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PAGE A2 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • December 24, 2020
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Suffolk County Police Major Case Unit detectives are investigating a hit-and-run crash that killed a man in Stony Brook during the morning hours Dec. 20. Ronald Destefano, 54, of Lake Grove, was crossing Route 347 from south to north at Hallock Road when he was struck by a westbound vehicle that fled the scene. A passing motorist called 911 at approximately
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December 24, 2020 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • PAGE A3
County
As Cases Rise, Front Liners Share Their Stories With COVID From Helper to Patient, Then Back to Helper, Part 2 of 2 BY DANIEL DUNAEIF DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM Health care professionals often sympathize with their patients, offering support as they deal with painful and difficult symptoms. With COVID-19, some health care professionals in the local area also became patients themselves. Feliciano Lucuix, Gene Rogers, two patient care assistants at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center, shared their experiences with TBR News Media.
Feliciano Lucuix
Feliciano Lucuix, whose last name is pronounced like “lou quicks,” battled through COVID-19 in the first few weeks after the pandemic hit Long Island. A patient care assistant at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center, she was in a restroom in March with a COVID-19 patient who vomited on her. Days later, she said she had a high fever and struggled to breathe. When her symptoms started, she had a 99.7-degree fever and pain throughout her body. She lost her sense of smell and her fever climbed to 102.8. She took a COVID test, which would take three days to provide results. Before her diagnosis, she reached a point where she couldn’t tolerate losing her appetite and having her throat “feel like sandpaper,” she said. Lucuix, who never smoked and practices yoga twice a week and swims, drove herself to the hospital, where she remained for six days, from March 24 through March 30. During that time, her daughter and son couldn’t visit. Her son called every day and spoke to the nurses. Lucuix said he didn’t believe her when she said she was okay. The son also spoke with the doctor, who said his mother’s condition was improving. While she endured challenging symptoms and discomfort, she appreciated the help and attention she received. “Everybody take care of me wonderful,” said Lucuix, who was born in Argentina to an Italian mother and a French father and speaks Spanish, Italian, English and some French. Even after she left St. Catherine, she couldn’t return to work for 37 days, as she traversed the
St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center patient care assistants Feliciano Lucuix, left, and Gene Rogers, right, both contracted COVID-19 during the early stages of the pandemic. They hope their stories will help convince people of the need to slow the spread of the virus. Photos from St. Catherine hospital
slow road to recovery. During Lucuix’s rehabilitation, her son, whose wife had his first child and Lucuix’s fourth grandchild, urged her to consider retiring. Lucuix couldn’t wait to return to the COVID floor at St. Catherine. She has used her experience to offer patients on her floor empathy and support. “I tell my patients, I take their hands, I say, ‘Listen, I was in there, too. I know what you’re feeling,’” she said. “I know you’re scared. I know you’re feeling you can die. If I can do it,” then the patient can, too. COVID-19 continued to affect her in other ways, even after her fever broke and she started to recover. Lucuix had headaches and started to lose her hair. She also had trouble sleeping, as viral nightmares interrupted her rest. Her doctor recommended that she speak with a therapist. “I feel more comfortable every day,” she said. Lucuix does what she can to protect herself, including taking vitamins, using personal protective equipment and washing her hands regularly. Lucuix shares her experiences with her coworkers and her patients. She has also donated her antibody-filled plasma twice. “I donated blood so other people can survive,” Lucuix said. “I’m proud to do that.” Lucuix’s daughter, who works as a Patient Care Assistant, is following in her footsteps, and has been applying to nursing programs and is studying to become a registered nurse. Lucuix added that her granddaughter is also considering the same field.
They would “like her to follow” in their footsteps, Lucuix said. Lucuix said she is prepared to help patients during the second wave, which started to hit the Long Island community amid the colder weather and as families and friends gather in smaller groups. “I’m ready to fight again,” Lucuix said. “I want to be strong for my patients, strong for my family.”
Gene Rogers
A patient care assistant at St. Catherine of Siena Medical Center, Gene Rogers started to feel ill March 23. He had a 101-degree temperature and was told to take a few days off, drink plenty of fluids, and take Motrin. He locked himself in his room, in case he had COVID, preventing his wife Bethan Walker-Rogers, their 16-year old son Phoenix and 10-year old son Charlie and even his dogs from having any contact with him. Two days later, he was so uncomfortable that he decided he needed to go to the hospital. Walker-Rogers asked if she wanted her to drive him, but he said she should stay home and take care of their younger children. The Rogers also have an older child, Maya, who is 21. As he drove, Rogers said he felt the car swerving when he passed a police officer. “I was shocked he didn’t pull me over,” Rogers said. When he arrived at St. Catherine, his temperature had spiked to 103.8. Mary Jane Finnegan, Chief Nursing Officer at St. Catherine, offered Rogers reassurance. “I don’t remember the whole thing about the ER that night,” Rogers said. “I remember [Fin-
negan] coming over to me and saying, ‘We’re going to take good care of you.’” Like Lucuix, Rogers had no appetite. He was also having trouble breathing. The nurses kept telling him to lay on his stomach. He had an odd sensation in his feet and was achy. He was in the hospital for eight days. Rogers felt that the entire staff lived up to Finnegan’s promise. When he had a fever of 104.1, the nurses put ice packs under his arms. “I’m putting them at risk while they are taking care of me,” he thought to himself on the bed. “Everyone I see, I try to say, ‘Thank you.’” Walker-Rogers works in the dietary department at St. Catherine. Even while he was in the hospital, she couldn’t visit. She did walk by and look in the window, but she wasn’t allowed in. Rogers entered the hospital on March 26 and was discharged April 3. Although he was eager to return to work, a low-grade fever and, eventually, double pneumonia, kept him out for seven weeks. Yet again, he isolated from the family and his dogs, who were scratching at the door regularly to see him. During the worst of his condition, Rogers lost 35 pounds, which, he said, he has since regained. Rogers added he never considered leaving his profession or St. Catherine. “The people here are like my second family,” said Rogers, who has been at St. Catherine for 35 years. “I see them more than I see my own family.” Rogers’s mother, Janice Foote, who lives in Raleigh, North Carolina, suggested that it might be time to retire or to do something else. He said he had to return. “I love my job,” Rogers said. “I enjoy what I do. I couldn’t wait to come back.” When he started to work, Rogers said he was short of breath from running around. Recalling the uncertainty and difficulty he and his family faced when he was sick, Rogers said his wife asked him what she’d do if anything happened to him. During the worst of his experience, Rogers said his oldest daughter Maya got so upset that she had to leave and take a walk. As for how the experience affected him professionally, Rogers said, “you definitely look at it from a different perspective, being in someone else’s shoes.” Rogers described himself as the type of person who is always asking if a patient needs something else. “It look at it even more now, after being to that point” with his own illness, Rogers said. Rogers’s daughter Maya, a junior at St. John’s University in Queens, is following in her parents’ footsteps. A biology major, she aspires to be a physician and is leaning towards emergency medicine.
PAGE A4 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • December 24, 2020
County
Locals Share Experiences with Police at 6th Precinct Task Force Meeting BY KYLE BARR KYLE@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM
Members of a task force meant to offer reforms to Suffolk police met with community members in the 6th Precinct Dec. 8 through Zoom to listen to concerns. As part of the Suffolk County Police Reform & Reinvention Task Force, members have been hosting Zoom meetings for each of the town’s seven precincts plus East End towns for community comment. Members of the task force include everyone from Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart and Suffolk police union president Noel DiGerolamo to NAACP chapter president Tracey Edwards and Daniel Russo, administrator of As-
signed Counsel Defender Plan of Suffolk County. In a meeting that went on for just under three hours and had over 150 participants Dec. 8, many in the community expressed some fear and apprehension surrounding police, often with people of color citing a different experience with law enforcement members than their white neighbors. A few others shared their general support for police and expressed their thanks for officers’ involvement in the community. Erica Rechner, director of Opportunities Long Island, which tries to connect youth in underserved communities with jobs in the unionized construction industry, said she mostly works with many young people of color in communities who live in areas with high unem-
Jennifer Sinz (middle) with two volunteers before her restaurant and shelter closed. Photo from Sinz
Selden Cat Café, Animal Shelter to Close BY CHRIS CUMELLA DESK@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM
While pet services have managed to thrive during times of needed companionship, others have seen heavier tribulation due to the coronavirus crisis. Reflecting on their beginning back in 2017, Jennifer Sinz, owner of AllAboutPets, a nonprofit animal rescue organization, and Kitten Kadoodle Coffee Café, in Selden prepares to close a chapter of her legacy. “We had to close our affiliated cat café a few months ago at the beginning of November,” Sinz said. “I thought we could continue with the rescue, but my landlord changed his mind about lease prices and kept raising them.” She and the organizations had to decide whether to stay or not before their landlord’s deadline in November — Sinz chose the latter. Kitten Kadoodle and AllAboutPets subsist on volunteers only — there is no staff working for pay, but rather only for the animals’ affection and the reassurance of finding safety and homes for their furry friends. The café offers an ambiance of several different cats roaming around the premises. The customers are encouraged to interact with them, as they enjoy lunches, coffee and other other flavored shakes such as cookies n’ cream, peanut butter, coffee, caramel, mint chocolate chip and classics, chocolate, vanilla and strawberry.
COVID-19’s expansive reach has dwindled the number of volunteers attending both services from dozens to only one or two a day, according to Sinz. In preparation for closing, Sinz said AllAboutPets has managed to find homes for most of their animals. The bunnies, ducks and chickens have been adopted out, in addition to all the dogs in the fall. All that remains are a few of the kittens that Sinz said she plans to take if they cannot get them adopted. Until next year, Sinz will return to fosterhome-based sheltering and past and current volunteers of the organization. She reflected a sense of resilience and hope in knowing that many rescues had to close their doors due to COVID. Still, they would not add themselves to the statistic yet. Aside from finding chickens and roosters that were abandoned along the sides of roads during May and June, Sinz’s proudest moment was taking in five mother cats that were dumped in the same block. She brought all five cats and their litter back to the shelter at the same time. “We never gave up with rescuing,” she said. “When so many other people struggled, we took them in.” April Zabinsky, a customer and volunteer, said so many animals were able to find incredible homes in the short time the cafe was open. “Its closing will certainly leave a void in the community and in my life,” she said.
ployment, and some come to her with criminal records. The interactions she said she’s had with police have been much different than those of her young clients. “Their experience with the police department is not one me or my family recognize,” Rechner said. “My experience has been one of safety and security — I’m a white woman. At some point in their shared experiences the police officers are verbally abusive and often escalate to the use of excessive force. There are numerous instances of physical injury while in custody.” She said she asked these young people to share their experiences at the public sessions, but practically all declined, fearing retaliation. “Their experience has taught them the police are not meant for them or their community,” she added. Odalis Hernandez, a graduate program administrator at Stony Brook University, said she was once stopped by police officers at night “with multiple police officers shining a flashlight in every window and asking for my ID and documents,” adding she felt she was being treated as up to no good from the get-go. “I know of others who have been through much worse,” she said. “We can’t deny that those problems exist, and we need to hear that from all our precincts and leadership. We can’t let the police have a political affiliation because that disenfranchises people in the community.” Hernandez said such things as bias and de-escalation training should not be a oneand-done class but should be a continuous dialogue for police. Others criticized the Suffolk School Resource Officer Program, with some speakers saying such officers statistically lead to more physical confrontations and create more of a school-to-prison pipeline. Others said such officers target students who are people of color and treat them differently than white students for the same offenses. Michelle Caldera-Kopf, an immigration lawyer and managing attorney for the Safe Passage Project, said that SROs have caused “the wrongful detention and deportation of our students.” She said such officers have shared information about students with immigration authorities, sometimes over the heads of law enforcement. Others indicated more positive interactions with police. Rob Taylor, a member of the Citizens Academy Alumni Association, said police already do a lot of things in the community people are not aware of. “Suffolk County has gone through a lot of changes over the years, especially since around 2014 — they’re all EMTs, they’ve undergone crisis training,” he said. Gail Lynch-Bailey, president of the Middle Island Civic Association, said that with whatever reforms take place, “I hope we don’t lose what’s already working in these relationships — community policing is still essential.”
Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart said in the task force meeting Dec. 8 some suggestions have already been implemented at the department level. File photo
She added that police should look for uniformity on how crime data is presented and distributed at civic meetings, with more emphasis on displays and data-driven dialogue, such info to be published for all to see online. “Real police reform must be data driven, and that data has to include honest breakdowns of who is being charged and where those charges are taking place,” she said. Brookhaven Town Councilman Kevin LaValle (R-Selden) said there should be efforts to expand the positive interactions between community and police, some of which includes just talking about what may be going on in people’s neighborhoods. “These are all things why we need to have our police department out there, doing events, interacting, because that really supports the mission our police department is here to do,” he said. Others shared their desire for those Black and brown voices in the community to be heard. Erin Zipman, from Stony Brook, said police need to listen to those, envisioning a future where we don’t have to endanger the lives of citizens or officers, and instead focus on treating “the roots of problems instead of punishing them.” The task force is part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D) New York State Police Reform and Reinvention Collaborative. This executive order, originally signed in June, cites that every police agency must make a comprehensive review of police departments and their procedures, and address the needs of the community to promote “trust, fairness and legitimacy, and to address any racial bias and disproportionate policing of communities of color.” The county has an April 1, 2021, deadline to create its reform plan for its police department to be eligible for future state funding.
Perspective
December 24, 2020 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • PAGE A5
Your Turn: Working the Census During a Pandemic
The 2020 Census couldn’t have come at a I was issued a badge, a preprogrammed iPhone 8 and a messenger bag filled with various more inconvenient time. I was one of the half million people em- information sheets and a clipboard. In past deployed by the U.S. Census Bureau this year cades the clipboard would’ve gotten more use. But this is the first year that the Census enlisted in the follow-up operation for non-respondents. When I applied to be an enumer- Bureau was collecting data digitally, allowing ator in Suffolk county in January, I couldn’t people to respond online, and enumerators to imagine that I would be going door to door in use mobile apps to record data. Enumerators no longer had to just record inthe midst of a pandemic. formation with a pen and paper When Census Day on their clipboards. came April 1, enumerators With the unpredictability were set to start visiting of the pandemic, no one knew the homes of millions of when and if in-person operanon-respondents, but in pertions would continue, but in son operations were postAugust I received a phone call poned indefinitely as many asking if I would be willing to states entered lockdowns. work for 4-8 weeks depending Around the same, the buon when the count would be reau formed an outreach completed. I began working in and ad campaign to encourthe Stony Brook area less than age Americans to respond ten minutes from my home. online for the first time, or The number of cases I was asby phone or mail. signed ranged from 20 to 70, When drafting the Iryna Shkurhan depending on how many hours Constitution, the nation’s of availability I entered. Some founders mandated a count of the populace to be held every decade, start- days when I would work eight hours, I was asing in the 1790s, with the main goal of get- signed up to 80 nonresponse follow up cases. While on duty I imagined how different it ting a count of every single person living in the United States. Included was questions on must have been to be an enumerator ten years age, sex, race, relationship in the household ago, before technology made the role much and home ownership form data that paints a simpler. Now all I had to do was click on an assigned case and the GPS would direct me picture of who makes up the country. This information is crucial to determine there. If a resident was home and willing to congressional representation and allocating respond, the questions and answer options hundreds of billions in federal funding, for would pop up in the correct order on my education, hospitals, roads and healthcare. The screen. I never had to write anything more data that will directly affect the resources that than a case number on paper. The apps on the communities across the country will receive issued iPhone were used to report for work, for the next decade. For a government to view assignments, track hours and mileage, represent people and fairly fund its programs, and navigate to households. The biggest challenge I ran into was a it has to know how many people there are and where they live, making the census initiative reluctance to answer. In the 20 hours of virtual training, I was taught the appropriate recrucial for democracy. Enumerators typically work in their sponse for almost every type of reason a percommunities because their familiarity with son is hesitant to share information, whether the area helps in locating homes and also it’s privacy concerns, or distrust of the govestablishes trust and mutual understanding ernment. But many people were set in their with respondents. Still, the questions are decision and refused to cooperate, with many personal, and not everyone wants to share that disputing my attempts at easing their fears and persuading them to cooperate. information with a stranger. Enumerators also had a list of addresses to I always let people know that they had the option to refuse a question, if they were stay away from, which were marked as dangernot comfortable answering. The question that ous. These cases were marked with a caution mattered most was how many people lived in sign on the map and signified that the resident a household, which was used for the popula- was hostile, or violent in some way to an enution count. The other questions had their own merator. In some cases, people were physically threatened and yelled at, and we were discourimportance, but less so.
aged from attempting these homes alone. I witnessed a polar difference between the people who were happy to answer any questions and viewed it as a civic duty and those who avoided us at all costs and slammed the door in my face. I understood that people’s attitudes to their personal data was shifting, but living in a polarized county where the census became politicized didn’t help. With disinformation about the census floating around, explaining the purpose of the census, and the importance of each question, became a main part of my job. Another challenge was the technical difficulties that came with digital collection being implemented for the first time. Issues were bound to come up during the transition, but there were times where mid interview, the phone would crash, and I would have to restart all over. Other times my cases wouldn’t load, or I was sent to homes that were already visited by a dozen enumerators, with residents not hiding their annoyance. The sense of urgency was made apparent by higher ups as they offered incentives to work overtime and on weekends, when people were more likely to be home. Several bonuses were offered for working more than forty hours a week, and working Sundays and nights came with a higher pay rate. Initially, we had to request permission for overtime, but within a week that was scrapped. We were encouraged to work as much as possible to ensure everyone was counted. Once Setauket and neighboring regions were fully completed, I was sent out farther east to Riverhead, then farther to Orient and Mattituck. After the entirety of Suffolk County was counted, enumerators were offered to drive to other states, as far as Alabama to help complete the counting efforts there. One overnight shift was set aside to count the homeless population, which the pandemic made harder to account for. The Census was also forced to come up with new ways to count college students, who many towns depend on to get the adequate funding. In the few weeks I worked as an enumerator, there were difficult days but also rewarding ones. A certain satisfaction came with finally getting to interview a household that kept reappearing on my case list. With each case I closed, we came closer to reaching the goal. Little acts of kindness like some people offering to put their masks on, or a chair to sit on and a drink on a hot day, went a long way. Iryna Shkurhan is a junior at Stony Brook University majoring in journalism and an incoming editorial intern for TBR News Media.
Town
Brookhaven Awarded Grant for Sound Education Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) announced Dec. 21 that the town was awarded a 2020 Long Island Sound Futures Fund matching grant to fund the town’s Coastal Environment and Community Resilience Education Program. The Town will match the $8,799 grant with $4,450, making the total conservation impact $13,249. The grant combines funds from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. “The Long Island Sound is vital to the ecology and economy of Brookhaven town and it is our goal to preserve it for future generations,” Romaine said in a release. “Thanks to the Long Island Sound Futures Fund grant, we will continue to increase public awareness and encourage participation in our environmental protection efforts in the town.” Brookhaven’s year-long Coastal Environment and Community Resilience Education Program will run from Jan. 1, 2021 through Dec. 31, 2021. The goal is to foster conservation by bringing people to the Long Island Sound or by bringing the Long Island Sound to the people. The town’s environmental educator will conduct presentations paired with hands-on activities tailored for each audience at public libraries throughout the Town of Brookhaven. Presentations and tours will include detailed descriptions of the intricate balance of the coastal ecosystems, the wonderful flora and fauna on the shore, dunes and salt marsh, and the positive and negative impacts of human activity in these places. The program will also include informative, guided tours of Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai, including the town’s Marine Environmental Stewardship Center and shellfish and eel grass restoration projects. There will also be nature tours for people of all ages and hands-on conservation programs with the Junior Environmental Stewards at Mount Sinai Harbor and West Meadow Beach in Stony Brook. The series will create more sustainable and resilient communities by increasing knowledge and engagement of the public in the protection and restoration of the coastal environments of Long Island Sound.
PAGE A6 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • December 24, 2020
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December 24, 2020 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • PAGE A7
PAGE C2 • CLASSIFIEDS • December 24, 2020
WE ARE:
CONTACT US:
BASIC AD RATES • FIRST 20 WORDS
The Village TIMES HERALD The Village BEACON RECORD The Port TIMES RECORD The TIMES of Smithtown The TIMES of Middle Country The TIMES of Huntington, Northport & East Northport
TBR News Media 185 Route 25A (Bruce Street entrance) Setauket, NY 11733 Call: 631-331-1154 or 631-751-7663
1 Week $29.00 4 Weeks $99.00 DISPLAY ADS Call for rates.
SPECIALS*
tbrnewsmedia.com
Š98619
GENERAL OFFICE 631–751–7744 Fax 631–751–4165
This Publication is Subject to All Fair Housing Acts OFFICE HOURS Monday–Friday 10:00 am–4:00 pm
*May change without notice REAL ESTATE FREE FREE FREE ACTION AD 20 words Merchandise DISPLAY ADS $44 for 4 weeks under Ask about our for all your used $50 15 words Contract Rates. merchandise 1 item only. EMPLOYMENT GARAGE SALE Fax•Mail•E-mail Buy 2 weeks of ADS $29.00 Drop Off any size BOXED 20 words Include Name, ad get 2 weeks Address, Phone # Free 2 signs with free placement of ad
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class@tbrnewsmedia.com CONTACT CLASSIFIEDS:
(631) 331–1154 or (631) 751–7663 Fax (631) 751–4165 class@tbrnewsmedia.com tbrnewsmedia.com
The Classifieds Section is published by TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA every Thursday. Leah S. Dunaief, Publisher, Sheila Murray, Classifieds Director. We welcome your comments and ads. TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA will not be responsible for errors after the first week’s insertion. Please check your ad carefully. • Statewide or Regional Classifieds also available - Reach more than 7 million readers in New York’s community newspapers. Line ads 25 words : Long Island region $69 - $129 – New York City region $289 - $499 – Central region $29 - $59 – Western region $59 - $99 - Capital region $59 - $99 – all regions $389 - $689 words. $10 each additional word. Call for display ad rates.
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The following are some of our available categories listed in the order in which they appear. • Garage Sales • Computer Services • Announcements • Electricians • Antiques & Collectibles • Financial Services • Automobiles/Trucks etc. • Furniture Repair • Finds under $50 • Handyman Services • Health/Fitness/Beauty • Home Improvement • Merchandise • Lawn & Landscaping • Personals • Painting/Wallpaper • Novenas • Plumbing/Heating • Pets/Pet Services • Power Washing • Professional Services • Roofing/Siding • Schools/Instruction/Tutoring • Tree Work • Wanted to Buy • Window Cleaning • Employment • Real Estate • Cleaning • Residential Property • Commercial Property • Out of State Property DEADLINE: Tuesday at Noon
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PAGE A8 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • December 24, 2020
December 24, 2020 • CLASSIFIEDS • PAGE C3
E M PL OY M E N T / C A R E E R S Help Wanted
Help Wanted
$18.50 NYC, $16 L.I. & up to $13.50 Upstate NY! If you need care from your relative, friend or neighbor and you have Medicaid, they may be eligible to start taking care of you as a personal assistant under NYS Medicaid CDPA Program. No Certificates needed. Phone: 347-713-3553
Š108618
Part-Time/Full-Time Laboratory Aide for private medical laboratory in Riverhead to work with biopsies and chemicals and has knowledge of computers.
needed to perform janitorial duties in a building or facility. Applicant must have 2-5 years cleaning experience. Must be available Mon.-Fri. for 3-6 hrs/day. Pay rate is $16-$19/hr.
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Call 631-591-1086 or email pathrecruiter@gmail.com
Decks DECKS ONLY BUILDERS & DESIGNERS Of Outdoor Living By Northern Construction of LI. Decks, Patios/Hardscapes, Pergolas, Outdoor Kitchens and Lighting. Since 1995. Lic/Ins. 3rd Party Financing Available. 105 Broadway, Greenlawn. 631-651-8478. www.DecksOnly.com
MR SEWERMAN CESSPOOL SERVICE All types of cesspool servicing, all work guaranteed, family owned and operated since 1985, 631-924-7502. Licensed and Insured.
Clean-Ups LET STEVE DO IT Clean-ups, yards, basements, whole house, painting, tree work, local moving and anything else. Totally overwhelmed? Call Steve @ 631-745-2598, leave message.
Electricians
BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG
small space
Š105751
BIG
RESULTS
BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG BIG
SOUNDVIEW ELECTRICAL CONTRACTING Prompt* Reliable* Professional. Residential/Commercial, Free Estimates. Ins/Lic#57478-ME. Owner Operator, 631-828-4675 See our Display Ad in the Home Services Directory
St. James-Village Head of the Harbor Tuesday & Thursday 9 am - 2 pm Evening Court Session 3rd Thurs/month Responsibilities will include maintenance of records and general clerical duties as Court Clerk. Qualifications include excellent verbal and written communication skills and exceptional customer service. Ability to type +35 WPM and general computer knowledge is required. Strong organizational skills with attention to detail are essential; must be able to prioritize and multitask. Vehicle and Traffic Court experience preferred but will train.
Email rĂŠsumĂŠs & salary requirements to vhohhr@gmail.com
Š108517
EXECUTIVE CHEF
Suffolk County established caterer (35+ years) with clients from Montauk to Manhattan. Immediate opening for culinary professional with minimum 6 years off-premises catering experience. Will be responsible for maintaining menu & brand identity, ensure food is prepared properly, aesthetically pleasing, and manage kitchen operations and staff (under 10). Collaborate with management on inventory, budget, and food presentation. New American cuisine. Plant-based, Latin & Asian a plus. Responsibilities include: Purchase food & supplies from vendors approved by the company; monitor & track inventory (minimize waste, ensure quality & freshness); develop menus & create new dishes seasonally; hire, train & supervise kitchen personnel; stay current on industry trends; identify new culinary techniques & presentations; assist kitchen staff with food prep; strong knowledge of food handling health code regulations; provide direction & supervision to kitchen staff. Weekly hours vary from 40-60 hours to include Saturday & some Sunday events. Compensation negotiable.
Call 631-334-3263 • juliannabudd23@gmail.com
Š107889
YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154
SERV ICES Cesspool Services
WANTED – P/T COURT CLERK
Š102894
Š108616
OLD FIELD CLUB TENNIS PROFESSIONAL. Looking for an enthusiastic individual w/min 2 yrs. exp, USPTA Certification, coaching exp./college play. Must be available 5/1/21 to 9/30/21. See Display Ad for more Info.
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Š108621
PUBLISHER’S EMPLOYMENT NOTICE: All employment advertising in this newspaper is subject to section 296 of the human rights law which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, creed, national origin, disability, marital status, sex, age or arrest conviction record or an intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination. Title 29, U.S. Code Chap 630, excludes the Federal Gov’t. from the age discrimination provisions. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for employment which is in violation of the law. Our readers are informed that employment offerings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis.
PT CLEANER to perform janitorial duties. 2-5 years experience needed. Mon-Fri 3-6 hrs daily. Contact Mr. Barge at tbarge49@gmail.com. See Display Ad for more information. WANTED P/T COURT CLERK Tuesday & Thursday 9:00am-2:00pm St James-Village of Head of the Harbor. Send resume & salary requirements to vhohhr@gmail.com See our display ad for more information. WANTED PT/FT LABORATORY AIDE private medical laboratory in Riverhead. To work with biopsies and chemicals and has knowledge with computers. Call 631-591-1086 or email: pathrecruiter@gmail.com
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We are seeking an enthusiastic individual with a passion for the sport who has demonstrated the ability to promote the game of tennis, develop and participate in tennis programs and knows how to plan events for adults and juniors. This Head Pro position will be responsible for supervising adult and junior tournaments, providing lessons, managing court reservations, enforcing club rules and regulations, and supervising special tennis functions. Qualifications: Minimum 2 years experience as a tennis pro or in a similar role. Certification as a Professional by U.S. Professional Tennis Association required. College tennis playing or coaching experience is a plus. Must be available May 1, 2021 through September 2021. How to apply: Please email your cover letter and resume to Kelly Mason at kamason19@aol.com  Relocation Costs and Housing Assistance Not Provided
Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154
Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154 Fences SMITHPOINT FENCE. DEER PROBLEM? WE CAN HELP! Wood, PVC, Chain Link, Stockade. Free estimates. Now offering 12 month interest free financing. Commercial/Residential. 70 Jayne Blvd., PJS. Lic.37690-H/Ins. 631-743-9797 www.smithpointfence.com.
Floor Services/Sales FINE SANDING & REFINISHING Wood Floor Installations Craig Aliperti, Wood Floors LLC. All work done by owner. 28 years experience. Lic.#47595-H/Insured. 631-875-5856
Furniture/Restoration/ Repairs REFINISHING & RESTORATION Antiques restored, repairing recane, reupholstery, touch-ups kitchen, front doors, 40 yrs exp, SAVE$$$, free estimates. Vincent Alfano 631-707-1228
Gutters/Leaders GREG TRINKLE PAINTING & GUTTER CLEANING Powerwashing, window washing, staining. Neat, reliable, 25 years experience. Free Estimates. Lic/Ins.#31398-H. 631-331-0976
TO SUBSCRIBE CALL 631.751.7744
101871
Heating/Cooling HEATING SPECIALIST FOR ALL HEATING SERVICES Installations and repairs for Boilers, Oil tanks and Hot Water Heaters. 10 years of excellent experience. See Display Ad for more info. Call 631-704-0218
Home Improvement ALL PHASES OF HOME IMPROVEMENT From attic to your basement, RCJ Construction www.rcjconstruction.com commercial/residential, lic/ins 631-580-4518. BLUSTAR CONSTRUCTION The North Shore’s Most Trusted Renovation Experts. 631-751-0751 We love small jobs too! Suffolk Lic. #48714-H, Ins. See Our Display Ad
Home Improvement LAMPS FIXED, $65. In Home Service!! Handy Howard. My cell 646-996-7628 THE SIDING SPECIALISTSWINTER SALE GOING ON NOW siding, trim work, windows, repairs, gutters, leaders, capping V&P Siding & Window Corp 631-321-4005 Lic/Ins Lic# 27369-HI
Lawn & Landscaping SWAN COVE LANDSCAPING Lawn Maintenance, Clean-ups, Shrub/Tree Pruning, Removals. Landscape Design/Installation, Ponds/Waterfalls, Stone Walls. Firewood. Free estimates. Lic/Ins.631-689-8089
December 24, 2020 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • PAGE A9
PAGE C4 • CLASSIFIEDS • December 24, 2020
SERV ICES
Landscape Materials SCREENED TOP SOIL Mulch, compost, decorative and driveway stone, concrete pavers, sand/block/portland. Fertilizer and seed. JOS. M. TROFFA MATERIALS CORP. 631-928-4665, www.troffa.com
CARL BONGIORNO LANDSCAPE/MASON CONTRACTOR All phases Masonry Work:Stone Walls, Patios, Poolscapes. All phases of Landscaping Design. Theme Gardens. Residential & Commercial. Lic/Ins. 631-928-2110
Miscellaneous DISH TV $59.99 For 190 Channels + $14.95 High Speed Internet. Free Installation, Smart HD DVR Included, Free Voice Remote. Some restrictions apply. 1-888-609-9405 GET DIRECTV! ONLY $35/month! 155 Channels & 1000s of Shows/Movies on Demand. (w/SELECT All Included Package). PLUS Stream on Up to FIVE Screens Simultaneously at No Additional Cost. Call DIRECTV, 1-888-534-6918
Painting/Spackling/ Wallpaper ALL PRO PAINTING INTERIOR/EXTERIOR Power Washing, Staining, Wallpaper Removal. Free estimates. Lic/Ins #19604HI 631-696-8150. Nick BOB’S PAINTING SERVICE 25 Years Experience. Interior/Exterior Painting, Spackling, Staining, Wallpaper Removal, Staining and Deck Restoration Power Washing. Free Estimates. Lic/Ins. #17981. 631-744-8859 COUNTY-WIDE PAINTING INTERIOR/EXTERIOR Painting/Staining. Quality workmanship. Living and Serving Three Village Area for over 30 years. Lic#37153-H. 631-751-8280
Power Washing
Painting/Spackling/ Wallpaper LaROTONDA PAINTING & DESIGN Interior/exterior, sheetrock repairs, taping/spackling, wallpaper removal, Faux, decorative finishings. Free estimates. Lic.#53278-H/Ins. Ross LaRotonda 631-689-5998 WORTH PAINTING “PAINTING WITH PRIDE� Interiors/exteriors. Staining & deck restoration, power-washing, wallpaper removal, sheetrocktape/spackling, carpentry/trimwork. Lead paint certified. References. Free estimates. Lic./Ins. SINCE 1989 Ryan Southworth. See Display Ad. 631-331-5556
EXTERIOR CLEANING SPECIALISTS Roof cleaning, pressure washing/softwashing, deck restorations, gutter maintenance. Squeaky Clean Property Solutions 631-387-2156 www.SqueakyCleanli.com POWERWASHING PETE Sanitize your home professionally- house, deck, fence, roof, driveway, pavers and outdoor furniture. $50 off any job! Free Estimates. Call 631-240-3313. Powerwashpete.com. See Display Ad for more Info.
Tree Work
CLASSIFIED DEADLINE
is Tuesday at noon. If you want to advertise, do it soon!
631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154
RANDALL BROTHERS TREE SERVICE Planting, pruning, removals, stump grinding. Free Estimates. Fully insured. LIC# 50701-H. 631-862-9291
PROF E S SION A L & B U SI N E S S Place Your Ad in the
FREE
Single size • $228/4 weeks Double size • $296/4 weeks Ask about our 13 & 26 week special rates
ALWAYS BUYING • Glassware • Military Items • China • Anything Old or Unusual
• Old Mirrors • Lamps • Clocks • Watches • Furniture
(631) 751.7663 or (631) 331.1154
LICENSED & BONDED
Call 631-633-9108
Š108135
ARBOR-VISTA TREE CARE A COMPLETE TREE CARE SERVICE devoted to the care of trees. Maintenance pruning, water-view work, sun-trimming, elevating, pool areas, storm thinning, large tree removal, stump grinding. Wood chips. Lic#18902HI. Free estimates. 631-246-5377 SUNBURST TREE EXPERTS Since 1974, our history of customer satisfaction is second to none. Pruning/removals/planting, plant health care. Insect/ Disease Management. ASK ABOUT GYPSY MOTH AND TICK SPRAYS Bonded employees. Lic/Ins. #8864HI 631-744-1577 YOUR AD COULD BE HERE! CALL 631.331.1154
Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154 PAGE P
Blues Man Piano Tuning Brad Merila Certified Piano Technician 6 Barnwell Lane, Stony Brook
631.681.9723
bluesmanpianotuning@gmail.com bluesmanpianotuning.com Š108286
FROM HUNTINGTON TO WADING RIVER
ADVERTISE YOUR BUSINESS Place your Display Ad in one of our Service Directories for 26 weeks & get 4 weeks FREE Bonus!
Appear in all 6 of our papers for 1 price! Receive a Free 20 word line ad under our service column listings! Check out our Internet site: tbrnewsmedia.com & find your ads!
Call Our Classifieds Advertising Department • 631–331–1154 or 631–751–7663
Š102082
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Buy 4 weeks and get the 5th week
Tree Work
Š105748
SETAUKET LANDSCAPE DESIGN Stone Driveways/Walkways, Walls/Stairs/Patios/Masonry, Brickwork/Repairs Land Clearing/Drainage,Grading/ Excavating. Plantings/Mulch, Rain Gardens. Steve Antos, 631-689-6082 setauketlandscape.com Serving Three Villages
Masonry
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Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154
PAGE A10 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • December 24, 2020
December 24, 2020 • CLASSIFIEDS • PAGE C5
AUTOMOTI V E SERV ICES 8QK\]ZM AW]Z )]\W ;WTL
Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154 PAGE C
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Š107058
HOME SERV ICES
Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154 PAGE F
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The Village TIMES HERALD • Stony Brook • Strong’s Neck • Setauket • Old Field • Poquott
The Port TIMES RECORD • Port Jefferson • Port Jefferson Sta. • Harbor Hills • Belle Terre
The TIMES of Smithtown • Smithtown • Hauppauge • Commack • E. Fort Salonga • San Remo
• Kings Park • St. James • Nissequogue • Head of the Harbor
tbrnewsmedia.com
PICK-UP & DELIVERY
• Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing • Upholstery • Table Pads • Water & Fire Damage Restoration • Insurance Estimates Licensed/Insured
11733 • Phone# 631.331.1154 or 631.751.7663 The TIMES of Middle Country • Selden • Centereach • Lake Grove
The TIMES of Huntington, Northport & East Northport • Cold Spring Harbor • Lloyd Harbor • Lloyd Neck • Halesite • Huntington Bay • Greenlawn
• Centerport • Asharoken • Eaton's Neck • Fort Salonga -West
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TIMES BEACON RECORD NEWS MEDIA • 185 Rte. 25A, Setauket, N.Y. • Miller Place • Baiting Hollow • Sound Beach • Mt. Sinai • Rocky Point • Shoreham • Wading River
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December 24, 2020 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • PAGE A11
PAGE C6 • CLASSIFIEDS • December 24, 2020
HOME SERV ICES
Place your ad today Call 631.751.7663 or 631.331.1154 PAGE A
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PAGE A14 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • December 24, 2020
Editorial
Letters to the Editor
Making the Old New Again Giving Props to Brookhaven’s Recent Efforts
If only every main road could be a downtown. The ones we know and love, the ones with walkable streets, sights to see, unique restaurants to eat at, a feeling that life is being lived there at every level. Though of course anything is better than driving down the highway and passing by the umpteenth empty strip mall, with enough “for rent” signs to recreate a new mall entirely. And it makes it that much more glaring when it seems every developer focuses on the new — of a new apartment complex or a new shopping mall or a new medical park — all ignoring the multitudes of empty complexes dotting the Long Island landscape. New development, especially that which plows ahead without concern for the neighborhood, next leads to issues of congestion and the impact on the environment. Meanwhile, local electeds are vying for shrinking pots of funds to buy up and preserve land that keeps the environmental vistas, as we have on the North Shore, viable and serene. There will never be enough money to buy up every stretch of forest or meadow or beach. Reporting on North Shore Long Island sometimes feels like watching a hoard of starving animals vying for the smallest strip of meat, as discarded carcasses rot not 5 feet away. That’s why the Town of Brookhaven’s plans for a so-called commercial redevelopment district zoning are so interesting, because it seems like one of the few real efforts we at TBR News Media have seen toward incentivizing rebuilding instead of new development. Though we also hope that such developer incentives can find ways around abuse, especially when too many developers are already incentivized to build with things like Industrial Development Agency tax deals. Brookhaven’s proposed CRD special zoning, as proposed, will only be available to those property owners who can prove they are redesigning aging property with walkability, livability and commercial interests all in one. Such applications for that special zoning will also be at the discretion of the Town Board. If the idea pans out, it could mean a massive push toward revitalization in places such as Port Jefferson Station. If it does what it’s intended to do, other towns like Smithtown or Huntington, who are suffering their own ills of vacant stores and strip malls, could adopt something similar as well. It would be nice, for a change, to hear from a developer about redesigning an eyesore rather than the usual plan to pave paradise to put up a parking lot. Though we also have to share our reservations. Developers are already well incentivized throughout Suffolk County to build anew, especially with a multitude of deals coming from IDAs at both the county and town level. In Port Jefferson, for example, every single new apartment complex in the past several years has been given a payment-in-lieu-of-taxes deal by the Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency. While IDA board members say such projects will contribute to the economy, these new developments hardly add any significant job numbers to the local economy once the building process is complete. Brookhaven’s CRD zoning intends that developers will get more leeway on applications for rebuilding based on location or how many amenities there are — such as green space or places for social activity. The risk is that these same builders will find ways to take advantage of these deals while still getting IDA money. Such a new zoning will need even greater scrutiny on applications than is already happening at the town level. A bike rack here or there isn’t worth as much to a community as a new location’s property taxes. Still, overall, we think this could be a great leap in the right direction. We hope both local developers and local government are up to the task of revitalizing the commercial areas too long neglected.
Kudos are in order for Brookhaven town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) and the Brookhaven town board. During this pandemic crisis, where municipal revenue shortfalls are widespread and employment remains at seven percent, Brookhaven town has taken the necessary, but never easy, steps to reduce the financial burden facing its residents. While municipalities across the nation look to substantially raise taxes to offset COVID-19 induced deficits, Brookhaven town has chosen to limit spending and reduce its workforce. Furthermore, they are introducing creative ways to
generate additional revenue by looking to repurpose abandoned and/or tired commercial properties that may harm the surrounding community. The establishment of “floating zones” will spur economic development, leading to job creation, improved home values and, most importantly, provide a means of reducing the tax burden for the residents of Brookhaven. As town hall creates a Long Island model for others to follow, a hat tip is in order. Kyle Strober Executive Director Association for a Better Long Island Hauppauge
Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine (R). File photo
Electeds Should Have Pensions Capped if Arrested The recent arrest of Suffolk County Legislator-Elect Nicholas Caracappa and the arrests of Suffolk County Legislators Rudy Sunderman (R-Shirley) and William “Doc” Spencer (D-Centerport) are deeply troubling. Our elected officials must be held to the highest standards and accountable to those who placed their trust in them to act as an example while serving the public. We must all denounce the crimes they are accused of, recognize that there may be victims that need help, and acknowledge that persons accused of criminal acts are entitled to due process. And, state law must be changed to protect taxpayers. According to police, Caracappa was arrested related to a domestic incident. Domestic violence is a very serious problem and a national health concern having significant negative impacts on individuals, families, and our communities. It is a primary cause of injury to women in the U.S. One in three women and one in four men have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner. Domestic violence can cause short and longterm physical and mental health problems, and in some cases results in victims being murdered. Domestic violence also affects children, who when exposed have a higher risk for long-term physical and psychological problems including depression and anxiety. We must all denounce domestic violence, ensure victims receive services (victim service provider budgets are being cut by up to 25% because of a lack of government funding due to COVID), and support the law enforcement and criminal justice professionals that investigate and prosecute offenders. Breaking the cycle of
domestic violence must be a priority. According to prosecutors, Spencer was arrested for attempting to trade oxycodone pills for sexual favors with a woman he thought was a sex worker. The opioid epidemic continues to take the lives of many of our loved ones on Long Island. We must continue to recognize and support the extraordinary efforts of the District Attorney’s office and law enforcement to hold criminals accountable no matter who they are or what their walk of life is when they engage in conduct that increases addiction and contributes to overdose deaths. According to prosecutors, Sunderman is accused of perjury and ethics crimes relating to allegedly holding two paying public jobs at once which is not permitted. A grand jury indicted Sunderman on five felony counts of perjury and misdemeanor ethics charges. Although these types of charges may appear to be victimless, they are not. These laws are in place to prevent potential conflicts of interest for lawmakers, prevent corruption, and protect the public trust. Public officials facing criminal charges stay on the job because state law allows it and they can remain in office unless they’re convicted of a felony or for crimes that violate their oath of office. Staying in office while awaiting a trial also allows these officials to continue to collect their salaries, which for Suffolk County legislators, who work part-time, is $100,854 a year, and allows them to continue to set policy, enact laws, and maintain leadership positions while continuing to build their pensions. State law must change to prevent this.
If convicted, a judge can, but is not required to, strip or reduce the pension of a public official convicted of a felony that had a “direct and actual relationship to the performance of the public officer’s existing duties.” In other words, if a county legislator is convicted of criminal sale of a controlled substance they would not likely be stripped of their pension, a pension that accrued while they were in public office earning a salary while defending criminal charges against them. Elected officials who are arrested for a felony or a crime related to a sex offense or domestic violence, should have their pensions and paid time off accruals capped at the time of their arrest. If that elected official is convicted and not subject to losing their pension because of the narrowly drawn state law, they should be required to repay any public salary collected and lose any paid time off accruals from the day of arrest or indictment to the day of conviction. If they are acquitted their pension and paid time off accruals during that time period would be fully restored. All of us, including elected officials and party leaders, must publicly condemn the crimes that these public officials are being accused of, support any potential victims, ensure that prosecutors and law enforcement continue to have the resources they need to protect the public and hold offenders accountable, acknowledge that everyone is entitled to due process, and change state law to protect taxpayers. Laura Ahearn Executive Director Crime Victims Center
The opinions of columnists and letter writers are their own. They do not speak for the newspaper.
December 24, 2020 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • PAGE A15
Opinion
Yoda, Jack Ryan and Jane Craig Drop By for a 2021 Chat
I
have brought three fictional characters in to discuss their thoughts for 2021. Please welcome Yoda from the “Star Wars” series, Jack Ryan from Tom Clancy books, and Jane Craig from the film “Broadcast News.” I will call you all by your first names. Well, except for you, Yoda. TBR: After such a tumultuous 2020, I wanted to ask you what you all thought would likely happen next year. D. None Yoda: Tough to say, the future is. If the of the above answers you don’t BY DANIEL DUNAIEF like, the questions you must change. Jack: Look, I’m not sure what we’re doing
here, but I think the vaccine offers real hope for change. Your world, such as it is, should be able to move in the right direction. Jane: The trends at this point are horrific. You have enormous numbers of positive tests each day, hospitalizations are up and the number of dead continues to rise. TBR: Yoda, you’re kind of off point and sound like a backwards fortune cookie. Jack, I appreciate the optimism and Jane, I think you’re focusing on the negatives. Jane: We can’t preclude the possibility that the positive infections will continue to climb for months. While it’d be swell to have a big party to celebrate the vaccine and the return to whatever version of normal each of us has, it’s important that we protect ourselves and our families. Jack: She’s right. Everyone doesn’t have the vaccine and everyone hasn’t taken it, which means we won’t reach herd immunity for a while. While this is killing the entertainment industry, among so many others, it’s necessary
for us to sit tight for a while. At the same time, we need to consider the possibility that other governments will become opportunistic about this messy transition at the White House. We need to protect ourselves and remain vigilant. This is a dangerous time, in so many ways, and we need to analyze all kinds of traffic. Yoda: Know something about vigilance, do I. Messy, this world has become. Goodness, hope and optimism, there remains. Effort to get there will it take. TBR: Jane, this question, in particular, seems right up your alley. What do you think about the news business in 2021? Jane: I’m not going to lie to you, it’s been a tough year for everyone, particularly in the news business. We are not the enemy. When we do our jobs well, people get to hear the truth. They can make informed decisions that affect their lives. Are there problems? Of course, but that doesn’t make the entire industry corrupt, any more than it would in any other business. Yoda: Inside each of us, the enemy resides.
Confront it, we must. Jack: I’ve dealt with journalists all the time. They are a competitive group, I’ll give them that, but they are necessary to shine light, at the right time, on everything from the fight against the virus to the battle against corrupt governments. TBR: Do you think we’ve learned any lessons from 2020? Jack: It’s been a brutal year and so many people have lost so much. The numbers don’t tell the entire story. We can only live with what we know: we can protect ourselves and our family through policies that have nothing to do with politics. Careful analysis and science brought us the vaccines. We need to make informed decisions about using them. Jane: Exactly my point, Jack. We can and should make informed decisions, which the media, at its best, can support. Yoda: Mistakes, everyone makes. Opportunities to learn, we have. Family and those fortunate enough to share life with us, we must cherish.
COVID-19 and the Winter Solstice: Twin Turning Points
O
ne of my favorite days occurred this week. It is the winter solstice, usually considered to be Dec. 21 or 22. Why do I like that day, you might wonder? Some people think of it negatively as the shortest day of the year. In New York, the night was 14 hours and 45 minutes, shorter than in Minnesota at 15 hours and 50 minutes but longer than Miami at 13 hours and 28 minutes. For me it marks the turning point of Between the seasons, when each subsequent you and me day then begins to BY LEAH S. DUNAIEF have more light. Darkness will be lifting over the next six months, gradually but definitively. And for COVID-19, the pandemic of the century, it
is a perfect metaphor. The vaccine is arriving at winter solstice with the promise that the disease, like the days, will lighten. The vaccine is the match that will eventually banish the darkness. People all over the world, since the beginning of recorded history, have lit fires to ward off the night. It is not a coincidence that the birth of Jesus is celebrated at this time. Houses and trees are brightly decorated with all manner of lights. Hanukkah candles burn brightly at this same time, and in an 8-day sequence, as if prophesying the gradual lighting up of the days. Diwali is a five-day festival of Hindus, Sikhs and others, pushing back the night and celebrating the coming of more light. So will the vaccine, perfectly timed, gradually vanquish the pandemic over the same next few months. Just as a point of information, I looked up the meaning of winter solstice and found the definition as the time during the earth’s orbit around the sun at which the sun is at its greatest distance from the celestial equator. So the other part of the shortest day is the
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winter season that we have to get through with its long days before we can enjoy more brightness and warmth. And we will also have to endure more illness and death from the novel coronavirus before we can recapture the world as we have known it. We will have to hold on, using our various strategies for survival, until what has been described as the unending “snow days” of lockdown yield to recovery. Winter can be thought of as a time of intense cold, of scarcity, of starkness and even of death of the earth. But the earth has not died. It is merely resting, and all who live on it are forced to slow down until light and warmth bring growth. For us humans, it can be when we nest with our families, play games, watch movies, tell stories about our ancestors and fill the house with the smells of stick-tothe-rib cooking. Unfortunately, we have been doing just that, unwillingly, for the past 10 months. But the warmth and the light inside the home are especially welcome now that the wind is howling and the snow is sticking. When we were in Alaska some years ago,
EDITOR AND PUBLISHER Leah S. Dunaief GENERAL MANAGER Johness Kuisel MANAGING EDITOR Kyle Barr EDITOR Julianne Mosherß
LEISURE EDITOR Heidi Sutton EDITORIAL Julianne Mosher ADVERTISING DIRECTOR Kathleen Gobos
many of the residents we met said that winter was their favorite season, when members of the community come together indoors to socialize and look after each other as the elements rage in the darkness outdoors. This winter, we will be coming together via zoom and the other miracles of modern technology. As the earth lies fallow, we can just rest. Or we can evaluate our lives and priorities, learn things that, like planted seeds, will flower in the warmth and light of the spring. We can certainly straighten out our closets and desk drawers, if we haven’t already. All the while, we can follow the guidelines of the scientists and physicians and keep ourselves safe for the spring. This is my last column of the year. The next issue, of 12/31, will be entirely filled with stories about those heroic and tireless residents who kept life going in 2020 and richly deserve to be honored as People of the Year. We here at TBR News Media wish you and your loved ones holidays that are happy and safe. We look forward to rejoining you next year.
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PAGE A16 • THE TIMES OF MIDDLE COUNTRY • December 24, 2020
Town
Community members showed up to support a now-famous community member Dec. 18 as they drove by 15-year-old Carter Rubin’s house to shout their support and praise; right, Legislator Sarah Anker, left with scarf, presents a proclamation to Rubin alongside his parents and older brother. Photos by Julianne Mosher
SWR Community Welcomes Home Teen Sensation Carter Rubin BY JULIANNE MOSHER JULIANNE@TBRNEWSMEDIA.COM Long Island’s very own Carter Rubin is back home and was greeted with a parade in his honor. The 15-year-old winner of NBC’s “The Voice” was welcomed home Friday with a caravan of people supporting and cheering on the newest local celebrity. Carter, of Shoreham, won the national singing competition during Tuesday’s series finale, as a representative of Team Gwen, headed by singer Gwen Stefani. On Dec. 18, several dozen cars lined up outside Shoreham-Wading River High School with signs and balloons, ready to surprise the sophomore outside his home. Also greeted by media, as Carter hosted interviews alongside his family, firetrucks, the local police and community members shocked the young singer with a warm welcoming. They held signs out of their car windows, handed him balloons and flowers, and yelled their joy for achieving a huge feat. “I’m still in shock, I don’t think it really hit me yet,” the ecstatic and overwhelmed Carter said. “My feet have not touched
the ground. I’m still trying to comprehend what happened.” Since October, the young singer was traveling back and forth from his Shoreham home to Los Angeles to participate on the show. During the initial audition, Stefani and fellow judge singer John Legend both wanted the then-14-year-old on their teams. He chose the No Doubt singer, making this her first win on the show. After touching the hearts of both the judges and America as a whole, Carter is now able to share what he loves with the world, his mother, Alonna Rubin said. “It’s pretty awesome,” she said. “We’re so happy to be able to see him do what he loves and make so many people happy.” Throughout the competition, he often dedicated his performances to his autistic older brother, Jack, who was back home watching his little brother shine on the small screen. “I’m just so happy for Carter that he won ‘The Voice,’” he said, smiling. “It felt so good to see him on TV.” Their mother is an advocate for the autism community and is founder of the local nonprofit Families in Arms, which helps support families of children on the spectrum.
The father said it was hard having his son and wife across the country, but FaceTime helped, and even the distance was well worth it to watch Carter shine. “Watching him just do the work, perform and step up was amazing,” David Rubin said. “But he really made a big impact on people which is, as his parents, really incredible.” Along with his new title as the show’s Season 19 winner, he also was awarded $100,000, a trip to Universal Orlando and a contract with Republic Records. Carter added that his next steps are to start writing his own music and start performing when COVID is done. “I want to get in the studio and record music to put out there for everyone,” he said. “Once COVID is over, I want to perform.” He’s been performing for years, though, his grandfather Ric Mango said. Mango, who was a member of 1960s group Jay & the Americans, said that Carter had opened up for him and his own band since he was 6 years old. “He’s a great kid,” the proud grandfather said. “He’s great inside and out, and he’s going to be an idol.” When Carter and his mother headed home Thursday night, family friend and Shoreham
Civic Organization president, Mike Goralski, knew he wanted to do something special for the teen. “I’ve been friends with the family for a little more than 12 years, and I felt as though something should be done because he’s a wonderful kid,” he said. “The family, from the kids to the grandparents, are great people.” So Goralski recruited local elected officials and the rest of the community to give Carter a big hello. Suffolk County Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mount Sinai) presented “The Voice” champion with a proclamation to congratulate him on his achievement. “This is the best holiday gift ever,” Anker said. “We really need this, and Carter is the perfect person to provide this excitement. His heart is so warm, his courage is so strong, and his belief that you can follow your dreams has made such a difference, not just for him, but for everyone.” And while his personality shined on stage, he was still in disbelief he won this honor and received all this love from his neighbors. “It feels amazing,” he said. “I’m just so grateful for all the outpouring support in the middle of a global pandemic.”