VB031909 by Dave Leaman

THE VILLAGE

BEACON RECORD MOUNT SINAI • MILLER PLACE • SOUND BEACH • ROCKY POINT • SHOREHAM • WADING RIVER • LEISURE COUNTRY

Volume 25, No. 33

March 19, 2009

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All Irish, all day

Photos inside, pages A12-A13

Grand Marshal John Rouse doffs his hat in front of the reviewing stand in Rocky Point during Sunday’s 59th marching of the North Shore St. Patrick’s Day Parade. See more photos on pages A12 and A13.

Cardiowise Café at Mather

■ Supervisor candidates take campaign to TBR editors Mazzei, Lesko tell why each deserves your vote Page A3

Photo by D. Willinger

Protect your family and learn to live better, longer

Page B9

Through the looking glass

Meet LI business and professional women

at Huntington Library, Smithtown restaurant week

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

Stony Brook Sportsweek

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Page B28

Athlete of the Week

Where the North Shore clicks: www.northshoreoflongisland.com

Page B45

PAGE A2 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

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A toddler park adjacent to where a developer would build a shopping center contrary to recommendations of the Port Jefferson Station-Terryville hamlet study.

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The Comsewogue Hamlet Comprehensive Plan 2008 was unanimously accepted by the Brookhaven Town Board last August, but a public hearing to consider adopting the study as part of the town’s master plan is nowhere in sight. Produced by Lee Koppelman, director of the Center for Regional Policy Studies at Stony Brook University, the hamlet study makes many recommendations, including a zoning change at the

five-acre parcel on the northeast corner of Terryville and Old Town roads from J2 Business to Planned Residential Community. According to Lou Antoniello, chairman of the plan’s land use, parks and open space committee, the property owner, who is represented by Sayville attorney Eric Russo, has proposed to build a shopping center at this site, which is adjacent to an existing strip mall. As stated in the hamlet study, a senior center would be more suitable for this location, Continued on page A18

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Lesko: Town needs strong supervisor; Mazzei: Town Board is where power belongs, wouldn’t reverse moves BY LEE LUTZ leelutz@tbrnewspapers.com

The chill in the room was palpable last week as Brookhaven Town supervisor candidates Tim Mazzei and Mark Lesko sat down for an almost twohour face-to-face debate. Neither offered to shake the other’s hand, either when they arrived at the TBR newspaper office nor at the conclusion of their verbal jousting. Lesko, a federal prosecutor in the Eastern District of New York until he resigned to make his first run for public office, stressed his experience in leading the Long Island office for many years, overseeing “hundreds of attorneys” and staff, and prosecuting many cases. He specifically mentioned a few high-profile prosecutions, including the Lawrence Aviation pollution and fraud case in Port Jefferson, and the asphalt cartel corruption case that reached directly into Brookhaven Town. Mazzei, the current Brookhaven Town councilman from the 5th District, spoke of his roots in Blue Point, where he attended school, and later served on the school board prior to his appointment and subsequent election to his council seat, and his experience as a prosecutor in the Suffolk County district attorney’s office. Mazzei ultimately served as head of the district attorney’s homicide bureau and helped prosecute the high-profile Pius and Solomon murder cases. He maintains a law practice in Blue Point and owns a restaurant. First addressing Brookhaven’s fiscal health in the current recession, Mazzei pointed to cuts in spending already implemented

Photos by D. Willinger, Joe Darrow

Brookhaven Town Supervisor candidates Mark Lesko, above left, and Tim Mazzei barely looked at one another during the two hours they sparred in The Village Beacon Record office.

by the town council and suggested “another 5 percent cut” could be in the offing. He said he was working closely with the town’s Division of Waste Management, looking to maximize planned revenues and seeking new ones. His opponent, Mark Lesko, said, “We need a strong chief financial officer, a supervisor determining what cuts to make.” Lesko criticized the “$10 million increase in spending” in 2008 that he blames on the Town Board’s Republican majority, led by Mazzei. Lesko also criticized Mazzei for the plan enacted last month to reopen the Brookhaven amphitheater on Bald Hill in Farmingville, stating it could cost taxpayers half a million dollars. “The amphitheater has never been closed,” Mazzei responded to the claim that it is being reopened, explaining that changes

in plans for using the venue this year eliminated town-funded shows. “At worst,” he said, “we expect to break even.” Mazzei also said he “voted against [former Supervisor Brian] Foley’s spending increases twice” in 2006 and 2007. Mazzei said he had met with waste management March 12, and “projections look okay” for revenues in 2009. “‘We should be okay’ is not good enough,” Lesko retorted. He said acting supervisor Lori Baldassare complained she was unable to get figures at the landfill from the commissioner hired by Mazzei. For his part, Mazzei said Commissioner Ed Hubbard “updates the supervisor’s office every month.” Asked if the 10 year contract with Brookhaven’s labor unions,

signed in 2001 prior to Mazzei’s tenure on the board, was a mistake, locking the township into raises and benefits untenable in the failing economy, the councilman said, “I would consider renegotiations at this point.” Mazzei said he has had “extremely preliminary talks” with union leaders that have been “positive.” Calling the 10-year agreement the longest on Long Island, Lesko said he too has had preliminary discussions with the unions. “They understand reality,” Lesko said. “It’s a good sign that the union is being realistic.” He called the unions representing Brookhaven’s white collar and blue collar employees and Highway Department staff the town’s “most important partner.” Both candidates refuted allegations of negative campaigning, and both accused the other of do-

ing so. Lesko said his has been a “fact-based campaign.” Mazzei said negative campaigning has “not been on my side, all my mailings are positive.” Actions on “the other side speak for themselves.” The councilman singled out a mailing in which his opponent claimed Mazzei used excessive amounts of gasoline in his town-owned vehicle and purchased the gas using a town credit card instead of fi lling up for less at town pumps. Mazzei said his gas consumption amounted to 13 gallons per week, hardly excessive in a town the size of Brookhaven. He said town-issued vehicles are appropriate for elected officials who spend so many nights and weekends attending office-related functions. Continued on page A16

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MARCH 19, 2009 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A3

Mazzei and Lesko differ on issues, style, direction

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PAGE A4 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

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(R-Shoreham) said earlier this month. “If we don’t have a willing participant in Miller Place residents have spoken the process, we can’t do anything.” Once out against the subdivision plan pro- the appraisals are completed, Losquadro posed for the Vassilaros property be- said the county’s Environmental Trust tween North Country Road and Wood- Review Board will conduct an internal hull Landing Road, and it seems their review process before officials can make an offer. voices have finally been heard. Latham confirmed Wednesday that According to Miller Place Civic Association Director Woody Brown, River- the appraisal process is under way and that the property ownhead attorney Steve Latham, er is “willing to listen who is representing the property owner Pefcos Re- ‘If the county can put to an offer.” “We made it clear that it would alty Corporation, has inditogether a proposal need to be an offer for cated that the company is a the full value of the “willing seller.” Preliminary that represents the property,” Latham plans to build more than 50 fair market value, said. “If the county can homes on the 69-acre site in put together a proposal the heart of the Miller Place the owner has no historic district have raised objection to selling it.’ that represents the fair market value, the ownconcerns among commu— STEVE LATHAM er has no objection to nity members. But in recent ATTORNEY selling it.” weeks, it was announced Brown, a 10th-genthat Suffolk County officials eration Miller Place have begun appraising the property with hopes of acquiring the resident whose ancestor Andrew Miller was one of the hamlet’s founders, said land for preservation. Until last November, the proper- residents have been very concerned ty owner “didn’t even let us appraise about the “quality-of-life issues” that the property,” Leg. Dan Losquadro Continued on page A18 BY JENNIFER CHOI

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The VILLAGE BEACON RECORD (USPS 001-056) is published Thursdays by TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWSPAPERS, 185 Route 25A, Setauket, NY 11733. Periodicals postage paid at Setauket, NY and additional mailing offices. Subscription price $35 annually. Leah S. Dunaief, Publisher. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to PO Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733.

Three teens making a difference in the world, learning life lessons and now telling you about it ness Club. Hohler, who has been leading the organization with KeThree Shoreham-Wading nya native Joseph Kirima Rwito, River High School students were said the students will now be able among the dozen Long Islanders to “spread the word among their who traveled to Kenya last month classmates about the scourge of on behalf of the Hope Children’s poverty and AIDS in a developing country and be better citizens Fund. Established in 2002 to help res- of the world when they grow up.” cue AIDS-infected and displaced “They gained a vivid awareness children in Africa, the Hope about how most people in the Children’s Fund of Port Jefferson world live,” he said, “in comparihosted its fourth trip to Meru, son to how most of us live on the Kenya, from Feb. 13 to March 1, North Shore of Long Island.” Vail, 15, said the trip was worth according to co-president Larry Hohler. The visits have been an- spending her “life savings” on benual since 2005 with the excep- cause it was “amazing to see the tion of last year when election kids and their attitudes.” Describing the experience violence was poas “life-changing,” tent in parts of KeVail said she is now nya, Hohler said. ‘Material things beWhen volunteers don’t last, but you’ll considering coming a teacher returned this year, in the future. Afthey visited with always have these ter witnessing the the 57 children memories.’ poverty in Africa, who currently re— MEGHAN SPILLANE it was strange to side in the Hope return to a paved Children’s Home, driveway and spaa two-story dormitory built in 2005, and helped cious bedroom, she said, adding construct a manual training cen- that she still wonders what the ter that will serve the needs of the children are doing throughout the day. When asked whether she older children. Among the group of volunteers would return to Kenya if given were SWR junior Natalie Pagano the opportunity, Vail replied, “In and sophomores Lillian Vail and a heartbeat.” When the students first arMeghan Spillane, all members of the high school’s Global Aware- rived at the Hope Children’s BY JENNIFER CHOI

jenchoi@tbrnewspapers.com

Home, Spillane, 15, said everyone was “so welcoming” that she wondered “What did I do to deserve this?” The children “don’t know greed” and are “so pleasant all the time,” according to Spillane, who chose to spend the money she earned from baby-sitting to pay for the trip because “Material things don’t last, but you’ll always have these memories.” When the children at the home were asked whether they would like to visit America, Spillane recalled, the answer was a “unanimous yes.” Pagano, 17, agreed that the “welcoming feel” of the home was “amazing.” The children are “so much more thankful and respectful,” according to Pagano, who spent the money she received at her sweet 16 party to pay for the trip. “We all got really close,” she said, adding that the experience is “hard to put into words.” Kevin Mann, an SWR High School social studies teacher and board member of the Hope Children’s Fund, said he traveled to Kenya as a mentor and couldn’t have expected “better behavior and better outcomes” from the students. “They did everything for the right reasons,” he said. “They represented themselves very well. It was very pleasant to travel with them.” Continued on page A18

Courtesy of Larry Hohler

Shoreham-Wading River High School students Lily Vail, Meghan Spillane and Natalie Pagano pose with some of the children at Hope Childen’s Home in Meru, Kenya.

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Out of Shoreham-Wading River into Africa

PAGE A6 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

A Legacy of Trust

For ten generations , the Bryant family has dedicated them selves to their North Shore communities. Their deep commitment to the people of Long Island is one of service, professiona ism and trust. lArt Bryant grew up in Setauket and imag ined becoming a funeral director as a way to help serve hi s neighbors and the community he was proud of. Years later, the spar k Art began has grow n to a flame, and the torch has been pa ssed down. Today, hi s family is proud to continue this legacy of trust. red Bryant Edwin & Mild & Sons

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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. Ravitch’s 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 the proposal. Huntington officials said it would increase that township’s tax levies by $200,000. Sen. Kenneth LaValle (RPort 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 fingernails to carry additional burdens,” LaValle said. “Given the current state of the economy,” Huntington Supervisor Frank Petrone stated, “it is imperative that all of us

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in town government focus on that Long Island Rail Road helping residents stretch their commuters, who pay some of precious dollars,” and cited “go- the highest rates in the couning on record to forestall im- try, will end up subsidizing position of ill-conceived state New York City riders. “Not to taxes” as one way of doing so. mention, we live on an Island. The proposed mobility tax There should be at least one would raise $1.5 billion a year free way off of Long Island.” to cover debt service on a new Calling the MTA “the postMTA capital program. The er boy of poor performance,” new bridge tolls are expected Assemblyman Michael Fitzto bring in another $600 mil- patrick (R-St. James) said he lion a year for mass transit. fears the proposed tax will But Assemblyman Andy kill jobs. Raia (R-East Northport) “How do you ask taxpayopined that the MTA has ers to dig deeper into their mismanaged its operation pocket to subsidize this kind for many years and should be of cost structure?” Fitzpatrick broken up and brought under said. “It’s outrageous. You’re control by the doing further state’s Departdamage to ment of Trans- Sen. Kenneth LaValle the business portation. in (R-Port Jefferson) said climate “It’s just one this state and of the problems he will not vote for the we’re already with authori- MTA tax or toll hikes. in a weak poties,” he said. sition — and “They go on to we have the become these highest commonoliths that escape direct bined tax burden in any state government oversight. … I in the country.” don’t think businesses whose The recent LIRR employemployees don’t use mass ees’ disability scandal also transit should have to pay to troubles him. “Why isn’t the subsidize the system.” governor, why isn’t MajorRaia also said he worries ity Leader Smith or Speaker

File photo

Gov. David Paterson’s proposal to impose a ‘mobility tax’ has met with stiff resistance. Shown here with Speaker Sheldon Silver, left, and Majority Leader Malcolm Smith.

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. Carl Marcellino (RSyosset) 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 f low. “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. “This 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.”

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MARCH 19, 2009 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A7

Pols reject idea of taxing all employers to aid MTA

84111

PAGE A8 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

BY JENNIFER CHOI jenchoi@tbrnewspapers.com

Alternatives For Children, a not-for-profit organization that provides early intervention, day care and therapeutic preschool programs, is celebrating 20 years of service today. Since the late 1980s, Alternatives For Children has offered programs both for developmentally delayed and typically developing children ages 6 weeks to 6 years, Executive Director Marie Ficano said this week. With locations in East Setauket, Melville, Aquebogue and Southampton, the organization serves over 600 children from across Long Island, about half of whom attend the East Setauket site. Formerly the St. Charles Educational and Therapeutic Center in Port Jefferson, the East Setauket location opened its doors in January 2004 and serves as the organization’s main facility, Ficano said. While the day care service is open to the public and funded through private fees, funding for the intervention programs is provided by the county and state. Alternatives For Children provides universal prekindergarten for the Middle Country, Riverhead and Southold school

Photos courtesy of Alternatives For Children

Above, youngsters learn in a classroom setting at Alternatives For Children. Below, a group plays together in the fresh air. Bottom, speech therapy. Bottom left, Executive Director Marie Ficano.

districts, in addition to children from around Long Island, accepted on a case by case basis. In all instances, officials from a child’s home school district determine eligibility and lesson plans, Ficano said. In the East Setauket building, there are at least 150 “very dedicated, experienced staff,” she said, including special education teachers, physical therapists, speech pathologists, psychologists, social workers and vision and music therapists. Ficano, who has served as executive director since the organization’s birth, she said, called the work “great” because “you’re making a difference in the lives of children.” A former special education teacher, Ficano said her goal is to “advocate for the children and their families,” adding, “I found my way to St. Charles and haven’t left.” After 20 years of service, providing quality care for children

Fundraiser tonight at Lombardi’s on the Sound in support of Alternatives For Children.

with special needs remains the primary mission of Alternatives For Children, the executive director said: “We’ve never deviated from our mission. Even in this economy we’re focused, and this is our mission.” Offering integrated programs that combine children with and without special needs is also beneficial because it instills a sense of acceptance, she said: “It truly teaches children tolerance for people in the community who are different from them.” In addition, the programs are designed to address specific needs of every child, according to Ficano, so it’s not a “one size fits all” approach. Equipped with a library, 20 classrooms and spacious areas for therapy, the new building in East Setauket has been a “luxury,” Ficano said. And while the “peripheral things” have changed over the years, the “absolutely rewarding” experience of helping children remains the same. “The ability to make a difference and see that you’re making a difference is what’s kept me here,” she said. The secret to the organization’s longevity has been staying true to its mission, Ficano added. In celebration of their success, the staff and board of trustees of Alternatives For Children are hosting a 20/20 Anniversary Celebration and fundraiser tonight at Lombardi’s on the Sound at the Port Jefferson Country Club in Harbor Hills from 6 to 10 pm. All contributions designated for this event will be allocated toward the organization’s $1.3 million Capital Campaign goal. For information, visit website www. alternativesforchildren.org.

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MARCH 19, 2009 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A9

Area nonprofit fêtes two decades of helping kids

PAGE A10 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

Frankenstein at Brookhaven Lab Covington String Quartet performs movie score

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The Covington String Quartet will play music composed to accompany the silent movie “Frankenstein” at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory on Wednesday, March 25, at noon in Berkner Hall. Sponsored by Brookhaven Science Associates, the company that manages the Lab, the concert is free and open to the public. All visitors to the Laboratory age 16 and over must bring a photo I.D. The Covington String Quartet recently premiered the original background music by Yukiko Nishimura to accompany Edison’s 1910 silent film, “Frankenstein.” That music will be performed during a screening of the short movie in its original 1910 form. String quartets by Haydn and Goldmark make up the balance of the recital. For information on the performers go to www.covingtonstringquartet.com.

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PAGE A12 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

Green day Photos by D. Willinger

Helping to lead the 59th annual North Shore Saint Patrick’s Day Parade were Sen. Ken LaValle (R-Port Jefferson), Assemblyman Marc Alessi (D-Wading River), Councilwoman Jane Bonner (C-Rocky Point) and Legislator Dan Losquadro (R-Wading River). The royal court rode in style: Queen Danielle Sclafani of Ridge, Lady ErinLeigh Peacock of Rocky Point and Lady Jenna Reitzig of Miller Place. Area scouts marched proudly. Selling cookies while they watched the marchers were Girl Scouts from Troop 1803: Amber, 4, and Ashley, 10, Sanchez; Rhea Lynch, 11; Marina Doumanis, 11, all of Rocky Point; and Alexis Duff y, 10, of Sound Beach.

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Counterclockwise from top left: Megan Schaal of Mount Sinai came to the parade with Pride, her miniature horse, who was a giant hit with many onlookers. Caroline Jones, 9, of Ridge, receives a fresh green shamrock from Jeanine Klerk of Custom Tattoos and Body Piercing on Broadway in Rocky Point. Annabella Barget, 3, of Wading River, held high in the arms of her father, Tim, has a great view of the parade. An unidentified but easily recognizable BMX rider pauses near the parade’s end. Members of the Rocky Point Fire Department, courtesy of Frank Wainwright.

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PAGE A14 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

MARCH 19, 2009 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A15

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bond approved in 2004 for open space preservation that has now been exhaustContinued from page A3 ed — and noted $10 million remains in Lesko said Foley’s “reform agenda” the town’s adopted capital budget for included taking gas cards away from open space, intended to be spent over employees driving town cars and only five years. “We need a planner to run the planning a handful still used them, including Mazzei. Lesko pledged not to use a town department,” Lesko said, addressing the vacancy that has existed since early last year vehicle to commute to Town Hall. Regarding the charge of negative when Mazzei’s Town Board majority fired campaigning, Lesko said an unflatter- Commissioner David Woods. Lesko said ing photo of his opponent in a mailing attracting a “national caliber” candidate to was not “doctored” but in fact was taken the position was a “critical issue.” “I voted for David Woods,” replied from a Republican website. He then accused Mazzei of bringing back the “old Mazzei, referring to the vote to approve guard” that worked at Town Hall un- Foley’s appointment in 2006, describing der prior Republican supervisors Felix him as a “very good cerebral planner.” “But,” Mazzei added, “he doesn’t get Grucci and John LaValle. Lesko also said asphalt companies are contributing to the train into the station on time,” efMazzei’s campaign, some of the same fectively blaming Woods for delays in companies Lesko prosecuted for price processing applications under his leadership. “We have 20 certified planners” fi xing in Brookhaven. Lesko claimed it took a Democratic on the planning staff. “We need someone to manage the departadministration to end dement.” cades of no-bid insurance Asked how he would contracts that cost tax- Mazzei said, if elected hope to govern effectively payers millions of dollars. he would not replace should he be elected, LesMazzei countered that the supervisor staff ko, who would be in the reform of the town’s inminority on the Town surance policies actually positions defunded Board, said he “believes began under the LaValle by his majority. in the power of good administration, headed ideas.” Lesko also said by former Republican “powers inherent in the 2nd District Councilman office of supervisor can be exercised, for Kevin McCarrick. “In two years they didn’t get it done,” example, selecting the lowest responsible Lesko said. “In two months Foley got bidder for town contracts.” For his part, Mazzei was asked if he it done.” The Democrat also criticized a mailing in which Mazzei is pictured could lead without the extreme partisanstanding with Suffolk District Attor- ship that has marked Brookhaven govney Tom Spota. Lesko said the mailing ernment since Foley’s election in 2005. “I already do that,” he replied. Notis “misleading” since Spota will not endorse any candidate due to his position. ing votes he has cast with Foley and the Mazzei countered that Spota is a for- Democratic council members, including the Tall Grass developmer law partner from the ment in Shoreham and the 1990s and the two remain Caithness power plant in friends. “It was done be- Lesko said, if elected Yaphank, “I get along very cause I want citizens to he would govern well.” He said “97 percent know I can be trusted,” effectively in the of votes” on the Town Mazzei said. Board were 7-0 during the Both candidates inminority by using dicated their support for powers inherent in the Foley administration. Lesko decried the “parpreserving open space. tisan” moves to remove Lesko said it must not be supervisor position. authority from the superfunded with taxes and visor’s office, such as the indicated one element of his BIG plan for the town — Brookhaven economic development division, the public Initiative for Growth — includes addi- information office and two citizen advocate tional monies that would be paid to the positions defunded from Foley’s staff. He town in return for speeding the approval called Mazzei’s moves “an obsession that process for development projects. That paralyzed town government.” “Economic development was moved revenue would be targeted to parks and to the Town Board,” Mazzei responded open space, Lesko said. Mazzei said he would endorse a new angrily. “Public information to the Town bond act to provide funding — he point- Board. The whole Town Board. No powed out his support for the $100 million ers have been taken from the supervisor.” Mazzei said if elected to the post he would not reverse the actions and would not replace the supervisor’s staff positions defunded by his Town Board majority. “For three years under [former Republican supervisor] LaValle he didn’t move those departments,” Lesko argued, describing the changes as “pure partisanship.” The two disagreed vehemently on the current role of the supervisor’s office in personnel moves. “Oversight is critical,” said Lesko. “The chief financial officer is now removed from that equation. … Personnel is not under the supervisor.” “Personnel and purchasing are under the supervisor,” Mazzei said. But, he addPhoto by D. Willinger ed, “Commissioners hire and fire, not the supervisor.” Whose name will be stencilled beneath the The special election is on March 31. title ‘Supervisor’ on the town signs around Polls will be open from 6 am to 9 pm. The Brookhaven come April? Tim Mazzei or supervisor’s post will once again be conMark Lesko? You decide with your vote.

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Dean says news literacy is critical to democracy SBU Journalism School hosts national conference on efforts to create savvy media consumers panel discussions during the three-day conference. Schneider said a “tsunami of infor“We must train the next generation of news consumers,” said Howard Sch- mation” from traditional outlets such as neider, dean of the Stony Brook Univer- newspapers and network news programs sity School of Journalism. “They have to and newer sources like the Internet and judge the credibility and reliability of 24-hour cable news networks is “blurinformation,” he added, and such judge- ring the line” between news, press rement is “crucial” to the future of our de- leases, public relations, blogs and Tweets. Without the ability to differentiate bemocracy. Schneider has been an advocate for tween reliable and questionable sources and stories, the public will news literacy for everyone be hamstrung in its ability — not just journalism stuto make informed choices, dents — since being named SBU’s School of he argues. Schneider said SBU’s first J school dean in Journalism is the goals for the conference May of 2006. Toward that end, and ‘certainly one of if were to “share what we’ve demonstrating an influ- not the key leader learned, create a community of interest, and plan how ence unusual for a school so to move forward.” young, SBU’s School of Jour- in driving this “The news media is the nalism hosted a news litera- movement across largest continuing educy conference at the Wang the country.’ cation institution in the Center last week, under— DEAN HOWARD world,” Schneider said, but written by the Ford FounSCHNEIDER warned that without traindation and attracting heavy ing in the critical considerhitters in print and electronic journalism. Speakers included ation of news, citizens may be unable to Arthur Sulzberger Jr., publisher of The discern the facts from the hype. Over 3,000 undergraduates at SBU, New York Times, and panelists included former Nightline host Ted Koppel, now not just journalism students, have ala senior news analyst for National Pub- ready taken the news literacy course at lic Radio; Vivian Schiller, president and the university, Schneider said. He reCEO of NPR; the presidents of Syracuse ported that over 120 people attended and Louisiana State universities and the last week’s inaugural news literacy conchancellor of the University of Missouri. ference, some coming from as far as Andrew Heyward, the former president Florida and California — and Bhutan, of CBS News, moderated one of the high in the Himalayas between India BY LEE LUTZ

leelutz@tbrnewspapers.com

File photo

Journalism School Dean Howard Schneider has been a proponent of teaching the science of critical information analysis since being appointed in June 2006.

and Tibet. Siok Sian Pek-Dorji, executive director of the Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy and herself a writer and documentary fi lm producer, presented a “Report From The Front” to the conference participants on Friday. Schneider said this week that Syracuse and LSU will begin news literacy programs of their own. Also — in what he described as a “proposal only” at this point, and still in need of a funding source — SBU would train 50 to 100 out-of-work journalists to teach news literacy at 25 or more universities across the country. In addition, Schneider said,

the Ford Foundation has underwritten a two-week course in news literacy for high school teachers this summer at SBU. “On the whole,” said Schneider, “we are very pleased with the results” of last week’s conference. He said his J school is “certainly one of if not the key leader in driving this movement across the country.” Support for the conference was also provided by the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and the McCormick Foundation, as well as Stony Brook University.

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SWR teams compete at Science Bowl Albert G. Prodell teams, with their advisor, science teacher and coach Lori Racaniello, traveled to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Brookhaven National Laboratory March 7 to compete in the Regional Middle School Science Bowl. One hundred students from 15 Long Island middle schools participated in the question-and-answer academic tournament designed to test students’ knowledge of life science, physical science, mathematics, earth science, and general science. Pictured at left with Racaniello, Albert G. Prodell Team 1 members, from left to right: Daniel Purschke, Rahul Mane, Jonas Oppenheimer, Tayler Brant and Michael Andolena; and at right, Albert G. Prodell Team 2 members from left: Evan Purdy, Matthew Ingham, Christine Joseph, Emily Kulesa and Marissa Bruno. to Fiore-Rosenfeld, who asked, “Why on earth would you want to build more reContinued from page A2 tail?” “There’s no economic justification,” Antoniello said, because such a facility is he said, adding that a senior center would lacking in the community. Russo did not be more appropriate for the location, which is a “gateway” to the Terryville return calls by press deadline. Antoniello defended the hamlet study Road Historic District. The councilman, as a “good plan that we put hundreds of who vowed to try his best to accomplish hours in on,” adding that the property “anything that the hamlet recommends,” owner seems to have “no intention of said he has been unsuccessful so far in his efforts to communiworking with the comcate with the property munity.” Antoniello, owner. who was president of ‘Why on earth would Joan Nickeson, a resithe Port Jefferson Stadent of the Port Jefferson tion-Terryville Civic you want to build more Station and Terryville Association when the retail?’ communities since study was initiated, also COUNCILMAN 1972, said she would be pointed out how “biSTEVE FIORE-ROSENFELD directly affected by the zarre” it is that town of(D-EAST SETAUKET) construction of another ficials approved funding shopping center because for the comprehensive she currently lives on plan but have failed to set a public hearing to adopt the recom- Terryville Road. A member of the hamlet plan’s history committee, Nickeson mendations. In response, Brookhaven Public In- said all parties involved in the planning formation Officer Kevin Molloy said process were “grateful to get the money Tuesday that the town’s Planning Depart- to perform this study” and worked “very ment hasn’t had the opportunity to “fully diligently.” “The planning board should review and respond to the recommenda- respect the hard work and the wishes of tions within this report.” “It doesn’t mean the people who live right here,” she conthey’re off the table,” he said, assuring that tinued, pointing out that an additional notifications will be sent to the property commercial building in the area would owner and all residents who live within create traffic congestion and “adversely 500 feet of the parcel once the public hear- affect our property values.” ing is scheduled. Councilman Steve Fiore-Rosenfeld (D-Setauket), who delivered funding for Contnued from page A4 the project and championed a one-year moratorium on development to coincide would be generated by the large subdiviwith the hamlet study, continues to lend sion, which would be constructed across his support to the plan. During the last 30 from the pond on North Country Road years, the property in question has been and directly adjacent to the Laddie A. home to several vacant stores, according Decker Sound Beach School. As stated

Developer

on the civic association’s website, those issues include school district space and tax impacts, traffic congestion and safety, loss of open space and storm water management impacts. “It is fair to say that no one has said to me or any of the other board members that this is a good thing,” Brown said. “There is a large contingency of residents who are concerned about the impacts,

most of which they feel are negative.” The county’s acquisition of the property is “the most sure way for the citizens of Miller Place to stop the development,” the civic director said, encouraging all community members to attend the Brookhaven Planning Board’s public hearing on Monday at 4 pm to give their input on the plan.

Out of S-WR

“Given what they’ve come from, it’s amazing to see them grow,” said Mann, who has traveled to Kenya twice with his wife, Aida, and daughter, Tiffany. And whether or not he returns to Africa on behalf of the organization, Mann said he will “forever be linked with the home.” Community members who wish to contribute to the Hope Children’s Fund can visit www.hopechildrensfund.org or participate in the fifth annual bi-continental cross country run at SWR High School on Sunday, April 19, at 9 am.

Continued from page A5 Mann, who began teaching in the district in 1974, said the children at the home realize that they’ve been given “a second chance at life.” With new clothes and toys donated through the Hope Children’s Fund, “They understand that they’ve been given something that hundreds of kids don’t have,” he said, adding that “You lose track of how fragile they are” because they’re so mature and responsible.

Vassilaros

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PAGE A18 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

PEOPLE

Courtesy of Larry Hohler

Dr. Craig Lehmann of Stony Brook University helps erect a sign indicating the location of Hope Children’s Home. In the background, Meghan Spillane, Sharon Ryan and Joseph Kiviza Riivito, who runs the home, with Brenda Mwendwa, one of our children.

MARCH 19, 2009 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A19

PEOPLE

Miller Place Homemakers share hugs with youngest Mather patients The Miller Place Homemakers have once again brought comfort to the youngest patients at Mather Hospital through their generous donation of stuffed toys and books to the HUGS program. HUGS distributes stuffed animals to comfort pediatric and elderly patients awaiting treatment at the Hospital’s Emergency Room and its Ambulatory and Inpatient Surgical Pavilion. To make a donation, call Dorothy Perricone, Mather’s director of volunteer service, at 476-2749. Pictured, Kathy Weihberg and Dotty Callegari of the Miller Place Homemakers cuddle some furry friends they donated to Mather Hospital’s HUGS program.

Springfield College dean’s list Daniel Hazen and Scott Heinze, both of Miller Place, have been named to the dean’s list at Springfield College in Massachusetts for academic excellence during the fall semester.

Obituary Dominick Mancuso Dominick P. Mancuso, 74 of Mount Sinai, formerly of Lake Grove, died on March 5. He was the beloved husband of Pauline; devoted father of Peter, Frank, Richard, Paul; cherished grandfather of Troy, Angelica, Dominick, Richard, Douglas, Diana and Daniel; and dear brother of Fannie Paladino and the late Danny. A funeral Mass was held at St. Patrick’s RC Church. Interment followed St. Charles Cemetery. Arrangements entrusted to the professional care of The Branch Funeral Home of Smithtown.

Popular author shares craft with Rocky Point elementary students Rocky Point fourth-grade students in Monique Safina’s class at Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School shared the craft of writing and illustration with popular children’s author Elizabeth Uhlig. The illustrator of “Between the Shadows: A Memoir of a Wartime Childhood” exhibited her ink paintings for the novel and shared her experiences as a ghostwriter with this book. Uhlig has published 25 books of her own. “All you need is a story that you want to share,” Uhlig told the aspiring young authors. She explained to the students that Frima Laub had a story to tell about her survival as a child during World War II in Poland. Laub asked Uhlig to ghostwrite the story for her and to create the illustrations. The result was a riveting narrative about Frima Gleiser, a child who was left alone during the war and had to learn to survive on her own. “When an author writes a book, he or she must make a decision about the point of view and the tone,” Uhlig explained. “When I wrote this story for Ms. Laub, I had to think about what it would be like to live at that time, and decided it would be very tense.” Uhlig’s visit to the classroom was made possible thanks to a MESTRACT Grant Safina was able to secure. Safina’s grant project, called Prize Possession, allows students to create an individual book and secure images for the book through the use of a digital camera. At the end of the writing unit, the students will host a writer’s celebration with parents. The grant also afforded the students the opportunity to visit with the author and to receive an autographed copy of Uhlig’s book. Courtesy Elizabeth Sobel, Syntax Communication

Schwartz named Edgar Fellow at SUNY Geneseo Katherine Schwartz of Mount Sinai is among 103 Edgar Fellows this year at the State University of New York at Geneseo. The college’s Honors Program is named after the program’s founder, William Edgar, distinguished teaching professor emeritus of philosophy. Students must exhibit a high level of motivation and academic accomplishment to be admitted to the program, which entails honors courses, research opportunities and close work with honors advisers.

Quinnipiac University dean’s list The following area residents were named to the dean’s list at Quinnipiac University for the fall 2008 semester: Arielle Abbato of Wading River Ashley Goldbach of Rocky Point Kathleen Hessman of Miller Place Jeremy Kasper of Miller Place Amanda Kassay of Miller Place Julianne Loscalzo of Miller Place Lauren Wolman of Sound Beach

Memorial services Gertrude F. (Smith) Goodman

Albert Irvine

March 27, 1924 – Feb. 3, 2009

Albert Irvine passed away Jan. 9. Following his wishes, no services were to be held at that time. However, Albert’s family is now hosting a celebration of his life. Friends and acquaintances of Albert, please come and remember him. If you have a story or anecdote you’d like to share, let the greeter at the door know. It will be noted and we will call on you later to relate it. Date: March 21. Time: 2 to 5 pm. Place: Miller Beach Surf Club, 23 Harbor Beach Road, Miller Place Tel: 473-9034

Survived by her husband, Leslie, Sr.; children, Joyce, Leslie, Jr., Alan, Ronnie, Linda and Benjamin; sisters Constance, Katharine and Mary; grandchildren, Tony, Tamara, Eli, Joshua, Milan, Amanda, Serin, Isaiah; and five great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Gertrude’s Life will be held at Mount Sinai High School, Saturday, March 28, noon to 2 pm. A religious memorial service at Gertrude’s home church, Mount Sinai Congregational Church, will be at 3 pm; Interment immediately following at Seaview Cemetery. Afterward, greet the family at a reception in Fellowship Hall.

Military News Coast Guard Seaman Recruit Conor P. Brown, son of Jane B. Morgan of Mount Sinai and William P. Brown of Medford, recently graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Training Center in Cape May, N.J. Brown and other recruits also received instruction on the Coast Guard’s core values and how to apply them in their military performance and personal conduct. Brown will join 36,000 other men and women who comprise Coast Guard’s force.

Reyes named to Campbellsville University fall 2008 president’s list Olivia Joy Reyes, a junior from Mount Sinai, has been named to Campbellsville University’s president’s list for fall 2008. The academic honors’ list recognizes students who achieve a grade point average of 3.50 or above for the semester with a course load of at least 12 hours. The fall 2008 academic honors’ list includes a total of 474 students, with 163 achieving a 4.0 grade point average and having been named to the president’s list.

Swanson named to dean’s list at Boston University Benjamin A. Swanson, a resident of Miller Place, has recently been named to the dean’s list at Boston University for the fall semester.

Send information for the People page to: vtimes@tbrnewspapers.com.

PAGE A20 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

Legals the Business Office until 9:00 a.m.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Board of Education, Mount Sinai Union Free School District, Mount Sinai, New York, (in accordance with Section 103 of Article 5A of the General Municipal Law) hereby invites the submission of sealed bids on the following services:

Municipal Law) hereby invites the submission of sealed bids on the following services:

The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all or to accept part of any bid.

130 3/19 1x vbr CARPENTRY LABOR Bids will be received until 10:00 a.m. on March 26th, 2009 at the Business Office, North Country Road, Mount Sinai, New York, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened. Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained at the Business Office until 9:30 a.m.

Dr. Anthony J. Bonasera uperintendent 127 3/19 1x vbr

PAINTING NOTICE TO BIDDERS

Bids will be received until 11:30 a.m. on March 26th, 2009 at the Business Office, North Country Road, Mount Sinai, New York, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened. Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained at the Business Office until 11:00 a.m.

The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all or to accept part of any bid. Dr. Anthony J. Bonasera Superintendent

PAINT

The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all or to accept part of any bid.

129 3/19 1x vbr

Bids will be received until 11:15 a.m. on March 26th, 2009 at the Business Office, North Country Road, Mount Sinai, New York, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened. Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained at the Business Office until 10:45 a.m.

Dr. Anthony J. Bonasera Superintendent 126 3/19 1x vbr NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Board of Education, Mount Sinai Union Free School District, Mount Sinai, New York, (in accordance with Section 103 of Article 5A of the General Municipal Law) hereby invites the submission of sealed bids on the following services:

The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all or to accept part of any bid.

The Board of Education, Mount Sinai Union Free School District, Mount Sinai, New York, (in accordance with Section 103 of Article 5A of the General Municipal Law) hereby invites the submission of sealed bids on the following services: LUMBER Bids will be received until 11:00 a.m. on March 26th, 2009 at the Business Office, North Country Road, Mount Sinai, New York, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened. Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained at the Business Office until 10:30 a.m. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all or to accept part of any bid.

Bids will be received until 10:15 a.m. on March 26th, 2009 at the Business Office, North Country Road, Mount Sinai, New York, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened. Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained at the Business Office until 9:45 a.m.

NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Board of Education, Mount Sinai Union Free School District, Mount Sinai, New York, (in accordance with Section 103 of Article 5A of the General

The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all or to accept part of any bid.

Our Community Newspaper

Bids will be received until 9:15 a.m. on March 26th, 2009 at the Business Office, North Country Road, Mount Sinai, New York, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened. Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained at the Business Office until 8:45 a.m.

THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD

The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all or to accept part of any bid.

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BEACON RECOR THE VILL

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ELECTRICAL Bids will be received until 10:30 a.m. on March 26th, 2009 at the Business Office, North Country Road, Mount Sinai, New York, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened. Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained at the Business Office until 10:00 a.m. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all or to accept part of any bid. Dr. Anthony J. Bonasera Superintendent 134 3/19 1x vbr NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Board of Education, Mount Sinai Union Free School District, Mount Sinai, New York, (in accordance with Section 103 of Article 5A of the General Municipal Law) hereby invites the submission of sealed bids on the following services: LAWN CARE

Dr. Anthony J. Bonasera Superintendent 131 3/19 1x vbr

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Dr. Anthony J. Bonasera Superintendent

Bids will be received until 10:45 a.m. on March 26th, 2009 at the Business Office, North Country Road, Mount Sinai, New York, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened. Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained at the Business Office until 10:00 a.m. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all or to accept part of any bid. Dr. Anthony J. Bonasera Superintendent 135 3/19 1x vbr NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Board of Education, Mount Sinai Union Free School District, Mount Sinai, New York, (in accordance with Section 103 of Article 5A of the General Municipal Law) hereby invites the submission of sealed bids on the following services: ROOFING Bids will be received until 12:30 p.m. on March 26th, 2009 at the Business Office, North Country Road, Mount Sinai, New York, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened. Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained at the Business Office until 12:00 p.m. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all or to accept part of any bid. Dr. Anthony J. Bonasera Superintendent 136 3/19 1x vbr

Dr. Anthony J. Bonasera Superintendent 137 3/19 1x vbr NOTICE TO BIDDERS The Board of Education, Mount Sinai Union Free School District, Mount Sinai, New York, (in accordance with Section 103 of Article 5A of the General Municipal Law) hereby invites the submission of sealed bids on the following services: ATHLETIC UNIFORM AND PLAQUE Bids will be received until 9:00 a.m. on March 26th, 2009 at the Business Office, North Country Road, Mount Sinai, New York, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened. Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained at the Business Office until 8:30 a.m. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all or to accept part of any bid. Dr. Anthony J. Bonasera Superintendent 138 3/19 1x vbr INVITATION TO BIDDERS The Board of Education of the Rocky Point Union Free School District at Rocky Point, Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York hereby invites sealed bids for : Schedule No. : 09-09 Academic Attire and Related Items as specified in the contract documents. Bids will be received until 10:00 A.M., prevailing time on Monday, March 30, 2009, at the District Administrative Office, 170 Route 25A, Rocky Point, New York 11778, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened and read aloud. Bid title should be clearly marked on each envelope, along with the date and time of the bid opening. The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any and all bids or to accept that bid which in its judgment is in the best interest of the School District. Each bid must be accompanied by a Bid Bond or Bank Check payable to the Board of Education, in an amount not less than FIVE percent (5%) of the amount of the bid. Any bid submitted will be binding for ONE HUNDRED TWENTY (120) days after the formal opening thereof, and no bid shall be withdrawn during that time, pending the decision of the Board of Education.

The contract documents, including specifications may be examined and obtained between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M., Monday through Friday at the District Administrative Office, 170 Route 25A, Rocky Point, New York beginning Thursday, March 19, 2009.

PLUMBING LABOR Bids will be received until 12:00 p.m. on March 26th, 2009 at the Business Office, North Country Road, Mount Sinai, New York, at which time and place all bids will be publicly opened. Specifications and Bid Forms may be obtained at the Business Office until 11:30 p.m.

BY ORDER OF THE; Board of Education Rocky Point Union Free School District At Rocky Point, Town of Brookhaven Suffolk County, New York By: Debra Hoffman Purchasing Agent DATED: March 12, 2009

The Board of Education reserves the right to reject any or all or to accept part of any bid.

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MARCH 19, 2009 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A21

SPORTS Watch out for Div. II this season BOYS’ LAX BY JOHN WESTERMANN katsports@tbrnewspapers.com

Three North Shore teams will figure prominently in Division II boys’ lacrosse this spring. Two of those teams, Mount Sinai and Rocky Point, won New York State championships last year. The third team, Shoreham-Wading River, was a state champion in 2007. Two of them are loaded with talent for 2009 and one is rebuilding. At Mount Sinai, that whooshing sound you heard last September was the sound of a big senior class leaving town after winning the Class C title. Returning to the Mustang roster are but four major contributors: midfielder Shane Henry, who will play next year at Cornell, attackman Jon Hoeg (Swarthmore), junior middie Joe Bongiorno and senior middie Ted Dawson. The rebuilding starts in goal with sophomore Matt Poillon. “We think he’s going to be a good one,” said Mustang head coach Joe Cuozzo. According to Cuozzo, Poillon will be joined on the defensive end by converted midfielder Casey Stroh, a senior, his brother sophomore Connor Stroh, junior Matt Scuturo and sophomore Matt McPartland. “Ryan Maurer is back at attack, and he has game experience,” said Cuozzo. “But we’re a young team, just babies on defense. We’ll get better as the season goes along and hope to make the playoffs as the C representative. We played together in the offseason, and now we’re looking for leadership and chemistry. We’ll work hard. That’s for sure. I think this year Division II is tougher top-to-bottom than Division I.” The Mustangs scrimmage West Islip, Comsewogue and William Floyd before taking on Corning East, Ridgefield and Northport at the Acompora scrimmages April 4. “We like to throw them in the fire and see how they survive,” said Cuozzo. Rocky Point graduated some great players in 2008, but they are hardly rebuilding. Head coach Mike Bowler has Virginia-bound face-off man Tommy Kelly and Johns Hopkins-bound senior Matt Palasek back to lead a dangerous lineup for the Eagles. Junior Chris Palasek will join brother Matt at attack and senior Tim Hawkins will complete the trio. Junior Peter Vivonetto returns to the first midfield along with seniors Matt Toohey and Tyler Sup-

‘We played together in the offseason, and now we’re looking for leadership and chemistry. We’ll work hard. That’s for sure.’ — MOUNT SINAI COACH JOE CUOZZO

Photo by Dennis Whittam

Rocky Point senior attack Matt Palasek, who is headed to Johns Hopkins upon graduation, will be depended on to carry the ball more this year.

per. Bowler is looking for contributions from junior Nick Schneider and sophomores Dan Staker and Nick Manne. The Eagles defenders are another strength, according to Bowler. Juniors Mike Muller, Matt Staker and Ryan Mantnech and junior long-stick midfielder Dan McGreevey will form one of Suffolk’s better, more experienced units. Senior Alex Cain and junior Nick Gibaldi are fighting it out for the starting goalie job. “Or we’ll have them split time,” said Bowler. “I don’t know yet. They’re both good. If we can stay healthy, we’ll be in the thick of things. We need more offense from our midfield and we need Matt Palasek to carry the ball more this year. We’re blessed that Tommy Kelly is one of the best face-off men in the country, so we get the ball back a lot.”

Head coach Tom Rotanz has his 40-man roster of ShorehamWading River Wildcats ready to challenge for a county title again in what he thinks might be the toughest division in the country. The Eagles scrimmage Sachem East, Ward Melville, Manhasset, Riverhead, William Floyd, Smithtown East and Walt Whitman. They host Middle Country, a Division I playoff team, on March 31 at 4:30 pm to open the regular season. Head coach Tom Rotanz has his 40-man roster of Shoreham-Wading River Wildcats ready to challenge for a county title again in what he thinks might be the toughest division in the country. Senior Joey Lustgarten returns to lead

the Wildcat attack. “After Joey we have five guys battling for the open attack positions,” said Rotanz. The top midfielders will be seniors Mike Perdie, Nik Mullen, Kyle Sopko, Leo Greeley, and Jack and Bret Miller. Senior Sean Mahoney will anchor the ShorehamWading River defense and senior Nick Longo returns in the goal. “We’ll have a nice mix of veterans and kids,” said Rotanz. “Division II is so good this year, I can see the winner have as many as four regular season losses.”

PAGE A22 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

EDITORIALS Woof, woof, woof To judge by Sunday’s turnout, North Shore residents love their parades, especially if the marching is done in honor of that ol’ Emerald Isle snake wrangler St. Patrick. And those same residents love their canine companions. Man’s best friend was strongly represented by a panoply of breeds, including, but surely not limited to, the following roll: American pit bull terrier, beagle, cocker spaniel, English sheepdog, golden retriever, Labradoodle, Labrador, miniature poodle, “pinscheagle,” Saint Bernard, shih tzu, Weimaraner, wire fox terrier and Yorkie. Three cheers for our hometown parade.

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 (see page A17). We think the Stony Brook University 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 opinion) — has never been more important. Whether you read it on these pages, or in a daily paper, or hear it on the radio or see it on TV or find it surfing the web, apply the appropriate level of skepticism, look for the facts, and always remember to consider the source.

OPINION 1st Battillo food drive a success TO THE EDITOR: On Feb. 28, the Ladies Auxiliary Service Company of the Sound Beach Fire Department held its first annual Margaret Galvin Battillo food drive. The overwhelming support from our community and our neighboring fire departments was unbelievable. At 4 pm on Saturday two truckloads of food and supermarket vouchers were brought to the St. Louis de Montfort Food Pantry. Words can not express our appreciation to these dedicated women who organized this mega food drive, as well as each individual or company who donated or purchased large amounts of food. In this time of great economic crisis it is heartwarming to see so many people come together to help those in need. Our beloved Margie is watching us from heaven and I am sure she is thrilled that the people of our communities are continuing to do the work that she was so passionate about. We thank you so very much for your love, compassion and support that you display every day of your lives. May God continue to bless you and your families always. Jane Guido, The St. Louis de Montfort Outreach Staff

Police report is missed TO THE EDITOR: Recent issues of TBR Newspapers no longer feature the Police Report column. I urge you to reinstate it. The information it contains is important. We, your readers, need to be aware of the challenges our police officers face in the line of duty and of recurring trends in criminal activities (e.g., thefts from parked cars, vandalism,

and the like). I suspect that many of your readers also miss the occasional flashes of wit the editor of these reports injected into the column. John Shea East Setauket Editor’s note: We continue to keep readers informed of police activities and crime within our stories and briefs. Reporting on police activities remains one of our primary beats.

Veterans thankful TO THE PUBLISHER, EDITORS AND STAFF OF TBR NEWSPAPERS: On behalf of the officers, executive board and members of the American Legion Wilson Ritch Post 432 of Port Jefferson Station, we would like to thank you for your support and continuing coverage of our events and of veterans’ issues. In almost every issue I notice that one of your editorial staff is covering a veterans’ event and reporting on it. We at the Wilson Ritch Post are very grateful for this effort. We would like to also take this opportunity to thank wholeheartedly the efforts of Congressman Tim Bishop, state Sen. Ken LaValle and Assemblyman Steve Englebright for their unwavering support of veterans’ issues and of veterans’ causes. For those who braved the cold, crisp weather during our Pearl Harbor Remembrance Service this past December, you would have heard a gentleman eloquently playing “Taps.” To this gentleman, who to us is anonymous, we offer our sincere thanks as well. Please keep up the good work. Our veterans are certainly well worth it. Richard Knutson, Public Relations Officer American Legion Wilson Ritch Post 432

MTA tax unfair TO THE EDITOR: As someone who represents the overburdened taxpayers of Long Island, I am relieved that Gov. David Paterson has listened to the residents he serves and decided to withdraw the harmful “fun taxes” that he originally proposed. But I find it a bit disingenuous for the governor to publicly take credit for fixing a problem that he created. Along with my colleagues in the Republican conference of the New York State Senate, I have consistently rejected Gov. Paterson’s job-killing tax increases because they hurt our families, our businesses and our economy. While Gov. Paterson and his Democratic colleagues in the Assembly and the Senate have repeatedly looked to fix the state’s economic issues by taxing those in the suburbs, our conference has repeatedly called for a plan that taxes less, spends less and helps create jobs. While the rejection of these tax increases is good news, Gov. Paterson’s change of heart was announced after weeks of public pressure and outrage. Now, he has more work to do and he needs to deliver for our state without relying solely on federal bailout money. The budget he proposed still includes the elimination of $1.7 billion in property tax rebates to the hardworking middle class families of this state. Additionally, his budget still contains almost $5 billion more in taxes on businesses and individuals which will make it even more difficult to recover from these tough economic times. At the same time, the Democrats from New York City are actively pursuing a payroll tax at our expense to bankroll the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. This plan would have an excessive and unfair impact on suburban workers and commuters. Last week, I joined with my colleagues in the Senate to unveil a budget plan that lays out a blueprint that can help our economy recover without resorting to the harmful taxes and fees that drive people out of our state. This plan will allow the state to make critical investments in education, health care and jobs while providing the tax relief residents need. The three Democrats from New York City need to come out from behind closed doors and tell the people of this state what they plan to do about the rest of the budget. Gov. Paterson, Speaker Sheldon Silver and Majority Leader Malcolm Smith need to put their budget proposals on the table so we can begin a truly public debate on how best to address our budget needs and the needs of the state going forward. Sen. John J. Flanagan (R-East Northport)

Photo by D. Willinger

Everybody is Irish A group of men watch as the last of the North Shore St. Patrick’s Day Parade passes their vantage point at a gas station on Route 25A in the business district of Rocky Point Sunday.

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 dave_w@tbrnewspapers.com. Or drop by our news office at 185 Route 25A, Setauket. The opinions of our columnists are not necessarily those of the paper. Times Beacon Record Newspapers are published every Thursday. Address: PO Box 707, Setauket, NY 11733. Telephone: 631-751-7744 Web •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 Dave Willinger 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 Patricia Proven Lisa Steuer John Westermann

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 Bernadette Hyatt Facini John Griffin Robert O'Rourk 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 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • PAGE A23

In post-Madoff world, tarnished trappings of wealth

Class of ‘71 E.L. Vandermeulen High School Port Jefferson, NY

Class of ‘77 Ward Melville High School East Setauket, NY

Leo Sternlicht

Class of ‘80 Ward Melville High School East Setauket, NY

Steve Rothstein

Riverhead F/L/M, Owner

Riverhead F/L/M, Sales Mgr.

Class of ‘77 Ward Melville High School East Setauket, NY

Malcolm Germaine

Riverhead F/L/M, Pre-Owned Sales Mgr.

Gabriel Tangredi

Riverhead F/L/M, Sales Associate

Class of ‘86 Ward Melville High School East Setauket, NY

Marc Donin

Riverhead F/L/M, Finance Manager

With the closing of your local Lincoln/Mercury dealers, you might have concerns about the service and maintenance of your Lincoln and Mercury vehicles. Fear no more! We all grew up here and went to school here, and we all still live here. As good neighbors, we promise that we will pick-up your vehicle from your home or business, have it serviced and return it to you, because as good neighbors, that is the least we can do.

The New

2009 Mercury Milan

0APR %

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60 Months

AVAILABLE UNTIL MARCH 31. 2009

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29 MPG RIVERHEAD FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY

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FREE Oil, Filter and Lube and 29 Point Inspection

FREE Tire Rotation

Check Tire Inflation & 29 Point Inspection

for all North Shore and Smithtown Lincoln/Mercury Customers

Check Hoses/Belts/Fluids, Check For Leaks, Inspect Brakes, Drivetrain and more.

With Your First Service at Riverhead Ford/Lincoln/Mercury Up to 5 quarts of oil, With Coupon only, cannot be combined. Not valid on Diesel Engines. Expires 03/31/2009

With Coupon only, cannot be combined. Expires 03/31/2009

RIVERHEAD FORD • LINCOLN • MERCURY • SALEEN

Route 58 Riverhead

631-727-2200 One mile East from Tanger Outlet

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PAGE A24 • THE VILLAGE BEACON RECORD • MARCH 19, 2009

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