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Thursday, December 14, 2023 ~ Volume 69 ~ Issue Number 8 ~ $1.00
Referred Lines: Court Rules NY’s Congressional Map to Be Redrawn By Matt Meduri UpstateNYer (modified)
After months for a long-awaited decision, the New York Court of Appeals in a 4-3 vote has ruled that the congressional lines for New York must be redrawn by the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) ahead of the 2024 elections. The development is the latest in the redistricting epoch in New York, as the process was one of the most eventful and controversial of almost any state’s process last year. After the 2020 Census, all states entered the redistricting process to alter congressional and state legislative lines to reflect population shifts. Some states’ processes are controlled entirely by the legislatures, while other states have entirely independent or bipartisan commissions that handle the maps. Other states have mixes of the two, while some states are at-large districts that do not require the process.
New York finds itself squarely in the center of that Venn Diagram, as the IRC is a feature of the state’s redistricting process, but the political parties still have a decent amount of leverage. New York’s IRC was one of the hallmarks of Governor Andrew Cuomo’s (D) second term, in that voters approved a 2014 constitutional amendment to establish a ten-member panel to oversee the mapdrawing and redistricting processes. Two panelists are appointed by the State Senate Majority Leader and Temporary President, two are appointed by the Senate Minority Leader, two are appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly, and two are appointed by the Assembly Minority Leader. Continued on page 10
Turf vs Grass: Debates Resurface Ongoing debates about the use of turf in all levels of sports have been dominating conversations in sports medicine for years due to the number of injuries players suffer while on turf. Research and studies on whether or not turf fields are safe for young athletes lead many local school districts to weigh their options on the subject, ultimately coming to the conclusion the woes of turf fields do not outweigh its benefits. Turf, also known as synthetic or artificial grass, has been used commonly since the 1960s. It gained its popularity in the 1970s and 1980s when professional sports arenas began implementing turf fields to decrease the cost of maintenance and deterioration. Turf can withhold consistent high intensity play with ease, making it a first choice for commonly used fields. More recently, in the last two decades, turf has been added to almost every high school on Long Island. However, many don’t believe the lower cost of maintenance should come at the expense of players’ health. Concerns from athletes, parents, and coaches come from the basis that turf provides a much tougher surface. When players dig their cleats into such a surface, the force is not absorbed by turf. Instead, it is absorbed by the joints in lower extremities, like knees and ankles, and can cause injuries, the most common being anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) or medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears. Nicole Posner, of Hauppauge, was only 16 when she tore her ACL playing defense for the Hauppauge Girls Varsity Soccer team. At almost 24 years old, she continues to suffer from residual pain of the injury. Posner explains that even everyday things can be difficult. “My knee is still not fully back to how it felt pre-injury, and I don’t think it will ever be. I have a lot of knee pain when running and climbing stairs.” Continued on page 3
FULL STORIES ON:
Local Spotlight: Elaine Faith Thompson Page 15
LI Senators Condemn Congestion Pricing Plan Page 20
‘Elves in Blue’ Visit Premm Page 24
Robert Druckenmiller Turf Field (Credit - Kaitlyn Foley)
By Kaitlyn Foley
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Messenger Papers
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Thursday, December 14, 2023
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News
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Continued from front cover
Turf vs Grass: Debates Resurface looking and supportive field are provided with confidence as they enter a turf field under lights. “As a lacrosse player I do prefer to play on turf for the smooth surface. Oftentimes, natural grass isn’t maintained well enough,” says Gabby Savarino, a Hauppauge alumna and collegiate lacrosse player. “I do think having turf fields will greatly benefit athletics departments. Being that there are multiple field sports in the fall and spring, it would make sharing turf fields a much easier task. I wouldn’t say that they are necessary for young athletes, but I do believe that they will benefit schools and all of the athletes who will be using them.” Savarino does feel conflicted on the idea of adding turf to high school athletics, while Posner is firm in her opinion. “I think turf fields are much nicer and make playing your sport easier, but on the flip side I think turf fields are the root of most injuries,” says Savarino. “Although I personally haven’t fully torn anything in my lower extremities, I have watched numerous friends do so and each and every one happened on a turf field. If there is a way to maintain natural grass, I believe that is the way to go, but if that isn’t available, then turf is a good alternative.” “I found it important to be able to practice on both turf and grass fields because we played games on both surfaces,” says Posner. Other concerns revolve around the rubber crumbs that come with turf fields, and whether or not they are toxic to players. Rubber crumbs are often made of recycled tires and placed between blades of artificial grass to keep them upright. As tires, these crumbs are known to contain chemicals such as zinc, sulfur, carbon black, latex, and more. According to the New York State Department of Health’s report of crumb-rubber infill synthetic turf athletic fields, zinc leaches the greatest amount from rubber crumbs than any other chemical substance, however not in amounts that are harmful to the human body. “The concentrations of zinc leached from crumb rubber have been found to not represent a human health risk,” the report says. The same report also finds that the ingestion of such rubber would not “pose a significant health risk” to children. According to several controlled studies done by the NYS Department of Health, the chemical exposure to both humans and the environments from turf fields are not significant enough to cause harm in most cases. Credit-Freepik
A torn ACL is no small-scale injury. It can affect a player’s entire athletic career, as well as their life. According to Mount Sinai, an ACL injury can occur when overextending the knee joint or when a player quickly stops moving and changes direction while running, landing from a jump, or turning, which is exactly what injured Posner. “100% my injury was caused by playing on turf,” says Posner. “When you wear regular cleats and play on turf there is a risk that your foot will get caught in the turf. Unlike grass, the turf won’t just tear apart. So, when I was injured, I actually wasn’t even hurt by contact. I was just running and went to cut, and my foot got caught in the turf making my knee tear.” Turf shoes are a game-changer for athletes playing on artificial grass. Designed with multidirectional support and cushioned soles, turf shoes limit the shock absorption going into a player’s lower extremities in cases like Posner’s. Most sports that are played on turf, like soccer, football, and lacrosse require athletes to wear cleats. Cleats are designed for softer ground, like natural grass and dirt, where they can dig in and provide stability for players while they run. Turf shoes have smaller knob-like underlays that provide traction without getting stuck in the artificial surface. Most athletes, especially in Hauppauge and surrounding school districts, are used to playing on both turf and natural grass. The front lawn of Hauppauge High School, as well as the back lawn, often referred to as “Rocky Road” by locals, host most of the town’s sports teams, both schoolsanctioned and town leagues. Hauppauge kids start playing on those fields as young as five years old, and even get a chance to play on the turf if older teams aren’t using it. The artificial surface is known for smoother gameplay and the level ground allows balls to roll in predictable ways. “Though I do enjoy playing on both surfaces, I do think it should be mandatory to wear turf shoes while playing on turf,” adds Posner. Turf shoes are a common resolution that critics happily accept. Some critics, however, have bigger plans. JC Tretter, a retired center of the Green Bay Packers and President of the NFL Players Association has a clear stance on turf fields. His open and opinionated remarks in the NFLPA Newsletter regarding the debate come from his long career playing football on both artificial and natural grass fields. “NFL clubs should proactively change all field surfaces to natural grass,” says Tretter. “Grass will eventually give, which often releases the cleat
prior to reaching an injurious load. On synthetic surfaces, there is less give, meaning our feet, ankles and knees absorb the force, which makes injury more likely to follow.” The common injury of ACL and MCL tears as well as consistent non-contact injuries has led the NFL to perform much-needed studies on their artificial fields and the rate at which they cause injuries. “Based on NFL injury data collected from 2012 to 2018, not only was the contact injury rate for lower extremities higher during practices and games held on artificial turf, NFL players consistently experienced a much higher rate of noncontact lower extremity injuries on turf compared to natural surfaces,” Tretter reported. “Specifically, players have a 28% higher rate of non-contact lower extremity injuries when playing on artificial turf. Of those non-contact injuries, players have a 32% higher rate of non-contact knee injuries on turf and a staggering 69% higher rate of non-contact foot/ ankle injuries on turf compared to grass.” While protecting the organization’s players is said to be a top priority of the NFL as well as to its fans, the process of transforming practically every stadium in the NFL to support and maintain natural grass is a massive and expensive undertaking. MC Recreation, a construction and architectural company who claim to be leaders in the park and playground industry, say that artificial grass increases playing time for children. “Compared to natural grass fields, turf is far better at standing up to heavy, repeated use without damage,” the company says. “In fact, a high-quality turf field can easily be used for hours each and every day with no ill effects.” Grass fields continuously degrade with increased use, leading to divots in the fields and stunted regrowth. The look of turf is also a leading factor in why high schools around Long Island have implemented them. Young athletes who play on a professional-
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Smithtown Messenger - Brookhaven Messenger - Islip Messenger - Thursday, December 14, 2023
DANIEL P. LOSQUADRO, SUPERINTENDENT OF HIGHWAYS
INVITES YOU TO THE...
n e v a h k Broo
y a d i l o H Spectacular
Smithtown Messenger - Brookhaven Messenger - Islip Messenger - Thursday, December 14, 2023
NEW MEMBERS NEEDED
AMERICAN LEGION VETERANS STILL SERVING AMERICA
The William Merritt Hallock American Legion Post No. 155 115 Church Street Lake Ronkonkoma, NY Is looking for New Members
We meet at the Post twice a month 1st Tuesday of the month at 1:00 pm and the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm. We have a social hour with snack one hour prior to the meeting. Our meetings generally run about one hour. We take part in our local community parades and street fairs. We usually have three social functions with family and friends each year. We participate in a number of patriotic ceremonies. If interested in joining our Post and meeting some fellow veterans, stop by on a meeting day with a copy of your DD214. You can visit our website at: AmericanLegionWilliamHallockPost155.org
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Editorial Thursday, December 14, 2023
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
NY Dems’ Latest Redistricting Effort is Nothing More than Partisan Damage Control “When a pig becomes a hog, it gets when most seats in the state come from slaughtered.” New York City, and are essentially a lock for The common proverb warning against greed Democrats. and overindulgence hit Albany Democrats In short, the map is fair, the process was hard when their gerrymandered New York fair - and legal - and there was no implication congressional map was struck down in 2021. beforehand that this map would be a temporary And now, they’re back for seconds. one just for the 2022 cycle. Tuesday evening’s decision by the state’s Democrats are scrambling to redraw the lines highest court requires the state’s Independent - and presumably to benefit their party - to not Redistricting Commission (IRC) to take another only bolster their national efforts of taking back stab at determining the boundaries and makeup the House in 2024, but to also pad their runtime of each of the state’s twenty-six congressional stateside. Democrats dropped the ball in blue districts. On paper, the IRC should resolve much districts because they simply thought identity debate and result in fairer maps, absolving and ancestral politics would weather the storm the courts of time-consuming litigation and against the Lee Zeldin-induced red wave last removing the state legislatures with vested year. As a result, Democrats lost four seats of political interests from process altogether. their own and missed out on flipping another Some states have effective commissions, such easy win in the Syracuse area. Not only was it a as Colorado, Arizona, and even California, which humiliating night for them, but it also allowed The Outline of the gerrymandered Third District by Albany drew some of the fairer maps across the country. Democrats from 2021’s rejected proposal. (Credit - FiveThirtyEight) one of the bluest states in the country to play Unfortunately, New York’s IRC is fantasya central role in the national balance of power. league at best. The 2014 ballot proposition Additionally, Anthony D’Esposito’s Fourth through which the IRC was created contained District became the most Democratic district and trying to lift yourself up by the handle. several trapdoors in which the state legislature could As far as this pertains to New York, however, represented by a Republican. In a seat that went to retake control of the process. The IRC’s failure to reach Democrats are on the chopping block when it Biden by 14.5 points, D’Esposito won it by almost four an agreement after the 2020 Census did exactly that, comes to fairness. Congresswoman Suzan DelBene points - a nearly twenty-point swing in just a two-year as their inability to agree on a compromise threw the of Washington state marked the ruling as a “win period. process to the state legislature by default. All proposals for democracy” and one in which a “new and fair” Democrats should have won all the districts they lost by the IRC are essentially moot since the increasingly congressional map can be created. in 2022, and they could probably flip a couple more out-of-touch legislature - controlled in the supermajority First of all, our country is categorically not a under the right circumstances, even the First District, in both chambers at the time of redistricting - can just democracy. We’re a blend of several different forms of which Biden narrowly carrowed in 2020. This isn’t reject the commission’s proposal and draw their own government, but we align more under the status of a about winning districts, however, this is about damage lines. republic than we do a democracy. Ironically, the form control and concealing just how much support the What resulted was unequivocally the most egregious of government in which DelBene serves is the more party is hemorrhaging. gerrymander the country saw during the 2020 “republican” part of our government, as she serves Additionally, since five vulnerable Republicans are redistricting cycle. On top of packing Republicans into as an elected official representing a portion of the now incumbents, it will be much harder to knock them just four districts across the state – they previously population. Imagine not understanding the principle of off in a good, clean race. had seven districts - Democrats took bold moves to your own job. Democrats are also on notice not only due to Biden’s shore up incumbents and swing districts. The most Secondly, DelBene’s comments assume the map historically low polling numbers nationally, but also his notable example was that of the Third District, a north drawn by the special master is unfair as it stands. Map low party enthusiasm in New York. Recent polls show shore district that Democrats spared no expense in drawing is an arduous and esoteric process that must him ahead of Trump by just high single-digits and low gerrymandering to Westchester and back - literally. The be vetted by dozens of standards and laws. It’s almost double-digits, a historical anomaly for Democrats who 2010s iteration of the district stretched from Kings Park amazing that the maps are drawn up in the first place. can usually collect 60% of the vote here with no problems. to northern Queens. Democrats redrew it to stretch Moreover, Democrats are trying to scramble the Some people believe that a larger number of from Setauket, across northern Nassau and Queens, competitive districts makes the map fairer. While there radars on just how much they’re hemorrhaging in hugging the Bronx border with the East River, to end in is some basis to this - and on paper, we would want New York. Instead of addressing the problems of Westchester County. more competitive districts than not - it’s not the be-all, crime, runaway cost of living, the ongoing migrant The Republican stronghold of Staten Island - included end-all of redistricting. New York’s old map had three crisis perpetuated by Albany and Manhattan, and now in the Thirteenth District - was bunched up with liberal highly competitive districts, with six others that could the egregious vocal support of Hamas on the streets Brooklyn neighborhoods, while Upstate urban seats be considered competitive in certain years. The current of New York, they would rather throw the wool over took on odd shapes to include formerly Democratic map has four highly competitive districts, with seven the eyes of the public and redraw the lines to obscure working-class suburban counties that have shifted to seats that could be competitive in certain environments. the obvious distaste for their policies in one of their the right over the last several years. The latter category saw two of those districts flip in “states on a hill.” Democrats took advantage of a flimsily-constructed 2022, the Fourth and Seventeenth Districts for Anthony Democrats are also guilty of crying wolf since they commission to gerrymander the map to their favor. D’Esposito and Mike Lawler, respectively. had the opportunity to redraw the map afforded to The excuse for gerrymandering not just in New York, Another metric is used called the efficiency gap, them by the judge who struck down the gerrymander but Illinois, New Mexico, Nevada, and Oregon as well, which measures the difference between “wasted votes” in 2021, a commonality in redistricting cases. They was Republicans’ gerrymandered maps in Texas, Utah, between the two parties in a first-past-the-post electoral chose not to take that offer and instead now complain Arkansas, Florida, and Indiana. While the latter is true, system. The “wasted votes” refer to those that do not the process was unfair and are aggressively pushing it does not justify the former. Gerrymandering is highly translate into an elected representative. While the for an altered map. subjective to begin with because every seat is drawn efficiency gap is a decent metric, there are exceptions This only hearkens back to the Senate Democrats’ in some way that is advantageous to a political party, where it does not reflect the fairness of the map. historic denial of a floor vote for Governor Hochul’s even if it’s not with the intention of diluting certain In states like Ohio and Wisconsin, where Democrats Court of Appeals nominee in Hector LaSalle last voting blocs or wiping out congressional delegations have their voters highly concentrated in dense urban year. Deemed “too moderate” for the court, Senate of one party. And because of the strict and numerous areas, and where Republicans don’t have as high a Democrats played hard ball and demanded a more laws regarding line drawing on all levels of government concentration in any other part of the state, Democratic liberal pick. across the country, people working hard enough votes are essentially “wasted” in two different parts of The Court voted for the maps to be redrawn in a 4-3 to find an argument against a standing map will likely the state. The efficiency gaps for the old and current vote, one that LaSalle might have prevented had he find one. been given a fair hearing and vote. maps are not egregious in either direction. In other words, the gerrymandering battle has Each state should have an independent redistricting Then there’s the median seat metric, which is the been one waged for centuries with no overall partisan difference of the partisan lean of the state overall commission devoid of legislative input. This could advantage or culprit. Trying to justify an unfair action crossed with the partisan lean of the most neutral have been easily fixed by Albany several years ago, but at the expense of the voters with an identically unfair seat. New York’s median seat got a few points more we suppose the trapdoor left in the wake of the ballot action is the moral equivalent of standing in a bucket Republican under the new map, but this is negligible proposition was just too good to resist.
Op-Ed Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, December 14, 2023
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Sanctuary Cities an Expensive Experiment By William Haupt III - The Center Square “I received a letter just before I left office. It said that you can go to live in France, but you can’t become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany or Italy, but you can’t become a German, an Italian. He went through Turkey, Greece, Japan and other countries. But it said anyone, from any corner of the world, can come to the United States and become an American.” Ronald Reagan Despite the pervasive term “sanctuary city,” it has no clear definition. Most people opposed to open borders and lack of enforcement of our immigration laws define them as a jurisdiction that is acting in violation of federal immigration law. Progressives refer to them as jurisdictions that do not fully cooperate with federal immigration enforcement efforts, and offer a safe harbor for illegal aliens. Sanctuary cities are cities, counties, and states that offer special services to immigrants and refrain from arresting a person based on their immigration status. Sanctuary cities are not only skirting the law, they are welcoming recently arrived illegal aliens but lack the money to support their needs. Now officials from these cities are asking for federal money to take care of thousands of migrants. Sanctuary policies allow local officers to decline to enforce a federal request for detention during deportation considerations. Instead of holding an individual in jail beyond their release date, local officials have created many of their own regulations and guidelines that alter or circumvent federal immigration laws. “Let me state the obvious. Illegal immigration is illegal, duh.” – John Kennedy President Barack Obama turned to cities as partners because he found mayors far more receptive to progressive policies, such as raising the minimum wage or mandating paid sick leave benefits, than a Republican Congress. Obama increased federal money given to them to help support progressive policies. The cities in turn found ways to attract more people to get more money. As a result of Obama’s progressive policies, numerous mayors pledged that their cities would be sanctuaries for illegal aliens and minority groups, including Muslims who may be threatened by shifts in federal policy. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, for example, vowed to offer safe harbor to all residents, even if that meant using “City Hall itself” as a sanctuary to house and keep them safe. In reaction to the election of Donald Trump, and his proposed executive order to crack down on sanctuary cities by denying these safe harbors new federal funds, blue state Democrats went on a rampage to declare many large metropolitan areas as new sanctuary cities. They claimed denying federal funding to them would create a greater hardship for their legal citizens living there as well. When Joe Biden opened our southern border and welcomed all immigrants to cross over into the U.S., he also opened up a can of worms that he can’t close. Since the Democrats see every illegal migrant as probable progressive voters, they are fighting like two vultures over roadkill to keep the southern border open under the guise that all of these illegal migrants are seeking political asylum. The ramifications of Biden’s open border policies have caused an increase in drug trafficking and crime in America, and it is a security threat as well. Polls indicate widespread frustration with Biden and Democrats running for reelection next year. They are now relying on sanctuary city blue state governors to emancipate Biden’s border mismanagement and disrespect for the law. “We must address the root causes why people make the trek here to fix the problems.” – Kamala Harris
Sanctuary cities like Washington, D.C., New York City and Chicago are sagging under the weight of the cost required to support these new illegal aliens. The honeymoon is over for many of them. Their mayors are complaining about it, since they are facing many of the same problems southern border towns have had to deal with for so many years. They can’t afford to support them forever. New York City’s Eric Adams calls the situation there “horrific” and said there’s “no more room at the inn” after learning that Colorado plans to ship illegal aliens to New York. We’ve seen the same kinds of responses from Chicago, Washington, Philadelphia and Martha’s Vineyard, who told the federal government to remove the border-jumpers Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis had sent there. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told the White House, “We need federal economic help immediately.” This is typical of progressives. They pursue a supposedly compassionate, ideal way to increase their flock, then when reality sets in and their pie in the sky comes crashing down, they cry for help and bailouts. Adams and Bowser, both progressives, are begging others to fix the mess that Biden and their party’s open-border policies created. Their sanctuary cities are facing an economic crisis. Last year, Philadelphia passed a bond of $300,000 to publicly fund immigration attorneys for aliens facing deportation. The New York City Council budgeted $16.6 million the same year for the same purpose. Local taxpayers funding these programs in sanctuary cities will be expected to pay more for these programs as the numbers of illegal alien cases and appeals continue to rise. In Chicago, a city that refuses to allow ICE access to information databases, is begging for federal assistance. When border state governors Doug Ducey (AZ), Greg Abbott (TX) and Ron DeSantis (FL) started busing illegals north to sanctuary cities, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tried to justify waves of illegal migration to the U.S. claiming that farmers on the border needed them to pick crops. But these governors only began busing immigrants north because they had overcroweded their cities. While states like Texas are working overtime to secure their borders, sanctuary cities across the nation are promoting illegal immigration and exacerbating the crisis. Municipalities that implement sanctuary city policies are adding fuel to the fire of Joe Biden’s horrific border crisis. Giving refuge to those who broke our immigration laws they expect taxpayers to foot the bill for it. “What makes someone American isn’t blood or birth, but allegiance to our founding principles.” – Barack Obama John Marston wrote, “Charity begins at home.” The low-cost virtue of declaring your blue state a “sanctuary” for illegal immigrants is now revealing its enormous price tag. Earlier this year Biden shelled out $363 million in federal tax dollars to help sanctuary cities and states cover the costs of sheltering, feeding, and transporting illegal migrants who crossed our southern border illegally. U.S. Customs and Border Protection plans to dole out more U.S. taxpayer money this month. Federal law requires the detention of every illegal border crosser during the entire course of his or her asylum proceedings. Obama ignored that and let these people live anywhere in the U.S. Biden has been following that same policy since he was elected. By ending the enforcement of Title 42, he doubled down on the problem and American taxpayers are footing the bill. “We need to decouple the movement for comprehensive immigration reform and justice for immigrants from the legislative process and from the Democratic Party process. They are too linked.” – Luis Gutierrez
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State News Thursday, December 14, 2023
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Palumbo Announces Signing Senator Martinez Voices of Deer Management Pilot Concerns Regarding Adoption Program Legislation into Law of Congestion Pricing Plan New York State Senator Anthony H. Palumbo (R,C-New Suffolk) announced that Governor Kathy Hochul (D) signed his legislation that creates a deer management pilot program into law. The new law is designed to combat and help reduce the impact of the region’s deer population in the Town of Southold, and serve as the model, in an effort to expand the program throughout the East End of Long Island. “The region’s deer population is a major concern for area farmers and residents alike. The exploding deer population causes millions of dollars in crop loss each year, has led to an increase in motor vehicle accidents, and poses health risks to
families due to the spread of Lyme and other tick-borne illnesses”, said Senator Palumbo. “This new law, which has broad community support, will provide the Town of Southold with the tools it needs to help reduce the deer population. This program will be a benefit to the agricultural community and residents and bring balance to the region’s ecosystem and protect the environment.” Under the new law, the Town of Southold will work with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to ensure all guidelines are met for the taking of deer and to monitor the effectiveness of the program.
The Metro Transit Authority (MTA) Board has voted to approve a Congestion Pricing Plan in an effort to cut emissions and reduce traffic jams in NYC. The fare, which will be imposed on all cars on or south of 60th Street, will cost a minimum of $15, with nighttime discounts of 75% “I am deeply concerned over the MTA’s approval of NYC congestion pricing plan and the significant financial burden it would have on Long Islanders,” said Senator Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood) of the Fourth District. “The $15 base fare for cars, coupled with additional charges for trucks and varying rates for different vehicles, raises serious equity issues. We cannot ignore
the potential impact on working families, small businesses, and individuals who depend on their vehicles for essential daily activities.” “While addressing congestion and its impact on the environment is crucial, we must prioritize a fair and inclusive approach that considers the diverse needs of our communities,” said Martinez. “I will be closely monitoring the public comment period to ensure that the voices of those most affected are heard, and that adjustments are made to alleviate the strain on hardworking residents. I encourage residents to participate in the public hearings which will begin in late February and early March.”
This Week Today Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
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Thursday, December 14, 2023
National, State and Local Temperature Checks By Matt Meduri
National
Credit - Office of the Governor of New Jersey Credit - U.S. Department of State
With just a little under two months until the “official” start of the 2024 presidential election with the Iowa Caucuses, the Republican field has quickly narrowed, while recent developments may have implications on the immediate GOP nomination race. The Republican nomination field was seen as relatively uneventful this year, not only in terms of candidate quality but also in the form of wide expectation, both due to polling and conventional wisdom, that Trump is the overwhelming favorite to win the nomination for a third consecutive time. While some of the candidates were fairly impressive in their own rights, none caught on as serious contenders to what has appeared for some time to be a coronation for the former president. Despite this, some candidates had their moments in second place, albeit a distant one. Initially, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis seemed to be giving Trump a run for his money, but awkward campaigning and a perception that his best political fortunes lie in the near future prevented him from consolidating more support. Afterwards, biotech entrepreneur and political newcomer Vivek Ramaswamy, of Ohio, presented an interesting alternative for the GOP base: Trump-like populism and a rejection of the status quo, packaged in a demographic mold unlike the base of the party. While Vivek ascended to second place, his condescending debate stage performance proved that Trump’s trademark attitudes are trademarked for a reason. Most recently, former United Nations Ambassador and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley (pictured right) has now shot into the second place spotlight. While Haley is skilled on foreign policy, local governance, and legislative hardball, some have criticized her a “neo-con,” and one too hawkish on foreign policy for an America less involved in the world stage. The relatively large field has quickly thinned to just six candidates, with former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson joining the ranks of Trump, DeSantis, Ramaswamy, and Haley. This comes off the heels of the recent departure of North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, whose technocratic, big-energy platform might have been a welcome fit on the stage, in exchange for more bolstered name recognition. Ahead of the first contests, however, is something of a shakeup. Outgoing New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu (R-NH) has endorsed Nikki Haley for president. While not a surprise that
his endorsement did not go to Donald Trump Sununu has been a vocal critic of the president - it was a question as to who would end up receiving the immensely popular governor’s blessing for the first-in-the-nation primary. Not only does this possibly bolster Haley’s chances of scoring more delegates from the primary, something that adds to her newly-minted position in second place, but it also deals a blow to Chris Christie (pictured left), whose all-in strategy on New Hampshire is a repeat from his failed 2016 bid. Given Christie’s lack of appeal in Iowa, he largely bypassed the state on his first run in 2016; he only garnered 1.76% of the vote in Iowa that year. A bolder New Hampshire strategy made more sense since the northeastern electorate might have been more sympathetic to his presidential plight, but it ultimately only earned him 7% of the vote, with no delegates. Contrary to DeSantis, who is often criticized as jumping the gun on his presidential aspirations, Christie is often criticized for having long eclipsed his White House potential. After a successful first term as New Jersey Governor, many believed Christie would have mounted a serious presidential bid as a moderate Republican from a blue state. His success in Trenton earned him a landslide re-election victory in 2013, only to be whittled away by his multiple scandals, chief among them separate bridge and beach closures. After Christie faded into irrelevance following the expiration of his second term, his bulldog strategy in 2016 seemed even more like a political misfire, as attacks only stuck to the weakest candidates in the room, not the frontrunner in Trump. That said, Christie’s only leg to stand on in the early game is that of the New Hampshire Primary, a possibility that seems largely taken away from him as Haley received the endorsement of the governor. Sununu was flirting with a presidential bid, but instead decided to not seek a fifth two-year term as governor. New Hampshire’s first-in-the-nation primary is seen as a crucial litmus test for educated voters, who lean slightly Democratic but who are overall socially moderate-to-liberal and fiscally conservative. A more Second Amendmentfriendly state than other Democratic states, New Hampshire is also regularly in a room by itself when it comes to presidential contests. It is the last New England state to back a Republican nominee George W. Bush (R-TX) in 2000 - and each election since then has seen the state decided by single digits. In 2016, it was the closest state Hillary Clinton (D-NY) won; she carried it by just 0.4% - or about 2,700 votes out of 700,000 cast. At just four electoral votes, it’s not a huge electoral college prize, but it is a state that is made
up of must-win demographics, especially on a primary level. While Haley could possibly siphon some support for Trump here, early polling does not indicate much remote danger for the former president. According to the FiveThirtyEight polling aggregate, Trump leads the pack with an average 44.2% from recent polls. Haley registers at just 18.7%, with Christie in third place at 13.0%. Twenty-two RNC delegates are up for grabs in New Hampshire’s Republican Primary this year. Delegates are awarded proportionally to each candidate who garners at least 10% of the popular vote. In 2016, Trump won eleven delegates from the state with 35% of the vote. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden (D-DE) will not appear on the New Hampshire ballot in the Democratic Primary. After a string of embarrassing early swing state primaries in 2020, Biden found a solid thirty-point win in South Carolina. His attempts to lobby the DNC to place South Carolina’s primary ahead of New Hampshire’s were not successful. New Hampshire Democrats have staged a write-in campaign on his behalf. State Governor Kathy Hochul (D) is attempting to combat antisemitic language and actions on college campuses in New York after large-scale pro-Hamas protests were seen in the wake of the conflict last month, and as recent Congressional testification from Ivy League presidents left much to be desired in terms of the college’s stances on what qualifies on-campus behavior as anti semitic. Hochul wrote a letter to presidents of colleges and universities across New York, stating that oncampus calls for “genocide” violate the New York State Human Rights Law and Civil Rights Act of 1964. “I assure you that if any school in New York State is found to be in violation, I will activate the State’s Division of Human Rights to take aggressive enforcement action and will refer possible Title Vi violations to the federal government,” Hochul wrote. “The moral lapses that were evidenced by the disgraceful answers to questions posed during this week’s congressional hearing cannot and will not be tolerated here in the state of New York.” Local Congressman Nick LaLota (R) of the First District has introduced the Mobile Post Office Relief Act, which would require the USPS to provide a “mobile retail unit to provide retail postal services, including Post Office (PO) Box services, to an area when the post office is temporarily closed. “For months, the Sound Beach Post Office has been closed with no signs of reopening and no updates on repairs. I have inquired with USPS numerous times as to the status and what we can do to support the community, with no real answers,” said LaLota. “The Sound Beach community deserves a government that is open and transparent with them and a government that works for them, not against them. Providing a mobile post office is the least our government can do while repairs continue. I will fight to right the wrong at Sound Beach and hold USPS accountable until their post office reopens.”
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News Thursday, December 14, 2023
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Continued from front cover
Referred Lines: Court Rules NY’s Congressional Map to Be Redrawn by Commission
The final two panelists are then Commission has sole authority over the appointed by the eight appointees from drawing of the congressional lines, as the party leaders. Neither are permitted to stipulated by the 2014 proposition. have been registered with either party for “The Constitution demands that at least five years before consideration. process, not districts drawn by courts,” said Once assembled, the commission Chief Judge Rowan Wilson in his majority must hold public hearings on all relevant opinion. “Nevertheless, the IRC failed to data and drafts relating to the process discharge its constitutional duty. That of redistricting. The commission then dereliction is undisputed.” submits their plans to the legislature for Rowan was appointed by Governor approval. Kathy Hochul (D) earlier this year after When the proposition was conceived Democrats in the Senate refused her initial in 2014, it was done under a time of nominee Hector LaSalle a floor vote in a split-control government in New York. historic reversal of typical Senate procedure While Democrats had a lock on the regarding judicial nominees. LaSalle was Assembly - they have since the 1960s deemed “too conservative” for the state’s - and they controlled the governor’s highest court. After a suit brought on by office, Republicans held the Senate. Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk), While it didn’t change the nature of the LaSalle was rejected by the Senate, paving appointments, it did change the nature the way for Rowan to ascend to the position of legislative approval, as the options of Chief Judge. were only relegated to passing the map, The Messenger reached out to referring the map back to the commissionlocal members of the state legislature. where minimal changes might have Senator Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood), occurred - or experiencing legislative of the Fourth District, is a member of The Current Congressional Lines for New York (Credit - FiveThirtyEight) gridlock, undermining the purpose of the the majority party who might potentially commission. oversee the redistricting process again. Republicans enjoyed control of the State Senate for much of the 20th Century, from “I am respectful of the Judicial branch’s discretion in this matter,” says Martinez. 1939 until 2018, with gaps in 1965, 2009, and 2010. When Democrats solidified a majority “Their decision underscores the importance of upholding the principles of fair in the chamber, the need for consulting with the minority party was tossed, allowing representation. Once the Commission submits the new maps to the legislature for Democrats free reign to approve or deny the panel’s maps. approval, I will do my part and thoroughly review them. It is crucial the Commission Under state law, the legislature can draw their own maps after rejecting the works diligently to produce a fair and equitable map to ensure all New Yorkers are commission’s first two proposals. The commission submitted two maps in its first well-represented. The final lines will have significant implications for the integrity of proposal, with one skewed towards Democrats and one towards Republicans. After the our electoral system and above all, it should aim to effectively serve the diverse voices legislature rejected the proposals, the commission could not agree on a second-round within our communities.” proposal, handing control of redistricting to the legislature by default. But Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James), of the Second District, says that going for The legislature’s proposal was quickly seen as one of the most - if not the most - mid-decade redistricting is not reflective of a fair process. gerrymandered map in the United States at the time. While removing three red-leaning “Our residents have had enough of political games and deserve continuity in their seats, the proposal added five Democratic-leaning seats. government,” says Mattera. “To alter the maps now, further confusing New York residents, The redistricting tracker on FiveThirtyEight is still online, although it is not being is simply political gamesmanship. The people want a functioning government that works updated. The maps also display the partisan lean for each district, calculated by dividing to solve their problems but this is just more of the same from New York’s one-party rule.” the state’s overall partisan lean by the district’s most recent electoral result. The higher the Mattera also believes that the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission has partisan lean, the more favorable to one party it grows and the less competitive it becomes. much room for improvement. Generally, a partisan lean of five points or under is seen as healthily competitive. While “The New York State Independent Redistricting Commission was designed to fail so a party could win districts above that lean, it becomes considerably more difficult due to as to allow for partisanship and it has caused too much confusion for our residents,” says party fundamentals, down ballot energy, and the regularly-shifting political environments. Mattera. “And with one-party control, the process failed to put the residents first just as The gerrymander saw New York’s First Congressional District shift from a lean of R+10 the Democrats have done in regards to criminal justice, congestion pricing, the natural to one of D+6. The district was represented by Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) from 2015 to 2023 gas ban, and a litany of other issues.” and is now represented by Nick LaLota (R). When asked for his opinion on the immediate future of redistricting, Mattera says the The gerrymander also saw the Staten Island-based 13th District go from a lean of cycle will only continue. R+13 to D+7. “Just as we went through before, the process with the IRC will now be tasked with Perhaps the most questionable redraw was that of the north shore-based Third, drawing new lines,” he says. “If they come to an agreement, which has been an issue in previously represented by Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove). The proposal sought to draw the the past, those lines will be sent to the Democrat-controlled Senate for final approval. This district from Setauket, across northern Nassau and Queens, up to Westchester County, is an endless cycle that should have been laid to rest already and I am appalled for our all while taking in the thin shoreline of the Bronx along the East River. The lean went from residents that we are back to square one again.” D+6 to D+10. On the federal level, former Congressman Mondaire Jones (D) supported the decision. The map was so egregiously drawn that Steuben County Judge Patrick McAllister ruled “The whole nation has been paying the price,” he said in a statement. “The decision the map was a partisan gerrymander. The decision was appealed to the State Court of is a victory for every New Yorker who wants to be fairly represented at the federal level.” Appeals, who upheld the ruling. In typical judicial practice, when a map is rejected by a He says the map was drawn by a court-ordered, “out-of-state” special master who “split court, the body or panel who drew it usually has one last chance to rectify it. The logic here communities of interest.” is that the body responsible for the map can create a quicker and more viable solution Jones served one term in Congress before being defeated by Dan Goldman (D) than the courts would. This exact scenario unfolded in Maryland the same year; when a in the 10th District primary after his 17th District seat was redrawn out of his favor. Democratic gerrymander was struck down, the legislature took advantage of the window Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney (D), then Chair of the Democratic Congressional to pass a fairer map. Campaign Committee, opted to run in the new 17th, despite it only covering a fraction New York Democrats did not take the same offer, instead submitting revisions to of his original home turf. The 17th District has a lean of D+7, while the neighboring 18th the court-appointed special master, Jonathan Cervas. Cervas’ map added one highly has one of D+3. Maloney’s attempt to save himself not only ended in Jones’ defeat in competitive district, while keeping the nature of most existing seats intact. The lines a separate primary, but also in his own upset defeat to Mike Lawler (R), of Rockland did, however, see three Democratic seats fall under more competitive lines, but not County. overwhelmingly so. Two of these seats were flipped by Republicans in 2022, the 4th All eyes have been on New York since 2022, when Republicans on the coattails of Lee District by Anthony D’Esposito (R-Island Park) and the 17th District by Mike Lawler (R). The Zeldin’s gubernatorial bid flipped four seats in New York to retake control of the House Twenty-Fifth District, a Rochester-based seat, was decided by a single-digit margin, but of Representatives in what shaped up to be a nationally disappointing year for the party. ultimately saw incumbent Joe Morelle (D) win re-election. If Democrats can sustain a more favorable map, it could possibly be the key to retaking The latest 4-3 ruling from the Court of Appeals insists that the Independent Redistricting control of the lower chamber, and if they sustain a Senate majority, Congress overall.
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12
School Highlights Thursday, December 14, 2023
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
East Islip’s Connetquot Second Graders Explore Life Cycles at Seatuck
Second graders at East Islip’s Connetquot Elementary School recently visited the Seatuck Environmental Association’s South Shore Nature Center to learn about plant and animal life cycles. The trip included a pond exploration, a forest hike, and visiting with animals inside the center. “Our students loved the trip, learned a lot, and showed a great appreciation for the outdoors,” teacher Melissa Love said.
Bayport-Blue Point High School Hosts Sayville High School AP Research Students
Bayport-Blue Point High School’s AP Research students hosted AP Research students from Sayville High School for a unique day of sharing research and receiving peer feedback. The day began with the 30 students getting to know one another over breakfast. Then, past Bayport-Blue Point AP Research student and senior Faith
D. shared her presentation from the previous year, giving current AP Research students the opportunity to ask questions. Then, students broke into small groups to present their research projects oneby-one. After each presentation, students were able to ask questions and offer constructive suggestions.
School Highlights Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
13
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Dimes for Dezy Raises Money for Cancer Patients
The annual Dimes for Dezy fundraiser held at Cherokee Street Elementary School in the Connetquot Central School District raised a total of $903 for those struggling with cancer. The Dezy Strong Foundation is a nonprofit organization established by Matthew “Dezy” DiStefano, who was diagnosed with stage 4 kidney cancer in February 2019 and passed away in January 2020. Dezy was a Sachem High School North alumni, teacher, and coach whose family lives in the Connetquot Central School District. For weeks, Cherokee Street students emptied their change into a large water jug in the front of the school in Dezy’s memory. With the help of faculty members Ms. Daria Passero and Ms. Cindy Campanella, Dezy’s children Giuliana DiStefano and Giovanni DiStefano, both students at Cherokee Street Elementary, run the fundraiser to continue the work of their father. At the end of each week, they emptied the donations jug and counted the money collected. Dezy’s mantra of, “We get to,” lives on in the school building and beyond, helping to build positivity with a focus on gratitude in everyday life. In addition to the money collection, students fill out “We get to” cards which are displayed in the hallway each year.
Holocaust Survivor Shares Experiences In a special presentation, students in Mr. Jason Wilan’s class at Connetquot High School had the opportunity to speak with a survivor of the Holocaust as part of their English course titled, “The Holocaust: The History, Literature, Survivors, and Future of Anti-Semitism and Hate.” The guest speaker, Ms. Rachel Stahl, was a survivor of the concentration camp, Bergen-Belson. She was born there while it was still a camp, then lived there after its liberation until age 4 when she and her family were sponsored by family members in the United States. She now lives in Colorado and speaks to students about her and her family’s experiences. The students were captivated by her powerful stories. “We’re grateful for her resilience and willingness to educate the younger generations about the impact of war and the importance of remembrance,” said Assistant Principal Lauren Neckin.
Two Buccaneers Break Islip High School Football Records Two impressive Islip High School football players broke school records during the Bucs’ fall season. Brady Nash broke both the single game passing yard record, with 378 yards, and the all-purpose yards record, with 556 yards. Collin Haug took possession of the single game receiving yards record, with 270 yards.
Oakdale-Bohemia M.S. Visits the Opera
Students from Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School’s select choir, jazz ensemble, and chamber ensemble in the Connetquot Central School District had the unique opportunity to get a behind-the-scenes look of the Metropolitan Opera by attending the final dress rehearsal of “The Magic Flute.” Through the Metropolitan Opera’s Access Opera Program, Oakdale-Bohemia Middle School chorus teacher Ms. Rachel White
has been bringing her students to performances at the venue for about seven years. On this trip, students even got to meet famous tenor Rolando Villazon and get his autograph. “The opera is not a place most students would get to experience on their own,” said Ms. White. “I’m so grateful that the Metropolitan Opera provides these opportunities, and that we are able to introduce young people to this exciting art form.”
History
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Thursday, December 14, 2023
America the Beautiful: How History Shapes our Electorate Washington - The Evergreen State
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
This is the forty-third 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 Matt Meduri Although the American West produced some of the most Republican states in the Union, Washington has mostly countered that profile with its own ancestral progressive-populism. Early History - The Northwest Corner The first Europeans to set foot in Washington were the Spaniards in 1774, followed by the British a few years later. Several explorers would separately map different parts of the state, including the Columbia River, which defines the border between Washington and Oregon. Americans began settling in the region in the 1830s. British commercial interests gave way to a wellestablished market of fur trading along the Columbia River, and after a couple of decades of tensions between the U.S. and Britain, the countries agreed upon the 49th Parallel as the border between the U.S. and Canada. Washington’s early settlement history would be defined by a series of conflicts with the Natives and travelers along the Oregon Trail. Like its southern counterpart, the state would draw settlers with its vibrant logging and trading industries. Unlike other destinations along the Oregon Trail, which attracted pioneer families, Seattle’s early settlers were primarily young men, leading to a rise in support for liquor, gambling, and prostitution, with prostitution being touted by a Seattle founder as a functional economic mechanism, if controlled properly. Liquor became a large industry in part because of the state’s production of hops. Today, Washington remains the nation’s leading producer of hops. Washington’s land disputes with Canada along the western Puget Sound and San Juan Islands also helped shape its borders as a commerce hub. A small gold rush in Washington started on the heels of the Fraser Gold Rush just north in British Columbia, further sparking conflict of Pacific port city control. Washington also became an unlikely hub for black Southerners, who initially fled to California for economic opportunity, only to be faced with an economy swamped by pioneers, farmers, and prospectors looking to cash in. After moving north to Oregon, they were faced by the state’s “black exclusion laws,” which then landed them in Washington. Washington’s original constitution included women’s suffrage and prohibition amendments, but were removed ahead of its approval. Women were given suffrage in 1887 under the governance of the Washington Territory, and eventually re-gained the right to vote in 1910 under state governance. Industrialization and 20th Century Politics Two Sides of the Cascades Washington’s geography is similar to that of Oregon’s, in which the Cascade Mountains divide the state culturally and politically east-west. Early geography took shape from the urban centers that were each rooted in different industries. In the east along the Idaho border is the city of Spokane, a hub of mining activity and agriculture in the Yakima Valley. Regular and heavy rainfall west of the Cascades produced forests which gave way to the logging industries, further substantiated by the ports and trading of Seattle and cities along the Puget Sound. Seattle would actually be the primary trading gateway to Alaska, while nearby Sound cities developed distinct fishing and canning industries. Meanwhile, nearby Tacoma capitalized on ore smelting. The entire Puget Sound region would quickly become an
economic powerhouse that would catapult the state to the front lines of the manufacturing front during both World Wars. Washington’s first election was in 1892. They voted for Benjamin Harrison (R-IN) by a decently wide margin, with Populist James Weaver of Iowa taking 22%, hearkening to the intrinsically populist-progressive tendencies of the American West. William Jennings Bryan (D-NE) would form a fusion ticket with the Populists and the Free Silver Party in 1896 and would carry the state in a landslide. While Washington never truly had a Republican phase like some states did, its backing of Theodore Roosevelt (R-NY) has since been unparalleled. His near 70% of the vote in 1904 remains the best performance of any presidential candidate to date. His conservation efforts combined with his railroad reforms led to his immense popularity in the state, resulting in Washington being one of just six states Roosevelt was able to carry in his third-party Progressive ticket in 1912. Social stances and poor outreach with heavily-unionized Washington cost Democrats this state through the 1920s. Franklin Roosevelt (D-NY) won Washington by substantial margins in all four of his elections, owing to his New Deal coalition being well-received by the progressive, working-class state. The Great Depression and World War II saw new industrial marvels call Washington home, including electricity and aerospace industries. The Depression saw the construction of several hydroelectric dams along the Columbia River. The industry continued into World War II with the 1941 construction of the Grand Coulee Dam, now the largest hydroelectric facility in the country. Similarly, in 1924, Seattle’s Sand Point Airfield was the endpoint for the first circumnavigation flight of the world. From there, the Puget Sound would become ground-zero for the Boeing Company’s production of heavy bombers during World War II. The Boeing factory in Everett, a city just north of Seattle, is the world’s largest building by volume, covering 98 acres and containing 472 million cubic feet of space. Research in nuclear science also took root in the state, as the Hanford Works Nuclear Power Plant played a role in the development and construction of the atomic bombs. Washington’s intrinsically western progressive, environmental, and industrial profiles have made it a unique state throughout its history. Bertha Knight Landes (R) was elected mayor of Seattle in 1926, becoming the first female mayor of a major American city. A Spokane resident’s attempt at honoring her father, a Civil War Veteran who had raised six children as a single father, later became the nation’s first Father’s Day, which would become a federal holiday in 1972. Geography - The Evergreen State 1. Northeast Region - The northern central and eastern part of the state, home primarily to farms and mining; intensely Republican.
2. Southeast Region - The largest designated region of the state, stretches from Spokane to the Portland, Oregon, suburbs, as well as the Yakima Valley to the capital region. Home to small blue-leaning cities, intensely Republican blue-collar counties, the latter of which are home to high percentages of Latino voters. 3. Pacific Cascade Region - The southwest corner of the state, includes Vancouver and Portland suburbs. Subject to some of the most intense change in the era of Trump. Trump became the first Republican since Eisenhower (R-KS) in 1952 to carry Pacific County - home to 25% of the nation’s oyster harvesting - and the first Republican since Herbert Hoover (RCA) in 1928 to carry Grays Harbor County. 4. South Puget Sound Region - Home to the capital of Olympia and the Seattle-Tacoma area. Working-class cities that have raced to the left in the modern progressive era. Ancestrally and currently Democratic. 5. Northwest Region - The northwest corner of the state along the Canadian border. The area was once more red-leaning in presidential races but the coastal, upscale communities have become Democratic strongholds in recent years. 6. Olympic Region - The westernmost part of the state along the Puget Sound, includes areas that have also become newlycompetitive in the Trump era. Democratic-leaning at heart; home to logging as well as many state and national parks. Current Political Leanings - Competitive on Paper Washington never really had a Republican phase like other states, and it shows in its voting record. Its longest GOP streak was just four elections from 1972 to 1984, with 1984 being the last election in which Washington backed the Republican nominee, in this case Ronald Reagan (R-CA). The progressive overtones found in the state’s urban centers largely predate the current shift we’re seeing nationally today. George W. Bush (R-TX) actually did well in Washington in the 2000 and 2004 elections, losing the state by just single-digit margins both times. Washington is also where Democrats currently hold their longest gubernatorial winning streak, and the secondlongest nationally behind the GOP’s streak in South Dakota. John Spellman (R) is the last Republican to have governed Washington, having been elected in 1980. Unlike other long gubernatorial streaks, Washington has seen more competitive governor’s races in recent years. The 2024 race appears to be shaping up competitively, as Republicans scored a top recruit in former Congressman and King County (Seattle) Sheriff Dave Reichert. Republicans have not won a Senate race in Washington since 1994, when Slade Gorton (R) lost re-election. Interestingly, Gorton is also the last Republican to have held the other Senate seat, losing re-election to that seat in 1986. Republicans last held both seats simultaneously in 1987. The GOP made a lot of noise with firebrand conservative nurse Tiffany Smiley in 2022, but despite tight internal polls and intense fundraising from Senate leadership, she failed to even come within fifteen points of Patty Murray (D), the Senate President pro tempore. Republicans last controlled the state senate in 2017 and the assembly in 1998. On paper, Washington is a state Republicans should be able to do fairly well in. If Republicans can solidify a workingclass message and an appeal to Latino voters, they might find success stateside, but shifting the state’s presidential lean will be a bear. Washington is actually home to one of the highest non-college educated, working-class white populations, a demographic typically associated with the Deep South. But the intense progressive lean of the urban centers and the ancestral progressive politics makes Washington even more of a lift now than it ever was for Republicans.
Around Town Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, December 14, 2023
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Local Artist – Elaine Faith Thompson It has been 60 years since John F. Kennedy was killed. Bohemia golf artist, Elaine Faith Thompson painted an oil painting of him. Thompson was inspired to paint JFK when she visited the John F. Kennedy Library, in Boston, Massachusetts. When she saw his little blue sailboat on display, she decided that a painting of him on it would be great. For two years, Thompson accumulated a collection of photos of Kennedy for reference material. In 2019, Thompson found out that her two children, Dawn and Richard, by her late husband Richard Polizzi, are directly related to the Fitzgeralds, JFK’s maternal family. Her son and husband strongly resemble Kennedy in the eyes and the nose. Thompson produces prints of the art work. It is part of a collection of Presidents paintings including George Washington, Theodore Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, and Donald J. Trump. Her most recent painting is her U.S. Marine and Army Ranger
grandson with a puppy. She intends to raise money for Veteran’s service dogs through sales of prints of that piece. Thompson is known for her U.S. Open and PGA golf poster paintings. In 2010, SUNY Farmingdale College President Hubert Keen presented Thompson with the “Outstanding Alumnus of the Year Award” for her 2009 U.S. Open Bethpage poster. She graduated from college with a degree in art. She hand-paints the buildings, landscapes, trophies, logos, and lettering from skills she learned at the college. One reporter called her style of art “Rockwellism”. Her golf art, The Big Duck, lighthouses, pet portraits, and paintings of presidents have become very popular. In 1984, Thompson designed the official poster for the Vietnam Veterans Statue in Washington D.C. under the direction of President Ronald Reagan. He signed a copy of it for her. For information on all her prints call 516-380-7715.
Receiver of Taxes Announced Extended and Holiday Hours First Half Property Taxes Due on or Before January 10, 2024 Islip Town Receiver of Taxes, Andy Wittman, has announced that his office, located at 40 Nassau Avenue in Islip, is accepting payment of the 2023/2024 taxes starting Monday, December 11 2023. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30a.m. to 4:30p.m., with the following exceptions: On December 29 the office will be open from 8:30a.m. to 12:00p.m. On December 22, December 25, and January 1, 2024 the office will be closed. “One evening in January has been set aside for those residents who are unable to pay in person during our regular office hours”, said Mr. Wittman. “On Wednesday, January 10, the office
will remain open until 7:00p.m.” Tax bills are being mailed out the week of December 11. Residents can choose to pay their taxes by visiting the Receiver of Taxes Online Payment Portal, Tax.IslipNY.gov to pay their property taxes online. Payment may also be received by mailing their tax payments. However, to avoid penalty, all payments must be postmarked BY THE POST OFFICE no later than January 10, 2024. For additional tax information, please visit his new webpage at IslipNY. gov and select the Receiver of Taxes page or call 631-224-5580 during office hours.
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The Messenger’s Guide to: By Kaitlyn Foley
Winning in Winter Thursday, December 14, 2023
Holiday Giving
People either love or hate gift giving. It can be the bane of a person’s existence or the highlight of their holiday season. The hunt for the perfect gift doesn’t have to be a difficult one though. Luckily, we at The Messenger have the perfect formula to use when finding a loved one the most personal and thoughtful gift. Think about the person to whom you are giving a gift. Think about the most obscure characteristics about them. For the sake of the reader’s guide, I’ll pretend I’m buying a gift for my father, typically the most difficult person to purchase a gift for. The key to shopping for a gift that your recipient will love is that it hits two or three things that are specific to your giftee. One is good but not great, and four to five is practically impossible to find, which will leave you frustrated and left with a gift card. My father, for example, loves to build things and learn how things work. The Smithsonian Channel is constant background noise on his TV. He also is a restaurateur and was practically born for the hospitality industry. He has a knack for cooking and can be a bit of a sommelier when he wants to be. Then, think about what you gave to that person for the holidays last year, or even for their birthday, or other celebrations, and stray away from similar items. For example, last year, I got my father a new set of cooking pans. Gifting similar items, or items that are based on the same interest can be repetitive. By buying something that is related to a different interest, you will show them how much you know and care about what they love. Finally, think about what you share with your giftee. Where did you two meet? What do you two always do together? Is there a specific memory that comes up when you talk to them, or think about them? For example, my father and I both enjoy games and puzzles. If your gift caters to a memory or activity the two of you do together, the gift will be even more special, personal, and thoughtful. Possibly even something you can do together. Use the three of these steps to guide you to the best present, but after all, there is no perfect way to shop for a loved one. Stressing over the perfect gift almost always ends in sub-par purchases and holiday anxiety. Your own personal flair and creativity is what makes your loved ones, well, love you!
This weekly column looks to help readers enjoy the season of winter by providing the best tips and information on scenic parks, winter-favorite activities, recipes, and more.
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Rainbow Cookie Martini INGREDIENTS 1.5 oz, Vanilla Vodka 1 oz, Amaretto .5 oz, Chambord .5 oz, Crème de Cacao Splash of Half & Half or Heavy Cream
GARNISH:
Option 1: Hershey syrup, Rainbow cookie Option 2: Red sugar crystals Option 3: Chocolate Shavings
DIRECTIONS:
Pour all ingredients over ice in a cocktail shaker and shake well. Option 1: Dip martini glass in Hershey syrup, strain martini into glass, pierce a rainbow cookie to the rim. Option 2: Strain martini into glass, sprinkle red sugar crystals over top Option 3: Strain martini into glass, sprinkle chocolate shavings over top
Holiday Traditions
For as long as I can remember, getting a Christmas tree was my family’s favorite part of Christmas. We always went out together to pick out the best pine or spruce, then we’d come home and decorate while listening to our favorite seasonal music and sharing eggnog and Bailey’s. Even nowadays, when my brothers and I are in our 20s, and living in various areas of Long Island, we always make sure we are together to “do the tree”. Throughout the whole tradition, though, my favorite part will always be the one my mom started early in our childhoods. Just after the lights are strung, the music’s playing, and the drinks are poured, but before my dad hangs the first ornament, my mom presents each of us with an ornament that represents something big we did that year. As kids, we didn’t cherish it nearly enough. However now, my brothers and I feel blessed to have such a special way to look back on all of the things we did as we place them on the tree one by one. All of our ornaments are packed in separate boxes so that one day when we have our own homes, own families, and own trees, we can take them with us. My ornaments will always be special to me. They commemorate all of my “firsts”; my first Christmas, first sewing machine, first driver’s license, and my first car. They create full circle moments from the year I told my mom I wanted to go to the Fashion Institute of Technology, to the year I graduated. They help me reminisce on trends and fads that I was once into and laugh about interests and sports that never lasted longer than a year. Though we poke fun at some of the oddball events in our lives she chose to commemorate, the gesture to always recognize the special things we’ve done means the world to us and is often the best present of the season.
Smithtown Messenger - Brookhaven Messenger - Islip Messenger - Thursday, December 14, 2023
TOWNLINE RAIL: WHAT’S PROPOSED Townline Rail is a proposed alternative to trucking locally generated incinerator ash from the Huntington-Smithtown waste-to-energy facility as well as Construction & Demolition debris off Long Island once the Brookhaven landfill is closed. The proposal is for: One train arrival and one departure per weekday. No planned weekend arrivals or departures. Loading and unloading of materials during our regular DEC-permitted hours. Indoor facility with dust suppression, negative air system filtration and high speed roll up doors. Rail cars covered securely. New natural landscaped berm along Townline Rail. 140 Old Northport Road Kings Park, New York 11754
Proposed Townline Rail Terminal
Townline Rail will save taxpayers money, create jobs, and benefit the environment. To learn more visit www.townlinerail.com
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Expires 9/1/2024
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Overview - AMAC - The Association of Mature American Citizens
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The Association of Mature American Citizens represents Americans 50 plus. AMAC is centered on American values, freedom of the individual, free speech, and exercise of religion, equality of opportunity, sanctity of life, rule of law, and love of family, with benefits at all levels. AMAC plays a vital role in helping build the services that will enrich the lives of America’s seniors. AMAC Action, a 501 (C) (4) advocates for issues important to AMAC’s membership on Capitol Hill and locally through grassroots activism. To Learn more, visit www.amac.us
Thursday, December 14, 2023
U.S. Colleges Put The Interests Of Foreign Students Above American Students By Aaron Flanigan | AMAC Over the course of 2023, the federal government has doled out more than $200 billion to America’s colleges and universities. But despite the fact that U.S. citizens are footing the bill for scholarships, research grants, federally subsidized student loans, and dozens of other taxpayerfunded programs, it is increasingly foreign-born students, not the children of U.S. taxpayers, who are reaping the benefits of the American higher education system. Data shows that, during the 2022-2023 academic year, there were a whopping 1,057,188 international students studying at American universities—nearly double the number from just two decades ago. Approximately one out of every four students on an American university campus today is not a U.S. citizen. 25 percent of the Harvard student body (including graduate students) is designated as “international.” That figure closely mirrors the percentage of foreign students at other top schools like Yale (20 percent), Stanford (24 percent), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (29 percent), the University of California, Berkeley (15 percent) and the University of Illinois UrbanaChampaign (23 percent). Close to a third of these students hail from Communist China, and about 10 percent come to the U.S. from Middle Eastern countries such as Iran, Iraq, and Syria. American families preparing to send their children to college today already face soaring tuition costs, daunting acceptance rates at elite schools, and a cutthroat application process that often drains students and their families of their energy, financial resources, and dignity. Now they face another challenge – competing with foreignborn students who often earn extra points on their application simply for not being from the United States. Meanwhile, it should be noted, the American students who do manage to get into and attend our nation’s elite schools are faced with stupefyingly woke faculty who are bent on indoctrinating students with ahistorical and anti-American propaganda. These alarming developments raise some crucial questions: why are our nation’s colleges and universities endorsing such blatant antiAmericanism? Perhaps more importantly, why are taxpayers expected to subsidize universities even as they actively work to exclude American students in the name of “diversity”? Every year, U.S. high school students spend endless hours and resources studying for entrance exams, readying college applications, and completing their coursework only to face rejection from American colleges, many of which are subsidized by their families’ tax dollars. And more often than not, those who do manage to get accepted are inundated with course material that pressures them to question their heritage, disavow their culture, and hate their country. The culture of anti-Americanism and moral depravity that now dominates college campuses has been on full display in recent weeks following Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel and massacre of Israeli civilians. American colleges and universities have shamefully become a cradle of anti-Semitic hate and even open sympathizing with Hamas and radical Islamic extremism. Along with outright celebrations of the deadly attacks, some tenured professors have delivered anti-Semitic lectures, while others have encouraged threats and even violence against Jews. Even prior to the Hamas attacks, however, American colleges and universities had already cemented their reputations as hotbeds for Communism, Marxism, and other breeds of leftism—warping the minds of millions of young Americans and fraying the bonds of patriotism and civic unity. There are also legitimate concerns that America’s adversaries, particularly China, are using the university system to steal military and trade secrets. The FBI has repeatedly warned American universities about intellectual property theft from Chinese spies posing as college students. Although there is certainly a place for international students on America’s campuses, the
idea that they should account for 25 percent of our nation’s college students is likely a difficult one for American families and students to swallow. After all, it is impossible to imagine China or other U.S. adversaries allowing westerners to take up a quarter of the slots at their most prestigious schools. Fortunately, some conservative leaders have begun to devise solutions to the problems plaguing our campuses. President Donald Trump, for instance, has called to revamp the college accreditation system and institute what he calls the “American Academy,” a free and anti-woke online educational institution that will be funded by money taken from “excessively large private university endowments.”
Trump has also pledged to deport foreign students who support Hamas or express hatred for the United States despite enjoying the benefits of taxpayer-funded American education. Even as academia’s woke turn and the skyrocketing costs of higher education erode the overall value of many college degrees, America’s universities remain one of the nation’s primary engines of economic empowerment and personal advancement. It’s long past time for a serious conversation about why admissions offices hand out one in every four of these significant, taxpayer-funded opportunities for success to foreign nationals.
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State News Thursday, December 14, 2023
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Long Island Leaders React to Congestion Pricing Plan Credit - Joe McGahan
On Monday, Decem(R-East Patchogue) of the ber 11, Long Island’s Third District. New York State Sena“Congestion pricing tors, New York State will have unintended Assemblymembers, and consequences as it Cathy Powell, President imposes crushing expenof the Wantagh Chamber ses on important orgaof Commerce, gathered nizations such as the to call on Governor American Red Cross,” Kathy Hochul (D) to said Senator Alexis Weik end her support for the (R-Sayville) of the Eighth MTA’s newest attempt to District. “Requested dig even deeper in the Exemptions may be pockets of commuters given to save these and small business good organizations, but owners. once exemptions begin, This new hidden abuses will follow. tax implemented by Congestion pricing is a the MTA is costing Long bad idea and unintended Island commuters, consequences and undelivery drivers, taxi necessary expenses to drivers, tour buses, and New Yorkers will continue rideshare drivers up to to pile up.” $36 per day to enter “This is a backdoor anywhere south of tax on Long Islanders 60th Street, Manhattan, due to the Albany and including the financial NYC Democrats’ failed district. economic policies,” said New York State Assemblyman Ed Flood Senators and Assembly(R-Port Jefferson Station) men are encouraging of the Fourth District. residents to voice opi“This is just another nions and make their tax on our working-class voices heard during this men and women,” said 60-day public comment period taking place through the Triborough Bridge Assemblyman Mike Durso (R-Massapequa Park) of the Ninth District. “With and Tunnel Authority. record inflation and stagnant wages, the last thing that workers need is to be “Congestion Pricing is nothing less than a license for the MTA to steal nickel and dimed on their way to work. I stand with the working-class families from Long Island residents and businesses,” said Senator Steven Rhoads of my district in opposing unnecessary fees that impact their ability to put (R-Bellmore), of the Fifth District. “At a food on their table and a roof over their time when Long Islanders and all New families’ heads.” Yorkers are struggling with record crime, “Governor Hochul’s misguided “The MTA is trying to fix their NYC system record high inflation, a bad economy and congestion pricing plan is nothing more by adding more of a financial burden on the one-party rule in Albany that continues than a new tax on already overtaxed backs of Long Islanders. Our residents deserve to tax and spend residents out of our New Yorkers. I will continue fighting this better. Everyone wants New Yorkers to utilize State, Congestion Pricing is yet another blatant cash grab by Governor Hochul,” attack on the suburbs to pay for the said Congressman Anthony D’Esposito mass transit, but after enacting policies that MTA’s woeful mismanagement and lack (R-Island Park) of the Fourth District. have made everyone feel less safe, Albany of accountability. If Congestion Pricing “Congestion pricing is just another is again going to penalize our residents with were truly about reducing pollution and idea that is going to hurt the working this unfair plan. It is time for New York State traffic congestion, the MTA could have cut class in New York State,” said Frank LIRR, bus and subway fares to encourage Camarano, President of Nassau Council to stop reaching into the pockets of Long the use of mass transit. Instead they of Chambers of Commerce. “In October, Islanders to fix a broken system and instead raised them again, in addition to making Newsday cited the census department focus on working harder to give our residents it harder for people who need to drive stated 545,598 thousand people moved the safe mass transit they need and deserve.” into Manhattan for work, school, medical out of the state of New York, saying appointments or entertainment. This is New York is unaffordable. Congestion Senator Mario Mattera an MTA money grab that will kill jobs and pricing will make it more unaffordable drive even more New Yorkers out of our by adding another $15 to every drive into state.” Manhattan below 61st Street. Every taxi, “The MTA is trying to fix their NYC Lyft, and Uber driver will be forced to system by adding more of a financial burden on the backs of Long Islanders. charge more, every delivery to Manhattan will see the trucking companies Our residents deserve better,” said Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James) of the simply pass the charge along to the customers and businesses, and they in Second District. “Everyone wants New Yorkers to utilize mass transit, but after turn will pass it on to their customers and the residents of Manhattan, which enacting policies that have made everyone feel less safe, Albany is again going in turn will make Manhattan even more unaffordable.” to penalize our residents with this unfair plan. It is time for New York State to Also in attendance were Senator Steven Rhoads (R-Bellmore) of the Fifth stop reaching into the pockets of Long Islanders to fix a broken system and District, Senator Jack Martins (R-Great Neck) of the Seventh District, Senator instead focus on working harder to give our residents the safe mass transit they Patricia Canzoneri-Fitzpatrick (R-Malverne) of the Ninth District, Assemblyman need and deserve.” Mike Durso (R-Massapequa Park) of the Ninth District, Assemblyman John “This is just another money grab, targeting downstate commuters and to Mikulin (R-Bethpage) of the Seventeenth District, Assemblyman Ed Ra make matters worse, the money collected is being thrown into the massive (R-Franklin Square) of the Nineteenth District, Assemblyman Brian Curran blackhole of the MTA, where tax dollars go to be wasted,” said Senator Dean Murray (R-Lynbrook) of the Twenty-First district.
Theater & the Arts Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, December 14, 2023
‘Holiday Spectacular on Ice!’
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The Gateway’s
is Festive, Fun, and Family-Friendly
By Cindi Sansone-Braff If you’re looking for a Christmas miracle to share with your loved ones, take them to The Gateway’s “Holiday Spectacular on Ice!” While watching this joyous show, they will witness a winter wonderland resplendent with snowflakes, an onstage ice rink, Santa Claus arriving by sleigh, and visions of candy canes flying through the air. “Holiday Spectacular on Ice!” features one of America’s most recognized sports icons, the two-time Olympic medalist Nancy Kerrigan, as host and performer. During the opening number, “Where Are You Christmas,” the enthusiastic audience cheered and applauded when Kerrigan skated on stage, graceful and beautiful as ever, to join the talented young figure skater Gabrielle Freeman, a rising superstar. This show has so many outstanding numbers that I don’t even know where to begin. My favorite was “Run, Run Rudolph,” where the fabulous Female Ensemble Skaters, donning poodle skirts, skated around Ryan Dunk, whose hip gyrations and funky skating moves stole the show. During “Silent Night,” the Female Ensemble Skaters looked like beautiful snow angels floating among the clouds, and during the upbeat number “Sleigh Ride,” they performed like ice skating Rockettes. The Female Ensemble Skaters, accompanied by The Youth Skaters, delivered an unforgettable performance during the traditional Chanukah song celebrating the Festival of Lights, “Chanukah, O Chanukah!” Kayleigh Linkous astounded the audience with her aerial acrobatics during “Hangin’ Round the Mistletoe.” When Dayron Tondike joined Linkous, these two athletic performers held the audience spellbound with their gravitydefying antics on the lyra. The best way to describe the showstopping number “Code Name Vivaldi” is to say it was all fire and ice. The multitalented Linkous displayed her breathtaking skating ability while dancing with flaming torches! The children in the audience loved the two classic Christmas jingles sung by the Youth Singers, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer,” with Ariela Masarsky portraying Santa’s most famous reindeer, and “Frosty the Snowman,” which showcased a largerthan-life-Frosty-skating around the stage accompanied by the Female Ensemble Skaters dressed like Santa’s
other adorable reindeers. The featured Skate Pair, Daniela Ivanitskiy and Jonathan Rogers, captivated the audience with their riveting performances of “All I Want for Christmas is You” and “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home).” At select performances, the other featured Skate Pair are Grace Hanns and Danny Neudecker. The stellar vocalists Jennifer
Brett, José Contreras, Tyler Shore, and Bellport’s own Shannon Gibbons, a Season 18 “American Idol” contestant, added greatly to the overall enjoyment of this production. I particularly loved their group renditions of “I’ve Got Love to Keep Me Warm” and “The Christmas Song.” Gibbons rocked the Jonas Brothers hit, “Like It’s Christmas,” while Nancy Kerrigan figure skated to breathtaking choreography during
this upbeat song. Dressed in a sizzling red dress and riding in a sparkling red sleigh, Brett delivered a powerful rendition of “Santa Baby” surrounded by the Male Ensemble Skaters. Contreras and the Youth Singers had the audience singing along to “Feliz Navidad,” and Shore, with his rich and velvety vocals, gave the iconic Burl Ives version of “A Holly Jolly Christmas” a run for its money. Keith Andrews’s astute direction and Tara Modlin-Maurizi and Andrews’s high-energy, precisionperfect choreography, in conjunction with the breathtaking costume design by Marianne Dominy with additional costumes by Janine Loesch, all deserve special mention. The holiday-themed, versatile set by Brittany Loesch further amplified the celebratory tone of the evening. The gifted members of the Youth Ensemble are Sonnie Betts, Stefania Conte, Sofia Da Costa-Wilson, Samantha Hayes, Dominick Heilemann, Emily Hershey, Sophie Hughes, Edward Langston, Giada Longo, Julius Lovelace, Brendyn Molnar, Jennifer Morales, Abigail Pirozzi, Ella Roberts, Mia Rofrano, Kyle Walter, Addison Wasylyshyn, and Bree Wilkens. The Young Skaters are Conalie Julia King, Gabrielle Freeman, Charlotte Gilroy, and Reese Wustenhoff. The outstanding Ensemble Skaters are Viktoria Chiappa, Stephanie Chin, Ryan Dunk, Kevin Lee, Kayleigh Linkous, Ariela Masarsky, Madison Patrell, Violet Presley-Wolff, Alain Sandrez, Lacie Tew, Dayron Tondike, and Naomi Wong. The biggest applause must go to the technical crew for creating and maintaining the ice rink. I stumbled upon a fascinating YouTube video made a few years ago, which explains how the onstage ice rink is created. You might want to Google: MyLITV, “How an Ice Rink Is Made on The Gateway Stage.” This magnificent show runs now through January 1, 2024. For tickets, contact the Box Office at (631) 286-1133 or buy online at https://TheGateway.org/. Cindi Sansone-Braff is an awardwinning playwright. She has a BFA in Theatre from UCONN and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. She is the author of “Grant Me a Higher Love,” “Why Good People Can’t Leave Bad Relationships,” and “Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic.” Her full-length Music Drama, “Beethoven, The Man, The Myth, The Music,” is published by Next Stage Press. www.Grantmeahigherlove.com.
Around Town
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Thursday, December 14, 2023
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Town Officials Light Hanukkah Menorah Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip) was joined by Rabbi Shimon Stillerman, Chabad of Islip; Pastor Michael Staneck, Trinity Lutheran Church; members of the Islip Town Board and town officials, to light the Hanukkah Menorah on the first night of Hanukkah. The menorah shines brightly in front of Islip Town Hall on Main Street. (Left to right) Councilman Jorge Gaudron, Receiver of Taxes Andy Whittman, Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter and Rabbi Shimon Stillerman, Chabad of Islip. (Credit - Town of Islip)
Salvation Army Toy Drive a Success! Dozens of toys were picked up from Islip Town Hall and delivered to the Salvation Army, for distribution to the organization’s Angel Tree recipients. Town of Islip employees went above and beyond, buying toys, clothes, shoes, and games from the wish lists of 60 Salvation Army Angels. Employees placed the unwrapped items in Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter’s office, where they were collected by Santa’s elves and given to families registered with the Angel Tree program. The Town of Islip has been participating in the Salvation Army Angel Tree program since 2015, when Supervisor Carpenter took office. “It is truly heartwarming to ‘adopt’ these angels, and to know that you’re ensuring a very Merry Christmas for a child,” said Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip).
Sports Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
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Thursday, December 14, 2023
Yankees Make a Giant Splash in Free Agency By James Haupt Dan Gold - Unsplash
The MLB offseason has been in full effect this past week sparking some major moves throughout the league. The most notable is the signing of twoway superstar Shohei Ohtani to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a 10-year, $700 Million contract, shattering the record for biggest contract in not only baseball, but all of sports history. Although the Yankees didn’t make a deal nearly as dramatic as this, it’s safe to say that Brian Cashman put in the work as the Yankees GM. He completed two major trades that immediately made the Yankees World Series Contenders. The first deal comes from a familiar foe within the AL East Division. Arguably the biggest rivalry in sports, the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox rarely make trades with each other. However, the eighth ever swap in the Divisional Era (since 1969) between the rivals was completed on December 6, resulting in a solid new player to wear Pinstripes this upcoming season. Former Red Sox Outfielder Alex Verdugo was officially acquired by the Yankees in exchange for three right-handed pitchers in Greg Weissert, Nicholas Juddice, and Richard Fitts, the latter being the Yankees’ twelfth best prospect. Verdugo has been in the league for seven years, spending time in the LA Dodgers organization and, of course, with the Boston Red Sox. He is a strong defender in the corner of the outfield and is consistent at the plate. In his career, he holds a .281 average including one season over .300 in Boston. He has also collected 654 hits in his 651 games and has a career On Base Percentage (OBP) of .337, proving to be one of the most efficient hitters in the league. Verdugo has yet to win a Gold Glove but is always in the running. He fell just short of this honor this past season where he ranked third among all American League right fielders. “The Yankees and Red Sox have only made four trades with each other in my lifetime, so when I saw they traded us Alex Verdugo I was in shock that they were willing to give up a player with experience in rivalry games who has had a lot of success in Yankees Stadium,” said Aspen Levine, a young Yankee fan from Commack.
Despite this impressive resume and the lengths they went to acquire Verdugo, he may struggle to find a daily spot in the Yankees’ outfield. This is mainly due to the presence of Aaron Judge, but a trade that occurred only a day later also plays a huge role. The Yankees received outfielders Trent Grisham and Juan Soto for righthanded pitcher (RHP) Michael King, RHP Drew Thorpe, RHP Jhony Brito, RHP Randy Vásquez, and Catcher Kyle Higashioka. Grisham comes to the Yankees as a solid defensive outfielder. He could use work on the offensive side as he’s coming off a season with 13 home runs and a .198 batting average. Despite this, he boasted a .315 OBP which New York could benefit from. Now to the main event of the 2023 offseason: 3x All-Star, 4x Silver Slugger, and 2019 World Series Champion Juan Soto is officially a New York Yankee. He pairs up with Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole as one of the best “Big 3s” in baseball. Soto clearly has some impressive accomplishments, and he has the stats to back them up. He has a .284 career average, including a .351 in the 2020 COVID season with the Nationals. He also has collected 160 home runs, with his season high of 35 coming last year with the Padres. He is a superstar in every category and locks in as one of the best players in the league. “Soto is going to be a great addition to the team this year. The Yankees have needed another bat and outfielder, and Soto could thrive in the Yankee Stadium,” said Michael Beck, another optimistic Yankee fan from Commack. It looks like brighter days ahead for the New York Yankees as they made some crucial moves early in the offseason. They may not be done yet, however, as the hope is to add a few more pieces to build a championship roster and earn ring number 28.
Yankees Make a Play to Save Their ‘Offensive Line’ By Kaitlyn Foley
After ending last season with a ruinous .227 batting meet the team and work together towards a common average, lending a hand to their 24th placement in the goal for the season. “As for any contract stuff, they know league, the New York Yankees made an unparalleled where to call and who to talk to. I’m here just to play trade with the San Diego Padres for a one-year contract baseball and stay concentrated.” with Juan Soto. The 25-year-old left fielder will hopefully To many Yankee fans, the five players were a small boost the team’s offensive talent as a hitter, bringing price to pay for Soto. However, others believe that the some impressive stats to the table. team’s need for pitchers is just as dire as the offensive In 162 games last season, Soto put up .275/.410/.519 line. The four young arms are definitely a loss for and hit 35 home runs with 109 RBI, competing closely pinstripes, especially King, who seems to be getting with the Yankees best hitter, Aaron Judge, who slashed better with every pitch. .267/.406/.613 in the 2023 season, ending it with 37 home “In today’s MLB, to trade for a player as young as runs and 75 RBI. The two are projected to complement Juan Soto and for someone who is the caliber player each other nicely on the diamond this season, providing as Juan Soto, a type of package deal between existing some necessary support for Gerrit Cole. MLB players and prospects is expected to acquire one “You take one look at Soto, and you know he’s a Yankee,” of the top five best players in the league,” says Carl says Michael Reistetter of Hauppauge. “All concern to the Mattioli, producer and cohost of the “2man” Podcast out contrary that he’ll be like the many rentals who couldn’t of Hauppauge. “The trade for Juan Soto helps out both hack it in New York is negated by how he carried himself the Yankees and the Padres in which the Padres can at just 20 years old on the biggest stage while he led shed payroll and gain prospects for the future. While the Juan Soto hit from Nationals vs. Braves the Nationals to their first and only World Series Victory. Yankees get a top five young player in the league.” at Nationals Park, April 6th, 2021 He was built for Pinstripes.” “The surplus of outfielders now doesn’t have me Credit: All-Pro Reels Photography 51101642469 While the 7-player trade earned the Yankees Soto, convinced they won’t flip someone like Verdugo for that and center fielder Trent Grisham, the Padres acquired one catcher and four right- pitching depth they’re now suddenly in the market for,” agrees Reistetter. “We saw last handed pitchers. Kyle Higashioka, Jhony Brito, Drew Thorpe, and Randy Vásquez will year with Cole’s CY Young win. You can have the best pitching in the world, but if you be sporting white and gold in the coming season, along with Michael King who was let don’t score, and by a large margin at that, then you’re going nowhere fast.” go hesitantly. The trade itself left many fans on the edge of their seats as the Padres “For a team like the Yankees, who has so much depth, trading away one or two key took several hours to confirm players’ medical records before agreeing. As the details pitching players for a potentially another All-Star in your lineup far outweighs the cons ironed out between the cross-country teams, King was released by the Yankees in of the trade and only bolster the pros, making the Yankees lineup more potent,” adds order to secure Soto. Mattioli. “My priorities right now are just to get to know the team, get to know the guys,” Soto After all, the future of the Yankees seems bright with the addition of Soto and said in his first introduction to the media as a Yankee Tuesday that his main goal is to Grisham, though only time will tell.
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Messenger Spotlight
Thursday, December 14, 2023
Elves in Blue:
PBA Helps Santa Unload Gifts for Students
By Matt Meduri While the infectious fun, fellowship, and energy of the Christmas season is usually enjoyed by many, there is no doubt that the burdens of the month leading up to the holiday can make it one of the most stressful of the year. That said, we usually take all the help we can get. The same can be said for Santa Claus, of the North Pole, who found himself so strapped with orders that he enlisted the help of one of Suffolk County’s finest organizations, the Police Benevolent Association (PBA), to help him deliver gifts for students at the Arthur E. Premm Learning Center in Oakdale last Friday. In fact, the PBA is no stranger to helping St. Nick for this particular school. The tradition goes back over thirty years, and this year was no exception in terms of excitement and Christmas spirit. The children of Premm submitted their lists to their teachers, who then got in contact with the North Pole. Upon Santa’s arrival in a police command center truck, the men and women of law enforcement in Suffolk County took to festive ties and hats to unload the gifts into the school, where each class was gathered around Santa’s throne and an elaborate balloon sculpture. Santa thanked the officers of Suffolk County for their help and for getting him down to Long Island so quickly. In addition to Santa Claus, The Messenger made sure to collect the thoughts of another valuable component of the event, the President of the Suffolk PBA, Lou Civello. “This is my first time at this event as president, and this really is the most special event that we do,” said Civello. “It’s a blessing and a joy to bring some happiness to these kids. We also get to help Santa; these presents are being delivered by our Elves in Blue.” Civello discussed the process of the event and how the police officers make the event happen. “Each child submits a wish and those wishes go up to the North Pole, and then our police officers facilitate that wish. Santa came in today on our police escort,” said Civello. “We get as much out of this as the children do. The smiles on their faces and the happiness we bring to them is really something our officers look forward to every single year.” Civello’s association with the Suffolk County Police Department
is just one connection to the decades-long tradition. During his time as a police officer, he became intimately familiar with the Oakdale area, as well as Premm Learning Center. “This was my study sector for many years,” said Civello. “I worked as a police officer in this community, so I’m very familiar with this area and the staff here. It’s always a pleasure to work with them.” The Messenger even got a chance to talk to a student-teacher duo while Santa was handing out the gifts to the groups of kids. Vincent, 5, a student at Premm, was “super excited” to see Santa. Vincent said he asked Santa for “new cars.” Victoria Iodice, 23, is Vincent’s teacher at Premm. “It’s always a big event, it’s everyone’s favorite day of the year,” said Iodice. This is her second year teaching at Premm and recounted the joy of last year’s event. She also remarked on the logistics of the day. “There’s a lot of preparation that goes into this,” said Iodice. “Some people here are on committees who set up the whole event, they figure out the kids’ wishes, and they even come up with new ideas to make the day slightly different each year.” The Messenger congratulates Premm Learning Center on another fantastic coordination between the North Pole and the Suffolk County Police Department, and thanks the PBA for their continued community outreach and service, especially during the busiest time of the year. “Premm Learning Center serves students with moderate to severe developmental delays, and plays an integral part in the lives of the students we teach. We work as a team, in cooperation with the parents, to ensure that each student develops to his/her maximum potential academically, socially, and physically and achieves his/her highest level of independence. Multi-modality approaches to learning best serve our students while striving to achieve their goals.” Premm Learning Center is located at 1200 Montauk Highway in Oakdale. Included site programs are located in East Islip, Holbrook, and Stony Brook.