot with longtime very emotional to have it official. … After 28 years being by Jon’s side … and we partner, Rob Cooper.

The couple, who have adopted five being there for each other, it’s great to be children ages 23 to 14, plan to be wed able to legally be recognized as a family.”

Added Jon, “Whether you call it marby a justice of the peace in Greenwich, Conn. on April 30, which marks 29 years riage, whether you call it civil unions, to the day they met. Weather permitting, whether you call it domestic partnerthe intimate ceremony will take place in ships, I don’t frankly care what you call what the justice described as an idyllic it. At the end of the day, we should all be equal. Under the law, we should all be park right near her home, Cooper said.

“We had the big “wedding” back in treated the same.”

Inside this week News Columns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A11 Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A10 Letters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A10

Obituaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A7 People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A7 Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . A9

Leisure Arts & Lifestyles Art Exhibits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B22 Ask the Veterinarian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B3 Business. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B39 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B36-B38 Cooking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B26 Dining . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B20-B22 Father Frank . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B43

Film . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B17 Gardening. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B27 Health. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B3-B7 Investing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B19 Kids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B40-B44 Religious Directory . . . . . . . . . . . . B34-B35 SBU Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . B45-B46

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MARCH 19, 2009 • TIMES OF HUNTINGTON • PAGE A3

Interim no more

BY ARLENE GROSS arlenegross@tbrnewspapers.com

Drop the “interim” from the Harborfields school chief’s title because, come July 1, Frank Carasiti begins a new, three-year contract as superintendent of the district, according to a move the board made in late 2008.

The 6-0 decision to extend Carasiti’s service through June 30, 2012 came Dec. 10, expanding his role from the one-year temporary post for which he was hired last August.

Carasiti had just retired as head of Three Village schools last spring when the Harborfields district asked him to succeed Janet Ceparano Wilson, whose contract the board opted not to renew in 2007.

“Obviously I’m glad the board afforded me this opportunity,” Carasiti said. “I’m very happy to be here and, as I’ve said a thousand times, it’s a great district and it’s a good place to be as a superintendent.”

Trustee Nicholas Giuliano, absent from the meeting, said he is grateful to be working with a veteran leader in an economic downturn. “I have found working with him has made my job easier,” he said.

“I think it’s because of his vast experience. He’s been through these types of [economic] contractions before and I think having had that experience will be a great help for Harborfields.”

Carasiti, who has been called “the dean of superintendents” by several school board trustees, comes to Harborfields with 45 years of academic administration under his belt. After 27 years at the helm of Rocky Point schools, Carasiti “retired” 19 years ago but continued to fill interim superintendent posts at Hampton Bays, Greenport, Eastport, Middle Country, East Quogue and Port Jefferson school districts.

Likewise at Three Village schools, Carasiti was originally hired for an eight-month position that ended up lasting five years. There, Carasiti was praised for restoring the district’s standing after various financial scandals happened before his tenure.

Board Vice President Don Mastroianni was thrilled that Carasiti has joined the Harborfields family. “Frank Carasiti is a man of honor and integrity, with an impeccable track record,” he said.

Harborfields Trustee Michael Banks, elected to his first term last May, said, “He’s obviously a very passionate guy about education. I’m excited to be working with Frank. In the little time that I’ve known him, I think he’s just a fantastic leader.”

Banks is particularly impressed with Carasiti’s ability to plan. “Right away, he started talking about a three-year plan and ‘Here’s what we need to do to keep this an outstanding district.’ I think his direction has been fantastic.”

Alluding to the difficult financial road ahead, Carasiti opined, “We have challenges like everyone else and we have to meet them. And these are very difficult times but we still have students to educate.

That’s the bottom line.”

Photo by Alan Pearlman

One for the books James LaMantia, left, and Robert Bluver were all smiles at the book drive they held at their LaMantia Gallery in Northport on Saturday night. LaMantia, a member of Northport Rotary, said he was overwhelmed by the generosity of residents and clients who donated an estimated 500 books. The books will replenish the library at the Helping Hand Rescue Mission in Huntington Station, and will be used by Rotarians to further the love of reading as part of a literacy program.

Police patrols up after outcry

BY ARLENE GROSS arlenegross@tbrnewspapers.com

The Huntington school district’s call for help at meetings over the past two weeks has resulted in stepped up police efforts in the Huntington Station area following a recent spree of violent crime.

“We were actually quite successful with getting additional forces,” board President Bill Dwyer said March 16.

That afternoon, he and Superintendent John Finello were apprised by town and county officials of the district attorney’s gun and gang unit patrolling the area; additional foot patrols on New York Avenue, and a special team in the area for the past

Food drive March 21 Nonperishable food items may be brought to the John Glenn High School, East Northport on March 21 when Scouts and adult volunteers will assist in sorting and bagging the donations that are collected by the other Cubs and Scouts.

couple weeks that is expectproblems we’ve had in this ed to stay for the foreseeable Related news, town,” Dwyer said. future.

Thanking everyone who pages A4-A5 “We will also have a poshowed up the March 10 and online lice officer stationed here at town board meeting, he Jack Abrams for arrival and added, “We were obviously dismissal for the near future,” Dwyer taken very seriously and we are seesaid. “And also a general overall in- ing some things being done now. Let’s creased police presence in and around just hope it continues and that we get the station area and … around down- things keeps cleaned up.”

Finello concluded that a relationtown on weekends.”

In addition, police arrested a num- ship is developing between the police ber of people during a crackdown on department, the town and the school underage drinking at local bars on district.

“There is a desire on the town’s Sunday.

“So we’re seeing some good ac- part, as well as the police department’s part, to make sure that the Huntingtion,” Dwyer said.

Dwyer and Finello planned on ton community, particularly the Hunmeeting Tuesday at 2 pm in County tington Station community, is safe and Executive Steve Levy’s office with Suf- free from this kind of violence we’ve folk County Police Commissioner seen over the past month and a half or Richard Dormer, Town Supervisor so. I believe we’ll hear that same mesPetrone, 2nd Precinct Inspector Jo- sage tomorrow. On the telephone conseph Blaettler and South Hunting- versation with the county executive, ton schools Superintendent Thomas he assured me that there will be the full presence of the Suffolk County O’Shea.

“This is all directed toward getting police force until such time that they additional resources put to the recent feel this has been mitigated.”

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yes there is a problem. … This is a police problem. There’s only so much we can do.

A murder outside a bar near the Hun- We need more police support in the area.”

Supervisor Frank Petrone responded, tington train station. Two people shot the next night, also near the railroad hub. A “We stand ready to meet with you.”

He suggested a meeting between town week later in broad daylight, a full gang war. The following day, a shooting into a officials, school board members, County house on Depot Road and, two nights lat- Executive Steve Levy and Police Commissioner Richard Dormer. er, a teen shot in a barbershop.

“And let them tell us what will go on The night after the Huntington school board discussed that recent spate of vio- with the some-odd, almost 23 percent of lence around Huntington Station, com- the police district taxes that come from munity and board members brought their Huntington alone.”

The town has put much money, time concerns before the Town Board.

“We don’t want to see a tragedy,” school and effort into revitalizing Huntington Station, Petrone added. “We’re board Trustee Rich McGrath said. “And all the violence we’ve See related with you and we are you. So we will come with you and we will seen is tragic enough.”

Noting that many of the vio- story, next not give in as long as you’re ready lent incidents took place close to page; letter, to fight and we’re ready to fight the district’s schools, Huntingpage A10. together.”

Councilman Mark Cuthbton school board President Bill ertson expressed his frustration Dwyer said, “We have also met with the 2nd Precinct police to try to get that tax-paying Huntington residents send additional forces, additional resources more money to both Washington and to address this problem. It is our opinion Albany than they get back. “And when it that they are not giving it the full weight of comes to the police district tax, the statistics will bear out that we spend far more concern that it deserves.”

The precinct continues to say that there money in tax revenues to support our pois no reported increase of gang violence, lice district than we get back in services,” Dwyer said, “yet anyone who knows any- he said. “So we welcome the opportunity thing about the situation will understand, to open that dialogue with you.”

Councilwoman Glenda Jackson said she has led a Neighborhood Watch pro‘It is our opinion that they are gram to deter crime in the area. “The watch program helps because it’s eyes and not giving it the full weight of ears in the area.” concern that it deserves.’

McGrath added, “I know that, in the — BILL DWYER, PRESIDENT end, you guys do care. We need and would HUNTINGTON BOE like your help and the bully pulpit to get the county guys … get the federal guys.”

Arthur Danzinger of Huntington said, “There are a lot of parents who are talking about leaving this town, including my wife, including my neighbors. … What I’d like to see at the very, very least is one police officer and one patrol car on a permanent station at [Jack Abrams] Intermediate to protect our children.”

Donna O’Beirne, of Huntington, agreed. “There clearly needs to be an increase in covert and overt police activity in the area,” she said, reading from a letter she prepared for the board. “Citizens want to see more blue and white patrol cars near our schools, and not just during school hours. Criminals need to see the blue and whites too: it might stop them from committing criminal acts.”

She reasoned that if the town has $100,000 to maintain the day laborer site on Depot Road, it should have money to increase area patrols. “Please do something now before another innocent person Photo by Arlene Gross is victimized,” she said.

BY ARLENE GROSS

arlenegross@tbrnewspapers.com

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PAGE A4 • TIMES OF HUNTINGTON • MARCH 19, 2009

Parents rally for crimefighting around schools

2340 Middle Country Rd, Centereach, NY 11720

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Huntington resident Kerriann Flanagan Brosky, here with John Cardone, founder of the Long Island Authors Group, is among featured authors at the group’s second annual Book Fair and Signing Event scheduled for this Sunday, March 22, at Martha Clara Vineyards, 6025 Sound Ave., Riverhead.

Flanagan Brosky, whose most recent book on the paranormal, “Ghosts of Long Island II,” was released last Halloween, will be one of 20 authors to discuss their work and the art of writing and to personalize books. Admission is free; guests can sample wine as they survey the local literary scene.

Photo by Alan Pearlman

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BY ARLENE GROSS arlenegross@tbrnewspapers.com

The Huntington school board and community talked heatedly March 9 over recent shootings near the Huntington train station, which is not far from the Jack Abrams Intermediate School.

“This is an embarrassment, what goes on in our community, especially around the school; there have been five shootings within a stone’s throw away from this school within the past two weeks,” Trustee John Paci said, following the report by Trustee Emily Rogan on her recent meeting with Superintendent John Finello and town and police officials.

Rogan seemed to think the confab would have an impact.

“We were pretty forceful in saying that any of these crimes are unacceptable for the quality of life for people who live in the community and also because we have

schools in this community,” she said.

Maureen Malone, a parent of a Jack Abrams school student, said, “I’m not seeing very much of an outrage from the school board. … I’m very upset about this. … Something really needs to be done.”

Another mom, Amanda Cartwright, asked, “Is it going to take a kid who’s playing in one of the playgrounds here to get a bullet in the side of the temple before something’s going to be addressed?”

Irma Nykolyn said, “Maybe it’s time to go to the old-fashioned way of patrolling the streets. If they’re shooting bullets into barbershops, they would shoot bullets into buses.”

Rogan said that when she and Finello requested greater police presence, Inspector Joseph Blaettler, commanding officer of the Second Precinct, said officers have increased patrols but budget constraints keep them

Drop-off sites for prom dress donations The Town of Huntington is once again working with the community to collect and distribute prom dresses to young women who cannot otherwise afford them. With the cooperation of Councilwoman Glenda Jackson, the Tri CYA and Family Service League, dresses, shoes and bags of all shapes, colors and sizes are being gathered for high school seniors attending prom this year.

Through April 14, donations of new or gently worn dresses and accessories can be dropped at the following locations: • Tri CYA at 809 New York Ave. • Family Service League at 790 Park Ave. • Town of Huntington at Town Hall, 100 Main St, Room 306 Future prom queens can browse dresses from April 14 and 17 from 3 to 5 pm and April 18 from noon to 6 pm at Tri CYA, 809 New York Ave., Huntington Station. Call Debbie Rimler at 673-3303 or Susannah Mrazek at 351-3270.

from having a constant presence. Blaettler noted that a special “quality of life” team is scouring the area for gangs and guns and the town’s public safety department offered to donate one of its extra cars to add to the school’s security fleet around the Abrams school.

“We asked the police department pointblank if they felt that gang activity was on the rise in this area and the answer was, ‘no.’”

A call to Inspector Blaettler was not returned by press time.

Legislator Jon Cooper (D-Lloyd Neck) whose district encompasses the Huntington station area, said he is drafting legislation for March 24 to put county funds — originally allotted for fuel costs that have significantly dropped — toward police overtime for a floating antigang unit that would go wherever it is needed in the county.

“I’m going to try to make the argument that this is enough of a problem that we should set it as a priority,” Cooper said.

The earliest the bill could be approved would be April 28, he said. “But at least if it’s in place, we could have it in time for the summer and it’s the summer, historically, [when] the police always have the biggest problem with gang-related activity.”

Cooper is also kicking off three Neighborhood Watch communities with Councilwoman Glenda Jackson. “That provides potentially hundreds, if not thousands, of sets of eyes on the street to report criminal activity.”

Two security cameras will soon be added to the 14 already installed around Huntington Station through the local Business Improvement District and the

Photo by Arlene Gross

Maureen Malone said the violence around Huntington Station is alarming.

county, said Cooper, who would also like the town to install several more.

Yet Supervisor Frank Petrone opined that while security cameras help apprehend criminals, they are not as effective in deterring them.

To help the county police department ensure that the streets are safe, he said, “I am asking for a meeting that would include the Suffolk County executive, the Suffolk County police commissioner, the local school districts and representatives from my office to weigh the options that draw on all of the varied resources to resolve this problem.”

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MARCH 19, 2009 • TIMES OF HUNTINGTON • PAGE A5

Spate of violent crimes on parents’ minds

PAGE A6 • TIMES OF HUNTINGTON • MARCH 19, 2009

Out in droves for literacy, language, enrichment

BY ARLENE GROSS arlenegross@tbrnewspapers.com

The biggest concerns at the Huntington school board budget meeting on Monday appeared to be proposed cuts to two of eight school librarians, two of the SEARCH enrichment program teachers and the dual language program’s coordinator.

Alison Rooney, the librarian at J. Taylor Finley Middle School, noted that Huntington would be the only district cutting librarians, according to Western Suffolk BOCES, and she asked the board to reconsider.

Asking that one librarian remain at each of the district’s eight schools, she said, “Cutting librarians at the elementary level is at cross-purposes to longerterm higher achievement and the theme of the Huntington district: ‘A tradition of excellence.’”

Camille Tedeschi, who teaches social studies at the high school and also presides over its after-school library program — which is also slated to be cut — said, “These students do not use the public library and most of them don’t have the resources at home to complete assignments and projects. … There is not enough time in the school day for a child to complete their work during a lunch or study hall period. As educators, we would be doing a disservice to our diverse student population if we deny them access after school to the resources needed.”

Jefferson Primary School parent Jennifer Hebert also weighed in, presenting the board with a stack of letters from Jeffer-

Photo by Arlene Gross

District parent Max Strieb wants to keep SEARCH, librarians and dual language intact.

son parents and students imploring them to keep that school’s librarian.

Proposing budget offsets that would enable the board to restore instructional teachers and staff, Hebert suggested eliminating $76,000 for new trucks and other equipment.

“I strongly believe that if those trucks still run, the district should make do,” she said. “Teachers, staff and programs should always come before equipment.”

Following up her second suggestion to cut $40,000 from a reserve fund to resurface the turf field in a few years, Hebert appealed to building principals and administration to take a voluntary pay freeze.

“This would instantly put at least $111,000 back in the budget. And the amount of confidence and goodwill it would instill in this community is immeasurable.”

PTA Council President Denise D’Attolico brought results of the 250 surveys filled out by district families.

Sharon Husselbeck was one of five people who spoke in support of keeping the dual language facilitator. She enumerated facilitator Glenn Edwards’ many duties, which include assisting teachers and children, running workshops for parents and teachers, placing and evaluating incoming students and dealing with problems as they come up.

“Mr. Edwards is not expendable. He is what makes our program the success and rich educational experience that it has proven to be each year,” she said.

When Edwards started facilitating, there were about 125 students in the program, parent Max Strieb said. “By the time this program is finished expanding in a few years, there will be over 600 students in this program. Last year, Mr. Paci, you said this was the jewel of the district.

Let’s keep it that way.”

To take Edwards out of the program after it has just been expanded makes no sense, opined parent John Matthews, who also spoke up on behalf of Jefferson librarian Cindy Tetjien.

Suzanne Miller added, “How can one person serve all of the 150 students currently in SEARCH when they’re spread throughout the schools?”

Lisa Hodes spoke passionately about

what the SEARCH program has meant to her older son; she would consider sending him to private school if the program were cut, she said.

“What that one hour does is give him the self confidence to say ‘It’s okay to think the way I do.’ … He’s the one in my family that is the most sensitive and the least selfconfident and, at least in SEARCH and Math Olympiads, he gets the opportunity to really flourish.”

The board’s vice president, Emily Rogan, said she is uncomfortable with many of the proposed cuts. “If we start stripping things away from our school district that make our school district what it is, are we shooting ourselves in the foot? … I believe by putting [money] back in our programs, we are giving it back to our taxpayers because we are investing in our schools.”

Board members decided to lower the projected revenue figures for assessed tax values from $46.3 million to $45.7 million, as they expect figures to change with the growing number of tax grievances filed with the town tax assessor’s office.

After mulling over whether to include Gov. David Paterson’s proposed stabilization funds of $767,000 into the budget, they opted to hold out on a decision as they wait for the state budget’s passage, due April 1.

President Bill Dwyer assured the community that the board is working on its second draft of the budget and nothing is set in stone.

The next budget hearing is scheduled for Monday, March 30, at 7:30 pm in the Jack Abrams school.

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84792

Huntington Alumni Dispatch

Student artists visit state capitol

Allan C. Long graduated with Huntington High School’s class of 1970. He went on to obtain a B.A. degree at Clark University and a M.A. at the University of Wisconsin.

Today he is a cartographer for the U.S. Geological Survey in Madison, Wis., where he resides.

Assemblyman Jim Conte welcomed student artists from Goosehill Primary School in Cold Spring Harbor to the state capitol. The students and their families were in Albany to see their work on display at the New York State Art Teachers Association exhibit, which is held in the “The Well” in the Legislative Office Building in Albany each year.

Kindergarten student Carley Gesner’s artwork, “Reflections of Fall Leaves,” and first-grader Mathew Mannino’s artwork, “My Tree,” were chosen for the exhibit, which is made up of student works of art from across New York state.

During their visit, Assemblyman Conte gave students and family members a personal tour of the state Capitol.

Pictured top, Assemblyman Conte meets the Mannino family: parents, Thomas and Melinda, artist Matthew and his brother Christian.

Pictured below, Assemblyman Conte meets Jennifer Cona, mother of Sammy and artist Carley Genser.

Following his graduation from Huntington High School in 1961, Richard Hutchings went on to earn a bachelor’s degree at Notre Dame University. He now resides in Simi Valley, Calif. and is retired from Weiler Corp. as an aerospace engineer. He is married and has two daughters.

Caplan named CHRO at Gurwin

Collarini on dean’s list at University of Scranton

Woodward named to dean’s list at Loyola College

Michael Collarini of Huntington Station has been named to the dean’s list at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania, recognizing students for academic excellence during the fall semester. Students must achieve a grade point average of 3.5 or better to make the dean’s list.

Coley Woodward of Huntington, a member of the class of 2010 at Loyola College in Baltimore, Md., was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester. To qualify, students must earn a GPA of at least 3.5 with a minimum of 15 credits.

Burby heads new L.I. parent magazine Huntington Station resident, Liza Burby is now publisher and editor of the newly launched Long Island Parent magazine and www.liparentonline.com. The 24-year journalism veteran and book author has had hundreds of family and parenting articles published in Newsday and numerous national magazines. She’s also the author of 41 books, including “How to Publish Your Children’s Book” (Square One Publishers).

Burby’s name is also synonymous with children and family advocacy. She is a member of the Parenting Institute at Adelphi (where’s she’s also an adjunct professor), a member of the Speaker’s Bureau for the Early Years Matter Campaign, and she sits on the advisory committee for the Early Years Institute. In addition, Burby lectures frequently on parenting and women’s issues. Burby’s dedication to local families manifested in a near 10-year commitment as editor of Newsday’s Parents & Children, an award-winning publication featuring a stable of Long Island writers and experts. Now Burby has formed Wordsmiths Media, LLC and launched Long Island Parent and liparentonline.com.

Obituary Lillian Schellack Lillian Zeidler Schellack of Cold Spring Harbor died at Huntington Hospital on Wednesday, March 4 after a long illness. She was born in Medford and attended Bellport High School.

Later she enrolled in Pratt Institute where she received a degree in home economics, majoring in the culinary arts. She worked for several hotels in New York City and Washington, D.C. Mrs. Schellack is survived by Clifton, her husband of 58 years, who is a native of Cold Spring Harbor; and three sons,

Kurt of Auburn, Calif., Peter of Huntington and Paul of Genoa, Italy, their wives and two grandchildren. Her two sisters, Ottilie Hanfgarn of Fort Myers, Fla., and Marilyn Sandgren of Trumansburg also attended the memorial services.

Funeral arrangements were handled by A.L. Jacobsen’s Funeral Home of Huntington Station, and a Service of Resurrection was held on March 10. Interment followed at St. John’s Episcopal Cemetery in Cold Spring Harbor.

Mrs. Schellack joined the Methodist Church in Huntington in 1952.

She served as a Sunday School teacher for 21 years, youth leader and dedicated volunteer. In recent years she became interested in costume jewelry, designing and producing hundreds of pieces that she sold at the church fairs. Over the years she became known as “Diamond Lil,” contributing all of her profits to the Pastor’s Discretionary Fund which serves the needs of the poor and infirm.

Memorial gifts may be made to The United Methodist Church of Huntington and Cold Spring Harbor in her honor.

Gurwin Jewish Nursing and Rehabilitation Center at Commack has announced the appointment of Gracie Caplan of Melville as chief human resources officer. Mrs. Caplan will oversee all aspects of human resources including employee relations and benefits administration at the 460-bed facility. She was most recently the human resources business partner at Stern Center for Extended Care, Orzac Center for Extended Care and Franklin Hospital, which is part of the North Shore Long Island Jewish Health System in Manhasset. She received her master’s degree in industrial labor relations from Baruch College in Manhattan.

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MARCH 19, 2009 • TIMES OF HUNTINGTON • PAGE A7

PEOPLE

Guv’s office: It’s last resort before fare hike

BY ARLENE GROSS arlenegross@tbrnewspapers.com

Elected officials representing Suffolk are expressing opposition to MTA Commission Chairman Richard Ravitch’s call for a “mobility tax” of 0.33 percent on all payrolls within the transit authority’s 12-county service region.

His proposal would also add tolls to free bridge crossings.

In “sense resolutions” passed last week, both Brookhaven and Huntington town boards urged state lawmakers to reject Ravitch’s proposal. Huntington officials said it would increase that township’s tax levies by $200,000.

“Given the current state of the economy,” Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone stated, “it is imperative that all of us in town government focus on helping residents stretch their precious dollars,” and cited “going on record to forestall imposition of ill-conceived state taxes” as one way of doing so.

The proposed mobility tax would raise $1.5 billion a year to cover debt service on a new MTA capital program. The new bridge tolls are expected to bring in another $600 million a year for mass transit.

But Assemblyman Andy Raia (REast Northport) opined that the MTA has mismanaged its operation for many years and should be broken up and brought under control by the state’s Department of Transportation.

“It’s just one of the problems with authorities,” he said. “They go on to be-

come these monoliths that escape direct government oversight. … I don’t think businesses whose employees don’t use mass transit should have to pay to subsidize the system.”

Raia also said he worries that Long Island Rail Road commuters, who pay some of the highest rates in the country, will end up subsidizing New York City riders. “Not to mention, we live on an Island. There should be at least one free way off of Long Island.”

Calling the MTA “the poster boy of poor performance,” Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) said he fears the proposed tax will kill jobs.

“How do you ask taxpayers to dig deeper into their pocket to subsidize this kind of cost structure?” Fitzpatrick said. “It’s outrageous. You’re doing further damage to the business climate in this state and we’re already in a weak position — and we have the highest combined tax burden in any state in the country.”

The recent LIRR employees’ disability scandal also troubles him. “Why isn’t the governor, why isn’t Majority Leader Smith or Speaker Silver demanding that the union and the railroad solve this problem and show a good faith to reduce costs before you ask taxpayers to help you out in this circumstance?”

Sen. Kenneth LaValle (R-Port Jefferson) said he will not vote for the tax or toll hikes.

“I think people just don’t understand that we have to make cuts, we have to

reorganize things [in the MTA] and we just cannot continue to ask people who are hanging on by their fi ngernails to carry additional burdens,” he said.

Sen. Carl Marcellino (R-Syosset) said he could almost live with the increased bridge tolls because if fewer people were to take the 59th Street Bridge, which is now free, it could result in better air quality and improved traffic flow.

“But the mobility tax is far more onerous,” he said. “That hits everybody: You’re going to be hit a dozen different places all for this one tax. … The state’s

going to cut aid to schools and hospitals and nursing homes, yet the MTA is going to take more money from them with the tax on their payroll. It’s most unfair.”

Despite the criticism from local lawmakers, Gov. David Paterson supports the commission’s requests, spokeswoman Erin Duggan said.

“Tax increases are always a last resort,” Duggan stated in an email. “Th is is necessary to avert major fare increases and service cuts to a system used by millions of New Yorkers every day, including commuters from Long Island.”

Find out who’s ‘Got Talent’ next Saturday Twenty-two finalists will go before a packed audience and celebrity judges this weekend as part of “Got Talent? Long Island,” a benefit for the Huntington Arts Council’s Arts-in-Education program and the performing arts community, providing an opportunity for emerging artists to receive recognition.

The event will be held at the Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury starting 8 pm, Saturday, March 28. The winner of “Got Talent” is eligible for prizes, cash and a spot at the 2009 Huntington Summer Arts Festival. The audience will crown the “Got Talent?” Audience Choice winner at the end of the evening. Tickets for the March 28 final competition are available online at www.huntingtonarts. org, at the Huntington Arts Council’s offices at 213 Main St., Huntington or by calling 271-8423 ext. 12.

The evening’s master of ceremonies is

Fran Capo, a comedian, voice-over artist and author who has appeared on over 250 TV shows. Judges include Janette Barber, stand-up comic, winner of six Emmy awards and supervising producer and head writer of “The Rosie O’Donnell Show”; John Hampson, guitarist and vocalist for the Long Island rock band Nine Days; Donna McKenna, an established casting director and independent fi lm producer with a seat on the board of the Long Island Film and Television Foundation; and Jill Nicolini, a model, actress and reality TV show participant who works for WPIX-TV. The Huntington Arts Council thanks sponsors Romac Electronics, Steinway & Sons for the loan of a grand piano for the evening; Vincent James Management Company; the Huntington Center for Performing Arts; Long Island Pulse and Long Island Parent Source.

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Photo by Alyssa Cutler Dorothy’s Team, comprised of friends and family from the Huntington, Smithtown 2008 Walk for Beauty, Walk and Hauppauge areas, braved for Life around Stony Brook a downpour on Sunday walking Village as a benefit for breast and prostate cancer research. in memory of Dorothy Mulzoff of Huntington in the

Wringing hands over Family of drowned teen school building plans Trustees frown upon idea of $55M

BY ARLENE GROSS

bond

sis the culmination of about arlenegross@tbrnewspapers.com years work, Smith highlighted two Noting his exquisitely capipoor tal projects the firm timing in addressing Huntington completed this year, includschools’ $55 million spatial needs the middle of a world financial in ing repairs ‘What a day to cri- to the high sis, Roger Smith, of the Patchogue school’s ex- be doing this!’ architectural and engineering Burton, Behrendt and Smith, firm terior wall, — ROGER SMITH, nev- renovation ertheless presented several ARCHITECT designs for seven of the eight Huntington of its science rooms and reconstruction school buildings at Monday’s school Jack Abrams Intermediate of the board meeting.

School elevator.

Calling the spatial needs analyContinued on page A15

Paper wait Veteran put diploma on hold for patriotism

sues YMCA, four staffers

BY ARLENE GROSS

arlenegross@tbrnewspapers.com guard, was training to become a Navy SEAL. While practicing holding Seven months after his son his breath under water drowning in a Huntington Marc died from at the YMCA’s 4-foot deep lap pool on Feb. 18, YMCA pool, Ray he apparently Dawson of Greenlawn lost consciousness. He was has sued the facility pulled from the pool by one of the and the lifeguards who were lifeguards, who had premises at the time of the on duty or on the reportedly gone over to check on him just before accident. the accident.

The summons and complaint filed Sept. 11 in state Supreme Court charges Marc was taken to Huntington the Hospital and of its employees with “recklesslyYMCA and four later transferred to Schneider’s Children’s Hospiand negligently tal in New Hyde permitting and approving Park, where he died Feb. 25. the decedent’s breathholding activity,” despite Seeking both non-specified the inherent dangers of punitive damages, the lawsuit compensatory and which the employees were well aware. names the YMCA of Glen Cove, YMCA At the time of the accident, corporate headquarters at Harborfields High School Marc, 17, a senior for Long Island, Kaitlyn Wulfk en of Greenlawn, and a YMCA lifeContinued on page A15

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PAGE A8 • TIMES OF HUNTINGTON • MARCH 19, 2009

Pols reject idea of taxing all employers to aid MTA

Harborfields falls, 45-38, in LI championships

BY FRANK DOWD

GIRLS’ HOOPS

katsports@tbrnewspapers.com

The Harborfields girls’ basketball team wanted to put the icing on the cake of an already successful season by capturing the Long Island championship title last weekend at Hofstra University. The Tornadoes were undefeated in League V regular season action and beat rival Huntington, 40-36, for the county title.

But this time they had to face a tough Floral Park team, who had their goal set on a title. Despite a hard-fought battle, Harborfields lost a tough 45-38 game.

“I’m very proud of their efforts,” said Harborfields head coach Russ Tietjen.

‘I’m very proud of their efforts.’

— HARBORFIELDS COACH RUSS TIETJEN

“It was very unusual that we had a championship team without any players averaging in double figures.”

The Tornadoes put up a fight throughout the game. They held an 8-6 lead after the first. “We were happy with the first quarter,” said Tietjen.

Five points by Harborfields captain point guard Kim Goidell, who was her team’s high scorer with 12 points for the game, and a 3-pointer by teammate Jana Amchin accounted for all of the Harborfields scoring in the opening eight minutes. “Kim is the workhorse for the team,” Tietjen said. “She is our most aggressive offensive player.”

Floral Park turned the momentum and the game quickly shifted gears. They out-rebounded Harborfields and gained

a 19-14 lead right before halftime.

Floral Park maintained the lead throughout the rest of the game. Harborfields put up a fight with a chance to tie it in the final quarter, but the team missed 13 foul shots for the game, six in the fourth quarter.

With Floral Park holding onto a 3734 lead, Harborfields captain guard Casey Bishop, who recorded 8 points, went deep with a chance to tie.

Her 3-point shot Harborfields vs. Floral Park girls’ hoops bounced around the rim, but didn’t Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final go in. Tietjen was Floral Park 6 13 12 14 45 impressed with the efforts of Bishop Harborfields 8 6 11 13 38 and Goidell. “They

Harborfields returns nine starters this year BOYS’ LAX

BY FRANK DOWD katsports@tbrnewspapers.com

The Harborfields boys’ lacrosse team is ready to kick off the 2009 season. They have been practicing hard in their first week on the field. “I’m very excited,” said Harborfields head coach Greg Taylor. “We have a nice mix of seniors and underclassmen coming through the program.”

Six players from last year’s squad graduated, but nine starters are returning. “We had a good first weekend of practice,” Taylor said. “A lot of enthusiasm and excitement.”

Harborfields senior captain Buddy Smith is looking forward to his second consecutive season in net. He wasn’t an everyday starter last year, but saw a considerable amount of playing time. Taylor looks forward to good things from Smith. “He’s an extremely athletic player in between the pipes and outside the cage,” he said.

Senior Sean Campbell impresses Taylor on defense.

were the most effective players,” he said.

Bridgit Ryan also had a good game, adding 8 points.

Harborfields athlete Kristen Inocco scored all of her 6 points in the fourth quarter with her team trailing. “She has great leadership,” Tietjen said. “She showed tenacity and resiliency.”

According to Tietjen, Domi Hendrickson played good defense. During the season, she led Harborfields by averaging 10 rebounds per game.

“He’s the most intense player on the team,” Taylor said.

“Very aggressive.”

Veteran captains Ryan Pearsall and Kyle Phillips are excited to return to action. They are going to anchor the midfield this year.

Junior leading scorer attackman Eamon Burke totaled 49 points (24 goals and 25 assists) last season. Junior Dan Guidarelli is also excited to take the field. “Both can be explosive offensive players,” Taylor said. “Dan is very strong and has an excellent lefty, righty shot.”

Although Harborfields hasn’t qualified for the postseason in recent years, they’re hoping to turn things around this year. Tough competition they will face this year in Division II are from teams like Comsewogue, Kings Park, Huntington and John Glenn.

“We’re really excited about taking the next step and making a playoff push,” Taylor said.

Come support the Harborfields boys’ Lax team 3/21 Harborfields @ Northport (s) .... 10:00 am 3/25 Harborfields @ Commack (s) ..4:00 pm 3/28 Harborfields @ Lynbrook (s) ..10:00 am 3/31 Harborfields @ HHH East (NL) ...4:00 pm 4/2 North Bab @ Harborfields (NL) ...4:00 pm 4/4 Harborfields @ Copiague (s) .......... 9:00 am 4/11 Harborfields @ Babylon ...............11:00 am 4/14 Harborfields @ Southampton...... 4:30 pm 4/16 Bellport @ Harborfields ................4:00 pm 4/18 Harborfields @ Whitman (NL)....7:15 pm 4/20 Bayport @ Harborfields ................ 4:30 pm 4/22 Harborfields @ Kings Park ..........4:00 pm

Courtesy Karen Spehler

CSH soccer team receives scholar athlete award Honored last month at the Board of Education meeting, the Cold Spring Harbor boys’ varsity soccer team was awarded as the New York State Public High School Athletic Association’s No. 1 scholar-athlete team. The boys’ soccer coach, Ed Mueller (right) was the recipient of the Long Island soccer Coach of the Year award. Cold Spring Harbor Athletic Director Jim Amen Jr. (left) poses with the team. Last month Amen was awarded the U.S. Lacrosse Secondary School Man of the Year award at the U.S. Lacrosse National Convention. Also present was Patrick Pizzarelli (far right), athletic director at Lawrence Public Schools and president of the NYSPHSAA.

MARCH 19, 2009 • TIMES OF HUNTINGTON • PAGE A9

SPORTS

PAGE A10 • TIMES OF HUNTINGTON • MARCH 19, 2009

EDITORIAL

Time for haste Pain. There is, unfortunately, much of the economic variety to pass around these days.

That is particularly true of our schools, where officials try to make the best of less revenue despite rising costs.

The federal stimulus bill was supposed to bail them out, right? Two weeks ago we reported that Gov. David Paterson said New York’s share would negate the education aid cuts he had proposed to help counter a record state deficit.

Except that Paterson’s assurances have made it no further than the newspapers, it seems.

School districts embroiled in the budget formation process, which must be wrapped up next month, have yet to see an amended state aid proposal from the governor.

Districts don’t know if Paterson’s promise to “restore” state aid means eliminating the deficit reduction assessment imposed on districts, or zeroing out overall aid decreases in comparison with 2008-09. For large districts the difference amounts to millions. Until they know the numbers, they can’t reliably calculate the tax impact of the spending the districts are proposing.

Now is when schools need those figures most, as many consider layoffs to keep tax increases low so their budgets pass muster with a belttightening electorate. Perhaps with the federal stop-gap money, job cuts are no longer necessary, but until they know for sure school officials are obligated to plan for the worst. Which means that until the “all clear” is sounded, some teachers may be anticipating unemployment.

Such consternation will clearly not promote the economic confidence the stimulus and other bailout efforts were intended to inspire.

The Paterson administration claimed this week it cannot release final figures until ongoing budget negotiations with the Legislature are complete. But the governor has not even answered the most basic questions posed above by school officials, making their task far more arduous than in years past when districts had relatively accurate numbers to work with.

Paterson should provide up-to-date data to the districts immediately.

News literacy critical The prominence of the attendees at the News Literacy Conference at SBU last week indicates the importance many place on the ability we must all master to understand and evaluate the “tsunami” of so-called news pummeling all of us every day. We think the SBU School of Journalism, and in particular its dean, Howard Schneider, are on to something.

Separating the wheat from the chaff is essential if we are going to position ourselves to make informed decisions on critical issues. The importance of analytically considering what newspapers and television and radio and the web toss at us, the ability to see through the fog and spin, and the need to understand an ever-increasing universe of information — far too much of which is generated by, shall we say, “journalists” not entirely loyal to the creed of who, what, where, when and how but instead determined to tell you why (in their own often skewed opinions) — has never been more important.

Whether you read it on these pages, or in a daily, or learn it the radio, TV or the web, apply an appropriate level of skepticism, seek the facts, and always remember to consider the source.

OPINION Interest rate help TO THE EDITOR: The escalating number of foreclosures doesn’t only threaten people who may lose their homes; it also brings down property values and equity throughout entire neighborhoods. That’s why we must focus on reducing home foreclosures and rebuilding homeowner wealth as a key strategy in strengthening our economy.

As your congressman, my top priority is standing up for hardworking families on Long Island.

President Obama released the details of his comprehensive Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan. Effective immediately, the plan will allow four to five million families who owe more on their homes than the current appraised value to lower their interest rates. The new plan will also help another three to four million at-risk homeowners avoid foreclosure by reducing monthly mortgage payments. The Treasury Department has set up a website, www.financialstability.gov, that has information detailing how the programs work and whether you are eligible. I encourage you to contact your mortgage lender or servicer to take advantage of these new programs and reduce your monthly payments to stay in your home.

In Congress, we are working to do our part to help troubled borrowers, too. This week, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1106: Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, which I was proud to support. This legislation complements President Obama’s plan by simplifying existing programs and providing incentives to lenders to modify mortgages. It also provides important safeguards for responsible homeowners who are not covered by President Obama’s plan, but are still at risk of foreclosure. To share your thoughts with me on this or any other issue, please visit my website at http://israel.house.gov.

Besides these programs there are a few additional resources, both nationally and locally based, that you may find helpful: • Hope Now: www.hopenow.com, 888-995-4673.

Hope Now is a government and industry alliance that provides free foreclosure prevention assistance from HUD-approved counseling agents.

• Federal Housing Administration: www.fha.gov, 800-225-5342.

• Long Island Housing Partnership: www.lihp.org, 435-4710. At no cost to you, HUD-certified housing counselors can help you understand your options, organize your finances and represent you in negotiations with your lender, if you need this assistance.

• Community Development Corporation of Long Island: www.cdcli.org, 471-1215. CDC specializes in affordable housing on Long Island and has a foreclosure prevention expert on staff to answer your questions.

I will continue to do everything I can to assist your family in navigating these new programs. Please call 951-2210 and ask to speak with a caseworker.

Rep. Steve Israel 2nd Congressional District Dix Hills

I dare you!

TO THE EDITOR: It’s the era of change. Change is upon us and change is good. In this spirit, it’s time for the citizens of Huntington to make a vital and necessary change in the way the town is governed.

In its present form, the Town Council is simply unable to truly represent the diverse needs and interests of our geographically sprawling, 200,000-citizenstrong community. There are too many local issues for an at-large council to fully grasp and address properly. The framers of our Constitution had it right from the start: government for the people, by the people.

All citizens of Huntington owe it to themselves and their families to take the time to learn about converting to a council-district system of government. If you explore this issue, you will surely see why it is simply a better form of representation for all of us. People speak of change, desire change and support change in their thoughts and words. But now it’s time to step up and back those thoughts with real action.

We all need to understand this issue so when it’s put to vote, we can truly make an informed decision.

This is a change whose time has come. And, in these times of fiscal responsibility, this clearly better form of representation will not come with any increase in costs to the town or its taxpayers. I challenge all citizens to learn more about this. You will not be disappointed.

Don Vassallo South Huntington

Sickened by area violence TO THE EDITOR: It truly sickens me to think that violence in Huntington Station not only persists, but has escalated. The fact that there have been five incidents within a few weeks goes bePhoto by Arlene Gross yond tolerance. Parents, school staff, and students are deeply Donna O’Beirne frightened.

As a parent, I am deeply concerned for our children.

It’s not affecting just those who attend Jack Abrams Intermediate. The violence has, in one way or another, negatively affected all our students and staff members. Children should feel safe from the time they’re at the bus stop in the morning till the time they get home. Parents expect their child to be in a safe learning environment. No parent should have to worry if his or her child will get shot on the playground or while looking through a classroom window. A child shouldn’t live in fear of becoming a victim while in school, a place to learn. A child shouldn’t be afraid to play in the backyard or ride a bicycle to a friend’s house. Children and parents shouldn’t have to worry about gang members in our schools and what harm they might do to innocent people. School staff shouldn’t have to worry, either. Our school board and Continued on page A12

Inspire, influence and provoke — write!

Letters to the editor should be no longer than 400 words, should arrive by Monday the week you wish them to run and may be edited for length, libel and good taste. We do not publish anonymous letters. Please include your phone number and town of residence for confirmation. Email your letter to timesnpt@tbrnewspapers.com or send it to The Times of Huntington, PO Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733.

The opinions of columnists and letter writers are their own. They do not speak for the newspaper.

In our new recession-induced age of propriety, owning a personal jet is under a storm of disfavor.

Though they represent the ultimate in conspicuous consumption, at least one good thing can be said about these super-expensive planes — compared to their big brothers the commercial airliners, they are relatively quiet. I know, because the seaside apartment I am renting in Florida lies in the approach path to the small airstrip at Boca Raton favored by jet-setting multi-millionaires. Their personal jets fly in and out all day long, announcing themselves with a thrilling whine of power and rumble of engines. The brethren of these planes, the big eardrum-pounding heavies, must use either West Palm Beach to the north or Fort Lauderdale to the south.

The little jets are sleek and beautiful to watch. The sight of them approaching to land or climbing for altitude after departing suggests an intriguing air of mystery. Their silver fuselages carry no markings, no recognizable airline logos or colors. They arrive as early as dawn, and fly out way after dark. So to whom do they belong?

One can only guess, but one thing is sure — the ranks of the wealthy have been thinned by Bernie Madoff. One assumes that prior to his depredations, the airways in and out of Boca Raton were even more crowded.

Still, this remains a rich country, and though he appeared to have tried very hard Bernie did not manage to steal everybody’s money. The East Coast of South Florida is still a haven of extravagant wealth. The town

where I am staying, Highland Beach, is lined with an odd juxtaposition of high-rise condominiums and coops with modest apartments, and gargantuan ornate mansions in the $20 million price range.

(For perspective, though it is right on the ocean, my own apartment is in a 50-year-old co-op whose windows and sliding glass doors don’t work very well.

Yesterday one of the two elevators failed, trapping for a while a fellow snowbird from Stony Brook.)

Madoff is much in the public awareness here.

Fifteen miles to the north, in his winter retreat of Palm Beach, he ruined large numbers of friends and acquaintances. In Delray Beach, a mile from here, there’s an old-fashioned newsstand much like the late, lamented Darling’s in Port Jefferson. I go there often for my Racing Form and Wall Street Journal, and fall into conversations with old-time locals who congregate to complain about snowbirds like me. One morning the proprietor had on display a 168-page reprint of the list of Madoff ’s victims, which was eagerly perused for local names.

The Palm Beach Post reported this morning on what wealthy society matrons are doing to show empathy with the less fortunate during the recession.

Among other things, they’re digging into the back of their closets and wearing last year’s gowns to charity balls. In December, a group of women pledged they would insist their rich husbands not buy them expensive jewelry for Christmas. (Though this may have made them feel good, it might have cost the jobs of a couple of gold miners in South Africa and diamond

Signals As this grim recession drags on, I think more and more of the lost wisdom of small town America.

BY JOHN MCKINNEY vtimes@tbrnewspapers.com

cutters on 47th Street. Oh, the law of unintended consequences).

As this grim recession drags on, I think more and more of the lost wisdom of small town America. It was Wall Street, not Main Street, that plunged us into the abyss. Had the sharks on Wall Street not been demonically clever at concealing what they were doing, the little fish on Main Street would have refused to take the bait. I think of the brief single term of Mike Lee as mayor of Port Jefferson, when he doubled taxes to diminish the debt hanging over the Village Center.

Said Mr. Lee, “I was raised not to buy things until I could afford to pay for them.”

Mike, you should have been chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Between you and me

Celebrating strength in community What fun we had this past Sunday evening at the Three Village Inn. It was the Men and Women of the Year reception, at which the winners of 2008 in The Village Times Herald were presented with framed certificates before an audience of 137 (count ’em) community leaders.

This was our 33rd such party, and they are always a high for us at the newspaper.

We started the Men and Women of the Year issue, our only “all good news” issue, the week between Christmas and New Year’s in 1976, the year we started The Village Times.

I copped the idea, sort of, from Time magazine, where I had worked. But Time selects one person who, each year, is the most newsworthy, regardless of the value of their efforts, whether Hitler or Mother Teresa.

We, on the other hand, divide our community into categories, from the Arts to Business to Civics, all the way through to Sports and Volunteers. We then select

the residents who are making outstanding contributions to our villages, going that extra mile above and beyond what might be expected from them, and give them the spotlight — to further help them in their work and to express our collective appreciation. We ask your help in the nominating process, which begins in early summer with a form that we run in the paper. With those nominations that come in through the mail, Internet and telephone and the suggestions of our staff, we sit down and decide the winners each year.

Once, early on, I thought we might run out of winners.

It will never happen. The more people we get to know by covering the news, and the more we understand about how much is contributed to the greater good, the more people we want to honor. Sometimes we honor a past winner again because he or she has done something new or something more.

We never tell the winners

TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWSPAPERS We welcome letters, photographs, comments and story ideas. Send your items to PO Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733 or email to timesnpt@tbrnewspapers.com. Or drop by our news office at 67 Main Street, Northport. The opinions of our columnists are not necessarily those of the paper.

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Address: PO Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733.

Telephone: 631-751-7744 Web • www.northshoreoflongisland.com Contents copyright 2009.

why exactly we are interviewing them in the late fall for a story, and usually they don’t think to ask because what they are doing is newsworthy enough on its own. So when they discover that they have won, it’s a fun surprise.

That first year, members of the Three Village community stepped forward and suggested a reception for the winners.

They also offered to underwrite the party in a hands-across-thecommunity gesture. So we are the hosts each year, we speak about what each winner has done, we then give him or her a chance to tell where they are planning to go with their work in the coming year, and when they sit back down we give them a resounding round of applause in a public show of appreciation.

Why did we start this and why do we enthusiastically continue it to this day?

A sense of community is so important, such an enrichment in our lives. Learning about our common history, knowing

EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Leah S. Dunaief GENERAL MANAGER Johness Kuisel EXECUTIVE EDITOR Lee Lutz EDITOR Patricia Proven LEISURE EDITOR Ellen Barcel SPORTS EDITOR Katherine Consorte ONLINE EDITOR Patricia Proven

ASSOCIATE EDITOR Alyssa Cutler EDITORIAL John Broven Jennifer Choi Joseph Darrow Michael Downer Arlene Gross Robert Leuner Elise Pearlman Lisa Steuer John Westermann Dave Willinger

we are surrounded by kindly and caring neighbors, working together to maintain and preserve our natural resources and educate our children, these all contribute to a sense of security and well being for children and adults alike.

At times of stress, like some of the economic uncertainties we are living through today, people tend to turn toward each other for support. Here’s an extreme example of what I’m talking about. If you remember, New York City — long considered a cold and impersonal place — became a lot more filled with kindness and mutual helpfulness after 9/11. Human values come more into focus in times of crisis. We are in what Frank Rich, columnist for The New York Times, calls a time of “social consciousness.”

How lovely that we, who live out here, don’t have to first develop such a consciousness.

It’s already here, as these awards ably demonstrate. We are so fortunate to live in a place with

PHOTOGRAPHY John Griffin Robert O'Rourk Alan Pearlman Richard Podlesney ART AND PRODUCTION DIRECTOR David R. Leaman ART AND PRODUCTION Janet Fortuna Beth Heller Mason Wendy Mercier

BY LEAH S. DUNAIEF vtimes@tbrnewspapers.com

community leaders and activists, and whatever the issues are locally, we sooner or later see most of them through to a successful resolution.

So a sense of community is a wonderful thing. And since we are the community newspaper, we have always felt it part of our job to strengthen that sense wherever we can. Let me tell you, by the time everyone leaves the Men and Women of the Year reception each year, and we have recognized the efforts of all those special people who enhance our lives, there is a glowing pride of place.

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kathryn Mandracchia ADVERTISING Mary Chirichella Robin Lemkin Barbara Newman Elizabeth Reuter Laura Satchwill Nancy Solomon Ted Taylor Lynn Tunney Minnie Yancey

CLASSIFIEDS DIRECTOR Ellen Segal BUSINESS MANAGER Sheila Murray CREDIT MANAGER Diane Wattecamps CIRCULATION MANAGER Alyssa Cutler BUSINESS OFFICE Sandi Gross Meg Malangone SUBSCRIPTION MANAGER Terri Caruso

MARCH 19, 2009 • TIMES OF HUNTINGTON • PAGE A11

In post-Madoff world, tarnished trappings of wealth

Continued from page A10 administration has reached out to you, asking for support and help.

Today, parents make sure their doors and windows are locked, some even with metal bars.

It’s sad to think that staying away from car, house and storefront windows has become normal behavior in this area. It is tragic that one of our students got shot in a drive-by shooting.

We need you, our elected officials, to be proactive. I know that you and the 2nd Precinct have put certain practices in place to address crime in the area. However, you must know that it’s obviously not working. You need to think outside the box.

I don’t pretend to have all the answers. There clearly needs to be an increase in covert and overt police activity in the area. Citizens want to see more blue and white patrol cars around

our schools, and not just during school hours!

Criminals need to see the blue and whites too.

It may stop them from committing violent acts.

Neighborhood watches are also a good move.

However, you’d be foolish to expect residents turning in their relatives, fellow gang members, or drug dealers. Video cameras have their place too, but they don’t show everything either.

Yes, I know it costs money. But, if the Town of Huntington has over $100,000 to maintain the day laborer site on Depot Road, then it should have the money to provide additional security to rid the crime in the area. Our federal government must be tapped into as well. As you know, our town does not receive its fair share of police services compared to other towns. Why aren’t New York’s legislators involved? We are their constituents. Please do something now, before another innocent person is victimized.

Donna O’Beirne Huntington Courtesy Brookhaven National Laboratory

Kym Jennings (right) of the J.C. Penney store at Roosevelt Field presents Ken Erickson of Brookhaven Lab’s AdoptaPlatoon program with 32 pairs of new sneakers, to be delivered to U.S. soldiers stationed in Afghanistan.

New sneakers for soldiers

BY JOE GETTLER

The members of U.S. Army reconnaissance platoon 1-26 IN will be able to run faster and jump higher this month. On Feb. 13, the J.C. Penney department store of Roosevelt Field donated 32 pairs of new sneakers to the soldiers through the local chapter of the AdoptaPlatoon program, which is based at Brookhaven National Laboratory.

“We are so grateful for the donation from J.C. Penney, and the sneakers will go directly to soldiers in the front lines,” said Ken Erickson, a Brookhaven Lab employee who heads the local AdoptaPlatoon chapter. “Most of these soldiers in the platoon are about 19 years old and they’re somebody’s kids. We want to do whatever we can to boost their morale and make them comfortable while they’re there.”

The sneakers are scheduled to arrive in the Middle East this month and will then be delivered via helicopter to the soldiers who are stationed in the mountains of Afghanistan. While the platoon originally requested 32 pairs of sneakers (one for each soldier), only 29 will be used. Since the original request, two members of the platoon have been killed and one has been injured.

AdoptaPlatoon Soldier Support Effort is a national nonprofit organization that helps civilians to “adopt” a soldier or an entire platoon of soldiers by providing them with letters and items that they request including winter boots, shaving razors, magazines, snacks, and even backup generators. AdoptaPlatoon accepts supplies and financial donations from individuals as well as local, regional, and national businesses.

The Brookhaven Veterans Association’s AdoptaPlatoon committee has supported several platoons as well as deployed BNL employees and their children since its inception two years ago.

Anyone who would like to adopt a soldier or a platoon, or contribute to the AdoptaPlatoon program should contact Ken Erickson at erickson@bnl.gov.

-PROUDIt’s kind of hard to find too many things to get excited about these days. Everything is pretty tough both business-wise and personally for lots of people in our community and around the world. Of course, it would be nice if the media would stop pounding everyone over the head with negative news over and over again. It’s becoming a selffulfilling prophecy. But we felt pretty good the other day when, after announcing some pretty tough financial results for the end of the year, Ford still sees no need to ask for government loans. In fact the CEO of Ford Motor Company said “Right now, I think with everything planned in the fiscal and monetary policy, I am very comfortable that we are going to start to turn things around through the second half of the year.” This doesn’t mean that Ford isn’t using lines of credit. But they have done it the old-fashioned way; they went out to banks and found financing. Ford is doing it! Ford is finding a way to make it through these hard times. This is the type of auto manufacturer that wants people to feel confident when buying one of their products.

With all that being said, Ford is putting out GREAT vehicles! Our new Ford vehicles are safe (more top safety-rated vehicles than any other manufacturer), high quality (now in a virtual tie with Toyota and Honda), good looking and fun to drive. In fact, Ford GAINED market share in the last three months of 2008. And there’s a lot more coming soon! Ford has said that, despite the economic challenges out there, they’re not pulling back on the most important thing of all; product.

We are proud to be a Ford dealer and we feel fortunate to be part of such a great community! The entire Ford network is pulling together to bring the best products and services to you, our customer.

If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, I hope you at least stop by and check out all of our award winning Ford line up.

Tulip Festival set for May 3

Thank you for your time and attention! We hope to see you soon!

-The RAMP Ford Family ©83772

PAGE A12 • TIMES OF HUNTINGTON • MARCH 19, 2009

Letters

631.473.1550 4869 Nesconset Highway • Port Jefferson Sta. www.rampford.com Family Owned & Operated For Over 64 Years

The Huntington Tulip Festival — a free, family-oriented festival featuring thousands of tulips, booths with activities for children and live entertainment — has been set for Sunday, May 3, from 11 am to 4 pm in Huntington’s Heckscher Park.

The 2009 Tulip Festival photo contest is open to any photographer, amateur or professional. All entries must be un-mounted, 8-by-10 photographic color prints. A maximum two entries per photographer will be accepted.

To be eligible, all entries must be postmarked or received

by July 31. Call 351-3099 or visit www.town.huntington. ny.us. Click “online library” and go to “cultural affairs” and then “tulip festival photo contest entry form.”