L.I. Senators Protest School Regionalization Plan
Huge Turnout for Shirley Library Grand Opening
By Matt Meduri
The Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Library District has officially completed its overhaul of the three libraries within its district. From the new Mastic Beach branch on Neighborhood Road, to the Center Moriches branch on Montauk Highway, Tri-Hamlet residents can now frequent the crown jewel of the overhaul, and their main library, the Shirley branch.
The process in getting the library razed and rebuilt was not a quick or painless one. Two bond votes were downvoted by the public before the final project was approved. The former location experienced inconsistent heating and cooling, leaks, and other technical drawbacks that necessitated an entirely new, state-of-the-art building.
Continued on page 12
Library Board President Maiorana cuts the ribbon on Saturday (Credit - Matt Meduri)
Senator Rhoads protests the latest school regionalization plan from NYSED (Credit - NYS Senate Republican Conference)
Story on page 4
2 Messenger Papers
Published
by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Around Town
Thursday, November 28, 2024
Brookhaven’s ‘Polar Plunge’ Raises $140,000 to Benefit Special Olympics
On November 23, the Town of Brookhaven and Special Olympics New York hosted the “Polar Plunge: Freezin’ for a Reason” at Cedar Beach in Mount Sinai. Due to the strong wind and choppy waters of the Long Island Sound, Polar Plunge officials revised their plans to have the fire department open their hoses to drench the “plungers.” The event attracted more than 550 plungers and raised $140,000 for Special Olympics New York. Pictured at left are Jane Bonner and Special Olympics New York Athlete and plunger, Matt Schuster. At right are Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point) and Town Clerk Kevin LaValle (R-Selden). Councilwoman Bonner, said, “I applaud Special Olympics New York for keeping everyone safe and making this year’s Polar Plunge a success even though the weather
did not cooperate. Thanks to all the plungers, volunteers, police, first responders and Town employees for helping the Special Olympics athletes achieve their dreams again this year.”
Town Clerk Kevin LaValle said, “Although the plans for plunging took an unexpected turn, the spirit of the Special Olympics shined brighter than ever! Together, we raised over $140,000—an absolutely remarkable achievement. These funds are going to an incredible cause, supporting athletes and programs that inspire courage, determination, and inclusion. Thank you to everyone who participated, volunteered, and or kept us safe - police, law enforcement, and Town employees. What an unforgettable day!”
Losquadro, Foley Announce Completion of
$1.7-Million
Holtsville Paving Project
Brookhaven Town Highway
Superintendent Daniel P. Losquadro (R-Shoreham) and Councilman Neil Foley (R-Blue Point) have announced the completion of a $1.7-million paving project just south of Portion Road and west of Nicolls Road in Holtsville.
Prior to the resurfacing of eleven roadways in this paving project, crews inspected and installed drains, as well as new ADA-compliant handicap ramps, and repaired and replaced damaged concrete curbing, sidewalk and aprons.
Roadways resurfaced in this project include: Astro Court, Bayou Court, Concord Drive, Division Street, Drury Court, Hayuta Court, Hollyhock Court, Honeysuckle Lane, Jewel Drive, Morris Avenue, and Valley Court.
“Morris Avenue and Division
Street are two main arteries utilized by residents, pedestrians and many students and staff getting to and from both Sagamore Middle School and Chippewa Elementary School,” said Superintendent Losquadro. “Their resurfacing – along with the extensive concrete repairs and improvements made prior to paving – now provides motorists with safer and smoother roadways to travel on their daily commutes.”
Councilman Foley said, “These infrastructure improvements demonstrate our commitment to ensuring the safety and quality of life for Holtsville residents. By addressing drainage, curbing, and accessibility before resurfacing, we’ve made these roadways safer and more accessible for everyone in the community.”
Email: editor@messengerpapers.com www.messengerpapers.com
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State
L.I. Senators Protest School Regionalization Plan
By Matt Meduri
In the wake of the contentious budgeting process last year that almost saw school districts across Long Island and the State lose hundreds of millions of dollars in State aid, known as Foundation Aid, another debate over education is forming.
Last year, Governor Kathy Hochul (D) proposed cutting hundreds of millions in Foundation Aid funding to school districts and amending the “hold harmless” formula, which was originally instituted to ensure no school districts start each year with less State funding than they received last year. The plan was widely panned by both sides of the aisle, but the State government is still grappling with how to save funds from school districts with declining enrollment, while also not forcing districts to hike property taxes or pierce their tax caps, while also delivering services and retaining jobs.
The regionalization plan, as it currently stands, would allow for districts to opt-in to consolidating their resources, staff, or even their entire districts, as they see fit. The purpose of the plan is to help alleviate expenses in school districts while not cutting services. A commonly cited example is one of a rural Upstate school district who might not have the funds or personnel to staff Advanced Placement (AP) courses of certain areas of study, but a school nearby that does have those resources could effectively “share” with the aforementioned district.
exams, overseeing museums, libraries, and vocational rehabilitation, as well as higher education.
Several Long Island Senators met at the Nassau County Executive Building in Mineola, along with Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R-Atlantic Beach), to protest the proposed changes, as they are mainly concerned with at-large regionalization that would obscure district lines and complicate the synergy between school districts’ services and property taxes.
“Once again, it appears that Albany is looking for ways to circumvent local control... this time in our local school districts,” said Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue) (pictured left). “This regionalization mandate that is being rammed through will basically allow the State Education Department to make decisions that will not only ignore our duly elected school boards but will also make decisions that will directly impact our children’s educational opportunities and our taxpayers’ pocketbooks.”
At its current form, the legislation is not requiring school districts to opt into the program, but it did originally mandate all school districts to convene with State leadership to understand aspects of the plan, should they choose to opt in after the plan is set to take off in 2026.
However, a Tuesday statement from New York State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa has emphasized the optional nature of the plan, and the State has even removed the mandate that school districts attend the previously voluntary meeting on the plan.
“To address concerns about mandatory participation, a new provision (Section 124-2.8) will be added, which allows districts in consultation with their school boards to not elect to participate in the regionalization planning process by submitting written notification by January 15, 2025.”
The letter adds that suggested amendments to regionalization plans will remain “advisory rather than mandatory,” the letter continues. “This ensures that districts maintain full control over the plans they develop.”
“NYSED’s overreach into mandating regionalization plans undermines the foundation of local control that has been central to New York’s education system for generations. This radical plan has the potential to force taxpayers to support schools outside of their districts, stripping communities of their autonomy and disregarding their voices,” said Senator Mattera. “I will continue to fight against this sweeping redistribution of resources to ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent where they belong—on the students and schools in their own districts.”
Some elected officials have already addressed the letter on social media, with Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James) (pictured above right) calling Rosa’s letter evidence of “strength in numbers” and the work of a fierce Republican minority that evoked the amendment. However, Mattera warns that “we must and will remain vigilant,” as the lawmakers are most concerned with the preservation of local control and home rule.
Assemblyman Doug Smith (R-Holbrook) (pictured below right), Ranking Member of the Education Committee, and a former math teacher, released a statement last week shortly after the announcement of the regionalization plan.
“It is clear that any ‘Regionalization’ efforts proposed by the New York State Department of Education (NYSED) must remain entirely optional,” said Smith in his statement. “I have spoken directly with representatives of NYSED, who have assured me that their initiative is centered on gathering feedback from school districts and facilitating regional conversations. Importantly, they emphasize that any final decisions regarding participation in regionalization pans will rest solely with local school districts.”
“This is the Bail Reform of education, bad policy being forced onto our communities with vague, unclear mandates. Local control has never failed us, and we intend to maintain our fight against this,” said Senator Alexis Weik (R-Sayville).
“Any changes to the State’s educational system must protect local control, allow schools to opt in or out, and ensure a fair distribution of education aid to address the many challenges facing school districts on Long Island and throughout New York,” said Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk). “The Albany centric, top-down approach, has been a failure on a number of issues, including Common Core, and I believe students, teachers and districts would be better served by fewer, and not more directives from state bureaucrats.”
“Once again, Albany is proposing to push top-down mandates that erode control local residents have over their schools and communities,” said Senator Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (R-Malverne). “Locally elected boards of education are chosen by their communities to make decisions that meet the educational needs of their students, and I will continue to oppose any efforts that would shift decision-making authority further away from the local communities.”
“Long Islanders pay some of the highest school taxes in the State and their local and State elected officials should and must have a voice in how those dollars are spent and where. That voice is being jeopardized by NYSED’s rushed, top-down Regionalization Plan,” said Senator Steven Rhoads (R-Bellmore).
Smith adds that “any initiative that seeks to reshape the structure or operations of our schools must ensure transparency, accountability, and most important, the consent of the communities it affects.” He is in constant discussions with NYSED as the plans are deliberated.
Interestingly, NYSED is the only State department that is not run by the Executive branch. NYSED is part of the SUNY system, which is run by the Board of Regents. NYSED’s executive is Commissioner Rosa. The Board of Regents’ seventeen members who serve five-year terms are elected by the state legislature, with thirteen members representing New York’s thirteen judicial districts, with four serving at large. The Education Commissioner is then appointed by the Board of Regents.
NYSED is responsible for overseeing public schools, administering standardized testing, producing and administering State tests and Regents
“Long Island schools are regularly ranked among the very best in New York State. That fact is due in large part to our local control and educational structure, which prioritizes our students’ success. Schools are the backbone of Long Island and define our economic, social and cultural structures,” said Senator Jack Martins (R-Mineola). “They drive property values, economic growth, and influence civic engagement and even public services. We join our local communities in opposing any effort to force regionalization and fight to preserve local control.”
Senator Martin, along with Assemblyman Jake Blumencranz (R-Oyster Bay) are pitching their own plan, the Our Schools, Our Rules Act. The bill would prohibit the development or implementation of State-mandated regionalization plans and prevent districts from being forced to share resources, administrative operations, or instructional services under any State law.
The bill would also nullify any existing laws on the books mandating regionalization and would allow districts to voluntarily collaborate with others, the Boards of Cooperative Educational Services (BOCES), charter, and/or private schools without State directives.
Finally, it would guarantee that school boards retain their local control and decision-making authority over governance and budgeting.
This is a developing story.
7-11 Opens on Hawkins Road in Lake Ronkonkoma
By Matt Meduri
The Lake Ronkonkoma community and downtown area have received a new partner in business: a brand-new 7-11 location.
The ribbon-cutting not only fulfills a need for the classic coffee and convenience chain in the Lake Ronkonkoma downtown area, but also completes a corner that was largely regarded as an eyesore for close to a decade. Its predecessor was the Shell gas station on the corner of Hawkins Avenue and Portion Road, just across from the historic Agnew and Taylor building. The gas station had ceased operations several years ago, but the building remained vacant thereafter. Upon its demolition, the lot remained blighted and empty until the construction of the new 7-11.
The new twenty-four-hour business was welcomed by a sea of new customers, elected officials, members of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Fourth Precinct, and 7-11 representatives.
“Hopefully we’re going to see this store packed like this 24-7,” remarked Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue). “From all of us at New York State and all of us in this community, we want to say welcome. This is a beautiful, beautiful store, and we expect many great things for years to come.”
The store is a stark departure from the classic, one-story, flat-top look of some locations still in existence. But new locations are coming in with a new look, such as the 7-11 on Horseblock Road in Farmingville. Pitched roofs, big windows, and compelling architecture inside makes for a much more cozy experience inside, but the exterior complements the look and feel of the neighborhood, especially across from New York Cancer and Blood Specialists, at home in the original Agnew and Taylor building.
“This store is in the geographic center of my district, and our downtown. And now finishing out this beautiful corner shows such great dedication and love for the people of Lake Ronkonkoma,” said Assemblyman Doug Smith (R-Holbrook).
“I am so impressed, what a beautiful building right in the center of our town here,” said Greater Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce past President Kevin Hyms. “We hope they have many successful years here and are part of our thriving community. So, congratulations and best of luck to a successful business.”
The ribbon-cutting didn’t just include speeches and welcomes, but also a check made out to the Fourth Precinct as part of Project A-GAME.
“Project A-GAME is a community outreach program created to provide meaningful youth development opportunities through education and play, so children establish strong foundations that support their future success,” said Area Leader Rochelle Oppedisano. “Franchisees and corporate store leaders contribute to youth development in their communities by applying for these grants to support the schools, youth sports organizations, law enforcement agencies, and community organizations.”
Since the program’s inception, 7-11 and their franchisees have awarded more than 4,700 grants, totalling a community investment of more than $3 million, with initiatives including math, science projects, tutoring, school supplies, and sporting equipment, as well as ensuring that children have the resources and inspiration they need to remain in school.
“It is with great pleasure as our gift to the community, a check for $711 from our franchisees, Nusrat and Moin Kahn, and 7-11 to the Suffolk County Police Fourth Precinct Explorer Program to assist with their great work with our great youth,” said Oppedisano.
Fourth Precinct Officer Nick Slevin (pictured left) accepted the check.
“I’ve been an advisor for the past year; it’s a group for ages 18 to 20,” said Slevin. “We try to put them through role play scenarios of what it’s like to be a police officer. We do community service events with them. These checks can go a long way in helping us with the program.”
Slevin added that since many children nowadays were not alive for the September 11, 2001, attacks, the SCPD is interested in using the money to fund a trip to the Ground Zero museum in Manhattan.
“I’m thankful to everyone who’s here to make our event successful, and I hope you all pray for us so we can make our business successful,” said Nusrat Khan, the franchisee of the new store. “I appreciate everyone and give a special thanks to you.”
A live DJ played a great party mix throughout the event, while a massive inflatable Slurpee cup stood outside along the ribbons. T-shirts were also made to commemorate the event, with a rendering of the wood carving of the Lady of Lake Ronkonkoma (pictured below) making it a truly Ronkonkoma-esque grand opening.
The Messenger wishes best of luck to Nusrat and Moin Khan, our new neighbors in the Ronkonkoma area!
The new 7-11 is located at the corner of Hawkins Avenue and Portion Road in Lake Ronkonkoma.
Thanksgiving: The Ultimate Misunderstood Holiday
Of all of the major American holidays that would probably be the most misunderstood, we’d say Christmas is a best bet. A cynic’s favorite to pick on - and not without reasonit’s not a hot take to say that Christmas can be over-commercialized and people easily bury the lede. It’s common that people hear too much from each other and see too often in the Hallmark specials that they commercialize Christmas too much and prioritize the wrong things. It’s a trap many fall into, but the real message is always built in.
But Thanksgiving is in an awkward spot of the year. Numbers are being finalized, work years are being put to bed, and all the holiday hype is ready to bypass Thanksgiving and head straight to Christmas. In this way, Thanksgiving is sort of like the younger, less important sibling of Christmas, the holiday nearly everyone universally anticipates and the same holiday for which everyone receives regular scoldings, as light-hearted as they might be, about the “true meaning” of itself.
Thanksgiving is often passed by, without much of a thought about the true meaning of the holiday, and people often don’t stop to remind each other.
During the Christmas rush, it’s easy to become overwhelmed with shopping, cooking, traffic, in-laws - we appreciate The Twelve Pains of Christmas novelty song to exclusively bring home this point. But it’s just as easy to come back down to Earth as it
is to get separated.
During the Thanksgiving rush offers no similar solace. The cooking, the shopping, the preparing, the coordinating all get away from people, but the main message never seems to boomerang back.
This year, remember the true meaning of this Thanksgiving season. The “pilgrim story” is an age-old tale, but the true risks and uncertainty of the circumstances that birthed the holiday are more what’s on our minds.
An eternally-long boat ride from which survival was not guaranteed, foraying into a completely uncharted world with meager supplies and the necessity of working with what they had in the New World, foreign people whose intentions were understandably unpredictable, and an upcoming harsh winter that had claimed colonists long before them.
It’s easy to see why their survival was a miracle, and recognizing God for their harvest and survival of the winter is what started the tradition.
This year, try to ease back from the holiday hype and reflect on the true meaning of this holiday, even if it’s not always spelled back to us through television specials and anecdotes.
How Celebrities Killed the Democratic Party
The 2024 campaign was one for the photo albums, for sure. Investigations, indictments, assassination attempts, ticket-switches, an incumbent president not seeking re-election, all while worldwide tensions hit fever pitches and the American public continued to lose confidence in their government.
There were also many blunders as to why Democrats lost this election so badly. For clarification, we do not consider President-elect Donald Trump’s (R-FL) win a landslide, but it wasn’t exactly a squeaker either. Sweeping the swing states by fairly convincing margins, while running up the tallies in deep-blue states to not only win the popular vote, but possibly shuffle the Electoral College landscape, is a win we would consider significant. In fact, if Trump and company can make good on their promises, we think 2024 has the potential to join other presidential elections known as “watershed” elections, those in which large voter realignments occur.
In short, it wasn’t a landslide victory for Trump, but it was a significant one, nonetheless.
As Democrats immediately began pointing fingers for their humiliating defeat, more and more plausible theories continue to come to mind. From former President Barack Obama (D-IL) lecturing and effectively shaming black men for not backing Kamala Harris (D-CA) more soundly, to Harris’ October admission that “there isn’t a thing that comes to mind” when asked on The View if she would make any major changes from her boss’ administration.
The list goes on, but perhaps the worst nail in the coffin was Democrats’ open embrace of celebrities on the campaign trail.
Historically speaking, it’s a tried-and-true method of winning over voters. It’s not a new concept, nor is it one that Republicans have shied away from either. Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally featured Tucker Carlson, Hulk Hogan, Dr. Phil, and Elon Musk. Meanwhile, Harris was courting the same types of celebrities that Democratic presidential nominees in recent cycles have brought on the trail with them. Oprah Winfrey, Lizzo, Beyonce, and Eminem are a few celebrity endorsements the vice president received.
The difference between these two palettes is that one is made up of celebrities and figures who actually galvanize the public in more settings than just their crafts. Harris’ entourage, while they appeal to a broad range of the population, there was a noticeable dissonance between the weight of this campaign and the celebrities’ apparent lack of synergy with issues and policy.
Moreover, Harris’ campaign shelled out millions of dollars for these appearances, which they claim have gone to logistical costs, not directly into the bank accounts of her surrogates. That’s fine, but it’s still an embarrassingly large sum of campaign funds that ultimately handed her a worse result, Electoral College-wise, popular vote-wise, and demographic-wise than Hillary Clinton (D-NY). In fact, many of Harris’ numbers in states, counties, and among demographics are some of the worst for a Democrat in generations, while she also managed to lose counties that haven’t backed the GOP since the late 1800s.
Spending all of that money on celebrity appearances hoping that enough young voters take note and feel that Harris “relates” to the public was a perfect case study in the Democrats’ hubris this cycle.
Look no further than Lizzo’s appearance with Harris in Michigan. Lizzo, born Melissa Jefferson, is a pop star, rapper, and flutist, who has been a lightning rod among some on the right for her apparent rise to stardom coupled with a personality deemed by some to be obnoxious and disrespectful. These aren’t views on her - frankly, we don’t know her at all - but this is just some context that might have been a factor in Harris’ decision to bring Lizzo aboard.
Lizzo’s appearance in Detroit was not only an attempt to swing younger voters who might feel somewhat slighted by the online discourse around a pop star, but also since Lizzo was bringing some hometown cred to the campaign.
The problem is: Lizzo was born in Detroit and relocated to Houston with her family when she was ten. She graduated from high school and college in Houston, becoming classically trained on the flute while dabbling in hip hop. She lived out of her car for a year hoping to make it into the music scene - we can respect her tenacity here - and moved to Minneapolis in 2011. Now, the Grammy Award-winning artist lives in a $24 million mansion in Beverly Hills.
At Harris’ Detroit rally in the home stretch of the campaign, Lizzo - whose ties to Michigan are as tenuous as Tim Walz’s (D-MN) grasp of political optics - proudly told voters that if Harris were elected president, then every city in America could be “like Detroit.”
That’s right. Kamala Harris had a celebrity come to her rally to tell the country that, if elected, every city in the country would be comparable to perhaps one of the absolute worst-run ones. Fact-checkers continue to debate just how much celebrities were paid, and while they’re
challenging the validity of claims that the Harris campaign footed a $2.3 million bill for her appearance, it still doesn’t take away from Lizzo’s - and Harris’ - backwards logic.
Celebrity participation in politics is certainly nothing new. Ronald Reagan (R-CA), Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), Al Franken (D-MN), Jesse Ventura (Reform-MN), and, of course, Donald Trump (R-FL) are notable standouts. Apart from exploring or winning elected office, celebrity endorsements and campaign trail appearances have been perennially common.
However, celebrity endorsements aren’t what they are now. When politics was a more civil game and strictly more centered around national security and the economy, celebrities were typically seen as guest appearances, rather than critical endorsements to swing a wild-card election.
Celebrities on the campaign trail now, especially in the Harris 2024 campaign, are nothing more than lollipops that a fifth-grader would hand out to his/her classmate’s to get elected as class president. Lizzo’s comments about Detroit also show just how shockingly out of touch she is with the general public and her original home city.
It’s incumbent upon Democrats to do a full autopsy on this election to see exactly what went wrong, but many seem intent on finger-pointing, blaming their core constituents for not backing Harris or showing up at all, and running a staunch anti-Trump campaign and a pro-”we’re-notreally-sure” message from their own corner.
They seem to be missing the fact that Harris lost a predominantly working-class state because she invited a hilariously out-of-touch to lecture the residents of a state in which she has not resided since she was ten. She’s now thirty-six.
If Democrats can’t understand that, then they deserve to never win another election again.
Suffolk County also had its share of celebrity politics this year. Former CNN commentator John Avlon (D-Gramercy Park) ran a campaign that made national outlets bullish on Democrats’ chances of flipping NY-01, and with it, the House of Representatives. He outspent Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) nearly four-to-one.
The end result? He performed slightly worse than Bridget Fleming (D-Noyac) did in 2022, a barely-red year where the red wave washed ashore only in New York and Florida. Typically, House district margins will shrink and grow reflective of the environment and type of election year. With a more partisan presidential election in a deep-blue state - or maybe formerly deepblue - NY-01 should have been tighter, on paper, than it was in 2022.
As it turns out, a predominantly working-class county wasn’t enthused by a Manhattan elitist using his East End summer home as his bona fide to Suffolk. He lied about the date on which his house was purchased - 2009 - even when it was purchased in 2017 by the same LLC linked to his Gramercy Park co-op.
Who would have thought?
And yet, Suffolk Democrats, as well as national Democrats, will continue to scratch their heads and wonder why their party is in ruins.
Harris lost this race because she believed this to be a popularity contest and by bringing as many “popular” celebrities to her campaign instead of pursuing more concrete policy issues to connect with voters who have actual problems. Then, these same out-of-touch elitists insulted the intelligence of the voter by virtue of comments like those of Lizzo, all while Harris stood by and cackled. It’s even been reported that many Harris rally attendees only showed up because they were under the impression they would receive entertainment from Beyonce at one rally. The bait-and-switch tactic is an insulting, yet classic, political tactic, but it’s astonishing the Democrats went as far as they did for absolutely no payoff whatsoever.
Every Thursday
That theory also says that voters didn’t care about hearing Harris’ talking points; they wanted a free concert that they ended up not receiving.
Ultimately, it’s not necessarily celebrities in general who are the problem, but it’s the particular spread chosen. Trump’s appears to have galvanized voters who have long recognized these faces from television and entertainment. Harris’ appears to have been on the most spectacular political blunders this country has likely ever seen.
This brings us to our final point: many on the left, especially progressives, view themselves as part of the “resistance.”
Here’s a life tip: if you have at least half - maybe two-thirds - of Washington, celebrities, mass media, international dignitaries, brands, social media, conglomerates, and an omnipresent technological era on your side, you’re not part of the resistance.
You’re with the elites.
By Congressman Nick LaLota
A Time to Reflect and Give Thanks
As Thanksgiving approaches, it’s an opportunity for us to pause and reflect on the many blessings we enjoy as Americans. Here on Long Island, we are fortunate to live in vibrant communities, surrounded by neighbors who embody the values of hard work, kindness, and service. Thanksgiving reminds us to cherish the time spent with family and friends, but it is also a time to recognize those who may not be able to join their loved ones this year. Our brave service members, first responders, and healthcare workers often sacrifice time with their families to ensure the safety and well-being of ours. Their dedication is a testament to the spirit of service that makes our nation strong, and we owe them our deepest gratitude.
As we gather around the table this Thanksgiving, let us also remember those in need. Whether by volunteering at a food drive, checking in on a neighbor, or supporting
a local charity, we can all play a part in ensuring that everyone in our community feels the warmth and care of the holiday season.
In Congress, I am reminded daily of the trust you have placed in me to advocate for the needs of Long Island families. This Thanksgiving, I am particularly grateful for the privilege of representing such an extraordinary community. Your stories and values inspire me to fight for a brighter future for us all.
From my family to yours, I wish you a joyful, healthy, and safe Thanksgiving filled with love, laughter, and gratitude.
Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) has represented New York’s First Congressional District since 2023. He was recently re-elected to serve another two-year term. He serves on the
committees on Armed Services, Homeland Security, and Small Business, and as Chair of Subcommittee on Contracting and Infrastructure. He is also co-chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus, is a member of the caucuses on SALT and Shellfish, and serves on several other caucus groups. The NY-01 district office is located at 515 Hauppauge Road, Suite 3B, in Hauppauge, and can be reached at 631-289-1097. Mobile hours are offered at the Rocky Point VFW Post #6249 at 109 King Road on Thursday from 1:00p.m. to 5:00p.m.
Data Shows New York Is Nowhere Near Its Energy Goals
By Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay
New York progressives have put the state on a fast track to an energy overhaul that has consistently raised feasibility concerns from the day it was conceived. The shortcomings of New York’s energy goals are concerning to nearly everyone who has looked objectively into the realities of the plan. Now, two new reports reinforce the blatant unworkability of the path we have been forced upon.
As a result of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) passing in 2019, New York’s homes and businesses are expected to virtually eliminate carbon emissions in the future. While protecting our environment is extremely important, the timeline set forth in the legislation, which has us stopping fossil fuelbased electricity production by 2040, simply cannot be met. As the old expression goes, “numbers don’t lie.”
Cornell University Professor Lindsay Anderson and her research team studied the problem using a model based on New York’s energy usage, transmission infrastructure and weather. Their work is not a theoretical model based on fixed circumstances; it’s an extrapolation of what New York will actually look like if we implement this plan as written. The results are troubling, to say the least.
In order for New York to meet the energy demands laid out in the legislation, the state will need to supplement
Patronize a Local Diner
This holiday season, between Thanksgiving and New Years Day, if you are too tired to cook, why not consider sharing a meal with neighbors, friends, or family and patronize your local diner or restaurant? I have enjoyed many excellent meals for decades when frequenting any one of many local diners.
Diners have been part of my life from my teenage years to today. Eating out is a periodic ritual with either friends or family. Portions are generous. Who never took a doggie bag home with leftovers to eat the next day? Between the customary soup, salad, rolls, coleslaw, and pickles along with the main course, dinner could satisfy the heartiest appetite. Many times, we bagged our desserts to go.
Many neighborhoods have seen changes over time. New immigrant groups sometimes favor their own ethnic foods and restaurants. Diners have also lost customers over time to numerous fast-food restaurants. Many of their menus have expanded to also include breakfast items and a greater variety of items to select from for lunch or dinner.
wind and solar power with approximately 40 additional gigawatts in new energy production. That figure, as it turns out, is how much energy New York uses right now. In other words, after we spend hundreds of billions of dollars to completely overhaul the state’s energy grid, we will still need as much energy as we use right now for the whole state on top of what the renewable energy plan calls for.
According to the Cornell analysis, during the hottest and coldest months, with no backup in place, we could face blackouts “big enough to put half of New York City in the dark, for example. Blackouts that could last a month in some parts of the state.” While a worst-case scenario is unlikely, the question still remains, why are we spending billions and billions of dollars to create an energy grid that will not even come close to functioning properly?
Making matters clearer, the New York Independent System Operator also released a new report, the 2024 Reliability Needs Assessment, indicating New York’s electricity demand is on the verge of spiking thanks to things like the “electrification of the transportation and building sectors and large, energy-intensive commercial projects that include data centers and chip fabrication.” On top of that, a coalition of business and energy groups called for a “deep analysis” of the state’s energy plan in a
Letter to the Editor
Remember, these people are our neighbors. Our local entrepreneurs who own and operate diners have continued to invest in our community creating new employment opportunities without the assistance of federally funded taxpayers’ stimulus dollars. They work long hours, pay taxes, and provide local employment. If we don’t patronize our local restaurants, they don’t eat either.
Why not honor the fond memories we had of some of our favorite diners which have come and gone by continuing to patronize our remaining ones? Here’s hoping that the remaining diners don’t go the way of the dinosaurs into permanent extinction.
Sincerely, Larry Penner Great Neck
letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul.
The facts are plain; the CLCPA is not even close to feasible. The math doesn’t work, and we are on the wrong path to energy efficiency. We all want a better, cleaner energy grid. Unfortunately, the current proposal simply will not cut it. The state must pause this plan and rethink what we are doing before spending billions of taxpayer dollars on something that cannot work.
If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 19 Canalview Mall, Fulton, NY 13069 and by email at barclayw@nyassembly.gov. You may also find me, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, on Facebook or Twitter at @ WillABarclay.
Assemblyman Will Barclay (R-Pulaski) is the Assembly Minority Leader and has represented the 120th Assembly District since 2003. The 120th District contains most of Oswego County and parts of Jefferson and Onondaga counties.
People Are Dissatisfied with the Democrats
We now know that the total popular vote was down from the 2020 election. The Democratic vote was dramatically lower. The Republicans won the popular vote, the Presidency and both houses of Congress.
It looks like the American People are dissatisfied with the Democratic Party.
President-Elect Trump says he will make people feel more secure economically, increase personal safety, and reduce government intrusion in our personal lives. Now, let’s see if he puts up or shuts up.
In foreign policy matters the President-Elect promises to restore our nation’s respect and prestige and influence in the world.
Personally, during the previous administration the Democrats proposed to reduce the financial transaction reporting level from $10,000 dollars to $500 dollars. The purpose of the original level was to track and eliminate drug trafficking. It should be returned to its original level.
Why do the Democrats believe the government need to snoop at everybody’s lives at this ridiculous low level?
Yours truly, Paul H. Schmutz Nesconset
LaLota Tells Hochul: Appeal FEMA Decision
By Hank Russell
U.S. Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY-01) called on Governor Kathy Hochul (D) to appeal the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) decision to deny individual assistance to Long Islanders who experienced extensive damage or loss of their homes during the August storms as the result of Hurricane Ernesto.
In a letter he wrote to the governor, LaLota said, “Residents are still grappling with the aftermath, including structural damage, ruined personal belongings, and significant financial strain. FEMA’s decision not to authorize Individual Assistance risks leaving these victims to bear an overwhelming burden without federal support.”
FEMA previously provided public assistance to the region, which, according
to FEMA, provides supplemental grants to state, tribal, territorial and local governments, and certain types of private nonprofits – such as houses of worship, hospitals or academic institutions – so communities can quickly respond to and recover from major disasters or emergencies. Federal funding is typically available on a cost-sharing basis of 75% of eligible costs and the recipient is responsible for the non-federal share (up to 25%.).
Individual Assistance helps survivors directly to assist those who have uninsured or underinsured necessary expenses and serious needs. The assistance is meant to return a home to a safe, sanitary and functional residence. Please note, federal assistance cannot duplicate the benefits provided by other sources, such as insurance, and cannot pay for all losses caused by a disaster.
FEMA spokesperson Kate Macedo said Long Island would not be eligible for individual assistance because “the damage was not of severity and magnitude to warrant a federal declaration” of such assistance. She said the federal government evaluates several factors to determine whether a Governor’s request qualifies for Individual Assistance, which are the state’s fiscal capacity and availability of resources; uninsured home and personal property losses; a profile of those impacted by the disaster; impact to community infrastructure; disaster related unemployment; and casualties.
At a press conference in Yaphank on November 20, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) was asked by Long Island Life & Politics if he spoke to Hochul about this. He said he also sent a letter to Hochul asking her to appeal FEMA’s decision. “I find it odd, particularly when the governor has asked for [individual assistance funds],” he said.
According to Romaine, approximately 2,000 homes were damaged from the August storms. “We had mudslides in Rocky Point that absolutely overwhelmed these homes,” he said. “I can’t believe the federal government waited until the last day to wait and say, ‘Sorry, but no.’”
In response to LaLota’s letter, Hochul spokesperson Gordon Tepper said, “While the federal denial was disappointing, we plan to appeal and will continue fighting to ensure storm-impacted residents have access to recovery resources.”
Tepper pointed out that Hochul has already applied for low-interest disaster recovery loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, and the state’s emergency home repair funding program is already underway. “As climate change intensifies extreme weather, we remain committed to securing the support New Yorkers need and deserve to rebuild and recover,” he said.
Macedo said the governor has 30 days to make the appeal. LaLota said the appeal should be made sooner than that.
“This is not a time to accept inaction,” LaLota said. “Federal disaster aid plays a critical role in ensuring that communities like ours recover and rebuild after devastating events. FEMA’s initial Emergency Declaration, while a step in the right direction, was limited in scope and insufficient to address the needs of individual residents and families. I appreciate the actions your Administration has already taken, including declaring a State of Emergency and seeking FEMA assistance. However, the denial of Individual Assistance must not be the final word.”
This article originally appeared in Long Island Life and Politics. For more from LILP, visit them online at lilifepolitics.com.
Stumps visible for the first time in nearly 200 years after Hurricane Ernesto wiped away the dam at Stump Pond in Blydenburgh Park (Credit - Hector Gavilla)
Montauk
NSORED BY
This Week Today
National, State and Local Temperature Checks
By Matt Meduri National
Special counsel Jack Smith has moved to close two criminal cases against President-elect Donald Trump (RFL) (pictured right), specifically pertaining to his attempts to overturn the 2020 elections and his alleged classified document mishandling. Smith says the decision to dismiss comes off the heels after Trump’s election, which Smith believes will prevent him from federally prosecuting the former and now incoming president.
This result was effectively guaranteed by longstanding policy of the Department of Justice, which dictates that sitting presidents cannot face criminal prosecution.
Meanwhile, President-elect Trump is close to rounding out his second Cabinet, putting forth more nominees to be confirmed by the Senate once the new administration begins.
We’ve previously covered all of the Cabinet picks thus far, with notable standouts in National Guard Major and Fox News host Pete Hegseth (R-TN) for Defense Secretary, Cantor Fitzgerald CEO Howard Lutnick for Commerce Secretary, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) for Secretary of State, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., for HHS Secretary, former Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) as Administrator of the EPA, and former Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (R-HI) as Director of National Intelligence.
Trump has added some other names to the list, leaving just a handful of Cabinet positions without nominees as of press time.
Trump is looking to bring back a familiar face from his previous administration, Russell Vought (pictured below), who, upon confirmation by the Senate, will head his old post as Director of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB).
To head his Treasury, Trump has selected Key Square Group CEO Scott Bessent of South Carolina. Bessent was previously a Democrat, having hosted a fundraiser for Al Gore (D-TN) at his East Hampton home in 2000, and later donated to Hillary Clinton (D-NY) and Barack Obama (DIL). In 2016, he donated $1 million to Trump’s presidential inaugural committee and donated $1 million to his 2024 campaign.
If confirmed by the Senate, Bessent would be the first openly gay Secretary of the Treasury.
Trump’s nomination of Congressman Matt Gaetz (R, FL-01) as Attorney General turned several heads, not only regarding Gaetz’s qualifications for the job, but also his firebrand conservative record in Congress, and an open question about his statutory rape accusations. Upon receiving the nomination just weeks ago, Gaetz resigned his Florida congressional seat, and appears set on not returning to Congress after he withdrew his name from consideration.
In response, Trump nominated Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) as the nation’s top prosecutor.
Trump is also bringing back another member of his first term team, Brooke Rollins, of Texas, to lead his Agriculture Department. Rollins had served as Director of Domestic Policy Council for the last two years of Trump’s first term, and is currently the incumbent President and CEO of the America First Policy Institute, a think tank to promote TrumpEra policy agenda.
Trump has also emerged with a Secretary of Labor pick in
Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R, OR-05). ChavezDeRemer was elected in 2022 to an open Oregon seat, defeating Jamie McLeod-Skinner (D), a notable progressive who had ousted then-Congressman Kurt Schrader (D), a well-known blue dog Democrat. This year, however, McLeodSkinner lost the primary to Janelle Bynum (D), a more mainstream pick, who then unseated Chavez-DeRemer by a slim margin.
Former Texas House member Scott Turner (R) is being tapped to lead the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Turner also served two years in Trump’s first administration as the Executive Director of the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council, a position that was created in 2019 and abolished in 2021. Before politics, Turner was a football cornerback in the NFL for nine seasons.
In the U.S. Senate, Senator Bob Casey, Jr. (D-PA) has officially conceded the Senate race to Senator-elect Dave McCormick (R-PA). McCormick defeated the three-term Senator who remained one of the most moderate Democrats of the upper chamber and was seen as virtually unbeatable due to his incumbency and name recognition.
McCormick’s margin of just 0.25% - about 16,000 votes out of over 6.5 million ballots cast - makes the Pennsylvania race not only the closest Senate race of this cycle, but the closest for the Keystone State since the passage of the Seventeenth Amendment in 1913. The amendment is what transitioned U.S. Senators from being appointed by their respective state legislatures to being popularly elected. A recount was required by state law as the result was within one-half of a percentage point, which led many to mount calls for Casey to concede the race.
The GOP will now enter the 119th Congress with fiftythree seats in the Senate to the Democrats’ forty-seven.
State
Members of the state legislature convened in Albany on Monday to conduct organizational business. Republican re-elected Minority Leader Will Barclay (R-Pulaski) (pictured above) as to continue serving as their leader.
“I am deeply thankful to the members of this Conference for the trust and confidence they’ve shown in me. I work alongside extremely hardworking men and women, which now includes six new members who bring fresh perspectives and enthusiasm to our team. To receive their vote is an honor and a privilege,” said Leader Barclay. “We are eager to begin the 2025 Legislative Session and will use every day as an opportunity to better the lives of the people in our great
state. We will continue our efforts to make New York safer, more affordable and a place where every family will choose to build their future.”
Barclay was first elected to the Assembly in 2002 and currently represents the 120th District. The district contains all of Oswego County and small parts of Jefferson and Cayuga counties.
Local
PSE&G Long Island, along with Long Island Cares and the Suffolk County Veterans Services Agency, recently provided free Thanksgiving turkeys and baskets to Veterans at the H. Lee Dennison Building (pictured below) in Hauppauge last Thursday.
Despite the frigid temperatures and bucketing rain, volunteers stuck out the day to distribute an estimated six hundred turkeys for the upcoming holiday.
“Last year, we saw 390 Veterans come through and it was our first year doing this. This year, we’ll probably hit 600,” Justin Berbig, Veteran Outreach Coordinator at Long Island Cares, told The Messenger. Berbig served in the U.S. Army from 2001 to 2005 and served a deployment in Afghanistan in 2003.
Berbig assists in coordinating the logistics of the event, including the food, volunteers, and trucks. Food was purchased in pre-made boxes with all the staples: turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, to name a few.
Cancer Care Ribbon Cutting at Karasmatic Day Spa in Port Jefferson
By Giavanna Rudilosso
People gathered together in Port Jefferson at Karasmatic Day Spa and Mane and Medi for the ribbon-cutting and celebration of partnering with the Racine’s Monday Cancer Care Program.
Their mission is to provide beauty and wellness services free of charge for individuals who are impacted by cancer and its treatments. The services that Karasmatic will provide includes therapeutic facials, massages, and energy work. Mane and Medi located right across the hall has hair and scalp health specialists to perform scalp treatments.
Kara Morris, owner of Karasmatic Spa with two locations, Port Jefferson and another on Montauk Highway in Bayport spoke with The Messenger
“We are honored to share that we are a proud partner of the incredible Monday’s Cancer Care organization. One Monday each month, we open our doors to provide complimentary self-care services for individuals undergoing cancer treatment,” said Morris. “Our mission is to offer a space where clients can rejuvenate, unwind, and feel loved and valued during this challenging time. If you or someone that you know could benefit from this special day, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Help us spread the word by sharing this with your friends and family who might need a little extra care right now. Together, we can make a difference, one act of kindness at a time.”
Kelsey McGlone RN, BSN, Aesthetic Injector who owns Mane and Medi said, “Our goal is to reduce scalp irritation and discomfort while promoting optimal relaxation and sense of well-being. After treatment, we will continue supporting clients with all-natural solutions for faster, stronger hair growth, helping them regain their confidence.”
Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) joined in on the celebration as well.
“This is a great day for Karasmatic Spa and Mane and Medi Spa. They are absolutely doing amazing work for all of Long Island helping cancer patients. It’s all volunteers, it’s truly God’s work in my opinion,” said Palumbo. “So, I am just truly happy to be here to see another location open, to fully support them, and we want to open as many as these as we can.”
The very simple yet oh-so-inspiring story behind Mondays Cancer Care as stated on their website is that sisters Cynthia Sansone and Rachel DeMolfetto established Mondays at Racine in honor of their mother, Mildred DeMolfetto, who passed away from breast cancer in 1989 at the age of 58. Throughout her five-year battle, Mildred’s self-esteem
plummeted as she struggled with baldness, anxiety, and other devastating side effects of cancer treatment.
Cynthia and Rachel remembered how much their mother looked forward to her visits to the beauty salon. Utilizing Rachel’s already established and successful shop, Racine Salon & Spa in Islip, they created an oasis of restoration and healing to ease the cancer journey for others, all in Mildred’s memory. One Monday a month, the sisters opened their doors to the community to help those with cancer, officially launching Mondays at Racine.
Although it all started at Racine’s in Islip and became very well known as Mondays at Racine’s it has grown now to twenty-one partner spas and salons and has taken on the new name of Mondays Cancer Care to encompass all of them.
Karla Waldron, Executive director of Mondays Cancer Care was on hand to help cut the ribbon alongside Kara and Kelsey, a symbolic representation of their new partnership. Karasmatic Day Spa is located at 41 N Country Road in Port Jefferson. For more information visit MondaysCancerCare.org; KarasmaticDaySpa.com and ManeandMedi.com.
By Matt Meduri
Legislator Stark Proposes January Be Named ‘Human Trafficking Prevention Month’
In combating a dire problem that appears more prevalent than yesteryear, the Suffolk County Legislature is taking a step to raise awareness as the horseshoe continues to work on outreach in their communities and collaboration with law enforcement.
Namely, Legislator Catherine Stark (R-Riverhead) (pictured right) has proposed a bill to name January “Human Trafficking Prevention Month,” which was heard and passed during last Thursday’s Public Safety Committee meeting.
Stark, the primary sponsor of the bill, is joined by Legislators Chad Lennon (C-Rocky Point), Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport), and Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset). Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) offered to co-sponsor the bill during the Public Safety Committee meeting.
The subject of human trafficking is an age-old one, but one that is eye-opening nonetheless, especially in the modern era in a suburban county. Legislator Lennon and an aide for Legislator Trish Bergin (R-East Islip) joined Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson) and other local elected and law enforcement officials in August for the first roundtable on human trafficking at Stony Brook in August.
“I don’t think people realize the vast issue within this county of human trafficking, which includes sex trafficking and labor trafficking. If you look at what’s going on right now with our border, there are over 300,000 children that are missing that we know of. If you break that down, that’s 6,000 per state. That’s not even by population,” said Legislator Lennon. “If you break that down on the county level, there’s about one hundred children missing in Suffolk County, and most of them have likely been trafficked in some manner.”
Lennon thanked the Sheriff’s Department for setting up a conference on gang activity, helping open the window into the issue.
“All you have to do is go on the Internet. It’s easier to order somebody for sex than it is to
get groceries,” said Lennon. “We need to inform people of what’s going on so we can find a solution to this.”
Legislator Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters), Chair of the Public Safety Committee, said that the Sheriff’s Department outreach program is extending to the schools. Flotteron mentioned a specific presentation at West Islip High School, within his district, and recommends that other legislators do the same for the schools within their districts.
“It seems like they’re [the traffickers] are really going after our junior-high kids, even younger,” said Flotteron. Presenters from the Sheriff’s office spoke to the committee on the issue.
“Our main goal within our facility is to identify victims. The vast majority of human trafficking victims are not arrested and remanded for charges that relate to that activity. So, what we do is we work hand in hand with our local partners and federal partners,” said Captain Investigator Robert Brano of the Intelligence Bureau. “Once we get the information to find out who’s putting them in this position, it can hopefully lead to arrests and any of the systemic issues we have with things like certain locations that are being used. We generate a lot of intelligence from within the facility.”
Brano said that the unit works directly with the Suffolk County Police Department’s trafficking unit, adding that their task force officers are “embedded” with them, so that when federal-level cases are worked, the unit is “intimately involved with those cases as well.”
Legislator Stark’s bill, I.R. 1859, passed the committee hearing. The bill’s legislative intent lists trafficking as an “inhumane and devastating form of abuse and exploitation.”
If passed, the bill would enshrine the month of January, starting in 2025, as “Human Trafficking Prevention Month.”
CreditMatt Meduri
Brookhaven Matters
Huge Turnout for Shirley Library Grand Opening
The process became unexpectedly contentious in early 2023, as workers realized the original building’s walls and elevator were unsound, prompting an entire demolition of the building.
The ribbon-cutting is the product of a two-year project and part of the overall $26.7 million to construct the three libraries in the district. The new 45,000-square-foot facility is not much larger than its previous iteration, but officials say that the space has been reimagined to include larger reading rooms, computer and work rooms, children’s areas, a teen space, a coffee shop to be contracted out to a third-party, and even a “Makers’ room,” filled with 3-D printers, engravers, sewing machines, and other assets to not only teach basic home economic skills, but for entrepreneurs to get their businesses off the ground.
Hundreds convened at the new location off of William Floyd Parkway to witness a long-awaited return of the main branch to the district.
the Economic Development, Small Business, and Commerce Committee, says that the “Makers’ Room,” will help residents looking to start their own businesses or crafting gigs, with the 3-D printers and the Cricut cutting machines assisting in making mugs, t-shirts, or other merchandisable items.
The auditorium, to the point of Kim Swicicki, Secretary with the Shirley Chamber of Commerce, has included a chairlift for stage access, and even a Braille board in the children’s section.
The choice to preserve the original layout of the library was highly well received by the community, including one longtime Shirley resident, known as “Kets.”
“You deserve this,” said Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches) (pictured top right) to the eager crowd. “I give a lot of credit to this library board, because doing anything worthwhile is incredibly difficult. You will always have your critics, but in showing the leadership to get this done, to have a vision, and a vision for each and every one of you, especially the young people here in front of me today. I grew up one of five children of Jefferson Drive, a product of the William Floyd School District. I came to this library more times than I can remember and I will tell you the opportunities, both community and educational, available to you now are greater than that which was available to me even back then. So, please utilize them, be proud of your library, and be proud of your community. You deserve this day today and many more.”
Panico’s sentiments were echoed by Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig (R-Manorville) (pictured above), Suffolk County Legislator Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches), Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue), and Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R-Medford) (pictured below)
“I moved from Brooklyn when I was thirteen and I would always go to the teen department after school every day,” Kets told The Messenger, adding that when she was sixteen, she applied for a job and worked at the Shirley branch for eleven years. She served as a teen page and later as a computer clerk in the adult reference section. But in addition to having deep, nostalgic ties to the building, Kets says that the library was more than just a sanctuary in her teen years.
“This library also made me feel working here like I helped the community. When I worked as a computer clerk in the adult department, people would come back thanking me for helping them with a resume or a job application,” said Kets. “It feels very, very rewarding. People who work in libraries literally give back to the community.”
Kets says that in obtaining her Master’s Degree in Library school online from the University of Southern Mississippi, a computer lab was desperately needed.
“When I got elected six years ago, this was the first library I toured,” said DeStefano. “This is really an overwhelming experience because it took a long time, but I’ve learned something over the six years I’ve been in office: good things come to those who wait.”
Legislator Mazzarella, who had served on the Library Board for ten years, five as its president before running for the Suffolk County Legislature in 2021, believes that what is there now will remain for “decades to come.”
“First and foremost, I want to congratulate the community. We stuck it out,” adding that if “it were not for the community” putting their trust into the project and the Library Board, the project would have never gotten off the ground.
Initially, the plan for the library was to be what Senator Murray described as the “Taj Mahal of libraries,” with waterfront property that include paddle boats. The second proposal was one in conjunction with the Town of Brookhaven, where the library district was looking at the closed golf course nearby.
“Finally, they said, ‘we’re going to stay here [at the same location as the former building], we’re going to redo everything,” Murray told The Messenger. “They lowered the bond and opened up the other two branches, they had gained the community’s trust. And now, look what we have.”
An admirable part of the renovation was retaining the old spirit of the library that had become nostalgic to many in the community, something the Library Board was intent on keeping intact. It’s evidenced by the identical locations of the same rooms and even the signature rounded staircase around the children’s room and the proposed coffee nook.
“We are so ready for our community to be revitalized, to have new things, nice things, to have our community look the same as every other community; it’s time,” said Murray. “For years and years, I feel like this community has been kind of labeled with a stigma that really isn’t true. From the outside looking in, you hear there’s some crime or there’s some drug problems or something like that. But when you get involved in the community here, it is truly one of the most close-knit, large communities I’ve ever seen.”
Murray, the Ranking Member on the Senate Library Committee, as well as
“I have a laptop, but I’d rather have the monitor; it’s so much easier. I can’t spend a fortune on a laptop, but seeing the computer lab is something that was definitely needed,” said Kets.
Kets says that she took the tour of the library and was able to reminisce, despite the full renovation. And although the Mastic and Moriches branches got her through school, she says they never held a candle to the Shirley branch.
“I love the other buildings, but this one is closer to my heart,” said Kets.
Legislator Mazzarella (pictured left) says that a big logistical issue with the former location is the foot traffic. According to him, this branch received much more usage compared to the average library, and factoring that in was a huge hurdle in renovating the new branch.
“Libraries today are much different spaces than libraries of yesterday, where they had cubicles and separation. Now, people want open spaces, areas to collaborate, and, of course, all of the technology too.,” Mazzarella told The Messenger. “I think this is a community that values their library and their library services. It’s a community that’s been waiting a long time for this.”
Library Board President Joe Maiorana (pictured right) says that since he joined the board in 1998, the key was working with the community to “find a solution that they were willing to invest in.”
“The proposal at the golf course was around $35 million and people thought that the location was too far south and it was too much money,” Maiorana told The Messenger. “We’re a population of 65,000 people, so I think we found the perfect answer in two community branches,” he added, referencing the Moriches and Mastic Beach branches, with the latter likely to be a centerpiece of the ongoing Neighborhood Road Revitalization project.
“Now, we have our main library back,” said Maiorana.
Steven Young, Digital Services, mentioned that the Makers’ Space can be especially advantageous for family reunions or other special events, where residents can make commemorative mugs, shirts, or other items with ease, and library associates can assist in using the machines.
Photo credit - Matt Meduri
Continued from previous page
Huge Turnout for Shirley Library Grand Opening
The Shirley Branch of the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library District is located at 407 William Floyd Parkway, just off of the parkway at the corner of Roberts Road and The Green in Shirley.
The Necessary Standard for American Education
2024 Election Autopsy, Part I: New England
By Matt Meduri
The 2024 presidential election is still being examined, but the results are rather surprising in modern standards, and although the election was not a landslide, getting under the hood shows it was a solid, and possibly realigning, election. For the next several weeks, we’ll discuss in-depth the results from each state, specifically on the county level, as to where and why the shifts were so pronounced.
This also gives us an opportunity to add a new ledger in our “America the Beautiful” history column that ran weekly on this page before we began Civics 101. Under the “Current Political Leanings” section, we would discuss the recent electoral profiles of each state. This sub-column will effectively allow us to check back in where we left off.
The General Region
New England is composed of six states: Connecticut (7 electoral votes), Maine (4 split), Massachusetts (11), New Hampshire (4), Rhode Island (4), and Vermont (4). The six have voted for the same party together in every election since 2004, with New Hampshire in 2000 being the last time a New England state backed a GOP nominee. The only exception to this is Maine, which splits its electoral votes based on congressional district winners. The winner of the popular statewide vote receives two electoral votes, while the individual popular votewinners in the two districts each receive an additional electoral vote. Maine adopted this system in 1972, but no candidate had ever created a split until 2016. Donald Trump (R-NY) won ME-02, netting him one electoral vote.
The region was once one of the most Republican in the country, with its heavy Yankee roots started long before the Revolutionary War as the classic “live free or die” states. The regions’ political leanings have been demonstrated throughout history. In 1856, the first election after the birth of the Republican Party, each New England state went to that year’s nominee, John C. Fremont (R-CA), with only New Hampshire being relatively close.
In fact, no New England state would back a Democratic candidate from 1856 until 1876, when Samuel Tilden (D-NJ) took Connecticut very narrowly that year. New England as a whole - except Connecticut in some elections - would back the GOP in every election again for the rest of the century, and handily until the 1920s. Immigration to the region, namely Irish Catholic and Italian immigration, would start to push the area towards Democrats, but socially speaking, the region was still in line with the GOP.
The region was fully solidified with the “blue wall” in 1992, a watershed election that realigned political groups across the country. New England was always a classically Republican area for its ideas on limited government, high education, and more classically liberal ideals. Once the national GOP took social positions that were deemed more conservative, the “classically liberal” areas of the country, most predominantly seen in New England, shifted towards a more “presently” liberal platform, backing the Democratic Party in every election since 1992. Only New Hampshire has broken that streak.
The only New England states that have been decided by margins of less than ten points since 2000 are New Hampshire and Maine, with Vermont being an exception in 2000. The Obama years took most of New England out of play, but 2016 put them back in.
While not at the forefront of the presidential battleground this year, the entire region shifted to the right, in some ways, dramatically so.
Massachusetts
We’ll start in Massachusetts, long a liberal stronghold, and one of the most guaranteed Democratic prizes on perhaps any election night. It’s also the population center of New England, clocking in with eleven electoral votes. Having not backed a Republican since 1984, Massachusetts shows no signs of becoming competitive, but the rightward shift this year cannot be ignored.
In 2020, Joe Biden (D-DE) carried the Bay State with 65% of the vote to Trump’s 32%, with the former sweeping all counties, a feat every Democrat has performed since 1992. Kamala Harris (D-CA) won the state with 61% to Trump’s 36.5%, an eight-point swing compared to four years ago. Every single county swung somewhat significantly towards Trump, but the largest county swing there was Suffolk County, home to
Boston. Harris lost about 70,000 votes to Biden’s 2020 total, allowing the region’s population center and one of the most liberal strongholds in the country to shift more rightward than the rural counties, which still lean significantly Democratic.
This is the first election since 1924 in which a Republican carried the City of Fall River, the first since 1956 that a Republican won Somerset, and the first since 1984 that a Republican won Westport, Seekonk, and West Springfield. Of the commonwealth’s 351 municipalities, Trump flipped twenty-six; Harris flipped none.
Interestingly, in the concurrently held Senate race here, John Deaton (R) actually overperformed the top of the ticket, taking in just over 40% of the vote to two-term Senator Elizabeth Warren’s (D-MA) 59.6%. He also won Bristol and Plymouth counties in the southeastern part of the state. The underperformance by Warren, although not drastic, has hurt Democrats’ popular vote standings in the Senate races - which stands at about one percentage point - a very close popular vote count when Democrats defended almost double the number of states Republicans did in this cycle.
New Hampshire
A classic swing state, and the only to hail from New England, New Hampshire was closer than expected this year, although it was largely absent from the campaign trail. Trump swung all nine of the Granite State’s counties to the right this year, with the biggest swings observed in Coos and Cheshire counties. Harris won the state with a thin majority - 50.65% - to Trump’s 48%. He flipped three counties he had lost four years ago, but the culprit for his loss in New Hampshire could be considered Grafton County, home to Dartmouth. New Hampshire’s large college-educated population was initially seen as one of the biggest hurdles for Trump to clear, as evidenced early this year by Nikki Haley’s (R-SC) strong performance in this region in the primary.
For comparison, Biden won the state by almost eight points - 52.7% to 45.3%. The 2020 election saw New Hampshire move off the map towards the end, and Trump ultimately only carried two counties. It makes for a scenario where Harris underperformed Biden, but outperformed Hillary Clinton (DNY).
In terms of raw votes, with almost 75% turnout, New Hampshire is shaping up to be the closest state in terms of raw votes. Trump and Harris are separated by No Republican has won New Hampshire since George W. Bush (R-TX) in 2000.
The concurrent governor’s race saw former Senator Kelly Ayotte (R) win the open seat handily, continuing the GOP gubernatorial winning streak here since 2016.
Vermont
Although Vermont is one of the most liberal states in the country, Democrats might have hit a ceiling here. Like Massachusetts, it’s not a state that appears ready to become competitive again, but Trump swung every county in his favor and even flipped another - Orleans County, becoming the first Republican to do so since 2004.
Governor Phil Scott (R-VT) also won a resounding landslide victory for a fifth two-year term. The liberal Republican is regularly recorded as the most popular governor in the
This column will seek to address the long-forgotten concept of civics and how it relates to American government in general, from the federal level to the local level. This column will explore Constitutional rights, the inner workings of government, the electoral process, and the obligations and privileges of citizens.
country, and his coattails this year are credited with state Republicans’ piercing of Democratic supermajorities in both chambers of the state legislature.
Biden wook 66% of the vote in Vermont four years ago, compared to Trump’s 30.5%. Harris took 63% of the vote to Trump’s 32%, accounting for about a five-point swing to the right. Trump also held Essex County, once a notable bellwether county, and came very close to flipping Franklin County, which has not backed a Republican since 1984.
While not a surprise, this is only the second time in history, since 1956, that Vermont was the strongest state for either party in two back-to-back elections. Moreover, it speaks to Vermont’s traditional Republican lean and that its sharp transition to the bluest state is mostly unparalleled by any other state.
Maine
Maine was once a competitive state at the beginning of the decade, but Obama pushed it thoroughly off the map in 2008. Trump held Clinton to a thin margin here in 2016, suggesting Maine could become a battleground. Only modestly competitive in 2020, Biden outdid Clinton’s 2016 numbers, only for Harris’ margin to rest between the two. Like New Hampshire, Maine is another state where Harris outperformed Clinton but underperformed Biden.
Maine is also the site of the only two New England counties that voted more Democratic this year than last year: Sagadahoc and Lincoln, the latter of which has not backed a Republican since 2000, and the former of which has not done so since 1988. As coastal counties, they make up the liberal portion of Maine and its First Congressional District.
The margin for Harris stands at 52.11% to Trump’s 45.36%, compared to a 53.09% win for Biden to Trump 44.02% in 2020.
It appears that Maine is still in contention, and if enthusiasm for a Republican nominee meets or exceeds 2016-levels in this state, then it’s likely Republicans could pick off another New England state, as Maine has not voted for a Republican presidential candidate since 1988.
Connecticut
A state that we had suggested would be “Likely Democratic” as opposed to “Safe Democratic” in our 10/31 forecast, Connecticut shifted about five points to the right this year. Trump held the two mainstay Republican counties hereLitchfield (Danbury) and Windham - and received about 42% of the vote to Harris’ 56%, down from the 59%-39% gap we saw favoring Biden four years ago.
Connecticut also recently reorganized its local levels of government into “Council of Governments” regions, or “Planning” regions. Of the nine, Trump won three, flipping the Northwest Planning Region red.
Having not backed a Republican since 1988, Connecticut’s shift this year was less pronounced than its counterparts, particularly New Jersey and New York, which we’ll discuss in a later column. It’s possible Republicans find some more room to grow here, but their floor of about 40% wasn’t changed much by this year’s results. It is notable, however, that some networks, including CNN, did not call Connecticut until early Wednesday morning, a huge departure from the typically-safe Democratic results projected for the Constitution State.
Despite this, Trump flipped fourteen municipalities, including Bristol, the state’s twelfth-most populous city. Harris flipped the small town of Warren.
Rhode Island
We’ll end this mini-series with the nation’s smallest state, Rhode Island. A reliably Democratic state, Rhode Island gave Joe Biden 59% of the vote to Trump’s 38.6%. However, the state swung about eight points to the right, one of the largest shifts observed this election. Although Trump did not flip back Kent County, which he had flipped in 2016, Harris’ margin was thinner here than it was in arguably “redder” Connecticut55.5%-42%.
The result marks the closest election in the Ocean State since 1988, as well as the first election since 1936 in which Rhode Island voted to the right of Connecticut, and the first since 1956 that it voted more Republican than Delaware, Oregon, or Washington.
Ward Melville Students Named National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists
Revamped Food Pantry Benefits
Sachem Community
Each year, the Bayport-Blue Point School District aims to expose students to new sports and activities. This year, students tried non-contact rugby for the first time. RugbyNY President Matthew Persanis and coach Tim Downey visited Bayport-Blue Point High School, offering various clinics throughout the school day. Bayport-Blue Point High School has incorporated rugby into the team sports physical education curriculum for a two-week unit. So far, the students’ feedback has been very positive.
“Exposing high school students to non-contact rugby opens doors to a unique sport that promotes teamwork and resilience, enriching their experience in the team sports elective and paving the way for future participation,” said Chairperson for Physical Education Tricia Livingston.
Six students from Ward Melville High School in the Three Village Central School District were named semifinalists in the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program. Congratulations to Katie Duong, Alexander Singer, Sean Skinner, Alexander Song, Michael Wei and Aimee Yang.
These academically talented high school seniors are among the 16,000 semifinalists from across the nation who scored exceptionally well on the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT). Semifinalists represent less than 1% of the nation’s graduating seniors. Around 95% of semifinalists are expected to attain finalist standing and go on to compete for scholarships. The district wishes these six students the best as they continue in the competition.
The Interact Club at Sachem High School North is lending a helping hand to the larger community. Students recently revamped the building’s food pantry, moving to a larger location to provide more resources to local families. They first went through the food at the old location, getting rid of any expired items. Students then transferred the remaining items to the new location in the building, a larger office not in use. They sorted through the nonperishables, assigning them to specific shelving spots. Through different food drives, the Interact Club was able to completely restock the new and improved pantry.
The Sachem Central Teachers’ Association also plays a big role in the food pantry project. SCTA teachers in each building throughout the district are assigned an item for collection. They then send their donations to High School North and have been making an amazing impact on the pantry’s growth. Teachers have been able to help sustain a continuous source for the pantry, going by the motto, “Many hands make light work.”
Rugby Fun in Bayport-Blue Point
Local History
We Gather Together
By Ellyn Okvist, B.Sc.
Gathering at the Newton Homestead at Wolf Pond was an annual event in the late 1800’s early 1900’s and was held for over fifty years. Local neighbors, families, and friends would look forward to the weekend before Thanksgiving to gather, while working together and enjoying the days before the holiday to give thanks. It was a time to slow down and appreciate everyone in your life.
Wild cranberries have grown at Wolf Pond for over one-hundred years. The people would bring dinner and drink, and baskets to fill as they picked the cranberries. Most had their own cranberry combs and used them once a year for this event. Partaking in this get-together must have been phenomenal. After the gathering was completed, people would eat their dinner that they brought from home, and the entertainment would begin. Music and singing could be heard for some distance. But the spotlight was on the huge barn fire prepared by the Newton family. It offered warmth and enjoyment to the community as they spent this time together
This tradition was followed for years, as each family would bake their cranberry selections at home, including Cranberry Sauce, Cranberry Meringue Pie, Cranberry Pie, Mock Cherry Pie, Baked Cranberry Pudding, and Cranberry Jelly, among others. They would then once again meet a day or two before Thanksgiving Day and exchange their baked goods, allowing more than one specialty at their individual dinners.
Wolf Pond has its own history, and it is full of environmental promise and nature conservation. The pond has been there for ages and has an ecological distinction fitting our area. A small island-like center makes the pond even more appealing, and the grounds have a pleasing atmosphere.
A longtime occupant of Wolf Pond was the “Wolf Pond Monster.” It was identified as a Great Snapping Turtle of America, known as a “Torup.” Judged to be over one hundred years old, and weighing in at thirty-five pounds, its legs were covered with scales as would a prehistoric monster, and with barbs on its tail. When it left the pond, it is said a huge amount of water would drain off its body and was indeed an ugly sight. Its scale-covered head was set with vicious jaws capable of snapping a man’s arm and it could move surprisingly well on land. It was discovered during a drought year, and could be watched snapping up ducks, geese and any other animal that had the unfortunate fate of crossing his path. Eventually, the authorities decided the Wolf Pond Monster (illustrated left) had to be destroyed.
Wild Geese, raccoons, turtles, frogs, birds and small wildlife have established their ecosystems at the site. Wolf Pond Sanctuary was established in 1951 as a memorial for Sumner Newton, a direct descendant of the original Newton landowner, by The Finlay sisters, Miss Helen and Miss Roberta. It is one of the few beautiful sites kept in a natural state at Lake Ronkonkoma to serve the special needs of birds and small wildlife (illustrated above)
What is Thanksgiving without a Parade? The community was fortunate to have the Chamber of Commerce organize and present the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade (pictured right). Watching the Parade was a way of getting a lot of enjoyment while supporting a well-planned, considerably detailed presentation by the community’s business colony. The Parades ran in the 1950-1960s, with the largest Thanksgiving Day Parade held in 1961. Beautiful themes were used, and the costumes, floats and community participation were monumental. The 1961 Parade drew thousands on the sides of the streets watching the festivities. Competitions included were Best Costumes, Best Floats, Best Marching Bands, and winners received small worthwhile cash prizes. The Parade ended at our WWII Memorial Tree, still standing proud and tall, dressed in thousands of multi-colored Christmas lights.
Recently I went to investigate the cranberries crop with another Historian, Robert Von Bernewitz and Robert Kentner. We did discover remnants of wild cranberries. We appreciated walking through the paths and park-like setting, then we were off to Goulds Pond.
Best wishes for a wonderful Thanksgiving.
The Detective Jonathan Diller Scholarship Inaugural Fundraiser
Raises $70K for St. Mary’s Students
The Detective Jonathan Diller Scholarship Fund, established in the memory of the late NYPD Detective Jonathan Diller, held its inaugural kick-off fundraising event at Mulcahy’s Pub & Concert Hall (at 3232 Railroad Ave. in Wantagh) on Wednesday, November 20, 2024. The event lasted from 6:30 p.m. through 10:30 p.m.
The fundraiser drew in approximately 500 people, including Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R-Atlantic Beach), Nassau County Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder, Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino (R-Massapequa), and representatives from the New York Police Department (NYPD), Nassau County Police Department (NCPD), Suffolk County Police department (SCPD), and other elected officials.
The Pipes & Drums of The Emerald Society of the New York City Police Department performed, as did the Joe Saladino Band. A total of approximately $70,000 dollars was raised to directly fund annual scholarships for tuition for students at Diller’s former high school, St. Mary’s, located in Manhasset.
NYPD Detective Diller lost his life in the line of duty earlier this year on March 25, when he was murdered during a traffic stop in Far Rockaway, Queens.
The event featured food, drinks, raffle prizes, live auctions, and entertainment. Nearly fifty local businesses sponsored or donated money or prizes to the fundraising effort. John Theissen ran a live auction. John Murray, the proprietor of Mulchay’s, offered a special rate for use of the venue.
Raffle prizes included gift certificates and other items from a wide variety of establishments that included Bluebird Kitchen, Matteo’s, Danny’s Chinese, Great South Bay Music Festival, Seven Beach Lane, Kwong Ming, Saltano’s, North Fork Doughnut Co., The Good Life, Dark Horse, Tap Room, American Beauty, Vin’s Bake House, Carvel, Bacaro Italian Tavern, Zona Restaurant, Umberto’s, Gino’s Tuscany, Smoking Al’s, Tavlin Market, Rejuvenate Spa, Patrizia’s, Vincent’s Steak House, Mercato Kitchen & Cocktails, Anthony’s Kitchen & Cocktails, Laser Plus, Voodoo Crab, Calda, All American Burger, Taco Joe’s, as well as VIP tickets to the Billy Joel Exhibit at the Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame.
The fund was organized and established by Larry Weinberger, President of MGD Investments, who gathered supporters and sponsors.
“Detective Diller’s dedication to police work, and his love of being a police officer, was apparent to all who knew him,” Weinberger said. “This fund will create a never-ending legacy for Detective Diller, as every year the high school Jonathan attended, St. Mary’s, will select a student(s) in need of support pursuing their education and career goals.”
Jonathan Diller’s wife Stephanie (pictured right) supports the effort and was there to thank everyone who attended. She spoke about what St. Mary’s meant to her late husband and her hopes for this scholarship to give students the opportunity to follow in his footsteps.
“Jonathan always talked so fondly about his time there and he always was involved in sports and was very active, and that’s what made him into the person he was,” said Stephanie. “I want the scholarship to go to someone who is just like Jonathan and to have that experience and to continue for people to become like him. We need more of Jonathan in the world.”
The fund has gained strong community support throughout the region—from New York City to Suffolk County—with participation from the NYPD, NCPD, SCPD, and the Town of Oyster Bay.
Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joe Saladino is a strong supporter of the fund and even brought his band, The Joe Saladino Band to rock the house as the main entertainment for the night.
“Johnathan Diller is someone we all look up to,” Saladino said. “He’s a hero. He left his beautiful wife and son every day to protect communities as a police officer. It speaks to his heroic actions. We appreciate that Jonathan has always been a hero and we’re going to make sure that his memory and his passion for the community and his love for all of us always lives on.”
Additional sponsors and supporters include Mulcahy’s Pub & Concert Hall, MGD Investments, Dream Studios, and The EGC Group, Sunrise Chiropractic & Wellness Office, Hassett Ford, Gennaro Jewelers, 1031 Financial, Blue Shark Realty Group Inc, Lifestyles Sports, Family Wealth & Pension Management, LLC, Zwanger-Pesiri Radiology, Budd Morgan Alarm Co., Rosenberg Calica Birney Liebman & Ross LLP, John Theissen Children’s Foundation, Beach Bakery, The Froccaro Family, Flip N’ Save, Sign Up Now, Sahn Ward Braff Coschignano PLLC, Fortitude Investment Group, and Peapack Gladstone Bank. The fund is continuing to accept donations online.
CreditChris Collora, EGC Group
(Pictured left to right) John Theissen ran the live auction, Joe Saladino rocked the house with the Joe Saladino Band, and The Pipes & Drums of The Emerald Society of the New York City Police Department performed.
(Pictured left to right) Larry Weinburger, Stephanie Diller and Joe Saladino at the inaugural Detective Jonathan Diller Scholarship Fundraiser
Patchogue Lights Up the Season with Annual Holiday Boat Parade
By Cait Crudden
The Village of Patchogue ushered in the holiday season with its annual Holiday Boat Parade this past weekend, an event that has become a cherished tradition for residents and visitors alike. The parade, held along the Patchogue River, featured a dazzling display of festively decorated boats, each adorned with twinkling Christmas lights and imaginative holiday-themed decorations.
This year’s parade attracted large crowds who gathered along the riverbanks, braving the crisp November evening to witness the spectacle. The excitement in the air was palpable as families, friends, and community members found spots to enjoy the event, which many describe as the official start to the holiday season in Patchogue.
The Holiday Boat Parade is more than just a visual spectacle, it’s a testament to the strong sense of community that defines Patchogue. Organized annually by local businesses, community organizations, and the Patchogue Chamber of Commerce, the event brings together residents and visitors to celebrate the season in style.
The participating boats did not disappoint, showcasing creativity and holiday spirit in abundance. Themes ranged from classic winter wonderlands and Santa’s sleigh to more contemporary displays featuring pop culture icons and light-up reindeer. One standout boat depicted a life-size American flag, while another featured a giant illuminated Elvis that towered above the waterline.
As the boats glided down the Patchogue River, their reflections danced on the water, creating a magical atmosphere. Holiday music played in the background, adding to the festive cheer. Spectators waved and cheered as the boats passed, many of them bundled up in scarves and gloves while sipping hot cocoa.
The parade also serves as a platform for local businesses and organizations to connect with the community. Many restaurants and shops along the river offered special promotions and events leading up to the parade, making the weekend a vibrant time for the village. For many attendees, the Holiday Boat Parade is a must-see event and a treasured family tradition. The parade’s festive energy also draws visitors from beyond the village. Attendees from neighboring towns and even farther afield come to Patchogue to experience the unique event, which has grown in popularity over the years.
The success of this year’s Holiday Boat Parade highlights the enduring appeal of the event and the dedication of those who bring it to life. From the boat owners who spend hours crafting their decorations to the volunteers who organize and manage the festivities, the effort is a true community endeavor.
As the final boat made its way down the river, the audience erupted in applause, signaling not just the end of the parade, but the beginning of a season filled with joy, generosity, and togetherness. For Patchogue, the holiday magic has officially arrived.
Published by Messenger Papers,
28,
The Election Day Victory Conservatives Aren’t Talking About
By Aaron Flanigan | AMAC Contributor
As conservatives celebrate Donald Trump’s return to the White House alongside new Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress, the GOP’s optimism for the future is at an all-time high. Yet amid the celebration, one crucial victory for American democracy has gone largely overlooked: voters’ decisive rejection of ranked-choice voting (RCV).
On November 5, along with putting their confidence in conservative policies, voters also overwhelmingly rejected state-level ballot initiatives that would have elevated deeply problematic RCV in six states. After left-wing entities—often masquerading as nonpartisan centrist organizations—spent millions of dollars selling RCV as a win for “democracy” while masking its dangerous implications, voters in Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, and Oregon loudly said “no” to the experiment.
Notably, AMAC Action has been a leading organization in opposing RCV this year and in previous election cycles, working alongside other conservative organizations to raise awareness about how RCV undermines the democratic process.
RCV, according to FairVote, one of the main organizations advocating for the practice, “makes our elections better by allowing voters to rank candidates in order of preference.” Ballots that “do not help voters’ top choices win,” the group states, “count for their next choice”—resulting in a process that RCV proponents say yields “better choices, better campaigns, and better representation.”
Though RCV remains a relatively new innovation within the national American political landscape, in recent years, it has gained significant traction—mostly among Democrats, progressive activists, and self-proclaimed political centrists.
During the 2024 cycle, only two states—Alaska and Maine—used RCV in statewide elections; however, the practice was employed by 12 cities across six states for local elections.
“Ranked-choice voting is having a moment,” NBC News reported last year.
And for center-left political operatives, it’s no wonder why.
During the 2022 midterm election season, RCV was widely credited with the defeat of conservative candidates like former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, who came up short against Democrat Mary Peltola in a U.S. House special election, despite Alaska’s status as a solid red state.
“Ranked-choice voting is a scam to rig elections,” Senator Tom Cotton (R-AR) said after Peltola was declared the winner. “60% of Alaska voters voted for a Republican, but thanks to a convoluted process and ballot exhaustion—which disenfranchises voters—a Democrat ‘won.’”
This year, the system was credited with delivering Democrat Jared Golden, an outspoken progressive, a fourth term as Congressman for Maine’s 2nd congressional district by a razor-thin margin—even though Donald Trump carried the district by nearly 10 points.
But opposition to RCV encompasses much more than the risk of Republican losses. As conservatives have long observed, RCV disenfranchises voters by imposing an overly elaborate voting process that makes it far more difficult for the candidate with a simple majority of votes to win.
As Hans von Spakovsky, a senior legal fellow and election law expert at the Heritage Foundation, noted of the initiative, RCV is really nothing more than “a scheme to disconnect elections from issues and allow candidates with marginal support from voters to win elections.”
He continued: “In the end, it is all about political power, not about what is best for the American people and for preserving our great republic. So-called [RCV] reformers want to change process rules so they can manipulate election outcomes to obtain power.”
As von Spakovsky further noted in a January 2023 report, the RCV tabulation process is highly prone to errors and complications. In a 2022 California school board election, for instance, county officials admitted two months after the race was called that they had incorrectly tabulated the votes and thus declared the wrong winner.
In the 2021 New York mayoral race, the Heritage report further notes, “it took eight rounds of vote
counting of the 10 candidates during two weeks’ time before a final winner was announced”—and more than 140,000 ballots had been thrown out because they were filled out improperly. In Alaska in 2022, a full three rounds of voting took place before the winner was ultimately declared—and even then, more than 15,000 ballots were thrown out.
But fortunately, on November 5th, voters showed up to the polls to reject the practice virtually everywhere it appeared on the ballot—a decisive win for clarity of voting procedures, the simplicity of ballot instructions, and above all, the integrity of democratic process.
In Idaho, nearly 70 percent of voters rejected the measure. According to The Daily Wire, the practice was shot down by voters in the battleground states of Arizona and Nevada “harder and faster” than voters rejected Kamala Harris. And even in the blue
Overview - AMAC -
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havens of Colorado and Oregon, the measure was defeated by doubledigit margins.
Furthermore, as The Daily Wire reported, “Alaska appears on track to repeal RCV after using it for just two years.” And Missouri became the first state to ban the measure outright. Though the practice won the approval of voters in deep-blue Washington, D.C., nearly everywhere else in the nation, it appears the nefarious practice is on its way out the door.
For the past several years, the Democrat Party has been engaged in a relentless campaign to paint the GOP as an existential threat to democracy. But by loudly defeating RCV nearly everywhere it was offered to voters this fall, the American people not only flipped the script and countered the left’s false narrative, but also delivered a victory for the sanctity of the ballot box that will bolster American democracy and empower the American voter for years to come.
WORD OF THE Week CASTIGATE
Etymology: early 17th century: from Latin castigare ‘reprove’, from castus ‘pure, chaste’.
Source: Oxford Languages
Verb
Pronounced: ka·stuh·gayt
Definition: reprimand someone severely
Example: “He was castigated for his unpreparedness at the important meeting.”
Synonyms: admonish, chastise, chide
Antonyms: praise, commend, extol
WORD
WHEEL
M G N K A E
See how many words you can create. Must have center letter in word and can use letters more than once. 4 letter word minimum.
SUDOKU
See bottom left for the answers (please don’t cheat!)
This Week in History
November 29, 1877: U.S. inventor Thomas Edison demonstrates his handcranked phonograph for the first time
December 4, 1791: Britain’s “The Observer” is first published, the oldest Sunday newspaper in the world
November 28, 1814: The Times of London first printed by automatic, steam powered presses built by German inventors Friedrich Koenig and Andreas Friedrich Bauermakes newspapers available to a mass audience
December 3, 1775: The first official U.S. flag (Grand Union Flag) raised aboard naval vessel USS Alfred
December 2, 1927:
The first Model-A Ford is sold, for only $385
November 30, 1487: The first German Beer Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot), is promulgated in Munich by Albert IV, Duke of Bavaria stating beer should be brewed from only three ingredients –water, malt and hops
December 1, 1955: Rosa Parks is arrested for refusing to move to the back of a bus and give her seat to a white passenger in Montgomery, Alabama
Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces from across Suffolk County were honored for their service and sacrifice in helping to protect our freedom and liberty. Each of the eighteen members of the Suffolk County Legislature introduced a veteran as “Veteran of the Year” from their district at Tuesday’s General Meeting of the Legislature in the Rose Caracappa Auditorium of the William H. Rogers Legislative Building.
Suffolk County is home to the largest population of Veterans in New York State and has one of the largest Veterans’ populations of any county in the United States.
Recognizing Suffolk’s Veterans
“Today’s recognition of our veterans is the least we can do for their vital role in protecting our freedom and liberty,” said Presiding Officer Kevin J. McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst). “My colleagues and I are proud to celebrate the inspiring commitment of these men and women who have significantly contributed to their communities and our Nation. By publicly commemorating their achievements, Suffolk County reaffirms its gratitude and respect for those who have served in the Armed Forces, ensuring that their stories and sacrifices remain a lasting part of our County’s and our Nation’s legacy.
“From my district, I am pleased to be able to honor Christopher M. Geackel of Lindenhurst, who retired from the US Air Force as a Master Sergeant in 2006 after twenty-three years of service. Among his awards, Chris received three Commendation Medals, five Air Force Achievement Medals, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Meritorious Service Medals; and was named the Community College of the Air Force Noncommissioned Officer and Athletic Warrior of the Year.”
“As a member of Wade-Burns VFW Post 7279 for 17 years, Chris has served as both Post Commander and Suffolk County Commander. He serves as coordinator of the Village of Lindenhurst Memorial Day and Veterans Day ceremonies, and regularly visits the Long Island State Veterans Home and VA Hospital, to provide clothing, birthday cake, gifts, and vouchers to fellow veterans. He is a truly a shining example of selfless service,” said McCaffrey.
November is a somber and celebratory month for veterans, including as it does Veterans Day on November 11 – where ceremonies mark “the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month” in honor of the men and women who have served our nation – as well as the US Marine Corps birthday on November 10.
(Pictured left to right) Seated front: Geackel; Maresco; Leavy; Armstrong; Mejia. Standing back: Mundy; Hirsch; Grisnik; Rossi; Tracy; Murray; Thompson; Marcos; Borthwick; Vinciulla; Mehl. Unable to attend: Sansone; Cognitore.
Theatre & the Arts
Catch Wonka Mania at The Engeman Theater
By Cindi Sansone-Braff
The John W. Engeman Theater’s latest production, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” is a must-see show for the entire family. The magic begins the moment the mega-talented Cooper Grodin, rocking the role of Willy Wonka, steps out on stage and sings, “The Candy Man,” the signature song written by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse for the 1971 musical fantasy film “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory.”
The plot revolves around the enigmatic Willy Wonka and his ingenious marketing strategy to open the gates to his secret candy factory–but only to a lucky few who find one of the five Golden Tickets. The winners, Charlie Bucket, a nice boy from a low-income family and four naughty children from wealth and privilege, go on a life-altering journey through Wonka’s wacky world of pure imagination.
This stage musical, with book by David Greig, music by Marc Shaiman, and lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, is based on Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s novel “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” Dahl attributed his creative literary genius to a traumatic brain injury he suffered during World War II when his fighter plane crashed.
It’s hard to fathom that Dahl wrote this hope-filled, life-confirming, rags-toriches tale during the most heartbreaking years of his life. Although the seeds of the story had been incubating in his mind for decades, it wasn’t until 1960 that he began writing his first draft of a story entitled “Charlie’s Chocolate Boy.” Sadly, that same year, Dahl’s personal life took a sudden tragic turn when his 4-month-old son suffered a severe brain injury after a New York City cab hit the infant’s stroller. Dahl, a determined and devoted father, dedicated much of his time to his son’s recovery. He was still working on this children’s fantasy novel in 1962 when his seven-year-old daughter, Olivia, contracted measles and died from encephalitis. Dahl fell into a deep depression and was unable to write but found solace in creating a beautiful garden to surround his daughter’s grave. After a bout of drugs and alcohol, he returned to writing and, in 1964, completed “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” a work that continues to bring boundless joy to millions of people.
The life-affirming themes in this show serve as a morality tale for children of all ages. Being entitled, selfish, and greedy might get us what we want in the short run, but in the larger scheme of life, these vices keep us from experiencing the happiness that comes from giving to others. This show also uses humor to demonstrate the dire consequences of not following safety rules.
Most importantly, Willy Wonka and Charlie Bucket remind us to use our imaginations to “make something out of nothing.”
Although the show teems with meaningful messages, Dahl is never pedantic or preachy; instead, he offers his readers a delicious recipe for living balanced and productive lives. In 1988, two years before his death, Dahl wrote “Matilda,” a children’s novel espousing the evils of disciplining children with an iron fist, whereas, in this seminal work, he warns parents of the detrimental effects of allowing children to run rampant without being properly reprimanded.
What makes Engeman’s production so unforgettable is the way the top-notch cast brought Dahl’s zany characters to life. Matthew Eby aced the role of Charlie Bucket, a kind, generous, grateful, and wellmannered child. Eby showcased his strong vocals throughout the show, and I loved his rendition of “A Letter from Charlie Bucket.”
Sarah Colt gave a heartfelt performance as Mrs. Bucket, a self-sacrificing single mom who spends her days caring for her family and her nights working in a laundry. Colt’s beautiful voice was showcased during “If
Your Father Were Here.” Howard Pinhasik brought humor and pathos to the role of Grandpa Joe, an avid storyteller and a man who gets a new lease on life when Charlie takes him on the chocolate factory adventure.
Oliver Cirelli had the audience in stitches with his comedic depiction of Augustus Gloop, a greedy and gluttonous boy, and Cáitlín Burke gave a noteworthy performance as Mrs. Gloop. One of the show’s highlights was Cirelli and Burke’s hilarious Bavarian folk dance number, “More of Him to Love.”
Mike Teavee, a cocky kid addicted to the boob tube, was expertly played by Luca Silva, and Molly Samson was convincing as Mike’s mother, a self-absorbed woman
When she defied Wonka and popped an experimental piece of gum in her mouth, the audience laughed, watching her blow up like an oversized blueberry Zeppelin. Rickens Anantua, a charismatic actor, commanded the stage as Violet’s wellmeaning but overindulgent father.
Alternating the children’s roles are Elliot Torbenson as Augustus Gloop, Elyana Faith Randolph as Veruca Salt, Satya Mae Williams as Violet Beauregarde, and Benjamin Corso as Mike Teavee.
Watching all the fantastic special effects used throughout this magical production is worth the price of admission. My favorite scenes featured the OompaLoompas, the dancing Little People who act like a Greek chorus playfully chiding the four spoiled children for their unacceptable behaviors.
Brilliantly directed by Drew Humphrey, with upbeat, exuberant choreography by Mandy Modic, the show kept the audience riveted. The rest of the creative team brought their A-game to the show. Kyle Dixon’s exquisitely crafted set, Dustin Cross’s colorful, festive costumes, the expert lighting by John Burkland, and the fantastic sound design by Laura Shubert made this one of the most animated shows you will ever see on any stage.
The talented ensemble includes Cate Benioff, Madeline Benoit, Steven Bidwell, Hero Dela Cruz, Caroline Eby, Zoe Gillis, Katelyn Harold, Alyssa Jacquline, TJ Kubler, Joi D McCoy, Mac Myles, Noah Pierre Pleunik, and Noah Ruebeck.
“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” a not-to-be-missed holiday treat, runs
who likes to pop prescription pills and hit the bottle.
London Del Vecchio was outstanding as Veruca Salt, a Russian brat who throws temper tantrums to get her way. Del Vecchio stole the show whenever she danced around in her pink tutu and tiara, acting like a spoiled prima ballerina. All decked out in a full-length white fur coat, James Channing, as Veruca’s Russian mob father, got some of the biggest laughs of the evening.
Briahna Gribben gave an awardworthy performance as Violet Beauregard, the Queen of Pop, who seeks fame and fortune as a chewing gum influencer.
through December 29, 2024. For a complete show schedule and more information, call 631-261-2900, go to the box office at 250 Main Street, Northport, or visit engemantheater.com.
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.
CreditThe John W. Engeman Theater
New Season, Unfinished Business
By PJ Balzer
You can feel it in the atmosphere as soon as you walk into the gym. If you didn’t know it was still the pre-season, you’d think the William Floyd boys’ varsity basketball team was preparing for the second round of the playoffs. There’s an intensity and determination that’s running through the veins of this program and the team as a brand-new season is about to begin.
“To sum it up, we all know we have unfinished business to take care of this year. We’ve been talking about it the whole off season,” expressed assistant coach Darrell Sumpter.
Under the leadership of head coach Will Slinkowsky, the William Floyd Colonials had a historic season last year. Coach Slinkowsky, a Sachem North graduate and decorated three-sport varsity athlete, led the hyper talented and athletic Floyd varsity basketball team all the way to the Suffolk County final game. Floyd and Bay Shore were the last two heavyweights standing in an electric game and atmosphere with Bayshore coming out on top.
“We were getting back into that game in the second half and simply just ran out of time. But we are more skilled, seasoned, battle tested and ready to go this year,” said Coach Slinkowsky.
Floyd is returning three of their starters who many have rightfully labeled as amongst the top players in Suffolk County. Jermaine King, Jawuan Smith and Dahmarion Moses will all be wearing green and white this year in their final lap around the county and potentially the state.
“I’ve worked all off season on what was lacking in my game. Our goal is ultimately a Long Island Championship and a trip upstate to play for the state trophy. My game needed to mature in order to help my team achieve that,” said first team All Long Island pick last season, Jawuan Smith.
For Slinkowsky and the Colonials this isn’t a seasonal, part time pursuit. A team of this caliber and determination has their gymnasium open every night from 7:00p.m. to 9:00p.m. for the players to come in and workout. It’s not uncommon to walk into the gym on any given night and find Jermaine and Jawuan working on their three point and mid-range jump shots. Dahmarion perfecting his moves in the paint all while Sharod Sutton and JJ Smith Jr are playing one on one on the opposite court. All collectively with one goal in mind: the championship trophy being placed in their hands this March.
Only a week after losing the county championship game last season, the gym was back open, full of players hungry for redemption. Furthermore, the coaches are constantly on top of the players’ grades, their character, and their whereabouts.
“We offer these kids a full program, not just a basketball jersey. It’s a commitment to the
whole program that we lay out before each player. I’m always really proud when I can show a college coach who’s interested in my players their good grades along with a good basketball player that will be as asset to their team,” said Slinkowsky, who has been a gym teacher in the district for six years.
“Coach Slink,” as many of the players call him, believes firmly in keeping an open two-way dialogue with each player as he invests his time into the individual and the program at large. He believes that the players know that he cares, even when correction and redirection is needed. This in turn causes each player to work hard to improve, love the game and succeed as a whole team.
Floyd pursued a tough schedule this year and it’s all planned on purpose by the coaching staff. After being amongst the top teams on the Island last season they have accepted invitations to several non-league tournaments alongside Bay Shore, Chaminade, Smithtown East, and Hills East. Floyd is anticipating facing off with Nassau’s toughest for non-league matches in Elmont and Baldwin, not to mention a tough back-to-back schedule in League One play and a season opener, non-league dog fight at its neighbor’s house, Bellport.
“We’re ready and excited for it all,” said Coach Slinkowsky. “I’ve already told Jermaine, Jawuan and Dahmarion that this is it, the last time they will ever wear William Floyd basketball jerseys so leave everything they have out on the basketball court this year.”
