Brookhaven Messenger Archive Sept. 25, 2025 by The Messenger Papers, Inc.

Holbrook Couple Indicted in $2M Drug Operation

By Raheem Soto

It turns out the greatest threat to public safety in Holbrook wasn’t a parolee, a protest, or even a policy. It was a two-story house sitting quietly in a suburban cul-de-sac—outwardly ordinary, inwardly a narcotics hub moving millions in poison across Suffolk County.

On Monday, District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney unsealed a sweeping indictment against Caleb Moran and Jessica MedinaRivas, both 28, charging them with Operating as Major Traffickers and dozens of other counts.

Port Jefferson Summer Farmers Market at Harborfront Park

Every Saturday and Sunday, May 18-November 28

9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Islip Farmers Market at Town Hall Every Saturday June 7 - November 22

7:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Antiques & Collectibles

Flea Market Workshop at Lighthouse Commons Shopping Center in Oakdale Sunday, September 27 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Wading River-Shoreham Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival September 28, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

PUBLISHER

Raheem Soto

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Matt Meduri

STAFF REPORTERS

Cait Crudden

ART PRODUCTION

MANAGER

Sergio A. Fabbri

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Colin Herr

CONTRIBUTORS

PJ Balzer

Ashley Pavlakis

DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATION

MANAGER

Tim Walz

DELIVERY PERSONNEL

PJ Balzer

Joe Cuminale

Madison Warren

OFFICE MANAGER & ACCOUNTS

RECEIVABLE

Kim Revere

PROOFREADER

Giavanna Rudilosso

SOCIAL MEDIA

Madison Warren

WHERE TO FIND OUR PAPER

BELLPORT

Cafe Castello • South Country Deli

BROOKHAVEN

Anthony’s Pizza

CENTEREACH

Centereach Deli • Fratelli’s Pork Store

JeJoJos Bagels Inc.

CENTER MORICHES

King Kullen

CORAM La Bistro

EASTPORT

Pete’s Bagels • King Kullen

EAST SETAUKET

Bagel Express • CVS

Pumpernickels Delicatessen & Market

Rolling Pin Bakery • Se-port Deli • Starbucks

RONKONKOMA

718 Slice Pizzeria – (719 Hawkins Ave) Ronkonkoma Train Station

LAKE GROVE

Buffin Muffin / Hummus Fit

Lake Grove Diner • Lake Grove Village Hall

MILLER PLACE

Better on a Bagel • Bigger Bagel and Deli

Crazy Beans • CVS • Miller Place Bagel & Deli

Papa Juan’s • Playa Bowls • Starbucks Town & Country Market

MT. SINAI

Bagels Your Way • Heritage Diner Northside Deli

PATCHOGUE

California Diner • King Kullen • Shop Rite

Sugar Dream Bakery • Swan Bakery

PORT JEFFERSON

CVS • Southdown Coffee • Starbucks

PORT JEFFERSON STATION

Bagel Deli Gourmet • IHOP

Starbucks • Toast Coffe House • Wunderbar Deli

ROCKY POINT

Fresh & Hot Bagels (Kohl’s Plaza)

SELDEN

Cella Bagels • Joe’s Campus Heroes

SHIRLEY

Bagel Deli • Freshy Bagels

Laundry King • Stop & Shop

STONY BROOK

Long Island Bagel Cafe • Strathmore Bagels

NORTH SHORE:

Afternoon Book Club - October 1, 1:00 PM

LONGWOOD:

Dubai Brownies - October 2, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

PORT JEFFERSON:

Dance Laugh Play - October 8, 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM

Watercolor Spider Web - Oct. 9, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM

THREE VILLAGE:

Knit, Crotchet, Chat - October 3, 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Bullying Prevention - October 19, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM

CENTER MORICHES:

Bingo - September 29, 10:30 AM

Watercolor with Camille - October 16, 1:00 PM

Teen Pizza & Movie - October 20, 6:00 PM

RIVERHEAD:

DIY Miniature Pumpkins - September 22-27, All Day

Improv for Fun - October 8, 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM

Candy Corn Crafts - October 11, 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM

www.messengerpapers.com

Suffolk Matters

Holbrook Couple Indicted in $2M Drug Operation

That title isn’t hyperbole: prosecutors say police seized approximately $2 million worth of cocaine, methamphetamine, fentanyl, MDMA, and other drugs from their Holbrook residence.

Alongside the narcotics, officers allegedly recovered two unregistered firearms, ammunition, bulletproof vests, a pill press, digital scales, packaging materials, adulterants, blenders, cell phones, a money counter, and $118,000 in cash.

If that sounds like the kind of scene you’d expect from a cartel compound—not a suburban couple’s home—that’s because it was. And it was right under everyone’s noses.

A Familiar Pattern: Drugs, Deception, and Dead Ends

The investigation began in July with what has become disturbingly routine: an undercover officer arranging to buy a small amount of cocaine. But as with many operations, what seemed minor escalated quickly.

Medina-Rivas allegedly met the undercover officer multiple times that month, selling him larger quantities each time. By late July, Moran appeared as the driver in a 2017 Ford Explorer—a former Southampton Town Police vehicle purchased at auction in 2024, still resembling an unmarked cruiser. Prosecutors allege Moran used it to give his trafficking runs the cover of legitimacy.

Legal Fallout: High Stakes and Higher Bail

On August 8, Moran and Medina-Rivas allegedly sold the undercover over 3.5 ounces of cocaine and provided a free sample of fentanyl— referred to as “food”—warning him it was “strong.”

On August 20, the couple allegedly sold the officer 3.5 ounces of cocaine and .34 ounces of fentanyl. Moran allegedly cautioned the officer not to sell the fentanyl “pure,” instructing him how to dilute it and noting it had already caused overdoses—including one fatality.

Behind Closed Doors: A Suburban Cartel Setup

Two days later, on August 22, 2025, police executed a search warrant at the Holbrook residence. What they found, prosecutors say, reads like an inventory sheet from a drug cartel:

• 14 kilograms of cocaine

• 12 kilograms of methamphetamine

• Over 3 ounces of fentanyl

• Pills containing meth and MDMA

• Two unregistered operable firearms

• Two bulletproof vests

• Packaging materials, pill press, blenders, adulterants, and cutting agents (quinine, mannitol, lactose, dextrose)

• Multiple digital scales, vacuum sealer, money counter, cell phones

• $118,000 in cash

“This wasn’t addiction,” prosecutors argued. “This was enterprise.”

The grand jury indicted Moran and Medina-Rivas on a long list of felony charges, including Class A counts that could bring decades behind bars. Among them: Operating as a Major Trafficker, multiple counts of Criminal Sale and Possession of a Controlled Substance in the First and Third Degrees, firearm charges, and criminally using drug paraphernalia.

• Moran was arraigned on 20+ counts, held on $2 million cash, $8 million bond, or $20 million partially secured bond.

• Medina-Rivas faces more than 25 counts, held on $2 million cash, $4 million bond, or $20 million partially secured bond.

Both are due back in court in late October.

The Big Picture: What Gets Ignored Gets Worse

If this bust is surprising, it shouldn’t be. Because this is what happens when systems are reactive instead of preventative—when the quiet house next door is assumed harmless, while in reality it’s a hub for lethal commerce.

This isn’t a “tragic story.” It’s a deliberate enterprise with deadly consequences, wrapped in the packaging of suburban normalcy. For every couple like Moran and Medina-Rivas who get caught, how many don’t?

Politicians will issue statements. Communities will express shock. But until we stop treating drug trafficking as a side note to more fashionable causes—and start addressing its human toll head-on—there will be more “ticking time bombs” in more neighborhoods.

This one just happened to go off before it killed.

Photo credit - Suffolk County District Attorney

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Veterans Affairs

Legislator Walks 66 Miles to Mount SAR Flag in Hauppauge

By Matt Meduri

Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon (C-Rocky Point) has made Veterans’ issues and awareness the pinnacle of just his first two years in Hauppauge.

The Marine Corps Veteran not only led platoons in Afghanistan, for which he received a Purple Heart, but remains on active reserve duty. He’s sponsored legislation to commemorate September 22 as Veterans Suicide and Awareness Remembrance Day. The specific date is a reference to the daily average of twenty-two Veterans who take their lives due to PTSD and other mental health issues.

Lennon also sponsored legislation to have Suffolk County formally recognize the Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance (SAR) Flag, making Suffolk the first, and currently only, county in the nation to do so.

The move isn’t just symbolic; it’s home-grown. Suffolk County has the largest population of Veterans in the State of New York, and the secondlargest in the country, behind only San Diego.

This weekend, Lennon, along with a platoon of several others, made the sixty-six-mile trek from the Orient Fire Department at the tip of the North Fork with an American flag and the SAR flag all the way to Armed Forces Plaza at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge.

The trek was performed in one instance, totaling for twenty-six hours of constant walking, with a few stops along the way. Members of Lennon’s staff also partook in parts of the trek, with one aide accompanying his boss for about half the journey. Stops along the way including a 7-Eleven in Greenport, Ahkobaug Farm in Aquebogue, J&R’s Steakhouse in Calverton, Dunkin’ Donuts in Miller Place, and McDonald’s in Lake Grove, before making the final stop in Hauppauge. The route tracked along State Route 25 to NY-25A to Nesconset Highway (NY-347).

Lennon arrived at Armed Forces Plaza, SAR Flag in hand, around 11:00a.m. on Sunday, just one day before Veteran Suicide Remembrance and Awareness Day.

“This isn’t about me; this is about the issue of Veteran suicide,” Lennon told The Messenger. “I hope the spotlight stays on this issue.”

“There’s no rest and your body is beaten, but it’s all about your mentality. Are you going to sit there and say, ‘there’s a reason for me to quit,’ and fall into it? “No, we all kept going.”

The creator of the SAR Flag, Kevin Hertell, of Melville, is campaigning for more states and municipalities to recognize the flag. He’s even lobbied Washington for national recognition. Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) announced a bipartisan resolution on September 22 for Congress to recognize the SAR Flag.

Hertell, an Air Force Veterans, lost two cousins to suicide within one year, one of whom was a fellow Air Force Veteran.

Lennon said that the support from police and EMT who trailed the entourage from Orient to Hauppauge, as well as from passersby, kept them going, even through the middle of the night.

“We might have blisters and sore backs and knees, but what’s significant here is that we drove through the physical pain and we want to be there for each other, just like for those who may be in mental pain,” said Lennon.

Lennon is no stranger to physically grueling tasks. Apart from the physical strain that’s part-in-parcel to being a U.S. Marine, Lennon makes the annual kayaking trek from Connecticut to Port Jefferson for awareness for the same cause.

“The mission is to break the stigma of mental health and suicide. It’s the leading cause of death for our Veterans and military,” said Hertell. “We will lose more in one year to suicide than all of the casualties of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.”

Assemblyman Steve Stern (D-Dix Hills) (pictured left), Chair of the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee, said that if “there’s one critical issue” that should “never be political”, it is the “care and support for our Veterans and their families.”

“One of the most important things that you can and should be doing is raising awareness, to do everything we can to sack that stigma and get everybody talking about it, get everybody working on it, because there literally is a role for all of us to play,” said Stern. “This year, my first year as Chairman, I insisted that we hold a public hearing on Veterans’ mental health services and that we hold it right here in Suffolk County.”

Hertell (pictured right) reminded those struggling with mental health issues to call 988, the suicide crisis hotline, where professionals are available to speak 24-7.

“We are resilient. We’ll make it through together. I know because I have struggled. I have made it,” said Hertell. “With your help we can and we will make a difference and we can stop this tragic loss of life.”

The SAR Flag was promptly raised on its own flagpole, alongside the American Flag, the POW-MIA Flag, and the flags of the U.S. Armed Services.

Vote MacArthur for Best Small Airport

If you’ve been reading The Messenger for the past few years, you’ll notice a lot of action going on in the heart of Suffolk, particularly at Islip MacArthur Airport (ISP). The Town of Islip has been steadfast partner to Long Island’s own regional airport, growing the number of carriers to six and nonstop destinations to seventeen.

The airport is also heralded among locals for its convenience, including, but not limited to, parking facilities; proximity to home, the Ronkonkoma LIRR Station, and the Long Island Expressway; and the general airport routine. It’s one of those airports where you could show up a half-hour before your flight and get right through to your gate - although we still recommend the customary arrival two hours before departure just to play it safe.

It’s not just the locals who feel this way. ISP notched fifth place in the USA Today 10Best Survey in 2023, in which small airports around the country were ranked by voters. Last year, ISP took third place, making it the third-best small airport in the country according to voting travelers.

This year, The Messenger strongly endorses your vote for ISP as the nation’s best small

airport. We hope others around the country agree and we would be ecstatic to see Long Island’s very own airport top the chart.

There’s plenty more to be done at ISP, with millions already secured for added security, talks of infrastructure upgrades, and the long-term goal of turning Ronkonkoma into a transit hub, with a possible shuttle connection to the LIRR Station.

The best is yet to come for ISP and while we can’t wait for what the future brings there, we can certainly say that the airport is deserving of the top spot.

Your vote isn’t just limited to one day. You can actually vote once per day and see where ISP stands. As of press time, ISP is ranked second out of twenty contending airports - just one slot away from the coveted firstplace distinction.

Voting is also easy: just simply click the “vote” button. No emails, accounts, or provisos attached. You can vote by visiting https://10best. usatoday.com/qr/53087/ or by scanning this QR Code

Get Out of the Left Lane!

No, that is not a headline with political overtones. We mean that as literally as it sounds.

It’s no secret that the traffic congestion on Long Island is entering unfathomably irritating territory. Not only is it always busy at practically any time of day - save for the late, late hours - but it’s horribly congested. The worst we’ve seen is the cloverleaf interchange at Nicolls Road (CR-97) and the Long Island Expressway (I-495) during peak hours. The on-ramps and off-ramps are clogged and the traffic backs up for miles.

We’ve found that even if we give ourselves an extra ten or fifteen minutes to account for traffic, we still end up twenty minutes late at some places. Leaving earlier is a solution, but we find the roads are just so backed up that planning ahead doesn’t make a difference in most cases.

There’s little that can be done about this from a policy perspective. Pushing mass transit isn’t a bad idea, but Long Island’s infrastructure is so spread out that unless we were able to install a monorail that ran along the Expressway with stops at every exit with buses to greet us, we don’t see a scenario in which folks ditch the personal vehicles. Adding more lanes is always an answer - until it isn’t and eventually just exacerbates the problem. Paving new roads and bypasses is almost entirely out of the question, not only for likely uses of eminent domain - which can practically never be used without controversy - but also for how laborious of a process it would be.

The road network can’t be overhauled completely and no one can stop people from moving to Long Island. However, what we as individuals can improve is our own cognizance behind the wheel.

For starters, get out of the left lane!

Left-lane campers, as we affectionately refer to them, are drivers who insist on traveling in the lane classically designated as a passing lane, often driving under established speed limits and/or the flow of traffic. We’ve seen countless instances of interminable bumper-to-bumper traffic only to find that there is no accident or road work up ahead, it was just a left-lane camper

that no one could overtake.

While some camp the left lane, others become enraged, often using the middle lane to speed up and pass to get ahead of the camper and put the left lane to good use, which makes it impossible for anyone else to switch lanes organically. The middle lane is now used for throughtraffic, the left lane is for those who forget classic road rules, and the right lane is for everyone else in between.

It’s not just the Expressway. It’s Nesconset Highway (State Route 347). It’s Nicolls Highway. It’s Patchogue-Holbrook Road. It’s County Route 111 in Manorville. It’s Sunrise Highway. It’s the various parkways in western Suffolk.

The inevitable problem then becomes erratic lane-switching, inconsistent speeds, fast braking, risky maneuvers, and most importantly, no attention paid to the regular risks of the road. We’ve seen so many fly around left-lane campers in the middle lane only to narrowly miss a rear-end collision or a work site because the clearance of the middle lane wasn’t visible. As if the roadways weren’t bad enough, we don’t need more chaos.

Tractor-trailers and other large vehicles hogging the left lanes are also incredibly infuriating, as the billboarding effect from their large sizes only makes for a more visibly shut down scenario. Some states even have laws against truckers riding in the left lane unless absolutely necessary.

We don’t endorse anyone driving like maniacs just because some people drive obliviously. Two wrongs don’t make a right, especially on the highways.

What we do endorse, however, is be mindful of your surroundings and understand your place on the road for what you’re looking to accomplish. If you’re intent on keeping your speed below 50mph on the Expressway, more power to you, but that is not left-lane behavior, not by a long shot.

You’d be surprised by how much smoother traffic can flow when the rules that were once innately and widely understood are followed.

Freedom of Speech or Freedom from Consequences?

The assassination of Charlie Kirk is now hitting the inevitable phase of any massive tragedy or occurrence, the legislative end of things.

Attorney General Pam Bondi (R-FL) called for ramped up efforts, even “targeting”, of those proliferating “hate speech” about Charlie Kirk, his death, his family, and his supporters. She later walked back the comments to stipulate that threats of violence are not permitted under the First Amendment - correct - but the damage was already done.

Didn’t the conservative right fight against federal crackdowns on speech during the Biden Administration? Haven’t other countries’ free speech laws - or lack, thereof - such as the United Kingdom, been spawning conversations for the last few years?

Why, now, do we find ourselves where we started?

Let us be clear, we find the celebrations and snide apathy about Kirk’s murder utterly reprehensible, a standard we would hold for a person of any ideology who had been mercilessly and cruelly silenced. We also think that the temperature is hotter than it’s ever been in the modern era, perhaps, and we lament that many figures, including President Trump himself, aren’t speaking to an overwhelming tone of unity.

The value of fiat political currency still reigns supreme, apparently, and we think the titfor-tat style of retaliation is only fanning the flames.

It’s why we understand why four Republican congressmen sided with Democrats to not censure Ilhan Omar (D, MN-05) over her nasty and incomprehensible comments about Kirk. At what point does the right begin promulgating the very cancel culture they’ve sworn to destroy?

However, we find ourselves at an interesting inflection point of which we think many must be reminded: freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences of said speech.

This proviso doesn’t apply to violence, nor anything that could be constituted as “shouting ‘fire’ in a crowded movie theatre.” All this means is that you’re free to say mostly anything you’d please, but it also means that you’re free to bear witness to responses. In a civilized society, this is understood implicitly, but both sides have grown tired, bored, and even agitated of

listening to each other. So, it’s just easier to shut one side up after one election and vice versa the next.

This is why we don’t lament those who have been fired from their jobs because of the disgusting things they’ve said or posted online about Charlie Kirk. Yes, freedom of speech, but most forms of employment are at-will, meaning your employer can fire you at any time for almost any reason and you have virtually no recourse. To be fair, if an employee of The Messenger was found to be snarkily chastising the grieving widow of someone who was very callously and publicly assassinated - right, left, or center - we’d say, “good riddance.”

It’s one thing to espouse political views opposite from those of your employer, whether said employer’s views are public or not. That shouldn’t be grounds for any dismissal in its own right, but mocking an assassination, or a massive tragedy with gigantic societal implications, is a totally different ballpark. We don’t fault employers for not wanting that poor reflection, as most people are rightly shocked and appalled that our country has sunken to this level of tension only seen at least somewhat congruently since the onset of the Civil War.

“Too far” is a subjective term, but people have been getting fired or reprimanded for doing or saying stupid things while on company time for decades. We don’t think that the First Amendment’s provisions come into any different form of play when a company intends to represent its values of empathy and shock towards such a tragedy.

Saying controversial things warrants a reaction, but the more we feed into those statements and reactions, the more we escalate the tensions.

Our advice: pick your battles and move on. The First Amendment allows most speech without threat of prosecution, but it isn’t the trump card over every other freedom and right out there.

Sometimes, it’s worth it to just air the grievances and move on. In a world of petty politics, tit-for-tat is inevitable. We hope to see our federal officials be the bigger person for the sake of constitutional consistency.

By Senator Alexis Weik

The Connetquot River State Park started as a popular hunting ground for the likes of the Vanderbilts and Carnegies. Today, the park is still home to adventure and family-friendly fun thanks to the stewardship of the Friends of Connetquot.

The Friends of Connetquot was formed in 1998 in opposition to the State wanting to turn the park into a bed and breakfast.

As a non-profit organization, the Friends of Connetquot have made it possible for big achievements like the reopening of the trout hatchery and securing grants for as much as $100,000 for the park. The Friends have raised tens of thousands of dollars and host events like an annual gala, fishing trip, and ladies’ tea.

Most importantly, the Friends have allowed local community members to have a bigger voice in keeping the growth of the park in tune with community values.

A few years ago, NYS Parks came to me and asked if I would form a “Friends of Heckscher State Park” to engage community members in the future of Heckscher.

When I put the word out about starting Friends of Heckscher State Park, Janet Kennedy-Fischer, a former Connetquot teacher, immediately stepped up to found the organization. Recently, Janet stepped down and our new president is Greg Hancock who is excited about the park’s upcoming 100-year anniversary in 2029. Originally part of a Nineteenth-Century estate, Heckscher was purchased by the state and opened to the public in 1929.

In his short time as president, Greg has secured thousands in grant money and has been working with groups that utilize the park to learn how the park could better serve their activities.

In its near-100-year history, the 1,600 acre park, with stunning views of the Great South Bay, has become a popular picnic spot for families with its shady groves. Cyclists enjoy biking on both multi-use trails and the four miles of paved road. Large open fields are used for soccer, cricket, and lacrosse among other field sports. The park has boat launches, campsites, cabins and lodging, canoeing/

Be a Friend to Heckscher State Park My Brush with Suicide

kayaking, disc golf, fishing, grills, hiking, playgrounds, showers, snowshoeing and X-country skiing, stand-up paddle boarding, surfing and windsurfing, and (where accessible) a swimming beach.

We are looking for community members to join in and help create Heckscher’s future. Joining the Friends of Heckscher State Park will give you the opportunity to be a keeper of the community.

The Friends of Heckscher State Park are always ready to welcome members and interested parties can come to a meeting, which is held every third Thursday of the month at 6:30p.m. at the East Islip Library, located at 381 East Main Street in East Islip.

Senator Alexis Weik (R-Sayville) has represented the Eighth District in the New York State Senate since 2023, after being redistricted from the Third District, which she represented from 2021 to 2022. Within the Town of Islip, the Eighth District includes Bayport, Bohemia, Fair Harbor, Great River, Islip Terrace, Lonelyville, North Great River, Oak Beach, Oakdale, Saltaire, Sayville, and West Sayville, as well as parts of Bay Shore, Brightwaters, Captree-Oak Beach-Gilgo, East Islip, Holbrook, Holtsville, Islip hamlet, Ronkonkoma, West Bay Shore, and West Islip. The district also contains portions of the Town of Babylon and the Town of Oyster Bay.

Senator Weik is the Ranking Member of the Committees on Civil Service and Pensions; and Women’s Issues; and serves on the Committees on Education; Local Government; Social Service; and Veterans, Homeland Security, and Military Affairs.

The Eighth District office is located at 1 Corporate Drive, Suite GL-005, in Bohemia and can be reached at 631-665-2311.

By Joe Cuminale

I am a U.S.M.C. Veteran, and I have had battles with P.T.S.D. for many years. A few of those battles had me close to wanting to check out. My story is not unique but it’s mine and if sharing it can save one Veteran then I will share it.

At a few times in my life, I was mad at the world. I had a strong anger that I could not control. I was worried that nobody would want or even attempt to understand me or what was inside my head. At one time, when I felt the pain was so strong and I couldn’t deal with it anymore, I made my choice to give up. I had tried to talk to others and felt as if nobody wanted to listen. I was so confused.

As I picked myself up from the floor that Evening, I caught a glimpse of myself in a mirror. I didn’t know that man in the mirror, but I did know that wasn’t his time to go. I decided to attempt to explain my pain to a few select people in my extremely small circle of friends and found out that they actually wanted to listen, which made me almost smile again. After a few very long conversations with a few awesome people, I made a powerful decision to dismantle and safely dispose of the item that would have been my destruction, and I did it with a semi-smile on my face for the first time

in many years.

I remembered something that a friend/brother once told me, “One man can make a difference”, and those simple words finally made sense. I am still not 100% sure about why I am still here, but I will always listen to any Veterans’ story at any time of day or night because I would rather listen to their story than to listen to their eulogy.

In the years since, I made my decision to stick around in this world. I have lost a few to the world’s demons, but I have also gotten many to continue moving forward and find their mission. I do the things that I do so that I don’t get lost again. My nightmares have stopped, and my anger has subsided to where I am getting better at controlling it – instead of the anger controlling me. Thanks to those few awesome humans who continue to listen and keep me from taking a wrong turn and getting lost again.

Thank you, and yes, I am beginning to smile once again.

A Spreading Fire

By Brianne Wakefield

It seems as though the whole world just mourned the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk.

A cry has risen among the nation, and it has echoed into surrounding countries. Within a week’s time, there have been vigils, memorials, prayers, and tributes to Charlie Kirk worldwide. This was not just the death of a Christian, a patriot, and a family man. This was an attack on everything that our country stands for. This was an attempt to silence and threaten the voices of those who love God and love their country. This young shooter could have had no idea the giant he would awaken. He could not have imagined the fire that would spread across the nation and our world.

But here we stand today. Charlie Kirk’s death was a spark that lit a consuming fire in the hearts of people. Charlie Kirk died a martyr, and the ripple effect is something that only God can bring about. People’s eyes have been opened; courage has risen up in the hearts of people and things will never be the same. Through this tragedy, we can see hope rising. I am sure that this is what Charlie would have wanted through it all, that through his death, the message of Jesus would be spread, that the evil agenda plaguing our youth would be exposed. That the American family would once again flourish.

New York is one of the epicenters of blatant evil and corrupt leadership. Religious freedom is restricted, criminals can run free, abortion is basically celebrated, and our governor is probably one of the worst in recent history. However, the atmosphere of our state is changing. People are fed up, common

sense is growing, and most importantly, faith is growing.

There is no putting out the spreading fire that is coming across our state and our country. People are sick of our kids being brainwashed and indoctrinated, people are sick of the fake news spewing lies, people are sick of the purposeful division of races, people are sick of the American family being belittled. There is a reason that when Charlie Kirk died, you felt as though it was a close friend. It is because he spoke on the things close to our hearts, on the things that some of us aren’t bold enough to speak for ourselves. He spoke bravely and unashamed. He spoke for the people and to the people.

What can we do now as people with purposed hearts? We can use our voices louder than before but always keep our integrity. We can support Turning Point USA, not only for its great movement but also because, in return, it supports his family. We can be more knowledgeable about who we vote for and who we support as organizations. We can propose to not let the media and news divide us. Most importantly, we can put on our hearts and minds on God.

I’d like to end with this quote from Charlie Kirk in order to encourage you and embolden you further, “If you eliminate me, others will rise with louder voices.” May we be bold, loving, unashamed, virtuous and unshaken. May this be our battle cry.

Garbarino Leads Resolution to Recognize SAR Flag, Establish National Veterans Suicide Awareness Day

Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) and Congressman Pat Ryan (D, NY-18) announced the introduction of a House Resolution to officially recognize the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance (SAR) flag and designate the flag as the nation’s symbol to raise awareness of military and Veteran suicide and honor the lives and service of those servicemembers and Veterans who have died by suicide.

Additionally, this resolution would recognize September 22 as “National Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day.”

“Too many of our nation’s heroes return home only to be lost to the unseen wounds of war. By officially recognizing the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance flag and establishing a national day of observance, we honor their sacrifice and renew our promise to support every man and woman who’s worn the uniform,” said Garbarino in a statement. “We must break the stigma around mental health, ensure our servicemembers and Veterans know help is available, and reaffirm that this country

will never leave its heroes behind.”

The flag, primarily inspired by the POW-MIA flag, has a black background to represent mourning and a five-point gold star to represent the five branches of the military and a military member who has passed. The memorial wreath has twenty exposed leaves which represent the twenty Veterans and active military who die by suicide every day. “Honor The Fallen” adorns the bottom of the flag to remind us that we can honor and forever remember these Veterans and servicemembers by continuing to raise awareness and never forgetting their service to our country. The flag was created by U.S. Air Force Veteran Kevin Hertell.

“Suicide continues to be a leading cause of death for our Veterans and

Military, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Our mission is to break the stigma of mental health, suicide, and seeking treatment within our warrior culture to facilitate suicide prevention for our Veterans and Military,” said Kevin Hertell, Founder & President of The Veterans Suicide Awareness & Remembrance Flag Corp. “The S.A.R. Flag is the symbol our country needs to break the stigma, to create a community of survivors, to honor the service and forever remember the lives of our Veterans and Military lost to suicide, and to be a tangible symbol of hope to living Veterans and Military to facilitate suicide prevention. In addition, by having a day of observance, we can elevate this issue within the public’s consciousness, be there for the

surviving family members, and remind living Veterans and Military that they are not alone, and that stigma-free mental health help is available.”

“I served alongside brave men and women who returned home from combat, but we still lost to the invisible wounds of war. Losing one Veteran or servicemember to suicide is too many,” said Congressman Ryan. “Our country has a solemn and sacred obligation to care for our Veterans and servicemembers, and, when they’re gone, to honor their legacy and care for their families. An officially recognized Suicide Awareness and Remembrance flag will honor the memory of those we’ve lost and recommit us to fight to end the crisis of Veteran and military suicide- and uphold our promises to those who serve our nation.”

This bipartisan resolution is also co-sponsored by Representatives Nick LaLota (R-Amityville), Mike Lawler (R, NY-17), Nicole Malliotakis (R, NY-11), Claudia Tenney (R, NY-24), and Joe Morelle (D, NY-25).

Thursday, September 25, 2025

National, State, and Local Temperature Checks

By Matt Meduri

National

Tensions on Capitol Hill continue to rise in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk.

Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R, SC-01) introduced a resolution to formally censure Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D, MN-05) over Omar’s public comments on Kirk’s death. Omar has said Kirk’s legacy is filled with “hate” and “rage baiting”, also calling Kirk a “stochastic terrorist” and “reprehensible human being.” Omar made the latter attacks while Kirk’s memorial was still being planned.

Mace’s resolution would have not only censured Omar but stripped her of her committee assignments on the House Education and Workforce Committee and the House Budget Committee.

However, the effort failed last Wednesday as four Republicans sided with all 213 voting Democrats to table the motion. 210 Republicans voted in favor of the censure. Two Republicans and three Democrats did not vote.

Congressmen Mike Flood, (R, NE-01), Jeff Hurd (R, CO-03), Tom McClintock (R, CA-05), and Cory Mills (R, FL-07) voted to table the resolution on the grounds of free speech.

“Ilhan Omar’s comments regarding the assassination of Charlie Kirk are vile and contemptible,” McClintock wrote on X on the evening of the vote. “They deserve the harshest criticism of every man and woman of good will. But this disgusting and hateful speech is still speech and is protected by our First Amendment.”

McClintock continued his statement by saying that “we have already gone too far down this road”, adding that Omar’s comments were not made in the House, and even if they were, broke no House rules.

“A free society depends on tolerating ALL speech - even hateful speech - confident that the best way to sort good from evil is to put the two side by side and trust the people to know the difference,” said McClintock.

Indeed, the First Amendment is perhaps the most presently discussed provision of the U.S. Constitution, as Attorney General Pam Bondi (R-FL) has come under fire for her vows to “target” and “go after” those who proliferate hate speech in the wake of Kirk’s murder.

“There’s free speech, and then there’s hate speech, and there is no place [for hate speech], especially now, especially after what happened to Charlie [Kirk], in our society,” Bondi said on a podcast hosted by Katie Miller, a conservative political advisor and former deputy press secretary under President Donald Trump (R-FL).

Bondi later clarified her prerogative was relegated to threats of violence, which are not protected under the First Amendment. However, critics are pointing out the hypocrisy of the notion of targeting hate speech, as efforts to do just that under the Biden Administration were just as widely panned, notably by conservatives.

Kirk’s memorial service at the State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, was a packed-house event that saw thousands of conservatives make the pilgrimage across the country to honor the fallen conservative avatar.

The State Farm Stadium has a capacity of 73,000, which reportedly filled up within hours of the doors opening at 8:00a.m. local time. Total attendance, along with overflow

crowds, are reported by The New York Post to have eclipsed 200,000. President Trump headlined the event, with many notable speakers in attendance.

Erika Kirk, Charlie Kirk’s widow, publicly forgave her husband’s assassin, as it’s not only in line with what the Christian faith professes, but also what her husband would have wanted.

“I forgive him because it was what Christ did, and what Charlie would do,” said Kirk, according to The New York Post. “The answer to hate is not hate. The answer we know from the Gospel is love and always lovelove for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.”

Turning Point USA, the conservative organization founded by Kirk, has reportedly received 54,000 requests for new college and high school chapters, of which 1,200 currently exist.

As the nation still reels from the historic tragedy, chess pieces continue to move ahead of the crucial 2026 midterms.

Three more congressmen have announced their exits: Barry Moore (R, AL-01), Morgan Luttrell (R, TX-08), and Michael McCaul (R, TX10). Only Moore is seeking higher office, U.S. Senate for Alabama’s open seat.

Meanwhile, the nationwide redistricting “arms race” continues in earnest, as Missouri is now one step closer to becoming the second state to mount a rare mid-decade map shuffle.

Following the Texas gerrymander - in which the GOP can expect a net gain of four or five seats - Missouri Republicans advanced a map that would dismantle MO-05, based around Kansas City. The safely-blue district is one that Jefferson City Republicans have attempted to crack before, but ultimately opted not to.

Missouri’s current House delegation is 6R-2D, with Democrats located in just Kansas City and St. Louis. The suburban St. Louis-based MO-02 remains the state’s only somewhat competitive seat, though still redleaning.

Missourians are already hard at work on collecting around 110,000 signatures by December 11 to force a public referendum on the map. While the new map has not been signed by Governor Mike Kehoe (R-MO), he has largely signalled his support for a redraw.

Republicans continue to contemplate

redraws in Indiana and Kansas, where such gerrymanders would likely only net the GOP one seat each. Ohio Republicans are likely to capitalize under a state law requiring their map to be redrawn this year, as their regularly-scheduled redraw was not passed with full muster in 2021. The GOP stands to win up to three seats in the Buckeye State. In Florida, Republicans have formed a legislative committee to consider its options in gerrymandering the state even further from the current 20R-8D delegation.

Democrats are considering whether to axe the lone Republican seat in Maryland and another one or two from Illinois, with the latter being one of the most egregious partisan gerrymanders in the country.

State

Governor Kathy Hochul’s (D) beleaguered endorsement of Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D-Astoria) for New York City Mayor has resulted in a large upswing in donations for Congresswoman Elise Stefanik’s (R, NY-21) yet-to-be-announced 2026 gubernatorial campaign.

Stefanik’s team told The New York Post that they have received “hundreds of thousands” in donations with “millions more pledged.” The source also said that “the big donations have been from Democrats.”

Although Stefanik has not yet formally announced her candidacy, her campaign team has already seen fundraising levels shatter previous records. Her second quarter haul to the tune of $4 million set a record for the most money that a New York Republican has ever raised, and with $11 million in cash, it makes for the most cash on hand for a New York Republican.

Stefanik is eyeing to take on Hochul, who succeeded Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-Sutton Place) in 2021 and was narrowly elected to a full term over thenCongressman Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) in 2022. Hochul also ended the second quarter with a formidable war chest with $17.5 million cash on hand.

No Republican has won a gubernatorial race - or statewide race - in the Empire State since Governor George Pataki (R) won his third and final term in 2002.

Stefanik has said that she will formally announce her candidacy after this

November’s elections.

Local

The Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) announced last week that it has submitted applications for projects totaling $44.2 million through the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA). The applications cover twenty projects, including five Advanced Oxidation Process (AOP) systems to treat for 1,4-dioxane, 11 Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) systems to remove PFAS, and four water main extension projects in East Moriches, Manorville, Kings Park, and Mattituck.

“The New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation made $325 million available this year for clean water and drinking water improvement projects. SCWA’s funding requests are focused on addressing critical water quality challenges and expanding access to public drinking water,” reads the release from the SCWA. Earlier this year, the SCWA announced that it has achieved compliance with federal water quality standards six years ahead of the imposed deadline. The SCWA relied on these very same grants to achieve that feat.

“Funding opportunities like this are essential to keeping SCWA ahead of the curve,” said SCWA Chairman Charlie Lefkowitz. “We’ve worked aggressively to eliminate emerging contaminants from the water we supply to our customers and to extend high-quality drinking water to more residents. State grant programs help us achieve these goals without placing additional costs on our customers.”

Apart from new treatment systems, the SCWA’s applications also aim to connect homes that are currently on private wells impacted by PFAS. Up to 187 homes could be connected to the public water supply through these grants and projects.

In addition to new treatment systems, SCWA’s submitted applications seeking to connect homes on private wells impacted by PFAS to the public water supply. These projects ensure that residents in affected areas have access to safe drinking water while minimizing costs for existing customers. In total, up to 187 homes could be connected to the public water supply through these projects.

By Matt Meduri

Candidate: Legislator Chad Lennon

Candidate Spotlight

Legislator Chad Lennon

Residence: Rocky Point Office: Suffolk County Legislature, District Six

Elected: 2023.

Party Endorsements: Conservative, Republican

Chad Lennon flipped an open seat red in 2023, succeeding term-limited Legislator Sarah Anker (D-Mt. Sinai) by defeating her chief of staff Dorothy Cavalier (D-Mt. Sinai). Lennon is running for a second full term.

The Messenger sat down with Legislator Lennon for a one-on-one-interview.

Q: What is your professional background and how does it equip you for the Legislature?

A: I’m a lawyer with a speciality in criminal, Veterans, and military law. I’ve worked with military Veterans, I’ve worked for the federal government, and I was appointed Director of the Veterans’ and Servicemembers’ Rights Clinic at Touro Law in 2019.

My first job was in Maryland working criminal defense. I’m certified to practice law in both Maryland and New York. I was also a prosecutor with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s office.

I was a Marine for fifteen years, active-duty for four. I was deployed to Afghanistan in 2010, led over fifty combat missions, and received a Purple Heart. I left active-duty in 2012 and I’ve been a reservist since then with the rank of Major. I was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in August. I’ve worked at the National Military Command Center at the Pentagon and on the Lieutenant Colonel Promotion Board.

I work part-time as a Congressional aide to Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville). I was also a special assistant for Veterans Affairs for Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk).

Q: What are some of your accomplishments for the Sixth District in the last two years?

A: I’ve been working on Patchogue-Mt. Sinai Road (CR-83), mostly about the high traffic speeds. I’ve worked with the SCPD Precinct to control speed, and we’re already seeing more people being pulled over. That issue is being pushed. I’m looking for funds in a future budget for a permanent speed sign to be put in. I think we’ve seen an improvement in the County roads in the last couple of years. Resolutions have come up to sustain and improve our roads; I’ve co-sponsored those measures and they have passed.

I’ve also been bringing programs to constituents, such as the small seminar businesses, choices and consequences for kids still in school, senior scamswhich is really for everyone - and I’ve hosted a number of blood drives that has included myself and my staff donating blood. We’ve done so at every opportunity. I’ve also hosted roundtables with the civics and chambers to work together. The first civic roundtable was very fruitful. The civics were talking not just to me, but to each other. There’s been lots of collaboration going on.

Whenever we get calls on specific issues, we always look into it, such as people who need help with the redemption of homes. If folks have town, state, or federal issues, we put them in touch with their counterparts. Even if it’s not an answer they like, they at least get an answer from us.

Q: What are some of your accomplishments for the County at-large in the last two years?

A: I’ve been very persistent on the human trafficking issue. From the time I started knocking on doors, this was one of the issues some people didn’t know a lot about, mainly sex and labor trafficking. Sex trafficking is such a problem, we have a dedicated court for this. Both young boys and girls are being trafficked, but the majority of adults being trafficked in Suffolk County are women. I’ve been working with my partners at the Legislature and held presentations with the sheriffs and law enforcement to get that information to the other legislators. This ties into Town issues where we’ve heard of illegal parties. The traffickers come out and knock on doors, if a guy answers, they bring a couple young girls in. We’ve also worked on shutting down these illegal massage parlors. We’ve worked with Town and County partners on this, as well as General Counsel. I anticipate this issue to be laid on the table for the next meeting to digitize records for hotel-motel issues. This would make it easier for the District Attorney and law enforcement to catch human traffickers. We got the human trafficking court back up in district court, and a separate court for kids.

I’ve also maintained a fiscally sound perspective. When we’re looking at projects, we ask if we are getting a return on investment and if we’re being smart with our money to get the most bang for our buck.

I also sponsored legislation to dedicate September 22 as Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day, as well as one to have Suffolk County recognize the Suicide Awareness and Remembrance flag.

I’m the only Veteran on the Legislature. I’m a unique voice for the community. I am continuing to look at housing. The average cost of a house in Suffolk is $700,000. A person or family needs $140,000 to make a downpayment. I want to work with the County Clerk’s office to look at this. We’ve heard about BlackRock scooping up homes. There’s a difference between forming an LLC to protect a home, but are some of these LLCs shell companies? How many residences are owned by businesses? This is not sustainable. If the price of my home doubles in eight years, are Suffolk homes going to turn into Queens-priced homes? How could people say no to an offer of $200,000 above asking price for their home? And if the cost of homes does come down, people are going to be stuck with lost equity. I don’t want to see either of those happen.

Q: You, along with twelve other Legislators, voted to sue the state over the even-year election law. Explain your stance.

A: That law is partisan politics. Governor Kathy Hochul (D) wants to stack votes, thinking Democrats will vote blue across the board. It doesn’t save money. Judges are up for re-election every November. The law doesn’t pertain to New York City, as well as District Attorneys, Sheriffs, school board and budget, and library board and budget votes. We’re still having elections every November. It’s cherry picking. The cost is still going to stay the same each year. It actually might even go up each year. Suffolk Legislators will have to resign and run in special elections, which will cost more money. The governor is trying to overreach in her jurisdiction. This is just like when she pitched her housing plan, going over the municipalities. Voters want term limits and she is playing games with term limits. We now have to increase our term limits so we don’t have these resignations and special elections mid-term.

Q: What’s your favorite quote, motto, or work ethic?

A: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”Theodore Roosevelt

Q: How do you like to connect with your community

A: I love going out with my family - parks, movies, and even the grocery stores. I’m no different than anyone else just because I’m an elected official. I have the same taxes, bills, and errands as everyone else. I’m a constituent too. I recently called up the Town of Brookhaven with a problem and they took care of it. I’m a constituent to myself. I’ve got some of the same issues as someone else. The only difference between me and anyone else is that I was elected.

The Messenger thanks Legislator Lennon for his time for this interview.

About the Sixth District

The Sixth Legislative District includes East Shoreham, Miller Place, Ridge, Rocky Point, Shoreham, Sound Beach, Upton, Yaphank, and parts of Coram, Middle Island, and Mount Sinai.

Lennon flipped this seat red in 2023, marking the first time a Republican had won this seat since Dan Losquadro (R-Shoreham) - now Brookhaven Highway Superintendent - won his final term in 2011.

Lennon faces Kevin B. O’Shaughnessy (D-Miller Place), who is not actively campaigning.

Photo credit - Office of Legislator Chad Lennon

Theater & The Arts

Engeman’s

‘Come From Away’ Offers Another Way Forward

By Cindi Sansone-Braff

An oft-quoted line from “A Streetcar Named Desire,” by Tennessee Williams, “I have always depended on the kindness of strangers,” aptly captures the sentiments in John W. Engeman Theater’s latest production, “Come From Away.”

This evocative musical, set during and immediately after the tragic events of 9/11, depicts the higher forms of love that the ancient Greeks celebrated: Philia, brotherly love, and Agape, the altruistic love we hold for all of God’s creations. These kinds of unconditional love bring out the best in people and renew our hope in humanity, even in the face of unimaginable loss and devastation.

On September 11, 2001, as our fellow New Yorkers and the entire world watched the news in abject horror, the clear blue skies above North America became eerily silent with the grounding of planes throughout the United States and Canada. “Come From Away,” an extraordinarily moving musical, explores the true-life events that unfolded in the remote, rural town of Gander, Newfoundland, after 38 planes carrying nearly 7,000 passengers landed at Gander International Airport. The characters in this masterfully crafted musical are based

ensemble piece, features no single star; yet, on opening night, Engeman’s stellar cast shone spectacularly onstage, like the breathtaking Aurora Borealis — those brilliant dancing lights seen in the pitchblack northern sky. This life-affirming show focuses on the miracles and magic that manifest when people band together to help those in need.

To effectively integrate the stories of both the stranded plane passengers and the citizens of Gander requires a closeknit, adaptable group of actors capable of portraying many characters, switching accents and roles rapidly. Under Scott Weinstein’s sharp direction, Engeman’s well-honed twelve-member cast, with their exhilarating onstage chemistry, delivered perfectly! Throughout this fast-paced show, the entire cast sparked spontaneous laughter and tears, a testament to the well-designed script and the actors’ many creative talents.

The intoxicating score of “Come From Away” is an eclectic blend of Newfoundland’s rich musical heritage, infused with Celtic rhythms, pulsing percussion beats, and traditional folk tunes. The spot-on lyrics, infused with Newfoundland’s characteristically dry wit and colloquialisms, propelled the plot forward with lightning speed. The onstage band conducted by keyboardist

on real-life Newfoundland residents, as well as the “plane people.”

Penned by the talented Canadian married writing team, Irene Sankoff and David Hein, this Tony Award-winning musical opened on Broadway in 2017. Heartrending, humorous, and ultimately hopeful, this full-length, 100-minute musical runs without intermission, allowing the audience to become fully immersed in an electrifying, emotionally charged, and engaging theatrical event.

“Come From Away,” written as an

and accordionist Matthew Stern brought the music to life, and the audience clapped wildly when Anthony Galea took center stage on fiddle.

With angelic voices that seem to come from heaven itself, the highly spiritual, hymn-like song “Prayer,” a moving medley of interfaith prayers for peace from Christian,

Jewish, Hindu, and Islamic traditions, was one of the musical’s many high points.

There are many standout performers in this show, including the actors portraying some of the stranded plane passengers. Brandon Alvión gave a memorable performance as Bob, a fearful, mistrustful, jaded New Yorker. Alvión, through his expressive facial expressions and body language, conveyed the depth of Bob’s transformation as he let down his guard to embrace the Gander’s gracious way of life.

Christopher Behmke delivered an award-worthy performance as Kevin T., the head of an environmental energy company in Los Angeles, vacationing with his boyfriend, also named Kevin, brilliantly portrayed by Nasir Ali Panjwani. Panjwani also excelled in the role of Ali, an Egyptian Muslim, who, because of his religious beliefs, faces discrimination and suspicion from the other stranded passengers.

Melessie Clark delivered a superb performance of Hannah, a distraught mother waiting for news about her son, a New York City firefighter. Her riveting rendition of “I Am Here,” a song that cuts clear to the heart, resonated with the audience and brought me to tears.

Christina DeCicco held the audience spellbound with her captivating portrayal of Beverley, the first female captain for American Airlines. DeCicco’s powerhouse solo, “Me and the Sky,” was an unforgettable onstage moment. An endearing, true-life storyline in the musical revolved around two stranded passengers, Nick, a work-driven English oil engineer, and Diane, a feisty, funloving woman from Texas. Michele Ragusa and Bart Shatto stole the show as a late-in-life couple who find everlasting love under the most unlikely

circumstances.

As for the town folks of Gander, Chris Donovan was likable as Oz, the easygoing constable in the two-person Gander police force, and Mimi Bessette brought warmth, humor, and kindness to the role of big-hearted Beulah, a compassionate teacher who offers solace wherever she goes. Katie Luke lit up the stage as Janice, a reporter for a local TV station, whose first day on the job proved to be like a trial by fire. John Scherer commanded the stage as Claude, the well-liked and hardworking Mayor of Gander, while Suzanne Mason excelled in the role of Bonnie, a devoted member of the Gander Animal Hospital SPCA who made it her mission to ensure that all the stranded animals were properly cared for.

The swings include Jordan Cyr, Stanton Morales, Jeyni Ortiz-Valentin, and Nicole Weitzman.

The outstanding Creative team includes Robin Levine (Choreographer), Matthew Stern (Musical Director), Kyle Dixon (Scenic Design), Dustin Cross (Costume Design), John Burkland (Lighting Design), Laura Shubert (Sound Design), Megan Cohen (Props Design), Russell Brown (Music Coordinator), and Jeff Knaggs (Wig and Makeup Design).

“Come From Away” is a heartfelt musical celebrating the healing power of hospitality, hope, and humor. Through this show’s transformative power to change collective trauma into a communal therapeutic theatrical experience, our faith in humanity is restored. This must-see show runs through October 26, 2025. For a complete schedule and more information, contact the theater directly at 631-261-2900, visit the box office at 250 Main Street, Northport, or go to their website: https:// www.engemantheater.com/

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

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SWR Seniors Receive County Legislature’s Distinguished Youth Award

Shoreham-Wading River High School seniors Paige O’Shaughnessy and Emma Pollak were two of 23 students from eight Legislative Districts who received the Suffolk County Legislature’s Distinguished Youth Award.

The DYA program challenges the county’s youth to become more civically involved and to focus on activities they not only enjoy, but for which they would like to improve a skill. The program focuses on meeting goals in four separate categories: volunteer service, personal development, exploration and physical fitness.

Paige, who received a Gold Award, completed the community service portion of the program as part of her Girl Scout Gold Award in which she made 125 Courage Caps out of donated t-shirts for New York Cancer and Blood Center patients. To ensure the sustainability of the program, she also took time to teach younger scouts how to make the caps. As part of the exploration category, Paige visited and journaled

about 15 Suffolk County parks, alongside Silver award winner and friend Emma Pollak. She also tried out for the school’s volleyball team for the athletic category and scored a 99 out of 100 at the New York State School Music Association festival on flute (Level 5) for the personal development category.

Emma, who received a Silver Award, similarly visited and journaled about 15 Suffolk County parks for the DYA program’s exploration category. Her personal development project included learning to play a Disney “Aladdin” song on the piano, which she admitted was extremely challenging. Emma also donated 100 hours of volunteer service to St. Charles Hospital for her community service requirement. After much rehab on an injured ankle, Emma also competed in gymnastics at the state level to complete the athletic category.

The district congratulates both Paige and Emma on this outstanding achievement.

All-County Musicians Named in Bellport

visited and journaled about 15 Suffolk County parks, alongside Silver award winner and friend Emma Pollak. She also tried out for the school’s volleyball team for the athletic category and scored a 99 out of 100 at the New York State School Music Association festival on flute (Level 5) for the personal development category.

The district congratulates both Paige and Emma on this outstanding achievement.

The Necessary Standard for American Education

The Caning of Charles Sumner

By Matt Meduri

While not a historical event dealing with the topic of civics at-large, we find this account timely. In the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, this episode in American history has some eerily similar parallels to what we’re seeing today.

Our point in this week’s Civics 101 column: we as a country have been here before.

A Country Careening Towards Civil War

The Kansas-Nebraska Act is generally seen as one of the largest, if not the largest, catalyst for violence leading up to the Civil War. President Franklin Pierce (D-NH) signed the organic act for the territories in 1854, with one of the goals being to expand the Transcontinental Railroad. However, the act effectively repealed the Missouri Compromise of 1820, which delineated the Union abolitionist North from the slave-owning South. At the time, the North was almost completely controlled by the Whig Party, the precursor to the Republican Party, and the South was solidly controlled by the Democratic Party.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act repealed the Missouri Compromise by trying the idea of popular sovereignty, in which the two new territories would be able to vote on whether or not to allow slavery. What ensued was a period of armed conflicts known as “Bleeding Kansas”, in which many from across the country flocked to the heartland to tilt the scales of power.

In 1856, Senator Charles Sumner (R-MA) (pictured above) denounced the act in his “Crime Against Kansas” speech delivered in May of that year.

“Not in any common lust for power did this uncommon tragedy have its origin. It is the rape of a virgin Territory, compelling it to the hateful embrace of slavery; and it may be clearly traced to a depraved desire for a new Slave State, hideous offspring of such a crime, in the hope of adding to the power of slavery in the National Government,” reads an excerpt from Sumner’s speech.

Sumner had been castigated by the Kansas-Nebraska Act’s authors, Senators Stephen Douglas (D-IL) and Senator Andrew Butler (D-SC). Butler is said to have race-baited Sumner by making crude sexual references to black women, as was customary among slave owners against abolitionist who promoted interracial marriage. On the other hand, abolitionists regularly stated that the ability to rape their slaves was a key component in their defense of slavery at large.

Stephen Douglas is quoted during Sumner’s speech as having said, “This damn fool is going to get himself killed by some other damn fool.”

Congressman Preston Brooks (D-SC) (pictured right), Senator Butler’s first cousin once removed, later stated his intention to challenge Sumner to a duel. Brooks even consulted fellow Congressman Laurence M. Keitt (D-SC) on proper dueling etiquette, only for Keitt to say that Sumner was not a man of equal social footing and that Sumner was no better than a “drunkard.” Brooks surmised that since Sumner was not of equal stance, a public humiliation was warranted.

The Caning of Charles Sumner

Two days after Sumner’s speech, Brooks and Keitt entered the Senate chamber and waited for the galleys to clear.

“Mr. Sumner, I have read your speech twice over carefully.

It is a libel on South Carolina, and Mr. Butler, who is a relative of mine”, Brooks said as he approached Sumner.

Sumner then began to stand up, only for Brooks to beat him over the head with a thick-wooded cane with a gold head.

“I no longer saw my assailant, nor any other person or object in the room. What I did afterwards was done almost unconsciously, acting under the instincts of self-defense,” Sumner recalled after the attack, stating that he lost his sight immediately.

Sumner became pinned under his Senate desk as Brooks continued to rain blows upon him, even to the point of snapping his cane, which did not cease the attacks. Even as Sumner collapsed and lost consciousness, Brooks continued to beat him with his cane. Brooks’ and Keitt’s allies blocked fellow congressional members from intervening. Keitt is said to have brandished his own cane and pistol against those attempting to help Sumner.

Senator Robert Toombs (D-GA) told Keitt not to attack others who were not party to the dispute, but later said he approved of Brooks’ caning of Sumner.

Parts of the cane were recovered from the Senate floor, which Southern lawmakers then took to make into rings as mementos. Some wore the rings around their necks as a show of solidarity with Brooks.

“The pieces of my cane are begged for as sacred relics,” Brooks boasted.

The Aftermath

Political polarization had reached the Senate floor. Newspapers across the country took positions on either side.

The Cincinnati Gazette is quoted as saying, “The South cannot tolerate free speech anywhere, and would stifle it in Washington with the bludgeon and the bowie-knife, as they are now trying to stifle it in Kansas by massacre, rapine, and murder.”

The New York Evening Post wrote, “Has it come to this, that we must speak with bated breath in the presence of our Southern masters? …Are we to be chastised as they chastise their slaves? Are we too, slaves, slaves for life, a target for their brutal blows, when we do not comport ourselves to please them?”

On the other hand, The Richmond Enquirer wrote in an editorial that Sumner should be caned “every morning”, calling the attack “good in conception, better in execution, and best of all in consequences.” The editorial continued by denouncing the “vulgar abolitionists in the Senate” who “have been suffered to run too long without collars. They must be lashed into submission.”

South Carolinians felt especially slighted by Sumner’s speech. The caning gave Brooks great praise in his home state, namely for defending South Carolina’s honor. The Yorkville Enquirer wrote, “South Carolina may well feel proud of her son.”

In support of Sumner and the abolition movement, thousands rallied to show their support in Albany, Boston, New York, Cleveland, Detroit, and Providence, among others, while Southerners sent Brooks hundreds of new canes. Southerners even mocked Sumner, going so far as to claim he was faking his injuries and that the cane used was not heavy enough to cause such damage.

Sumner suffered a traumatic brain injury and posttraumatic stress disorder that caused him debilitating pain until his death in 1874. He spent three years recuperating before returning to the Senate. The Massachusetts State Legislature could have appointed a replacement in the interim, but opted to leave his seat open as a reminder of the violence. He was re-elected in 1857.

Brooks was challenged to a duel by Congressman Anson Burlingame (R-MA) with the intention of setting up criteria to make Brooks back out, an alternate form of public humiliation that was successful. Brooks claimed he did not want to expose himself to possible violence by traveling to Niagara

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.

Falls for the duel.

Brooks stated he had no intent to kill Sumner, but was convicted in a District of Columbia court that penalized him with a $300 fine - equivalent to $10,500 today. He received no prison sentence. Brooks survived an expulsion vote from the House and was re-elected by Southerners who considered him a hero.

Keitt was censured by the House and resigned in protest. However, his constituents re-elected him to his seat within a month. In 1858, Keitt attempted to choke Congressman Galusha A. Grow (R-PA) for calling Keitt a “negro drive” during a debate on the House floor.

The caning of Charles Sumner has been regarded by many as a massive turning point not just for the country, but for the then-nascent Republican Party. Historian William Gienapp writes that Brooks’ assault was of “critical importance in transforming the struggling Republican Party into a major political force.” Although James Buchanan (D-PA) won the 1856 presidential election and Democrats increased their House majority - courtesy of the Three-Fifths Compromisethe GOP saw major gains in state legislatures across the country, allowing the state legislatures to send more Republicans to the U.S. Senate.

Along with Bleeding Kansas, the caning of Charles Sumner are seen as the two major catalysts that saw Abraham Lincoln (R-IL) win the election of 1860 over Stephen Douglas, one of the authors of the Kansas-Nebraska Act and the very Senator who foresaw Sumner’s assault.

Describing the incident, Ralph Waldo Emerson said, “I do not see how a barbarous community and a civilized community can constitute one state. I think we must get rid of slavery, or we must get rid of freedom.”

The Parallels to Today

While not an entirely congruent analogy, there are some historical parallels that stand out:

1. The country was divided effectively on Democratic and Republican lines.

2. Political violence and civil unrest fomented the assault on the Senate floor.

3. Half of the nation sympathized with the victim and rallied in support, while the other half mocked and even celebrated the assault.

4. Increasingly partisan and vitriolic language had been used leading up to the assault. Abolitionist Republicans pulled no punches in their characterizations of Southern Democrats - with some points showcasing the “ugly truth” - while Democrats detested the language and insisted on its falsity.

5. Language had also been used to intentionally subvert or understate the pressing issues of the day.

6. Sumner, as a victim of political violence, became an avatar for the turning point of the nation in the late 1850s.

7. Neither side saw conversation and cooperation as an alternative, as both were so bitterly divided.

8. The prominent question asked, “has it come to this?”

9. Republicans felt stifled to speak their opinions at risk of further violence.

10. Both sides argued First Amendment rights to free speech and the consequences thereof.

We’re not endorsing any form of violence nor are we saying that we expect the current U.S. is headed for another civil war. Of the negative interpretations of these parallels, we can say that we’re just on the precipice of where our country was before the Civil War.

On the positive side, we have history as our reference. We have been in - more or less - the same spot before.

Using history as a guide, do we change the trajectory?

By Matt Meduri

Candidate Spotlight

Legislator Leslie Kennedy

Candidate: Legislator Leslie Kennedy

Residence: Nesconset

Office: Suffolk County Legislature, District Twelve Committees: Health (Chair); Budget and Finance (Vice Chair); Ways and Means (Vice Chair); Environment, Parks, and Agriculture; Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness; Labor and Consumer Affairs; Public Safety; Veterans

First Elected: March 2015 Special Election, re-elected 2015, 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023

Party Endorsements: Republican, Conservative

Notable Endorsements: All police unions, Suffolk Association of Municipal Employees (AME), Communication Workers of America (CWA), Suffolk County Community College Faculty Association

Legislator Leslie Kennedy is gearing up for a sixth and final term in the County Legislature. First elected in a special election in 2015, Kennedy has won with at least 65% of the vote in every election.

Leslie Kennedy sat down with The Messenger for this candidate spotlight interview.

Q: What is your professional background before being elected to the Legislature and does it equip you for another term?

A: First, I’m a mother of four, a grandmother of eight. I was a registered nurse for thirty years. I also managed a 1950s ice cream store. I learned how to make cakes and pizzas and all sorts of goods to keep it running. I also kept the books and handled the finance and ordering of supplies.

I did whatever it took to sustain a family of four in Smithtown, as well as educating them, which is a tremendous haul.

Q: What have you accomplished for the Twelfth District in the last two years?

A: I’ve secured $6.5 million for the Stump Pond dam to be done. While construction on the dam itself hasn’t been started, the work behind the scenes is getting done. While some say the dam shouldn’t be rebuilt, it makes sense to rebuild it since there are fifteen tributaries that dried up when the dam was built. Houses were then built on that land. The tributaries will eventually flow again. This is a high-groundwater area. We have to rebuild the dam. There’s talk that Governor Kathy Hochul (D) might be interested in purchasing the grist mill and rebuilding the wheel there. At any rate, we will rebuild a Level B dam with a fish ladder. The County Department of Public Works (DPW) is currently working on the plan and the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has said that as soon as they receive the paperwork and permits, they will approve the project.

I also sponsored legislation to form a Blydeburgh County Park Advisory Board. The board would consist of eleven members, including the Commissioner of Suffolk County Department of Park, Recreation, and Conservation, the Chair of the Legislature’s Environment, Parks, and Agriculture (EPA) Committee, one member each of the equestrian community, the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference, the Suffolk County Archaeological Association, and the Forestwood Civic Association. Five residents in the surrounding areas would also be appointed by the Legislator representing the area. That is laid on the table for the next General Meeting.

We recently passed a bill for weirs for Miller’s Pond County Park on Maple Avenue in Smithtown. That bill was pushed back by the Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon) Administration for years. I got $2.5 million for that and it just went to Request for Proposal (RFP) last week. It was put in as a capital project. Construction is expected to commence in 2026.

We’ve also done four remediations of the Nissequogue River tributaries. We’re putting out an RFP to fast-track that.

We got the grass cut along Townline Road near Hauppauge High School, and we’ve gotten work started on fixing the road and putting in sidewalks for the kids who walk to school.

With crime and quality of life, I’ve worked the County to get rid of these massage parlors and prostitution going on at Fairfield Properties in Hauppauge.

We’ve also worked to secure funds for sewers and infrastructure. In Kings Park, we’ve got a vacant property set to be a leaching pool. Smithtown sewers are moving along and will be set to hookup to the Kings Park treatment plant and leaching field.

In Brookhaven, we’re doing the sewer study from Selden to Lake Grove; I pushed for the line to be extended to Lake Grove. We’re also looking to hook the Smith Haven Mall into the Middle Country line. The mall has its own treatment plant, but it flows into Lake Ronkonkoma.

Q: What have you accomplished for the County at-large in the last two years?

A: When I had a heart attack before I was a Legislator, I was saved with a MedCAT machine and was lucky a first responder was nearby when I collapsed. I worked for years to get those life-saving devices in each police precinct. In the last couple of years, we’ve gotten more for the precincts. I got $450,000 in the capital budget for that and an endorsement on the issue from County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) and SCPD Commissioner Kevin Catalina. I also secured a commitment for it to be a recurring appropriation in subsequent capital budgets to fund the additional cars, equipment, and training. We’re getting two per year.

The County Medical Examiner’s Office has eight morgue drivers. They’re the ones who do the heavy work of picking up the bodies of the deceased across the entire county. They make about $35,000 a year. I said they deserve a raise and better equipment, especially gloves.

Q: You joined twelve other Legislators in suing the State over the even-year elections law. Explain your stance.

A: The length of each ballot would be three sheets of legal paper, at minimum, not including propositions, which are passed at the federal, State, County, Town, village levels. By the time you get down to your local officials, people will have voter exhaustion. All politics is local. It’s hurting the constituents who will have to vote for them.

It’s also done to put the Democratic Party back in power in the suburbs. New York City is exempt from this as well; Albany doesn’t want to do wrong by their friends. The Governor did not think out well.

Q: What is your favorite quote, motto, work ethic, or words to live by?

A: “Do all the good you can by all the means you can in all the places you can to all the people you can.” - John Wesley (attribution)

Q: How do you like to connect with your community?

A: I’m a reader. I have a bag that says, “Born to read books, forced to read emails.” I love Blydenburgh Park and Lake Ronkonkoma. My areas are widely diverse and beautiful.

The Messenger thanks Legislator Kennedy for her time for this interview.

About the Twelfth District

The Twelfth District is split between the towns of Smithtown and Brookhaven. Within Smithtown, the district contains Nesconset, Village of the Branch, and parts of Commack, Hauppauge, Smithtown, and Lake Ronkonkoma. Within Brookhaven, it includes Lake Grove and Lake Ronkonkoma, as well as parts of Centereach.

Kennedy’s opponent, Deborah Monaco (D-Smithtown), is not actively campaigning. Interestingly, Monaco was Kennedy’s first opponent for this seat in the March 2015 special election, wherein Kennedy defeated Monaco 82.61% to 17.39%.

Stepping Up for Huntington’s: Team Hope Walk Unites Community at Wantagh Park

By Madison Warren

Huntington’s disease (HD) currently affects an estimated 41,000 Americans. This rare, inherited neurodegenerative disorder is caused by a mutation in the HTT gene on chromosome 4. Often described as a devastating blend of symptoms resembling Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, dementia, and Alzheimer’s, Huntington’s progressively robs individuals of movement, cognition, and independence. At present, there is no cure.

For families like the Kaczynskis of East Islip, the fight against HD is deeply personal. When Tim Kaczynski was diagnosed in 2018, his sister Danielle and the rest of their family began looking for ways to raise awareness and support. They soon became active volunteers with the Long Island Chapter of the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA) and joined the annual Team Hope Walk.

That walk returned to Wantagh Park on September 14, bringing together patients, caregivers, families, and supporters from across Long Island. The event not only raised crucial funds for HDSA’s mission but also created a space

where those affected by the disease could connect and lean on one another.

“This walk is really just to bring the community together because you do feel very alone with it, because it’s not very well-known,” Danielle said. “So when we’re all together, it’s nice because we’re all going through the same thing. The caregivers go through the same thing, the patients go through the same thing, and I think that people who don’t know what it is like to live with the disease will not truly understand it.”

Participants took part in raffles and scholarship opportunities while walking side by side to demonstrate solidarity in the fight against Huntington’s. The event was one of many Team Hope Walks organized by HDSA chapters across the country, part of the nonprofit’s ongoing effort since 1967 to fund research, provide family services, and advocate for those impacted by the disease.

As HDSA proudly puts it, “Family is everything.” For Long Islanders who laced up at Wantagh Park, that message rang true — reminding all who attended that they are not alone in the fight.

How Words Became Weapons: The Digital Pipeline Behind Political Violence

By Mollie Barnett

The assassination of Charlie Kirk reveals something bigger than one act of violence. It exposes a system that can turn social media posts into deadly action.

The words etched on the bullet casings—“Hey fascist! Catch!”—were more than evidence of planning. They marked the endpoint of a digital pipeline that transforms fringe rhetoric into mainstream “truth,” and sometimes into violence.

The accused shooter, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, didn’t invent that phrase. He absorbed it from an ecosystem that pushes inflammatory language from activist posts to cable news chyrons to the algorithms shaping AI. What once lived on the political margins now circulates through American media as routine vocabulary.

This isn’t just politics. It’s an asymmetric information system—one that validates certain narratives on repeat until even AI systems echo them back as fact.

From Meme to Mainstream

The pipeline is clear. First, activist outlets like Occupy Democrats and MeidasTouch launch provocative posts about Trump and “fascism.” Next, established publications and networks pick up the same language—The Nation asks if MAGA equals fascism, The New Republic talks about “fascist spectacle,” and MSNBC commentators repeat the terms.

By the time Vox and HuffPost weave the language into their reporting, the words carry institutional authority. Search engines then treat them as factual, and AI models embed them into the knowledge systems shaping public understanding.

The Algorithmic Advantage

The right has loud voices, but not the same infrastructure. The landscape shifted in 2018, when major platforms began removing right-wing accounts. Apple, YouTube, Facebook, and Spotify de-platformed Alex Jones. The Blaze lost its cable carriers. Ad networks cut ties with Breitbart, to name a few.

The result: fewer outlets, but a new imbalance. Google’s quality framework rewards mainstream sources, and AI systems train heavily on their text. Repetition gives those terms permanence, while the opposition struggles to break through.

Hidden Networks

Robinson’s radicalization adds another layer. Governor Spencer Cox (RUT) noted he had “only recently shown interest in politics.” Family members described him as left-leaning, critical of Kirk. Investigators say his deeper influences came from Discord gaming communities—spaces using AIgenerated images, coded emojis, and voice modulation to evade detection.

Modern AI can now decode those signals, mapping how language spreads and identifying early signs of radicalization. What was invisible to moderators is no longer hidden.

When Fringe Meets Mainstream

Robinson’s case shows the danger of cross-platform validation. The same terms he allegedly encountered in Discord also appeared in mainstream analysis. Fringe ideas gained institutional credibility, reinforcing them psychologically.

The phrase on his ammunition proves the point: underground adoption plus mainstream endorsement creates powerful validation. Even Attorney General Pam Bondi’s claim that “left-wing radicals” killed Kirk illustrates how hostile labels have become normalized through repetition.

The Presidential Perspective

President Trump called those celebrating Kirk’s death “sick” and “really deranged.” His reaction underscored what’s at stake: when inflammatory rhetoric is amplified and validated, unstable individuals may see violence as justified.

The Technology Solution

Understanding these dynamics doesn’t excuse violence. Robinson is still responsible for his alleged actions, but conditioning makes vulnerable people more likely to internalize dangerous messages.

AI offers a path forward. These systems can trace how rhetoric spreads, flag radicalization risks, and intervene before violence erupts. The same technology that once amplified harmful messages can now help disrupt them.

For the first time, we can map the full pipeline—from activist posts to mainstream validation to algorithmic embedding. Recognizing it gives us a chance to step in before words become weapons.

The Path Forward

Algorithms now decide which narratives gain authority. The challenge is protecting open debate while stopping the cycle where repetition equals truth.

AI has the capacity to spot these patterns and help safeguard democratic discourse. The question is whether institutions will use it—or keep reinforcing the very systems that fueled this tragedy.

The words on those casings were not just personal. They were proof of a dangerous loop: fringe language amplified, validated, and weaponized. Breaking that loop may be the only way to prevent the next tragedy.

MOLLIE BARNETT is an AI Advisor for Business and Strategic Growth Architect on Long Island.

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, September 25, 2025

Trump Exposes How Radical Gender Ideology Still Pervades America’s Schools

By Sarah Katherine Sisk | AMAC Contributor

As President Donald Trump recently warned, far-left ideology is still a major threat in K-12 schools that parents and grandparents must remain on guard against.

During remarks at the Museum of the Bible during a meeting of the White House’s Religious Liberty Commission earlier this month, Trump took the opportunity to highlight the continued dangers of political indoctrination in the classroom. After thanking attendees, the President called up 12-year-old Shea Encinas to the podium to share his experience as a fifth-grader in a California public school.

As Encinas shared, he was forced to read “My Shadow Is Pink” to a kindergartener — a story about a boy who likes “things not for boys.” The book has clear LBGTQ themes and encourages children to accept the idea that they could be born in the “wrong” body.

“I’ve been a Christian my whole life, and Jesus means everything to me,” Encinas said. “The book said, you can choose your gender based on feelings instead of how God made us. I knew this was not right, but I was afraid of getting in trouble.”

“After my family spoke up, the school treated us badly, and kids started bullying me and my brother because of our faith, and the school did nothing to stop it,” Encinas said. “I believe kids like me should be able to live our faith at school without being forced to go against what we believe. I hope no other family has to go through what mine did.”

Trump blasted the episode as proof of “radical gender ideology” being pushed on students.

While the culture war over American public education has largely faded into the background in recent years, that battle remains as urgent as ever – as cases like that of Shea Encinas show.

In another recent story out of Maryland, a Damascus High School senior was barred from graduating after his family objected to a required health class that promoted gender identity and LGBTQ+ content. His father, Seth Gottesman of Gaithersburg, sued Montgomery County Public Schools for religious discrimination, but a federal judge denied the emergency bid one day before graduation.

Maryland law technically lets parents opt their children out of the “family life and human sexuality” unit. But Gottesman argued the district scattered LGBTQ themes across the entire course, rendering the opt-out effectively “meaningless.”

“In the Health course, MCPS teaches minors that non-traditional sexuality, non-traditional family units, and transgenderism are as natural and beneficial as heterosexuality, traditional family structures, and acceptance of one’s biological sex,” Gottesman stated in his motion.

U.S. District Judge Deborah Chasanow issued a one-page order denying the family’s emergency motion, siding with school officials and leaving the student unable to walk with his classmates.

Meanwhile, in Virginia, Loudoun County Public Schools suspended two high school boys who objected after a female student who claimed to be male entered the boys’ locker room and began filming other students – a violation of district policy and state law.

But instead of punishing the female student, the district charged the male students with harassment under Title IX, slapped them with 10-day suspensions, and barred them from sharing classes with the girl.

Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares blasted the punishment as a “disturbing misuse of authority” that trampled the boys’ constitutional rights. LCPS has since doubled down on its transgender bathroom and locker room policy despite Trump administration warnings that the district and others that have the same policy could lose federal funding for failure to comply with Title IX requirements that students only use facilities that correspond to their biological sex.

In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton has also filed a lawsuit against Coppell Independent School District after undercover video showed its curriculum director explaining how the district had “gotten around” the state’s ban on Critical Race Theory. Paxton’s suit alleges officials knowingly violated Texas law by using taxpayer resources to distribute CRTrelated materials.

In Wisconsin, special education teacher Kally Bishop says she was forced to transfer schools because the Madison-area district mandated “culturally responsive practices” — effectively scoring teachers on how much they emphasized race in the classroom. Despite glowing performance reviews, Bishop was pushed out under the policy, which weighted “race responsiveness” more heavily than seniority or actual

educational results.

Earlier this year in New York, a school board meeting in Monroe County descended into chaos after furious parents discovered that elementary students had been assigned “The Rainbow Parade: A Celebration of LGBTQIA+ Identities and Allies.” The book, shown to children as young as five, includes illustrations of a naked person walking down the street, a pair of men in bondage outfits, and other adult-themed parade scenes.

Dozens of parents shouted down school officials, demanding to know how such material could possibly be considered ageappropriate.

“If you think that that’s appropriate for children to see, then there’s something wrong with you,” one father said. “You need to have a mental evaluation. There’s no reason that should be in the schools whatsoever at all.”

Overview - AMACThe Association of Mature American Citizens

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

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

Unable to take the heat, school officials abruptly shut down the meeting and left without hearing any official public comment.

In June, parents notched a major win when the Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that Montgomery County, Maryland, violated religious liberty by forcing children to sit through LGBTQ storybooks without an opt-out.

Writing for the majority, Justice Samuel Alito said the policy placed “an unconstitutional burden” on parents’ rights. In dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor argued children should be exposed to ideas that conflict with their parents’ faith, a telling sign of how far the education establishment has drifted from respecting family authority.

The case, Mahmoud v. Taylor, revealed just how far the problem had spread. Only after families fought all the way to the nation’s highest court did they secure the right to keep their kindergartners from being read transgender storybooks and LGBTQ propaganda.

WORD OF THE Week

Etymology:

late Middle English: from Old French, or from late Latin interminabilis, from in- ‘not’ + terminare (see terminate).

INTERMINABLE

adjective

Pronounced: /ihn·tur·muh·nuh·bl/

Definition: endless (often used hyperbolically)

Example: “The interminable minutia of the board meeting carried well into the evening.”

Synonyms: incessant, tedious, laborious

Antonyms: intermittent, cyclic, occasional

Source: Oxford Languages

See how many words you can create. Must have center letter in word and can use letters more than once. 4 letter word minimum.

Medium

)

September 26, 1960: Cuban leader Fidel Castro delivers a 4-hour and 29-minute long speech at the United Nations

September 30, 1659:

Peter Stuyvesant forbids tennis playing during religious services in New Netherland, the first mention of tennis in the U.S.

September 28, 1781: 9,000 American and 7,000 French troops begin the Siege of Yorktown.

September 27, 1590:

Pope Urban VII dies 13 days after being chosen as Pope, making his reign the shortest papacy in history

October 1, 1968:

Cult zombie film “Night of the Living Dead,” directed by George A. Romero and starring Duane Jones and Judith O’Dea, premieres in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

September 25, 1981: Sandra Day O’Connor is sworn in as the first female U.S. Supreme Court Justice.

September 29, 1916:

American oil tycoon

John D. Rockefeller becomes the world’s first billionaire.

Won decisively by the Continental Army, led by George Washington, with support from the Marquis de Lafayette and French Army troops, led by the Comte de Rochambeau, and a French Navy force commanded by the Comte de Grasse over the British Army commanded by British Lieutenant General Charles Cornwallis (painted surrendering in middle in with Washington

By PJ Balzer

I Really Hope We Heal

I frequent a few different 7-Eleven stores in my community. At one of them specifically, there’s two older gentlemen that meet there every single day. They arrive in two separate cars, buy their coffee, and sit in one of their pickup trucks as they drink their coffee and chat. You can tell they’ve been friends for decades.

Since I’m always with open ears for meaningful content to write about, I decided to eavesdrop on them. I was hoping that their conversation would be full of wisdom and life’s gems I could learn from. Maybe some stories about deep sea fishing, the years past in my community, their families struggles through the Great Depression, or how wonderful it is to be blessed with a long life. It was a cool autumn morning, so they were sitting with the pickup truck’s windows open.

To my disappointment, but not my surprise, their entire conversation was one finger-pointing to other people and the other side, people who they have probably never met or had any meaningful interaction with. “These people are ruining our country, ruining our community, ruining our lives,” was the summary of the twenty minutes of the conversation that I could stomach.

Instead of being a hypocrite and myself pointing a finger at them as well, I left with only one thought in mind and heart, “I really hope that we heal. I hope we heal as a community, a nation, and as the human race. If we don’t, we won’t survive much longer like this.”

I hope we heal from some of the great grievances done to people and people groups in this nation in the past. I don’t believe that time alone heals all gaping wounds. I believe that there needs to be some deep soul-searching and spiritual surgery done in our hearts as we forgive, heal, and reunite in a very real way, that we may have some real, raw, and uncomfortable conversations, yet come out healed on the other side.

I hope we heal and return to true, lasting neighborly affection. I hope we return to caring for one another despite our individual personal beliefs and convictions - delivering Thanksgiving pies and Christmas cookies to the people that live next door and welcoming the new family on the block with open arms and an open door.

I hope we heal and our countenance softens again. Everywhere I go, people seem so hardened,

downcast, and indifferent towards each other. Smiles are becoming a thing of the past, especially towards a complete stranger.

I hope that families heal and reunite. I hope that holiday dinner tables become places we rush to rather than completely dread. I hope our children heal; our adolescents and teenagers do too. I hope our public schools and universities heal. I hope we heal from the trauma, the violence, and all of the words too. Words can do more damage than each of us understand. I really hope we heal from the memories, the things we never speak about.

I hope that our churches heal. The sharp division that we see in society has entered into the church as well. A place we were supposed to go to collectively worship and find a family that is more united and upwardly focused than anything else has also been cut up with society’s knife of divisiveness.

I hope that each one of us is willing to start looking inside rather than outside. That we do some honest self reflection rather than constantly and conveniently placing blame somewhere else. I hope we humble ourselves, turn away from what is clearly written as wrong, and begin to heal.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.” - Ezekiel 36:26

By Messenger Sports Desk

The air is crisper, the crowds louder, and the lights brighter: Suffolk County football is settling into midseason form. This weekend, Brookhaven-area teams and their rivals take center stage in a slate of matchups that could shape the early standings in Section XI.

Friday Night Lights — September 26

The weekend kicks off Friday evening with three marquee contests

At 6:00 p.m., Sachem East hosts perennial powerhouse William Floyd. The Colonials, a staple in Suffolk’s postseason picture, bring size and speed to every matchup. Sachem East counters with a defense that thrives on discipline and physicality. The outcome here will ripple across the league’s balance of power.

Also at 6:00 p.m., Patchogue-Medford squares off against Central Islip. For PatMed, this is an opportunity to showcase consistency on both sides of the ball. The Raiders’ ability to control the line of scrimmage will be tested against a Central Islip squad eager to prove it belongs in the thick of the playoff conversation.

Capping off Friday’s action, Ward Melville travels to face Walt Whitman at 7:00 p.m. This contest pits Whitman’s quick-strike offense against a Ward Melville team known for grit and resilience. Expect this one to be close into the fourth quarter, with special teams possibly deciding the final outcome.

Saturday Showdowns — September 27

Saturday afternoon delivers three more games, all rich with storylines.

At 1:00 p.m., Sachem North visits Bay Shore. North’s balanced offense has found early rhythm, but Bay Shore has the home-field edge and a ground game that can chew up both time and momentum.

Also at 1:00 p.m., Longwood hosts Brentwood in what may be the most physical clash of the weekend. Longwood’s trenches are notoriously tough, and Brentwood brings athletic playmakers who can change the game in a single snap. This matchup is as much about pride as it is about positioning.

Finally, at 1:30 p.m., Riverhead meets Lindenhurst. The Bulldogs are known for punishing defense and opportunistic offense, while Riverhead has a history

Brookhaven Teams Set for Key September Showdowns

of rising to the occasion when underestimated. Fans should expect a hard-fought battle with implications beyond just the standings — it’s a tone-setter for the second half of the season.

The Bigger Picture

For Brookhaven football fans, these games are more than X’s and O’s. They represent hometown pride, student-athletes striving under Friday night lights, and communities that rally behind their teams. From the traditions of William Floyd to the grit of Longwood, every matchup is a reminder that high school football is as much about character as it is about scoreboards.

As September winds down, the intensity only grows. Every drive, every tackle, every cheer counts just a little more. And for players across Sachem, Pat-Med, Ward Melville, Longwood, and Riverhead, this weekend is another chance to prove they belong in Suffolk County’s football conversation.

The season is young — but the stakes already feel like autumn.

Longwood Girls Soccer Sporting a Youth Movement On The Field

By Ashley Pavlakis

The Longwood Lions are off to a roaring start, with the girls’ varsity soccer team performing well in the first half of the 2025 season.

The Lions are members of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and compete in League I. The girls are led by 2ndyear head coach Eric Stark. He coached JV boys for six years prior to making the jump to the varsity level. He’s joined on the sidelines by assistant coach David Huey.

Last season, the Longwood Lions won the county title. It was a long time coming as this was the first league title in 29 years. Lions are always on the hunt, so it’s no different for a soccer team. The girls look to defend their title and make their way through Long Island.

“Last year we won our first league championship in 29 years, which was an amazing feat. One of my goals coming in as head coach was trying to create that winning culture, something that the girls are proud to be a part of, win or lose. So this year, the league change got a little tougher. Honestly, we have the talent to really compete or fight against any team in the league. The goal is to win, but we want to compete in every game and make some noise in the playoffs, which is definitely a goal of ours to make the playoffs,” said Stark.

Longwood is 4-2-0 this season, and they’ve found their offense, particularly in one player. Sophomore forward Brooke Pfeiffer is leading the charge for the Lions in scoring, notching 11 goals and 2 assists. This stat line has her in a three-way tie for sixth in league

scoring. It appears teams across Suffolk County also have goal scorers on their teams. Pfeiffer is another dual-sport athlete, competing in soccer and track.

The team is led by seven seniors: Sarah Vrljicak, Claire Sclafani, Maya Morkle, Grace Mitchell, Emily Minerva, Makenzi Hansen, and Sherman. Vrljicak will be attending East Stroudsburg University to play lacrosse next fall. Emily Minerva will be playing soccer at the Dominican University of New York. Grace Mitchell has committed to play soccer at Stockton University. The seniors will be honored when the Lions host senior night on October 3rd.

The Lions have outscored their opponents 17 to 12 so far this season. They only had one bad outing, losing to Northport, a powerhouse non-conference team, 6-1. Other than that lopsided score, the Lions have kept their opponents to 3 goals or less in each of their six games.

“We always encourage, especially in practice, you

want to practice how you play, and take it seriously in practice in the fact that you should be hard on yourself and want to score during practice so that in the game you’re accomplishing these feats. We have a girl who’s in 10th grade, Brooke Pfeiffer. She’s got 11 goals in six games, which just goes to show the hard work she puts in, and the talent around her as well,” said Stark.

There’s a sense of cohesiveness amongst the Lions, and that stems from familiarity. In the offseason, a majority of the team plays for the Long Island Slammers, a premier club known for developing student athletes. In addition, their leadership group is Grace Mitchell (Sr.), Emily Minerva (Sr.), and Sara Mangels (Jr.).

“She’s [Pfeiffer] a huge part. Actually, there’s a whole youth movement in our program. We have two ninth graders and at least five tenth graders that we start. So the youth movement on our team is huge. Last year, we had a bunch of seniors who really led the way and kind of passed the torch on to these younger athletes, and they really fit the mold and are taking the leadership roles. They know that we can definitely make some noise and be a great team,” said Stark.

Defense wins yet again, and Sara Mangels has made a name for herself on the defensive end of the field.

“Sara Mangels made the [Newsday] Top 100. She is absolutely the backbone of our defense. She’s a multisport athlete. She’s an all-county track star; her speed is unmatched. It makes it difficult for opponents to score on her, especially because her speed is unmatched. Between her and Brooke [Pfieffer], they’re both track stars, so it’s really nice,” Stark told The Messenger

By Raheem Soto

Rudi Johnson: A Career of Power, A Life Cut Short

The football world was shaken this week by news that former Cincinnati Bengals running back Rudi Johnson has died at the age of 45. According to reports, Johnson died by suicide in Florida just after midnight on Tuesday. Authorities said there is no suspicion of foul play, though the investigation continues.

For fans who remember the Bengals’ resurgence in the early 2000s, Johnson was more than just a name on a roster. Drafted in 2001, Johnson became the workhorse of Cincinnati’s offense, powering through defenses with a bruising running style. Between 2004 and 2006, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards in three consecutive seasons, scoring 36 touchdowns during that span. His punishing runs and consistent production earned him respect across the league and a place in Bengals history.

In 2005, Johnson set the Bengals’ single-season rushing record with 1,458 yards—a mark that stood as a franchise milestone. He was named to the Pro Bowl in 2004, cementing his reputation as one of the NFL’s most reliable running backs of his era.

Johnson later finished his career with the Detroit Lions in 2008, but his legacy remained rooted in Cincinnati, where

Long Island Basketball History: Player of the Week

fans saw him as part of the core that brought hope back to a long-struggling franchise.

Family sources told media outlets that Johnson had struggled with mental health challenges and may have faced neurological effects linked to football-related head trauma, though such conditions can only be confirmed posthumously. Even as he faced those battles, those close to him say he dedicated his life to helping people both on and off the field—a reminder that athletes often give more than fans will ever know.

Johnson’s passing is not only a loss for the Bengals and the NFL, but also a sobering marker in the ongoing conversation about football, brain trauma, and the silent toll on players after the cheers fade. For every highlight reel moment, there is a human story—one that deserves just as much attention.

As the NFL community mourns, Johnson will be remembered not only for the yards he gained and touchdowns he scored, but also for his humanity, his struggles, and his efforts to lift others. His story is a reminder that behind the helmet is a man, and sometimes, the toughest battles are fought long after the final whistle.

- Amityville HS 02’, Villanova University

Smithtown

On The Hunt

Smithtown East came within a score of toppling North Babylon but couldn’t close the gap late, falling 34-28. Smithtown West also faced setbacks against Bay Shore. This weekend, West heads to West Islip in a matchup that will test their grit, while East hosts Centereach in a game they

Middle Country Brings It Home

Newfield dominated Connetquot in a convincing win that set the tone for Division II. With Bellport heading into a Friday night clash against Connetquot, expect a high-energy atmosphere. Patchogue-Medford also faces a pivotal game against Lindenhurst, a matchup with playoff implications even in September.

- McDonald’s and Parade All-American - 2x NY State Champion

- 2x All-Long Island

- New York State Mr. Basketball

- Assistant Coach at Sacramento State U.

Islip Brings It Home

Islip cruised past Harborfields thanks to a smothering defense and a balanced attack. West Islip followed with a hard-fought win over Westhampton, giving the district an early sweep. Islip looks to keep the momentum as they prepare for another tough test on the road, while West Islip eyes a rivalry tilt with Smithtown West.

Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, & Lake Grove

Open Forum hosted by Legislator Kennedy

All State, Local, and Federal Elected Officials Representing Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, & Lake Grove Are Invited

Open to the public and public participation is encouraged!

A forum to voice criticisms, concerns, and thoughts regarding Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, & Lake Grove to your elected officials

September 29th , 2025, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Lake Ronkonkoma Fire District

177 Portion Road

Lake Ronkonkoma, NY

(Corner Building on Hawkins & Portion)