Brookhaven Messenger Aug. 17, 2023

311 Call Center to Serve as Antisemitism Hotline

By Matt Meduri

Suffolk County’s 311 Call Center program was started in 2019 to offer non-emergency inquiries and government services and information to anyone who calls the line. The purpose of the 311 line was to alleviate non-emergency calls from the 911 line.

Essentially, the 311 Call Center has served as a point of contact between a resident and Suffolk County itself. Those who call the line can receive information and help including, but not limited to, county services and parks, tax filings, elected official directories, and similar forms of information. 311 operators are trained to direct calls to proper departments, especially 911 if a situation is deemed to be an emergency.

County leadership launched the plan on the basis that it would save taxpayer time and money to properly route calls, as well as alleviate public safety concerns by wasting time of 911 operators.

Now, four years after its creation, the 311 Call Center will serve, in addition to its current resources, as the county’s antisemitism hotline, to which callers can anonymously report acts that are considered antisemitic to the county for further review and investigation, if necessary.

“No matter how small, report it all,” was the operating line for Tuesday’s press conference at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge. County Executive Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon) headlined the initiative and the press conference and was joined by a large group of individuals who serve on various boards and committees concerning Jewish people and interests.

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By Matt Meduri

The wild weather of mid-to-late summer can be as harsh as it is unpredictable. A warm, sunny day can easily turn into a near-tornado of cataclysmic proportions before the lawn chairs can be taken in and the outdoor furniture can be covered. Smithtown, Brookhaven, and Islip are no strangers to these quickly-formed storms, as Ronkonkoma saw a tornado barrel down Portion Road in August of 2019, and Manorville saw an EF-0 twister later that season.

Although the last couple weeks has not seen quite as severe storms as summers’ passed, Ronkonkoma has seen some heavy thunderstorms and torrential rain that develops swiftly and moves even faster

Lake Ronkonkoma itself was no exception at the beginning of the month, as a sailor was caught in a flash storm, who required the help of not only the local fire department, but also a local man who was properly equipped to give immediate assistance.

Leif Easterson of Ronkonkoma sat down with The Messenger to discuss the unusual event in which the Lakeland Fire Department approached him for assistance to help a sailor who became stranded in the Lake during the wild storm.

“I was just in my backyard at the time and I had these firemen come up asking if I could help save someone in the water,” Easterson said.

Easterson, an avid sailor himself, described the origin of the incident:

“It was the typical flash storm, it was beautiful and sunny with some chance of thunderstorms, but in a moment’s notice the sky turned gray and we had a pretty bad storm rolling in. The sailor on the Lake was riding a skip sailboat, which is basically a row boat with a sail, and he got caught in the high winds and the mast came down.”

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Rescue on the Lake: Local Man Helps F.D. Save Lake Ronkonkoma Sailor

Task Force Members of the 311 Antisemitism Hotline

(Photo right) Easterson’s pontoon boat, Thora, immediately after reaching shore after the rescue (Credit: Leif Easterson)

311 Call Center to Serve as Antisemitism Hotline

“In Suffolk County we strongly condemn hate, racism, violence and bigotry directed towards any community in this county,” Executive Bellone. “Unfortunately, antisemitism is something We have continued to see in our region, our country, and our world. That’s why we have to remain vigilant in identifying what antisemitism is, what it looks like, and how it impacts so many. Despite the efforts of every single person, hate and bigotry continue to find many platforms, which are used to perpetuate fear, hostility, and falsehoods, with antisemitism being one of the oldest and most insidious forms of such abhorrent conduct.”

Bellone mentioned how in 2021, Suffolk County, under his leadership, became the first county in the nation to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. The non-legally binding definition of antisemitism is listed on the IHRA website as: “A certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”

“Through 311, we can better document and track these occurrences, allowing us to act proactively towards eliminating antisemitism in our community,” said Bellone. “By coming together and standing united against, we can ensure a safer, brighter future for all in Suffolk County.”

Suffolk Legislator Jason Richberg (D-Babylon) of the Fifteenth District spoke after Executive Bellone, highlighting the speedy development of the antisemitism hotline:

“I think we had about twelve meetings about this, and they were the twelve fastest meetings,” said Richberg. “When folks were in these meetings, they were asking questions about the right folks to bring to the table and providing public safety. Sometimes we see something out of the corner of our eye and we think it doesn’t matter, that’s not the truth. The truth is that small actions have led to larger actions throughout our history that have been destructive to many different peoples.”

In addition to remaining vigilant in identifying and reporting these instances to the police, Richberg said solutions can be found in education:

“We need to have an education campaign to tell people this is not right, this is not fun, this isn’t a joke. These hateful jokes, sayings, and symbols are emotional scars and bring up generations of trauma.”

Alan Richter, Chairman of Suffolk County Jewish Advisory Board said: “Just about every day, we see media reports of antisemitism somewhere in the world, sometimes delivered as hate speech, sometimes as violence, and sometimes with deadly consequences. The 311 initiative is part of a multilayered approach driven by forward-thinking leaders of this county.”

According to the Jewish Advisory Board website, the board was established in 2013 by Executive Bellone to “ be a community liaison to the county executive and advocate on behalf of the JewishAmerican population of Suffolk County.”

Mindy Perlmutter, Executive Director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island (JCRC-LI) said that in order to adequately respond to antisemitic displays in Suffolk County, the task force had to “know the numbers.”

“What we were seeing is that people are not reporting to 911, for whatever reason, unless it was a true emergency. But whenever they would see something that would upset them, such as a swastika on a building, it would go unreported. We are very grateful to the 311 Center to allow us to add onto an existing service; it’s much easier to do something like this. Now that we’re able to see the numbers as they show, where we’re seeing these, what kinds of issues we’re seeing and then determine the best way to combat these issues,” said Perlmutter.

Eric Post, Long Island Regional Director for the American Jewish Committee (AJC) said: “As per AJC’s Annual State of Antisemitism in America Report

communities and schools. Too often, we drive, bike, or walk by something and we think to ourselves ‘who should I call, or what should I do?’ We’re making it easy for you with 311. If you don’t call, don’t assume someone else is going to call. We need that information.”

A Q&A panel ensued after the press conference, where Bellone and others answered questions. Answers revealed that the 311 operators are being trained to handle these specific calls and that the data from this particular hotline will be made public at some point. There are fifteen 311 operators, with the line being operational seven days a week, 9:00a.m.-6:00p.m. Monday-Friday, and 9:00a.m.-4:00p.m. on weekends.

One question posed the hypothetical scenario of a high school student making crass comments and if that is an incident that would be escalated. Bellone said the incidents will be handled on a case-bycase basis at the discretion of professionals:

“Sometimes it’s malicious, sometimes it’s with intent, and sometimes it’s from a lack of understanding. It comes from a place of ignorance rather than hate.”

Alan Richter said that the “die-hard haters should be punished, and those who are ignorant acting from a place that is not malicious should be educated.” He referenced the eleven modern examples of antisemitism on the IHRA website, which range from promulgating stereotypes of Jewish people controlling world media and finance to denying the “fact, scope, mechanisms (e.g. gas chambers) or intentionality” of the Holocaust. The full list can be accessed at: https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/resources/workingdefinitions-charters/working-definition-antisemitism.

in 2022, 84% of American Jews who experienced antisemitism did not report it to the authorities. With this staggering, it’s not only impossible to help victims, it is difficult to know the extent of the problem and how to allocate government resources. The 311 reporting line will make it easier for county residents to report antisemitism and will lead to a better understanding of the nature of the problem and how to go about solving it. A key component is school-aged children, who we hope we can better protect in schools.

Rick Lewis, Executive Director of Suffolk Young Jewish Community Center (Y JCC) said: “One of the things we do every day is fight antisemitism. We do that by educating young people, we talk to them about the Holocaust, tolerance, and hate, and we ask them to take that information back to their

Many speakers, including Bellone, mentioned the idea of escalating offenses, which start as small, seemingly innocuous jokes or displays that eventually become dangerous. When asked about this phenomenon, Bellone said it’s “intuitive that people who engage in certain criminal and deplorable acts have likely engaged in acts that were smaller than that, and they have taken steps towards that. That is, generally speaking, a logical assumption.”

This is essentially the basis of the task force, to collect data on smaller instances to potentially prevent much more heinous acts from being committed in the future.

While Bellone and each speaker referenced their optimism about the program, they all individually stressed that emergency situations should always be forwarded to 911.

Other attendees included: John Kaiman (D-Great Neck), Deputy County Executive; Olga El Sehamy, Assistant Deputy County Executive; Anthony Carter, Southampton Police Chief and Deputy Commissioner Suffolk County Police Department; Nancy Quattrociocchi, Commander of the Hate Crimes Unit; Viviana Russell, Director of Suffolk 311; Michelle Herman, Vice Chair of the Suffolk Jewish Advisory Board; Neil Smullian, a member of the Suffolk County Jewish Advisory Board; and Avi Posnick, StandWithUs Northeast Director.

(Left to right) Southampton Police Chief Anthony Carter, County Executive Steve Bellone, Legislator Jason Richberg

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Good Ideas Might Set A Bad Precedent

In a world of modern technology, instant and infinite information, and more connection to each other than ever before, we have a front row seat to inventions, ideas, developments, and opinions that no previous generation has ever been afforded. The world is so much more connected now than ever before that there’s almost no excuse to live in echo chambers or remain in the dark on certain topics.

That said, with such an endless stream of information, it’s also difficult to ascertain what’s legitimate, what might be exaggerated or anecdotal, or even pure propaganda. Parsing information takes more time and effort nowadays because everyone can have an opinion instantly shared with the world. While that in and of itself is a beautiful concept, some opinions or ideas might be misguided, misdirected, or uninformed, while also not being objectively right or wrong. If an opinion was objective, then it would fit the binary form of truth or fiction. Therefore, no matter how egregious or baseless an opinion might be, it cannot, by virtue of itself, be wrong or right.

This concept segues into new ideas and plans for our future, either on the global scale or just what happens in your neighborhood. Again, combing through information is much more difficult and time-consuming since we not only live in a world of sensationalist media, but we also have access to opinions we might not have ever considered or imagined.

With all this said, it’s important to note that while some ideas are truly wellintended with no ulterior motives, there might be an unspoken or unintentional precedent being set on which future generations will be keen to capitalize. The altruism of today can easily become the nightmare of tomorrow.

This week, Suffolk County announced that the 311 call center typically used for county information and non-emergency situations can now be used to report antisemitic incidents and acts. Calls are placed anonymously and the data will be logged with the county’s hate crime unit and police department to determine the best path forward for the case, which may or may not include further investigation or even legal action.

The objective of the county is to prevent small, seemingly-innocuous acts, such as insensitive jokes, imitations, or use of offensive symbols, from gradually becoming more dangerous or even violent acts in the future. County Executive Steve Bellone said that connection is “logical” and the county acknowledges those small acts might be more ignorant or uninformed rather than malicious or intentionally harmful. Exact data was not produced at request.

We certainly believe no one should have to face discrimination based on race, religion, or other similar characteristics, and we certainly do not think that the county’s effort is based on micro-managing individuals’ thoughts and beliefs for the sake of itself. However, we would like to express a healthy amount of caution as to what precedent this agenda could set.

The United States is a unique country in that the First Amendment protects almost all forms of speech, including hate speech. While this does not make hate speech morally correct, it puts a check on the government’s ability to enforce laws against those who voice opinions, which, again, are not objectively right or wrong, no matter how reprehensible they might seem. Of course, this does not account for immediate rules, such as workplace codes of conduct, which are perfectly acceptable and logical.

The same cannot be said for the United Kingdom or Australia. Under Part 3 of the United Kingdom’s Public Order Act of 1986, when “expressions of racial hatred, which is defined as hatred against a group of persons by reason of the group’s colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins,” are conducted by person who knowingly “uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour, or displays any written material which is threatening, abusive or insulting,” to do such things, the maximum penalty is seven years imprisonment, a fine, or both.

Australia’s Racial Discrimination Act of 1975 makes it “unlawful for a person to do an act, otherwise than in private, if the act is reasonably likely, in all the circumstances, to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate another person or a group of people; and the act is done because of the race, colour or national or ethnic origin of the other person, or of some or all of the people in the group,” and even has provisions for offenses committed over the Internet.

While Suffolk County’s antisemitic task force means well, exact punishments for reported hate speech were not properly defined and will likely be developed after the program fields a respectable amount of data. Officials did say that county resources would be used to track incidents. Even with the laudable goal of preventing larger, more dangerous offenses, Suffolk residents can report each other and likely see their behavior become tracked.

The point is: we would caution the county to put checks on their power to ensure it does not become a de facto speech police or thought police.

Again, The Messenger does not condone any forms of hate or discrimination, but we would caution the government’s position in policing expression.

You Are Not On Your Own

A large aspect of today’s world is living in a nearconstant state of fear and anxiety. Unnecessarily amplified by technology’s unrealistic demands of having us instantly accessible all hours of the day, it’s unfortunately complemented by a world of business, politics, and media that runs on fear and panic. There’s so much more positive news in the world than meets the eye and it’s because our world is run by people who rather that news not meet our eyes.

Instead, the plan is to keep everyone in a constant state of crippling fear and anxiety, which breeds depression, anger, paranoia, and burnout. As governments, corporations, and celebrities try to be the touchstones for morals, ethics, and best social practice, we stray further from an objective truth. As information becomes more accessible and as opinions become more ubiquitous, it’s often difficult to know what’s “right” and what’s “wrong,” especially since mass preference can change on a dime. This type of moral relativism that changes with the times cannot possibly foster a smart and stable society.

That is not the world that was designed for us and that is not the world we should be leaving for our generation.

It almost seems that there is too much confusion as to why our kids are more anxious and hopeless than the kids of generations passed. It makes much more sense when children are raised by computer screens, sometimes in broken homes. It makes sense when we teach our children to hate themselves, hate their country, and hate everything that the future holds, but it ultimately does not matter because the world will end in ten years. It makes sense

when we teach our children that the same forms of social sectionalism we fought to upend just fifty years ago are now preferred by some in the upper echelons of society.

It makes sense, ultimately, when we rely on ourselves. A compass cannot point to itself for guidance, a map cannot route to itself for directions. If we subjectively define our own truths based on what “feels right” or is deemed acceptable, then the truths of today become hearsay tomorrow. That’s always how it has been. Four hundred years ago, the practice of slavery was viewed by many as perfectly fine and even customary. Now, we couldn’t imagine a world in which the slave trade endures - it does, those same aforementioned powers would prefer you don’t know about it. In the same way, our virtues of today may possibly be criticized by our descendants.

Seeking a higher power, a divine, intelligent, mediator who created you with a purpose and this world with a plan is much easier than leaving it all up to chance, that everything came from nothing, and that order followed chaos. Even if those two points are true, the world still feels hopeless and pointless.

Government can try to play God, but they cannot be God. For them, as long as you don’t know the difference, they can laugh all the way to their thrones in Switzerland at the World Economic Forum (WEF).

For those who acknowledge that government can never be their God, they can find peace at home in Coram, or maybe Nesconset, and cast aside the corruption and superficiality of today’s world.

Electrifying the Port Jefferson Branch of LIRR

By Anthony Figliola

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. In the pursuit of progress, inaction and complacency are the only true enemies.

Several years ago, I found myself engaged in a discussion with Charles Lefkowitz, the Three Village Chamber of Commerce President, and Mitch Pally, then an MTA Board Member. The subject? The potential electrification of the Port Jefferson line from Huntington to Port Jefferson.

What is railroad electrification? It is the process of powering trains using electricity from a third rail, instead of relying on diesel engines. It allows trains to run cleaner, faster, and more efficiently, making them a more eco-friendly and effective mode of transportation.

The seeds of this initiative were sown in my days at Stony Brook University, where Professor Mitch Pally shared with my class the challenges faced in the 1980s in getting this project off the ground. A pressing issue then was the absence of a location to house the trains. Today, that issue may be a thing of the past.

We formed the North Shore Business Alliance, a loose group of volunteers and elected officials that shared a unified support for exploring this electrification. Leaders like Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine and Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim stood with us. The chambers of commerce from various communities along the rail line, such as Three Village, Port Jefferson, Smithtown, St. James, and Kings Park became our steadfast allies. Through collaborative efforts with State Senator Ken LaValle and State Senate President John Flanagan, funding was earmarked in the MTA capital budget for a feasibility study.

A significant breakthrough came with the prospective transfer of the Lawrence Aviation site, a contaminated property, to the Suffolk County Landbank. Through bipartisan cooperation, this site, once remediated, is expected to host the MTA train yard.

Today, we stand at a crossroads. The Suffolk County Department of Economic Development and the New York Metropolitan Transportation Council have jointly rolled out an online survey for residents to voice their opinions on the future of electrification along the Port Jefferson LIRR line. This feedback will be invaluable for the impending economic feasibility study.

This is the link to the survey: www.anthonyfigliola.com/ pj-survey.

You can also scan this QR code with your phone camera to access it on your phone.

Questions explore transit habits of Suffolk County

It is the process of powering trains using electricity from a third rail, instead of relying on diesel engines. It allows trains to run cleaner, faster, and more efficiently, making them a more eco-friendly and effective mode of transportation.

residents and if their current transportation needs are being met. Examples include how often you ride the LIRR, what makes you ride a certain line over others, and what would need to change to attract you to another line. Though the feasibility study’s insights are eagerly awaited, the potential of laying an additional track for simultaneous East and Westbound trains is something many would like to learn more about.

The merits of electrification are multi-fold:

Environmental Benefits: Electric trains, unlike their diesel counterparts, will not emit carbon, leading to a cleaner environment.

Economic Development:

More trains in operation can rejuvenate towns, drawing younger families who work in the west. It holds promise for Kings Park’s rejuvenation and the forthcoming revitalization plans for St. James and upper Port Jefferson village and Port Jefferson Station business areas.

Reduced Road Congestion: Electrification will facilitate smoother commutes and shorter times for Stony Brook University and University Medical Center affiliates, reducing the vehicular pressure on our roads.

Improved Connectivity:

Residents can enjoy uninterrupted rides to prominent stations such as Penn Station and Grand Central Station.

But, at its core, the decision to proceed hinges on one key element: the community’s consensus.

The essence of democracy lies in discussion, debate, and collective decision-making. This project, while promising, won’t move an inch without the community’s thorough examination of its pros and cons, and a unified decision on the best way forward. As we anticipate the feasibility study, it’s crucial to remember that its findings, however detailed, serve as a guide. The real decision-makers are the residents of Suffolk County.

I actively encourage every resident to not only participate in the surveys but engage in discussions, attend community meetings, and voice their concerns or support. This isn’t merely an infrastructure project; it’s a testament to community-led progress.

The electrification of the Port Jefferson Branch offers a tantalizing glimpse of a more connected and thriving future. Yet, its realization rests squarely in the hands of the community. Let this endeavor be a shining example of democracy in action, as we collectively weigh the challenges and rewards, and decide on the path that best serves the future of our community.

Anthony M. Figliola is a Candidate for the Suffolk County Legislature in District 5.

What is railroad electrification?

LI Life & Politics with Levy

By the Numbers: Millennial Debt, Housing Woes and More

Credit Card, Household Debt Top $1T

Credit card balances increased to $1.03 trillion in the second quarter of 2023, according to the latest report by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. That marked a $45 billion spike from the previous quarter. Credit card debt’s historic rise also represented the largest increase among all debt types analyzed by the NY Fed. In addition, household debt is at $17.03 trillion in the second quarter of 2023, a $16 billion increase from the previous quarter. Source: Javier Simon, “Credit card debt surpasses $1 trillion for Americans: NY Fed,” Fox Business, August 10, 2023

Gas Prices in NYS Are Rising

Gas prices in New York State are at $3.875 a gallon, up 1.2 cents per gallon from last week and 23.8 cents from last month. It is also above the national average of $3.813.

Source: “Fuel Insights,” Gasbuddy.com, August 10, 2023

NYC’s Costs to Bring in Asylum-Seekers Set to Soar

The cost of New York City housing and caring for migrants is expected to reach up to $12 billion by June 2025, with annual costs expected to reach $6.1 billion, up from $2.8 billion this year.

Former Suffolk County Executive and NYS Assemblyman Steve Levy is the copublisher of Long Island Life & Politics.

Source: Arya Sundaram, “NYC’s soaring costs for asylum-seekers now projected to top $12 billion by June 2025”, Gothamist, August 9, 2023

NEW MEMBERS NEEDED AMERICAN LEGION VETERANS STILL SERVING AMERICA

The William Merritt Hallock

American Legion Post No. 155

115 Church Street Lake Ronkonkoma, NY

Is looking for New Members

We meet at the Post twice a month1st Tuesday of the month at 1:00 pm and the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm.

We have a social hour with snack one hour prior to the meeting. Our meetings generally run about one hour. We take part in our local community parades and street fairs. We usually have three social functions with family and friends each year. We participate in a number of patriotic ceremonies. If interested in joining our Post and meeting some fellow veterans, stop by on a meeting day with a copy of your DD214.

MTA Workers Cashing in On Overtime

Eight MTA employees have collected $200,000 in overtime, and 566 employees collected more than $100,000 in overtime. In all, more than 1,100 MTA employees doubled their annual salaries with overtime

9 S. Washington Avenue, Centereach

August 21,2023

2:00pm-8:00pm

Sponsored By Assemblyman Doug Smith, Assemblyman Ed Flood, and Senator Dean Murray

Walk ins are welcome, but appointments are preferred - to sign up please scan the QR code, or call us at 1-800-933-2566, or visit us at www.nybc.org

Any medical questions please call 1-800-688-0900

You can visit our website at: AmericanLegionWilliamHallockPost155.org

Please remember to eat, drink, and have photo ID

Photo: GettyImages

National, State and Local Temperature Checks

By Matt Meduri National

The most shocking and unprecedented national news of the past week has unequivocally been the Hawaii wildfires, which have mostly affected the island of Maui.

by human infrastructure, rather than lightning or other natural causes.

The vast majority of burned buildings and damage costs come from the town of Lāhainā, a historic village on the northwest side of the island of Maui. The town of 13,000 people possesses the lion’s share of the 2,200 burned buildings and 1,000 of the 1,700 missing people.

The Hawaii government local utilities have been criticized for their slow or inadequate preparation and response to the disaster. Residents have claimed that outdoor warning sirens did not sound to alert the public of imminent danger. They’re typically used to warn of hurricanes or tsunamis, so some have argued the sirens would not have been completely helpful.

Locals have also criticized the response efforts after the most severe flames have subsided, stating that obtaining food, water, shelter, gasoline, and other necessities from local and federal agencies has been difficult. They have been more successful with provisions from community and volunteer groups.

“We should all be saying to this president, ‘This is not right.’ We should all be saying this. I have for one year been saying this.”

In a Twitter post from the 2021 mayoral campaign, (pictured top right) Adams wrote on Twitter: “Yes, New York City will remain a sanctuary city under an Adams administration.”

The fires started on August 8 and are still burning but are mostly contained at this point.

So far, 17,000 acres of land have been scorched by the fires, accounting for estimates of $6 billion in damages that are certain to rise over the coming weeks.

With over 2,200 buildings destroyed, and at least 106 casualties, the Maui fires are the deadliest in U.S. history in over 100 years, since the 1918 fires that swept across northern Minnesota claimed over 1,000 lives.

The current wildfire disaster in Hawaii is also the deadliest natural disaster in the state’s history.

With 1,700 people still reported missing, it’s assumed the historic death toll will only continue to rise.

Governor Josh Green (D) is overseeing the recovery effort and has been blunt about the harrowing nature of these fires. A vast majority of the bodies recovered are so badly burned, that they’re not identifiable. It now comes down to genetic testing to identify the deceased.

“We’re asking all of our loved friends and family in the area who have any concern to go get swabbed at the family support center so that we can match people genetically,” Governor Green said.

The estimated cause of the fire is a downed power line, which was exacerbated by dry conditions and highspeed winds from category four Hurricane Dora to Hawaii’s south. Most wildfires are started by people or

Another criticism is that of Hawaiian Electric’s - the utility who provides electricity to about 95% of the state - failure to turn off the island’s main power lines. Since damaged or downed power lines are typically responsible for sparks that start a dangerous blaze in most wildfires, the residents believe that due to dry conditions and Hurricane Dora’s strong winds, the electricity should have been turned off as an abundance of caution.

The only downside of turning off power on such short notice meant it would have precluded fire departments from adequately fighting the fires, as they can require power to pump water.

Hawaiian Electric now faces a class-action lawsuit for their lack of proactivity.

Some groups are accepting donations from the public to aid in the recovery effort. Groups include the Hawaii Community Foundation, the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement, Maui United Way, and the Maui Food Bank. GoFundMe also has a running list of verified fundraisers.

The Messenger wishes to express sincere sympathy and prayers for the state of Hawaii, the island of Maui, and the village of Lāhainā.

State

Tempers continue to flare in New York City amidst the migrant crisis, but this time, residents and even elected officials are taking jabs at one other.

Mayor Eric Adams (D) was confronted by angry Queens citizens who harshly criticized his plan to house 1,000 migrants at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center, with many claiming it will breed crime and drug prevalence, in addition to lowering property taxes. Protestors also accosted Adams with signs that read “one-term mayor.”

It is estimated that the migrant crisis will cost the city $12 billion over the next three years.

Adams dismissed cries to deport the migrants by saying if he did so, he would be federally sanctioned and the city would not receive funding to address the problem.

“I’ve been saying it over and over again. This is going to come to your community. We need to be united together to stop this.”

Adams also said that he inherited a mess that local and federal leaders, including Joe Biden, need to help him address:

Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul (D) is criticizing NYC’s response to the crisis, saying the city should have been more proactive and cooperative with state officials:

“The city can and should do more to act in a proactive and collaborative manner with the state,” said a lawyer for Governor Hochul. “The City did not prioritize this critical effort. Had the City done so, it is likely that thousands more migrants would be able to work today.”

The rare swipe at Mayor Adams from Governor Hochul marks a unique tonal point over the course of the crisis, but is yet another example of New York Democrats’ intraparty fighting since the beginning of this year. Albany leaders delayed the state budget for over a month during the winter sparring over line-item policy provisions.

Local Congressman Nick LaLota (R) of the First District recently met with Save the Sound, a Connecticut-based organization dedicated to preserving and maintaining the Long Island Sound.

LaLota and members from the group discussed his bill H.R. 1584, Plum Island National Monument Act, which he sponsored on March 14. The bill establishes Plum Island, New York, as a national monument for the purpose of ecological conservation, historical preservation, and the discovery and celebration of our shared cultural heritage.”

LaLota wrote on Twitter: “Proud to partner with groups like @SavetheSound to preserve and protect our environment! We’re all working together to ensure Plum Island remains a vibrant ecosystem— free from development— in perpetuity!”

In April, the bill was submitted to the House Subcommittee on Federal Lands.

The views of columnists are their own and not reflective of The Messenger

Aerial images of the village of Lahaina (Credit - Getty Images)

Remains of the village of Lahaina (Credit - AFP via Getty Images)

LaLota Plum Island (Credit - @SavetheSoundTwitter)

Easterson said that patrons at Parsnip’s Pub on Lake Shore Road saw the incident unfold real-time and called emergency services.

However, as firemen got to the boat ramp, they petitioned Easterson for use of his own boat to save the stranded sailor. Easterson’s house is unique as it is only one of three houses to have private boat access to Lake Ronkonkoma.

“I don’t know why they didn’t have a boat of their own, maybe it had to do with the rebuilding of Station No.1 on Johnson Avenue, these guys came from Station No.2 on Motor Parkway. Either way, I was glad to help, it was just unusual,” said Easterson. “They saw my pontoon boat tied up and asked if I could take them out to the sailor, so I got the boat ready and set out onto the Lake with them during the thunderstorm. At this point, it wasn’t super windy but there were still some gusts, as well as lightning and the occasional thunder.”

Easterson also highlighted the potential danger to himself and the firemen due to their situation: “If there’s one place you don’t want to be, it’s on an aluminum boat on a lake during a thunderstorm.”

Easterson further documented the rescue with descriptions of the sailor and his doomed vessel:

“When we got to him, the whole boat was swamped with water, we saw the sailor, we threw him a line, and brought him in,” he said. “He was definitely a little shaken up, but we were talking to him as we rode back to the boat ramp and he seemed fine, no signs of hypothermia or concussion. I believe he declined further care once we got h

Easterson also said that it’s not his first time rescuing people from Lake Ronkonkoma and that other situations have been worse.

“Thankfully, it was summer and the water wasn’t too cold. If this was a winter rescue, he most likely would have been hypothermic by the time we got to him. And in a situation like this, you have to act quick because you never know exactly what happened out on the water. The mast could have fallen on him and he could have suffered head trauma or severe bleeding. You always have to expect the worst.”

Easterson described another rescue on the Lake in which he was involved earlier this year, when two younger sailors had their rubber raft take a puncture. This emergency occurred during the winter, and Easterson said the young men were so cold that they

Easterson also reflected on a time when an ice boat fell through on an early morning.

“I used to work in the city, but in the mornings I would sometimes go out and ice skate on the Lake. I see this ice boat falling through the ice, so I put my skates on and skated out to him to help. It wasn’t a tragedy, he was fine, but all I could think of was if his seat belt was stuck and he was trapped in the boat as it fell through the ice. After I made sure he was fine, I skated back home to catch my train to work.”

$10 Per Person All Ages!

Easterson was invited to the Lakeland Fire Department’s station on Motor Parkway for breakfast the morning after the rescue just two weeks ago.

Easterson has lived in Ronkonkoma since 1987 and has lived in his current house since 1991. He worked for CitiGroup from 1993-2017, a job which allowed him to live in England for three years while he was CFO of their Europe and Mid-Africa division.

Now, as Easterson works from home doing analytics for startup companies, he has more time to himself and more to time rescue endangered sailors on the famous Lake.

Easterson also has ties to Lake Ronkonkoma as he was circumstantially involved in

The Legend of Lake Ronkonkoma: The Lady of the Lake in post-production. Easterson’s house was used as a set, but when an actor didn’t arrive in time to play a recovery scuba diver, Easterson was sized up for the diving suit and earned himself an IMDb credit opposite

A true Lake Ronkonkoma man, Easterson clearly has tendencies to rescue Lake-goers on and off the screen, but more so in reality. Easterson said that to remember this occasion, he will put a sticker of a sailboat on his aluminum pontoon boat.

The Messenger commends his selflessness, resourcefulness, and cooperation, as well as the Lakeland Fire Department for their heroic efforts as well.

Overcoming Axiety in the Era of Clicks, Likes and Swipes

By Dave Hauser

The number one epidemic on Long Island in 2023 is anxiety.

Ever since the advent of social media, COVD-19, economic problems and political division, our culture has been driven by fear in an unprecedented manner. The constant worry of trying to predict the future by drawing from our past makes us feel like we are so out of control of our lives. The need for “likes” on social media artificially medicates us for a short time. The internet is full of quick fixes from addictive games, video sharing websites, pornography and divisive message boards which, on the surface allay our fears, but in reality, augment the panic.

From our experiences working at prayer booths, outreaches and just being in society, we live in a world where prayer is now being commonly accepted. Prayer involves intently listening to people and understanding their pain points in today’s world. It also connects them to God, which is something that is lost in today’s world.

So many people pray - but have no idea they are actually praying - in the form of self-talk. Ask any person that is stuck in traffic on the highway and experiences an immediate need for a restroom what’s going through his or her mind and whom they might be asking for help. Who do people ask for relief when they are pulled over by the police? What are people muttering when money is tight, and they need to pay for something in anticipation of their credit card declining?

All of this is instinctive behavior that is built into us that makes us dependent on something that we cannot see, feel or touch. In this daunting time, it is so important to connect with people who care. When stress hits, most people feel like they are on an island and build mountains in their mind that become unsurmountable. Perspective can become altered quickly.

Picture two different people experiencing the same situation: one feels blessed while the other feels ambushed. The person who feels blessed is a person who has a relationship with God. This person knows that if they saw a video of their entire life, they would see that not one single worst-case scenario ever truly occurred, and the unexpected things were relatively easy to deal with. Those people know that moments pass.

However, the ambushed person thrives on worrying and panic. They will feel the blood rushes to the head and within two hours, they will go from dealing with the external stimuli to amplification. The amplification is usually a road map from receiving the negative news to the worst that could happen. I used to deal with this constantly before I found my relationship with God. I would receive a negative email from a client and my mouth would drop and go dry; I could feel the blood circulating in my body. Within two hours, by a complicated series of events constructed solely within my mind, I would be out of business and in litigation.

Anxiety is learned from growing up in households where there is a strong absence of God and a commitment to fear. I grew up in a house where we never celebrated a single positive event, but if we hit any speed bump, we were going to be broke, out on the street, sick, or even dead. That fear permeates into your adult life and will dominate you and steal your joy. No matter how successful you think you are, you never have any peace because you are always waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Life is quite simple and binary. You either rely on God or rely on yourself. Relying on yourself is just a poor long-term strategy. You are your own God and are singularly responsible for all your ups and downs. As humans, we think we are set apart, so if you have a successful moment in life you will relish it, but at the same time, anything that does not go your way becomes your fault and you feel like a failure.

Relying on God is faith-based. You are probably reading this and thinking “Oh boy here it comes now”, but I write this from a position of living my first forty years of my life without God and the next seventeen years with God

in the middle, and I really wish I could have a “do-over”. When you rely on God and have a relationship with God, it goes beyond the aforementioned “panic prayer.” You give Him the glory when things go well, and you take your problems to Him.

I remember when the Mets won the World Series in 1986. My favorite player was Gary Carter, and he gave God the glory when the Mets won. I was just twenty years old, and I was thinking, “why would he do that?“ Gary Carter was at peace in his life and knew that he had talent that came from God and his enablement to win the World Series came from God. Every time I think of the Mets winning that World Series, I think of his words.

Praying to God is a lot simpler than you think. A person once told me: “Imagine God sitting in the chair across from you and you start to have a conversation with Him. You tell Him your problems, you tell Him your fears, and you communicate as if He was a friend. By doing this you will start to see fear reduce in your life.”

Once you have established a life of prayer, you will want to read the Bible and see what God says and you will want to attend a local church and be with similar people. If you have any questions, you can reach me by email at david@hausernet.com and I will get back to you and even pray with you.

Dave Hauser is CEO of two analytics companies HLS and Favored Panel and is a deacon at Smithtown Gospel Tabernacle at 1 Higbie Drive in Smithtown with Sunday services 9:00a.m. and 11:30a.m. with many other programs.

frimufilmson Freepik

County Announces $5M To Port Jeff Station Sewer Project

Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon) was joined by elected officials and community leaders to announce a grant of $5 million from the County’s Water Infrastructure Fund to advance the connection of the Port Jefferson Station Commercial Hub area to the County sewer system.

The funding, from the federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), will make the project shovel ready for construction so that the County is well- positioned to obtain additional federal and state grant funds, the County Executive noted.

“There is more sewer construction underway right now than our County has seen in more than 50 years, and we know from experience that having projects designed and ready to go is the key to success in leveraging additional state and federal fund,” said Bellone.

“As a result of hard work and cooperation with Town government and community leaders, we will break ground this month on sewer projects in Kings Park and Central Islip. Our goal here is to continue our partnership with the Town and community to get to a similar groundbreaking for the Port Jefferson station Hub.”

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D) provided comments on the project:

“I am proud I helped deliver hundreds of millions of dollars that are being used to expand and improve Suffolk County’s wastewater infrastructure,” said Schumer. “I commend County Executive Steve Bellone for committing $5 million in American Rescue Plan aid – funding that I fought hard to get to Long Island – to advance the Port Jefferson Station Commercial Hub connection project. This project will revitalize Port Jefferson Station’s commercial corridor, boost economic development, and protect public health and the environment by stemming the tide of toxic nitrogen into our groundwater and waterways. Suffolk County is building back stronger post-pandemic and I will continue fighting each and every day to bring federal funds to Long Island.”

The long-awaited sewer project will connect seventy-three parcels in the Port Jefferson Station Hub Commercial area to an existing treatment plant at Suffolk County Sewer District No. 2 in Mount Sinai. It is the outgrowth of the communitybased Port Jefferson Station Commercial Hub Study completed by the Town of Brookhaven in cooperation with a Citizens Advisory Committee in 2014.

The County added the project to its Capital Program and has awarded a contract to complete the design of the project, which is currently underway. The funding announced today will be used to complete the design of the project and make an initial contribution towards construction. The Suffolk County Sewer Agency is expected to approve a Map, Plan and Report for the project in December, clearing the way for a public hearing and approval by the Suffolk County Legislature needed for the County to let a construction contract for the project.

Suffolk Legislator Kara Hahn (D-Setauket) said: “Investments into wastewater treatment are investments into the future of a community. With each project funded, Suffolk County is making a commitment to bettering lives through economic growth, community revitalization and a cleaner environment. Sewering will become the foundation on which the Port Jefferson Station hub will be built and move us forward toward the future residents envisioned in its 2014 commercial redevelopment plan.”

Stony Brook Medicine Inspires Kids to Create and Eat Healthy Food Through Cooking Class

Studies have shown that having confidence in the kitchen leads to fewer fast-food meals and more meals as a family to strengthen a healthy lifestyle. A study in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior also highlights that young adults with strong cooking skills are more inclined to eat healthy as an adult. This summer, kids are getting to experience food moving from farmto-table and work on building healthy habits through unique cooking and nutrition classes at Stony Brook Medicine.

Stony Brook Medicine is committed to helping kids gain kitchen experience and learn healthier cooking habits at an early age. On August 15, fourteen kids between the ages of 7 through 10 established healthier

cooking habits through learning healthy recipes. On day one of the Healthy Cooking and Baking Classes, kids made hummus and veggie wraps, tabbouleh and fruit smoothies. The 3-day series teaches kids how to prepare their own meals and pick produce from the 2,242-square-foot rooftop garden known as Stony Brook Heights Rooftop Farm. The hospital’s rooftop farm supplies approximately 1,500 pounds of produce per year for patient meal trays and local charities. The program is organized by the Department of Family, Population & Preventive Medicine’s Nutrition Division.

Photos courtesy of Stony Brook Medicine Kali Chan

Photo courtesy of County Executive Steve Bellone

Elected and local officials pose with a map of the plan.

On the Campaign Trail

The Importance of Local Politics

By Matt Meduri Matt Meduri

Political participation is one of the most consistentlydiscussed facets of today’s society. The practice has always been revered and valued by Americans throughout this country’s history, so much so that literal wars have been fought over it and entire movements have been based upon obtaining this right, and rightfully so.

However, we’ve reached a much different style of discussion regarding political participation, with some believing it’s the most important action you can take - and some even advocating for compulsory voting - while others believe the entire action is a pointless ritual serving only to purvey the “illusion of choice.”

There are decent arguments for both of these ideas, but as the political campaigns wear on, these different opinions experience their own campaigns as well, typically in line with highly contentious, nationalized elections. This is largely owed to the objective evils and intentional division perpetrated on the public by the mainstream media - the days of Walter Cronkite and Tom Brokaw are over. If the media utilized the classical journalistic approach and simply megaphoned information for the public to make their own decisions, some major political developments over the last ten years might have played out in a completely different way.

That said, while the importance of local journalism is constantly reiterated, with it goes the importance of local politics, and how your local elections are much more likely to affect your everyday life than what goes on in the White House.

Every quadrennial presidential election gets its coverage from the media and the hype from the crowds, the most politically-engaged of whom will say voting is “the most important thing you can do,” or even the more hyperbolic phrases such as “your life literally depends on it.” The presidential races often run in tandem with the big prizes of U.S. Senate and U.S. House, the latter of which can be more reflective of local politics but is still subject to the wild swings of the idiosyncratic “what-we-can’t-have” American electorate and the throes of reactionary politics. These elections tend to be so high-stakes that it can be difficult to feel fully engaged and truly understand policy in a non-slanted or non-esoteric way, yet they still attract the most turnout in any jurisdiction with respect to any other type of election year.

The quadrennial midterm elections fall between the presidential races and attract a significant amount of turnout, especially since the last two elections of 2018 and 2022. Again, as reactionary politics endures and as split-ticket voting declines, outcomes can be more predictable and less accurate of the truly “in-between” political sectionalism that can be seen from space, as long as you’re looking down at a county map. “Red” or “blue” states don’t give the whole picture. Incorporating margins of victory, county-level results, and comparing it to historical trends and norms makes for a much richer understanding of why certain parts of our country vote the way they do.

But then we get to 2023, and election years like it, and a typical response is: “I didn’t know there was an election this year.” Anyone at your favorite local newspaper - we hope it’s this one - will always reply with “every year is an election year.”

The sad reality is that while people are so consumed with sensationalist media coverage of politicians whose decisions will never affect them, elections for school boards, library trustees, and even fire departments are holding elections. While 2023 is a bit more high-profile than hyper-local elections, the point still stands: these are your neighborhood services and instead of obsessing over a career politician from Kentucky or Vermont whose decisions will hardly - if ever - affect your life, there are people who live around the corner from you on the ballot who can affect your life.

This year, Suffolk County will be given the opportunity to elect or re-elect a whole slate of candidates. All eighteen

Legislators on the Suffolk County Legislature are up for re-election, as their twoyear terms will expire by January. Seven townships - all except Babylon, Huntington, and Smithtown - are holding Town Supervisor elections, in addition to the coveted County Executive race, a position to which a Republican has not been elected since 1999.

Additionally, town council, town clerk, tax receiver, and mayoral elections will all occur within their proper jurisdictions, among other positions on the ballot.

Local elections are a much better barometer for the political lean of any given area since those are the voters who will show up rain or shine, are more involved in their communities, and are not as influenced by the mainstream media’s take on the parties and hot-button issues.

Moreover, hot-button issues have much less of a home in your own backyard than they do in the national spotlight. Because local elected officials actually have to answer to the people they represent, being more aligned with local matters and frustrations will not only see less nationalization of an election, but also more cooperation across party lines. Even as the parties have attacked each other over the recent sewer matter, it’s better it’s about a local issue rather than something that doesn’t affect the majority of Long Islanders.

A great example is the need for Suffolk electeds to be mindful of environmental matters. While Republicans in other states might not take a similar approach, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Ed Romaine (R) understands the environmental needs of Long Island, especially the East End. A national Republican wouldn’t work here, and neither would a national Democrat. The particular nature of local politics will breed a more pragmatic approach to government as those serving in government call this Island home as well.

And where local politics matters more than anything else: these are people you can get a hold of. These are people you can find at their offices. These are people you can spot at your local town day, street festival, or even the National Night Out celebrations held across the county a couple weeks ago.

So, don’t sit this one out. If you don’t know where your elected officials stand on certain issues, simply call his or her office. Simply pay them visits. Track them down at a local event, shake their hands, and ask them tough questions. That’s more than you’ll ever get from the federal or statewide elected officials - except for Congressman LaLota, who understands the beauty and purpose of retail politics.

It’s not completely untrue to say that the big-ticket elections don’t have some effect on the lives of everyday Americans, and it’s also not completely misleading to say that we tend to pay more attention to an oligarchical uniparty than we do our local legislators.

It’s a fair point to say that one should not complain to a massive extent about a situation without being involved to a certain extent. There’s no better way to get involved than to understand and participate in local politics.

America the Beautiful: How History Shapes our Electorate Arkansas - The Natural State

By Matt Meduri

Regional politics and the legacy of the Southern Democratic party affect no other state quite like Arkansas. Once the most consistently Democratic state in the country, Arkansas’ political transition is not as sharp and instantaneous as typically assumed.

Early History - A Southern Frontier

Hernando De Soto and the Spaniards were the first to explore Arkansas in 1541. Areas on the Mississippi River, including Arkansas, would be claimed by New France. The state’s first successful European settlement, “Post de Arkansea,” would be founded in 1686 on the Arkansas River, a tributary of the Mississippi, and would become a major hub for fur trappers. Arkansas’ only Revolutionary War battle would be a small raid by the British on the Spanish-controlled and American-aligned Arkansas Post.

The Arkansaw Enabling Act saw the failure of a House-led amendment to ban new slaves in the region, allowing the Arkansas to organize as a slave-holding territory. At the same time, the uncertainty concerning the Missouri Compromise led slaveholders out of Missouri into Arkansas. The political geography began to align as the southeastern farmers strongly supported slavery to run their cotton plantations. Northwest Arkansas - the Ozarks region - did not utilize slavery but backed the practice in support of their state.

Arkansas statehood would be defined by sectionalism, in which the regions of the states had to compromise on a three-fifths rule regarding the population of slaves for House district apportionment. Rules like it, as well as the national Three-Fifths Compromise, would prove to be the barrier to the South’s political power, as the South would never be accurately represented in Congress based on their true populations. Because of this, the South would never realize full power and would easily be out-leveraged by the North, leading to the abolition of slavery.

After the compromise was settled, and Michigan was admitted as a free state, Arkansas was admitted on June 15, 1836.

Civil War & ReconstructionA Democratic Bastion

A mostly agrarian state, Arkansas would succeed its frontier days with those of a vibrant cotton industry in the southeastern corner of the state, and roads and steamboats would bring more prosperity to the region. Southeast Arkansas would set itself up for failure by being so reliant on agriculture, while the Ozarks would lag economically due to the virtually nonexistent practice of slavery.

Arkansas initially voted to remain in the Union, albeit narrowly. However, after President Lincoln’s (R-IL) call for volunteers to squash Southern rebellion after the attack on Fort Sumter, Arkansas seceded from the Union in a near-unanimous vote.

The Ozarks formed anti-war movements but those involved were arrested and charged with treason or forced to join the Confederate Army. Arkansas was highly strategic during the Civil War, due to its entire eastern border’s definition by the Mississippi River, connecting St. Louis and New Orleans. However, after a Union victory in the Battle of Vicksburg handed the North control of the Mississippi, a siege on Little Rock followed shortly after.

Since Arkansas was home to more guerilla warfare during the Civil War than other areas, the large destruction of property and crops, along with the fiscal and human cost of the war, left the economy in shambles. During Reconstruction, strong anti-Unionist allegiance, along with the KKK being the Democratic military arm in the state, led to its administration by the North during Reconstruction. Like other Southern states, Radical Republicans led the government, drafting a constitution that gave blacks full citizenship, suffrage, and due process, and integrated, free public schools. Arkansas subsequently ratified the 14th Amendment, allowing the state readmission to the Union.

Governor Powell Clayton (R)’s - elected in 1868administration focused on protecting freedmen and keeping Confederate whites out of power, mainly by appointing Northern “carpetbaggers” to political positions. The corrupt 1874 governor race handed the office to Augustus Garland (D), who, with many Arkansans, envisioned cultural change and economic ties with the North. Agrarian segregationist views countered the “New South” ideals.

Along with farmer discontent due to outside competition and crop liens, the Democratic vote was consolidated and the era of Jim Crow officially fell on the Natural State.

Arkansas would vote Democratic in every presidential race from 1836 until 1968, with the exception of their 1868 vote for Ulysses Grant (R-OH), their 1864 absence due to secession, and Congress’ rejection of their electoral votes for Grant in 1872.

Heading into the 20th Century, the only Republican counties in Arkansas lined the Mississippi River, with some in the Ozarks. These trends would continue until the 1920s.

20th Century PoliticsHeart of the “Solid South”

The “Solid South” was the voting bloc of Southern states that reliably backed the Democratic party in almost all forms of government from 1876 to 1964. All states flirted with the GOP at least once during that period, except Arkansas. The state’s voting streak is the third-longest in American history, a whopping twenty-three consecutive elections for one party - the Democratic party.

In response to the poor state of farming, Arkansas began diversifying its crop portfolio, introducing rice, fruit orchards, and vineyards, as well as dairy and poultry to the state. The farming crisis aligned many voters with the late 1890s’ Populist party, which typically ran on fusion tickets with Democrats, further solidifying Democratic hold on the state.

Poor infrastructure, the Great Depression, and the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 saw a progressive governor win in 1928, but the problems transcended

This is the twenty-sixth of a series column that will look at the history of all 50 States, all 5 territories, and the Capital and the influence history has on our current political environments. The aim of this column is to capture that our country is not just red or blue, but rather many shades in between. Each Lower 48 state’s current political landscape can be traced back to its early settlement and geography and its particular involvement in the Civil War, the Industrial Revolution, and the Civil Rights Era.

the state government’s ability and budget. FDR’s (D-NY) New Deal programs greatly appealed to the voters, making him the first Democrat to win the Ozark counties of Searcy and Newton since the Civil War.

World War II prompted the state to turn an industrial tide, as farmers, poor whites, and blacks flocked to industrial centers. Arkansas is also home to natural resources such as oil, natural gas, bromine, and bauxite, the latter of which is used to make aluminum. Arkansas supplied about 90% of all domestic bauxite throughout the 20th Century.

Arkansas found itself in the heart of Civil Rights, especially as Little Rock High School became a battleground of the era following the Supreme Court’s Brown Vs. Board of Education decision. The Arkansas National Guard denied black students entry to the school, which was followed by President Eisenhower’s (R-KS) order of federal troops to escort the students into the school.

Although Eisenhower didn’t win Arkansas in either of his elections, he did deliver the best result for the GOP in the state since Reconstruction, garnering 40% both times.

Segregationist Alabama Governor George Wallace (D) ran an Independent campaign in 1968, resulting in Arkansas being one of the five Southern states to vote for him, the last time a thirdparty candidate has won a state in a presidential race.

1967 saw a landmark change for Arkansas: the election of Governor Winthrop Rockefeller (R), the first Republican to win the office since 1872. Of the wealthy oil family, Rockefeller instituted full school integration, modernized the state’s prison system, and helped modernize the state. Governor David Pryor (D) succeeded him in 1970 and continued his vision.

Richard Nixon (R-CA) would sweep all of Arkansas’ counties in 1972 and the state would back Jimmy Carter (D-GA) by a landslide. Ronald Reagan (R-CA) would win a thin victory in 1980, while Bill Clinton (D-AR), arguably Arkansas’ most famous politicians - and its only native son to become President - won the state twice in the 1990s, the last Democrat to do so.

Current Political Leanings - A Rapid Change Since 2000

Although Arkansas’ climb to electoral relevance was slow and reflected political sectionalism and the destitute economic outlook for most of the 20th Century. Today, Arkansas is home to agricultural, aerospace, metals, and distribution industries. Walmart was famously founded in Rogers, Arkansas, by James and Sam Walton in 1962.

Elections since 2000 have seen the state multiply its margins for the GOP exponentially. From a 5-point win for George Bush (R-TX) in 2000, to a 20-point win for John McCain (R-AZ) in 2008, Democrats regularly have trouble eclipsing anything north of 35% in any election.

However, Democrats only recently lost all elected office in the state. Democrats lost control of both chambers of the state legislature in 2012 and its one House seat in 2014. Mark Pryor (D), son of aforementioned Governor David Pryor, was unopposed for his Senate seat in 2008. He was soundly defeated in 2014 by Tom Cotton (R). Cotton, in his own right, ran unopposed in 2020. Democrats held both Senate seats from 1879 until 1997. In 2015, the GOP won both for the first time since 1876 and has held them since.

Democrats dominated the governor’s mansion from 1874 until 1967, and then again until 1981. The GOP has held the office since 2015.

Unlike what many assume, Arkansas’ transition to the Republican party took the latter half of the 20th Century to materialize, culminating in the mid-2010s, not instantly in 1964. Unless Little Rock can increase its political clout, the state’s rural, industrial, and agricultural profile will likely be too much to topple for any force from the Democratic side.

New Business Additions to Stony Brook Village Center

Making Moves – Michael Macrina Architect Relocates Offices to Heart of Stony Brook Village

Stony Brook Village is proud to announce that Michael Macrina Architect (MMA) will be moving their offices into the heart of the lifestyle center this August. Located at the corner of 25A and Main Street for the past 11 years, the MMA team, which consists of five architects and an office manager, have outgrown their current office space.

Established in 2006, Michael Macrina Architect has been in business for 17 years and handles all permits required for construction and renovation. They offer interior & exterior renovations, residential architecture, exterior facelifts, new additions, new homes and more. To learn more about Michael Macrina Architect, call (631) 686-6585 or visit www.mmarchitectaia.com

One-Stop-Shop for Men & Man’s Best Friend Coming To Stony Brook Village

Stony Brook Village and Madison’s Niche are excited to announce an addition to the lifestyle center – D.K. Brothers by Madison’s Niche.

Expected to open this Fall, the boutique will offer a curated collection of men’s apparel, lifestyle gifts, and luxury pet accessories. Customers can expect to shop denim, t-shirts, dress shirts, casual wear, small leather goods, travel accessories, home accents, fragrances, books, and many more gift categories. D.K. Brothers will also feature an elevated pet collection to shop for special outfits, accessories, toys, bowls, beds, treats, and more.

Karen McAvoy founded Madison’s Niche in 2012 with her daughter, Madison, as the brand’s inspiration and namesake. Like Madison’s Niche, D.K. Brothers is a concept inspired by and named for Karen’s sons, Daniel and Kenneth. Today, over a decade later, Madison’s Niche remains a celebrated retail staple that has since expanded to eight brick-and-mortar locations (Stony Brook Village, Huntington, Garden City, Sayville, Plainview, Rye Brook, and Woodbury) along with an e-commerce platform. To stay updated visit madisonsniche.com

No More Bad Hair Days:

Village Hair Studio Joins Stony Brook Village

Stony Brook Village is proud to announce the newest addition to its open-air center, Village Hair Studio, has opened this week.

Currently offering washes, blow-outs, cuts, styling and coloring, the Village Hair Studio will soon offer massages and make-up services. The Village Hair Studio will be open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10a.m.-6p.m., Thursday, 10a.m.-8p.m. and Saturdays, 10a.m. to 5p.m.

Proprietor Cynthia Alfonso Hernandez was just a little girl in Cuba, she dreamed of owning her own hair studio. At age 16, she and her grandfather made that dream a reality when they constructed her very own backyard salon. She offered services such as cuts, coloring, nails and more. As an adult she moved to Russia, and then Spain.

Finally in 2017, she found her new home in the United States, where just five short years later, in 2023, her dream of owning a hair studio came to fruition. To make your appointment, call (631) 751-0822

For Stony Brook Village Shops, Restaurants and Services visit: www.stonybrookvillage.com

Thomas' Hope Foundation

Thomas' Hope Foundation is focused on providing support, guidance and pathways to treatment for the individual struggling and their loved ones. Our certified peer recovery coaches use their lived experiences to guide those affected to a road of recovery. We are dedicated to promoting awareness, education, advocacy and empowerment regarding Substance Use Disorder

THOMAS' HOPE: (631)817-HOPE

WWW.THOMASHOPES.ORG

755 Waverly Ave - Suite 205 Holtsville, NY 11742

We believe that a willingness to obtain a basic understanding of Substance Use disorder can break down stigma, fuel empathy and is the foundation of all prevention. We

Keith Caputo receives NYS Senate Commendation Award

New York State Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue) presents Keith Caputo, Founder of Helping Makes U Happy with the NYS Senate Commendation Award, which recognizes exceptional people who have made a lasting contribution to their community.

Helping Makes U Happy is a not-for-profit organization that aims to demonstrate how every human is capable of making a difference through volunteering; and inspire others to make a difference in their community.

Keith and his board of directors are dedicated to helping others and to demonstrate how good that makes people feel.

They host several fundraisers and community service projects that always involve community participation as they strive to be family friendly and provide a positive volunteer experience for anyone who participates. Not only is Keith paying it forward, he is also providing a positive affect for everyone involved.

“This is just one great example of how one person can affect the lives of many. Thank you, Keith for being a constant reminder that we can all make a difference,” said

NYS Senator Dean Murray, of the Third Senate District.

According to their website, Helping Makes U Happy is a “501(c) (3) nonprofit organization that aims to demonstrate how every human is capable of making a difference through volunteering; and inspire others to make a difference in their community. We believe that “doing good” not only helps the individuals in need, but has a positive affect on your own life as well.”

The public charity was founded by Keith, a young man with Down’s Syndrome from Center Moriches, who wanted to make helping people his work: “I love helping…it makes me happy; it makes the people we help happy. And, if just one person looks at what I do and says, ‘well if he can do it, I can too,” then I can say maybe I’ve made a difference.”

Keith has been featured on News 12 and CBS2 and was named 2020’s Farmer of the Year, as well as a recipient of the November 2014 Sweetwater Clifton “City Spirit” award. Helping Makes U Happy was named the winner of the Vanguard Insurance Agency Rising Star category for the 2019 Long Island Imagine Awards.

Photo courtesy of Office of Dean Murray

Thrift –An American Value

By Robert B. Charles | AMAC

American value? Yes, we are a people who traditionally did not ask for more government but less. Why? Because more government meant less liberty – more waste, more taxes, more mandates.

We did not want more welfare, forced dependence, bailouts, or freebies. We wanted a chance to do what we could, what we were born to, an honest day’s pay for an honest day’s work. It was not complicated. Most just wanted a chance to work, make ends meet, and enjoy the sunset.

In northern New England, one adage said it all, produced less debt, less regret, and better sleep. Old-timers said, “Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” Conserve, and be grateful.

To be content, of course, you had to know what made you content. Often, that was less than you might think – and far less than the government now thinks. Limited government, lower taxes, fewer mandates, and basic safety were key—that left workers with more pay and less worry.

Put differently, we like our independence, freedom to make decisions, and some predictability. We like reliable gas cars, trucks, stoves, easy to service appliances like refrigerators, lawnmowers, and water heaters. We believe in that thing called free markets, supply meeting demand.

We like affordable food, which means affordable fertilizer, harvest, and transport, higher farm margins, and lower consumer costs. We like our dollar – hard earned and saved – to keep its value.

Unfortunately, unconstrained government expenditures, taxes, and regulations – all bad calls –are forcing many Americans back to thrift, forcing us all to learn how to “do more with less.”

In practical terms, most Americans budget, match their spending roughly to revenue, and thus make hard decisions. We used to have leaders who did that. These days, they have forgotten, transferring pressure back to taxpayers, who pay for endless leaders’ generosity with our money.

Somehow, not long ago, leaders knew “money does not grow on trees.” Tax dollars were not theirs to waste or burn but were hard-earned. They knew, too, that Americans expected thrift.

Leaders knew taxpayers were not keen on reckless, socialist programs – meant to solve problems in the purview of citizens, not the government. Leaders knew it was not their job to tell us what we could and could not buy, say, or do; they had no right to take away choices that belonged to the people.

Americans are patient – but if we are impatient about anything, it is the insidious growth and overreach, intrusion, entitlement, and arrogance of government. Most do not want the government behaving like a “helicopter parent,” there’s no need for that. They have had quite enough overspending.

When you get right down to it, most people do not want more government. They want their leaders to be thrifty, stay on budget, and conserve the limited resources we all have.

Growing up, many Americans knew thrift, or “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” As kids, if bedsheets got old, they became rags for cleaning windows and cars, and later were torn into strips for kite tails, crafts, and tying things off.

Nothing was wasted. Old soup cans held nails, screws, nuts, bolts, or collected coins, buttons, paperclips, and grease at the sink side. A can went over the tractor stack to keep the rain out. Plastic milk jugs had tops lopped off and became boat bailers.

When we outgrew lunch boxes, we took paper bags to school – which were folded, brought home, used again until they gave out, and became fire starters.

Ashes and coffee grounds went to the garden, which supplemented store-bought goods. From the garden, we pulled beans, cucumbers, squash, tomatoes, corn, and carrots. The woods gave us blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries, while one lone peach tree gave us fresh fruit, pies, and cobbler.

Thursday, August 17, 2023

Overview - AMAC - The Association of Mature American Citizens

The Association of Mature American Citizens represents Americans 50 plus. AMAC is centered on American values, freedom of the individual, free speech, and exercise of religion, equality of opportunity, sanctity of life, rule of law, and love of family, with benefits at all levels. AMAC plays a vital role in helping build the services that will enrich the lives of America’s seniors. AMAC Action, a 501 (C)(4) advocates for issues important to AMAC’s membership on Capitol Hill and locally through grassroots activism.

To Learn more, visit www.amac.us

We tended to sweat in summer, shiver in winter, turn lights off when we left rooms and might get spoken to if we left the front door ajar, even to bring in wood. Energy was conserved.

When it came to eating out, we seldom did. If we could make it, we did. If something broke, we fixed it. If we could not, we “made do,” embarrassed for something new. “Disposable” – as in razors, cups, and bottles – was a relative term; things were only “disposed” when useless.

Of course, even thrift has limits – and we observed them. A broken

bottle, week-old stew, cross-threaded screw, well-rusted tool, or bucket with a hole were disposable. Matches, chewing gum, oil, and air filters, not to mention disposable diapers, were used only once.

Net-net, thrift is an American value, and still is in many places. The value dovetails with limited – not limitless – government. Leaders with a bead on taxpayers should know, if you can save a dollar, do. Until then, “use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.” The old mantra is back!

Oh, What a Night At The Gateway

By Cindi Sansone-Braff

Saturday night’s enthusiastic audience showed their appreciation for the spectacular cast of the musical “Jersey Boys” by singing, clapping, and dancing along to the many chart-topping hits that made The Four Seasons one of the most beloved ‘60s bands. This crowd-pleasing show ran on Broadway from 2005 to 2017, winning four Tonys and an Olivier Award.

With music by Bob Gaudio, lyrics by Bob Crewe, and book by Rick Elice and Marshall Brickman, this jukebox musical dramatizes the rise and fall of The Four Seasons. Written like a docudrama with music or a VH1 biopic, the innovative four-part plot structure is based on the seasons of the year.

The Gateway’s Long Island premiere of “Jersey Boys,” brilliantly directed by Larry Raben, held the audience spellbound from the moment the stellar cast stepped on stage, right through the high-voltage finale, “Who Loves You.” A big round of applause goes out to Rachel Armitstead for casting dynamic singers who sounded like The Four Seasons, delivering pitch-perfect renditions of their seemingly endless catalog of hit songs.

These multitalented performers not only replicated the voices, smooth dance moves, and unique style of the fabulous foursome but also managed to capture the essence of the magic that made The Four Seasons score 40 Top 40 hits, including eight number-one singles.

“Jersey Boys” is storytelling at its best, tackling many complex themes, emotions, and behaviors that characterize the human condition. The plot structure uses a narrative style

where each band member directly addresses the audience like an old friend telling his version of what it was like to be a part of this legendary quartet.

Act I opens with “Spring,” where wise guy Tommy DeVito tells his side of the story and his role in the genesis of The Four Seasons. Travis Murad Leland gave a tour-de-force performance with his spot-on depiction of the cocky group’s founding member, whose overthe-top gambling problem ultimately led to the band’s dissolution. With his rich baritone vocals, Leland gave a moving rendition of the Doo-wop rhythm and blues song “Earth Angel.”

The “Summer” season gave the keyboardist, who wrote or co-wrote many of the band’s greatest hits, his day in the sun. Lukas Poost gave a riveting performance as Bob Gaudio, a private man who never enjoyed the spotlight, preferring to stay behind the scenes writing and producing music. Poost has a charismatic stage presence, and his upbeat rendition of “December, 1963 (Oh What a Night)” was one of the show’s highlights.

Act II opens with “Fall” and features Matt Faucher’s noteworthy performance as the bass singer and bass guitarist Nick Massi. Massi isn’t exactly sure why he walked out on the band, but it had something to do with homesickness, being fed up with life on the road, cramped motel rooms, and bathing with tiny bars of soap. The audience loved the group numbers, such as: “Sherry,” “Walk Like a Man,” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” and Faucher’s rich bass voice added dimension and depth to these beloved songs.

Finally, “Winter” descends with Frankie Valli being the only original band member performing onstage in any capacity as The Four Seasons. Pablo David Laucerica gave an award-worthy

performance as the frontman of the iconic quartet. His incredible vocals, complete with the requisite falsetto, blew the audience away. His stellar rendition of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You,” a song that earned Valli a gold record and showcased his stellar tenor vocals, was worth the price of admission. Laucerica’s heartfelt delivery of “Fallen Angel” is one of those rare theatrical moments that stays with you long after you exit the theatre.

The finale reunites the quartet in 1990, with their induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. As the show draws to an end, each band member delivers a funny, poignant monologue and savors that bittersweet moment when they momentarily put aside their differences to perform the smash hit “Rag Doll.”

The supporting actors in this unforgettable production gave superb performances, including Paloma D’Auria as Valli’s daughter, Haley Hannah as Valli’s first wife, and Aja Goes as Valli’s journalist girlfriend. Mike D’Amico displayed his comedic talent as the actor Joe Pesci, Gateway veteran David Engel’s portrayal of lyricist Bob Crewe garnered some of the biggest laughs of the evening, and Luke Darnell was believable as the mob boss Gyp DeCarlo. Reese Britts, Jason Pintar, Mark Ryan Anderson, and Connor Macchi were outstanding in their many roles.

This spectacular show features outstanding costumes, a fabulous live orchestra, and high-energy choreography. The versatile set and background projections greatly added to the overall success of this show.

The Gateway’s “Jersey Boys” production has powerhouse performers, a great story, and some of the most memorable tunes of all time. You don’t want to miss it!

Content Advisory: This show contains mature themes and adult language and may not be suitable for all audiences.

“Jersey Boys” runs through September 10. To purchase tickets, contact the Box Office at (631) 286-1133, or visit the website at TheGateway.org

Cindi Sansone-Braff is an awardwinning playwright. She has a BFA in Theatre from UCONN and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. She is the author of “Grant Me a Higher Love,” “Why Good People Can’t Leave Bad Relationships,” and “Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic.” Her full-length Music Drama, “Beethoven, The Man, The Myth, The Music,” is published by Next Stage Press. www.Grantmeahigherlove.com.

Photo courtesy of Jeff Bellante

Medicare for All Means Tax Increases and Long Waits for Everyone

By Sally C. Pipes

Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. recently launched his latest bid to ban private health insurance and force all Americans into a government-run health plan.

The Vermont socialist gets points for consistency. He’s introduced legislation that would establish “Medicare for All” in the last four sessions of Congress and has been stumping for single-payer health care for his entire political career.

But passion is not a substitute for wisdom. And Medicare for All is deeply unwise. It would extract hefty taxes from Americans and force them to endure long waits and rationed care in return.

Medicare for All is a bit of a misnomer. The bills would effectively nationalize health insurance. The feds would have a monopoly on paying for health care in this country, with the exception of things like cosmetic surgery. Primary care, surgery, vision, dental, prescription drugs, mental health, substance abuse, long-term care, reproductive care -- all would be under the purview of the federal government.

According to testimony last year by Charles Blahous of George Mason University, the program would cost between $32.6 trillion and $38.8 trillion over 10 years.

Sen. Sanders and his supporters argue that that’s a good deal. But adding upwards of $3 trillion a year to the federal budget would require huge tax increases.

American households would experience an average decline of $5,671 in annual disposable income. For nearly two-thirds of households, the new taxes would exceed the savings associated with no longer paying premiums and out-of-pocket expenses under their current insurance plans.

The only households that would benefit are those without any workers -- mostly fully retired households. Are young workers excited by the prospect of transferring yet more of their income to their elders?

Those higher taxes wouldn’t buy much in the way of care. Just look at how patients in government-run systems abroad are faring. In England, a record 7.3 million people are waiting to start hospital treatment. That’s equivalent to more than 10% of the population. Last year, almost 350,000 people in England waited 12 hours or more in the emergency department before being admitted to the hospital.

Britons are frustrated by long wait times and rationed care. Public satisfaction with the NHS was 29% in 2022 -- the lowest level since recordkeeping began in 1983.

Canada’s single-payer system is also struggling to meet the needs of its citizens. British Columbia’s health minister recently announced that thousands of patients awaiting radiation treatment for breast or prostate cancer would be eligible to cross the border to clinics in Bellingham, Wash., to receive the care they need.

Medicare for All may be a potent rallying cry for Sen. Sanders and his fellow progressives. But it would leave most Americans with less money and worse care. Let’s not go down this road. Once single-payer is implemented, there is no off ramp.

Sally C. Pipes is President, CEO, and Thomas W. Smith Fellow in Health Care Policy at the Pacific Research Institute. Her latest book is False Premise, False Promise: The Disastrous Reality of Medicare for All (Encounter 2020). Follow her on Twitter @sallypipes. This oped originally appeared in the Detroit News.

With Hurricane-Set ‘No Sleep Till,’ Alexandra Simpson & Omnes Films Keen On Confronting the Virtue of Apocalyptic Angst

By Michael J. Reistetter

Author Note: I’ve been fortunate to produce one film with hell-or-highwater Omnes Films, and serve as a post-production assistant on another. A shoestring venture with built-in experimental leeway can stand to capture a scope so grand that it sees no bounds— because it, thanks to those who emotionally or financially invest in the vision of an independent film crew, thereby has no bounds whatsoever.

Moreover, when an audience grows as mesmerized by a dream realized in 90 minutes or less as investors were when they said “to hell with superhero movie saturation,” subsequently becoming real-life superheroes in the process by making it happen… that’s a beautiful thing. So let’s keep that going, and pretend like any espoused notion that A.I. could EVER embody the triumphant nature of the human spirit with whatever they could algorithmically churn out in place of a living, breathing survivor of this madhouse we call life, was just an“Impractical Jokers” bit that spiraled haplessly out of control...

Onto the Next One

Indiegogo, Indiegaga: the boys are back in town, and they need your help for the next “heist.”

To cinematically manifest the feature debut of the first female director in the Omnes Films director’s chair into the reality it well deserves to be is the mission. To complete it is where you come in, should you choose to accept it.

Reads the plot description of Alexandra Simpson’s Florida-set, first foray into featurelength filmmaking: “A small beach town in Florida is under strict orders of evacuation as hurricane Wanda draws near. Within a general movement of desertion, two teenage brothers take the chance to run away, a furtive storm chaser arrives in the emptying town, and a young girl witnesses her familiar world unraveling. In the still of the night, each begin to believe that they are, somehow, the reason for the storm.”

Rave reviews of Tyler Taormina’s surrealist Ham on Rye (2019) and Happer’s Comet (2022) from The New Yorker, The NY Times and Rolling Stone put the Omnes collective even further on the map than being selected as one of the “25 New Faces of Independent Film” by Filmmaker Magazine in 2021 did.

Music supervisor-turned-director Jonathan Davies’ Topology of Sirens just arrived to MUBI as well.

Omnes Films are currently in post-production on their biggest project to date, the DEADLINE: Exclusive-certified holiday comedy Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point, shot across Suffolk County from February to March of this year, and starring Michael Cera, Maria Dizzia, Elsie Fisher, Francesca Scorsese, Ben Shenkman and Sawyer Spielberg; and Eephus, a “Sandlot for grown-ups” men’s league baseball love letter from Taormina’s trusty director of photography on ‘Ham’ and ‘Eve,’ Carson Lund.

In the meantime, Omnes are wasting no time in keeping to their production moniker’s utmost indie roots while they still can before they’re promptly rewarded for their efforts with even more resources than typically accustomed to. They are no stranger to making moving miracles out of what little they have at their disposal… and No Sleep Till will be no different.

With Taormina on-board as producer this go-around while passing the director torch onto the next cinematic storyteller making their debut feature, make no mistake about it, Alexandra Simpson is far from unproven. The FrenchAmerican filmmaker received a Special Mention from head of jury Alice Diop for her 2020 short The Crying House at the TBILISI International Film Festival. Her follow-up, Tony (2021), was selected in international festivals like Cinema Du Reel and International Kurzfilmtage Winterthur. She also worked as an editor on Sarah Imsand’s Le Chant de l’Oiseau, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in 2019.

On her call to bring No Sleep Till to life, Simpson contextualized her vision: “These past few years have posed a different kind of threat to the coastal towns of Florida. Hurricanes are a common seasonal occurrence, part of a typical routine for Floridians, only now they are a bit more likely to spell the destruction of an entire community. This coincides with a mass movement of people, all flocking towards cities across the globe.”

“My film is set in this specific period in history where small coastal towns speak a great deal to modern anxieties of being left behind in a rocket speed modernization and being extinguished altogether due to climate catastrophe,” she added. “These fears bring about a morbid curiosity to the characters in No Sleep Till, who are tempted to meet this destruction for a relief from the anticipatory angst. They are also drawn to have any bit of excitement amongst the backdrop of small town stagnancy.”

Principal photography on the film that calls Gus Van Sant films like Gerry (2002) and Kelly Reichart films like Night Moves (2013) foremost influences is being eyed for mid-to-late September in Atlantic Beach, Florida.

What Omnes Films Needs From YOU

While they’ve collected nearly $17,000 of their $25,000 goal on the crowdsourcing platform Indiegogo, good for 67% of the remaining funds they require, the gang still covets all the hope they can get— whether it’s donating what you can, or spreading the word to friends and friends of friends in-person and via social media. Per No Sleep Till’s Indie gogo campaign, the production is even gracious enough to offer credits beyond “thank you” and “special thanks” in exchange for your donations.

If you reach a certain prong, you can get a character in the film named after you; another…

even an Associate Producer credit!

Ultimately, costs contributed to the film fundraiser will exclusively cover:

• The cost of plane flights to Florida for the crew

• Local crew positions

• On-set catering

• On-set transportation

• Equipment

• Insurance

It’s a passion project from a passionate mind ready to make more than a splash in feature film water. While guilds the world over are at war with the hands that feed, this purely in-the-clear indie perpetuates the essentiality of peace by taking the camera, and thereby the audience along with it, out of its “eye of the storm” safety net to send it deadsmack into the fray.

The best way out of a hole, survey says, is to seek counsel from someone who’s been down one before, and therefore knows the way out. How many times has a movie been all that we needed to conquer whatever real-world struggle we find ourselves embroiled in?

The beauty of what film as an art form can accomplish. The beauty of family and friendship rendered eternal, rain or shine. The beauty of Omnes Films ensembles routinely coloring its ordinarily-scaled silhouettes with oh-so vibrantlydrawn layers as they experience a collective existential crisis of sneakily extraordinary proportions. It’s this litany of pro’s that has me more than confident in Alexandra Simpson, Tyler Taormina, Michael Graf and Co.’s ability to make visual poetry out of scriptorial prose— enough for me to donate my funds and services. What say you?

“I have been drawn to this material for a number of years, partly because one of these small Floridian towns, Atlantic Beach (twenty minutes north of Jacksonville) is the hometown of my father,” Simpson said. “I was born and raised in Paris, however, my American side has always called me. I’ve always been shocked by the contrast of my metropolitan city life and the quaint offerings of Atlantic Beach; a town made for postcards that is scarcely visited by outsiders.”

“No Sleep Till is rooted in this environment,” she adds, “exploring the tension between Florida’s promise of paradise and the morbid curiosity felt during a period of collective apocalyptic angst.”

There are 22 days left to make a donation to Alexandra Simpson’s profound-in-its-societal timeliness No Sleep Till! Visit: https://www.indiegogo. com/projects/no-sleep-tillfeature-film#/ to do so, and for more information on the campaign.

(Scan the QR-Code at right)

By Tim

Messenger

Fall Sports in Suffolk in Danger of a Delayed Season

With only one month of summer left, it’s time to start thinking about high school sports. The fall season is quickly approaching, but Suffolk may not be able to catch up.

As of June 30, the contract between Section XI and its officials came to an end. This contract started on July 1, 2018, and worked to make conditions fair for high school officials.

Now, five years later, Section XI can’t reach a new agreement with the Presidents’ Council of Suffolk County Officials, which may cause the fall season to be delayed.

This would be the first modified season in Suffolk County since the COVID seasons took place a few years ago. Shortened seasons like this could eliminate state championships which is an integral part of the high school sport experience.

“You’d have to think that no coach or official wants the fall sports season to be delayed, so I’d have to think that this will all get fixed soon. If not, it would put all Section XI athletes at a severe disadvantage heading into potential postseason situations with schools from the other sections that make up New York State,” said Matthew Weinstein, a cross-country/track and field coach from Commack.

“As far as cross-country goes, it’s a bit of a different situation than say football, soccer, or volleyball. The officials, although important, don’t have as big of an impact as they might have during those other fall sports. Would it affect cross-country? Definitely, but not nearly as much as it would for those other sports that absolutely wouldn’t be able to be fairly contested without officials,” he added.

Many seniors, across all fall sports, will lose their last chance at a state title, but that’s not all that’s at stake. Athletes who look to play at the collegiate level will be afflicted by the labor dispute as well.

Rising juniors will be entering the peak time for college recruitment this fall. A shortened season will make it difficult for the many talented student athletes in Suffolk County to showcase their abilities to their desired universities.

The strike is clearly not ideal for the athletes of Suffolk County, but what does it mean for the referees?

The executive director of Section XI, Tom Combs, told News 12 Long Island, “In our eyes, the negotiating teams’ eyes, it was a very fair and equitable arrangement for them and kept them as the highest paid officials in New York state and the Northeast.”

If this is the case, then it seems odd that they have yet to reach an agreement. In order to address this situation, I spoke to an active Varsity playoff official in all three sports who wishes to remain anonymous.

“Stop saying ‘the highest paid in the country’. We pay the most school taxes in the country that’s why we’re the highest paid,” he stated.

It is a cruel world for officials as they continuously face harsh treatment from players, coaches, and fans. I have experienced this first-hand as a studentathlete, but also as an umpire for the past 3 years. I have seen these issues escalate as of late. This job puts them in harm’s way, which may have led to the rejection of the newest proposal.

“The problem is the lack of respect for what we do,” the anonymous official said. “There is a lack of security and supervision. We’re not protected.”

The officials are dissatisfied with how they have been treated, and this new proposal from Section XI has made matters worse. It was revealed that Section XI still wants officials to do more with their job.

“We have been getting scraps for the last 10 years. There is such a labor shortage. Now, Tom Combs wants us to have to recruit as a part of this contract as well,” the official told The Messenger

These men and women know they are a part of a dying breed, and that they deserve more compensation regardless of the sport or level they officiate.

The truth is that officials for all sports do care about the student-athletes and their seasons, but they can no longer stand the unfair conditions Section XI has given them.

The hope is that this matter will be resolved by the end of August so the fall season can go as planned, but both sides seem to be at a standstill. As of right now, it appears the Presidents’ Council of Suffolk County Officials is seeking a 10% raise. If this request is not met, then the fall sports season is in danger.

Thursday, August 17, 2023

By James Haupt

Images by Freepik