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TIMES of SMITHTOWN
F O R T S A LO N G A • K I N G S PA R K • S M I T H TO W N • N E S C O N S E T • S T J A M E S • H E A D O F T H E H A R B O R • N I S S E Q U O G U E • H A U P PA U G E • C O M M A C K Vol. 32, No. 44
December 26, 2019
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2019 Honorees Harry Chapin Food Bank
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Guardianship Corp
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Mobile Stroke Unit
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Gardiner Foundation
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Nissequogue River Park Foundation
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Werner Reich
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Reformed Narcotics Users A14 Kent Animal Shelter
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Coastal Stewards
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PEOPLE OF THE YEAR
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PAGE A2 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • DECEMBER 26, 2019
Bridal Bliss
Volunteers Give Thanks by Helping at Food Bank
The Harry Chapin Food Bank hosted more than 80 volunteers and distributed over 10,000 meals on Thanksgiving Day. CEO Paule Pachter was joined by U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, state Assemblyman Michael Montesano, volunteers, board members and staff who packed 22 holiday food pallets to help feed Long Islanders in need. Photo from LI Cares
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A Message from the Publisher The Port Times Record is proud to continue an annual tradition of honoring members of the community who have contributed in a significant manner to its residents and institutions during the past year. These are the people who go the extra mile to improve the quality of our lives. In these pages, we salute their achievements. We also realize that these men and women are not unique — they are symbolic of the many who devote their efforts to the good of our hometowns. We salute them all and thank them for their service to the communities we love. In 2013, we changed the format of how we honor our People of the Year. Now we have one edition for each of the three towns we cover — Brookhaven, Smithtown and Huntington — combining winners from multiple papers. We also eliminated the categories we previously used to organize the winners, such as medicine, sports or the arts, as we found that they were limiting in how we were able to honor people. Every winner is simply a person of the year, no matter what their concentration may be.
Leah S. Dunaief Publisher
We hope you enjoy our People of the Year issue, and that you feel enhanced pride in your community.
The TIMES OF SMITHTOWN (USPS 004-808) is published Thursdays by TBR News Media, 185 Route 25A, Setauket, NY 11733. Periodicals postage paid at Setauket, NY and additional mailing offices. Subscription price $49 annually. Leah S. Dunaief, Publisher. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733.
Island’s First Food Bank Initiates Community Solar Energy Project for Needy
BY DONNA DEEDY DONNA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM
On Long Island, 89,030 children go hungry. Who’s counting? Long Island Cares. Founded in 1980 by the late Grammy Award winning musician and activist Harry Chapin, the organization was Long Island’s first food bank. The nonprofit group provides nutritional aid to more than 580 community-based member-based agencies to distribute more than six million pounds of food each year. The food bank’s accomplishments are extraordinary. But in 2019, the charitable organization also stands out for expanding its services to address an array of causes. LI Cares installed solar panels on the roof of its 35,000-square-foot Hauppauge warehouse to become the first community solar project in the Hauppauge Industrial Park. The energy it generates will be passed along
to discount the electric bills for around 40 households suffering hardship. The system is set to activate in time for the new year. “The LI Cares solar project is significant in so many ways,” said SUNation Solar System’s co-founder and CEO Scott Maskin. “While it’s not the first community solar project on Long Island, it is the first one in the Hauppauge Industrial Park, now known as The Long Island Innovation Park at Hauppauge.” Sandy Chapin, wife of the late Harry, who co-wrote with him the gold record song “Cat’s in the Cradle,” serves as chairperson of the group’s board. Paule Pachter has served for the last 11 years as the group CEO and said that the organization addresses the humanitarian need of veterans, immigrants, seniors and others struggling with economic and social challenges. SUNation Solar Systems installed the solar project and Maskin compliments the organization for its leadership.
DECEMBER 26, 2019 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A3
Long Island Cares, also known as the Harry Chapin Food Bank, feeds the hungry and will now supply carbon-free energy at discounted rates to households suffering hardships. Photo by Donna Deedy
“Paule Pachter is a leader by nature and was the first to engage in the Hauppauge Industrial [Association] power project which aims at transforming the park into a 100 percent renewable park by 2040,” he said. “More importantly is that the power generated from the LI Cares roof will be strategically directed to those most vulnerable and those with food insecurity. As Paule always says, ‘It takes more than food to feed the hungry.’” For the 50 or more families that will be receiving discounted energy to their homes, their savings of $0.05 per kilowatt hour will
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go toward meeting their other needs, Pachter said. This project is designed to provide benefits for 25 years or more, according to Maskin. “This is a project that would not have come together without the laser focus and direction of Paule, his amazing board of directors, the efforts of LIPA, PSEG and the HIA-LI,” Maskin added. “We at SUNation are humbled to play our role with LI Cares. While we design and install so many projects on Long Island, this one is truly special.”
PAGE A4 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • DECEMBER 26, 2019
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Watching over Society’s Most Vulnerable
Guardianship Corp and RSVP volunteers include members of Stony Brook University’s nursing program, interns and compassionate individuals from Long Island’s senior population. Photo by Robert Heppenheimer
BY LAURA JOHANSON DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM Guardianship Corp is a pilot program created to serve as a safety net for impoverished, incapacitated adults who are wards of the court. There is no hard data on the number of people in Suffolk who need the not-for-profit’s services, but most authorities agree the number is rising due to the aging population. Consequently, more help and additional funding has been sorely needed. Thankfully, Guardianship Corp’s model of operation “has accomplished what the court system could not,” said Pegi Orsino, executive director of RSVP Suffolk. Her organization recruits and places senior volunteers with the people in need of assistance. “It’s a costeffective solution that’s making a difference,” she added. Richard Horowitz is a New York State Court of Claims judge and acting justice of Suffolk County Supreme Court who has also helped launch the new program. “Judge Horowitz asked RSVP to meet with him in early 2018 to discuss the difficulties in guardianship,” Orsino said. “I brought along one of our board members, Bob Heppenheimer, who had hands on experience with the population the judge was concerned
with.” Orsino said. Heppenheimer is a recently retired owner and operator of two local nursing homes and has years of experience as an advocate for seniors and others in longterm nursing care. Horowitz explained that New York State does not have a guardianship system in place for disabled adults with no family support and who cannot afford to hire their own attorney. Without the services, these vulnerable individuals are at risk of not only getting lost in the system but may also be deprived of needed medical care. So, the courts have been forced to seek out attorneys willing to do the work pro bono. Horowitz explained that he personally handled more than 150 new applications for guardianship each year. “And the need was growing,” Orsino said. “Typically, when there is no fee, there are no takers. That is where Judge Horowitz was hoping RSVP could step in.” Unfortunately, Orsino feared the burden was too great. “Guardianship is a huge responsibility … too much for a volunteer,” Orsino said. “I left the meeting feeling rather at a loss … but Bob was enthusiastic and had the idea of creating a not-for-profit that would serve as guardian, freeing volunteers of that responsibility and instead have them serve as care monitors,” she said. Essentially volunteers would be the
eyes and ears for the guardian, enabling the organization to take on many wards. “I was wondering what to do next,” Heppenheimer said, referring to his retirement as owner of nursing facilities. “And God dropped on my lap an opportunity to contribute to the good of society,” he added. Heppenheimer drafted a proposal and in the fall of 2018 received start-up funding through a New York State Senate initiative. “Both Nassau and Suffolk counties were given $250,000 each for fiscal year 2019 to manage and make decisions for vulnerable wards,” he said. With the start-up funds, Heppenheimer created the not-for-profit Guardianship Corp. He hired an administrator and recruited and trained selected senior volunteers from RSVP to become care monitors. More recently, Heppenheimer has also reached out to Stony Brook University’s nursing program and interns to become care monitors. “We currently have guardianship for 40 wards. Our senior volunteers, who include retired nurses, social workers and caretakers, visit 20 of those most vulnerable at least two times a month and report on each visit,” he said. “Attorneys who serve as guardians are only required by the court to visit a ward once every three months,” he added. “Bob is very hands on,” Orsino said. “He makes visits to clients along with the
volunteers. Twice a month is huge … a lot can change in 90 days,” she added. “Over the past year, Guardianship Corp has intervened when an estranged daughter began stealing from her mother, one of our wards. We also stepped in to make sure another ward got the proper cancer treatment for a condition that might have gone unnoticed,” she added. “And sadly, over the past year we have also made several funeral arrangements for individuals who might not have gotten a proper burial otherwise.” “Our greatest threat going forward is funding,” Heppenheimer said. “Somehow, our cause has worked itself out of the budget cycle. Our clients are elderly or disabled. Many are in nursing homes or institutionalized and do not vote. We serve a population that politicians are not forced to be accountable to.” Horowitz endorses Heppenheimer’s efforts, “The creation of Guardianship Corp has filled a huge void and allowed the Court to appoint compassionate professionals, volunteers and students whose primary focus is the care, safety and comfort of incapacitated persons. The hope is that this pilot project will be made permanent, serve as a model for other communities and be adopted throughout the state.” For more information or to volunteer contact Guardianship Corp at 631-650-2325.
PAGE A6 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • DECEMBER 26, 2019
Stony Brook Medicine Team Saves Lives with Mobile Stroke Units in Suffolk BY DANIEL DUNAIEF DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM
In June, Diana Squitieri of Holbrook wasn’t making sense. Her son Joe noticed that she was also stumbling while her face was drooping. When he brought her to his car to take her to the hospital, she became so disoriented that he asked his wife, Erin, to call 911. That decision, and the new vehicle that arrived, may have saved her life. A Stony Brook University Hospital mobile stroke unit, which went into service two months before Squitieri’s symptoms developed, immediately started assessing her symptoms. Each of the two units is a mobile stroke emergency room, which allows Stony Brook
doctors to determine whether the patient has a blocked vessel or bleeding in the brain. If the process of getting to the hospital and determining her condition had taken any longer, Joe Squitieri is convinced he “could have been burying her.” For bringing these two stroke units to Suffolk County, the TBR News Media is pleased to recognize the team of medical professionals at Stony Brook Medicine who provide life-saving care for stroke victims. Suffolk County is “one of only a few places in the entire United States to have these units,” said Dr. David Fiorella, the co-director of the Stony Brook Cerebrovascular Center. Stony Brook hopes to add a third unit within the next year. Through the end of September, the two units had received 550 calls. Of those, about half of the patients had a stroke. Some received anticlotting drugs while in transit to the hospital, while an evaluation of others en route alerted surgeons to the need for rapid intervention. Every minute during a stroke could endanger as many as two million brain cells, Fiorella said. That means cutting down on the time to receive medicine or to have surgery potentially saves millions of brain cells, which can improve the quality and quantity of a person’s life. Squitieri is one of 23 people transported in the stroke unit who had an emergency surgical
From left above, Stony Brook Medicine’s Dr. David Fiorella and Eric Niegelberg are part of the team that brought the mobile stroke units to Suffolk County. Left, Diana Squitieri, second from left, required the unit back in June. Above photo from Stony Brook Medicine; left photo from the Squitieri family.
Hospital stays are also shorter, lowering the cost of care. Squitieri and her son Joe are thankful that the mobile stroke unit arrived at her home when it did. Diana Squitieri recalled being scared during her stroke and said the crew took “wonderful care of me.” Joe Squitieri called the stroke unit a “godsend.”
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PAGE A8 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • DECEMBER 26, 2019
How a King’s Grant is Today Preserving Long Island’s History DONNA DEEDY DONNA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM
Since 1639, the Gardiner family and their descendants have owned a 5-square-mile island in the Atlantic Ocean nestled between Long Island’s North Fork and South Fork. The property, known as Gardiner’s Island, was obtained from King Charles I of England as part of a royal grant. Today, that legacy is benefiting all of Long Island, thanks to Robert David Lion Gardiner, the island’s 16th Lord of the Manor, who died in 2004. In 1987, Gardiner established the Robert D.L. Gardiner Foundation to support the study of American history. Each year, the foundation awards $5 million in grants to Long Island and New York nonprofits focused on preserving history. Look around at preserved pieces of history all across Long Island and in New York City, and you will likely find the foundation often behind the scenes offering support. The foundation helped reinvigorate the Walt Whitman Birthplace State Historic Site in West Hills, for instance, in preparation for this year’s 200th birthday year celebration. And as the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City prepared for its 50th anniversary of the Apollo mission this past July, Gardiner helped fund programs and space travel exhibits. It’s considered a substantial addition to the museum and Long Island’s contribution to the space program. The 107-year old Huntington Lighthouse was preserved and restored with a $145,000 matching grant from the foundation. The Whaling Museum & Education Center at Cold Spring Harbor has the foundation to thank for its climate-controlled storage rooms for its collections. Big or small, the foundation has been a wonderful resource for nonprofits. Since the foundation aims to preserve Long Island heritage and encourages collaboration, it is possible to find many success stories. In Setauket, some may have noticed the sagging 1887 carriage shed at the Caroline Church has been replaced. The foundation over the last few years has helped fund its stabilization and replacement. St. James is currently undergoing a revitalization, and the foundation helped fund the Celebrate St. James organization in staging a musical comedy about the entertainment history of the community. This month, the foundation awarded its 2019 grants. Recipients include the Order of the Ancient and Honorable Huntington Militia which presented Dec. 14 a demonstration at Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay of handmade colonial crafts and trades. The presentation included a free exhibition with artisans who showed how to do silver and black smithing, weaving, horn and leather work and basket weaving. Harriet Gerard Clark, executive director of Raynham Hall Museum, is one of many people
The Gardiner foundation awards the Order of the Ancient and Honorable Huntington Militia a grant to collaborate with the Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay to present demonstrations on colonial crafts and trades. Photo from Raynham Hall l Museum
from organizations that recognize the distinct value of Gardiner. “I would say that the Gardiner foundation is profoundly changing the way we understand history on Long Island, not only by providing very much needed brick-and-mortar funding, but also by proactively encouraging and incentivizing new ways of networking and collaborating among institutions concerned with historic scholarship, so that we Long Islanders can gain a truer understanding of our own identity,” she said. The Ward Melville Heritage Organization, which owns historic properties in Stony Brook and Setauket, has also benefited from the Gardiner’s work. The foundation most recently sponsored a live historically-themed play entitled “Courageous Women of the Revolutionary War.” The production highlights the previously unsung female heroes of George Washington’s spy ring. The Gardiner foundation is comprised of a five-member board, plus an executive director. Kathryn Curran bears that title and deserves special recognition. WMHO president, Gloria Rocchio, is very grateful to the foundation and recognizes Curran’s unique qualities. “Kathryn is a terrific lady,” Rocchio said. “She is very creative and brings people together.” One of the conditions of WMHO’s grant was to talk to other historical societies. “We are making new connections because of that effort,” Rocchio added. “That was all because of Kathy.” The Smithtown, Northport, Port Jefferson, Miller Place-Mount Sinai and many other Long Island historical societies have grown or become better established because of the
Gardiner foundation. The organization also announced this month that it will fund a Long Island Radio & Television Historical Society documentary that will explore the development of wireless technology on Long Island, featuring the Telefunken wireless station in West Sayville and an international spy ring in the lead-up to World War I. The project also highlights the work of Nikola Tesla of Shoreham and Guglielmo Marconi of Babylon. The foundation seeks to support 501(c)(3) organizations that demonstrate strong and organized internal capacity, effectiveness, financial and human resources as well as the intellectual capacity to successfully manage the project. Newly formed historical entities are welcomed to apply for a grant. At a time when historical preservationists report a decline in financial resources, the foundation’s support becomes more and more noteworthy. For high school students interested in studying history, the foundation also offers a generous undergraduate scholarship worth $40,000. The Gardiner’s grant portfolio and scholarship information can be viewed on its website at www.rdlgfoundation.org, which gives an in-depth overview of its preservation efforts.
Thanks to the Gardiner Foundation, a new interactive software display highlights the First Order Fresnel Lens Building that is alongside the Fire Island Lighthouse. The display consists of three touch screen monitors explaining and visualizing how the Fresnel Lens functions. The display also includes a set of movable lenses that can be turned and positioned to bend and focus the lens light. The display will also provide an interactive digital model of the gear train that drives the Fresnel lens producing the signatory flash. Photo from Gardiner Foundation website
DECEMBER 26, 2019 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A9
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PAGE A10 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • DECEMBER 26, 2019
Foundation Enhances Life for North Shore Communities BY DAVID LUCES DLUCES@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM
Nissequogue River State Park, located on the grounds of the former Kings Park Psychiatric Center, has been a popular destination for area residents who enjoy hiking, jogging, birdwatching and the marina. In 2008, the community formed the Nissequogue River State Park Foundation. Its mission: to enhance and beautify the park for present and future generations. Since New York State began incrementally transferring the hospital’s grounds to the park’s office first in 2000 and then again in 2006, the foundation has worked tirelessly to make important improvements to the 521-arce site. John McQuaid joined the organization as a volunteer seven years ago and in 2013 became its chairman. He said the non-for-profit has contributed remarkable improvements to the park, like removing buildings, forming youth groups and getting a master plan approved in Albany. “I’m proud of the work the board has been able to accomplish,” he said. “It’s been hard work, but we’ve been successful on a lot of things.” Improvements began back in 2006, when the state demolished a number of buildings, tunnels, roadways, walkways and removed hazardous materials thanks to funding secured by Sen. John Flanagan (R-East Northport). The objective now is figuring out what to do with the other existing buildings on the old hospital grounds. There have been discussions about repurposing some land for sports fields, a concert area and a community center.
Top and above: Residents of all ages participate in the annual regatta and barbecue, one of several events that the group coordinates with the help of the foundation’s student board. Photo from Nissequogue River Foundation
Three years ago, the foundation created a student board and began working with local high school students. “It has been terrific on a lot of levels; it has given them a voice on the [foundation] board and real-life experience they can use in the future,” McQuaid said. The members of the student board are tasked with helping to fundraise, promote and run a number of events for the foundation including the Regatta on the River, the annual Turkey Trot and 5K Sunset Run. “We are very proud of the work they’ve done, they are really passionate about our mission and promoting this ‘diamond in the rough’ to the community,” the chairman said.
The group has also been backed by Charlie Reichert, owner of five IGA supermarkets in Northport, who sponsors all the foundation’s events. Reichert said the park has the potential to be the Central Park of Long Island. Over the years, the business owner has given his time and resources to the foundation. In 2018 alone, he donated $1 million to the NYS Department of Parks to help complete renovation of the park’s administrative offices. Mike Rosato, former chairman and current board member, said Reichert’s contributions over the years have been instrumental to the organization. “He has been the anchor of the foundation, we’ve been able to accomplish so much and
make a lot of progress on the park,” he said. Rosato lauded McQuaid for his efforts to get the younger generation involved. “It is great to be able to get young people involved in the foundation and that care about the park in general,” he said. Rosato also praised the group’s efforts into bringing the community together for its event. “[On average] 2,000 people have attended the annual Turkey Trot, it has become a family tradition,” he said. While the foundation has made strides throughout the years, McQuaid stressed the need for a master plan for further development of the park. In June, New York State lawmakers passed a bill sponsored by Sen. John Flanagan (R-East Northport) and Assemblyman Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) that would require state park officials to begin a master plan for the park. The foundation is still waiting for Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D) signature on the bill. The introduction of a master plan would include input from residents, state agencies and other stakeholders. It would also include assessing park resources, outlining future goals/cost of development and allowing the demolishing of a number of dilapidated buildings on the grounds. “The master plan is for the next phase and the future of the park,” McQuaid said. In the meantime, the chairman is encouraged by the progress the foundation has helped steward at this point. “The foundation is a vehicle for the community, it is not just one individual, it takes a group effort to get things done,” McQuaid said.
DECEMBER 26, 2019 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A11
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PAGE A12 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • DECEMBER 26, 2019
Holocaust Survivor Instills Moral and Ethical Values in Students BY LEAH CHIAPPINO DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM
Holocaust survivor and Smithtown resident Werner Reich first began speaking about his life experiences at Smithtown High School nearly 25 years ago. He saw an article in the newspaper announcing the school would begin to offer a Holocaust Studies elective. Newly retired from his career as an industrial engineer, Reich offered to speak to the class. After giving his testimony for about 20 minutes, he allowed students to ask questions. He recalls students asking if there was an exercise room in Auschwitz, if the camp had kosher food and what type of weekend activities were conducted. “I realized that they didn’t know the first thing about the Holocaust,” he said. “They were mixing up the concentration camps with a summer camp.” Compelled to educate the students, Reich prepared a presentation to accompany his story. He expanded to several schools throughout the Island, but realized he could not tell both his story and the history of the Holocaust fully in a single period. He increased the time to two-period assemblies and uses about 350 slides filled with history, old photos and diagrams that help to tell his story. “I try to emulate television because that is what kids are used to,” he said. Reich recognizes that even with sharing his experience so intimately, unless someone lived through the Holocaust, it will be very difficult to fully understand. “Even I, who have lived through that garbage, have a very difficult time understanding the full Holocaust,” he said. “It speaks against all of our natural instincts and all of the basic ethics we have been taught. It’s difficult in this world of peace for you to understand, for instance, on the death march I didn’t eat for seven days.” Instead, Reich uses his platform to stress the importance of standing up for what is right and against bullying. “I never want to walk away from a presentation thinking ‘Now they know how much I suffered,’” he said. “That is unimportant. My suffering is an illustration of what happened, but I want them to learn that being a bystander is a terrible thing.”
Congratulations to This Year’s People of the Year!
Students surround Werner Reich after one of his presentations at Smithtown High School West in 2017. Photo by Christina Cone
More recently, Reich has expanded his presentation globally. He has spoken at a Jewish community center in Hong Kong about eight times and has given several presentations in Germany, Macau, Portugal and Israel, as well as various locations throughout the United States. Reich is also a docent at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center in Glen Cove and has been honored for his activism by the New York State Assembly and Suffolk County Legislature. He is still active at Temple Beth David in Commack, and in his free time practices magic, a hobby that was first taught to him while he was in Auschwitz by a bunk mate. That story was told in the 2014 novel, “The Magician of Auschwitz” by Kathy Kacer.
Christina Cone, a social studies teacher at Smithtown High School West says the impact he has had on her students has been nothing short of powerful. “To me, he is the Energizer Bunny as his energy and passion for teaching others does not tire,” she said. “Each year, my students share how much they appreciate hearing his message. They admit that it’s a heavy presentation but they seem to genuinely internalize his words. He is encouraging and inspirational and has, and continues to make this world a better place through his actions. I admire him immensely.” Reich’s words have had a particularly special impact on former Smithtown High School West student Helen Turner. Having been so inspired by his presentation, she
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studied the Holocaust in college and is now the director of education at the Holocaust Memorial & Tolerance Center in Glen Cove. “When I first met Werner … I was so taken aback by this incredible man, “ she said. “He was funny, witty and strong and yet had been through so much. At the time, I was researching the genocide in Darfur for school and I was so enraged and upset at Werner’s experience and horrified that it had happened and was continuing to happen to other people all over the world that I really felt I wanted to do something about it. While my meeting him was maybe an hour of my life, it’s something I will never forget. He’s an incredible man. I’m lucky to know him.”
DECEMBER 26, 2019 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A13
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PAGE A14 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • DECEMBER 26, 2019
Communities Focus on Opioid Prevention and Recovery The Faces of Addiction Recovery BY DONNA DEEDY DONNA@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM For many Long Island families whose members are struggling with an opioid addiction, recovery can seem like an endless financially and emotionally draining cycle of rehabs and relapses. Increasingly, though, people who have miraculously overcome their own narcotic dependencies are openly sharing their stories to deliver a welcomed message of hope and a promise of freedom. Their testimonies are among society’s most effective tools to beat this epidemic. As one reformed narcotic user put it, “If you could see inside my head you would see the light bulb. It finally hit me: I needed to listen to other recovered people and rely on their guidance.” We would like to recognize a few of the many people in our circulation area who have overcome their addiction, their sponsors and the families and organizations that have supported everyone’s efforts as People of the Year. Some reformed narcotic users were teenagers struggling with anxiety who started drinking alcohol or experimenting with drugs at a time when powerful opioids were abundantly dispensed, hooking many young children. Others sought relief from chronic physical pain often caused by injuries and accidents. Each circumstance is unique. So is their recovery story. Success, though, has a common denominator: It is often spiritual in nature. The virtues of faith, hope and charity play a role. Chase Bernstein lost his father one year ago. He now works as a behavioral health technician and is one year sober. His entire recovery and his quality of life, he said, rest on his spiritual frame of mind. If he doesn’t pray in the morning, it impacts his whole day. “Yes, IT IS POSSIBLE to recover, and it is SO WORTH IT,” he said. “I am a member of an anonymous 12-step fellowship and owe my life to the program. If it wasn’t for the steps, my sponsor, the meetings and helping other people even when I’m not getting paid, I would be dead, in the hospital, in jail, or … and I think this would be the worst of any of them: still actively using.” Bernstein finds sobriety thrilling. “My life isn’t boring or bland, it is fulfilling and exciting, another misconception I had about sobriety,” he said. “I’ve started working at a job I love, I have friends, my family relationships have never been better, and I’ve even been able to experience the trials and tribulations of dating, while in recovery as a young person.” Another reformed narcotic user, Sarah
students their whole life. Claire also found the experience rewarding. Recovery, she said, is miraculous. She doesn’t consider herself a religious person but said that the power of prayer somehow opens you up. She came to terms with her own spirituality by appreciating the awe of nature. Recognizing your own self-centeredness also prompts you to change, she said. It’s a key part of the 12-step program. Bernstein has also found this to be important, “There’s a popular line from a Biggie Smalls song that goes something like ‘check yourself before you wreck yourself.’ I think about that line all the time. I know it sounds corny that an old rap lyric helps me in my recovery, but it does! If I leave my motives unchecked, I start to make selfish and careless decisions without regard for the people in my life.” This type of mindfulness is also used in cognitive behavioral therapy. Often called CBT, it also incorporates being honest, goal setting, establishing incremental steps toward reaching a goal, rewarding or celebrating successes and verbalizing happiness. Patricia Tsui practices nonpharmacological approaches to pain at Stony Brook University Hospital’s pain center and has helped Long Islanders overcome addiction after they were prescribed narcotics for chronic pain.
Artemis Shepard and Nick Giulintano are among her patients. Shepard suffered with three herniated discs and couldn’t get out of bed. Giulintano worked as a construction laborer for 30 years. He was seriously injured in a four-car collision driving at 60 mph. He was given bags of medicine, he said, including opioids that he took “like tic tacs.” “You get used to taking medication and the induced-high,” Shepard said. “But it changes you.” She lost friendships and developed kidney disease, she said, from the medication. Their quality of life without narcotics, they both agree, is far more satisfying. Giulintano now has a spinal implant, which has helped with the chronic pain. In group talk sessions at the pain center, they ultimately found alternate ways to cope to overcome their addiction. Talking with the group at the pain center was an important part of their healing. “I know, I’m not the only one,” Giulintano said. “And I’m always happy helping other people.” This tribute is for them and for all the other unnamed people who shared their recovery story with our newspaper and all the people hoping for recovery. Help is a phone call away. The 24/7 hot line is 631-979-1700.
Smith, was addicted to opioids and alcohol as a young teenager. Today, eight years sober, she works full time as a treatment specialist. Helping others has given her life deeper meaning. “I don’t know if I would have stayed sober, if I wouldn’t have had this sense of purpose,” she said. In high school, Smith was an all-county champion softball catcher. Two years ago, she had the idea to form a softball team comprised of people recovering from narcotics use. She pulled a team together, with the help of Will Astacio, who worked at the time as a peer-to-peer mentor for veterans combating depression, anxiety and substance abuse issues. People were so enthusiastic they managed to form two different teams. With Smith as captain, the team, called THRIVE , won the 2019 county title. “If it wasn’t for Sarah, they wouldn’t have won the championship,” Astacio said. “She’s great at bringing people together.” Sarah also regularly advises elected officials who want to know what they can do to help address the epidemic. Her recommendations in a nutshell: more access to effective treatment, more emphasis on continuity of care, removal of insurance obstacles and offering more jobs and better pay to mental health professionals. In regard to legalizing marijuana, her advice is a firm NO. Medical schools are also relying on reformed narcotic users to inform their curriculum. This past summer Stony Brook University’s medical school invited several recovered narcotic users to act as teachers. One eloquent speaker, who wants to remain anonymous so we’ll call her Claire, shared her story with first-year medical students. The session was impactful, according to Dr. Lisa Strano-Paul, the Photo from Sara Smith assistant dean of the medical school. She expects the instruction The THRIVE softball team, sponsored by the THRIVE Community and Outreach Center in Hauppauge, wins the 2019 county softball championship title. to stick with the medical Sara Smith helped formed the team originally comprised of reformed narcotics users. Today the team includes member of the general population.
DECEMBER 26, 2019 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A15
Kent Animal Shelter: A Safe Haven for Homeless Animals
BY MELISSA ARNOLD DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM In 1969, the Kent Animal Shelter opened its doors in Calverton to Long Island animals with nowhere to call home. From their first day of operation, Kent was a no-kill shelter, providing a safe space for healthy animals to find homes and treatable sick or injured animals a place to recover. The private, nonprofit shelter was founded by a small group of humanitarians with a deep compassion for animals. The shelter was small and not well known outside the local community, and for several decades they struggled to avoid financial problems. The animal population was minimal and the staff didn’t have an executive director, either. In 1985, they hired Pamela Green for the job in a last-ditch effort to rejuvenate. Green, who went to college for preveterinary studies, grew up in a family that always encouraged compassion for animals. At home, they raised horses, chickens and ducks, among others. “It was always my intention to work with animals. They can’t speak for themselves so they need people to help them,” she said. Under Green’s direction, Kent Animal Shelter has flourished. They now facilitate adoptions for nearly 700 dogs and cats every year, and are expecting to surpass that number by the end of 2019. Included in the adoptions are a population of animals rescued from other places in the United States and even around the world. “We have rescue partners around the country as well as internationally. Every 10 to 14 days, we do rescue transports from high-kill shelters in places that don’t place a lot of priority on adoption programs,” Green explained. “For many of the animals in those areas, there aren’t a lot of ways out of the shelter. We rescue them, bring them up here for medical care, vaccines and spaying or neutering, and then adopt them out.”
From left, Eileen Striese, Linda MacDonald and Pam Green. Photo by Heidi Sutton
Many of the rescues Kent performs are in the South, where animals can become victims of homelessness or injury following natural disasters like hurricanes or floods. Some rescue dogs are flown to the United States from other countries where dog meat is consumed. Around 25 animals are rescued per trip, the majority of which are dogs because of Long Island’s ongoing problem with cat overpopulation. One of the shelter’s biggest draws is their spay and neuter program. Two veterinarians work four days a week to spay and neuter local pets. Approximately 3,500 animals are spayed or neutered each year, Green said. “Spaying and neutering is so important because if it’s left unchecked, a huge number of animals will be left without homes. You see this in areas of the country where spay and neuter programs aren’t as much of a priority. It leads to overbreeding and overpopulation.” It takes a lot of work to keep the busy shelter running, and a regular staff of 22 makes it happen, along with volunteers who walk dogs, play with cats, and work fundraisers. Office manager Linda MacDonald has been involved with animal care and rescue in various capacities for more than 20 years. These days, she keeps the business side of the shelter running smoothly while also helping to facilitate adoptions and surrenders. “I love being a part of the work we do, which ultimately helps both people and animals,” MacDonald said. “I get to know the animals we have here very well, and it helps me to counsel customers on the right type of animal or breed for their lifestyle. We’re always looking to change and grow, whether it’s growing our
social media presence, expanding our kennels or working with a trainer to help our customers introduce a pet to their home. A positive experience when a pet goes home can affect how they behave the rest of their lives.” Eileen Striese of Bellport visited Kent for the first time 15 years ago. She had lost a dog a few years before and was eager to bring home a new pet. Her husband suggested they try Kent, and not long after, they welcomed home a black and white shih tzu named Lily. Years later, as Striese approached retirement, she began to think about what she might do next. “I always knew that I wanted to volunteer and give back in some way,” she explained. “I love animals, but I had never worked with them before. So I went to the shelter and asked how I could get involved.” Soon, Striese was walking dogs and socializing with the animals at Kent. She was also one of the volunteers responsible for transporting dogs to a local Petco for adoption. “They warned me that I might fall in love with one of them, and there was a white bichon poodle mix that would just fall asleep in my arms. The bond formed instantly,” she recalled. “A few months later I brought him home. We renamed him Rocky.” Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine has a long-standing connection to the shelter that began when he adopted his first family dog in the 1970s. Since then, his family has gone on to raise two poodles who are now elderly. “I thought that these two dogs were going to be the last for us, but sometimes life throws you a curveball,” Romaine said. “My wife was diagnosed with cancer, and she said to me at
the time, ‘If I make it through this, I want to get a dog.’” In March 2018, the Romaines welcomed a white bichon poodle mix into their family. Appropriately, they named him Lucky. “They say you can judge a person by the way they treat animals — I’ve known Pam Green for a long time, and she’s a very special person who is so enthusiastic about her career,” he said. “The work Kent does for the community is incredible, and so important. It sets the shelter apart.” Kent Animal Shelter’s funding is donorbased, and while most donations come from private donors, other funds come from foundations including the ASPCA and PetSmart. The shelter also holds several fundraising events throughout the year, all of them focused on having fun. In the past, they’ve held comedy nights, psychic readings, dog walking events, and recently celebrated its golden anniversary with a dinner/dance fundraiser at Stonewalls Restaurant in Riverhead. At the end of the day, it’s all about doing as much good as they can, said Green. The shelter is looking to update and expand its facilities in the future to reach even more animals in need. “It’s very rewarding work, but it’s also difficult and sometimes disheartening. The reward is to see an animal taken out of a terrible situation and have its life saved. To see them go to a loving home makes it all worth the effort,” she said. Kent Animal Shelter is located at 2259 River Rd, Calverton, and is open seven days a week. To learn more about the shelter or to find your perfect pet, visit www.kentanimalshelter. com or call 631-727-5731.
PAGE A16 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • DECEMBER 26, 2019
Enviro Group Continues to Lead Way on Water Conservation BY PEGGY SPELLMAN HOEY DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM Coastal Steward Long Island has a threepronged plan of attack in an unending, dirty battle — the one all environmentalists have been fighting — to keep local beaches and waters clean for years now. And it seems to be working. What started out as loosely organized beach cleanups led by a local resident has spread to incorporate aquaculture conservation, restoring shellfish to Mount Sinai and Port Jefferson harbors, and marine education teaching youngsters about marine life and water quality. Its education programs include harbor seining and marsh exploration, shellfish hatchery tours and plankton microbiology, in which students use microscopes to identify plankton. Through its fundraising efforts, the group is also able to subsidize busing costs for schools that cannot fund field trips to the center. The organization’s long-standing partnership with the Town of Brookhaven at its beach and marina complex on Long Island Sound in Mount Sinai allows for its educational programs to be run out of the Mount Sinai Marine Environmental Stewardship Center. In the complex’s maricultural center, the oyster seeds are grown for eventual release into the harbor. Brookhaven Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point) called the organization a good
Coastal Steward Long Island volunteer Bill Negra, President Denis Mellett and Treasurer Mark Campo at Mount Sinai Harbor. File photo by Kyle Barr
partner and a nice complement to the town and its work to restore water quality. “They are all about water quality,” she said. “Their message is the right one and their heart is in the right place.” In addition to its beach-cleaning projects, about four years ago, the group began leading
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underwater cleanups, recruiting local divers to single-plastic use in schools. volunteer their services to remove debris such Giving the group a final plug, Bonner noted as garbage, mechanical parts, and household it is always looking for volunteers, and it’s a items like furniture that has ended up on the well-rounded organization with which anyone water’s bottom. of any age can become involved. The addition of educational programs and “This is a nice way to be involved and you underwater cleanups evolved from the group’s are really making a difference — beach cleaning efforts to clean beaches after organizers realized and water quality,” she said. something had to be done to address the trash Carabetta noted the importance of a beach coming in with the tide. cleanup is that anyone can do it, but the “There is no end to beach cleanups, but if we organization does have other roles to fill. educate before it gets in the water, we keep it “We are looking for volunteers, part-time out of the water in the first place,” said Denis educators to try to expand our reach in many Mellett, a dive instructor who serves as the ways,” she said. president of Coastal Steward LI. Ashly Carabetta, the organization’s executive director, said the group has also seen success with one of its newer programs, the Youth Ocean Conservation Summit, where youngsters get to listen to guest speakers, including scientists and educators such as aquanaut Fabien Cousteau, a documentary filmmaker and the grandson of Jacques-Yves Cousteau. “It’s just a great opportunity for these kids to get to be surrounded by people in the field [of marine science] and talk amongst themselves,” she said. Another part of the program includes a segment where participants break off into groups and develop a project for which they apply for grant money and then work over the next year to complete the project. The projects can be anything from creating Coastal Steward has hosted several underwater clean ups such as one a children’s book about water depicted here in Port Jefferson Harbor. Photo from Coastal Steward Long Island quality to devising a plan to limit
DECEMBER 26, 2019 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A17
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PAGE A18 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • DECEMBER 26, 2019
Past Times of Smithtown People Tim Needles Tricia McDermott Allison Cruz Richard Dolce Ken and Laura Washington
Business
Richard Leakey John Feal Mike Fitzpatrick Jack Kulka
2009 2010 2011 2012
Woman of the Year
Man of the Year
Joseph J. Smith Kenneth Hirsch Warren DeMato Members of the Fire Departments Emergency Room Staffs PTA Volunteers TWA Crash Volunteers Those Who Saved and Restored the St. James Sta. Dr. Barry Coller Those Who Helped Preserve the Smithtown Theater Those Who Created the Nissequogue State Park The American Citizen Patrick Vecchio Stan Purgar Tony Tanzi Rick Holmes Hank Miller John Kennedy Jr. Nissequogue River State Park Foundation
1988 1990 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Louise Hall Nora Bredes Janet Elderkin Members of the Fire Departments Emergency Room Staffs PTA Volunteers TWA Crash Volunteers Those Who Saved and Restored the St. James Sta. Natalie Weinstein The American Citizen Judith Shivak Eleanor Scott June Carlson Judy Bishop Virginia Schmidt Barbara Franco Nissequogue River State Park Foundation Members Colleen West-Levy Myra Fontana Allyson Murray, Kelly Brown and Elaine Learnard Kathy Albrecht
Arts
1988 1990 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Nancy Caponegro and Joann Corvini1988 Sue Pasfield 1993 Norma Cohen 1994 Larry Sobel 1995 Noel Gish 1996 Smithtown Arts Council 1997 Arlene Goldstein 1998 Mark Shimsky 2000 Deepwells Team 2001 Ken Washington 2002 Smithtown Schools Music Program 2003 Colleen Hanson 2005 Barbara Miller 2006 Rob and Dave Dircks 2007
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Joseph Knipfing Marian Zulkofske Fran Reitz Vito Blandi Kenneth Zaletski Betty Haynes Matthew Crosson Steven Lerner Harlan Fisher Smithtown Business and Professional Women’s Network Ruth Garthe Smithtown’s Downtown Revitalization Committee 9/11 Memorial Contributors Mario Gino Arthur Krantz Charlie Reichert Kevin Denis Mike Franchi
1988 1989 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1998 2000
Rob Cartelli
2012
2001 2002 2003 2005 2006 2007 2008 2010 2011
Civics
Bobbi Mastrangelo 1988 Emergency Food Pantry Volunteers1993 Anti-Bias Task Force 1994 Greg Szurnicki 1996 Donald Wagner 1997 Richard Smith 2001 Marilyn Davis 2002 Ron Barz 2004 Bob Rossi 2005 Linda Henninger 2006 Fred Gorman 2007 Steve Weber 2008 Maureen Rossi 2009 KPHS Pantry 2010 Sean Lehmann 2011 Paul Borowski 2012
Education
Sue Gubing Harry Ortgies Mary Leibitz Sr. Catherine Fitzgibbon and Sr. Eileen Kelly Michael Walsh Kenneth Wolk Chris Gallagher Industrial Advisory Board Edward Ehmann Michelle Labuski Elaine Champey Michael Chlystun Anthony Corbo Debra Shaw Cathy Ball Ann Marie Tognella
Gladys Waldron Carl Gianino Mary Pat Grafstein Ken Morseon Arlene Mullin Rob Gelling
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Environment
Crow Miller 1987 Elizabeth Shepherd and Ann Sayre 1988 Andrew Kolikof 1993 Russell Barnett 1994 Amy Freiman 1995 Louise Taylor Marden 1997 Charles Ambrey Rockwell 1999 Doretta Dick 2000 Simons Family 2001 Brad Harris 2002 Cathy McShane 2003 John Baker 2004 Joel O’Connor 2005 Russ Barnett and Town Board 2006 Matthew Sclafani 2007 Commerdinger Preservation Soc. 2008 Michael Kaufman 2010
Good Neighbor, Volunteer
St. James Fire Department and Joan Cooper University Hospital Aux. R. Treat Rinear Gladys Waldron Alice Brandecker Dolores L’Hommedieu Mike Brady Oddvar Skadberg Habitat for Humanity Volunteers Stella Baker Ben Keller
1988 1990 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1996 1997 1997 1998
James Joan S Patrick Carol A Hoch Ed We Michae Jane C Helen S Kelly B Lynne Frank D Sen. Jo David Rep. T Tom S Glenn Peter H Ted Sa
H
Linda B Richar Doroth Dr. Au Cristin Carol B Thoma Memo
1988 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2003 2004 2005 2006
Friend Otto G Win H Joseph Win A Retired Smitht Smitht of Co Smitht Yout Carin P Pat Bra Ed and Mike H Marie Eagle S Leo Os Diane Angels Sean W Rick H Marsha Retired
Pictured, clockwise from top left: Past honorees Marsha Noren, John Feal, Laura and Ken Washington, and Charlie Reichert. File photos
DECEMBER 26, 2019 • TIMES OF SMITHTOWN • PAGE A19
of the Year Winners: 1988–2017 Friends of Music Volunteers Otto Grosskopf Win Hall Joseph Cassidy Win Anderson Retired Senior Volunteer Program Smithtown Rotary Smithtown Area Chambers of Commerce Smithtown Veterans Youth Program Carin Perez Pat Brady Ed and Pat Kaleita Mike Hebron Marie Goldstein Eagle Scouts Leo Ostebo Diane Melidosian Angels Without Faces Sean Weisse Foundation Rick Holmes Marsha Noren Retired Senior Volunteer Program
Government
James Lack Joan Scherb Patrick Vecchio Carol Ann and George Hochbrueckner Ed Werheim Michael Fitzpatrick Jane Conway Helen Seeburger and Emma Tufano Kelly Brown Lynne Nowick Frank DeRubeis Sen. John Flanagan David Flynn Rep. Tim Bishop Tom Spota Glenn Jorgensen Peter Hans Ted Sanford
1998 1999 1999 1999 1999 2000 2001 2002
2003 2004 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2009 2010 2011 2011 2012 2012
1983 1988 1993 1994 1996 1997 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Health/Science/Medicine
Linda Bocchichio Richard Ancona Dorothy Lane Dr. Augustus Mantia Cristina Leske Carol Baldwin Thomas Liao Memorial Garden
1988 1993 1994 1995 1995 1997 1997 2000
Janet Stevenson St. Catherine of Siena Sweetbriar Nature Center Thomas Biancaniello, Lenny Stevens Walk for Beauty David Krause Suzanne Fields Lisa Koshansky Ira Sacker Fred Sganga VNS Hospice Clint Rubin Dr. Wayne Waltzer Ginny Salerno Stephen Dewey Dr. Patrick O’Shaughnessy Kings Park Farmers Market St. Catherine of Siena Healthy Sundays Program
Religion
Kenneth Hansen Tina Cafaro Linda de Lorenzo Rabbi Joseph Topek Bill Edwards Father Daniel Bitsko Rabbi Spar Father Fred Hill Bishop Paul Walsh Rabbi Alan Londy St. Catherine of Siena Hospital Fred Herzog Rev. Ed Wistbauer Rev. Sean Gann St. Joseph’s Food Pantry Pastor Jim Ryan
Sports
2001 2001 2001
2002 2003 2004 2004 2004 2005 2005 2006 2007 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 1988 1993 1993 1994 1996 1997 1998 1999 2003 2005 2006 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
Edward Ehmann 1988 The Two Ys 1998 Trish Roberts 2000 Thad Mularz 2001 Nick Schroeder 2002 Smithtown Booster Club 2003 Robert Madarasz 2004 Smithtown Restore Sports Committee 2005 Pat Smith 2006 Dave Shouler, KP Boys Basketball 2007 Mark O’Brien 2008 Chris Higgins 2009 Mike and Max Soria 2010 Lou Gambeski 2011 Kings Park Girls Volleyball 2012
TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA We welcome letters, photographs, comments and story ideas. Send your items to P.O. Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733 or email donna@tbrnewsmedia.com. Times Beacon Record Newspapers are published every Thursday. Subscription $49/year • 631-751-7744 www.tbrnewsmedia.com • Contents copyright 2019
Kings Park High School varsity girls volleyball team was honored in 2012. File photo
People of the Year 2014
Yusuf Hannun and Linda Obeid
2016
Holiday Committee of LI Museum Huntington Senior Center Staff Linda Ventura Literacy Suffolk Liz Catz Mike Mauro Northport Fire Department NYS Sen. John Flanagan Ralph Cartisano Smithtown Township Emergency Food Pantry Steven Schrier
2015
Charles Reichert Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Staff Debi Triola Ed Mikell Ed DiNunzio Gail Lamberta Heather Bugee Huntington Hospital Staff Miles Borden Sheriff Vincent DeMarco
Anthony Tanzi, Sean Lehmann and Linda Henninger for Kings Park Carolyn and James Borella Cause Cafe COPE Officers Crime Stoppers Smithtown Children’s Foundation Smithtown Food Pantry Tim Eagen
2017
John Jr. and Leslie Kennedy Kerry Maher-Weisse, William Capurso and Tim Small Lizz and Ed Manly Rev. Myrl Bailey-Walton
2018
Celebrate St. James Robert Misseri Paul Guttenberg Scott Posner Errol Toulon Jr. Heather Lynch
..and many more to come!
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Leah S. Dunaief GENERAL MANAGER Johness Kuisel MANAGING EDITOR Kyle Barr EDITOR Donna Deedy
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