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Two Local Saint Baldrick’s Events Happening This Weekend

By Deana D. Boles

What is “Saint Baldrick’s,” and how did it start?

Saint Baldrick’s is the largest funder of childhood cancer grants given out by the U.S. government, as stated on their website. In 1999, Tim Kenny challenged his colleagues John Bender and Enda McDonnell by asking how they will give back for their success in business. McDonnell, with a thick head of hair, gave Bender the idea. They decided to shave their heads to help raise money for children with cancer.

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Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter Delivers State of the Town Address

Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter presented her annual State of the Town address Wednesday, standing firm against recent proposals from Albany that could diminish local autonomy and push aside local zoning laws. The Supervisor also announced plans for a new Town Comprehensive Plan, and reemphasized the policies and programs that have helped Islip thrive these past eight years.

In her address titled, “Manufacturing the Future,” Supervisor Carpenter emphasized the role of government to enable individuals to craft their own bright tomorrow, affording them a voice in the policies that directly affect their quality of life. She noted, “This is what home rule is all about—the autonomy to best govern, by the people who know their hometown best.”

Highlighting the power of local government at work, Supervisor Carpenter announced the formation of a new comprehensive long-term policy plan, that will focus on critical areas such as housing, the environment and job creation. “It’s been 46 years since the last Comprehensive Plan was adopted, but today’s world is far different than it was in 1977,” said Supervisor Carpenter.

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Islip Supervisor Delivers State of the Town Address

“The creation of a new Town Comprehensive Plan will be an opportunity for our residents, stakeholders, elected officials, and planning professionals alike, to come together to develop a shared vision for our Town’s growth,” the Supervisor added.

The Supervisor also noted major housing projects already underway across the Town, which have transformed sites previously in disrepair and off the tax rolls, into desirable housing communities where young adults and empty-nesters alike want to live. “In total we have over 2,000 resident units in various stages of development across this great Town, ranging from preconstruction, to having their CO in hand,” said Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter. “Islip is growing—smartly—in conjunction with our civic groups, at a pace and in a direction that makes sense for our Town’s unique identity,” the Supervisor added.

Turning to the economy, Supervisor Carpenter referenced over $1 billion in capital investments and more than 9,000 jobs added during her tenure, highlighting that the Town is home to more than 10,000 businesses, despite remaining primarily residential.

Supervisor Carpenter also announced efforts to transform Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) into a real transportation HUB, and reiterated the significance of the proposed Midway Crossing Development, which would enhance Long Island’s intellectual corridor and provide jobs in cutting-edge medical technology, STEM, travel and entertainment. “This has the potential of being one of the most significant and innovative projects the Long Island region has considered in decades, with the ability to position LI nationally as a life sciences hub, as well as inject billions of dollars annually into the economic region,” said Supervisor Carpenter, adding, “a lot of the infrastructure needs must be addressed, however, before any of this can happen.”

Touching on recent development projects completed and underway in the Town, Supervisor Carpenter noted the ongoing transformation of Roberto Clemente Park in Brentwood, which will, this Spring, see the unveiling of a plaza style Skate Park, in addition to the state-of-the-art spray park, and Olympic sized swimming pool added in recent years. Also underway, Ross Park in Brentwood, Sayville Marina Park, and the renovation of Byron Lake Park, Oakdale, will transform long-neglected assets into true community gems.

The Supervisor additionally announced rehabilitation to the Town’s waterways, beginning with the needed dredging of Brown’s River East and Brown’s River West

in Sayville, as well as the West Islip Marina, where a larger renovation, including bulkheading, renovated boat ramps, and boat slip dredging, is planned.

Supervisor Carpenter also noted the success of the Bay Bottom Licensing Program, a highlight of the Town’s environmental commitment, tying ecological stewardship alongside economic growth. Each Oyster alone can filter up to 50 gallons per day, and in 2020 the Town’s program was responsible for 20% of total shellfish production in all of New York State. Phase 3 of the program has received State approval, and this new phase will see operations expand from 125 acres to over 1,300 acres. “As good stewards of the environment, we’ve made it our priority to care for, protect and improve one of our strongest environmental assets: The Great South Bay,” said the Supervisor.

Alongside environmental commitments, Supervisor Carpenter reiterated the Town’s commitment to smart and responsible financial stewardship, stating, “After successfully getting our bond-rating upgraded to Aaa with a stable outlook—our Town has received seven consecutive such ratings—the highest possible. This is thanks to our zero-based budgeting, assuring that no projects move forward unless they are deemed truly essential.”

The state of our Town is “strong,” noted Supervisor Carpenter, “Our communities’ greatest strengths are the rich and diverse backgrounds of all our residents . . . When I was sworn in eight years ago, today, I vowed—working together with all of you— to change the direction of our Town, to improve our financials, clean up our parks, preserve our environment and build for the future.”

Looking to the horizon, Supervisor Carpenter reiterated the importance of each individual’s voice in the role of government, and the importance of local government to maintain their autonomy to govern on the people’s behalf.

“I will continue to fight for Islip’s ability to decide its own future; to plan, design and build our own tomorrow; and keep the power of your voice in local government from being drowned out by Albany, and I hope you will join me,” said Supervisor Carpenter.

“We’re just getting started,” the Supervisor concluded, “you might even say, now we’re cooking with gas.”

The Supervisor’s address will be available to be viewed in its entirety on public access Channel 18 (Cablevision) and Channel 1982 (Verizon), as well as the Town of Islip YouTube Channel, and website (www.islipny.gov).

East Islip Robotics Team Wins Build Award at Competition

East Islip High School’s robotics team recently traveled to Bellmore’s John F. Kennedy High School to compete in this year’s VEX VRC Spin Up game. The all-day event featured over 45 teams from around the tri-state area. East Islip ranked in the Top 10, performing at a very high level throughout the day and walking away with a special Build Award voted on by a panel of judges during the event. Students from the team were interviewed and asked specific questions about their design.

“It was my first time ever being a driver of the robot at an event, and I really enjoyed the challenges presented to me,” senior robotics student James Kelly said. “There is quite the difference between practicing in class and performing with the robot at a live event. I learned a lot and hope that during the next event we will perform at an even higher level.”

“I really enjoy these events because it’s a great way for all of the students involved to showcase their efforts and help positively represent the East Islip High School technology program and community,” robotics teacher and club adviser James Connell said.

Photo courtesy of East Islip School District

New Scholarship Opportunities Announced by Senator Palumbo

By Kaitlyn Foley

Announced on March 7

by Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New

Suffolk), The New York Conference of Italian American State Legislators’ scholarship will award four hardworking students for their academic and athletic achievements.

Each scholarship is worth $4,000, and will be presented on May 22, Italian American Day.

“I’m happy to announce these scholarship opportunities to students throughout the 1st Senate District,” Senator Palumbo said. “It is always a pleasure recognizing our hardworking young men and women and especially gratifying to help further their education when finances present a challenge.”

Two scholarships will be awarded for academic achievement and the remaining two will be awarded for athletic achievement. Both are in memory of past New York Senators James D. Conte and John J. Marchi.

States the organization, “This is always a

priority for the New York Conference of Italian American State Legislators. We are grateful to our sponsors and members who help make these scholarships possible.”

To be awarded this scholarship, students must be a senior in high school or enrolled in college and have a grade point average of 85 or above.

Students must also be active members of the community, participate in extracurricular activities, demonstrate good conduct and show dedication toward earning a degree. Students must also be involved in an organized sport while pursuing said athletic scholarship.

“It’s great to see the community providing more scholarships to students,” said Megan Posillico, a recent college graduate, of Hauppauge. “Higher education should be an option for all students despite their financial situations. It benefits the whole community in the long run.”

To view additional requirements and apply for the scholarship, visit nyiacsl.org/apply-for-scholarship-form Applications are due March 27.

Suffolk County Sheriff’s Deputy Receives Proclamation From Legislators

On March 4, Suffolk County Legislators James Mazzarella, Trish Bergin and Leslie Kennedy presented Deputy Sheriff Anthony Lagrasta a proclamation, signed by all 18 Legislators, for his February 27 arrest of Gabriel Joshua Kantrow, 32, a fugitive from justice from the state of Colorado. Kantrow was wanted out of Adams County, Colorado, on the crime of sexual exploitation of minor-material film, a felony in Colorado.

Kantrow was arrested when Deputy Lagrasta requested identification from all vehicle occupants of a vehicle attempting to enter the facility to visit an

inmate. Kantrow was a passenger in the vehicle. Adams County confirmed the warrant and that they will extradite the defendant.

Deputy Lagrasta began his career with the Sheriff’s Office in April 2021 and is assigned to the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Headquarters Bureau. Prior to working for the Sheriff’s Office, he was a Town of Islip Park Ranger from 2017-2021 and worked as a part-time Police Officer for Ocean Beach Police Department in 2020.

7 Trotta voted against measures to protect children from sex offenders 7 Trotta intimidated our Police Commissioner and his Republican colleagues

7 Trotta collected over a million dollars

his

The 13 Million-ton Elephant in the Room

The number referenced in the title is the total amount of solid waste produced per day on Long Island. And with the Brookhaven Landfill’s impending closure, combined with the State of New York’s utter abdication of regional assistance, it is up to municipal governments and the private sector to handle what will become of our waste. It is not an enviable position to be in, but it is the current state of affairs.

Currently, there is a solution proposed in the Town of Smithtown to handle the ash and construction debris disposal of the Townships of Huntington and Smithtown – the townships that utilize the services of the Huntington Covanta plant to handle their solid waste incineration.

The proposal is to utilize rails instead of trucks to dispose of the waste, which will be sent to an appropriate processing facility in Pennsylvania.

While the facility proposed by CarlsonCorp, Inc. doing business as Townline Terminal LLC is still undergoing approval by the United States Surface Transportation Board and then the Town of Smithtown, it is an idea worthy of your consideration.

The facility would be due east of the Covanta incinerator, directly across Townline Road on the south side of the Port Jefferson Line of the LIRR. The facility will have five tracks totaling 8,600 feet and a 5,000-foot rail spur connecting it to the LIRR. It is also proposed that the site will have an 80,000-square-foot indoor facility to facilitate the transfer of the ash inside a 20,000-square-foot warehouse.

CarlsonCorp intends to modify its existing NYS DEC permit to include the two additional waste streams consisting of Non-Hazardous Municipal Solid Waste Combined Incinerator Ash (“incinerator ash”) and Non-Hazardous Construction and Demolition Debris (“C&D”). This proposed action with the NYS DEC will not include a request to increase the permitted capacity of the facility.

The combination of all waste streams will not exceed more than 365,000 tons per year. However, the quantities of each accepted waste stream may fluctuate from year to year, as the waste industry as a whole goes through ebbs and flows.

To accommodate the acceptance of these new waste streams and for the construction of the Townline Rail, the existing CarlsonCorp outdoor recycling operations will be reduced from occupying approximately 66 acres to approximately 25 acres. With that reduction in outdoor operation size, the quantities of organic materials, construction aggregates and soils stored onsite will decrease accordingly.

According to the Town of Smithtown, the plan calls for vegetative berms and buffers and the latest available technologies to reduce any impacts to the surrounding communities. The operations will be 25’ lower than all neighboring residences.

This may result in a nominal change for those that immediately border the facility. But the net result will be a reduction of trucks traversing the area, as not only will trucks carrying ash only have to travel a short distance across the street, but materials already used in the Kings Park Industrial Corridor can now be brought in via rail, as opposed to the trucks already utilized.

Yes, already utilized.

In total, 11,100 truckloads of material will either be eliminated or see their routes significantly shortened, decreasing the noise and wear and tear on our roads.

The rail facility will only see one train a day, five days per week and will not interfere with LIRR service. The train will be approximately 27 cars long, and there will be no train idling at night waiting for cars. The assemblage of train cars and the transferring of ash and construction debris will occur during daytime hours to minimize noise.

Those opposed to this plan will have you believe it is the prelude to a regional facility handling the garbage well beyond Smithtown

and Huntington. However, the design of the facility and the fact that the Covanta Huntington plant is already operating at capacity tell another story.

In literature opposed to the facility, opponents will use language like “the train track with a capacity to hold 161 freight trains,” always referencing the capacity at large. However, the functioning capacity is 79 cars, as much of the track space must remain empty for excess in the possibility of a service outage and to facilitate the assemblage of the freight trains themselves. Therefore, the figure continually thrown around and then repackaged by activists is not relevant to the discussion. It is akin to saying that Harvard Avenue has the capacity to hold, say, 400 automobiles.

The fact of the matter remains that without this proposal, residents across Smithtown will see their garbage bills skyrocket, making Smithtown an even more difficult place to live for the working people that call it home.

While we are still awaiting the results of the environmental assessment, expected as early as March to make our determination as an editorial board on this project, it would appear to be the most practical solution to date.

As a town, Smithtown ought to be capable of taking out its own garbage. The opposition would be wise to avail themselves of the resources provided by the Town of Smithtown and by the proprietor of the project, who is more than willing to answer questions related to the project.

Op-Ed: Disinformation Groups Used to Blacklist Conservative News

By William Haupt III | The Center Square

“If we are not ashamed to think the truth, we should not be ashamed to speak the truth.” – Cicero

In George Orwell’s book 1984, he writes about how he envisions the world in the future is controlled by Big Brother. Orwell’s dystopian leader’s Ministry of Truth decides what it believes are truths for the media to report as news and events to support government. If Big Brother believes something doesn’t support his beliefs the Ministry of Truth corrects the records, which they call “the new truth.”

Within the novel, Orwell reveals that the actual existence for the Ministry of Truth is to maintain the illusion that what the Party believes in is absolute. Ultimately, the Ministry of Truth does not decide what is true and what is not true. It only instructs the news media to repeat what Big Brother wants the people to believe is the truth. The Ministry of Truth is actually a political arm of his government.

After the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the Soviet Union, emerging democratic nations in Eastern and Central Europe began revising their constitutions and statutory laws to guarantee the right to a free press. Citizens who had been inundated with news filtered through government media were thinking: “How could they tell if the media was telling the truth or still repeating lies?”

In 26 A.D., Pontius Pilate, governor of the Roman province of Judea, asked, “What is truth? Who decides what is true? Who should compel the press to tell the truth?” There were no answers then, and we still confront them today in Europe and global autocratic nations and right now in America.

The First Amendment guarantees a free press. It prevents government from censoring any news media from reporting facts or opinions on anything they wish since they answer to the people. An independent news media is vital in maintaining democracy and preventing government overreach.

“A truly independent free press is the red beating heart of freedom and democracy.” – Dan Rather

In the free world, media does not belong to the government but the people. Since a healthy nation is one that is talking to itself, dissent must be protected and welcomed and it should never, ever be censored or forbidden. But in America, dissent is now classified as disinformation. And conservative news organizations are being blacklisted by disinformation approved and financed by government.

With disapproval of his job performance escalating,

Joe Biden and his progressive generals have been working overtime on damage control to silence his critics. News and opinions reported by conservative media is labeled as dangerous lies by the State Department’s disinformation groups.

“There is truth and there are lies. Leaders of America, we must silence those that lie.” – Joe Biden

As a result of being caught blacklisting conservative news groups to discredit them for criticizing Biden, the State Department-backed nonprofit “disinformation” tracking organization, The National Endowment for Democracy, was forced to sever its financial relationship with Congress.

The National Endowment for Democracy, funded almost entirely by Congress, granted $545,750 between 2020 and 2021 to the Global Disinformation Index. They are feeding conservative website blacklists to advertising companies. Amid complaints about government censorship, the National Endowment for Democracy has become criticized by journalists for discrediting legitimate news.

Like Orwell’s Big Brother’s Ministry of Truth, self-styled “disinformation” tracking groups that are blacklisting and trying to defund conservative media outlets, are being exposed as progressive hit squads. Their only goal to discredit groups that report truth and facts about Democrats and Biden.

“A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.” – Mark Twain

It has been revealed that the State Department has been using conservative tax dollars to block information from conservative media outlets. And Reps. Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Matt Gaetz (R-FL) have vowed to investigate the State Department for bankrolling these “disinformation” tracking groups. Secretly blacklisting and to defund conservative media news is a violation of the First Amendment.

Jordan and Gaetz have set their sights on investigating this questionable practice with the newly created Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government. Getz said, “I’m deeply concerned about this and it fits into the current horizontal pattern across this government.”

Gaetz added, “We traditionally prefer less intense tools than subpoenas, but, unfortunately, so far, the Biden administration has been recalcitrant to the normal tools of oversight. So, if they are going to be unusual in their response to accommodate then we will have to be unusual in pursuing

that.”

A spokesman for the State Department said, “While we are not aware of these specific issues in question, the Department is committed to working with Congressional committees with jurisdiction over U.S. foreign policy to accommodate their need for information to help control disinformation.”

First Amendment lawyers say that taxpayer dollars supporting any disinformation group directly or indirectly is a major problem for government. According to David Warrington of the Dhillon Law Group, “Any ties between the State Department and Global Disinformation Index would be totally inappropriate regardless of whether they do it directly or by proxy, as appears to being done here.”

Recently, Americans for Prosperity launched a Freedom of Information Act request to obtain any documents that show financial support given to the Disinformation Index Foundation and other disinformation groups. It is their goal to determine their involvement with the State Department.

“I suppose that the most revolutionary act one can engage in is... to tell the truth.” – Howard Zinn

The Global Disinformation Index compiles a “dynamic exclusion list” of the biggest “disinformation” peddlers among websites and feeds it to advertisers. It has concluded that the 10 “riskiest” news organizations are the American Spectator, Newsmax, the Federalist, the American Conservative, the Blaze, the Daily Wire, One America News, RealClearPolitics, Reason, and the New York Post.

John F. Kennedy said, “Without public debate, our republic cannot survive.” Progressives and Joe Biden are trying to silence all critics by claiming they are spreading “disinformation.” Their goal is to turn our republic into a socialist democratic state controlled by the far-left Democrats. The socialist manifesto reads: take control of media and education, inflate the currency and divide the classes.

Orwell’s Big Brother knew the role of truth and facts within societies and the ways in which they can be manipulated. By rewriting history, turning lies into truths, and outlawing proven facts, he became the dystopian dictator of Oceania. It could happen here if we don’t end this illegal alliance between liberal self-anointed truth seekers and the government.

“Truth is not something we invent. If we do it is a lie. Truth is something that we discover after we learn all of the facts.” – Bishop Fulton Sheen

SUNY’s Vaccine Rules Still Creating Confusion For Some P-Tech Students

By Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

In January, I wrote a letter to John B. King, Jr., chancellor of the State University of New York (SUNY), to address a concern raised by students taking classes in the New York State Pathways in Technology (NYS P-Tech) program. Despite a number of COVID requirements and mandates finally being relaxed, there remain a number of students at risk of being removed from the program due to inconsistent rules still governing students and teachers.

At the heart of the issue are students in high school who are engaging in hands-on learning programs at a P-Tech partner college that still requires students to be vaccinated. There is no mandate for K-12 students, nor faculty at the colleges hosting P-Tech programming, yet students in high school who have decided not to get vaccinated are at risk of being forced out of this very successful program due to inconsistent rules.

Teachers are allowed to be on campus without vaccination. Students are allowed to be in their traditional classrooms without vaccination. But P-Tech students at Onondaga Community College are required to be vaccinated by April 1 or be removed from the program. What is the logic here?

Unfortunately, I have not received a response from the SUNY chancellor, and the situation continues to lack clarity for students with less than a month before the deadline hits.

The P-Tech program is an integral part of the state’s workforce development initiatives. Students are given an opportunity to earn an associate’s degree in Applied Science in high-tech fields, and they are able to do so with little or no costs incurred. This program, for many students in my district and other rural areas, offers an opportunity to make very competitive wages directly out of high school. These students go on to take jobs in fields sorely lacking available human resources, and they are able to do so without taking on the hefty student loans others are saddled with upon graduation from a traditional four-year university or college.

Disrupting these students’ education and contributions to their communities over inconsistent vaccine policies hurts both the students and the local economy. For this reason, I am hopeful the chancellor can develop an exemption program for students in this unique position.

I have heard from a number of individuals in recent weeks who have expressed serious concerns about their status in

the program, especially as deadlines to provide proof of vaccine are quickly approaching. The onset of COVID-19 was something unlike many of us have ever seen, but too many policies in New York have not accounted for waning strains of the virus and the natural immunity many have developed in the past three years. There is no reason students who choose not to be vaccinated at this time should face a disruption in their education, and I sincerely hope the SUNY system finds a way to remedy this unfortunate situation soon.

If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 19 Canalview Mall, Fulton, NY 13069 and by email at barclayw@nyassembly.gov.

You may also find me, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, on Facebook or on Twitter at @WillABarclay.

National, State and Local Temperature Checks

By Matt Meduri

National

Last week, on February 28, incumbent Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) lost reelection, becoming the first incumbent to do so since the 1980s.

Chicago’s mayoral election works similarly to how runoffs work in some states. All candidates, regardless of party, appear on one ballot. If a candidate receives over 50% of the vote, they are declared the winner. If no candidate reaches a majority, the top two vote-receivers advance to the second round, while all other candidates are eliminated.

The first round’s top two candidates were Paul Vallas, former CEO of Chicago Public Schools, and Brandon Johnson, Cook County Commissioner.

Chicago Public Schools, he’s also served as CEO of Philadelphia School District, Superintendent of the Recovery School District of Louisiana, and Superintendent of Bridgeport, Connecticut, Public Schools.

provide unemployment compensation to workers not typically covered by standard unemployment benefits. They are requesting this for the 2024 budget.

This program would provide unemployment benefits for those excluded from typical coverage, such as immigrants - based on their status - freelancers, self-employed workers, undocumented workers, and formerly incarcerated workers.

This is not the first time the group has collaborated to protest. In 2021, the group marched across the Brooklyn Bridge for similar legislation, which was included in the next budget as the Excluded Workers Fund, coming in at $2.1 billion.

Lori Lightfoot (pictured above) achieved recognition in 2019, when she became the first openly lesbian black woman to serve as mayor of a major U.S. city. Lightfoot championed her 2019 run on lowering crime and addressing quality of life issues in the city.

Forecasters and analysts agreed that a brutal primary was in store this year, not only as Lightfoot’s approval rating continued to sink, but as a crowded nine-candidate primary formed to take her job. Polling ahead of the primary was competitive, while Lightfoot’s approval stood at only the high 20s ahead of the election. She enjoyed above-water numbers until July 2021.

Lightfoot also governed under a particularly difficult time in American history, as she navigated the city through the COVID-19 Pandemic, the 2020 summer riots, as well as general and economic malaise that took the country by storm in 2021. The ensuing crime waves have only made Chicago’s already-prominent crime problem worse.

Paul Vallas, who placed a distant ninth in the 2019 mayoral primary, soared ahead of the pack in last week’s primary. In addition to serving as CEO of

Vallas (pictured above) has run a tough-on-crime campaign, while touting his administrative record in the school systems in different states. He secured 33% of the vote and first place in the primary, finishing well ahead of Brandon Johnson in second place with 21% of the vote.

County Commissioner, has run a more liberal campaign. He is a selfavowed “progressive” and was the only candidate in the race to not suggest hiring more police officers to deal with the rampant crime issues. He looks to address “root causes” of crimes and invest in mental health services and an increase in the detective ranks of the force.

were of the Democratic Party. The last Republican to serve as mayor of Chicago was William H. “Big Bill” Thompson; he left office in 1931.

nominal Democrat, with some likening his positions to those of the GOP. However, his base has been clearly marked by last week’s showing, signaling a shift in mood in the heavily-Democratic city that could give both parties an idea of what works and what does not work on the campaign trail ahead of 2024.

About 500 protestors shut down the Manhattan Bridge during Monday morning rush hour on March 6 to urge Governor Kathy Hochul (D) and the state Legislature to include more provisions for laborers who require unemployment benefits during times of need.

They are lobbying the governor to establish the so-called “Unemployment Bridge Program,” which would

The groups who attended Monday’s march include: Desis Rising Up, Laborers Local 79, Make the Road New York, National Day Laborer Organizing Network, New Immigrant Community Empowerment, NY Taxi Workers, Release Aging People in Prison Campaign and the Street Vendor Project.

of the Second District has cosponsored a piece of legislation entitled “Law Enforcement Officers’ Equity Act.” Garbarino joined two Democrats and one Republican to sponsor the bill.

The bill would “guarantee that police officers across the federal government receive their full retirement benefits. Because of a loophole in the law, thousands of federal law enforcement officers cannot receive enhanced retirement benefits. This legislation would expand and secure full federal benefits to tens of thousands of officers.”

Local Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Lindenhurst) (pictured above right)

I am writing to express my profound concern regarding the recent expulsion of Suffolk County Legislator Robert Trotta from the legislature’s public safety committee. The decision to terminate Trotta’s service on the committee is tantamount to censorship and reflects the deep-seated corruption pervasive within the Police union.

Presiding Officer McCaffrey has shown a complete lack of leadership and integrity by removing Legislator Trotta from the public safety committee. He has succumbed to the pressure and influence of the police union. The union has long tried to discredit and silence Trotta for exposing its corruption. He has betrayed his oath of office and duty to serve Suffolk County’s people. He has violated the principles of democracy and transparency essential for good governance. He has demonstrated that he is unfit to preside over the legislature and to represent his district. He should resign from his position immediately or face a vote of no confidence from his colleagues.

As a highly accomplished and seasoned legislator, Trotta has served as an indispensable voice on the public safety committee, offering invaluable insights and advocating for policies prioritizing the safety and justice of all Suffolk County residents. With over 25 years of experience in law enforcement, Trotta’s unparalleled expertise renders him uniquely qualified to serve on the public safety committee.

It is deeply disconcerting that Trotta’s removal from the committee came at the behest of the county’s largest municipal workers union and its most prominent police union. The Suffolk Police

Benevolent Association and the Association of Municipal Employees have recently called for Trotta’s resignation from the position. The AME has even requested Trotta’s removal from the committee.

Moreover, it is imperative to underscore Trotta’s outstanding career and qualifications. Trotta’s career in law enforcement spans over two decades, during which he has acquired an exceptional depth of knowledge and experience in the field. He has demonstrated a resolute commitment to public safety, an indispensable quality to the public safety committee.

Trotta’s distinguished record and unique skill set make him a vital asset to the committee.

Even if Robert Trotta’s recording is pointless or inauthentic, it is still vital to allow him to present it in a democratic society. The suppression of opposing views and the voices of dissent, such as Trotta’s, have no place in a democratic society. The exclusion of Trotta from the committee clearly indicates the deleterious effects of the corrupt influence of the police union.

Legislator Trotta’s removal from the public safety committee is unjust and unwarranted. His extensive law enforcement career and impeccable credentials make him uniquely qualified to serve on the committee. The exclusion of dissenting voices and opposing views only serves to undermine the fundamental tenets of democracy. The decision to remove Trotta from the committee is tantamount to censorship, and it is a disturbing reflection of the pernicious influence of the police union.

Todd Lagliotta

Ducks Open Tryouts Ahead Local Legends, Landmarks Say: ‘The Dream is Not Dead’

By Michael J. Reistetter

QuackerJack was named the best Team Mascot on Long Island for the second consecutive year at the top of this month. Not long after that, the Flock announced they were signing 4-year MLB veteran, southpaw Kyle Lobstein, to join their pitching staff.

As is usually the case, though, with the 2023 season nearing, all Long Island Ducks news warmed the bench compared to the event of the year every year that is Open Tryout Day.

Open

Tryout Day

is April 15!

On Saturday, April 15, local amateurs are invited to showcase their skills in front of Ducks coaches and team representatives alike. Eight players have earned contracts with the Ducks in year’s past via open player tryouts, including pitchers Jason Creasy, Tyler Honahan, Chris Pike, Anthony Rosati and Brandon Sherman; catchers Wagner Gomez and Francis Prettitore; and outfielder Robert Garcia.

Manager Wally Backman, Pitching Coach Nelson Figueroa, Hitting Coach and

once-Ducks position-playing great Lew Ford and President/GM Michael Pfaff will all be on-hand to evaluate this year’s batch of hopeful talent. Select participants (chosen by the coaching staff) will even earn the opportunity to play in live, on-field scrimmage competition following the tryout.

“It was a great experience that I’d recommend to anyone interested in playing baseball [at a The Messenger sportswriter Dylan Flynn. A middle infielder out of Hauppauge High School’s 2017 graduating class and middle infielder for SUNY New Paltz (‘21), Flynn notably roped a double during intrasquad in his Ducks tryout last year before playing summer ball with the Long Island Crush of the Long Island Stan Musial Men’s Baseball League.

“It’s one day to be a pro baseball player, with the possibility of a few more weeks,” he added, “it’s not an opportunity to be passed up!”

For this year’s open tryout, position players must report to Fairfield Properties Ballpark (“Ducks Stadium”) no later than 8:30 a.m. for registration, while pitchers must report at 10:00 a.m.

Participants must be 18 years of age or older, wear proper baseball attire and supply their own wooden

Continued on page 25

Manager Wally Backman with last year’s open tryout participants. The Messenger’s Dylan Flynn seen center bench (blue and orange hat)!

Emotional Sendoff at Paws of War Weisberg Embarks on Six-Month Journey

By Brian R. Monahan

Friends and volunteers gathered to say their farewells to Robert Weisberg, a Commack Volunteer firefighter who heroically volunteered and risked his life on September 11, 2001, to support the Fire Department of New York as he prepared to make an arduous sixmonth journey on the Appalachian Trail to raise money for Paws of War.

The Appalachian Trail is often described as lifechanging and difficult, and there is no reason to believe that Weisberg’s experience won’t be in line with these descriptors. The trail itself runs 2,200 miles from Georgia to Maine.

As the Nesconset-based charity’s president, Rob Misseri, stated, Weisberg is doing this “to give back to others, who will be in this room with their dogs – to move to a better life.”

“They welcomed me like I was one of their own,” said Weisberg of Paws of War, who suffers from PTSD. “What I get from Paws, besides being able to work with Chip (his service dog), is constant friends.”

“Being here is a place where I can just be myself,” continued Weisberg.

On 9/11, Weisberg found himself setting up one of the first triages of the attack and described the horrors he experienced. After the first tower collapsed, the fire station Weisberg was assisting in became overwhelmed with debris, ash and people rushing in from the street. He attributes his first aid and survival skills to his background in the Boy Scouts of America – the same organization that also gave him a love of the outdoors.

According to Weisberg, Paws of War provides a community for First Responders and Veterans who otherwise might not have places to feel heard and understood.

Weisberg spoke of the tremendous outpouring of support he’s received from the greater community and those that live along the trail – a tight-knit group. There are even those on the trail that have already offered him lodgings and the ability to tour a local fire station.

“I can’t tell you enough,” when asked how important it is that he gives back to Paws of War, before talking more about Chip.

“Chip can tell when, mentally, when I’m not connected to what’s going on,” said Weisberg. “Part of our training now is for him to be able to pick up on my physical cues that no one else notices.”

It is only through Chip’s support that Weisberg feels he has the confidence to embark on this bucket list endeavor.

“He loves wearing the vest, and he loves working,” stated Weisberg. “And, you can see, he’s proud of what we do together.”

“My plan now is to start marching on March 11 and finish on September 11,” continued Weisberg. He added that flexibility and taking it at your own pace is a big part of the trail.

The emotional sendoff was complete with Weisberg and Misseri walking down a corridor of dogs during a training session as Weisberg said goodbye to friends he would not see for half a year.

Robert Misseri, president of Paws of War, wished Rob Weisberg luck on his upcoming journey.

An emotional send off for Rob Weisberg.

Continued

Two Local Saint Baldrick’s Events Happening This Weekend

In 2000, Jim Brady’s pub in Manhattan hosted the first Saint Baldrick’s event at the annual reinsurance industry’s Saint Patrick’s Day party. The event’s initial goal was to shave 17 heads and raise $17,000.

The results were remarkable. Nineteen people had shaved their heads, and $104,000 was donated to the Children’s Oncology Group for research.

The second event, held in 2001, raised about $104,000. It was then that Bender and McDonnell decided to expand the event beyond the reinsurance industry. In 2002, 37 heads were shaved and over $1 million was donated. Word on the event began to spread, with even first responders coming on board hosting their own events at police and fire stations and even at their bases overseas.

In 2005, the foundation was officially born with the idea to spend as little as possible to make sure that every dollar be used to research cures for children fighting cancer. After its first year as an independent foundation, Saint Baldrick’s raised more than $5.3 million with proceeds going to the Children’s Oncology Group.

In 2007, $12.9 million was raised with over 18,000 heads shaved at a whopping 402 events. Proceeds began helping institutions with clinical trials, helped with research grants and scholar awards as well, and in 2010, the first Research Priorities Summit was held. At the Summit, 16 of the most reputable pediatric cancer researchers were present. This was even more evidence that the Saint Baldrick’s Foundation was quickly becoming bigger than what anyone originally imagined.

Being funded by the Saint Baldrick’s Foundation and Stand Up to Cancer, the Pediatric Cancer Dream Team was formed in 2013. The four-year, $14.5 million grant aims at curing some of the hardest pediatric cancers to combat. In addition to this, Saint Baldrick’s International Scholars are also being funded to bring the knowledge of pediatric cancer research to low- and middle-income countries.

In 2014, the Foundation hit a record-breaking year where $27.2 million was raised. This made possibilities for grants and fundraising essentially endless.

The Saint Baldrick’s Foundation raised $326 million since 2005. In 2015, the FDA approved a new drug that dramatically increases cure rates for high-risk neuroblastoma patients. This has been only the third drug approved in 20 years.

This weekend, two Long Island spots are hosting a Saint Baldrick’s event:

• “Matt’s Saint Baldricks Shave 2023” will be held at the Spider Bite Brewery in Holbrook on March 11 at 1 p.m. Local fireman and mechanic, Matt, has been growing his hair since COVID and will shave it in hopes to help others. All are encouraged to attend and donate to aid the cause. The Spider Bite Brewery is located at 920 Lincoln Avenue #5

• “The 11th Annual Short Stop Inn Head Shaving Event” will be held at the Short Stop Inn in East Islip on March 12 at 2 p.m. This event is in memory of Jerry Turnier and his love of giving to charities. Turnier is remembered for wanting to help others and his friends and family have decided to continue his legacy. The Short Stop Inn is located at 259 Carleton Avenue.

The Saint Baldrick’s Foundation can be found on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tik Tok. For more information, you may visit StBaldricks.org.

Local Officials Host Informational Meet and Greet Over MacArthur Airport Superfund Site

By Brian R. Monahan

Following the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) naming of MacArthur Airport as a superfund site, there were many worries and rumors circulating amongst neighboring residents.

Most local concerns were related to PFAS (a pollutant found in firefighting foam used at MacArthur Airport from 1970-2000) found by the DEC, causing the site to be listed. The Suffolk County Department of Health and other local officials held a semi-formal ‘meet and greet’ for any concerned residents at the airport terminal to answer questions about the site and how it impacts the area.

As iterated by the Town of Islip and the DEC, the naming of MacArthur as a superfund site has no bearing on the area’s water quality or air quality –both of which are said to be safe.

MacArthur Airport has been investigated as a potential superfund site since 2016, being named a ‘p’ site in 2018. The official designation as a superfund site merely allows for the DEC to utilize all the tools in its arsenal to remediate the site.

Representatives of local civic associations appeared and seemed satisfied with this step in transparency

on the issue.

The DEC has stated its intention to keep residents informed at all steps of the remediation process.

Suffolk County Legislator

Rob Trotta Hosts Annual Pet Food

Drive

To Benefit

Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Food Bank/Baxter’s Pet Pantry

Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta is participating in the 12th Annual Legislative Food Drive Challenge to collect pet food for the clients of Long Island Cares. Since 2009, Long Island Cares has provided free pet food and supplies to individuals and families in need, in an effort to enable them to keep their pets at home instead of placing them in shelters.

Legislator Trotta pointed out that, according to Long Island Cares, dog and cat food are the most requested items by their member agencies. “I would be most appreciative if the

generous residents and pet lovers in my district would help out,” said Legislator Trotta.

The pet pantry is in need of canned and dry cat/dog food, cat/dog treats, birdseed, and food for fish, rabbits, and ferrets, as well as kitty litter and small new toys. The drive is from now until the end of April, and donations may be brought to Legislator Trotta’s district office at 59 Landing Avenue, Suite 1 (Blue Door), Smithtown. The office is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. For more information, please call his office at (631) 854-3900.

Legislator Rob Trotta is pictured with his dog Buddy.

All Things Seuss Celebrating Dr. Seuss’ Birthday

Helen B. Duffield Elementary School students dressed in red and white and Seuss attire to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2, followed by Read Across America on March 3. Sponsored by the National Education Foundation, Read Across America is a nationwide celebration of reading that encourages students to become excited about the written word and books.

Throughout the month of March, the students will participate in various activities, such as a “One Fish, two

(Top photo) Second grade students in Ms. Randazzo’s class at Helen B. Duffield Elementary School worked with an interactive word search to find Dr. Seuss words.

(Left photo) Helen B. Duffield Elementary School students wore red and white to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March

(Bottom photo) Helen B. Duffield Elementary School teacher Teresa Hewitt and her kindergarten class dressed to celebrate Dr. Seuss’ birthday on March 2.

Fish, Guess How Many Fish” count, a Dr. Seuss scavenger hunt, readalouds and video activities in the library’s Dr. Seuss Reading Room and interactive Seuss activities in the Reading Hallway.

In addition to wearing the iconic red and white hats, second grade students in Ms. Randazzo’s class participated in an interactive word search located in the hallway. The students searched for words included in Dr. Seuss’ books and taped a paper strip with the word onto the board.

Kindergarten students in Teresa Hewitt’s kindergarten class honed their phonics skills. Each student was given a card with a letter. As Ms. Hewitt called out a word, the students looked to see if they had the letter with the corresponding sounds to make up words like “wet” and “vet.” The exercise assisted with the students’ reading and site word skills.

East Islip Middle Schooler

Andre Collins Wins Athlete of the Year

Andrew Collins, a 6th grader at Great Hollow Middle School, was awarded the Youth Field Athlete of the Year by the USATF LI Region. In addition to the long jump, he enjoys running the 400m and 800m for St. Mary’s Track in East Islip.

This was awarded at St. Anthony’s on Saturday, February 25.

Photo courtesy of East Islip School District

St. Patrick’s Day

The oldest St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Long Island is hosted in the Town of Huntington by the Ancient Order of Hibernians. The parade to the patron saint of Ireland was first held in 1930, although little is known about who organized the event. As more Irish-Americans moved to Long Island, more parades would be started to honor the heritage of the residents.

March, recognized as Irish Heritage Month, is full of St. Patrick’s Day Parades across Long Island.

Have any parade pictures? Send them to news@messengerpapers.com to have them featured here.

Sons of the American Legion Squadron #833 Donates $3,000 to Suffolk County American Legion

By Messenger Papers Staff

Sons of the American Legion Squadron 833 donated $3,000 to a Walk-A-Thon sponsored by the New York State American Legion and Legion Auxiliary.

The donation from Squadron 833 represents the first donation and was gifted at the March 3 meeting of the Suffolk County American Legion. The March 3 meeting also honored the anniversary of the American Legion.

“[The American Legion] represent all that is good, wholesome, ethical, and moral in a fund-raising organization,” reads the letter attached to the donation by Post Commander Bill Coderre. “Be assured that their efforts are greatly appreciated not only by me but by most members of our community. James Ely Miller Post 833 and SAL Squadron 833 look forward to seeing the continued progress Walk-A-Thon NYS will make in the near future.”

The Walk-A-Thon is slated to be held on April 29, with more details to follow.

(Pictured) Post #833 Commander Bill Coderre (right) and County Vice Commander (2nd Division) Kevin Eaton (Left)

Welcome to the Milano Bean Café – Who’s Already Expanding!

By Deana D. Boles

Since opening its doors in 2020, the Milano Bean Café, at 51 West Main Street, has continued to grow in popularity.

Many East Islip residents have made it their go-to coffee spot, as opposed to visiting the nearby franchises, simply for its great atmosphere, modest prices and friendly staff. With its new reputation for the locals, it wasn’t long before the Milano Bean Café was being compared to the famous TV sitcom, Cheers.

This neighborhood coffee shop, located less than a quarter mile west of Carleton Avenue, stands in a quaint building next to the All Things Beautiful Salon. Immediately upon entering, you are introduced to a hip little eatery often said to resemble the cafes in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Its ceilings draped with greenery, along with its use of wood paneling, give its customers a whimsical, and rather unforgettable vibe.

Along with its attractive and relaxing atmosphere, the Milano Bean Café offers an array of coffee options, from espressos and mochas to cappuccinos and macchiatos. Customers can choose from the many flavor options, along with a generous choice of sugar free flavors as well. Specialty drinks are offered and are presented on their specialty board daily.

The café’s bakery (pictured above) also comes fully stocked with countless delicious sweets to enjoy a cup of joe with. The Milano Bean Café offers an array of fresh muffins, baked cookies, crumb cake, doughnuts, cakes and, yes, even a frozen section for more sweet treats.

Troop 205 Recognizes Its 106th Eagle Scout

Legislator Steven J. Flotteron recently recognized James Quinn Kelly of East Islip with Troop 205 on being their 106th Eagle Scout at his Eagle Court of Honor at the Timber Point Elementary School. James’ Service Project, earning him Eagle Scout status, was repainting the welcome sign and mulching and refurbishing picnic tables around the area. He is currently a senior at East Islip High School where he excels academically, has been a scholar athlete in soccer and track and will graduate with 11 Advanced Placement classes. In addition, James is a two time Top Engineer and Class and School Robotics Championship winner.

After two years of being in business, this well-liked coffee spot is being called on by their neighbors. This spring, Bay Shore will welcome the second location of Milano Bean Café, at 6 East Main Street, where Salon Eden previously occupied.

The Islip Planning Board recently approved the location, offering as many as 32 seats. This number was double the applicant’s request. Present at the hearing were many town residents in favor of the applicants request. Many actively supported the request due to the Milano Bean Café’s prominent role in East Islip. Once approval was granted, there was great applause.

The Bay Shore location hopes to be a meeting spot for locals – a place where students can gather, friends can relax, and others can even work. Open mic night will also be available in Bay Shore as it is in East Islip.

Memories Unpacked: Travel in Your Lifetime

By Peter Chidichimo

Growing up, my dad did not get a lot of vacation time. Having a small business, such as the dry cleaning and tailoring shop that he owned, the best he could do was leave the store for two weeks, while his partner Billy remained with the shop and looked after things.

But, those two weeks in the summer were the best any child could want or hope for, at least as far as I was concerned. There was something incredibly special about lying awake at 4 in the morning, listening to the crickets from my upstairs bedroom, and straining to hear any semblance of life from the downstairs hallway. A creak in the floor, a cough or even a soft whisper meant my dad was up, and we would soon be off on another treasured family adventure.

As a child, I have no recall of how my parents packed their respective suitcases, or even how I packed mine, or how much my mom was involved.

What I do remember is my dad packing the car. You see, our Plymouth Valiant was not a large vehicle, and my dad liked to pack a camp stove so we could stop and cook along the road. Besides the camp stove, there was also a beach umbrella, floats, food supplies, paper goods, a cooler of ice and drinks and snacks— a couple of pillows, fishing poles and the suitcases as well.

We never knew exactly where or when we would pull off the road for my dad’s famous roadside camp style lunches, but somehow my

dad always found the perfect spot. You won’t find this skill in any travel guides. But they were pretty spots.

Since my wife and myself have retired and upped our travel game, I find myself reflecting on those cozy memories. These family vacations by car were iconic, leaving while it was still dark, the endless

stretches of open highway, the warm breezes from the front windows, shoes kicked off and stopping for the night at a mom-and-pop motel.

The packing ritual started the night before as my dad would assemble the luggage, the camp stove, the cooler and all the rest. There were five of us, including my two sisters and myself, so the ensemble was considerable. He would look at the baggage, then the roof rack, then the trunk, then rub his chin, and finally, as if arriving at the perfect recipe, begin the process, one item at a time. I always stayed close by, because, when it was time, he called me because my job was to help tie the luggage to the roof rack.

I guess I did OK, nothing ever flew off the car. If it did, then I was asleep in the backseat when it happened.

Years later, my wife and our two kids would take my parents on a trip to Virginia. The Valiant had morphed into an Oldsmobile 98, and gone was the roof rack, but there was still plenty of packing to do. I mostly managed it under my dad’s watchful eye. I could almost hear his thoughts as I loaded up the Olds— well, I guess he learned something on our vacations.

I learned a lot more than how to pack. My dad was an excellent driver and an exceptional packer, taking us to New Hampshire, Canada, Florida, Colorado and the Grand Canyon on those two-week journeys. He always seemed to know exactly where he was going, and always found those perfect roadside stops.

I can’t hardly remember him making a wrong turn, something I still do in my own neighborhood. And when we were ready to stop for the night, a Howard

Johnsons would magically appear “next exit.” This, of course, was done without a car navigator, cell phone or GoogleMaps.

On our own family vacations by car travel, I was happy to involve my own son in the process, and explained how to make the best use of the space available. I didn’t carry on the tradition of the roadside camp-style lunches, but we still carried plenty of stuff— including beach gear, rafts, fishing poles, a cooler, snacks, and of course, pillows for the back seat.

A new addition was a cassette of children’s songs, which eventually I could sing from memory.

These days, it’s just my wife and I, and we travel by plane as much as by car, so there are limits to what one can take along. To that end, my wife has mastered the art of packing. She knows exactly what she needs, and packs it all neatly into the smallest possible vessel. It’s an art to her, a challenge, and she pulls it off perfectly each and every time. It is never too much or too little, but just right.

As for me, I consider myself a lazy packer. I start with the largest piece, the Titanic of suitcases, and throw my stuff in, allowing for every contingency, including downpours, heat waves and spilling spaghetti sauce on my shirt. Yet, upon arrival, I still can never seem to find what I need, without having to rummage through everything, while my wife stands by with that “you’ve got to be kidding” look on her face.

On our latest trip, I was over the 50-pound limit by three pounds at the American Airlines check in counter, and had to do the “re-pack of shame” by transferring a few unmentionable items to my backpack, which by now was causing me a pain in the rear. How come they don’t weigh the people, I thought to myself, but of course didn’t say anything, as my suitcase wobbled down the conveyor belt.

Anyway, whatever your childhood memories, and whatever your travel preferences and packing skills are these days, enjoy your adventure and stay safe out there.

America the Beautiful: How History Shapes our Electorate Connecticut – The Nutmeg State

By Matt Meduri

Admitted in 1788, Connecticut is one of the Thirteen Original Colonies and one of just seven states to have participated in all 59 Presidential elections. While Connecticut isn’t known as one of the most significant states on the political spectrum, no state perhaps lends itself better as an example of current national trends.

Early History and Revolution

Connecticut’s first settlers came from the Bay and Plymouth Colonies of Massachusetts. The British funded the Saybrook Colony at the mouth of the Connecticut River, a threat to Dutch trade in nearby New Amsterdam. Other Puritans from Massachusetts founded the New Haven Colony along the Long Island Sound.

Connecticut’s early history is also defined by wars with the Natives, namely the Pequots. This early elimination of the tribe allowed the settlers to take most of the territory and resources up the Connecticut River. Since Massachusetts did not wish to administer their colonies due to distance and communication, self-government in the state began.

Connecticut’s position in the Revolution was staunch, as General George Washington used the area to encircle New York City. The state was also used as a launch site for raids against Long Island. The state was home to turncoat Benedict Arnold.

Civil War

Connecticut abolished slavery in 1848, and as early as the 1830s, blacks from in and out of the state migrated to the cities for employment and opportunity. Manufacturers in the state contributed to the war effort, with rifles, cannons, ammunitions, and 55,000 soldiers, including the U.S. Colored Troops.

Democrats had a head start in Connecticut politics, as the Whigs collapsed before the Civil War and the Republican party was not founded until 1856. However, Connecticut’s intrinsic Union Northern nature led to many Democrats, especially the long-blue Irish Catholics, ending their support for slavery.

Industrialization

Connecticut had already been home to farmlands and a vibrant textile industry, before taking on munitions. Connecticut was also home to inventors.

From the birth of the U.S. patent system in 1790 until 1930, the state had issued more patents per capita than any other state. Eli Whitney and Samuel Colt called the state home.

Connecticut’s flat landscape, small size, and close urban centers made it a great state for building railroads. By 1830, 600 miles of railroad had been built. The consolidation of its main lines after the Civil War became a major economic boon.

J.P. Morgan, born in Connecticut, had major interests in New England’s developments and helped finance the railroads.

The GOP won every election in Connecticut from the party’s inception in 1856 to the controversial 1876 election. Democrat Grover Cleveland (D-NY) would carry the state three times from 18841892 by less than one point each time. He was able to win due to GOP and Populist party support of bimetallism, whereas Cleveland was a staunch supporter of the gold standard.

The Yankee Republican roots of the state transcended the Civil War and influenced the state to the turn of the Century. Democratic intraparty fighting over the liberalism of Progressive William Jennings Bryan led to vote splits in general elections, while rural Yankee Democrats fought for state party control with the urban Irish, another Democratic group. Factory workers and farmers were still a Republican group and would continue to be for some time.

The state would house a vibrant machine industry during both World Wars. These factors combined made the factory towns of Bridgeport, New Haven, Waterbury and Hartford magnets for European immigrants, many of whom were Polish and Italian. By 1910, Connecticut’s population was almost 30% foreign-born.

The Great Depression saw the Democrats’ partial return to power with FDR’s (D-NY) New Deal, although the state would back Hoover in his 1932 landslide loss, true to its Yankee form.

Modern Political History

Connecticut would then vote for the parties in blocks, rather than instances. Three times for FDR, then three times for the GOP from 1948-1956, then three again for Democrats until 1968. The GOP would see five consecutive wins from 1972-1988. It entered the “blue wall” that was erected in Bill Clinton’s 1992 watershed election, where it has remained since, its longest voting streak for either party to date.

This is where national shifts mirrored

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

by Connecticut’s shift have been observed. While the state has moved partially away from manufacturing to white collar work, such as finance, real estate, software development, investment and asset management, and hospitals, the population has retained most of its profile: small town-suburban, educated, working-class whites. Like other New England states, the relative liberalism that founded the Republican party eventually became more intrinsically libertarian, and is now Democratic-leaning.

No Republican has carried Hartford County, and with it, every single county, in one election since Ronald Reagan in 1984. George Bush Sr. vastly underperformed despite having roots in the state. His poor handling of the economy further hurt GOP influence in financial Connecticut. This was the last time the state voted Republican.

The state has since produced big names like Senator Chris Dodd (D), Senator Lowell Weicker (R) and Senator Joe Lieberman (D, I).

However, Connecticut, like New Jersey, is considered a “high-floor, low-ceiling”

state for the GOP. While they can usually rely on 40% of the vote, it’s difficult for them to travel north of that.

Despite being panned by college and suburban voters, Donald Trump (R) actually improved upon Mitt Romney’s (R) performance in 2016. He actually flipped Windham County, becoming the first Republican since Bush Sr. to win it. Hillary Clinton’s (D) only double-digit wins were in Fairfield (Bridgeport) and Hartford Counties.

However, evident of the urban v. rural and college v. non-college split, Trump lost townships that had not voted Democratic since the 1870s. The classically Republican townships of Darien and New Canaan, near Stamford, did not support Trump, but regularly vote against House and Senate Democrats.

The state does have a decent GOP, and voters will elect them under the right circumstances. The 2018 governor’s race was one of the closest in the nation.

Republicans have not won a gubernatorial race here since 2006. They have not won a Senate race since 1982 and last controlled both Senate seats in 1959.

The strategy for either party to attract voters: follow the money.

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Saint Patrick’s Day Parades in Full Effect

By Deana D. Boles

Saint Patrick, born around 386 A.D., was born in Roman Britain only to be kidnapped and brought to Ireland as a slave at 16. After escaping entrapment, Saint Patrick left Ireland, but returned later in life to bring Christianity to the Irish people.

After his death in the year 461, The people of Ireland adopted Saint Patrick’s mythology into their culture. One famous legend is his use of the native Irish clover, the shamrock, to explain the Holy Trinity (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).

By the seventh century, the Catholic Church had already declared Saint Patrick the patron Saint of Ireland, which means the people of Ireland have been celebrating this religious holiday for over 1,000 years. Falling within the Christian Lenten season, Irish families would traditionally attend mass in the morning and celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day afterwards. All prohibitions regarding meat were waived, making the day an extra special celebration of dance, drink and feast.

Although the people of Ireland have been celebrating for quite some time now, one of the first Saint Patrick’s Day parades occurred in America, not in Ireland. In 1601, a Spanish colony, known today as Saint Augustine, Florida, made record of its first Saint Patrick’s Day Parade. Over a hundred years later, Irish soldiers serving in the

military took to the streets of New York City in 1772 to march and honor their home’s saint.

From there, the number of parades began to multiply.

Long Island has honored Saint Patrick’s Day in select familiar towns. The next few weekends hold a great roster of Suffolk County towns that you may want to check in on for a good time and great parade.

March 11

• The Annual Saint James Saint Patrick’s Day Parade on Woodlawn Avenue in Saint James at 1 p.m. Marching bands, floats, scout troops and firetrucks!

• The Bay Shore Brightwaters Saint Patrick’s Day Parade starts at Saxon Avenue in Bay Shore at 2 p.m. This year’s Grand Marshall is Donna Moravick, RN, NP, who is Executive Director for South Shore University Hospital which is now a member of Northwell Health.

March 12

• Miller Place- Rocky Point Saint Patrick’s Day Parade — Since 1949, this parade has been attracting thousands of locals to celebrate both

the religious holiday and their communities. Marchers, musicians and dancers will all be marching proud beginning at the Friends of Saint Patrick on Route 25A in Miller Place at 1 p.m.

• Moriches Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will have the theme of “Irish Influence on American Culture.” The parade will be held at 2 p.m. on Main Street in Center Moriches and will be led by Grand Marshall Joseph Townsend of Manorville.

March 19

• Patchogue’s Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will begin on Main Street immediately after the annual “May the Road Rise To Meet Ye 5K” at 12 p.m.

March 26

• Montauk Saint Patrick’s Day Parade – which is one of the most popular in New York State – will begin at Montauk Friends of Erin on Edgemere Road at 12 p.m.

• Ronkonkoma’s Annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade will be held on Hawkins Avenue at School Street and will continue South on Hawkins ending at Thorne Street. The parade begins at 2 p.m.

Ms. Rachel Making Headlines for Co-Star’s “They/Them” Pronoun Usage

By Deana D. Boles

Rachel Griffin Accurso, now famously known as “Ms. Rachel,” started out as a New York City Preschool Teacher. After her son, Thomas, was diagnosed with a speech delay, Accurso was eager to find a show that would help with her son’s special needs.

Accurso was unable to find one, so she made one. Since starting in 2019, Ms. Rachel’s YouTube channel now has more than 3 million subscribers and over 1 billion views. Her Tik Tok has over 2.5 million followers. With the help of Ms. Rachel’s “Songs for Littles,” parents of young children know full well what to say to the elephant we meet upon a summer’s day, or just what to do with icky sticky bubble gum.

However, this week, Accurso has made headlines for her announcement that she will be taking a break from social media for her mental health. Her announcement comes after she faced backlash due to her co-star’s use of “they/them” pronouns.

Jules Hoffman, a musician on Ms. Rachel’s series, became a viral star accumulating over 100,000 Tik Tok subscribers after they appeared in performances alongside Accurso. While the topic of pronouns in relation to gender identity have not been discussed on Accurso’s Ms. Rachel program, Hoffman, known to the children as just “Jules,” identifies as “they/them,” according to they Tik Tok page and their biography on the “Songs for Littles” website.

Users pointed out that on Jules’ personal Tik Tok account, they were seen singing about being brave for an upcoming operation. Although the video did not mention gender identity, Jules

described their surgery as “major,” and that it was “a good thing.”

Jules took to Tik Tok to respond to the controversy.

“I didn’t know how to respond to everything that is going on,” states the caption on her video showing her interacting with a puppet. “I want to address the elephant in the room in the best way I know how—by teaching kids about love and acceptance.”

In the video, Jules asks the puppet if it has ever heard anyone say anything mean about itself. The puppet goes on to say how people don’t like its voice.

“Just because a few people don’t like your voice that you know, that doesn’t mean that everybody doesn’t like your voice … Poppy, love

is always going to be stronger than hate and I love your voice.”

Countless reactions poured in over the ordeal. While many continue to support Accurso and Jules, many others have already lashed out and “canceled” Ms. Rachel.

Accurso posted a video on her Ms. Rachel Tik Tok where she sings, “I’m taking a break from Tik Tok for my mental health.” Accurso captioned the video, “Hurtful videos and comments, no matter how much attention they get, will not bring you what you want. Only love can do that.”

Accurso has remained active on Instagram and has advised that she will return to Tik Tok. She has also stated that “boundaries” need to be set on social media and that it is important to recognize when you have to pull away.

The use of “they/them” pronouns became popular for those electing genderneutral, singular pronoun preference. When an individual uses they/them, they identify as nonbinary or non-conforming gender. Therefore, their gender identity falls outside the criteria of classification as a man or woman. By using “they,” a male or female identity has not been chosen.

“I am hoping that by being me, I am able to show kids that there are different types of people in the world and sometimes people like me don’t always fit in to the boxes that society has imposed upon us,” Jules said to ABC News. “I want kids and adults alike to know that they will be supported and loved when they are their most authentic and truest selves.”

Play the Man! Yanks’ Top Prospect Volpe Making Bid to be Opening Day Shortstop

By Dylan Flynn

The long-awaited debut of top shortstop prospect Anthony Volpe may be closer than you think.

Coming into camp this season, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said the players would be given a fair shot, and the most qualified player would get the starting shortstop job.

Last season, the Yankees got subpar play at the shortstop position from Isiah Kiner-Falefa, whom they had acquired via trade from the Minnesota Twins to fill a need before the start of the season.

Kiner-Falefa committed 15 errors last season at shortstop. He was forced into the role to fill a need for the Yankees after committing 19 blunders at short for the Texas Rangers a season ago.

The Yankees have two better options waiting in the wings in Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza.

Peraza got his feet wet last year, coming up to the big leagues in September and playing some good baseball. He even got a start at shortstop when the errors were just too much from Kiner-Falefa in the playoffs.

Volpe, on the other hand, made it as high as triple-A last season. The 21-year-old former first-round pick picked up 21 hits in 22 games for triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre last season.

He has had success at every level and is now showing brilliance in spring training.

Volpe has not only swung the bat well but has flashed the leather as well— something that Yankees fans dearly missed from the shortstop position last year.

The Yankees’ top prospect is the fifth overall prospect in all of Major League Baseball. Cashman does not like to rush prospects, but now may be the time. After all. The last time the Yankees trusted a rookie shortstop, his name was Derek Jeter, and they won the World Series in year one.

And several more thereafter.

Better yet, just last season, their hated rivals, the Houston Astros, won the World Series with a rookie shortstop.

Jeremy Peña took home both American League Championship Series and World Series MVP awards in 2022. The Astros let go of Carlos Correa, one of the premier shortstops in all of baseball, in order to allow Pena to play. This maneuver planned out better than you could ever hope to map out.

And Peña was never as highly touted as Volpe and Peraza. They opted not to trade them last year, instead holding onto them, realizing that they were their future. The future is now, and it is time to let the kids play and see what they can accomplish.

Gotta Have Some Hart Knicks Red Hot Since Trading for Josh

By Dylan Flynn

Josh Hart is not a superstar by any means. But when you don’t get solid play from the players that are supposed to be stars, you need the role players to fill in.

With the emergence of Jalen Brunson as one of the league’s top point guards and a resurgent season from Julius Randle, the Knicks needed some role players badly.

They decided to make a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers for guard Josh Hart. Hart was a former teammate of Brunson at the University of Villanova, where the duo won a national championship in 2016.

Brunson was ecstatic upon learning that Hart was coming to New York. With Hart averaging 9 points per game and 4 assists, he isn’t an eye-popping player. What can’t be shown on the score sheet, though, is the chemistry he has with Brunson.

The Knicks went for the familiarity aspect dating back to college with the two guards, and so far it’s been so good. Helped along by the stellar defense Hart is known for, the Knicks peeled off 9 straight wins after the Josh Hart trade.

On the win streak, they defeated the 2-seed in the East Boston Celtics twice, as well as the Brooklyn Nets twice to overtake them for fifth place. The ninth victory was against Boston on the road in a dramatic double overtime victory.

The Knicks hustle, play good defense and have a great cohesive unit out on the floor— they will be a tough team to beat down the stretch.

They finally fell to the Charlotte Hornets at home 112-105 on Tuesday but have shot up the Eastern Conference standings to fifth place and just two games back of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

As it stands right now, the Knicks would match up against the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs. The Cavaliers are one of the best home teams in the NBA, with a 28-7 record on their home court.

In the offseason, the Cavaliers also traded for star guard Donovan Mitchell. The Knicks were also in on Mitchell, but decided to forego the trade and signed Brunson instead.

So far, it has worked out for the Knicks, but it would be interesting to see the two teams matchup in the playoffs.

The Knicks have been better on the road than at home, going 20-12 away from MSG and 19-16 on their home floor for a grand total of 39-28, as of Wednesday. Home-court advantage isn’t a major problem for this team. They’ve shown grit in the big games when people have doubted them.

The Knicks own the season series against the Cavaliers 2-1 right now, with a fourth game to be played at the end of March.

New York now enters a tough 4-game west coast road trip against the Sacramento Kings, second in the west, the LA Clippers and Lakers, eighth and ninth in the west, and the Trail Blazers, who are a half-game out of the playoffs.

If they can have a solid road trip and win 2 or 3 games, they will be looking really good as they make a drive toward the playoffs.

The schedule does ease up towards the end, but the Knicks will look to be sharp towards the end of the season to try and break a 50-year title drought. Maybe all they needed was a little Hart.

Continued from page 10

Ducks Open Tryouts Ahead

Local Legends, Landmarks Say: ‘The Dream is Not Dead’

Participants will also be required to sign a waiver before trying out. Cleats/spikes are only to be worn while on the field. All players must wear sneakers/turf shoes prior to reaching the field.

Open Tryouts and Amateur-to-Pro Crossovers: a Historical Context

Don’t let the cynicism rife within an episode of FX’s irreverently jam-packed comedy, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, wherein the gang goes green in an ill-fated attempt to try-out for their hometown Eagles’ flying machine— infect your opinions about all-things open tryouts. Instead, look to the experiences of Netflix’s titular Battered Bastards of Baseball — a documentary so heart-tugging you ought to throw it on immediately after reading this article.

The 2014 documentary tackles the misadventures and exploits of Bonanza character actor Bing Russell, father of Kurt, and his ragtag assemblage of your tired, your poor, your hungry for battle local watering hole regulars turned menaces to high baseball society.

Like the Long Island Ducks, Russell’s Portland Mavericks were an independent minor league ball club unaffiliated with a Major League Baseball organization.

Unlike the Ducks, the Mavericks divisionally competed against affiliated clubs— much to the latter’s chagrin, as the Mavericks forged feather-ruffling championship runs via an outside-the-box, renegade style of play.

Comprised of MLB vets like Ball Four author Jim Bouton looking to stage late-in-the-game comebacks, and self-proclaimed amateur ball rejects who responded to newspaper wanted ads and general word of mouth, the Mavericks are as timeless as the children’s game itself. And with its batboy, current Academy Award-nominated director Todd Field (In the Bedroom, Tár), along with Bouton and Mavs southpaw Rob Nelson inventing “Big League Chew” bubblegum – talk about a mouthful of a sentence – in their criminally short-lived bullpen, the titular “bastards” confirm that it doesn’t take big league affiliation to make a big-league impact.

The Ghosts of Baseball Legends Past in Duckland, C.I.?

Just up the road, off of the same Carleton Avenue strip that pays host to Ducks Stadium and different iterations of the now state-ofthe-art Central Islip Little League Complex, lives ol’ reliable Gull Haven Golf Course.

Also on its grounds: the abandoned, seemingly irremovable “old-timey” baseball grandstand that welcomes you upon arrival.

Many from the area recall playing on the now all-grass area that once featured an operating ball diamond to compliment the grandstand. More specifically, they grew up with an urban legend of sorts passed around that the grandstand remains in place because New York Yankee legends, “The Great Bambino” Babe Ruth and “The Iron Horse” Lou Gehrig, once barnstormed there during their heyday.

“I remember playing little league baseball on that field about 50 years ago when I was 12 years old,” said Patrick Falbo, now of Bay Shore. “It was in good shape back then, and sometimes when I play that hole [at Gull Haven] and look over at the field, I can remember my dad sitting in the stands watching the game…”

“Barnstorming” was a beloved practice of a nowbygone era, back before contractual language absolutely prohibited gameplay outside of one’s own Major League organization. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the 3-and-4 batters for the Yankees’ famed “Murderer’s Row,” amongst other ballplayers, not only traveled overseas to market the game in the wintertime. Out of sheer willingness to keep on getting their “hacks” in after hours, baseball’s top stars would take to the local Long Island men’s leagues for pickup game reps while en route from Manhattan to the Hamptons every offseason weekend.

Lindenhurst reportedly shut down its town in 1930 to watch The Babe and Lou play.

“Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig were good friends and enjoyed visiting Lindenhurst to dine and fish at Barnacle Bill’s restaurant and docks on Montauk Highway along with other teammates,” reads a post on Lindenhurst Library’s website recalling the occasion. “One of their fishing buddies was Addie Klein, the manager of the

local amateur Lindenhurst Athletic Club’s baseball team, considered one of the best in the county. As many players did at the time, the two stars would form teams of other major leaguers and ‘barnstorm,’ arranging exhibition games against local teams during the off-season…

“The afternoon of Saturday, October 18, 1930 was the date set for a game at Meridale Park, a diamond located on the north side of Montauk Highway at 2nd Street, between

a team of major leaguers, including Babe (pictured batting in Lindehurst below) and Lou, and Addie Klein’s Lindy Nine.”

Imagine Aaron Judge launching dingers at Browns Road in Nesconset… traffic passing by, cover your hoods!

A Duck for a Day…

The Pro-Tryout Specifications for April 15 are scheduled to include:

-Warmups

-60-Yard Dash

-Pop Time (Catchers)

-Infielders/Outfielders – Defensive Drills

-Pitcher Warm-Up in Outfield

-Position Players Hit Batting Practice, Pitchers Light Bullpen (pre-scrimmage)

-Scrimmage begins at approximately 12:00 p.m.

There will be an administration fee of $100 to participate in this year’s tryout ($125 on the day of the event). To register and reserve your tryout spot, please visit the LI Ducks’ website to submit a registration form. You may also contact Christine Blumenauer during normal business hours by calling (631) 940-3825 ext. 114 or emailing cblumenauer@liducks.com.

What remains of the ‘Gull Haven’-located grandstand in Central Islip, mere hundreds of yards from Fairfield Properties Ballpark (Ducks Stadium) Did Babe Ruth and Lou Gerhig ‘barstorm’ here? Stay tuned. photo credit: Max Tenenbaum, 2020

Portrait of a Soaring Eagle: Hauppauge Wrestling’s Chris Messina and His Second-to-None Career

“I surround myself with good people, and that’s the key,” Messina asserts. “You surround yourself with good people, and you’re always going to come out on top.”

These “good people” include other families that have spawned multiple generations and siblings of high-caliber Hauppauge wrestlers — the Smith’s, the Collado’s, the Manta’s, the miraculous Mauriello’s— the list goes on. And Messina couldn’t be prouder of what he’s started.

“You start them young, and you get them interested,” Messina said. “Kids don’t want to wrestle, at first, because it’s a hard sport. But [if] they do it all the time from when they’re little, they remember it. When kids hit middle school, they want to be a part of what’s going on. And they don’t have to worry about being cut, because we don’t cut anybody.”

“The one thing that stands out when I look back is how hard he [Coach Messina] fought for his guys and cared about all his wrestlers,” said Dan Mauriello, the youngest of three standout brothers who wrestled under Messina. Dan graduated from Hauppauge in 2020 as a 3-time County Champion, 2-time state placer and a 1-time State Champion wrestler.

“It didn’t matter if you were a state champ or a backup— if you were on the mat, he gave everyone the same treatment and love. [He’s] truly a legend of a coach, and I am honored to have been able to compete for him.”

“Even as a newbie, he did not let up [with me],” said Mikall Tran, Class of 2015, who had a tough time starting for Hauppauge due to competing in the same weight class as Dan’s older brother, Chris Mauriello. As familiar a face as they come around town, Tran has noticeably bulked up since his high school days— and credits Messina with first setting him on the path toward enhanced fitness.

“He wanted to see who was committed to the sport, the art of wrestling, and who was willing to give up a part of themselves to the sport,” Tran recalled. “He knew that the team was as strong as their weakest link, which is why his training style was so unique. He focused on whoever struggled most, while not letting the people at the top become complacent. It’s through pain and victory that it did create a bond with the team, which is why if anyone asks if I want to relive it, I would.”

Messina has profoundly impacted entire families, like the Mauriello’s, from the top-down.

“He’s meant a great deal to me and my family. I’ve learned so much from him,” said Dan’s father, Nick Mauriello, who started as a volunteer assistant coach for Messina in 2008. “His work ethic is second to none and he is all about his athletes. I love the man and he has become someone that I cherish as a friend. He has been unbelievable for the sport of wrestling and the wrestling community.”

Health and Safety Always

Remembering unthinkable adversity that hit the program and community at large that was thankfully overcome, Messina called to mind the oldest of the Mauriello wrestling triumvirate, Nick’s eldest son, also Nick, and his life-threatening 2011 battle during his junior year.

It was originally understood he had been infected with MRSA— but, ultimately, Nick was diagnosed with a “one in a million” case of the bacterial infection known as “Lemierre’s Syndrome.”

Thanks to opportune medical treatment and the community rallying together in good-old Hauppauge

fashion, Nick made a full recovery— placing in counties and states as a senior one year after his life hung in the balance.

Hauppauge’s disinfection operations, and the entire state’s, were completely overhauled as a result.

“You can’t afford to have an outbreak. You can’t take a chance at losing a quality kid,” said Messina. “We’ve learned a lot, since Nick. Since that happened, the school has paid a company to come in [and disinfect “everything”]…our entire philosophy [for safety and cleanliness] has changed… it was one of the scariest moments of my life.”

After losing its youth program and middle school program for a year due to COVID some years later, Hauppauge Wrestling was able to build it back up. This is something they were about to do in no time, for they lead the curve in safety precautions after witnessing firsthand what the alternative to dotting every ‘i’ and crossing every ‘t’ entails.

“We go through serious lengths to keep our kids clean,” said Messina. “From mopping the mats before and after practice. We have a bucket they have to step in, and they have to clean. They step on their towel that has to clean their feet. We have a special solution of non-toxic cleaning fluid, they step in it, wipe their feet off and they’re good to go.”

“So it’s not just teaching and coaching wrestling, you have to teach a philosophy. Your mindset is that your kids are in better shape than everybody. That you’re better prepared. That you eat the right things.”

Messina adds, “Michael [his son] is on the mat with them. I roll around a little bit, but Michael can actually still wrestle with the kids. It’s a tremendous help for me. I can go around and tweak little problems, and Michael’s on the mat calling out the moves, and we sit down and decide how we’re going to push the kids… he’s online, too, he looks at Penn State, he looks at Iowa and asks ‘why are these teams winning year after year, what are they doing with the same personnel?’ And then we incorporate it into practice.”

“There’s days we take off where we give them a rest. There’s other days we go twice, cut the first practice short then come back at night and run,” said Messina. “Parents don’t want their kids running in the streets like we did. I used to run 2-and-a-half miles a night. Michael used to run at night then get up in the morning and run to the school and workout. And you just can’t do that anymore, it’s too dangerous…. so we come in and have the kids run in the hallways. And the parents appreciate that.”

The Guiding Light

Messina’s own kin sure do agree with the notion that “Coach’s” competitive edge has given them the edge, too. According to their calculations, it’s also “a family thing” for them— and a beautiful thing, in general.

Said Michael, a Hauppauge ‘99 graduate, 2-time Suffolk County Champion, 2-time New York State Champion and Sacred Heart alumnus years before he would return to the Hauppauge mats as his dad’s secondin-command: “Dad was always a hero to me. He was and still is ‘larger than life.’ I remember being a little kid watching him interact with his wrestlers. I saw the way they looked up to him and I knew I wanted that relationship for us.”

“He was always a guiding light of perseverance and he made us (his wrestlers) believe that we were better than we probably were,” Michael added.

“He always did whatever he could support us, whether it was scheduling additional practices for the whole team or just for one individual guy,” Messina’s nephew, Francisco “Franny” Bisono, 26, Suffolk County Champion and third-place state finisher in the 170-lb weight class as a senior at Hauppauge (Class of ‘15). Bisono went on to wrestle all four years for the Penn State University Nittany Lions, and is currently a registered nurse in a pediatric ICU.

“Another thing,” Bisono added, “he was always three steps ahead of everyone. Occasionally I would come back to the high school later at night to get a second workout in, and when I would walk into the locker room I would always see his light on sitting in his chair strategizing the next match.”

From a coaching perspective, Michael, his inherent bias aside, knows no one compares to his dad— and that the experience of coaching alongside him can never be beaten.

“Coaching with Dad has been one of the greatest journeys of my life,” Michael said. “Each year has its own challenges and ups and downs but the theme is always the same…One of my most favorite coaching moments with Dad was sitting next to him in the finals of the 2019 Suffolk County wrestling tournament as our 182lber, Mikey Tyrell, wrestled in the finals. We watched in the trailing seconds as Mike held a commanding lead over his opponent and we leap into 1st place by a mere 1.5 points. 30-plus kids came running out of the stands and a full on ‘Hauppauge, Hauppauge!’ chant began as we all jumped and hugged each other. The smile on his [Chris’] face said it all to me as we watched the boys celebrate another county championship. It is something I will never forget.”

For all the hubbub out of Hauppauge, technically not a town, but a hamlet by design, it doesn’t take six degrees of separation, maybe a good two or three, if that, to forge a connection with Messina or someone related to if you missed out on the opportunity to be taught or coached by him. In a sport without one, he certainly doesn’t hog the ball, either. Messina would quicker defer the credit for his infinite successes to his King’s ransom of assistant coaches.

However, Hauppauge administration knows where first and foremost credit is due— with the man whose “coaching tree” puts both Duke’s Coach K’s and the Pats’ Belichick’s to shame.

“Coach Messina is a legend in Hauppauge and a pillar of our community. His success as a wrestling coach over his 40-plus year career is unparalleled. Yet, his impact on our kids is his finest achievement,” said Don Murphy, current Superintendent of Hauppauge Schools. Murphy adds, “[Messina] has built a ‘family’

Continued on following page

Chris Messina and his assistants: son, Michael, brother, Dominick, and athletic trainer Dave Smith.

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Continued from previous page

Portrait of a Soaring Eagle: Hauppauge Wrestling’s Chris Messina and His Second-to-None Career

amongst the wrestling community, instilling values of hard work, persistence and integrity in our student-athletes over his career. So many of our current students and countless alumni cherish Coach Messina, and feel lucky to know him and learn from him.”

“Coach Messina is a legend in my mind not because of his wins as a coach. It is because of his impact on so many lives in a positive manner. He inspires young athletes to achieve more than they can ever imagine,” said Joseph Tasman, Deputy Superintendent of Hauppauge Schools, and former Athletic Director and coach within the district.

A Lifetime of Decisions

For parents wary of allowing their kids to sign up for a sport that encompasses both violence and subjecting them to considerably more health risks than other activities, the four-plus decades long educator insists that it is “going to teach them discipline.”

“I don’t profess that winning is everything,” Messina notes. “What I try to get my guys to

shaped nearly half a century of Hauppauge athletes, and will continue to for at least “five more years,” per Michael’s no-negotiation demands.

Retirement Soon?

“I told Michael – I would have given it up long ago if he didn’t come back [to coach] – last year that I was ready to pack it in. And Michael said, ‘Dad, stop talking, you’re not going anywhere for five years because Luke [Chris’ grandson, Michael’s son] is in 7th grade.’ I go, ‘..oh crap,’” Messina joked.

From the underdog tale of their 1999 County title run, to the 2015-2016 and 2019-20 “back-tobacks” and everything in between, Messina knows full well “we’ve had a good run.”

Even despite some threats in the past, he knows he’s not slowing down anytime soon because there is more work to be done. Connor Sheridan – son of Patrick Sheridan, who Messina also coached 30 years prior — took second in states as a sophomore. Gino Manta made it to the top 12 in New York State. “Look at this year,”

Death, taxes and Chris Messina calling the shots for Hauppauge Wrestling.

He’s living out the dream wherein, year-in and year-out he gets to show naturally talented individuals how to take supernatural flight as a winning team.

Once indoctrinated into the Hauppauge School system, an Eagle is born.

Once they’re taught by Messina, said Eagles soar.

understand is— you’re going to have to make so many choices in life. And you think this is hard? Wait ‘till you get married. Wait ‘till you have a baby. Wait till you get an interview and you have a job. This is what it will prepare you for. When you can go out on a mat one on one and wrestle somebody, and put your strength against theirs, and you do it 130 times, later on in life… you’re going to be stronger every time.”

“It’s not about the wins and losses, this year,” he added. “My decisions later on will be better made because I played the toughest sport that prepared me for the obstacles in life that I wouldn’t have been prepared for otherwise.”

Scott Detore (Class of ‘83) was the first of the many champions Messina had the privilege of coaching. A 2-time County Champion and two All-State placer, Detore – an eventual 2-time All-American in NCAA Division III, says “Chris Messina taught me what conditioning was.”

“When I went to college, I was totally prepared, all thanks to Chris Messina,” Detore said. “Do you think it’s any coincidence I turned out to be a physical education teacher and coach just like him?”

No it, is not. That’s the Messina Effect— one that’s

Messina asks, “we only had five guys place in the league tournament— lowest in 30 years. But when we went to counties, we had three kids in the counties and took 6th out of 40 schools, which is tremendous. In the state tournament, we took three kids, but took 7th out of 300.”

Alas, Messina isn’t done yet. Like the athletes he develops, he starts nothing that he doesn’t wind up finishing in top of the heap style, because it’s the only mode he knows.

“It’s funny, parents ask me— they’ll see me at a match, and I’m still screaming, still jumping up and down, still getting on an official. I still have a tremendous desire to see our kids do well. In Hauppauge’s name, it’s a tradition. People ask me all the time, ‘were you upset about living in the district you taught at?’”

“I said, ‘absolutely not, it was a dream come true.’”

Dream Until Your Team Comes Through

There you have it: as of this current moment, a hyperlocal paraphrasing of that old saying will remain the same, through the year 2028:

“I was Mr. Kotter,” Messina (top right) joked of his first team photo as head coach, seen in Hauppauge’s 1982 ‘Aquila’ yearbook.

Messina (pictured center) with the team after winning his Fifth Suffolk County Championship title in 2020.

Portrait of a Soaring Eagle: Hauppauge Wrestling’s Chris Messina and His Second-to-None Career

It’s not hyperbolic to say that every standout student-athlete has dreamed the dream of becoming a physical education teacher and legend-tier coach for their alma mater.

For forty-plus years, Chris Messina (Class of ‘72) has lived out this exact dream in the halls and within the walls of Hauppauge High School.

NWCA Coach of the Year

Through over 500 wins at the helm of the powerhouse institution that is Hauppauge Wrestling, Messina has taken home two National Coach of the Year awards, 20 years apart. He received the National High School Coaches’ Association honor in 2002, and was presented the 2021-2022 National Wrestling Coaches Association ‘Coach of the Year Award’ at the State Tournament this past Saturday, February 25.

“When I got home, my wife said, ‘I want to show you something.’ I don’t do Facebook… there had to be 100, 200 messages from my former high school friends, and—” he paused to collect himself, holding back some tears during the penultimate “take it all in” moment of his career retrospective interview with The Messenger on Wednesday: “...it was just a tremendous, tremendous feeling.”

Later the same day he was recognized for his movie script-esque pedigree, Messina, 68, crowned his 10th state champion, senior Frankie Volpe.

“Frankie Volpe is the epitome of what Dad has been trying to impress upon these young men throughout the years,” said Michael Messina, 41, Chris’ son, a lieutenant police officer in the fifth precinct out of Center Moriches (and his doting assistant coach between shifts). “The pressure must have been immense for him as a senior with just one last chance, but he stayed the course, followed the Hauppauge ‘program’ and never stopped believing in himself.”

The 17-year-old Hofstra University commit won the 152-lb. weight class, and views the Messina patriarch as “an incredible leader on and off the mat.”

“Coach pushes every athlete in the room to work as hard as they can,” Volpe said. Of his mentor’s knack for strategy, he adds: “On the walls of the wrestling room this year, Coach put up pictures of very successful people in the world that said they accomplished what they did because they wrestled. I think this motivated everyone in the room and inspired the team to work hard at not only wrestling, but at everything.”

This was not the first time Coach Messina made a palpable difference in a young man’s life. Not by a long shot.

Welcome Back, Mr. Messina

A two-time All-County wrestler himself way back when, Messina started teaching physical education and coaching at Hauppauge in 1977 after the conclusion of his collegiate wrestling career at Slippery Rock University. He turned down jobs in New Jersey and Pennsylvania to instead work his way up through the ranks of his hometown program.

Messina took over as varsity head coach during the 1981-1982 season, and the “program” has remained by-and-large the same ever since – save for him ditching that iconic Mr. Kotter stache long ago – thanks to its steady-hand and

his indispensable hands he’s proud to call assistant coaches.

Comparing the modern-day athlete to those who would suit up for him back in the day, Messina notes he’s adapted to the mental health-cautious times: “You have to be a psychiatrist, you have to be a technician,” he believes.

“The mental aspect... we have kids that are unbelievable in the room, but when they go on the mat they have second thoughts. They think poorly of themselves. They think they don’t have the ability. But we’re working the best we can with them to get them to believe in themselves like we believe in them.”

“When I was growing up, Coach Messina always knew how to win. Once I joined the team in 7th grade, I never wanted to lose in front of him,” Jake Silverstein, 2018 New York State Champion and winner of 240 matches under Messina, recalled. Silverstein went on to wrestle for the University of Nebraska.

“The amount of time he puts into us is insane,” he added. “I remember going to school at 7 a.m. for extra help before class and he would already be in there looking over video and doing whatever it took to get us to the next level. Coach Messina is not only a person I look up to, but someone I aspire to be someday. He’s an amazing father and amazing coach.”

Messina’s early life goal — to come back to Hauppauge and be a physical education teacher and coach — was an instance of him simply taking after those whose lessons and values he passed onto the next generation.

And the next one.

And the next one.

“When I came through, I wanted to be like my high school coaches. Druckenmiller, Bart Olson, Marz Weitz and Lou Curra, who was actually in my wedding party… these guys were unbelievable human beings. They cared more about the kids than they did anything else. I had so much respect for them, and I wanted that.” Adds Messina, “I said, ‘this is what I want to do.’”

Family First

The son of Rose, who played baseball for Grumman and “was signing with a professional team in the 1940s” a la A League of their Own (1993) before dad, Dominick, returned injured from war, Messina credits his five siblings and their children for keeping what’s amounted to the family business alive and thriving. The Messina Family was elected to the Hauppauge Athletic Hall of Fame in 2018.

“My family bought into the Hauppauge School District,” said Messina. “We’ve loved Hauppauge since the day we first moved in in 1960. There were six of us who went through the school. All my brothers and sisters… several of them had their kids go to Hauppauge. All of my sisters were our managers. My brother Mickey [currently the junior varsity wrestling coach at Hauppauge] wrestled. My sister Linda was probably the first female wrestling official in Suffolk County. My sister Ramona learned to run the tournaments. My sister Diane was our manager, and she still runs our apparel. My five nieces, plus my daughter, were all managers. It’s always been a family thing. It’s really what I’ve tried to emulate from my coaches. That family comes first.”

Continued on page 26

By Michael J. Reistetter

(Left to right) Rich Romeo (NHCA representative), Chris Messina, son Michael Messina, grandson Jacob Messina, assistant coach Dave Smith.