Brookhaven Messenger Archive June 18, 2026

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Thursday, June 18, 2026 ~ Volume 71 ~ Issue Number 29 ~ $1.00

Heuermann Receives 3 Life Sentences in Gilgo Beach Case

By Matt Meduri The historic and revolting Gilgo Beach serial killing case that has gripped Long Island for over three decades has reached its denouement - at least for now.

Rex Heuermann, 62, of Massapequa Park, was sentenced on Wednesday morning to three life sentences plus 100 years without the possibility of parole.

He pleaded guilty to three counts of First Degree Murder and four counts of Second Degree Murder.

The case started in July 2023, when District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) announced a suspect had been apprehended in the cold case, one in which former Police Chief James Burke and other Suffolk officials had prevented FBI cooperation in the mid-2010s. Avant garde DNA technology linked Heuermann’s DNA left on the bodies found on Gilgo Beach to discarded pizza crusts, and investigators had been tracking cell phone movements for years.

Continued on page 4

Rex Heuermann in Riverhead on Wednesday morning during his sentencing (Credit - James Carbone, Newsday)

Middle Country Celebrates 250

By Madison Warren Communities across Suffolk are kicking off the 250 celebrations, and this weekend saw the Middle Country community hold their festivities.

Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa (C-Selden) hosted the “History Comes Alive at America’s 250th Celebration” event in the Fourth Legislative District, bringing history, patriotism, and family-friendly entertainment together for residents of all ages.

The day was a tremendous success, drawing residents from across Suffolk County for an afternoon filled with sunshine, family-friendly activities, local vendors, food trucks, historical reenactors, live music, a pizza-eating contest sponsored by Cafe Amici, a car show sponsor by Middle Country Automotive, military vehicles, line dancing, educational exhibits, and appearances by numerous local elected officials and community leaders who gathered to celebrate the nation’s 250th anniversary.

According to Caracappa, the celebration was designed not only to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary, but also to bring the community together. Caracappa said he wanted the event to recognize the nation’s historic milestone while involving residents, businesses, youth organizations, and veterans throughout the Fourth District.

Continued on page 10

The Warrior Ranch Foundation rides into Selden with Old Glory (Credit - Madison Warren)

FULL STORIES ON:

Third Annual Hangerfest at ISP Page 5

School Budgets Pass Town Preserves Open in Revotes Space in Mastic, Moriches Page 15

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Messenger Papers

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Thursday, June 18, 2026

SUMMER EVENTS Sayville Farmers Market at the Islip Grange Every Saturday until November, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Port Jefferson Summer Farmers Market Every Sunday until November, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Tag Sale at ULC Gloria Dei Campus June 20, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM 2026 Sounds on the Sound at Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company June 18, 6:45 PM to 9:00 PM

Country Nights at Station Yards, Ronkonkoma June 24, 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM Summer Community Dinner at Heckscher Museum of Art, Huntington June 26, 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM Opa Fest at St. John’s Blue Point Greek Festival June 26-28, times vary Arts & Handmade Outdoor Market at Wit & Whim Huntington June 27, 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM Lavender Festival at Hoshyla Farms June 27-28, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

King’s Park Day Craft and Street Fair at King’s Park Main Street June 20, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Smithtown Historical Society Freedom Walk June 28, 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Father’s Day Festival at Harbes Family Farm & Vineyard June 20-21, Times may vary

Port Jefferson Village Day Block Party July 5, 12:00 PM to 8:00 PM

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Heuermann Receives 3 Life Sentences in Gilgo Beach Case According to court documents, Heuermann on or about November 19-20, 1993, met with Sandra Costilla and strangled her. Costilla’s remains were found in North Sea. She was just 28 at the time.

In April 1996, Heuermann met with Karen Vergata, whom he strangled and dismembered and scattered her remains across various locations, including Blue Point Beach and Tobay Beach. Dubbed “Fire Island Jane Doe,” she was just 34 years old at the time.

On or about and between September 1, 2000, and November 19, 2000, Heuermann met with Valerie Mack, whom he strangled and dismembered, scattering her remains between Manorville and Gilgo Beach.

Prior to genetic identification in 2020, Mack’s identity had remained a mystery. She was just 24 years old.

On or about and between July 21, 2003, and July 26, 2003, Heuermann met with Jessica Taylor, leaving her remains near Halsey Manor Road in Manorville and Ocean Parkway in

Gilgo. She was just 20 years old.

On July 9, 2007, after using a burner phone to arrange a meeting with Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Heuermann strangled her and left her remains on Ocean Parkway. She was just 25 years old at the time.

Heuermann did the same to Melissa Barthelemy in July 2009. She was just 24 years old. He repeated this in June 2010, using a burner phone to meet with Megan Waterman.

He picked her up at the Holiday Inn in Hauppauge and left her remains in Gilgo. SHe was just 22 years old.

In September 2010, Heuermann met with Megan Waterman. He picked her up from her West Babylon residence, strangled her, and left her remains near Ocean Parkway. She was just 27 years old.

Heuermann pleaded guilty in April to the seven murders, and admitted to the murder of Karen Vergata.

Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei was visibly emotional at Wednesday’s sentencing.

Families gave victim impact statements, some calm and collected, others enraged, directing it at Heuermann.

“There are no words I can say, but I am responsible for what was said in this room today,” said Heuermann.

“The words I would say have no meaning and I’m going to leave it there at this time.”

“I know that you’re sorry you got caught,” said Mazzei, mincing no words with the 6-foot-4 killer who had been described years ago as an “ogreish” figure. “You’ve been described as a very big man but you’re a disgusting and despicable small man if you’re a man at all and you’re a coward.”

“Get him out of here,” said Mazzei upon delivering the sentence.

“For the families of these eight young women who have waited decades for this day, your voices have been heard,” said Tierney (pictured right). “Rex Heuermann will now serve the rest of his life in prison for taking the lives of your loved ones. None of the success of the Gilgo Beach Task

Force would have been possible without your relentless dedication and assistance. You are the reason we do what we do. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to all the talented investigators from the partner agencies in our task force for their amazing work.”

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MacArthur Matters Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

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MacArthur Business Alliance Hosts 3rd Annual HangarFest

By Matt Meduri Credit - Matt Meduri

Islip MacArthur Airport (ISP) is a regional economic powerhouse.

While that potential has been realized over the years - broadly in some ways, tacitly in others - the five-mile radius around the airport is seeing more stewardship and interconnectivity than ever before.

Not only are Suffolk County and the MacArthur Business Alliance (MBA) in the process of drafting an economic impact statement (EIS) for the area, but officials and stakeholders alike are looking to take that economic impact, tourism, and growth squarely into Suffolk’s future.

Part of that mission is the MBA’s HangarFest. They held their third annual event at the Liberty Jet Hangar on Schaffer Drive last Friday, which brought together dozens of local vendors, non-profits, businesses, and community members - as well as an array of live music, super cars, jets, and other spectacles to demonstrate just how serious the MBA is.

The MBA’s team is made up of Founder/CEO Brian McAuliff, of Bri-Tech; President Chris Coluccio, of Techworks Consulting; Vice President Rick Ammirati, owner of Price Public Relations and the thirty-year

President of the Holbrook Chamber of Commerce; and Executive Director Taylor Scibilia.

“A few years ago, no one even knew our name,” said McAuliff. “Now, because of our committee, we are on fire.”

“This gets bigger and better every year,” Coluccio told attendees from the sound stage, just above the dance floor - all elements of a disco-themed party that saw live bands regale with 70s and 80s hits. “This area is an untapped resource that doesn’t get the love it deserves.”

Coluccio summarized the MBA’s core mission: to “keep our businesses here, to keep our families here on Long Island,” and to highlight the fact that “every business you need is in a five-mile radius” around the airport.

Islip Town Councilman John Lorenzo (C-West Sayville), whose district contains the MBA, was joined by fellow Councilmembers Mike McElwee (R-West Islip), DawnMarie Kuhn (R-Bohemia), and Jorge Guadrón (D-Central Islip), as well as Town Clerk Linda Vavricka (R-West Islip), Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville), and Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches).

“The MBA is bringing out the businesses in Islip and bringing out what we need to grow this area,” said

Lorenzo, further praising the airport itself as a “gem” of the region.

“This is not your grandfather’s MBA,” said Assemblyman Doug Smith (R-Holbrook). “These guys have taken this to the next level in what they are doing for Ronkonkoma and the surrounding area.”

There’s no MacArthur Business Alliance without MacArthur Airport itself. ISP Airport Commissioner Rob Schneider shared that the airport is reaching new heights, not just in the skies. In 2024, ISP was ranked the third-best small airport in the country in the USA Today 10Best Survey. In 2025, it climbed to the number-two spot.

“Between six carriers, sixteen non-stop destinations, last year we hit a 20-year high in passenger activity, serving 1.6 million passengers,” said Schenider.

The unofficial MVP of the night was Taylor Scibilia, the MBA’s Executive Director who plans and oversees the bulk of the show.

“This is why I put blood, sweat, and tears, literally, into this event, and why all of us do,” said Scibilia of the strong attendance and continually-stronger showings as HangarFest entered its third year.

Editorial

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Thursday, June 18, 2026

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Tierney & Company Bring Historic Case to a Close

This week, Rex Heuermann was handed down his sentence by the Honorable Judge Timothy Mazzei: three life sentences, plus 100 years - without parole.

That should do it.

The cold case that rocked the Island and the nation for over thirty years has come to a close, at least for now, as some victims remain unidentified and a suspect(s) responsible for their murders remain unknown. Sadly, we imagine those murders were just as heinous and as undeserved as those of the eight women taken by Heuermann. Thus, we expect the investigations to continue in earnest.

Moreover, there’s been implications that Heuermann’s sick tendencies extended beyond Suffolk’s borders. We’ll wait and see if there’s any connections there.

But for what has been proven, adjudicated, and endcapped is a monumental victory for the families, for Suffolk’s residents who might have had the same fate befall them, and for criminal justice procedures in general.

We’ve spared no expense in praising District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) (pictured right) for his tenacity and leadership since his tenure began in 2022, but we must reiterate those sentiments now that Heuermann has been tried, convicted, and sent up the river.

Furthermore, the team around him, from local law enforcement, all the way up to the federal government, have been indispensable. We’ve witnessed every single press conference and court proceeding since this case started in July 2023. To say that Tierney has missed days upon days of sleep in prosecuting this case would be an understatement.

For Suffolk, this is more than just Tierney taking out the trash. This is a resolution that many never expected. The cold case case had been frozen over and even survived the internal corruption within the Suffolk P.D. under James “Jimmy the King” Burke that we think warrants an investigation on its own. Burke’s mile-long rap sheet going back to his days with the NYPD, during which he was known to frequent with prostitutes and drugs in his car, in uniform, on duty, should have been a red flag when he and others pushed

the FBI out of Gilgo, a case that happened to center around sex workers as the primary victims.

The “bogeyman” - or “ogre” as he had been described by eyewitnesses years ago - of Suffolk is just one cog in the mentally ill and unempathetic machine with which those with even basic moral compunctions are forced to coexist. But this deliverance of justice and resolution pays dividends for Suffolk’s safety, integrity, and once-tarnished reputation.

There’s a reason Tierney is described as “America’s D.A.” We hope to see him in a role that suits that title more literally, but for the modest, steady-as-he-goes D.A., it’s just another day’s work, another case prosecuted, and another set of families who can finally sleep knowing the man who robbed their loved ones of full lives will himself never see the light of day again.

Albany Dems’ End of Session Show a Lack of Priority After another bureaucratic, expensive, and mostly unproductive session in Albany this year, the Democrats of the New York State Legislature decided to end things with a bang: by subverting the will of the voters in favor of partisan politics, with a crisp buzzword salad on the side.

It’s bad enough that New Yorkers must foot the bill for a $260 billion budget - isn’t it funny how each year’s budget is a record-breaker? - but now they have to contend with the fact that the majority party has started the process of dismantling democracy in the Empire State.

Redistricting Woes We’ve been very clear about our position on the mid-decade redistricting “arms race” since it kicked off in August 2025. It is completely antithetical to how our system works, it’s purely a goalpost-moving strategy to win the midterms on technicalities instead of merit, and it sets a terrible precedent going forward. It’s been President Donald Trump’s (R-FL) worst political gamble of his second term, although the War in Iran easily takes first place now.

Nevertheless, Democrats playing “tit for tat” isn’t unexpected; we’d anticipate the GOP would do the same thing if a Democratic president were waging the same arms race.

But two wrongs don’t make a right, especially when representation is on the line in a country where democratic backsliding is becoming more and more apparent. Moreover, Democrats are inherently wrong to say that Trump and/or the GOP “started it,” as gerrymandering is, unfortunately, as old as the republic itself.

In the same way, the GOP will react to a Democratic gerrymander and insist they too must shuffle the lines in their own states. It’s just a race to the bottom where state sovereignty depends on the voting decisions of people across the country and career politicians who are seemingly more and more controlled by special interests, donors, and lobbyists. It’s all a big illusion and both Democratic and Republican voters are the pawns.

Nevertheless, for the party that purports to be for “democracy” - whatever that concept is nowadays - they’ve rammed through an eleventh-hour bill to override voters’ long-held sentiments on redistricting.

The bills S.10637 and A.11553 are sponsored by the Democratic hegemony in Albany. They aim to further weaken the already-fantasy league Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) that state voters approved 58%-42% in 2014. The goal was to get politics out of political cartography and bring a balanced approach to one of the nation’s largest congressional delegations.

However, there were tripwires installed. It only takes two deadlocks or failed attempts of the IRC to kick the process to the Legislature. This is exactly what happened with the IRC’s maiden voyage in 2020. Essentially, the way the IRC was set up was to intentionally fail. In 2021, Democrats attempted an egregious gerrymander that would have taken one district from Smithtown all the way to Westchester County.

While that map was rightly overturned, Democrats decided to redraw mid-decade on a technicality, scrapping one of the fairest maps in the country for one that allowed

them to flip three seats in 2024. In other words, Democrats in New York were redrawing congressional lines mid-decade before Trump was re-elected and started his own foolish campaign on the matter.

The bill also allows the Legislature to approve maps on a simple-majority vote basis, rather than a supermajority-vote basis, and removes language prohibiting partisan advantages.

However, it must pass the next session of the Legislature - it likely will - and then it must be approved by voters in 2027. The catch here is, Democrats have given themselves the power to write the language of that proposition, meaning voters can easily be misled by assuming the proposition is about “protecting” or “defending” democracy, or whatever other buzzwords get people to fill in the right bubble.

In short, Democrats complain that the prior legislation wasn’t sufficient enough, even though they controlled the Assembly and the governorship when it was passed in 2014.

They’re telling on themselves by altering the codes now.

A Side of a Buzzword Salad If identity politics and hot-button social issues weren’t already pervasive enough, Democrats decided one of their last orders of business in 2026 would be to amend the State’s prerogative on gendered language as it pertains to parents.

The words “mother” and “father” will no longer be recognized in official business of the State. They are supplemented with the words “gestating parent” and “non-gestating parent.” Democrats say it’s to remove “outdated” language in favor of more “inclusive” gender-neutral language.

We hadn’t realized that mothers and fathers were outdated concepts, which is effectively what the supporters of the legislation are saying. They can play word games all they want, but the reality is, this carries nothing of consequence and is just performative altruism to cater to a specific audience.

And frankly, if there are voters who are so incensed by words like “mother” and “father” being used, then they should probably stay away from a voting booth. It’s not that we think they shouldn’t have the right to vote, but simply because the priorities are clearly out of order. We say the same to voters who would agree with us ideologically but care more about another country’s destiny than that of our own and at the long-term expense of our homeland.

But the State also does more harm than good with this. Any agencies, non-profits, etc. who seek to contract with the State for adoption services, say, who use the “outdated” language will not be able to do so unless they dance to the State’s tune.

When New York is in a massive fiscal crisis, cities receive bailout after bailout, and laws are amended to protect those who broke our laws by entering this country illegally, it’s an easy vote of no confidence in leadership who spends their last minutes of session overturning the wishes of voters and catering to a bullyish social contagion that invariably does more harm than good.

Op-Ed Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Make Patriots’ Day A New York State Holiday

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By Will Sussman | Daily Wire The famous “Shot heard ’round the world” was fired at the Battle of Lexington in April 1775, a year before the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

That day has been recognized in Massachusetts as Patriots’ Day — commonly known as “Marathon Monday” — since 1894, and seven other states have followed suit with the most recent in 2025.

New York should be the next state to recognize Patriots’ Day. That’s what I’ll pursue if elected to the State Assembly.

My district already celebrates a version of the holiday. Since 2015, the Three Village Historical Society has hosted Culper Spy Day, drawing history enthusiasts from across New York to the hamlet of Setauket on Long Island. “It was here that the nation’s first spy ring operated in secrecy,” writes the historical society, “providing General George Washington with critical information that helped turn the tide of the American Revolution.”

Indeed, Setauket native Benjamin Tallmadge was a close friend of Nathan Hale during their time at Yale. Following Hale’s execution by the British for espionage, Tallmadge recruited his neighbor back home, Abraham Woodhull, to lead a new spy ring that helped reveal the treason of Benedict Arnold. Washington himself may have suggested the alias “Culper,” after Culpeper County, Virginia.

It’s a tale portrayed in the hit TV series, “Turn: Washington’s Spies.” Fans of the show will recognize the names Tallmadge and Woodhull, as well as Caleb Brewster and Anna Strong — all real people who lived in Setauket. Margo Arceri, the founder of Culper Spy Day, shared that her tours have exploded in popularity since the AMC drama premiered in 2014. When I visited Woodhull’s grave, it was decorated with numerous rocks, coins, and American flags.

Now, Congress has taken notice. Last month, a bipartisan pair of Long Island congressmen introduced legislation to designate a new National Historic Trail connecting key sites used by the spy ring.

“As America approaches its 250th birthday,” said Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville), “Congress should recognize that without the Culper Spy Ring, General George Washington may never have turned the tide of the Revolution and set the United States on the path to becoming the greatest nation in the world.”

Yet this history is not taught in New York public schools. According to the state’s K-8 Social Studies Framework, “The outcome of the American Revolution was influenced by military strategies, geographic considerations, the involvement of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) and other Native American groups in the war, and aid from other nations” — no mention of intelligence. I personally remember learning about the upstate Erie Canal, but not the spy ring in my own backyard.

Patriots’ Day would not only educate our youth; it would stimulate our economy. The Boston Marathon, for example, is estimated to inject approximately $200 million into the Massachusetts economy each year. Why not host a Patriots’ Day Parade in New York?

It would be poetic justice to march through the former Loyalist stronghold and British military headquarters.

New York politics has become very negative. Taxes are too high; criminals are being released without bail; antisemitism is off the charts. All of that is true. But we also need a positive vision for our state, and that starts with appreciating our history.

Patriots’ Day is something every New Yorker can get behind. Perhaps even Mayor Mamdani would attend the parade.

Will Sussman (R-Port Jefferson) is running for New York State Assembly’s Fourth District. The district includes Belle Terre, East Setauket, Gordon Heights, Old Field, Poquott, Port Jefferson, Setauket, Stony Brook, Strongs Neck, and Terryville, and parts of Centereach, Coram, Middle Island, Port Jefferson Station, and Selden.

This piece originally ran in The Daily Wire. Republished with permission.

Letters to the Editor What the Ides of June Have Wrought Dear Editor, This June brings us closer to campaign season. Here on Long Island, that means a face-off between two Democratic candidates for Congress. In my neck of the woods, that means two young men want to unseat Congressman Nick LaLota. I have met them both. I have never met Mr. LaLota.

Even though I do not have any skin in this game as registered Republican, I do care who rises victorious on Primary night June 23.

When the campaign mailer arrived for Mr. Gallant, I did a double take. It looked like a CGI creation. His neck was not that bulky and thick in person. The second thing that elicited a laugh was the plethora of endorsers - Legislators, Trustees, and Democratic Chairs. I have reached out to some of them in various ways when they were quoted in Newsday about a committee they serve on. I found them insincere and selfpromoting. The more I see names in Newsday, the less impressed I am. The more press you receive does not mean you are the top of the heap.

Now, they proudly attach their name to a candidate who bailed on a planned debate with his opponent that was to be held Saturday June 13 at the Smithtown Democratic Committee.

The mood in the room was if he can’t make it to a debate to face his challenger, how can he stand up for us in Congress?

Good question.

One candidate stood at a podium and spoke from his heart with passion and enthusiasm about his hopes for not only his campaign but for the country he wants to serve.

As the voters consider who they want to help steer the ship of our shared democracy, do we want a pilot jock that likes to speak in platitudes, or do we want a candidate who studied constitutional law and defends the ideals our country stands for? Mr. Lukas Ventouras stands firmly for his beliefs down here on earth with the rest of us mere mortals.

Respectfully submitted, Jamie Hanja Lake Grove

Let’s Not Pretend There Isn’t Vote Rigging

Dear Editor, Questioning everything about our government and how it works is our right as Americans.

For the last few years, I’ve been watching election after election decided by late mail-in ballots. Some states have ridiculous laws that count ballots even if they’re postmarked after Election Day! I watched the Democrats steal House seats in California in 2018, certain they would steal the 2020 election. Statistically, Biden’s wins in the swing states were nearly impossible.

Then I saw it again just recently with the Los Angeles Mayoral race. The outsider whose house burned down in the wildfires was shut out from the primary. The race was conveniently called after enough votes came in to knock Spencer Pratt out of the running.

If we live in a system where Democrats can cheat like this, Republicans certainly can too – and they might have, for all I know.

But if I question it, I’m an “election denier,” even though Democrats who ran with the obviously fake and now-disproved Russiagate hoax in 2016 were considered to be doing their civic duty. If I question results, I’m an enemy of the republic.

Let’s not pretend there aren’t shifty things going on.

California is one of the world’s top economies, yet it takes them weeks, or even months, to count all the ballots? Third-world countries have quicker election tabulations than we do. It’s either incompetence or corruption at this point.

California guarantees that every voter automatically gets sent an absentee ballot. If we try to take that away, we’re “disenfranchising” voters, apparently.

No, we’re safeguarding a system against abuse. There’s nothing wrong with requesting an absentee ballot if you want one. We’ve been doing that for years. My sister, who fled New York nearly twenty years ago, STILL receives registration cards and absentee ballots to her old address in Smithtown.

Let’s not pretend there isn’t a problem.

Best, Joe Mastic Beach

Evil Truly Lives in Our World Dear Editor, The news of the ongoing genocide in Gaza, the blatant corruption in our government and protection of serial pedophiles, and the verdict in the Gilgo Beach case, which I assume is going to be printed in the next edition of your paper, depress me throughout the week.

I find I am exercising more, spending more time in the sun, more time in the quiet, and am resigning myself to my crafts just to get away from the negativity.

I hardly digest much news voluntarily anymore. It’s so pervasive and constant, it saddens me to think that we lived in a world where all of this stuff was still going on, we just didn’t know about it. Any news I do get is either from the local papers or from what I simply can’t avoid.

And it’s almost always negative.

It’s a challenge to live in today’s day and age.

Keeping oneself out of constant depression spirals is truly one of the greatest regular challenges I face, and I know I’m not alone.

To understand that people, fellow human beings, are capable of exterminating an entire group of people for simply being the wrong religion, tens of thousands dead, millions displaced, cities levelled; that people in power go to the top degree in wielding it, even over the most vulnerable and in the most heinous ways; and that someone like Rex Heuermann was able to mercilessly strangle young, struggling women simply for the conquest or thrill is almost unconscionable.

I almost want to resign myself to the mountains or plains and never see another human again.

It’s proof-positive on two things: that evil truly does exist in our world, and if it does, there must be an equal and certainly more powerful good.

Sincerely, Anonymous West Bay Shore

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This Week Today Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

9

Thursday, June 18, 2026

National, State, and Local Temperature Checks

By Matt Meduri National

State A bipartisan spill sponsored by Suffolk lawmakers has cleared both chambers of the State Legislature.

The bill establishes Karilyn’s Law, which, if signed by Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Hamburg), would make it easier for friends and family members to visit loved ones under guardianship. The bill Credit - Matt Meduri

Credit - Matt Meduri

Although President Donald Trump (R-FL) has made dozens of overtures that the Iran War is coming to an end practically since its onset, the two parties appear closer than ever striking a deal.

However, much of that relies on Israel halting their incursion into southern Lebanon.

Iran has said that any Israeli forces remaining in the region or any further Israeli strikes on Lebanon would violate the deal with the United States, as Trump continues to grow desperate for a deal.

Israeli officials, however, said on Monday that their troops would remain in Lebanon, as “Trump’s agreement does not bind us.” Iran has accused Israel of violating the Lebanon truce 84 times since talks began, according to Al Jazeera. Israeli forces killed four people in southern Lebanon early Wednesday morning.

Trump’s dialogue with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has grown increasingly contentious.

This precedes a possible memorandum of understanding signing ceremony in Switzerland between the U.S. and Iran.

Details of the deal remain scarce among Iranian and American officials, although Bloomberg News has reported some points.

Those include an “immediate and permanent end” to war on all fronts, including Lebanon.

Iran and the U.S. will lift their blockades in the Strait of Hormuz, and the U.S. will finance at least $300 billion of rehabilitation and economic development reparations for Iran, part of a “comprehensive plan.”

Bloomberg also reports that the deal includes the U.S. ending all sanctions on Iran, including those imposed by the United Nations Security Council. Meanwhile, Iran has agreed to “never produce nuclear weapons,” although the fate of the oft-discussed enriched uranium remains up in the air.

Meanwhile, on the Hill, the U.S. Senate narrowly voted against the ninth War Powers Resolution to either end the war entirely or only continue it with congressional approval.

The 48-47 vote saw four Republicans join all but one Democrat to end the war: Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), Rand Paul (R-KY), and Bill Cassidy (R-LA). Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) is the only Democrat who voted against it.

In mid-decade redistricting news, the Supreme Court has cleared the way for Alabama to use its Republican-drawn map for the 2026 election. It reverses a previous court decision requiring the state to have two majority-black districts. This endangers oneterm Congressman Shomari Figures (D, AL02), who represents a Mobile-to-Montgomery district that went from Harris +8 to Trump +14 following the redraw.

In Louisiana, the state that effectuated the Callais decision that has impacted race-based gerrymandering, is also allowed to use a map that dismantles the Baton Rouge-to-Shreveport LA-06, a Harris +15 seat that is now a deep-red Trump seat.

For the 2026 midterms, Republicans have their nominee in a marquee Senate race in

Georgia. Congressman Mike Collins (R, GA10) will face one-term Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) in November. The Peach State will play host to just two Senate races in which Democrats are running in states that went to Trump in 2024, the other being Michigan.

Collins, who was elected to his Athensbased seat in 2022, defeated Derek Dooley (R), a former Tennesee Volunteers football coach, in the Tuesday night runoff by about

else has to endure the same devastating experience.”

“The most inhumane aspect of the guardianship system is the blocking of visitation rights and the isolation from loved ones. No New Yorker should be arbitrarily denied access to their family members or have to wage long and expensive court battles to see them,” said Palumbo.

“Maintaining family connections is critical for the mental health and physical wellbeing for anyone involved in an Article 81 guardianship,” said Schiavoni. “I am proud of the collaborative and bipartisan work that went into this legislation which will provide meaningful reform to the guardianship process in New York State.”

Local

10 percentage points. Collins had Trump’s endorsement heading into the runoff.

Dooley had the backing of term-limited Georgia Governor Brian Kemp (R).

Collins has his work cut out for him. FEC reports as of March 31 show Collins with a little over $2.1 million in his war chest - and that’s before the crowded May primary was held, as well as the competitive runoff.

Ossoff, on the other hand, is proving to be one of the most significant fundraisers of the cycle. He has $31.7 million cash-on-hand as of March 31, but has raised nearly $80 million this cycle so far. Ossoff was elected in 2020, flipping the seat blue and making him the youngest incumbent Senator.

To succeed the term-limited Governor Kemp, Republican voters narrowly went with Rick Jackson (R), a businessman who defeated Trump-endorsee, Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones (R).

In Oklahoma, voters soundly rejected a measure to increase the state’s minimum wage in each of the next three years inflation-indexed thereafter. The measure failed statewide by about 10 points, with only Tulsa and Oklahoma City backing it handily.

Mike Mazzei (R-OK), a former Oklahoma State Senator and Trump’s hand-picked nominee for governor of Oklahoma, will face the state’s Attorney General, Gentner Drummond, (R-OK) in a runoff. The two emerged from a field of nine candidates and will head to an August runoff that will further test Trump’s long-coveted endorsement powers.

The open seat is likely to remain in Republican hands this November, although the GOP has had relatively close contests there in recent years. No Democrat has been elected governor of the Sooner State since 2006.

is named after Karilyn Montanti, whose family and friends have been denied “due process rights to be heard and the right to an evidentiary hearing,” which allow visitation, according to a statement from Senator Anthony Palumbo’s (R-New Suffolk) office (pictured top left).

The bill stipulates that a guardian, care manager, or power of attorney is prohibited from “arbitrarily terminating visitation rights and isolating vulnerable individuals who are being held in involuntary guardianship.” Additionally, it provides for family members to make a visitation application and have an evidentiary hearing within ten days.

The bill was authored by Senator Palumbo and sponsored by Senator Cordell Cleare (D-Harlem) and Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni (D-North Haven) (pictured top right).

“Karilyn’s Law makes a simple, but important change to the State’s Guardianship laws to provide family members and friends with an opportunity to visit loved ones who are under guardianship,” said Palumbo in a statement. “The legislation will close a loophole that has allowed guardians with extreme power to arbitrarily deny individuals access to their loved ones over personal differences and family disputes.”

Christine Montanti, Karilyn’s daughter, said in a statement, “Karilyn’s Law gives hope to people like my mother, who feel hopeless and believe that the very system they rely upon to protect them failed them. It also provides family members and friends with the opportunity to have their day in court and be heard. My mother was placed in isolation and prevented from seeing the people she cared about most.

This legislation helps ensure that no one

For those still looking to “plant it forward” for the Suffolk 250 celebrations, the deadline has been extended.

The County is allowing residents until July 1 to obtain a sapling from various County parks or register a newly-planted tree of their own in tandem with “Planting it Forward to 2276” initiative by the County. Participants who register their tree will receive a certificate from the County Clerk’s office and the location and dedication of the tree will be viewable for future generations.

“A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they know they shall never sit,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches).

“We are extending the opportunity to take part in history and create a legacy in honor of our nation’s 250th anniversary.”

To participate, visit suffolk250.org.

Additionally, Romaine announced this week the 2026 Environmental Symposium for Tuesday, June 23, at Suffolk Community College’s Brentwood campus from 8:00a.m. to 1:00p.m.

The event is set to bring together local officials and solid waste experts to address environmental and economic challenges facing Long Island.

“There are many obstacles related to solid waste on Long Island that impact our regional economy and environment,” said Romaine. “We must continue to discuss the challenges that are in front of us and lay ahead to preserve our future while ensuring we take a coordinated approach to dispose of solid waste and recycle glass and ash responsibly.”

The sixth annual event aims to contribute to talks of a regional solid-waste management plan. Topics to be addressed include generational changes, aging facilities, regulation changes, technological advances, solid waste transportation, zero-waste goals, and regional efforts within the solid waste industry.

The event is held jointly by Romaine and Stony Brook University. Attendance is free, but guests must register at wrmi@ stonybrook.edu.

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Brookhaven Matters

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Continued from front cover

Middle Country Celebrates 250 joined by several local leaders, including Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches), Town Councilman Neil Manzella (R-Selden), Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay (D-Port Jefferson), and Town Clerk Kevin LaValle (R-Selden).

Their remarks focused on the significance of America’s 250th anniversary and the nation’s enduring legacy. Speakers reflected on the country’s growth over the past two and a half centuries, emphasizing the freedoms, opportunities, and achievements that have helped shape the United States into a global leader.

They also noted the importance of commemorative milestones such as America250, which provide an opportunity for residents to reflect on the nation’s history and celebrate the values that continue to unite Americans today.

More than just a celebration, the event served as a reminder of the history, sacrifice, and unity that have defined the United States for 250 years. By bringing together veterans, families, local organizations, and community leaders, the America250 celebration in Selden offered residents an opportunity to reflect on the nation’s past while looking ahead to its future. As America prepares to mark this historic milestone, organizers hope the spirit of patriotism and community displayed throughout the day will continue long after the festivities have ended.

Credit - Madison Warren

Caracappa noted that Veterans Memorial Park and the adjacent Middle Country Community Park provided the ideal setting for an event of this scale.

“The message we put on display at our 250th event was one of unity of community, to celebrate the liberties and freedoms we currently have and the sacrifices it took to achieve them,” Caracappa told The Messenger. “That meant including our Veteran community above all else, so attendees can get a faceto-face experience with these American hometown heroes.”

Planning for the event began with a small meeting between Caracappa and representatives from the Middle Country Chamber of Commerce but quickly grew into a collaborative effort involving approximately 80 individuals from local businesses, organizations, youth groups, Veterans organizations, law enforcement agencies, libraries, school districts, and municipal governments. Over the course of six months, the committee worked together to create a full day of programming designed to educate, entertain, and inspire community pride.

A major focus of the celebration was engaging younger generations. Caracappa explained that organizers intentionally incorporated interactive historical experiences and familyfriendly activities to encourage children to learn about America’s history in a hands-on way and to spark curiosity about the nation’s founding.

The event also highlighted Long Island’s unique connection to the American Revolution. Historical portrayals included George and Martha Washington, William Floyd - the only Suffolk County resident to sign the Declaration of Independence - and Theodore Roosevelt. Reenactors interacted with attendees throughout the day, sharing stories about the nation’s fight for independence and helping bring history to life for visitors of all ages.

The opening ceremony began with a patriotic parade led by horses and riders from the Warrior Ranch Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders through equine-assisted programs. They were followed by Vietnam Veterans, who received a warm welcome and enthusiastic applause from the crowd. Local residents, community groups, and organizations also took part in the procession, proudly displaying their patriotism as they joined together to celebrate the nation’s upcoming 250th anniversary.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) was

Down Ballot Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

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Thursday, June 18, 2026

House: Mid-Decade Redraws Change Calculus

By Matt Meduri We continue to find ourselves updating our forecast for the U.S. House this year as the mid-decade redistricting “arms race” continues in earnest.

Virginia’s voter-approved map has been overturned by the Supreme Court, and Louisiana and Alabama have redrawn their maps in light of the Callais decision. We’re shifting those races and several others in light of the changes.

AL-02 - Likely D to Leans R (Flip): This Mobile-to-Montgomery seat gave Democrats an extra seat in the Yellowhammer State, but the redraw has turned this into a medium-red seat. We think the fundamentals help the GOP but the environment could help Democrats thread the needle.

CA-09 - Likely D to Safe D: This Stockton-based seat was one that Trump astonishingly carried in 2024. The California gerrymander makes this a denser, more urban seat. Republicans aren’t doing any serious fundraising, which means four-term Congressman Josh Harder (D) appears set for another term.

CA-21 - Leans D to Likely D: This compact, Fresno-based seat didn’t change much with the redraw, and while Republicans have been able to run up closer-than-expected margins here lately, they’ve still come up decisively short.

CO-05 - Safe R to Likely R: Congressman Jeff Crank (R) is rounding out his first term representing Colorado Springs. A solidly-red district pre-Trump, CO-05 is shifting steadily to the left along with Colorado at large. While Crank isn’t on the front lines and has $1.1 million in cash on hand, former Biden-era staffer Jessica Killin (D) has $1.5 million in the bank. This is a precautionary shift in anticipation of a potentially engaged race, or a margin slip for the GOP. CT-05 - Likely D to Safe D: The northwestern corner of Connecticut is the most Republican part of the state, but that’s not saying much since CT-05 hasn’t been held by a Republican since 2007. Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (D) has held the seat since 2018, only facing a stiff challenge once - she barely won reelection in 2022. This environment isn’t conducive to Republicans playing here.

LA-06 - Safe D to Safe R (Flip): The Pelican State’s redraw sees this Baton Rouge-to-Shreveport seat return to its original boundaries, more or less.

MD-06 - Likely D to Safe D: While the Maryland Panhandle is one of the most Republican parts of the state, it’s been drawn into suburban D.C. territory since 2011. Congresswoman April McClain-Delaney (D) faces a primary from this seat’s former representative, David Trone (D). Trone has raised a whopping $11 million to his opponent’s $3.1 million, while no Republican has surpassed $500,000.

MI-04 - Likely R to Leans R: The home of President Gerald Ford (R-MI), the Grand Rapids area was the backbone of the Michigan GOP. As the rest of Michigan has come into play in the Trump Era, the region has shifted remarkably leftward. MI-04 contains Kalamazoo and Holland and eight-term Congressman Bill Huizenga (R) might be in a position to be upset this year, and challenger Sean McCann (D) is catching him in fundraising.

MI-08 - Leans D to Likely D: Saginaw, Flint, Bay City, and Midland were some of the cornerstones of Democrats’ decades-long hold on Michigan. Their rightward shift in the Trump Era has allowed the GOP to contend this state regularly. While it’s a competitive seat, Democrats don’t seem endangered by a small Republican field with minimal funds raised.

NJ-07 - Tilts R to Toss Up: This set takes in northwestern New Jersey and was flipped by Tom Kean, Jr. (R) in 2022. However, it’s a light-red seat that can and has gone for Democrats in statewide races. Moreover, Kean has been conspicuously absent from Congress amid “health reasons,” and as each explanation raises more questions, we think it’s just another wrench in the Republican machine this year.

NC-11 - Likely R to Leans R: The westernmost portion of North Carolina is anchored by Asheville, a blue island in a sea of red in this conservative part of Appalachia. Congressman Chuck Edwards (R) was elected in 2022, and while the district is somewhat competitive, recent allegations make this more of a target. Edwards is alleged to have sexually harassed staffers and promoted a hostile work environment. He’s accused of singling out young female aides and even bestowing cheesy, romantic gifts to some of them. While it might not be his political downfall, it’s just one other thing to go wrong for the GOP this cycle.

OH-09 - Leans R (Flip) to Tilts R (Flip): This district runs from Toledo across the Lake Erie shores to the Indiana border. Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D) has held the seat since 1983, making her the longest-serving woman in congressional history. In 2024, she was barely re-elected and her opponent

then is her opponent this year. While Kaptur is trouncing her opponent in fundraising so far, the district is a Trump +11 seat. That’s a steep climb for Democrats, but Ohio’s Senate and gubernatorial races are shaping up to be competitive. We’re shifting this seat as an abundance of caution in an anythinggoes environment.

TN-08 - Safe R to Likely R: While we don’t think this seat will really come into play this cycle, we’re moving this to “Likely” territory since the margins have shifted considerably after the latest gerrymander. This rural seat takes in Western Tennessee and exurban Memphis, with Memphis being carved up between three seats. While Trump won TN-08 by 41 points in 2024, this version of the seat would have seen him win by just 20 points. It’s still a landslide, but in a good Democratic year, the margins can quickly fall under 15 points.

TN-09 - Safe D to Safe R (Flip): The aforementioned Tennessee redraw made this seat containing Memphis proper its sole purpose. The Harris +42 seat is now a Trump +21 seat. We’d have made this a Likely R seat, but longtime Congressman Steve Cohen (D), the only Democratic member of the state’s congressional delegation, is not running.

TX-34 - Tilts R (Flip) to Toss Up: The Texas gerrymander that kicked off the national battle in August saw this McAllen-based seat become possibly more fertile Republican territory. While the Rio Grande Valley has raced to the right since 2020, this seat has kept its local Democrats. This would have been a Trump +11 seat under the current boundaries; Trump won the original seat +5.

Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (D) has credibility in the area, but the GOP has done some credible fundraising.

TX-35 - Likely R (Flip) to Leans R (Flip): Democrats got their preferred candidate in the primary for this suburban San Antonio seat. The GOP gerrymander made it tougher for Democrats, but not impossible.

VA-01 - Likely D (Flip) to Likely R: This Hampton Roads-seat goes back to its original rating following the judicial decisions.

VA-05 - Leans D (Flip) to Likely R: This suburban Richmond seat retains its original rating.

VA-06 - Leans D (Flip) to Safe R: This rural, mountainous seat along the West Virginia border is back off the table for Democrats.

WI-01 - Leans R to Likely R: This suburban Milwaukee district takes in notable cities of Racine and Kenosha. A classically Republican seat, Trump won here +4 in 2024 and while four-term Congressman Brian Steil (R) has won decisively, a blue-wave environment means this seat is on the table. However, Steil has a $5 million war chest, while no Democrat has cracked $500,000.

Here’s the Count With the shuffle, Democrats now see 211 seats at least tilting in their direction, with 212 for the Republicans. There are eleven Toss Ups, 8 of which belong to the GOP, 3 to the Democrats. It’s the first time this cycle we think the GOP has more seats in their favor than the Democrats.

Democrats are favored to flip 11 seats (5 due to mid-decade redistricting) and 12 for the GOP (all due to redistricting). Democrats need a net gain of 3 seats to take back the Speaker’s gavel.

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School Highlights Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Fourth Graders Step Back in Time with Revolutionary War Reenactment Earl L. Vandermeulen High School proudly hosted its College Signing Day ceremony honoring four senior student-athletes who have committed to continuing their athletic and academic careers at the collegiate level.

The following students were recognized for their accomplishments and future commitments: • McKayla Pollard – St. Lawrence University, Women’s Volleyball • Alexa Jacobs – Villanova University, Women’s Track and Field • Owen Whiffen – SUNY Oneonta, Men’s Lacrosse • Rowan Casey – SUNY Geneseo, Men’s Lacrosse The event celebrated the hard work, dedication, and perseverance these student-athletes have demonstrated throughout their high school careers both in the classroom and in competition. The ceremony was planned and organized by Mrs. Nelson’s Sport Event Management class, whose students coordinated the event setup and

logistics, providing a professional and memorable experience for the athletes and their families.

Athletic Director Adam Sherrard opened the ceremony with remarks recognizing the achievements of the student-athletes and the commitment required to compete at the collegiate level. Coaches CJ Hafner, Brian Snow, and Taylor Forstell also shared heartfelt comments about each athlete, highlighting their leadership, character, and contributions to their respective programs.

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School congratulates McKayla, Alexa, Owen, and Rowan on this outstanding accomplishment and wishes them continued success in their future academic and athletic endeavors.

For more information regarding the Port Jefferson School District and its students’ many achievements, please visit the District’s website at https://www. portjeffschools.org and follow its Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/PortJeffSchools.

Bellport Junior Earns International Lumiere Scholars Essay Award Bellport High School junior Naja Palmer has earned international recognition after receiving the Rising Scholars Award in the Lumiere Scholars Essay Competition.

Palmer’s essay on artificial intelligence was selected from more than 2,100 entries submitted by students in 104 countries. As part of the honor, she also received a $500 scholarship to participate in any Lumiere Research Scholar Program.

Palmer said she was surprised and excited when she learned she had won. “I was shocked,” she said. “It was unexpected and I was really happy that I won.”

Palmer said she entered the contest to strengthen her college applications while exploring a topic that interests her. She hopes to attend Stony Brook University after graduation, where she plans to study computer engineering and minor in filmmaking.

In addition to her academic achievements, Palmer is a standout student-athlete and an active member of the Bellport High School community. She competes on the winter and spring track teams, has earned AllLeague honors in the 55-meter and 100-meter events and is a member of the 4x200 relay team. She is also an accomplished musician and performs with the school’s orchestra as a cellist. She recently participated in the New York State School Music Association Solo Evaluation Festival, where she earned an A- on a challenging Level 5 piece. She has also previously participated in student council and on the basketball team.

Outside of school, Palmer stays involved through dance and by assisting with audiovisual support at her church.

The South Country School District congratulates Naja Palmer on this prestigious recognition.

William Floyd H.S. Science Students Win Second Consecutive L.I. Water Quality Challenge For the second consecutive year, a team of William Floyd High School science students under the direction of Christopher Orlando were selected as winners in the Long Island Regional Planning Council’s (LIRPC) annual Long Island Water Quality Challenge. The team received a $2,500 grant to implement its proposal at the school and earned WFHS the recognition of being the first school to earn back-to-back victories in the competition.

This challenge, which is done in partnership with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, gives students the opportunity to come up with solutions to mitigate nitrogen pollution created by water runoff on school grounds. It is a part of the Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan, a multi-year initiative to make meaningful reductions in nitrogen pollution.

The students’ proposal involved the installation of 15 “Nitrogen Busting Barrels” to capture rainwater in areas around the school where roof runoff typically occurs. Each barrel can prevent an estimated 1,300 gallons of rainwater from reaching the ground, helping to substantially decrease nitrogen pollution during a storm. The barrels also help promote sustainability, as the water collected within these barrels is reused by the WFHS Environmental Club in their agricultural projects throughout the school year.

The William Floyd team includes science teacher Christopher Orlando and students Erin Chen, Joyce Chen, Dulce Galeano, Noelle Giglio, and Raisa Shaba.

The students and Mr. Orlando received a ceremonial

check and trophy from the LIRPC as well as certificates of recognition from Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), New York State Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue), and Suffolk County Legislator Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches). Speakers at this ceremony included Richard Guardino, executive director, LIRPC, WFSD Science Department chairperson Dawna Cintron, Mr. Orlando, and WFHS junior Joyce Chen.

“It is essential that we engage students – who are the leaders of tomorrow – about the serious threat nitrogen pollution poses to our waterways, and every year our Water Quality Challenge encourages them to become part of the solution on their campuses,” said John Cameron, LIRPC Chairman.

Congratulations to the students, Mr. Orlando, Ms. Cintron and the entire Science Department on this outstanding achievement!

School Highlights Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

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Port Jeff M.S. Musicians Shine at String Chamber Music Festival Talented seventh- and eighth-grade string student musicians from Port Jefferson Middle School recently showcased their musical abilities at the String Chamber Music Festival, delivering impressive performances that highlighted their dedication, skill, and passion for music.

During the festival, students performed a diverse repertoire of chamber music selections by some of history’s most celebrated composers, including Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Scott Joplin, and Johann Sebastian Bach, among others. Performing in small ensembles, students demonstrated not only their technical proficiency but also the collaboration, communication, and musicianship that are essential to chamber music.

The festival provided students with a valuable opportunity to refine their performance skills, deepen their appreciation for classical

music, and experience the unique challenges and rewards of playing in a chamber ensemble setting. Port Jefferson Middle School is proud of its student musicians for representing the school with excellence and enthusiasm. Their participation in the String Chamber Music Festival reflects the strength of the district’s music program and its commitment to fostering creativity, teamwork, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts.

For more information about the Port Jefferson School District and its students’ numerous achievements, please visit the district’s website at https://www. portjeffschools.org and follow its Facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/PortJeffSchools.

Pines Elementary Students Hit a High Note at Citi Field

Third, fourth and fifth grade students from Pines Elementary School in the Hauppauge School District had the memorable opportunity to perform the national anthem at Citi Field before a New York Mets game.

Under the direction of music teacher Mrs. Wray-Dolgin, students spent months preparing for the performance through dedicated early morning rehearsals. Their hard work paid off as they delivered an impressive rendition of the national anthem, showcasing their vocal talents in front of a large crowd. More than 500 tickets were sold to Pines families and friends, filling Citi Field with school spirit as students, staff and community members came together to support both the performers and the Mets.

Civics 101

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Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

The Necessary Standard for American Education

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.

The Environmental Protection Agency

By Matt Meduri While not considered a federal executive department, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is a Cabinet-level office within the federal government.

History and Origin

Credit - U.S. EPA

The EPA is a younger member of the federal family compared to its counterparts. Its origin started in the 1950s, when Congress began investigating human impact on the environment.

Senator James Murray (D-MT) introduced his Resources and Conservation Act (RCA) of 1959, which would have created the Council on Environmental Quality in the PResident’s Executive Office, declared a national policy on the environment, and required an annual report. Since that environmental movement was weak at the time, the bill failed in the 86th Congress.

However, Silent Spring, a 1962 environmental science book written by Rachel Carson, changed the narrative, namely on environmental health risks and pesticide usage. 1968 would see both chambers of Congress jointly discuss environmental needs and policy, headed by Senator Henry Jackson (D-WA) and Congressman George Miller (D-CA). A year later, Congress enacted the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which included discussions and findings going back to 1959.

President Richard Nixon (R-CA) would make the environment a priority during his first term. Nixon would sign NEPA into law on January 1, 1970, and would establish the Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) and the EPA. In July 1970, Nixon proposed a consolidation of environmental responsibilities under the EPA, taking certain programs from the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior. The EPA is the spiritual successor to the Environmental Health Divisions of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS), which was part of the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (HEW) at the time, and continues to exist under the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Nixon’s consolidation plan saw the EPA absorb much of the PHS’ oversight, such as the National Air Pollution Control Administration, the Bureau of Solid Waste Management, the Bureau of Water Hygiene, and parts of the Bureau of Radiological Health.

The EPA was formally launched on December 2, 1970, and Bill Ruckelshaus (R-IN) would serve as the first Administrator of the EPA. Ruckelshaus famously banned use of the pesticide DDT, set the nation’s first air quality standards under the Clean Air Act, and began the regulations towards lead-free gasoline.

He would return to the EPA to become its fifth administrator under President Ronald Reagan (RCA), where launched the Superfund program to handle large-scale, hazardous waste cleanup projects.

Upon its formation, the EPA absorbed 84 sites across 26 states, 42 of which were laboratories. The agency was more a technical assistance agency that set goals and standards but did not yet have the regulatory authority it has now.

But it wasn’t the easiest start for the nation’s

foremost authority on the environment. In fact, Ruckelshaus grappled with keeping the public keen on the goals, as some felt the environmental movement was a social fad.

However, the burning of the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1969 displayed just what the EPA’s purpose could be. The Cuyahoga River, a major tributary that feeds into Lake Erie, caught fire at least a dozen times from the end of the Civil War to the fledgling days of the EPA due to unregulated dumping by steel mills, chemical plants, and other factories that defined northeastern Ohio as a bluecollar, union-labor backbone of the industrial Midwest. The June 22, 1969, blaze is generally considered to be its most notable.

The Justice Department would enter corporate litigation in 1970 with the EPA, and in 1972, Congress enacted the Clean Water Act (CWA), which included mandatory pollution control standards. That same year, Congress required the EPA to measure pesticide risks against their benefits.

In 1974, Congress passed the Safe Drinking Water, which required the EPA to craft mandatory standards for all public water systems. In 1976, the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) would also fall under the EPA’s oversight, as would the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA).

By the end of the 1970s, the EPA’s budget went from $1.4 billion at its start and a little under 6,000 employees to a $5.4 billion budget and a 13,000-strong workforce.

In 1980, Congress passed the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act - colloquially referred to as “Superfund.”

Suffolk County officials continue to lobby the federal government to label the former Grumman site in Calverton as a Superfund site.

Anne Gorsuch (R-CO) was the fourth EPA Administrator, appointed by Reagan. Her tenure sullied the name of the department, it’s generally considered, as she saw the EPA as a non-costeffective agency that regulated businesses too much. She slashed budgets and departments and even relaxed clean air and pesticide regulations.

Interestingly, Gorsuch’s son, Neil Gorsuch (R-CO), is currently an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, appointed by President Donald Trump (R-FL) in his first term.

The EPA Today The FY2026 budget totals $4.16 billion, a 54% decrease from the FY2025 figures. The budget accounts for almost 13,000 full-time employees, about a 1,300-position decrease from last year.

The seventeenth and current administrator of the EPA is Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) (pictured above). A household name in Suffolk and typically referred to as “Long Island’s native son,” Zeldin is an alum of William Floyd High School in Mastic Beach. In 2004,

he passed the New York State Bar Exam, making him the youngest lawyer in New York at the time.

Zeldin served in the Army from 2003 to 2007, where he was deployed to Iraq. He ran a private law practice in Smithtown until his successful run for State Senate in 2010, when he defeated Brian Foley (D-Blue Point). Zeldin unseated Congressman Tim Bishop (D-Southampton) in the red wave of 2014 and was re-elected three times. In 2022, Zeldin came up just short of becoming New York’s governor in a near-upset.

At the EPA, Zeldin eliminated the 2009 Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Endangerment Finding, which legally classified gases like carbon dioxide and methane as public health threats. The EPA says that the move, the single largest deregulatory action in U.S. history, will save taxpayers nearly $1.3 trillion in lower new car costs. He also cancelled millions in grants and contracts set for ideological groups rather than environmental cleanup. He also brokered an agreement with Mexico to solve the Tijuana River Sewage Crisis.

He’s emphasized balancing environmental stewardship with cutting regulatory overreach.

Bureaus and Agencies The EPA has ten Regional Offices around the country. New York is included in Region 2, which also serves New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. The other regional offices are Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Kansas City, Denver, San Francisco, and Seattle. The San Francisco office, notably, serves four states, the three Pacific U.S. territories, as well as the nations of Micronesia, the Marshall Islands, and Palau - the latter three due to the Compacts of Free Association (COFA).

These are some of the notable bureaus of the EPA. Office of Air and Radiation (OAR): Handles issues related to acid rain, indoor/outdoor air quality, air pollution from stationary sources, vehicles, and engines, radiation protection, radon, and stratospheric ozone depletion. Enforces the Clean Air Act, the Atomic Energy Act, and the American Innovation and Manufacturing Act, among others.

Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP): Handles risks from pesticides, primarily. Enforces the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act; the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act; the Toxic Substances Control Act; and the Pollution PRevention Act. Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA): Civilly and criminally enforces federal environmental laws.

Office of International and Tribal Affairs (OITA): Protects tribal lands from pollution, but also helps tribes administer their own environmental programs.

Office of Land and Emergency Management (OLEM): Prevents contaminations, responds to emergencies, and remediates and redevelops land for productive use.

Office of Water: Serves as the national lead and advisor on water quality standards, drinking water, groundwater wetlands protection, and marine and estuarine protection.

Around Town Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Three Village, BBP, South Country Budgets Approved in Revotes

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By Matt Meduri On Tuesday, May 19, the school districts of Three Village, Bayport-Blue Point (BBP), and South Country were three of four Suffolk school districts to see their budget proposals rejected by the voters.

On Tuesday, June 16, all had their remedial budgets approved.

Bayport-Blue Point The original $88,387,020 budget, a 2.75% tax levy increase that would have exceeded the cap, failed in a 679-568 vote.

Although it received a majority of the votes, school district budgets that pierce the tax cap require 60% of voters’ approval.

On Tuesday, BBP residents approved their budget in a 1,697-769 vote, this time obtaining the 60% majority required to pierce the tax cap.

“The district is grateful to our community for its support of the 2026–27 school budget. This budget will enable the district to continue to provide our students with the high-quality educational

opportunities, programs and services we have developed here in BBP over the years,” said Superintendent Timothy Hearney in a statement. “We appreciate everyone who took the time to participate in this important process. On behalf of the Board of Education, administration, faculty, and staff, thank you for your continued support of our schools.”

The revised budget reduced the levy from 2.75% to 2% and is $1.1 million less than the 2025-26 budget. The contingency budget carries $1.34 million in additional cuts, according to the district’s newsletter.

Items considered for elimination include elimination of junior varsity sports, field trips, elementary and middle school clubs, the World Language Elementary Program, high school e-sports, the Gifted and Talented Program, elementary guidance support, high school and middle school musicals, flag football, arts-in-education/ enrichment, livestreamning of districtwide meetings (including Board of Education meetings), and reductions in professional

development, curriculum writing, and other staff supports.

The district covers Bayport, Blue Point, and parts of North Patchogue.

South Country By far the most controversial budget pitch in Suffolk this year, the South Country Central School District pitched a $150,738,754 package that carried a whopping 13.45% tax levy increase. The district’s cap is 5.52%. The May vote failed massively, with 2,747 votes against and 1,105 votes in favor.

Tuesday’s budget passed in a 2,0181,300 vote.

The revised proposal is a $144,846,580 budget that features a 5.5% tax levy increase and eliminates 34 full-time positions in addition to 60 positions cut in the original budget. It also reduces late bus services, limits elective courses, reduces the music program, cuts junior varsity sports, and removes some Advanced Placement (AP)

courses.

The district contains Bellport, Brookhaven hamlet, North Bellport, parts of Shirley, parts of Yaphank.

Three Village The Three Village Central School District’s May proposal featured a $244,980,092 budget that carried a 4.54% tax levy hike. It failed in a 2,051-2,340 vote.

The revised budget passed on Tuesday in a 2,096-1,817 vote. This $243,390,092 budget represents a 3.49% tax levy increase.

The Board of Education reevaluated the capital projects from $3 million to $2.5 million. Projects include cupola repairs and refurbishments at Setauket, Murphy, and Minnesauke, repairs to the Ward Melville pool and renovations to the mini gym floor at Nassakeag. These repairs were included in the bond referendum, which also failed last month.

The district contains Setauket, East Setauket, Stony Brook, Poquott, Old Field, portions of Port Jefferson, South Setauket, and Lake Grove.

Town Acquires Open Space in Mastic, Moriches The Town of Brookhaven continues its quest to preserve open space, particularly in the Tri-Hamlet Peninsula.

The area has been challenged by coastal erosion, storm surges, and tricky water quality issues, but is nonetheless on the rise with the Forge River Sewage Treatment Plant, the Neighborhood Road Revitalization Area in Mastic Beach, and the renovation of the three branches of the Mastic-Moriches-Shirley Public Library.

A whopping 17 parcels in Mastic alone were conserved this week, namely several adjacent parcels along West Riviera Drive that abut the Pattersquash Creek off the Narrow Bay. According to Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig (R-Manorville), the acquisitions “further the Town’s goal for public access and control of the waterfront.”

“These acquisitions also further protect the vistas for residents and visitors alike,” Dunne Kesnig told The Messenger. “Addirtionally, the parcels along Riviera are a mix of uplands and wetland, providing a unique habitat for a variety of wildlife and plant species that live ‘on the edge’ of habitats.”

In Mastic as well, the lots off Beaver Road are brackish wetlands that are “vital to the overall health of the marshlands,” according to the Councilwoman.

Other parcels are scattered within the hamlet as well, such as one on Grove Road, one on Cypress Drive, and another on Magnolia Avenue. Those parcels are all adjacent to existing public lands, belonging either to the Town or the County, and the “overwhelming majority,” says Dunne Kesnig, are “wetland parcels which are crucial to the continued success and health of the marshlands.”

“The 17-parcel acquisition is the culmination of years of working with the property owner, who has agreed to sell all his holdings in Mastic Beach, many of which the owner has held for 30 years,” said Dunne Kesnig.

Heading into Moriches, the Town has acquired two parcels east of James Hawkins Road on the south side of Montauk Highway - one of those parcels is south of the shopping center,

not bordering the road. Those parcels will abut an existing three acres of open space on James Hawkins Road.

On the north side of Montauk Highway/Frowein Road, the Town has about 60 acres of open space, which does not include the Moriches Athletic Complex fields and surrounding woods.

“The Town is also exploring acquisition of another 25 acres in the immediate area,” said Dunne Kesnig.

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Veterans News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Lake Ronkonkoma Celebrates 250

By Madison Warren Families and community members gathered in Lake Ronkonkoma this past weekend to celebrate America 250 with a parade and a solemn ceremony for Veterans hosted by the Lake Ronkonkoma Heritage Association.

Residents paid tribute to local service members who made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of the United States, culminating in the unveiling of a memorial plaque at Raynor County Park honoring those who never returned home.

Veterans with unique stories and experiences, supportive family members, patriotic community residents, and local leaders, including American Legion Post #155 Commander Fred Tartaglione, Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), and Comptroller John Kennedy (R-Nesconset), were all in attendance, helping make the day especially meaningful. Together, they reflected on the sacrifices made by service members throughout history while celebrating the strong sense of community and gratitude that continues to unite residents today.

Ellyn Okvist, President of the Lake Ronkonkoma Heritage Association, told The Messenger that months of planning went into making the event a success, but seeing the community come together made it all worthwhile. She explained that the initiative began with a plan to install 40 Veteran banners throughout the community, but the effort quickly gained momentum and ultimately grew to 660 banners honoring local Veterans.

Okvist explained that for years she believed the park’s killed-in-action memorial needed to be updated and worked tirelessly to make that vision a reality. After years of advocating for the project, she approached Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) and asked if she could take on the effort herself. With his support and encouragement, the project finally moved forward.

On Sunday, Okvist and company proudly unveiled the new memorial plaque, the culmination of years of dedication and research. The monument honors local service members who lost their lives in service to their country and ensures their sacrifices will not be forgotten. She noted that while the plaque includes many names, it may not be a complete list, as identifying every fallen service member from the community is difficult without assistance from family members and

residents who can help provide information.

But Ellyn reassured that names will continue to be added.

“It needed to be done when you have a community like this,” Okvist said. “You have to respect your military first, especially those who were killed in action. It’s very important. They’re the baseline. They’re the ones that were it should start, and that’s where we started.”

Okvist was quick to recognize the many individuals whose hard work helped make the event possible.

Ashley Okvist, Dana Zoller, Ken Okvist, Joe Pisani, Robert Kentner, and Debra Cristino were among those she credited for their dedication and countless hours of effort. While just a few of the many volunteers and supporters involved, Okvist said their contributions played a vital role in transforming the event from an idea into a successful community celebration.

One family especially moved by the ceremony was the Greene family. Renee Greene, of St. James, said her uncle, Charles R. Greene, was killed in action during the Vietnam War, becoming the first service member from Ronkonkoma and one of the first ten from Suffolk County to lose his life in the conflict. In recognition of his sacrifice, the Veterans’ memorial section of the park bears his name, and he is also among those honored on the newly unveiled plaque.

The day’s events held additional significance for the family, as Greene’s father had also served in the Vietnam War. Seeing both men recognized through the Veteran banners, memorial ceremony, parade, and new plaque was a deeply emotional experience for

Renee, her father, who attended the event, and their family.

Okvist recalled a personal connection to Charles R. Greene that has stayed with her for decades. She said that when she was a child, Charles stepped in to help her and her cousins when a group of boys were picking on them, scaring the boys away and leaving a lasting impression on her. Although years passed and she never saw him again, the memory remained with her. It wasn’t until she saw his photograph displayed on a Veteran banner years later that she realized the man who had shown her that kindness was Charles R. Greene.

Looking ahead, she hopes to expand those efforts through additional memorial projects, including tributes dedicated to women who served and military pilots.

She said listening to Veterans share their experiences is one of the most rewarding parts of her work, noting that their stories never fail to leave a lasting impression. Reflecting on the day’s parade and memorial ceremony, Okvist expressed gratitude for the overwhelming community support while encouraging residents to remain involved in honoring local veterans and preserving their legacies for future generations.

Technology News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

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Thursday, June 18, 2026

The Future of AI Belongs to the Generation We’re Currently Failing

By Mollie Barnett The future of AI belongs to the generation that’s currently being failed by the institutions responsible for preparing them for it — and that has to change.

That’s not a provocative take. It’s what’s happening right now in Suffolk County classrooms, on Long Island college campuses, and in the entry-level jobs young people are stepping into with no real orientation for the world they’ve inherited.

The Rebellion Is a Symptom What’s being called a generational rebellion against AI is real. But the headline is wrong.

This isn’t a story about young people rejecting technology. It’s a story about young people not being prepared for it — and responding the only way people respond when they feel ignored. They push back.

It started fast. By late 2022 and early 2023, visual artists were protesting AI image generators trained on their work without permission. In May 2023, the Writers Guild of America made AI protections central to their strike.

Hollywood followed. By 2024 and 2025, the conversation had moved into schools and offices. By 2026, it had reached the people with the most at stake — the students and young professionals who will spend the next forty years working inside this technology.

They didn’t rebel because they don’t understand AI. They rebelled because nobody gave them a real conversation about what it means for their future.

Because the people running the institutions — the schools, the companies, the industry bodies — built systems that work for them, reward them, and have no particular urgency to change. Legacy systems don’t reform themselves, and the generation inheriting the consequences of that inertia noticed.

What’s Actually Happening in Schools Walk into any Suffolk County school district — Smithtown, Middle Country, Connetquot — and you’ll find the same tension: teachers flagging student work based on unreliable AI detection tools, students feeling presumed guilty, academic integrity policies written faster than anyone understood the technology they were regulating.

Wharton professor Ethan Mollick has documented the known limitations and high error rates of current AI detection tools. Most educators on the ground already sense this. Policy just hasn’t caught up.

Underneath the detection debate is a bigger question students are actually asking: if I use AI to think through a problem, am I still thinking?

It’s a serious question. Research shows thoughtful AI use can expand learning when it’s treated as a collaborative tool rather than a shortcut. The difference is in how you teach it. Right now, most districts are still reacting to the technology instead of preparing students for it. Those are two very different postures.

What’s Happening at Work Young professionals are raising the same concerns in a different building.

AI is being handed down from the top — new tools, new expectations, minimal training, minimal explanation. 44% of Gen Z workers have reported actively undermining company AI efforts, driven by concern about their jobs.

That number should stop every employer on this Island cold.

Not because the resistance is right, because it’s preventable.

When companies invest in real training, define clear roles, and involve employees in the process, AI tends to reduce the grind and create room for better work. The technology isn’t the variable; implementation is. The businesses getting this right aren’t the ones with the most sophisticated tools. They’re the ones that treated their people like partners instead of obstacles.

The Irony Worth Paying Attention To Here’s what’s easy to miss: the generation pushing back hardest on AI is also the generation most fluent in it.

They’re not Luddites. They use these tools every day — for research, brainstorming, productivity. They understand the technology intuitively in ways most executives making decisions about it do not.

And precisely because they understand it, they see what’s missing.

The training that never came. The conversation that never happened. The honest acknowledgment that, yes, this changes everything, including your career, and here’s how we’re going to help you navigate that.

That’s not irony. That’s a signal. When the people with the most at stake are raising the loudest concerns, the right response isn’t to manage the resistance. It’s to listen to it.

What Good Looks Like Locally, some institutions are starting to move.

At Adelphi University’s Robert B. Willumstad School of Business, Dean MaryAnne Hyland, PhD, has been clear about what this moment requires.

In a 2025 faculty discussion, she said: “AI is revolutionizing the business landscape. Many organizations are investing in AI and educating their employees about its applications.”

She didn’t soften the harder truth either: “While some jobs have been and will continue to be replaced by AI, the business world is increasingly seeking individuals who understand how to leverage it.”

That’s the road map - not a warning; a direction.

Farmingdale State College has introduced programs in AI management.

The North Shore School District has formed an AI task force. New York City Public Schools released formal guidance using a traffic light framework.

More is coming across Suffolk in the months ahead.

The institutions moving fastest share one thing: they stopped treating AI as a policy problem and started treating it as a preparation problem. That reframe matters.

What This Means for You The businesses on this Island aren’t waiting for the education system to catch up. They’re hiring right now. The young people walking in the door — the ones who grew up with this technology, who understand it instinctively, who are already asking the hard questions about it — are either going to be your greatest asset or your most frustrated employees.

The difference isn’t the technology. It’s whether anyone took the time to prepare them, include them, and treat their future like it mattered.

That’s not a school district problem. That’s everybody’s problem.

And on Long Island, we have every reason to get it right.

MOLLIE BARNETT is the founder of State & Signal AI Systems and writes about AI strategy, business, and the human side of technology for The Messenger.

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Long Island Locavore Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

The Sweetest Spears of Spring

By Nancy Vallarella

Asparagus & Pecorino Salad A bright, crisp spring salad that lets local asparagus take center stage.

Prep Time: 15 minutes Yield: 4 servings Ingredients: • 1 bunch (about 1 pound) green asparagus, or a mix of green and purple asparagus, trimmed • 4 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese, shaved or diced • 2 Tbs toasted hazelnuts, coarsely chopped or Crispy Roasted Chickpeas (recipe below) • 1 orange, zested and segmented • 2 Tbs fresh chives, chopped • 2 tsp white wine vinegar • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste Instructions: 1. Cook the asparagus: Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the asparagus and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, just until bright and crisp-tender. Transfer immediately to an ice bath or rinse under very cold water to stop the cooking. Pat dry.

2. Chop the asparagus: Cut the cooled asparagus into bite-size pieces, about 1 to 2 inches long, and place in a serving bowl or arrange on a platter.

3. Make the dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together the orange zest, white wine vinegar, olive oil, a pinch of kosher salt and several grinds of black pepper.

4. Assemble the salad: Top the asparagus with the Pecorino, toasted hazelnuts or roasted chickpeas, orange segments and chopped chives.

5. Finish and serve: Drizzle with the dressing just before serving. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

LIL TIP: This salad is especially beautiful when made with a mix of green and purple asparagus, which adds a little extra visual drama to the plate. Serve it chilled or at cool room temperature alongside grilled fish, roast chicken or a crisp Long Island white.

Created by Nancy Vallarella, who brings farm-fresh recipes and local food knowledge to Long Island through farmers’ markets, demos, and more.

For more recipes or to connect: DM @lilocavore495 on Instagram or email lilocavore495@gmail.com

Crispy Roasted Chickpeas A crunchy, nut-free topping that works beautifully in this salad.

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 30 to 35 minutes Yield: About 1 1/2 cups Ingredients: • 1 can (15 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed • 1 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil • 1/2 tsp kosher salt • 1/4 tsp black pepper • Optional: pinch of garlic powder or smoked paprika Instructions: 1. Preheat the oven: Heat oven to 400°F. 2. Dry the chickpeas well: Spread the chickpeas on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and pat thoroughly dry. Remove any loose skins.

3. Season: Toss the chickpeas with olive oil, salt, pepper and any optional seasoning.

4. Roast: Spread on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Roast for 30 to 35 minutes, shaking the pan once or twice, until golden and crisp.

5. Cool before using: Let cool completely — they’ll crisp up even more as they sit.

Seared Asparagus with Whipped Lemon Ricotta, Peas and Mint Dressing Creamy ricotta, sweet peas, fresh mint and tender asparagus are one of spring’s best flavor combinations. This dish feels elegant enough for a special meal, but it’s simple enough to pull off without stress. Think of it as the kind of platter that makes people think you fussed far more than you actually did.

Prep Time: 20 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Yield: 6 servings as a side For the Whipped Lemon Ricotta Ingredients: • 12 ounces ricotta • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp black pepper • 3 Tbs milk • 3 Tbs fresh lemon juice Instructions: Add all ingredients to a blender or food processor and blend until creamy and smooth. Set aside or refrigerate until ready to use.

For the Mint Dressing Ingredients: • 1/4 cup fresh mint leaves • 3 Tbs fresh lemon juice • 2 1/2 Tbs honey • 1/3 cup olive oil • 1/2 tsp salt • 1 tsp Dijon mustard • 1/2 shallot Instructions: Add all ingredients to a blender or small food processor and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.

Photos by Nancy Vallarella

If you’ve ever pulled into a Long Island farm stand in spring and spotted the first bundles of local asparagus, you know the feeling.

It’s a little thrilling. A little “finally.” It’s a little reminder that winter doesn’t last forever.

For me, asparagus is one of the first vegetables that truly signals the shift in season. Not calendar spring, the real spring.

The kind that smells like damp soil, cut grass, farm stand wood floors and possibility. The kind that makes you want to cook again.

And if you’re lucky enough to shop early and local, you may even come across one of spring’s prettiest prizes: purple asparagus. It’s the kind of thing that makes you stop mid-shop, rethink your dinner plans and start mentally setting the table. Long Islanders who know Conzella’s Farm in Wading River know exactly what I mean — they’ve become especially beloved for their beautiful purple asparagus, a seasonal standout that feels just a little bit special every time it appears.

That’s the magic of Long Island produce when it’s truly in season. It doesn’t need a hard sell. It just needs to be noticed.

After months of root vegetables, storage crops and heavier winter meals, asparagus arrives like a palate cleanser for the whole kitchen. It’s tender, grassy, elegant, and incredibly easy to love. It can be grilled, roasted, shaved, chopped, tucked into pasta, folded into eggs or simply dressed with olive oil, citrus and cheese and called dinner.

And if there were ever a vegetable worth buying local, it’s this one.

Fresh-cut Long Island asparagus is sweeter, snappier and far more tender than what’s been shipped from far away. The tips are tighter, the stalks are livelier and the flavor is cleaner. Green in the best possible way, with that unmistakable just-picked freshness that reminds you why local food matters.

That’s especially true with asparagus because its season is brief. On Long Island, it usually begins in April and carries into early June, depending on weather and field conditions. In other words: if you see it now, don’t think too long. Bring it home.

These recipes celebrate asparagus in two very different but equally spring-worthy ways: one crisp and citrusy, the other creamy, herbaceous and made to steal the spotlight on a brunch or dinner table.

Because this is exactly how local asparagus should be treated — simply, beautifully and while it lasts.

For the Asparagus and Peas Ingredients: • 2 bundles asparagus, trimmed • 2 Tbs olive oil • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/4 tsp black pepper • 1 cup fresh or frozen peas Instructions: 1. Prepare the peas: If using fresh peas, bring a medium pot of salted water to a boil. Add the peas and cook for 1 minute only, then strain and transfer to a bowl of ice water. Drain well.

If using frozen peas, thaw according to package directions and set aside.

2. Prep the asparagus: Trim the tough white ends from the asparagus and rinse well under cold water.

3. Cook the asparagus: Heat 1 Tbs olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add 8 to 10 asparagus spears at a time and sear for about 3 minutes per side, until tender and lightly charred. Work in batches, adding more oil as needed. Season with salt and pepper.

Optional: You can also grill the asparagus over high heat for a few minutes per side.

4. Assemble the platter: Spread the whipped lemon ricotta onto a serving platter. Arrange the asparagus on top, then scatter over the peas.

5. Finish and serve: Spoon or drizzle the mint dressing over the top just before serving.

LIL TIP: This is a beautiful dish for entertaining because it can be mostly prepped ahead. Blend the ricotta and dressing in advance, then sear or grill the asparagus just before serving.

AMAC Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Statue of Liberty Arrives in New York Harbor – This Day in History AMAC Post on Wednesday, June 17, 2026 On June 17, 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor, beginning the final chapter in one of the most famous gifts in American history. The statue, a symbol of friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States, crossed the Atlantic Ocean in pieces aboard the French ship Isère.

It had been carefully dismantled and packed into more than 200 crates, containing 350 individual pieces, before reaching its new home on Bedloe’s Island, now known as Liberty Island.

The monument was designed by French sculptor Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, with structural assistance from engineer Gustave Eiffel, who later became famous for the Eiffel Tower. Officially titled “Liberty Enlightening the World,” the statue was intended to commemorate the American Revolution, the abolition of slavery after the Civil War, and the lasting friendship between France and the United States. Bartholdi envisioned a towering female figure holding a torch high above New York Harbor, welcoming visitors and representing the ideals of freedom and democracy.

The project took far longer than originally expected. The statue was first planned for completion in 1876, in time for the 100th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, but fundraising delays slowed progress on both sides of the Atlantic. France paid for the statue itself, while Americans were responsible for financing and building the pedestal. Fundraising efforts included auctions, lotteries, boxing matches, and public appeals, showing how much popular support was needed to bring the landmark to life.

After its arrival in 1885, the massive copperand-iron statue had to be reassembled piece by piece. The completed monument was officially

dedicated on October 28, 1886, in a ceremony led by President Grover Cleveland. Standing more than 305 feet from the foundation of its pedestal to the top of its torch, the Statue of Liberty was taller than any structure in New York City at the time. Though originally coppercolored, the statue gradually developed its familiar green-blue appearance through a natural process called patina.

Over time, the Statue of Liberty became

Overview - AMAC The Association of Mature American Citizens

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The Association of Mature American Citizens represents Americans 50 plus. AMAC is centered on American values, freedom of the individual, free speech, and exercise of religion, equality of opportunity, sanctity of life, rule of law, and love of family, with benefits at all levels.

AMAC plays a vital role in helping build the services that will enrich the lives of America’s seniors. AMAC Action, a 501 (C)(4) advocates for issues important to AMAC’s membership on Capitol Hill and locally through grassroots activism. To Learn more, visit amac.us

closely linked with immigration. When Ellis Island opened nearby in 1892, millions of immigrants passed through New York Harbor and saw Lady Liberty as one of their first sights of America. In 1903, Emma Lazarus’ poem “The New Colossus” was added inside the pedestal, strengthening the statue’s association with hope, refuge, and opportunity.

Today, the Statue of Liberty remains one of the most recognized landmarks in the world and an enduring emblem of America’s promise of freedom.

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Bits & Pieces

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WORD OF THE

Week

SUDOKU

INCREDULOUS adjective Pronounced: / uhn·kreh·joo·luhs/ Definition: unwilling to admit or accept what is offered as true.

Example:

Etymology:

“Taxpayers were incredulous at the massive hike on their property tax bill.”

c.1570s, Latin -in, meaning “not” or “opposite of” + Latin credere, meaning “to believe.”

Synonyms: doubtful, quizzical, disbelieving

Source: Merriam-Webster

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Antonyms: definite, convinced, certain

See left for the answers (please don’t cheat!)

This Week in History June 18, 1812:

War of 1812 begins when the U.S. declares war against Britain

WORD WHEEL

In the longest match in tennis history, American John Isner defeats Nicolas Mahut of France at Wimbledon after 11 hours, 5 min. of play over 3 days

June 22, 1934:

John Dillinger is informally named America’s first Public Enemy Number One.

D

C I

B

June 24, 2010:

R

E S

June 19, 1944:

Day one of the twoday Battle of the Philippine Sea, U.S. naval forces defeat the Japanese fleet in World War II.

June 23, 930: World’s oldest parliament, the Icelandic Parliament is established, the Alþingi (observed date).

June 21, 1993:

See how many words you can create.

Must have center letter in word and can use letters more than once.

4 letter word minimum.

June 20, 2020: Highest-ever temperature recorded in the Arctic Circle, 38°C (100°F) in Verkhoyansk, Siberia.

English mathematician Andrew Wiles proves the last theorem of French mathematician Pierre de Fermat after 356 years, solving the world’s most difficult math problem.

Source: Onthisday.com.

Messenger Perspectives Thursday, June 18, 2026

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

21

Freely Given to Freely Give

By PJ Balzer

In school, I was the CliffsNotes kind of a kid. I just wanted the summary of the story and, of course, the easiest way out possible. My mindset was, “Tell me the main point of the story and leave out the information I don’t need.”

The Bible is an extremely intricate book. My personal belief is that it’s God’s word written for and to His creation. It’s detailed and it’s alive. It’s convicting, challenging, healing, and refreshing. Like a well of water that never runs dry, you can read the same passage years apart and it may speak to your heart and life in two completely different ways. His Word truly is a lamp for our feet and light for our path.

If you were to say to me, “Just give me the CliffsNotes of the Bible. Tell me the summary of the story,” it would be hard to do so. Again, because the story is written in such detail and with such insight, foresight and compassion for the reader.

But let me at least try to give you the main point: Forgiveness and Mercy These two are the undeniable theme of the text, cover to cover. Humans, from the very beginning, went astray. Sin entered into the human race. Yet, God purposely came to seek us out. His mission was one of forgiveness and mercy. His mission meant He Himself would have to suffer to the point of giving His own life up. That He did, willingly being led to a death of execution on a criminal’s cross, just as an innocent lamb is led to be slaughtered.

But the CliffsNotes that read forgiveness and mercy didn’t stop there.

Since God willingly gave up His own life to offer each one of us a clean slate, not once, but each and every sunrise, He also asks us to offer one another the same - forgiveness and mercy, that is. The New Testament teachings of Jesus are full of the words, “Love one another as I have loved you. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Blessed are those who make peace. Be merciful, just as your Heavenly Father is merciful.”

Forgiveness sounds like a super spiritual idea until we’ve been deeply hurt and offended. I’m sure that after reading that line above, you have someone in mind. Someone that has hurt you deeply, maybe both emotionally and physically. I know all too well that there are grievances that run deeply and possibly generations long. It’s not that easy to forgive, offer mercy, and make peace.

Jesus never downplays the grievances or the way we may feel inside. Like many of us, He was also betrayed, abandoned, and deeply wounded. His betrayal was so deep that it led to His own death. So, He definitely knows how you and I may feel in the inner chambers of our heart. The places and emotions that no one else can see or feel He both knows of and personally understands.

He also knows how hard and callous our hearts can become when we wake up daily thinking about the offender, or many offenders. He knows that holding onto unforgiveness can destroy us inside and on the outside as well. With that said, He asks us to forgive and even offers to help us do so, not necessarily only for the offender’s sake, but for ours also. He wants us to be free inside and for our hearts to be unshackled from this heavy burden.

While the person or people who we are forgiving may or may not change their ways, God wants our hearts to be clean, light, and free.

One of the most powerful stories of forgiveness I’ve ever heard was from a testimony on YouTube. The man speaking was currently serving a lifelong sentence behind bars with no opportunity for parole. He’d never see the outside world due to the type of crime he was found guilty of committing.

He was charged with taking the life of his wife while she was pregnant with their baby. Both mother and child were deceased; he was arrested and pleaded guilty. I don’t know all the details surrounding the case, nor do I want to. It’s honestly hard for me to even write about this case but there’s a point.

His wife’s mother showed up to visit him one day. He was shocked and obviously didn’t know what to expect. The visit wasn’t planned or prepared for. He was notified that someone had scheduled a visit and as he walked into the visiting room, she was sitting there.

The first words he heard was, “Over time, Jesus has helped me to forgive you and I’m here to tell you, there’s still mercy and forgiveness available for you at the cross of Christ. Even though I’m hurt deeply and this has changed my whole life in unspeakable ways, God still offers you mercy. That’s why I’m here, because I still do love you.”

Over the years, they became extremely close. She visited him weekly and ended up loving and discipling him into a follower of Jesus. The man who was incarcerated told the testimony in tears, still in awe of the mercy that He has received. He never made light of or excuses for the crime he committed.

He fully realized that he didn’t deserve to be forgiven and offered mercy, but he was and it changed him into someone that began changing the culture and environment inside the maximum-security prison. The same mercy he had been given, he started offering to the other men who were incarcerated.

As for this woman who obviously carried such a great measure of forgiveness and mercy in her heart. She simply knew how much unmerited forgiveness she had personally received from Jesus and was willing to freely offer it to other humans, even those who had hurt her in unspeakable ways.

Freely given to freely give it out.

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Long Island Native

Brandon Bussi Wins the Stanley Cup

By Ashley Pavlakis Some might say it’s the greatest trophy in all of sports. (It is).

Brandon Bussi now knows what it feels like to be crowned a Stanley Cup Champion in his first season in the National Hockey League. The Sound Beach native captured the cup on Sunday night when the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Vegas Golden Knights 3-0.

The cup ceremony is special to say the least. It starts with the Captain getting the cup from Commissioner Gary Bettman first and then handing it off to someone else – usually a tenured guy, or someone who’s been chasing the dream for a really long time.

Regardless, the cup makes its way through the roster. After a decent chunk of guys took their lap with the cup, it was finally Bussi’s turn. He was handed the cup by former New York Ranger defenseman K’Andre Miller.

Bussi’s parents and fiancé made the last-minute trek to Las Vegas from New York after learning their son would start Game Six. The goaltender had not played in a game since April 14 prior to his playoff run in the finals. The Canes were majorly relying on Andersen for the majority of the playoffs. In game three of the final, Andersen had a rough go through two periods, and Bussi took over in the third and double overtime. Though the Hurricanes lost that game, Bussi played well and was rewarded for his efforts. Bussi started in games four and five as well, after Andersen was unable to play. Two games, two wins.

With Lord Stanley in the building for game six, Brandon Bussi took his spot in the crease for Carolina, and the game was on. The Long Island native stood tall, making some athletic saves and stopping all 22 shots that came his way, shutting out the 2023 Stanley Cup Champions in a 3-0 win. Bussi became the ninth goaltender in NHL history to post a shutout in a cup-clinching scenario.

He’s also the first rookie since 1973 to clinch the cup by shutting out the opponent. In addition, he’s the first goaltender to make his first three playoff starts and win.

The final seconds ticked off the clock, and suddenly helmets, sticks, and gloves were flying through the air as the Canes hightailed it off the bench and made a beeline

for Bussi. The 6’4” tender was embraced first by Mark Jankowski.

Bussi made his NHL debut back on October 14 with the Canes. He made his mark and continued to stay on the bigleague roster for the regular season and the playoffs. The 27-year-old accounted for 39 games played, winning 31, losing 6, and two shootouts.

Brandon Bussi is the first Long Island born player to win the Stanley Cup since Syosset native, Rob Scuderi, won it in 2009 with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Miller Place alum got to do so with family in attendance, getting to share the emotional high firsthand with the people who raised him. The Bussi Family was periodically shown on the broadcast throughout the game. The pure joy radiating from the Bussi family as they watched their son play in perhaps the biggest game of his life to date was something special.

“I just thanked him [Rod Brind A’mour] for believing in me. It’s a long journey to get to the NHL, it was a little weird I kind of got thrusted in there in a way. But he believed in me and gave me that shot. I’ll always be forever grateful,” Bussi said in his on-ice interview after winning the Stanley Cup. From Long Island, for Long Island, Brandon Bussi is a Stanley Cup Champion! One season down, many more to go.

Congratulations on this phenomenal achievement, Brandon. Long Island is proud of you!

Suffolk and States: Spring Track & Field Around Section XI

By Ashley Pavlakis Some of us are built for running, others are not.

Some even enjoy it and choose to do it competitively.

Suffolk County had great success on the track in the 2026 spring season. Let’s take a look at some of the varsity track teams around Suffolk County who saw their athletes perform well when it mattered.

Before heading to States, they put in the work to prove they’re the best in Suffolk County.

Suffolk County Boys Champions: Class D Mount Sinai, Class B T.1 Connetquot, Class A Ward Melville Suffolk County Girls Champions: Class D Port Jefferson, Class B Connetquot, Class C Hauppauge, Class A Longwood We’ve been talking about her all season long, and Maggie McCormick is honestly a household name at this point. Her records and stats speak for themselves; the girl can run fast. At the 2026 New York State Championships, she placed first in the 1500-meter Run with a time of 4:17:87, minutes ahead of the secondplace winner. She’s now a two-time state champion who will compete for the University of Florida Gators track and field team next season.

Bella Galeas, a Sachem East Arrow, went to States and placed first in the 100m Hurdles Pentathlon, third in the 800m Run, and second in the Long Jump.

Overall, on the weekend, Galeas came in second place in the Pentathlon.

Elycia Wilkerson of Connetquot placed second in both the 200m Hurdle and 400m final.

Maddie Laezza, a track and field member at Eastport-South Manor, placed second in the 3000m Run and third in the 1500m Run. Gabriella Asare, a Brentwood runner, placed third in the 100m hurdles.

The T-Birds of Connetquot had themselves a good time in Webster. Three of their athletes placed on the podium over the weekend. Andrew Forbes placed third in the 4x100 Meter Relay. Devin Woodward placed third in the Pentathlon High Jump and third in the 110m hurdles. Alex Molter came in first in the 4X100-Meter Relay and first in pole vault.

Evan Fraser is a member of the Patchogue-Medford track and field team. While competing at States, he placed third in the 400m Dash, first in the 100m

Hurdle, and first in the 400m final.

Ryan Donohue, a Central Islip Musketeer, placed fourth in the 800m Run and was recognized as an AllState Performer.

Shoreham-Wading River runner Frank Valenti came in third place in the Pentathlon.

Ward Melville Patriot, Joglanio Alcindor, placed third in the 200m Dash, second in the 400m Dash, third in the 400m Dash, and first in the 100m.

Eastport-South Manor’s Matteo Monter came in second in the 4x100 Meter Relay, and second in both the High Jump and Discus Throw.

Commack Cougar Anthony Pisciotta placed first in the 4x100 Meter Relay, first in the High Jump, and first in the Discus Throw.

An abundance of track and field took place at the New York State Championships held in Webster, New York. Suffolk County, more specifically the eastern schools covered by The Messenger, saw success at the state level.

Congratulations to all who competed over the weekend and to those who took home some hardware!

Suffolk’s Lacrosse Alumni Return to LI

The Drought is Over, New York

By Jacob Infald

By PJ Balzer

With the Professional Lacrosse League and five of their teams coming to Long Island this weekend, we want to highlight some of the top Suffolk County alumni who currently play in the league.

After covering the high school lacrosse season for the past couple of months, it is evident that Suffolk County Lacrosse has a rich tradition of excellence, and these players below are just a few of the legendary lacrosse players who have local roots to our county.

Rob Pannell, Smithtown West ‘07, Attack Maryland Whipsnakes Rob Pannell has had one of the most decorated lacrosse careers of all time and it started right here on Long Island, where he earned All-American honors his senior year at Smithtown West and led Long Island in points that season with 130.

After taking a prep year at Deerfield Academy in 2008, Pannell attended Cornell University where he continued to dominate.

Pannell won IVY League Rookie of the Year in 2009, was a two-time, First-Team All-American, and took home multiple national honors including the United States Intercollegiate Lacrosse Association Lt. Raymond J. Enners Outstanding Player of the Year Award in 2011 and 2013, which is given to the top lacrosse player in the nation. He also won the Tewaaraton Trophy in 2013, the equivalent to the Heisman Trophy in College Lacrosse. Pannell was also voted the unanimous IVY League Player of the Year twice, both in 2010 and 2011.

Pannell has continued to dominate on the professional scene starting in the MLL, before it merged with the PLL in 2020. The attack has had a long career with 11 All-Star nominations and won MLL MVP in 2015 and Offensive Player of the Year in both 2016 and 2018.

Pannell has continued to be a contributing player, even at age 36 as in four games so far this season, he has four goals and five assists.

Brennan O’Neil, St. Anthony’s ‘20, Attack, Denver Outlaws The Bay Shore native is one of the top up and coming players in the sport of lacrosse. While he did not get to play his senior year of high school on Long Island due to COVID-19, his high school career was highlighted by his seven-goal performance in the 2019 CHSAA Long Island/State Championship Game where he led the Friars to a 14-13 victory over Chaminade High School.

At Duke, O’Neil was a Two-Time USILA First-Team All-American, and won both the Tewaartaon Trophy and Lt. Raymond Enners Outstanding Player of the Year in 2023. O’Neil made the All-ACC team all four years of his career and was the conference player of the year in 2024. O’Neil was also the only collegiate selected to the U.S Men’s Lacrosse National Team for the 2023 World Men’s Lacrosse Championship where he contributed 14 goals en route to a Gold Medal for Team USA., including five goals in the Gold Medal game against Canada.

In O’Neil’s first two full seasons as a professional, he has made the All-Star team both seasons and was a First-Team All-Pro in 2025.

Through four games played in 2026, O’Neil has 12 points.

Connor Farrell, Sachem East ‘15, Faceoff Specialist, Philadelphia Waterdogs Farrell, who has the infamous nickname of “Milkman”, was actually more of a football star while playing high school sports on Long Island.

Farrell was All-County, All-Long Island and All-State his senior year in 2014, and set the record for most career tackles and interceptions in program history. Farrell was set to continue his football career at LIU, who were still a Division II school at the time, but ended up shifting his focus to lacrosse where he developed into one of the best faceoff players in the nation. His senior season in 2019, Farrell finished first in both the nation and his conference in face-off percentage and ground balls. He set Division II records in ground balls in a single game, and single season ground balls per game and faceoff percentage.

In the PLL, Farrell has been named an All-Star in both 2022 and 2023, and is eighth in the league in faceoff percentage of 50%, through four games so far in 2026.

Kieran McArdle, Connetquot ‘10, Attack, Philadelphia Waterdogs McArdle was a Three-Time Suffolk-County recipient in high school, and was named All-American, All-Tri State, and Newsday All-Long Island his senior year. At St. John’s, McArdle had a historic junior season for the Johnnies, becoming the first player in program history to be named to the USILA second team All-American. He was also named the Big East Conference Attack Player of the Year as he led the conference in points, goals, and assists.

McArdle was also named a finalist for the Tewaaraton Award.

As a professional, McArdle has had a career that has now spanned over a decade. He was named an All-Star in 2015, 2016, and 2018, and was the MLL Rookie of the Year in 2014. In 2022, McArdle won a PLL Championship as a member of the Waterdogs, and in 2024 he won the Golden Stick award, given to the player who recorded the highest point total in the PLL Championship Series. So far in 2026, McArdle has recorded five goals and four assists.

While only Pannell’s team will be playing during the league’s Long Island tour stop this weekend, these four players illustrate how Suffolk County Lacrosse dominance does not end after high school, and if Suffolk County Lacrosse fans are looking for players to root for now that the high season has ended, they have plenty of local stars playing professionally.

Pannell’s club will be playing in the Saturday Night Lacrosse game, this Saturday, June 20, at 9:00p.m, at Hofstra University.

U.S. Soccer Shows Out in Round One U.S. soccer fans were pleasantly surprised this week on home soil. The United States men’s national team recorded a dominant 4-1 victory over Paraguay to open the 2026 FIFA World Cup. All of the anticipation for this opening match resulted in the history books being marked. This was the first time in history the U.S. scored four goals in a World Cup match. This was also the United States largest margin of victory in the tournament since 1930.

In a great game, the loyal fans are saying, “It’s looking like the U.S. has showed up for 2026.” The barrage of goals was led by Folarin Balogun who scored twice this game. The second goal was perfectly placed past the Paraguay keeper and into the top-right corner of the net. This goal not only marked the scoreboard but also set the U.S. fans on fire with excitement.

Christian Pulisic, a top name in U.S. soccer, not only made a

few momentum-shifting plays in the first half, but he also had a beautiful assist in an impeccable first-half playmaking performance for the Americans. Thousands of fans who traveled to California for this game were able to witness the

23

After an extremely long 53 years, it has finally rained in New York. But this rain is definitely different, it’s orange and blue.

The New York Knicks have won an NBA championship for the first time in over five decades. Led by an underrated player who has been one of the best things to ever happen to sports in New York, Jalen Brunson is certainly our captain - not only by title, but by example as well.

I personally just love this whole storyline of this Knicks team.

This team isn’t necessarily full of top-round draft picks or guys starting an all-star team. These are majority blue collar, gritty, and hard-nosed hoopers - guys who play better when they’re down and thrive under pressure. This team has provided us with many exciting comebacks, including the biggest in NBA finals history.

Three of the five starters were former college teammates at Villanova. Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges won the NCAA national college championship in 2016. Ten years and several trades later, they find themselves on the same team in the center of New York City. The three, alongside their hard working and fearless Knicks team, hold up an NBA championship trophy. Who could write a better backstory than this? in heart and mind, Karl Anthony Towns is and was playing with his deceased mother, who passed away in 2020 due to COVID-19 complications. He held up the Knicks’ championship trophy for her. Jose Alvarado, a Brooklyn born-and-bred guard, came off of the Knicks bench to make some major contributions to the historic playoff run. A young man from New York City that could only dream of wearing a Knicks jersey held up a championship trophy with that same jersey on.

The alumni and former players who New York loved but never got to bring home a championship ring. The coaches and hardcore fans of the past who dreamed of this day for decades. Those of us who only had heard stories of how good the Knicks were back in “those days” saw it with our own eyes.

The Knicks are the 2026 NBA champs, a day and year that we won’t soon forget.

While this seems like just a championship for this one year, I can promise you that it isn’t. This refocuses the eyes of the global basketball culture back to New York City. Madison Square Garden has been considered the “Mecca” of basketball for as long as I can remember. New York City has raised and exported some of the quickest and toughest ball handlers that the sport has ever seen. While these players have gone off to win titles for other teams in other cities, New York City is finally where the trophy resides, where Knicks merchandise is flying off the shelves, and where the defending champs are already thinking about next season.

Let’s go Knicks!

U.S. put on a soccer show and lead at halftime fans 3-0 - the team’s largest in any World Cup game.

Gio Reyna added to the convincing lead with a goal of his own. He rocketed another goal later in the second half during extra time, solidifying an impressive win over the Paraguay national squad.

Many American fans, past players, and even their new coach, Mauricio Pochettino, feel like this game was a breakout party and the turning over of a brand-new leaf for American soccer. The truth is that the U.S. has performed poorly in the past few World Cup. There’s been very few goals and not many more wins which left many scratching their heads, but this opening match seemed to be different.

After the game, Coach Pochettino was questioned about some U.S. past performances. He kindly told the press, “We don’t need to focus on that or the past. The U.S. is here to play now.”

The next match will be Friday, June 19, at 3:00p.m, followed by another on June 25 at 10:00p.m.

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Messenger Spotlight

Thursday, June 18, 2026

14th Annual Farmingville Street Fair a Success

By Matt Meduri

Credit - Matt Meduri

Just over a decade ago, there was no chamber of commerce for the hamlet of Farmingville, which was regularly seen as part of Suffolk’s “flyover country.”

While the area continues to get pass-through traffic, it’s more of a destination than it has been in decades, courtesy mostly of the Farmingville Hills Chamber of Commerce.

The annual June street fair takes up Portion Road from Warren Avenue to Leeds Boulevard. Not only is it one of the biggest street fairs in Suffolk each year, but Sunday’s event saw the largest vendor attendance since the pandemic.

The chamber boasts about 220 members, and the fair’s vendor attendance was at parity with that figure. Attendees could also expect a wide variety of food, games, bounce houses, petting zoos, pony rides, a beer garden, and live music - including a set by Suffolk’s favorite country tribute band, Southbound.

The history of the Farmingville Chamber goes back to the 1970s.

That chamber would dissolve but be succeeded by the FarmingvilleHoltsville Chamber of Commerce.

After that too faded, the corporation still existed, which led some dedicated community members to resurrect it to put their hamlet back on the map.

Chamber President Michael Wentz, of Michael Wentz Marketing (pictured left), told The Messenger at Sunday’s festival that the name of the chamber derived from Farmingville Hills County Park on the north side of Horseblock Road. He credits the late Suffolk County Legislator Tom Muratore (R-Ronkonkoma) for his help in getting the fair organized with County officials in 2012.

“We’re one of the larger chambers of commerce in the area, believe it or not, especially without a downtown or waterfront. Those tend to be the

bigger drivers,” said Wentz. He added that the annual fair, which draws at least 10,000 each year, gives the chamber and community an opportunity to “highlight” the businesses and resources in a part of town in which some might not think to stop.

Wentz said that the chamber’s headquarters has helped bolster their presence and operations, even stretching beyond the hamlet’s de facto borders. He said that over 60 of their members are not from Farmingville proper.

“They see the value of the area.

They see the work we’re doing here.”

Wentz’s efforts don’t go in vain, especially with the help of First Vice President Marisa Pizza, of HALO Branded Solutions, and Recording

Secretary Tom Lohr, of Techworks Consulting, Inc. Pizza, who is an integral part of the fair’s coordination, said that about 12,000 homes received fliers in notice of the event.

“We’re really proud because we [the chamber] started with no members and now we have about a 92%-93% renewal rate,” Pizza told The Messenger.

“That means we’re doing something right.”

Lohr, who acts as the chamber’s liaison to the elected officials, hailed the officials’ reception and involvement with the chamber.

“They’ve done tremendous work for our members,” said Lohr, adding that he’s “never once” had a problem in maintaining lines of communication with them.

True to that statement, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) (pictured top left) made the trip to “cut the ribbon” on the fair, promptly at its 10:00a.m. start.

“We have great vendors, great food, and great weather. What more can you ask for?” said Romaine.

The Farmingville Hills Chamber of Commerce is located at 10 Maple Lane in Farmingville and can be reached at 631-317-1738.