Thursday, February 1, 2024 ~ Volume 69 ~ Issue Number 15 ~ $1.00
Opioid Crisis Claims Another Life: One-Year-Old Joseph Adonis By Kaitlyn Foley
Office of the District Attorney
Suffolk County is forced to mourn the life of yet another resident due to the current opioid crisis in our state. Oneyear-old Joseph Adonis, of Holbrook, was killed earlier this month due to his exposure to fentanyl and other uncontrolled substances at the hands of his mother and father. On the morning of January 3, 2024, a 911 call was made from a residence in Holbrook. When Suffolk County Police officers arrived, they found fourteen-month-old Joseph Adonis unresponsive and not breathing. The baby was rushed to Stony Brook University Hospital, where he was later pronounced dead. Joseph was found in a bedroom littered with uncontrolled substances including cocaine, Fentanyl, Xanax, packaging materials, digital scales, a stun gun, a loaded shotgun, and a rifle, which was all insecure and accessible to both Joseph and his eleven-year-old brother. Continued on page 10 One-year-old Joseph Adonis, victim of opioid overdose.
The Tragedy of
Human Trafficking By Peter Chidichimo Contrary to what many people believe, human trafficking is not the process of transporting people against their will. It is the use of force, fraud, or coercion to compel a person to engage in illicit or illegal activity, such as sex work or forced labor. Examples of forced labor include farming, mining, domestic servitude, sexual exploitation, and even forced marriage. In the United States, the most common form of coercion is sexual in nature, with domestic servitude being the second most common. January was National Human Trafficking Prevention Month. According to the U.S. State Department’s website, the goal is to raise awareness and to educate the public about how to identify and prevent this abhorrent criminal activity. This includes raising awareness of human trafficking both domestically and abroad, through U.S. embassies and consulates. Human trafficking is a global crisis. According to the International Justice Mission (IJM), an organization dedicated to combating human trafficking, millions of men, women, and children are trapped in modern-day slavery around the world. In India, for example, entire families are coerced into forced labor, including in rice mills and garment factories, working up to twenty hours a day. In the Dominican Republic, women and children are lured into sex trafficking with false promises of gifts or a good-paying job. In the Philippines, children as young as two are sexually abused live for anyone in the world to watch through illicit websites. Continued on page 3
FULL STORIES ON:
February Edition of Carpenter’s Corner Page 15
GOP Senators: ‘Save Our Schools’ Page 16
Local Spotlight: Darryl Sumpter Page 23
2
Messenger Papers
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Curious On What Your Home Is Worth In Today’s Market?
Meet Hudson Hudson is here to comfort all who needed his care and affection by providing comfort and love to families during visitations and services as well as
Call Rita Today!
helping during grief counseling sessions.
(631) 332-7897
Facts About Hudson
Request your FREE Planning Guide Today. Call 631-724-9500 Branch Funeral Home of Smithtown
1315-1 Middle Country Rd., Centereach, NY 11720
*
BRANCHFH.COM
Delivered $ To Your A YEAR! Door!
35 ONLY
*All current paying subscribers are eligble.
Name: ____________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Phone: _____________________ Email ________________________________ CHOOSE ONE:
METHOD OF PAYMENT:
IN COUNTY
Credit card information:
12 Months - $35.00 24 Months - $65.00 36 Months - $90.00 OUT OF COUNTY 12 Months - $50.00
Name: _______________________________ Card Number: ________________________ CVV: __________________ Expiration: _____________ Signature: ______________________________ Feel free to call (631) 265-3500 or pay by check (Make out to Messenger Papers) Messenger Papers, Inc. P.O. Box 925 Smithtown, NY 11787-0925
Cut this out and send to:
Scan the QR code Messenger subscribe@messengerpapers.com to Subscribe to... Papers Inc.
Smithtown Messenger
Branch Funeral Home of Miller Place
Brookhaven Messenger
Islip Messenger
Messenger Papers Papers Inc. Inc. SMITHTOWN | BROOKHAVEN | ISLIP SMITHTOWN | BROOKHAVEN | ISLIP PUBLISHER Diane Caudullo EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Matt Meduri STAFF REPORTER & SOCIAL MEDIA Kaitlyn Foley
ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Sergio A. Fabbri CONTRIBUTORS Peter Chidichimo James Haupt PJ Balzer OFFICE MANAGER & ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE Kim Revere
DISTRIBUTION & CIRCULATION MANAGER Tim Walz DELIVERY PERSONNEL Chris Revere PJ Balzer Call Us
631-265-3500
Contact Us
In Person
558 Portion Rd., Ronkonkoma, NY 11779
P.O. Box 925, Smithtown, NY 11787
Display Advertising
Publisher@MessengerPapers.com
Legal Notices & Classifieds Advertising Legals@MessengerPapers.com
Obituaries
Editor@MessengerPapers.com
News
News@MessengerPapers.com
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Continued from front cover
3
News Thursday, February 1, 2024
The Tragedy of Human Trafficking
To combat human trafficking in all its forms will require the cooperation of foreign governments, law enforcement officials, survivor advocates, communities of faith, not-for-profit support groups and private citizens all over the world. In 2023, according to statistics posted on the IJM website, www.ijm.org, an estimated 49.6 million people are being subjected to slavery, with about one million in the United States. Human trafficking generates about $15 billion a year in profits, with two-thirds of that coming from commercial sexual exploitation. Here on Long Island, according to a press release by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, dated September 2023, an eleven-count indictment was unsealed in Federal Court in Central Islip, alleging sex trafficking by force of a minor and interstate prostitution. According to the indictment, the defendants coerced victims to engage in prostitution through the threat of violence. The Messenger recently spoke to Matthew Okerblom, a Long Island-based volunteer with the IJM. “As a volunteer, I do not work directly with survivors, but I am part of a team that provides awareness, support, and advocacy for the work being done,” said Okerblom. “The IJM has partnerships with local churches and organizations, and we host fundraising events that support governmental advocacy, and other projects that combat human trafficking.” The production of child sexual exploitation material (CSEM) plagues communities worldwide, and the Philippines has been identified as a global epicenter for CSEM production, especially via livestreaming. In March 2021, the IJM launched a project to measure the prevalence of the production of CSEM in the Philippines and evidence suggests that this form of trafficking and exploitation in the Philippines is very high. Child sex offenders can now abuse children anywhere using the world wide web. As high-speed internet has spread across much of the globe, offenders have adopted it as an additional method through which to exploit children. “This is one example of how the IJM can support law enforcement, by helping to provide data and evidence,” says Okerblom. Online crimes against children occur in many forms, including sharing of images, sextortion, and trafficking. However, reliable evidence on these crimes is lacking, making prosecution difficult. Accurate information about the nature and scale of these crimes is critical for interventions by law enforcement. The Messenger also had an opportunity to discuss human trafficking with Corinne Giordano, Director of Multidisciplinary Team Services for The Safe Center Long Island. The Safe Center LI, https://www.tscli.org/, is an organization that offers free, confidential, and specialized services for victims of human trafficking, domestic violence, dating violence, and sexual assault. Some of the services offered include counselling, advocacy, case management, and legal services. When discussing victims or potential victims of human trafficking, Giordano pointed out potential victims are typically adolescents who are “vulnerable to false promises of gifts or money, in return for engaging in illicit activity, such as prostitution or labor.” They could be “people of low self-esteem who are susceptible to this kind of influence.” According to Giordano, parents and caregivers should be mindful of the signs a child could be involved with trafficking, such as a sudden change in behavior, unexplained absences, or acquiring gifts that can’t be accounted for. Safe Center Long Island has a 24-hour hot line, which is (516) 465-9313. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Long Island is in the top twenty jurisdictions in the nation impacted by human trafficking. Also, according to IJM’s website, 71% of human trafficking victims are female, with the average age of sexual exploitation in the U.S. being 12-14 years old. In 2022, here on Long Island, the Safe Center responded to 6,000 calls from survivors and community members seeking guidance and services. In addition, there were 900 allegations of child abuse through referrals to their Child Advocacy Center. Giordano also highlighted that the Safe Center actively engages in community outreach
education, conducting 1,331 training sessions in 2022. They also provide group therapy and legal services, says Giordano. When discussing human trafficking on Long Island, both Giordano and Okerblom gave as examples strip clubs and massage parlors. While these businesses appear legitimate, there may be illicit activity behind the scenes, where women are coerced into sexual activity, through intimidation or even fear of deportation, should they be undocumented. Victims can be children as well as adults, and include all genders, ethnicity, communities, and backgrounds, states Giordano. There is evidence that elected officials are strengthening laws to combat and address Human Trafficking. On February 8, 2016, President Obama signed Megan’s Law, requiring, among other things, a “unique identifier” to be placed on the passports of registrants convicted of sex offenses involving a minor. The law also requires some offenders to notify law enforcement twenty-one days before traveling abroad. In addition to Megan’s Law, New York State has also taken action over the past several years. Examples include: - Anti-Human Trafficking Law (2007) – This law criminalizes sex and labor trafficking in the state, including the use of force, fraud, or coercion. - Safe Harbor for Exploited Children Act (2008) – The purpose of this law is to remove commercially sexually exploited children from the jurisdiction of the justice system and treat them as victims, providing social services and counselling. - Vacating Convictions Law (2010) - Sex trafficking victims can seek to vacate a conviction for prostitution or loitering, if underage or can prove involvement was related to sex trafficking. - Trafficking Victims Protection and Justice Act (TVPJA) (2015) - Changes the law making sex trafficking a Class B violent felony. Develops protocols to strengthen law enforcement awareness and assistance, including using wiretaps. When contacted by email, Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) released this statement: “Despite common misconceptions, human trafficking is happening every day across the country, including Suffolk County. Children and other particularly vulnerable individuals who struggle with poverty, lack of a support system, mental illness, or addiction are most commonly targeted by traffickers who seek to profit from their vulnerability.” The press release noted that the DA’s Office has created a specialized unit, which is designed to oversee human trafficking investigations and prosecutions. The goals of the unit include working collaboratively with other law enforcement agencies and victim service agencies on investigations using a victim-centered approach, providing community education and training, and holding traffickers accountable through successful prosecutions. When discussing human trafficking with Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon (R-Rocky Point), of the Sixth District, Lennon pointed out the connection between the current border crisis and human trafficking. “The current border situation is the perfect opportunity for traffickers to prey on vulnerable victims,” stated Lennon. Indeed, according to an article by Hannah Davis of the Heritage Foundation, dated March 2023, human trafficking has increased massively in the last fiscal year, with close to 72% of those trafficked in the U.S. being illegal immigrants. According to a study by the Coalition Against Trafficking, an estimated 60% of unaccompanied alien children, or UACs, are caught by cartels and exploited through child pornography and drug trafficking. Other websites that offer information and statistics on human trafficking are Ending Modern Slavery - Free the Slaves and Global Slavery Index | Walk Free. ECLI Vibes, SERVICES — ECLI-VIBES (eclivibes.org), in Islandia, is dedicated to aiding victims of domestic abuse and trauma.
USPS No. 470-440
Official Newspaper for County of Suffolk, Town of Brookhaven, Town of Islip, Inc Village of Lake Grove, Middle Country School, Centereach, Selden, Middle Island, Ronkonkoma Fire Dist, and Farmingville Fire Dist. Periodicals Postage Paid at Smithtown, NY and additional entries. Published every Thursday by: Messenger Papers, Inc. 558 Portion Road, Suite B Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 Email: editor@messengerpapers.com www.messengerpapers.com
The Islip Messenger serves Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Oakdale, Holtsville, West Sayville, Sayville, Holbrook, Patchogue, Bohemia, Islandia and Islip 69 Years of Service to Our Community
Entered as a second class matter at the Post Office of Smithtown, NY, under act of December 1, 1879. Periodicals postage paid out of Smithtown, NY. This newspaper will not be liable for errors appearing in any advertisement beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. The opinions expressed in byline articles, letters and columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of Messenger Papers, Inc., its publishers or editors. Pictures submitted for publication remain property of the publisher. Postmaster: Send address changes to Messenger Papers Inc, P.O. Box 925, Smithtown, NY 11787
Smithtown Messenger - Brookhaven Messenger - Islip Messenger - Thursday, February 1, 2024
Take Flight in a
Vintage Aircraft Enjoy Views of
Long Island
Stearman Flight
25 Min - $275
Makes A Great Gift!
Nick Ziroli
Certified Flight Instructor Take-off from the historical Bayport Aerodrome grass runway
60 Vitamin Dr., Bayport, NY • SouthEndAviation23N@gmail.com • 631-806-5967
Book Online: www.southendaviation.com/book-online or scan the QR-Code on the right with your smart phone.
Smithtown Messenger - Brookhaven Messenger - Islip Messenger - Thursday, February 1, 2024
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
6
Editorial Thursday, February 1, 2024
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Latest Opioid Tragedies Show an Envelope We’d Rather Not See Pushed To make mention of the ongoing opioid crisis in Suffolk County is almost risking talking the subject to death. The more something is discussed, quoted, or spotlit, there’s usually a tendency for the public to become desensitized to it. Unfortunately, the opioid crisis plaguing our country, most notably on display in Suffolk County, is perhaps one of the last problems with which we should risk public fatigue. We here at The Messenger are optimistic that this is not the case, but it’s a sad reality when this is a possibility we have to entertain. Unfortunately, the headlines just keep getting more extreme, more surreal, and more indicative that this problem continues to evolve into a maelstrom of vice, lack of selfcontrol, and degeneracy. Look no further than the recent case of fourteen-month-old Joseph Adonis, a Holbrook child who is suspected to have overdosed from exposure to fentanyl. Although autopsy results are still pending, District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) said that toxicology reports of Adonis’ blood show the presence of fentanyl, morphine, and cocaine. The tragic death is just the latest in a seemingly endless slew of unnecessary casualties to such a preventable issue. Addiction, the drug market, and the human urge to chase a high or experiment with drugs are problems as old as time and they won’t go away any time soon. However, it’s our responses to these natural caveats to our society that can change the effects they have on the population at large. Let’s also not confuse people who need help with people who perpetuate tragedies such as that of Joseph Adonis. While addiction is not a desirable trait, drugs or not, it does not make someone intrinsically “bad.” Additionally, there are far too many stories of addiction by proxy, products of circumstance, or even just old fashioned bad choices that incline us to separate the people who suffer under such a large umbrella. Unfortunately, Albany seems perfectly content affording this same benefit of the doubt to virtually everyone under the umbrella, and that type of onesize-fits-all leniency only affects one demographic: those who have behaved and now find themselves inheriting a tragedy. Make no mistake: drug dealers, kingpins, and those who profit from the
proliferation of the industry have objectively “bad” motives and clearly do not have concern for the community overall. While these people might have also landed in their situations from certain circumstances, we find that affording them sympathy en masse is naive at best and contrived at worst. A point of no return on any downward spiral is eventually reached by all and it’s at that point when leniency should become progressively more scarce. Albany seems to think that all parties in the opioid epidemic are victims and that all should be treated with kid gloves, because the worst thing you can do to an unscrupulous drug kingpin is hurt his feelings. The most unfathomable reward for a negligent parent who directly leads to his or her infant son’s overdose is exercise justice applicably. While most people are not “bad” people, most people aren’t foolish either. We used to live in a world where we understood the consequences of our actions, regardless of our origin stories or current statuses. We can only be so sympathetic or understanding until the objectively “bad” actors begin to take advantage of that virtue. And Albany seems to only aid them in that cause, as loose bail laws, a lack of judicial discretion in retaining offenders, and newly-minted criminal justice reforms such as the “Clean Slate Act” only make it easier for drug dealers especially those whose products lead to overdoses - back on the streets. But the Joseph Adonis problem is one that really can’t be solved with legislation, press conferences, or newspaper headlines - much to our chagrin. The Adonis case is just one of pure negligence, complete lack of empathy, and total degeneracy. To possess hard drugs, scales, and even firearms around a child, much less an infant, is what we would deem objectively evil and selfish behavior. We’re not interested in offering sympathy to people like the parents of Joseph Adonis, nor are we willing to extend our understanding to repeat offenders who create similar tragedies by proxy of their “business.” Albany is being intentionally foolish by not allowing local law enforcement to appropriately handle these cases, to one day hopefully make a Joseph Adonis headline the unfortunate black swan event it should be, rather than another sordid story in a terribly long and unnecessary tale of benefit of the doubt.
Lessening Work Requirements for State Jobs Will Exacerbate Migrant Crisis The ongoing migrant crisis is a tale of catastrophic generational failures from the federal and state governments across many decades. While it’s difficult to blame some of our sitting elected officials for all of the chronic reasons for the porous border, tiresome immigration procedures, and legal loopholes, some of the more acute symptoms can absolutely be pinned on politicians of the current era. To recap our take on the problem: we don’t think it’s an issue that people from other countries wish to emigrate to the United States in search of opportunity and prosperity. That is the core of the American Dream and it applies to natural-born citizens and immigrants alike. However, we do think that our system must work in a way that citizens are prioritized and our services and resources are dedicated to those who are citizens, either natural-born or not. Opening the floodgates of the world to our country, while an admirable goal, is fiscally, socially, and logistically unrealistic. In lieu of a naturalization process that allows for state resources to be adequately used, hundreds of thousands of people pouring across our border diminishes quality of life for our citizens and only delays the immigration process for those obeying the law. Instead of imploring that the laws be upheld, or properly rewritten by Congress, as they have neglected to do for decades, leaders like Governor Kathy Hochul (D) and company have opened their arms to show everyone just how loving and welcoming they are. Only to realize the massive financial and logistical strain they just put on their states, cities, and municipalities. Then, after declaring themselves a sanctuary for illegal immigrants, they told migrants to look elsewhere for opportunity and that the United States could not support them. In September, Governor Hochul herself said “If you’re going to leave your country, go somewhere else.” Now, counterintuitively, the solution seems to be to offer the migrants jobs. The job opportunities will only be levied in the form of temporary entry-level state jobs, with the number said to be around 4,000 positions. Only migrants with federal work authorization will be allowed to screen for the jobs. On its face, it’s not the worst thing, other than the obvious flip-flopping on whether or not New York is open for business for literally anyone in the world.
The massive problem is that the jobs’ requirements are being dramatically eased to allow for their quick fulfillment. The proposal includes removing proof of a high school diploma, certain certifications, and even loosening English proficiency requirements. In what world does this benefit anyone, even migrants, in the State of New York? Natural-born and naturalized citizens will then see a further diminished return on investment in their state services, more than they already have, while dealing with employees with whom they cannot communicate properly or who are not educated enough for their specific jobs. Meanwhile, immigrants who sincerely seek a productive life in the United States will only be the bane of citizens’ frustrations and will not be able to accurately and adequately hone skills to increase the value of their labor with the more time they spend within our borders. Furthermore, what sense does it make to remove English proficiency requirements in a country where the de facto official language is English? Not only is it counterproductive to any new arrival attempting to obtain work, but it’s an insult to those who call the United States home, especially those who learned English as an alternative language to properly immigrate here. Finally, not holding people to the same standards is not “equity,” it’s simply changing the rules to fit a desired outcome. There’s no reason that applicants of any background, race, or origin should experience eased requirements over others. Would this mean natural-born citizens do not have to produce a high school diploma or test satisfactorily in English proficiency to hold a temporary state job? Not to mention, according to the latest statistics only a single-digit percentage of recent arrivals to New York City have applied for federal work permits. This isn’t exactly casting the wide net they’re expecting, mainly because many who have arrived here don’t seem keen on finding jobs just yet. We’ve said it before: we cannot keep ourselves afloat if we willingly allow the boat to be swamped. If our country is to serve as the beacon of hope and opportunity as it always has, its institutions, resources, and culture must be preserved. Otherwise, it becomes an ATM that anyone can take for granted, until it’s too late.
Op-Ed Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
7
Thursday, February 1, 2024
New York Needs Fiscal Restraint, Responsible Investing By Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay It was refreshing to see Gov. Kathy Hochul’s budget presentation acknowledge some of the major issues impacting New Yorkers like crime, housing and immigration; these are serious issues that affect every region of our state. While I have many concerns about how we ultimately solve these problems, I was encouraged to see them on the agenda and am hopeful we can find some common ground while we work to fix these systemic problems. It’s no secret that New York spends too much money, and while there are only so many places to trim the fat, we can always do better when it comes to reducing waste. After all, $233 billion is a lot of money and we still have a $20 billion budget gap looming over the next three years. We must also address our growing outmigration problem which has been caused by our poor tax and business climate. We are not going to simply be able to spend our way out of these problems. They require targeted, nuanced policy solutions, and I look forward to working with the governor
and my legislative colleagues to develop a plan to tackle them. While I was thankful to see the governor acknowledge many of the issues the Assembly Minority Conference has raised for years, I am very concerned with her plan to direct another $2.4 billion to support illegal immigration, which uses $500 million in state reserve funds. The migrant crisis in New York does not need a financial bandage, it needs direct federal assistance and corrective action at every level of government. Simply put, we are not going to spend our way out of this crisis either. Government spending must come with objective, measurable returns. Education, mental health services, and economic development drive money and jobs into the state. This is where our time, energy, attention and funding belong. New Yorkers deserve to know, “What is the return on my investment here?” Any spending plan that does not prioritize the needs of taxpaying New Yorkers is the wrong spending plan.
The budget process has just begun, and I am eager to continue working to develop a responsible spending plan that grows our economy, creates jobs and improves the quality of life for all New Yorkers. That is the job we were all elected to do, and that is the only way to get New York heading in the right direction. If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 19 Canalview Mall, Fulton, NY 13069 and by email at barclayw@nyassembly.gov. You may also find me, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, on Facebook or Twitter at @WillABarclay.
An ‘Act’ of Compassion By Senator Anthony Palumbo Late last month, as New Yorkers were making plans to celebrate the New Year, Governor Hochul (D) once again vetoed the Grieving Families Act. Her action was a surprise to many of us in the State Legislature, especially considering the broad, nearly unanimous bipartisan support for the bill’s passage in consecutive sessions. More surprisingly was that her veto pen fell on a vastly changed version of the legislation, which was updated to assuage the Governor’s concerns over the Act’s overhyped impact on the State’s hospitals and insurance industry. The Grieving Families Act is important as it would bring New York State’s wrongful death statute into the modern era, on par with the rest of the nation and in line with our values. It would provide families who have lost a child or loved one the ability to seek damages for their pain and suffering in cases where wrongful death is established. By expanding the State’s wrongful death statute beyond the callous ‘monetary value’ of the deceased and allowing for pain and suffering to be calculated in wrongful death cases, the legislation weighs the full and devastating impact that the loss of a child, spouse, stay at-home parent, or disabled grandparent has on a family. It would also hold the wrongdoer responsible for the death accountable. The benefits of the legislation to New York’s families are crystal clear. The steps that the New York State Legislature will take next to ensure the Grieving Family Act becomes law, is less evident. There have been discussions to override
Governor Hochul’s veto of the Grieving Families Act, but these talks have been met by a mixed response from Democratic Leaders in the State Legislature. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie referred to a veto override as a nuclear option and Senator Brad Hoylman-Siegel, Chairman of the Judiciary Committee and the bill’s sponsor stated he doesn’t believe an override can occur in a different calendar year from when the bill was vetoed. To the person, however, these same legislators have engaged in splashy press conferences and rhetorical speeches regarding the need to make the Grieving Families Act law so we can protect victims of negligence. My solution would be for both houses of the State Legislature to again pass the 2023 version of the bill, and before the State Budget is approved. This would provide Legislators greater leverage, and show our resolve to have the Act become law in 2024. With supermajorities in both houses, why won’t the Democrats that constantly claim to protect victims and be the Party That Cares More Than Everybody Else simply flex their legislative muscle to make this happen? If the Governor vetoes the bill again, they must use the ‘nuclear option’ and override her veto. Antithetically, during last year’s historic nomination of Justice Hector Lasalle for Chief Judge of the Court of Appeals, the Senate Democrats were more than willing to override the Governor to stack the court with progressives who would toe the political line when it came to the congressional redistricting case that was soon to be heard. Despite
the historic nature of the nomination, as the first Latino nominee for Chief Judge, the impeccable qualifications of Justice Lasalle and the fact that the legislature has never denied a Governor’s nomination for Chief Judge, the Lasalle nomination was defeated because he didn’t fit with their agenda. Now, with something as important as the Grieving Families Act, the Democrats seem unwilling to move the ball forward. If they were willing to challenge the Governor for political power, it would be my hope that they could do it for legislation that would serve a greater purpose for all New York’s families. 2024 must be the year the Grieving Families Act becomes law. Whether this happens by the Governor acquiescing to sign the bill or through an override, the important first step is for lawmakers to take action now and repass the Grieving Families Act so we can do what’s right as New Yorkers, for New Yorkers. Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) represents the First District in the New York State Senate. The First District contains northern Brookhaven and the entire townships of East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Southampton, and Southold.
Don’t forget to write, we’d love to hear from you! Email us at: editor@messengerpapers.com
8
County News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Remembering the Holocaust By Kaitlyn Foley
This past Thursday, January 25, marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day where Suffolk County mourned the lives lost and forever changed by that horrific time in history. Members of local, county, and state government gathered with leaders of the Suffolk County Jewish community. January 27 was designated International Holocaust Remembrance Day by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005 to recognize the anniversary of the liberation of AuschwitzBirkenau concentration camps in World War II, remembering the 6,000,000 Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions more affected by Nazi persecution. “I’m here, as County Executive, to say there is no place for hatred in Suffolk County, now or ever,” stated Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) (pictured top). Since the October 7 attack on Israel, which led to the current Israel-Hamas war, there has been an alarming spike in antisemitic activity throughout the United States, reaching 3,291 incidents by early January of this year. Specifically, Long Island has seen twenty hate incidents reported against Jewish residents just between the weeks of October 7, 2023 and January 15, 2024. School districts across our county are also seeing an increase in antisemitic language and graffiti, including Port Jefferson Village, Commack, and Smithtown, who have reported findings of Swastika and Nazi symbols in bathroom stalls and on walls. “This year’s International Holocaust Remembrance Day is hitting very close to home,” said Alan Richter, Chairman of the Suffolk County Jewish Advisory Board (pictured center). “The Jewish Community is a resilient community, a strong community. We will survive and thrive in what we’re facing. We are in mourning and we’re in crisis.” In support of the Jewish Community and in honor of the millions lost in the Holocaust, the H. Lee Dennison building was lit yellow on the evening of the anniversary. “Our board is grateful to County Executive Ed Romaine for commemorating International Holocaust Remembrance Day and honoring the lives of the six million Jews and others murdered in the Nazi Holocaust. By illuminating the H. Lee Dennison building in yellow, (illustration pictured right) the County evokes the yellow Stars of David the Nazis forced Jews to wear,” said Richter. “This year the yellow lights also call to mind the ribbons symbolizing the more than 130 Israeli, American and foreign hostages— kidnapped in Israel in a genocidal rampage by Hamas on October 7, 2023—who remain captive in Gaza. We pledge to double our efforts to bring them home and fight the Jew hatred that fueled both the Shoah and the October 7 massacre.” “By illuminating the H. Lee Dennison Building in yellow, Suffolk County honors the memory of those who perished and those who survived the Holocaust,” said Mindy Perlmutter, Jewish Community Relations Council of Long Island (JCRC-LI). ”In the words of Elie Wiesel: ‘For the dead and the living, we must bear witness,’ and Suffolk County’s commitment to
remembrance this Thursday is a testament to that solemn duty. Thank you, Suffolk County, for ensuring that we always remember and never forget the profound impact of this period in history,” “We must never forget what can happen when bad people are in positions of power. When people are persecuted for one reason, because of their religion or their race. You must never forget the lesson from the past,” said Presiding Officer of the County Legislature Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst). “We must be the ones that stand up against anti-semitism and I can tell you all of us here in this county, we’re committed to doing that and we are going to do our part to make sure that we don’t forget the lessons of the past, so they don’t show themselves again.” “It’s important that we take a moment to remember all of the lives lost, the millions of innocent Jewish people and other victims who were persecuted by the Nazi regime,” said County Executive Romaine. “Today and every day we reaffirm our commitment to combat hatred and intolerance in any form and ensure that the lessons of the past are never forgotten as we work to create a more just and compassionate society for future generations.” “StandWithUs, an international non-partisan organization that fights antisemitism, is grateful to Suffolk County Executive Romaine for marking this important day,” said Avi Posnick, StandWithUs Northeast Director. “Holocaust education and remembrance are critical to preventing anti-Jewish bigotry and other dangerous forms of hate. This is true given the rise in antisemitism, and particularly important for our students, the leaders of tomorrow, who are facing many forms of antisemitism in their schools and communities, which have escalated since the October 7 massacre.” “Every one of us has an affirmative obligation every day to go ahead and embrace all people, for all of their value, and all of their work. I urge each of us to attempt to do that each and every day with who we gather and who we support, our board, our commissions, our activities, and most importantly, our instruction with our children,” says Comptroller John Kennedy (R-Nesconset). “I am a firm believer that, unfortunately, hate is a learned behavior and if we step forcefully forward and we instruct and teach our children to support inclusion, to support acceptance, and embrace who we are here in Suffolk County, we will put up defense against the hatred that allows these atrocities to occur.” Also in attendance were Suffolk County Clerk Vincent Puleo (R-Nesconset), Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), Legislator Nick Caracappa (C-Selden), Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), Legislator Sam Gonzalez (D-Brentwood), Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport), Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-St. James), Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setauket), Legislator Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches), Legislator Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville), and Legislator Ann Welker (D-Southampton). The Messenger appreciates Supervisor Romaine and the county’s effort to recognize this important anniversary. We urge our readers to practice inclusion, love thy neighbor, and support those prosecuted against throughout our society.
This Week Today Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
9
Thursday, February 1, 2024
National, State and Local Temperature Checks By Matt Meduri
National
State Governor Kathy Hochul (D) has approved a proposal that could allow migrants to obtain temporary jobs in state government. The initiative is open to anyone in New york who has legal work authorization from the federal government. The Civil Service Commission voted to approve the measure on January 18. The Commission is also working with involved agencies to make changes to the positions and job requirements, such as removing proof of a high school diploma and proficiency in English. “Hotel owners and restaurant owners coming to me: ‘Can you send some of the migrants up here? We need them.’ I hear this in every corner of the state,” said Hochul at a press conference in Albany. “From our [state] operations to SUNY, I have 10,000 openings.
So this is to give options to people but to say we are working intensely to get work authorization — these are all legal people.” Hochul is looking to fill 4,000 unfilled state agency jobs that include clerical or administrative roles, tech support, equipment service and repair, and food services. “I’m anxious to get this moving quickly, and once they’re approved, we can match people to jobs,” said Hochul. “They don’t need to be reliant on services any longer, which I think is the objective to not have people supported by taxpayers in our shelters, New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) is also in favor of the initiative. “I would love to get migrants and asylum seekers to help with the lifeguard shortage,” said Adams. “We’ve been successful in getting almost 30,000 people to total applications, including work authorization, asylum, TPS — we want more.” As of November 2023, only 3,000 of the tens of thousands of migrants sheltered in the state have been federally approved to work. Meanwhile, the city has struggled to handle the 100,000 migrants they received last year alone. U.S. Senate Photographic Services, Rebecca Hammel
U.S. Congress
All eyes are on the presidential primaries and caucuses as the 2024 election season heats up, with the Nevada Democratic Primary and the non-binding Nevada Republican Primary being held on Tuesday, followed by the state’s official Republican caucuses next Thursday. But the contentious race for the White House somewhat underscores the complicated political calculus both parties will face in holding their respective chambers of Congress. Firstly, former President Donald Trump (R-FL) continues to lead polling against President Joe Biden (D-DE). CNN recently unveiled its preliminary electoral map, which currently rates Trump as not only the favorite to flip Georgia, Michigan, and Nevada, but also to win the election outright. Although prognosticating elections a year out is a highly imperfect and rapidly-changing science, the map has caused Democratic camps to sound alarm bells as early as possible. In the U.S. House, Republicans now defend a bare minimum majority. Upon the resignation of former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R, CA-20), the resignation of Congressman Bill Johnson (R, OH-06), and the vacancy created by the expulsion of George Santos (R-Queens), Republicans are left with just 219 seats, with 218 required to form a majority. Uncertainty regarding House map redraws in New York, North Carolina, and Wisconsin continue to complicate just how much of a pad Republicans will have going into 2024. Currently, twenty-four Democrats and eighteen Republicans are moving on from the lower chamber, with twelve Democrats and five Republicans seeking alternative offices. The lion’s share of competitive districts are those that lie in suburban and working-class areas, districts that will be heavily affected by the top-ofthe-ticket energy in the presidential race. Democrats have a similar problem in the Senate. With just a 51-seat majority, Democrats face a brutal map. Republicans are defending ten seats that are more than likely to remain aligned with the party, while Democrats are defending twelve. However, the math lies in the number of incumbents Democrats will have to defend and the few GOP seats they can realistically target. Democrats have outside chances to knock off Ted Cruz (R-TX) in Texas and Rick Scott (RFL) in Florida, but the state’s Republican leanings cannot be denied, especially in a year in which the Republican nominee is likely to carry them in the presidential race. Republicans, on the other hand, have their math made for them. Requiring just a two-seat net gain - or one seat plus the presidency - the GOP has six top targets with a possible five or six “long-shot” targets depending on how the races play out. In West Virginia, the last statewide Democrat Joe Manchin decided to retire instead of giving Democrats their best chance in retaining the seat. Even that would have been a lift for the storied Senator, as he would have required an unprecedented forty points in crossover support to just break even. The retirement makes West Virginia an essential lock for Republicans, but it also eliminates the Democrats’ margin for error. They would need to carry every other seat they hold along with the presidency to retain the Senate with a 50-50 split. In the case of a split Senate, the Vice President, also the
President of the Senate, is the tie-breaking vote. Democrats Jon Tester (D-MT) (pictured left) in Montana and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) (pictured right) face similar headwinds. Tester currently boasts a 91% voting record aligned with the president’s agenda, something that is already earning him troubling poll numbers in his red Rocky Mountain State. Although Montana is a redleaning state with a unique amount of Democratic support, Republicans have used the last several election cycles to reclaim state offices one by one. Tester is the last statewide Democrat in the Treasure State. An additional caveat to his reelection chances is the fact that Montana has swung against the incumbent president in every election since 1972. Had a Republican been in the White House this November, Tester might have been afforded a relatively better shot at retaining his seat, but even a shift of just a few percentage points to the right can erase whatever he might have gained in crossover support. The only claim to Tester’s ability to survive even a neutral political environment is his high approval ratings. In Ohio, the Senate race comes down to the candidate the GOP picks. If voters in the primary chose an electable candidate and can ride the coattails of Trump’s likely appeal formerly-Democratic workingclass voters, it can mean another pickup opportunity for the party. Trump’s booster shot of populism allowed him carry Ohio by a whopping eight points in 2016 and repeat the margin in 2020, cementing Ohio as a red-leaning battleground rather than the quintessential swing state it has been since the 1900s. Ohio Republicans have recently lost winnable races by electing outsider populist candidates over more mainstream conservatives. Democrats are also tasked with defending freshman Senator Jacky Rosen in Nevada, knocking off Democrat-turned-Independent Kyrsten Sinema in Arizona, and holding the open seat in Michigan. With both chambers defined by razor-thin majorities and with no room for error from either party, the stakes could not be higher this coming election.
Local The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will review the damage done to Fire Island beaches due to recent storms. The Corps will also put the beaches under consideration for “emergency renourishment.” The decision is a result of requests from Congressman Andrew Garbarino’s (R-Bayport) and other local officials to prioritize Long Island beaches for renourishment, due to eroded shorelines, inaccessible bluffs, and homes and boardwalks left dangerously close to the water. Garbarino recently testified before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure lobbying for the inclusion of the Fire Island National Seashore and neighboring hamlets to receive renourishment under the 2024 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). “I applaud the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ decision to acknowledge the urgency of the situation on Fire Island,” said Congressman Garbarino. “The devastation facing our South Shore beaches following the recent rash of storms is such that we cannot wait years for renourishment to occur under the current renourishment project schedule. I urge them to conduct a swift and thorough review of the existing storm damage so that emergency action can be taken. Each passing storm increases the damage to our shoreline and the longer we leave these problems unchecked, the greater the probability that Long Island will require increased support for infrastructure resiliency projects. I will continue to work with town officials to ensure their needs are being heard throughout this process and I will be moving forward with my proposal to codify language through WRDA that would ensure future storm damage on Long Island will qualify for emergency renourishment.” The language in the bill will also include the Villages of Amityville, Babylon, Bellport, Lindenhurst, and Patchogue, as well as the Towns of Brookhaven, Islip, and Oyster Bay.
10
News Thursday, February 1, 2024 Office of the District Attorney
Continued from front cover
Opioid Crisis Claims Another Life: One-Year-Old Joseph Adonis According to Joseph’s toxicology report, doctors found cocaine, fentanyl, morphine, an upper cursor chemical of fentanyl, a metabolite of fentanyl, and a metabolite of cocaine in the baby’s system. “In 2023, at the Bronx Daycare, three children between eight months and two years of age were found unresponsive. A one-year-old child died of fentanyl poisoning and that was simply because they had come in contact with fentanyl. Now, that horror has come to Suffolk County, as we knew unfortunately that it would,” said Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R), who has been lobbying in Albany for the passage of four bills that would allow dealers to be charged in the death of those to whom they sell. District Attorney Tierney announced that both parents of Joseph and the elevenyear-old boy, Wilkens Adonis and Daryllee Leibrock, have been indicted on the charges of two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the Third degree (Class B Felony), two counts of criminal possession of a controlled substance in the
Fourth degree (Class C Felony), criminal possession of a controlled substance in the Seventh degree, two counts of criminally using drug paraphernalia in the Second degree, two counts of failure to safely store rifles, shotguns, and firearms in the First degree, criminal possession of a weapon in the Third degree (Adonis received a class-B felony), criminal possession of a weapon in the Fourth degree (Leibrock only), two counts of endangering the welfare of a child in regard to the elevenyear-old child and Joseph Adonis. In addition, defendant Leibrock is charged with four counts of criminal contempt in the second degree (Class A misdemeanor), allegedly violating stay-away orders issued by the Suffolk County Family Court prohibiting her from being around the eleven-year-old, as well as Joseph Adonis, and also from possessing illegal drugs around the children which would create,
District Attorney Tierney rallies in Albany with elected officials, law enforcement, and affected families.
Evidence photos provided by the Office of the District Attorney
as we unfortunately see, an unreasonable risk to the health, safety, and welfare of the children. “Once again, we are going to ask our state, the legislators, again, for help in this overdose crisis,” begs District Attorney Tierney. “Our police are finding fentanyl and other deadly narcotics every day in Suffolk County. Every day, they are administering Narcan to revive Suffolk County residents who are overdosing, they’re doing this at an alarming rate.” In 2022, Suffolk County saw 399 fentanyl overdose deaths, more than one death per day. “We are investigating what appears to be an overdose of a baby, and again, this is what we knew was going to happen given the deadly nature of these drugs and it’s going to continue to happen unless we act,” continues Tierney. “We need our legislators and our governor to help. We, as a group, our law enforcement, our legislators, as well as our activists, were in Albany two weeks ago with a bipartisan bill seeking help in this crisis to pass four bills.” The four bills Tierney mentions include “Death by Dealer”, listing Xylazine or “Tranq” as an uncontrolled substance, which currently is legal to possess in New York State, a bill to allow families to access crime victim funds, and a bill to allow prosecutors to request bail in processing fentanyl cases. “The indictment here today illustrates the problem we have. The defendants are charged with felony possession with intent to sell fentanyl, heroin, and cocaine but we cannot ask for bail on these charges,” says Tierney. “We can’t ask for bail on the drug charges, injuring the welfare of a child, or the weapons charges.” Adonis and Leibrock are both being held on court ordered $50,000 bail because there were already two open cases against the defendants. However, as Tierney explains, if there were no open cases on them already, the couple would not be bail eligible under New York’s Bail Reform Law, allowing them to return to our streets.
“What does it say about a society that cannot protect its children, or the ravages of this opioid and drug crisis that we find ourselves in?” asks Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches). “We are truly at a point of crisis. What does it say about a state that, without the research and work of the District Attorney, would have these two people walk free? I think there is a case to be made for a cashless bail, but that case should be made on a case-by-case basis, by judges, and not by a gubernatorial legislative decree that allows people of this nature to walk free. We need changes in the law. The four bills that the District Attorney has talked about are four bills that I strongly support and have strong support from this county. I hope the governor and our state legislators are listening. We need to keep the people of this county safe. We need to make sure that the criminals don’t run rampant, that we are not inundated with an opioid and a drug crisis that’s so devastating and widespread that little children are being affected. Again, if we can’t protect our children who can we protect?” Under the current law, Adonis and Leibrock face 1-9 years of imprisonment; however they can make an application to the court, and if the court deems fit, they could serve no jail time. Two milligrams of fentanyl, which is the size of a grain of rice, is enough to kill an adult. When the substance is cut or mixed, it can become airborne, leading to indefinite ways to spread. If this “poison”, as District Attorney Tierney refers to it, comes in contact with a child, it will result in a horrific death. “Suffolk County continues to struggle with opioid addiction, and, despite our best efforts, people are still dying from overdoses,” says Suffolk County Police Commissioner Robert Waring. “Fentanyl is fifty times stronger than heroin and one hundred times stronger than morphine; it is a major contributor to fatal and non-fatal overdoses, and we see its deadly consequences over and over again. I would like to thank the members of my department who recognized the severity of this incident and held the scene to obtain a search warrant to gather all appropriate evidence in this case. I commended the District Attorney and his office who will prosecute these defendants and ensure that they are held accountable for this heartbreaking tragedy.” “It doesn’t need to be large scale to kill people,” adds District Attorney Tierney. “Under our law, the defendants need to possess enough to kill 113,000 people. As we see, we only need a small amount to result in the death of people…Our young people are dying, young children are dying. This is a crisis; we need to act. So, I urge the governor and our legislators to react to what’s happening out on the street and to do something about it, not talk about it, do something about it.”
Smithtown Messenger - Brookhaven Messenger - Islip Messenger - Thursday, February 1, 2024
PERSONAL ATTENTION AND DIGNIFIED SERVICE... OUR CONTINUING TRADITION
Kerry J. Maher
Kenneth Maher, Jr.
Lic. Manager & Director
Lic. Director
~ Home for Funerals & Cremations ~
~ In Honoring their Legacy ~ Deacon Kenneth J. Maher & Aelysche Marie Maher
Jann Oberg Licensed Real Estate Salesperson joberg@SignaturePremier.com
Serving All Surrounding Communities Proud to Serve Our Veterans, Law Enforcement and Fire Service Our State-of-the Art Building Offers: Ample Easy Access Parking Spacious Chapels
Reception/Gathering Room Children’s Room
829 Middle Country Road, Route 25, St. James, NY 11780
631-584-5200
Proudly Serving Our Community Since 1961 P R E P L A N N I N G F U N ER A L A R R A N G EM EN T S AVA I L A B LE
12
School Highlights Thursday, February 1, 2024
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Sycamore Avenue Hosts Read-a-thon to Give Back to Students in Need
Sycamore Avenue Elementary first graders raised over $2,000 through a read-a-thon to buy backpacks and school supplies for students in need. It all started when one student, Joe Pena, accrued points through an online math challenge and used them to purchase and donate books to children in need. From there, he went to his teacher, hoping to do more, and the idea for a grade-wide read-a-thon was created. All Sycamore Avenue first grade students
participated in the read-a-thon, asking family and friends for donations for each book they read. With the money raised, the students were able to purchase 144 backpacks and school supplies. Students then assembled the backpacks themselves, including hand-written postcards with kind, encouraging words to put inside. The full backpacks will be distributed to new and incoming students in need.
Athletic Teams Honored by Smithtown BOE
Student athletes were honored during the Smithtown Board of Education meeting on January 23. “They represent the best of the best of what our students are,” said Athletic Director Jason Lambert as he lauded the accomplishments of the combined high school boys’ cross-country team and the girls Smithtown/ Hauppauge swim/dive team. Varsity track coach, Pete Schieck, introduced his crosscountry team, which won the league 1 championship for a seventh consecutive season and has won 46 consecutive dual meets. Douglas Antaky was also recognized for breaking several school records and finishing second overall in the state championships. Next to be honored was the three-time reigning Suffolk County Champion Smithtown/ Hauppauge swim and diving team. Head coach Sean Montalvo praised the team for their hard work. “These girls work so hard, and we’ll be back,” he said. This past season the team was state runner-up. The 200-yard medley relay made up of Julia Lucca, Sofia Burns, Sarah Lucca, and anchor Mary Grace Waring earned first place at the state championships with a time of 1:44.71.
School Highlights Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, February 1, 2024
East Islip’s LEGO Girls Excel at Robotics Competition
13
East Islip’s LEGO Girls robotics team – composed of John F. Kennedy Elementary School fifth-graders Jayne Elliott, Sonali Kamath and Antonia Rezza – recently excelled at the FIRST Lego League Long Island Qualifier event at Mineola High School, earning two awards and an invitation to compete in the Long Island Championships on March 10. The trio of students created an innovative and immersive presentation that worked to solve the challenge of “talent hesitation” in arts and other clubs, talked about their robot and coding and shared their core values stories. East Islip Superintendent Paul Manzo paid a surprise visit to the competition to cheer on the LEGO Girls for their outstanding achievements. The FIRST Lego League challenges teams on robot design, project innovation, core values and teamwork.
Principal for the Day at Cherokee Street Elementary On January 23, one lucky Cherokee Street Elementary School student was chosen for the unique opportunity of acting as Principal for the Day. Each week, Cherokee Street recognizes their “Cherokee Champions,” or students seen doing good inside their school. Fourth grader Ava McIntyre was honored as a Cherokee Champion earlier this year. To be eligible to act as principal for the day, all of this school year’s Cherokee Champion’s names were entered into a pool and Ava’s was chosen for the honor. Ava prepared for the day’s events by meeting with Principal Jill Lahey and Assistant Principal Michael Renda. She then welcomed students during their
arrival and conducted the morning announcements. Later that morning, a special assembly, featuring the Harlem Wizards basketball stars took place, and Ava delivered a spirited introduction. She then circulated the building and visited classrooms before stopping into the kindergarten music and physical education classes. Ava also attended a pre-observation meeting, was filmed as part of the principal’s monthly video announcement, and oversaw dismissal. “I observed how responsible you have to be and how much walking you do!” said Ava. “I liked visiting with the kindergartners because I felt like I could be a positive influence for them.”
Maurer Foundation Teaches Breast Health Education at Bayport-Blue Point High School
For the first time, the Maurer Foundation visited Bayport-Blue Point High School to speak with students about their initiative, the High School Breast Health Program. The foundation’s mission is to save lives through breast health education. The presentation was given to Mr. Savana’s health classes of mostly sophomores. The students learned ways to lower their risk for breast cancer, including making healthier food choices, increasing physical activity, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol. They also learned about the importance of detecting breast cancer early. They concluded the lesson by practicing self-exam techniques, using silicone breast models. “It was a great opportunity to bring in a local organization to educate our students on such a prevalent topic,” said Chairperson for Physical Education Tricia Livingston.
History
14
Thursday, February 1, 2024
America the Beautiful: How History Shapes our Electorate American Samoa - The Heart of Polynesia
By Matt Meduri Located in the South Pacific, the islands that make up the United States territory of American Samoa are as remote as their history is unique. Early History - Two Civil Wars The original population of the islands is said to have occurred thousands of years ago under a confederation of Polynesian islands - including modern countries of Fiji and Tonga - under the Tui Manu’a dynasties. While oral history is mostly suggestive, documentation shows commerce networks between the islands of the South Pacific. European contact in the Samoan Islands did not occur until the early 1700s, when the Dutch were first to explore the archipelago. A subsequent conflict between the natives and the French resulted in the death of the secondin-command of the expedition on Tutuila, the largest of the American Samoan islands. Tutuila was called “Massacre Island,” and the bay there is still called “Massacre Bay.” Mission work and commerce increased into the 1800s, as French, German, British, and American ships saw the port in Pago Pago as a crucial refueling stopover. British missionaries brought Christianity to the islands, which saw the development of the first independent indigenous church of the South Pacific within a century. In 1872, the high chief of the eastern Samoan islands granted the U.S. permission to build a naval base in exchange for military protection. The U.S. Navy then built its coaling station in Pago Pago Bay and established a rudimentary form of administration. The Samoan islands saw two civil wars in a relatively brief period of time. The first was fought throughout a series of conflicts from 1886 to 1894. Balance of power essentially boiled down to top Western investors’ desired levels of control and the differing form of government established by the tribes of the Samoan Islands. Western powers believed the rulers of the islands to have more power than they actually did. With factional differences among the natives, Western intervention fanned the flames of an inevitable civil war. With the German Empire dissatisfied with their endorsee’s forms of control among the islands, exiling him from the islands. The Germans then installed a new leader, who met resistance from a weak form of government supported by the United States. Seeing the fighting as counterproductive, the Western powers reinstalled the formerly exiled leader. However, disputes of the islands’ ownership continued. This resulted in the Second Samoan Civil War, fought from 1898 to 1899. The proxy government established by the Germans was fought in joint opposition by the Americans, the British, and the Samoans. The conflicts eventually came to a head with the Tripartite Convention of 1899, which granted the U.S. control of the eastern islands, including Tutuila, and the Germans control of the western islands, the much larger landmass. German Samoa eventually became the wholly independent nation of Samoa. The British surrendered their control in Samoa in exchange for German surrender of powers in Tonga, the Solomon Islands, and West Africa. The treaty resulted in the annexation of the eastern Samoan Islands to the United States Navy on February 16, 1900.
Twentieth Century History & Politics A Unique Form of Government The existing coaling station in the harbor in Pago Pago later became the main naval base of the United States in what was at first known as “Naval Station Tutuila.” The native chiefs of Tutuila swore their allegiance to the United States and ceded the island. The governor of the islands expressed to the Secretary of the Navy that the Manu’a people disapproved of the name, which later allowed the Manu’a to adopt the name “American Samoa” for the islands. Western Samoa had been invaded and conquered by New Zealand at request of the British during World War I, ending the German Empire’s brief reign of control. New leadership sparked talks of Samoan independence, resulting in the non-violent Mau movements. Similar movements were formed in American Samoa, resulting in the 1921 imprisonment of seventeen Mau chiefs. Swains Island was then annexed by the United States as part of American Samoa, although territorial disputes arose and have continued even to the present day between the U.S. and the New Zealand-administered territory of Tokelau. World War II showed that a majority of American Samoa’s inhabitants were U.S. Navy personnel. Native Samoan men at least fourteen years of age were combat trained by the military. American Samoans played a key role in the Pacific theater of World War II, namely as medical personnel and ship repairmen. In 1949, the United States Department of the Interior attempted to incorporate American Samoa, which would have enforced the U.S. Constitution in the territory. The effort was defeated mainly by Samoan chiefs, led by Tuiasosopo Mariota. The rejection of incorporation led to the chiefs’ creation of a territorial legislature, called the American Samoa Fono, in 1952. The Fono is a bicameral legislature of thirty-nine voting members - including one non-voting delegate from the disputed Swains Island - and is entirely non-partisan. Members of the House of Representatives are elected popularly, whereas members of the Senate are elected by various chiefs of the islands. The Fono meets in the village of Fagatogo, located in the territorial capital of Pago Pago. In 1956, Peter Tali Coleman became the first and only native Samoan to be appointed governor of the islands by the U.S. Navy. He would later become the first elected governor of American Samoa in 1978. That year would also see the first election of the territory’s non-voting delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives. All five U.S. territories have non-voting delegates to the U.S. House; they can sit on committees and sponsor legislation but cannot cast floor votes. American Samoa finds itself in an odd place, as Congress has not actually passed an Organic Act for the islands, which establishes specific
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
This is the forty-ninth 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.
forms of administration for U.S. territories. Despite being considered “unorganized,” American Samoa considers itself a self-governing territory under its own constitution that became effective in 1967. American Samoa’s governor and lieutenant governor are popularly elected on the same ticket for four year terms. Since the President of the United States cannot directly affect the territorial government, American Samoa is still administered by the Department of the Interior. Despite local organization of elections, tribal elections within the villages and families continue within the territory, with occasional overlap with formal government. Today, the economies of American Samoa fall into three roughly equal categories: public sector, the sole remaining tuna cannery - operated by StarKist - and the private sector. Geography - Heart of Polynesia American Samoa is the only U.S. territory south of the Equator and is comprised of seven bodies: five volcanic islands and two coral atolls. 1. Tutuila, Aunu’u, Ofu, Olosega and Ta’u The five populated volcanic islands. Tutuila is largest geographically and by population and contains the seat of the territorial Fono and the capital, Pago Pago. Aunu’u, a sparsely populated, mostly infertile island, is the only place in the territory where taro root can be farmed. Taro is comparable to sweet potato. Ofu and Olosega are a pair of eastern islands that are sparsely populated and home to climate and coral research. Ta’u, the easternmost island, is known for its near-100% reliance on solar energy, and the site of famed anthropologist Margaret Mead’s dissertation research, comparing adolescence on the remote island to that seen in the mainland United States. 2. Rose Atoll - One of two coral atolls of American Samoa and the southernmost (globally) point belonging to the United States. Just 0.02 square miles, the unpopulated atoll is one of the smallest in the world. It’s home to critically endangered populations of fish and marine birds. 3. Swains Island - The other coral atoll, Swains Island has long been a subject of administration between the United States and the New Zealand territory of Tokelau. Uninhabited since 2008, the island is still home to researchers and radio operators. Current Political Leanings - An Open Question American Samoa remains the only U.S. territory that does not receive U.S. citizenship. Residents are referred to as “U.S. Nationals,” who enjoy most privileges of citizens, except that they cannot vote in federal elections or hold certain jobs requiring U.S. citizenship. American Samoa does elect its own governor, currently held by Lemanu Palepoi Mauga (D) since 2021, and it elects a non-voting delegate to the U.S. House, currently held by Amata Coleman Radewagen (R) since 2015. Radewagen is just the third person and only Republican to represent American Samoa in the United States. Politically, both Republican and Democratic parties are active in American Samoa - they hold presidential primaries here - but the parties are watered down by the nonpartisan Fono and local Samoan leadership. For context, Radewagen’s 2016 re-election resulted in the highest vote total for any position in American Samoa history. She won every county and jurisdiction across the populated islands. She was unopposed for a fifth term in 2022. With a population of just over 45,000, local leaders have opposed referendums for statehood for American Samoa. Local leaders believe that statehood would collapse their system of government and erase their culture and intrinsic identity.
Around Town Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Supervisor
Carpenter’s Corner Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter
15
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Welcome to the February edition of Carpenter’s Corner! February may be the shortest month of the year, but it’s full of heart. In December 1963, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed a Presidential Proclamation proclaiming February as “American Heart Month.” The initiative was created to spotlight the nation’s number one killer, heart disease. Over the last six decades, the spotlight on heart health has enabled healthcare professionals, scientists and advocates to improve patient care and raise public awareness of risks and prevention. Heart disease manifests itself differently in men and women. This has resulted in women being uninformed of their likelihood to develop Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) and other cardiac ailments. In 2004, the “Go Red for Women” campaign was launched by the American Heart Association as a call to action for women to advocate for their heart health. Over the past twenty years, this advocacy has helped researchers learn that heart disease symptoms and risk factors change dramatically for women compared to men. Currently, symptoms associated with heart disease and heart attack are the symptoms men typically experience. As for women’s heart disease, they experience symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, and fatigue. These differences often lead women to mistake heart disease for gastrointestinal problems or anxiety. Take the time to know your risk of heart disease. Take action toward better health by learning more at https:// www.goredforwomen.org/. [QR Code] Mental health is as important to our well-being as our physical health. In 2010, Brooke and Jaimie DiPalma lost their father Joe to suicide. A retired NYPD Officer, Joseph DiPalma, Jr., was an active member of the West Islip community. Joe dedicated over thirty-five years to the West Islip Fire Department and other community groups and established a legacy of giving back. In the wake of his
death, the West Islip community was struck again with tragedy, when a senior at the West Islip High School took their own life. Inspired by her father’s dedication to the community, and the last three words he said to her, “I Love You,” Brooke sought a way to honor the loss of her dad. “P.S. I Love You Day” aims to spotlight the effects of bullying, the importance of mental health awareness, and increased suicide prevention. Over the last decade, the “P.S. I Love You Day” campaign has grown to include over 435 schools, businesses, organizations, and communities across the nation. “P.S. I Love You Day” takes place annually on the second Friday of February. Join the community in celebrating “P.S. I Love You Day” by wearing PURPLE on Friday, February 9. February is also National Black History Month. The Town of Islip is proud to recognize Black History during the month of February, and throughout the year. Our Town celebrates the diverse cultures and heritages of its residents, and Black History Month represents the opportunity for all within the Town of Islip to acknowledge the many contributions of our neighbors, volunteers and professionals, who help to enrich our quality of life. Make certain you keep up-to-date with the latest events in our Town by following our social media accounts, or by visiting the Town’s website found here: https://linktr.ee/townofislipny. If you have not yet done so, stay informed on important Town news, alerts and weather-related emergency information by signing up for our E-Alerts here: https://islipny.gov/ notify-me.
Bay Shore High School Crew Coach Retires Along with family and friends, Legislator Steven J. Flotteron (R-Brightwaters) recognized William (Bill) Blackman at a Crew Team fundraiser at The Piermont in Babylon, for his twenty-six years with the Bay Shore School District where he served as a Physical Education Teacher for grades 9-12, Head Varsity Coach, and Founder of the Boys Crew Team and Fitness Trainer/Water Sports. Blackman grew up in Northport with a long history on the water as a distinguished sailor. He was a lifeguard at Robert Moses for more than twenty-five years, often offering swimming lessons to athletes wanting to join the crew team who didn’t know how to swim. He has built an institution in a sport that is normally associated with private schools and prep schools. Bay Shore crew is highly regarded in the crew circles across New York State for a public school team. He has established long standing relationships with his athletes, some who have come back to coach with him. Through the years, many of his boats have qualified for the “Grand Finals” at New York State Championships (many placing well). Boats have reached the Grand Final at the prestigious Stotesbury Cup (world’s largest High School Regatta). Through the years several boats have qualified for the Nationals. Many athletes have gone on to row in college both at the scholarship level and non-scholarships level. In addition, his team was Boys Senior 4 NY State 2001 Champs.
East Islip HS Robotics Team Competes at VEX Over Under Game East Islip High School’s robotics team competed in the VEX Robotics Over Under game on Jan. 27, held at John F. Kennedy High School in Bellmore. The all-day event featured over 45 teams from around the Tri-State area. This year’s tournament was played on a 12x12 square field. Two alliances – composed of one “red” and one “blue” team each – competed in two-minute matches to attain a higher score. East Islip team captains Kaitlyn McCall and Jishnu Roy Chowhuri led the squad to a sixth-place finish at the end of the qualification matches. Robot driver Matt Collins performed extremely well under the pressure and was 5-1 in competition play. The remaining robotics team members helped in the pit area all day, fine tuning and making last-minute adjustments to the robots. The team will next compete on February 17 at Adelphi University. “I enjoyed coming to the event,” sophomore Jackson Carucci said. “It really opened me up to friendly competition and I gained valuable experience about teamwork and robotic design.” “We did really well with our new robots,” junior William Blaschuk said. “We faced a lot of challenges that will help us learn and improve upon for our next competition.” “I was extremely proud of the team during this event,” technology teacher and robotics adviser James Connell said. “It’s a great opportunity for students in the robotics classes and club to get a real practical experience, and it helps them further expand their knowledge of competition robotics.”
16
State News Thursday, February 1, 2024
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Senate Republicans Unveil ‘A New Hope for the Empire State’ 2024 Legislative Agenda
By Guest Contributor
The New York State Senate Republican Conference unveiled a legislative package aimed at keeping education a priority for all New Yorkers. Key among the legislative package’s provisions is reversing the devastating cuts to schools that Governor Kathy Hochul (D) included in her budget proposal. The elimination of the “hold harmless” provision that provides critical stability to local school districts is a glaring example of Albany Democrats’ misplaced priorities. This $233 billion budget siphons state aid away from local schools while dedicating $2.4 billion in taxpayer dollars earmarked for migrants, bringing the total to $4.3 billion over the last two years. The migrant crisis continues to get worse because radical politicians in Albany refuse to put an end to wrongheaded sanctuary city policies. Instead, they continue to throw more money at the issue and away from programs that provide for our New York families, including school aid. Education should always be among the top priorities for state government, and the Senate Republican Conference is committed to ensuring that New Yorkers’ hard earned tax dollars help schools obtain the resources they need. “It is critical that we continue to be vocal with Governor Hochul and I’m proud to stand with my colleagues to provide real solutions that will help our schools, our teachers and our taxpayers,” said Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James), of the Second District. “The cuts she is proposing will force our schools to cut services for our children, increase taxes on homeowners, and lay off our teachers, administration and staff. We demand that our state does better. Instead of misusing $2.4 billion on her self-created migrant disaster, Governor Hochul should ensure that all of our schools get their fair share and all of our children get the education they deserve.” “Fifty-six schools on Long Island are slated to receive huge cuts – a total of $43 million dollars,” said Senator Alexis Weik (R-Sayville), of the Eighth District. “Educating our children should be the priority, providing 2.4 billion of taxpayer money and housing illegal migrants in our schools is simply wrong. Students should not miss one day of education just because state and city officials cannot manage the self inflicted migrant crisis. I have a bill that prioritizes and ensures our children will not allow the housing of migrants in our K-12 classrooms.” “Providing hope for our future is not possible if we fail to provide a quality education to our next generation,” said Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue), of the Third District. “Sweeping millions from our children’s education while simultaneously increasing the amount spent on a self imposed migrant crisis, is not only irresponsible, it’s a slap in the face to every
hard working, law abiding, tax paying person in this state. Reversing the Governor’s proposed school funding cuts is a top priority for me and for our conference.” “The Governor’s budget is yet another example of the complete disregard for New York families and taxpayers,” said Minority Leader Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawanda). “$4.3 billion over two years will be used to address the migrant crisis that was caused by open borders and sanctuary city policies supported by Democrats. At the same time, they are stripping millions of dollars from rural and suburban school districts. We are tired of misplaced priorities from Albany’s One-Party Rule, and our conference will fight to get all school districts the funding they deserve.” The legislative package unveiled includes proposals that will keep New York’s students safe and improve educational outcomes in school throughout the state. • Reversing misguided changes in the education formula proposed in the Executive Budget that will take resources away from our local schools; • Closing the pandemic learning loss gap by ensuring unspent Federal emergency relief aid supports academic recovery programs, expanding state grant funding, creating an office in the State Education Department to track outcomes of such programs and focusing on future aid increases for early education to ensure students are provided a solid foundation for future academic challenges; • Prohibiting the housing of migrants in K-12 schools or on school grounds throughout the state (S.7391, Senator Alexis Weik); and provide grants to school districts and non-public schools. (S.4985, Senator Oberacker). • Committing greater resources for school building security by creating a school resource officer program to permit the employment of retired law enforcement officers. The legislative package outlined is the first in a series of comprehensive proposals that will be put forth by the Republican Conference this session in order to assure New Yorkers that our children’s education will remain a top priority. Earlier this month, Senate Republicans unveiled the “A New Hope for the Empire State” 2024 Legislative Agenda. A New Hope for the Empire State agenda prioritizes the issues that affect everyday New Yorkers, but have been neglected by the radical left politicians who control Albany: • A plan to increase affordability; • Improve public safety; • Build a greater New York.
BOOKKEEPING PAYROLL INCORPORATIONS
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Guest Column
NEW CUSTOMERS
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Trust The Science?
Fauci Finally Admits Pandemic Errors AMAC Exclusive – By David Lewis Schaefer Former leading government scientists have finally admitted, albeit unintentionally, that they botched the response to COVID-19. But what we don’t yet have – and what the public deserves – is any sense of accountability for the immense harm inflicted on the American people under the pretense of “trusting the science.” In testimony on January 9 before the House select subcommittee investigating the federal government’s COVID policies, Dr. Anthony Fauci, recently retired from his position as Director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases, in which capacity he was the face of the federal COVID response, admitted that some of his ”scientific” recommendations during the pandemic were based on purely arbitrary judgments. Most notably, according to the subcommittee chair Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio), who is also a physician, Fauci acknowledged that his “recommendation” that people “socially distance” by six feet (rather than, say, three, or twelve, or any other number) to minimize the virus’s transmission was “likely not based on scientific data,” but “sort of just appeared” to him. But Fauci was unrepentant about the deleterious effects his randomly chosen recommendation had on American life – most notably school shutdowns throughout the country (since few schools had room to set up classrooms with students sitting six feet apart), closed businesses (for similar reasons), massive federal spending (often wasted) to try to keep businesses afloat and workers paid, kids prevented from playing with their friends, and so on. Even worse, in contrast with what every parent who observed how little their children were being taught from online classes could see, Fauci still denied that there was any proof that the school shutdowns caused learning loss at all. In reality, a multitude of studies issued by reputable research organizations have confirmed such losses. For instance, the Center for School and Student Progress, operating in conjunction with the Northwest Evaluation Association (a nonprofit educational testing organization) reported, “In nearly all grades, achievement gains during 2022–23 fell short of pre-pandemic trends.” More precisely, the study found that the average student will need the equivalent of “4.1 additional months of schooling to catch up in reading and 4.5 months in math,” and that ”marginalized [that is, minority or low-income] students remain the furthest from recovery.” In contrast to Fauci’s reluctance to admit that his policies had any harmful societal effects, his former boss, Dr. Francis Collins, who ran the National Institutes of Health during COVID, admitted that same week before Congress that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public-health bureaucracies had flubbed the pandemic reaction, albeit with the best of intentions. “If you’re a public health person and you’re trying to make a decision,” Collins explained, “you have this very narrow view of what the right decision is, and that is something that will save a life.” With this perspective, Collins acknowledged, “you attach zero value to whether this actually totally disrupts people’s lives, ruins the economy, and has many kids kept out of school in a way they never quite recovered [from].” With hindsight, Collins admitted to the detrimental effects that the government’s vaccine and masking mandates had for the entire nation. Those guidelines failed to reflect the vast difference in the risk of COVID transmission between a minority of the population – the elderly and individuals already suffering from other serious diseases – and healthy people. While tens of millions of Americans contracted COVID, most cases of mortality or major illness were confined to those specific classes – and a significant number of people developed COVID even after having been vaccinated. As for masking, the evidence shows that the early mask mandates had no protective effect at all; only more stringent requirements for N-95 masks may have had some modest benefit. But again, since the risk to most healthy, non-elderly people was minimal, so was that benefit. Moreover, Collins also admitted in retrospect that the vaccine mandate, which some people (including star NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers) resisted out of fears of possible side effects, generated a more generalized fear and suspicion among the general population about taking any vaccines, thus adding to the increasingly widespread myths (such as that the smallpox vaccine causes bipolarism) that truly endanger people’s health. And in January, Washington, D.C. health officials were “sounding alarms about a possible measles exposure at two major airports,” according to the New York Post – possibly reflecting the fact that the 2021-22 academic year saw only 93 percent of kindergartners having received the standard MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine, with the CDC reporting the highest ever recorded rate of vaccine exemptions. But Fauci’s record in dealing with COVID looks even worse considering his long, dogmatic insistence that the virus must have originated in a Chinese “wet market” a few miles from a Wuhan biological laboratory that was engaged in gain-of-function research and receiving U.S. funding. Early in 2020, Fauci appeared at a press conference with President Trump, citing a research paper by Dr. Kristian Andersen and published in the journal Nature Science to support his claim. What Fauci failed to disclose was that he himself had commissioned and edited the study – a fact discovered only later by House Republicans. As Andersen finally admitted, Fauci made clear that he wanted the study to disprove the lab-leak theory. These facts were only uncovered in a report issued by the House subcommittee, which also found evidence that Collins himself had been complicit in asking that the study “put down” the lab leak hypothesis. Notably, when President Trump still pursued the question of whether the virus could have originated in the lab (as common sense would suggest, given the nature of the lab’s work), he was ridiculed. Subsequently, Fauci denounced anyone who questioned his claims about the virus’s origins as an opponent of science, since, he asserted, “I represent science.” And when,
$
100
17
OFF
WHAT YOU PAID LAST YEAR SMITHTOWN, NY SMITHTOWN, NY
631.406.4099
SMITHTOW N, NY TAX PREPARATION SERVICES TAX PREPARATION SERVICES
BOOKKEEPING PAYROLL INCORPORATIONS TAX PREPARATION SERVICES
BOOKKEEPING INCORPORATIONS BOOKKEEPING PAYROLL PAYROLL INCORPORATIONS
100 100
100 $ OFF WHAT YOU PAID LAST YEAR $$
NEW NEW CUSTOMERS CUSTOMERS NEW
CUSTOMERS
OFF OFF
WHAT YOU PAID LAST YEAR
631.406.4099 WHAT YOU PAID LAST YEAR 631.406.4099
631.406.4099
BRING IN A COMPETITOR’S RECEIPT FROM
BRING IN A COMPETITOR’S RECEIPT FROM YOUR LAST YEAR’S TAX RETURN AND RECEIVE
YOUR$100 LAST YEAR’S RETURN ANDYEAR RECEIVE OFF WHATTAX YOU PAID LAST
$100 LAST YEAR FROM BRING 6IN RECEIPT 3 1 .A 4OFF 0COMPETITOR’S 6 . 4WHAT 0 9 9 YOU PAIDEGoldner@atax.com 47 W. Main St. | Smithtown, NY 11787
YOUR LAST YEAR’S TAX RETURN AND RECEIVE VALID AT PARTICIPATING ATAX LOCATIONS EGoldner@atax.com $100631.406.4099 OFF WHAT YOU PAID LAST YEAR 47 W. Main St. | Smithtown, NY 11787
Continued on page 19
631.406.4099
EGoldner@atax.com
47 W.VALID St. | Smithtown, NY 11787 PARTICIPATING ATAX LOCATIONS BRING IN Main A ATCOMPETITOR’S RECEIPT FROM PARTICIPATING ATAX LOCATIONS YOUR VALID LASTATYEAR’S TAX RETURN AND RECEIVE
18
Community Matters Thursday, February 1, 2024
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano PLLC Announces its New Name and Firm Leadership Attorneys As the Firm begins its twentyfifth anniversary year, Sahn Ward is pleased to announce that Elisabetta T. Coschignano has become a Member of the Firm. To recognize this milestone, and Ms. Coschignano’s accomplishments and contributions to the Firm’s growth and development, including her role in mentoring the Firm’s younger attorneys, the Firm has changed its name to Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano PLLC. The Firm is also pleased to announce that Michael H. Sahn and Jon A. Ward will share the role and responsibilities of CoManaging Members to guide the Firm in its continued service to its clients, and its expanding practice.
Ms. Coschignano (pictured above) was previously a Partner with the Firm. She concentrates her practice in the areas of zoning and land use planning, municipal law and litigation, commercial and residential real estate transactions, and estate planning. She has guided approvals for many land use development projects of regional significance including projects for commercial, institutional, and residential property owners and users.
Mr. Ward (pictured above) concentrates his practice in litigation and appeals, representing the Firm’s clients in complex civil litigation matters in state and federal trial and appellate courts. His
cases involve commercial, real property, construction, environmental, municipal, and land use litigation. Mr. Ward will also remain as Chair of the Firm’s Litigation and Appeals Practice Group.
Michael Sahn (pictured above) founded the Firm in 1999 as Michael H. Sahn PLLC. Mr. Ward joined the Firm the following year. Both Mr. Sahn and Mr. Ward have worked together to build the Firm over the years in collaboration with Members Daniel Braff and Adam Koblenz. “As we enter our twenty-fifth year, we have experienced significant growth as a Firm. I am excited to share the responsibilities of Managing Member with my longtime Partner and friend, Jon Ward,” said Mr. Sahn. “Elisabetta’s elevation to Member reflects her contributions to our growth and her leadership as a role model to our younger associates. I look forward to the future, and all that our team
of attorneys and dedicated staff can accomplish for our clients.” John Farrell and Edward G. McCabe, (pictured below) two of Sahn Ward’s most experienced attorneys, lead the Firm’s Suffolk County office, located at 1300 Veterans Memorial Highway, in Hauppauge. The Firm opened the Suffolk office in 2018 to serve its clients in Suffolk County, and for the convenience of its attorneys who have hearings and proceedings before courts, administrative agencies, and tribunals in Suffolk. The Firm’s Suffolk-based practice has grown substantially since the Suffolk office opened. Mr. Farrell concentrates his practice in zoning and land use planning, environmental law, litigation and appeals, and municipal law and legislative practice. Mr. McCabe represents clients
in commercial litigation and appeals, municipal law, and legislative practice, as well as real estate law and transactions. Although both are residents in the Suffolk office, they also handle matters in Nassau County, New York City and Westchester County, and work from the Uniondale office in the Omni Building as needed. “As our Suffolk-based practice continues to grow, we invite all our clients and colleagues to schedule meetings, conferences and closings in Suffolk, as all of our attorneys are available to handle matters for the convenience of our clients in Hauppauge,” said Michael H. Sahn, Managing Member, Sahn Ward Braff Koblenz Coschignano PLLC. For more information, call (516) 228-1300 or visit www.sahnward.com.
Guest Column Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Continued from page 17
Overview - AMAC - The Association of Mature American Citizens
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Trust The Science?
Fauci Finally Admits Pandemic Errors during a Senate hearing in July 2021, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul (a medical doctor) pressed Fauci further to state whether the NIH had funded risky gain-of-function research at the Wuhan lab, Fauci angrily denounced Paul for propagating a “lie.” Yet only a month earlier, Harvard scientist Dr. Alina Chan (coauthor of the book Viral: The Search for the Origin of COVID-19) told the British Science and Technology Select Committee that it was “reasonable” to believe that COVID had been genetically engineered in China. Then, in February 2023, an investigation by both the Energy Department and the FBI concluded that a lab leak was the “most likely” origin of the COVID-19 virus. Fauci was thus compelled to back off from his original claims categorically denouncing the lab leak hypothesis – but never offered any public apology to Senator Paul. Testifying in a closed hearing before the House subcommittee during the second week of 2024, according to the Post, he repeatedly said that he’d “forgotten” a great deal from the start of the pandemic, though he is also reported to have claimed in private to having taken the lab-leak theory seriously. Despite the seemingly endless series of reversals and equivocations from Fauci, one thing is certain: as New Zealand data scientist Gilles Demaneuf, a member of a group of internet sleuths looking into COVID’s origin, told Vanity Fair, without knowing just how the virus escaped from the lab, “I am 100% sure there was a massive cover-up.” As Dr. Chan observes, the great lengths that Chinese leaders went to in order to conceal the original outbreak and then to “sabotage” the World Health Organization’s inquiry into the matter – among other steps, destroying masses of data – only fortify the lab-leak hypothesis. Just before his last prior appearance before the House subcommittee in December 2022 (when the House still had a Democrat majority) Fauci, who had worked at the NIAID with distinction for nearly four decades, serving as director for 18 years, had accused Republicans of having “clearly politicized” public health. In an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation” in November of that year, he mocked any candidates who criticized his policies during their campaign, saying, “That’s ridiculous. I mean, this is a public health issue. So yeah, it’s going to keep going likely much more geared toward me.” He added, “I didn’t get involved before in the politics and I’m not going to get involved now in the politics.” Unfortunately, despite his long career as a scientist, Fauci did become involved in “politics,” and not in a way that should embellish his previously stellar reputation. One can only attribute his dogmatism, whether in issuing non-sciencebased “recommendations” (that were widely taken as mandates) or dismissing investigations into COVID’s origins, to his sudden prominence having gone to his head – along with his wish to preserve his agency’s reputation rather than acknowledge its careless grant-giving. Apparently, Fauci just couldn’t admit his uncertainty about some issues, or outright error in others. As a longtime professor at the College of the Holy Cross, I am particularly distressed at this development, since I long regarded Fauci – along with Bob Cousy and Clarence Thomas – as one of the college’s most distinguished alumni over the second half of the twentieth century. But the lesson of this story isn’t that science shouldn’t be subordinated to “politics.” Rather, as Dr. Collins’s testimony indicates, it is the job of political leaders to supervise in a responsible way how science is conducted (for instance, preventing U.S. taxpayer dollars from funding gain-of-function research in Chinese labs that could theoretically produce bioweapons). Conversely, it is the job of government scientists to cooperate with elected leaders when it comes to balancing scientific findings and data against other aspects of the public good. Americans elect their leaders to craft public health policy with input from scientists, not the other way around. In a democracy, as political scientists Marc Landy, Marc Roberts, and Stephen Thomas argued
three decades ago in their classic study “The Environmental Protection Agency: Asking the Wrong Questions from Nixon to Clinton,” scientists and bureaucrats working on such complex issues are obliged to try to educate the public by showing them both sides – not just try to make their agency look good so as to increase its budget. In a recent insightful column in the New York Times, the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Leonhardt, a certifiable liberal, lamented the tendency of liberals “to adopt positions that are not based on empirical evidence,” and “wish away inconvenient facts.” Among these positions are “the notion that standardized tests are worthless or counterproductive,” and a reluctance “to acknowledge that extended COVID school closures were a mistake, that policing can reduce crime, and that drug legalization can damage public health.”
O N
19
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
The disposition that Leonhardt criticizes is by no means limited to the political left. It is true, as he argues, that such tendencies have been exacerbated by the polarization of American politics in recent decades: if politics is viewed as a zero-sum war for supremacy, then conceding you were wrong on any point seems like surrender. But the tendency for people’s opinions, even on matters remote from politics, to be biased by their narrow self-interests, their group affiliations, or sheer egotism (not wanting to admit you were wrong) is grounded in human nature itself, as James Madison observed in Federalist No. 10. Even in times of crisis, responsible news media should take account of this fact in assessing rival claims, even when they come from “experts.” If Leonhardt’s lament is taken to heart by all well-meaning citizens, that will be one lasting benefit of the COVID debacle.
S T A G E
NOW THRU MAR 3 U P
MAR 14–APR 28, 2024
N E X T
MAY 23–JUN 30, 2024
JUL 11–AUG 25, 2024
Bits & Pieces
20
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
WORD OF THE
Week Origin: late 19th century: from German, literally ‘replacement’ Credit: Oxford Languages
Thursday, February 1, 2024
ersatz Pronounced: ehr·saats adjective Definitions: (of a product) made or used as a substitute, typically an inferior one, for something else; not real or genuine Example: The gourmet chocolates expected were replaced by ersatz chocolateflavored candies. Synonyms: artificial, substitute, imitation, fake Antonyms: genuine, authentic, sincere
News Topics This Week This Week in History February 2, 1878
Word Ladder 2/1 The aim of the game is to get from the given initial word to the given final word by changing only one letter per line. Note that every line must be a valid word. Sometimes there are several possibilities. Initial word: NORTH Final word: SOUTH
The National League is formed at the Grand Central Hotel in New York City by founders William Hulbert and Albert Spalding with professional baseball teams in Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Hartford, Louisville, New York, Philadelphia, and St Louis. The National League is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in America and Canada, as well as the oldest professional sports league in the world.
February 4, 1932 The opening of the Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York. This was the first of only two Olympic games ever hosted in New York, the first U.S. city to host a Winter Olympics, and the second of only eight Olympic games hosted in the United States.
Goal: 7 words 1.
February 7, 1949
2.
Joe DiMaggio becomes the first professional baseball player to earn a six-figure salary for the New York Yankees at $100,000 a year, worth more than $200,000 today.
3. 4.
February 2, 1954
5.
George Balanchine premiers The Nutcracker ballet in New York, which quickly became popular within the United States thanks to Maria Tallchief who starred as the Sugar Plum Fairy. Currently, The Nutcracker reigns as one of the most popular compositions, as well as one of the most complex theatrical performances in New York.
6. 7. 8. 9.
February 4, 1971
10. Check our Instagram @MessengerPapers and our Facebook for the answers to this week’s games.
NASDAQ stock exchange is founded in New York City. NASDAQ, which stands for National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotations, is the second-largest stock exchange in the world behind the New York Stock Exchange.
With a growing team of Long Island surgeons, we’re ready to provide you and your family with high-quality care in a number of surgical specialties. Whether you need minimally invasive laparoscopic or robotic surgery— or a more specialized technique—we’ll work together to get you back to your regular activities with the best possible outcome. In addition to expert surgical care for cancer with specialists from Perlmutter Cancer Center, our team offers these specialties right in Suffolk County: • Bariatric Surgery
• Neurological Surgery
• Breast Surgery
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Colorectal Surgery
• Uro-Gynecology Surgery
• Critical Care Surgery
• Urologic Surgery
• General Surgery
• Vascular Surgery
• Gynecologic Oncology Surgery
• Video-Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery
• Gynecology Surgery
Learn more at nyulangone.org/suffolk
Source: Vizient Ambulatory Care Quality and Accountability Award; ranked #1 out of 62 participating networks.
Smithtown Messenger - Brookhaven Messenger - Islip Messenger - Thursday, February 1, 2024
Top-quality surgical care is just around the corner.
22
Health Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, February 1, 2024
Cancer - Purified by Fire
Two New Protocols for Consideration with Guidance ‘Cancer Treatment is a War Against Glucose and Glutamine’ By Harry Swanson Today, cancer is all too common and has been for many decades. With all the money spent on lab research and clinical trials, little has been accomplished towards a cure. Treatment centers are usually very busy. While cancers may never be cured, we are starting to see some new effective strategies that not only kill cancer cells but prevent their existence. Much of this success seems to be shifting into the hands of the individual with guidance coming from their team of clinical nutritionists, integrative and functional doctors, health consultants, and oncologists. Cancer is best fought with a team approach; use all tools available for consideration for best results. A functional doctor is one that considers all the functional capacities of the body, not just treating the symptoms. An integrative doctor will work with everything available to solve the medical issue. Cancer is best fought with a team approach. You can find an integrative oncologist near you on the websites: peopleagainstcancer.com, prevailovercancer.com, or search “functional and integrative doctors near me”. It’s estimated that medical “standards of care” only represent about 10% of all the available science and research that’s available for treatment considerations. These standards often center on trying to suppress the symptoms. Dr. Thomas Seyfried from Boston College has spent over thirty years working on cancer research. The following relies heavily on his work and understanding. Dr. Seyfried is quoted as saying that “cancer is 80% curable and can be prevented. He says it’s all about lifestyle changes, daily exercise, and a low carb-high fat diet. It’s preventable.” Studies show diet can increase one’s risk of cancer by 30% to 50%. We are too sedentary, too busy, living stressful lives with poor diets of highly processed carbohydrate foods. Anything that comes in a package should be eliminated if possible. Look at the unsaturated fats, corn syrups, preservatives, etc. A good diet and exercise will correct and prevent many health issues and diseases. Treating obesity is also a big concern. Dr. Seyfried believes there would be a 50% drop in cancer deaths in five years if society and the medical field had a better understanding of cancer, its causes, and treatments. In short, he says you must maintain healthy mitochondria. Reducing stress, keto diets, fasting, and exercise will go a long way to that goal. The disruption of cell growth has certain risk factors including old age, radiation exposure, chemical exposure, viral infections, etc. Seyfried says that cancer cells live on two major fuels: glucose (sugars) and glutamine (Amino acid). Glucose is the only sugar available to the tumor cells. Glutamine is the only amino acid to provide enough energy. Cutting sugars also means cutting excess carbs that convert to sugar. It’s not just the obvious sweet drinks and desserts, he says. Sugars, although not a carcinogen, can also cause inflammation. Ketogenic diets will take care of the high glucose issue but that’s not enough. The cancer cells will then draw all their necessary fuel needs from the glutamine. Glutamine can be lowered by drugs and or reduced by water only fasts. Metabolic Therapy - Ketosis and Fasting Once again, this is great information for consideration. Dr Thomas Seyfried says that metabolic therapy is changing for the better regarding cancer treatments. It’s a diet drug cocktail without harmful effects to other parts of the body. Using your metabolism to fight cancer will lower the cumulative chemo and radiation doses thereby limiting the toxins with their secondary effects. A ketogenic diet is a high-fat, average-protein, lowcarb diet. This forces the body to burn fats rather than carbohydrates, which, in turn, reduces glucose. Dr. Seyfried states that fasting also works well as a metabolic therapy by starving the cancer cells. Simultaneously, it reduces inflammation, diabetes, and high blood pressure.
That’s why keto diets try to eliminate carbs. Carbs turn to sugar which feeds the cancer cells which in turn counters treatments. Remove sugar and you remove cancer’s food source. Add healthy fats with moderate protein until you’re satisfied. That will produce ketones used for the body’s fuel, restoring the brain and muscles. It’s best for your body to be in what’s referred to as ketosis according to Dr. Seyfried. It’s measured by what’s referred to as the “glucose ketone index” or GKI. Cancer patients should target a score of 2 or below according to Seyfried. The general rule for all others is to be between 0.5 and 3. Fasting and keto work well together and with cancer treatments according to Dr. Seyfried. He points out that cancer treatments are toxic and can develop other issues later in life. He also mentions that stress will produce sugars in the body, with the best counter being exercise. Seyfried sees cancer as a metabolic problem as opposed to a genetic one. He said, “diet and supplements are not a cure, but they can get you to outlive the cancer.” Additionally, Dr. Matthew Phillips also believes in metabolic strategies as a therapy to fight cancer. He believes it’s necessary to fast twelve hours daily including both food and water. Body fat will be available to fuel the brain and muscles. Dr. Phillips stated that ketones are not used by cancer cells to any degree. He says that this is the “A-game,” with chemo and other treatments, although sometimes necessary, become the “B-game.” By way of case studies with cancer patients, Dr. Phillips found keto patients did better in treatment than non-keto patients, and those who also fasted did even better. Phillips recommends a keto diet for two months with a five-day fast in-between. Upon completion, patients claimed an improved quality of life to go along with survival. Unfortunately, to date there have been no major clinical tests to support the efficacy of these treatments for cancer. These new treatment approaches are largely a grass roots movement being pushed by cancer patients. Fenbendazole (Fenben) One cancer survival story is that of Joe Tippens. Diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, Joe was told he had about three months to live. A veterinarian friend told him about a cancer research experiment he had learned about in which a dog-deworming medicine had cured cancer in the experimental mice, and when the researcher developed cancer, she used the same medicine on herself, and her glioblastoma was gone in about twelve weeks. With nothing to lose and everything to gain, Joe ordered the veterinary product, Fenbendazole, and began taking it. He added a few other things to his regimen such as curcumin and Vitamin E, now known as the “Joe Tippens Protocol”. Three and a half months later, he went in for a scan and he was clear of cancer. Tippens, was found with no evidence of disease. Tippens is now seven years out and still cancer-free and can be found at: mycancerstory.rocks/author/joetippens. Fenbendazole is often referred to as Fenben. Simply put, it’s a well-known effective repurposed drug. It’s been around since 1974 and is used in animals as a cheap, common, over the counter dewormer that treats parasites. There is a human version by script and quite expensive in comparison. According to Dr. Tom Rogers, Fenben is designed to kill parasites but is also believed to be an anti-cancer agent showing good results with little to no side effects when taken at 222ml dosage. Tippen quotes a study of a toxicity study showing that long term use of a 500mg dosage is safe. Rogers says that it’s effective in causing regression in all tumor types and can be used along with standard treatments of chemo and radiation without interference. He said Fenben appears to work as chemo does but without any of the toxicity. Dr. Tom Rogers also mentioned he believed chemo was more effective when working along with the Fenben. Dr.
Rogers found a study that found that less than 5% of users had a slight negative effect with stomach discomfort but that study had used a much higher dosage of 1,000mg. Rogers stated that prolonged use of Fenben was fine because the body doesn’t develop intolerance to it. How does Fenben fight cancer? According to Dr. Rogers, it blocks the tubulars that allow cancer to enter the cell. It stops cell division and restricts glucose uptake. It interrupts the cancer’s ability to metabolize sugar. He says that cancer cells consume glucose two hundred times faster than ordinary cells. Fenben restricts this refueling thereby decreasing the ability of cancer cells growth. By preventing sugar intake, the cancer cells cannot divide as rapidly. Dr. Rogers states that Fenben reactivates the all-important P53 gene which is the body’s strongest tumor suppresser in the body. Rogers says that cancer cells don’t develop resistance to Fenben even with long term use. It remains effective unlike chemo and other drugs. Fenben will also work as a cancer prevention drug. For cancer patients, Fenben is to be taken for life. A typical time frame to see some positive results is seen by some between one to four months. Tippens reported over 5,000 positive results on his website between six weeks and eighteen months. Fenben Cancer Protocol Keep in mind your integrated doctor, functional doctor, clinical nutritionist, health consultants, and oncologists are your best allies. Cancer is best fought with a team approach. “For information purposes only”, find below a typical protocol for fighting cancer that might include some or all the following. Fenbendazole 222 to 444 MG possibly 1 to 2x’s daily (attack cancer cells and non-toxic) Milk Thistle 250-500 MG possibly 1 to 2x’s daily (liver support against chemo /statin drugs effect) Curcumin 500 MG possibly 1 to 2x’s daily Mushroom max 500-1000 MG possibly 1 to 3x’s daily Berberine 500 MG possibly 1 to 2x’s daily (slows breakdown of carbs and lowers blood sugar) CBD drops 30 MG Vitamin C 250-500 MG possibly 2x’s daily Zinc 25 MG Magnesium 25 MG Joe Tippens Protocol Fenbendazole 222 mg (1 gm of Panacur™ or Safeguard™) per day every day. Note if you are using liquid - most liquids are 100 mg/ml. You would take 2.2 ml of the liquid. Onco Adjunct™ Pathway 1™ - 2-4ml two times a day depending on your weight. Onco Adjunct™ Pathway 2™ - three capsules two times a day only when you are off chemo. Onco Adjunct™ Pathway 3™- With each meal - one capsule with a light meal and two capsules with a heavy meal, two capsules two times a day if you are trying to starve your cancer of sugars. NEW - Onco Adjunct™ Pathway 4™- two Capsules twice a day. Some doctors recommend following these protocols daily for a month or two and then reevaluate. If effective, you might switch to a three-day-on and four-day-off method. This would be the same for preventive action. Remember, by considering using all tools available to fight cancer will hopefully minimize the strength/dosage of treatments and their duration time, improve quality of life, and extend longevity. Once again, unfortunately, to date there have been no clinical tests to support the efficacy of these treatments for cancer. These new treatment approaches are largely a grass roots movement being pushed by cancer patients.
Sports Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
23
Thursday, February 1, 2024
A Muscle Behind the Hustle By PJ Balzer Photos by Dejan and Sierra Sumpter
Behind any successful team, there are people who we don’t often see. We see the top scorer, the award winners, the all-county player, and the names that everyone talks about. Yet behind all these wonderful accolades, there are the muscles that are working. Daily, they are stretched, worked, even overworked, to make everyone else successful. Assistant Coach Darryl Sumpter is undoubtedly one of those muscles behind the successes of the William Floyd Varsity Basketball program. The team is currently running with an undefeated season and ranked second in the entire county. We took some time to get to know Coach Darryl who has put in over a decade of hard work behind the scenes to push these kids up to the top. Coach Darryl walked into our interview unshaven and tired while still graciously giving us an hour of his time on his day off. During the week, he works at Stony Brook Hospital from 5:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. Directly from work he gets to practice at the high school which lasts for a few hours, that is, of course, unless the team has a game which can be at Floyd or anywhere in the county. Sometimes, after work, practice, and games, he attends a youth Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) league, which he also runs. These leagues, which focus on introducing elementary-age children to basketball basics, can easily run past dinner time. The Sumpter family are permanent fixtures in the gym. His two daughters Dejah and Sierra, along with son Darryl Junior, all volunteer with their dad besides working and going to college. Darryl grew up in the same community where he coaches, Mastic Beach, and he graduated from William Floyd High School in 1991. He easily admits to being a troubled kid in school and never being able to fully abide by the rules of the varsity basketball program. The late Coach Bob Hodgson ran a tight program and was also highly successful. While Darryl never fully committed to the program, his son Darryl Junior did. He started out as a kid on the bench giving out water until he worked hard to earn his jersey and spot on the team. Seeing his son on the team sparked something in Darryl that wanted to help, coach, and ultimately to reach back to other kids that reminded him of himself when younger. “Seeing my son on the team is one of the proudest moments in my life. It changed me and here I am today still coaching,” says Darryl. Coach Darryl describes his impetus for coaching and taking in high school kids, reflecting on his own past and origins. “We do whatever we have to in order to get and keep these kids playing ball. I know the distractions out there and how easy it is to veer off into the streets,” says Darryl. He considers the current varsity players like his own children, and he keeps his house open to them, as well as his couch to sleep on and his refrigerator to take from. It’s not uncommon to see players hanging around his house; a few have even lived with his family over the years. There have been times kids showed up to open gym nights or basketball camp without registration money
or wearing old sneakers. “I’m not here to pat myself on the back or anything like that, but I will do whatever I can not to turn a kid away,” says Darryl. “I pick them up, get them sneakers, cover their fees, feed them if I have to. Every kid isn’t going to be a varsity star but everyone should have something to do. It’s just impossible to coach in this community and not actually care about the kids. Many come in looking
for a father figure.” While his job is completely voluntary, that doesn’t stop him from going the extra mile for individual players as needed. He has something called grade sheets that allow him to check in with the players’ teachers each week about their schoolwork. It’s not uncommon to see him driving players around or out raising money for behindthe-scenes needs of players and the program with the William Floyd Varsity Basketball Booster Club. Darryl believes in rolling his sleeves up and doing, sacrificing, and giving whatever he has all for the greater good of the kids and program. Darryl reminisced on some memorable times throughout the last ten years. His son being on the team under Bob Hodgson, Sr. was undoubtedly one of them. Another was a first round playoff win against Copiague in 2012. “We walked into their gym as an underdog. It was an electric atmosphere and just a sweet victory. We let everyone know that Floyd was for real that year,” says Darryl. Another great memory was renting a bus with Rob Hodgson, Jr. They took a group of kids to a tournament in Pennsylvania. On the way home, one of the kids expressed that he had never been to Times Square. They ended up taking a detour through Manhattan to show him the center of the city. “It was awesome to just watch him light up with awe seeing Times Square. He was really excited and that made me happy,” says Darryl. Coaching has come with heartbreak as well. Darryl had a slight tremor in his voice as he spoke about Marcel Arrington, Tyrese Ramseur, and Devin Burney. Marcel was only eighteen years old when he was shot and killed in a park only a few miles from where we sat for this interview. Marcel grew up in the basketball program, graduated, and was unfortunately shot that autumn. Tyrese was seventeen when he lost his life in a car accident, and Devin was shot and killed while away at college in Rhode Island. All three young men were a huge part of the basketball program at William Floyd. “It’s heartbreaking and life changing when you stand over the casket of a teenager you knew, coached and loved,” says Darryl. “It’s all made me want to be a better father to my own children and to the kids in the community. I try my best, that’s all I can do.” Darryl also gives honor to all the coaches under whom he has been assistant coach. He said that each one has taught him a lot and made him better all around. He said that he hopes the program continues to grow and flourish as it’s been. When asked what a personal goal of his was, he said: “To have a thousand people at my funeral whose lives I had an impact on. That’s the mark of a great man in my opinion.”
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Messenger Spotlight
Thursday, February 1, 2024
A Decorated and Selfless Career:
Officer Brian Holtje Honored in Fourth Precinct Walk-Out
By Kaitlyn Foley Celebrated with a Precinct Walk-Out, seven officers of the Fourth Precinct in Hauppauge were greeted by friends, family, coworkers, and community officials as they ease their way back into civilian life on Thursday, January 25. One of these esteemed officers is Brian Holtje. Brian Holtje is a well-respected and decorated officer who currently serves his community as an Anti Crime Officer in the Fourth precinct. At just five years old, Holtje moved with his family from Flushing, Queens, to Hauppauge, and has been serving the area ever since. Working in a multitude of units over his thirtyone years as an officer, Holtje has made over 700 arrests throughout his career. Since he was sworn into the force in 1993, he has worked in Fourth Precinct Patrol, the Fourth Precinct Community Oriented Police and Enforcement (COPE) unit now referred to as Community Support Unit (CSU), Canine Section, Fourth Precinct Crime Section, and Fourth Precinct Anticrime.
“It’s funny, I don’t like to talk about myself, in terms of naming accomplishments,” says Officer Holtje. “I consider myself very lucky to have been a part of an outstanding police department, the best in my eyes.” Ultimately, Officer Holtje’s wife convinced him to tell us about just a few of the many accomplishments he has reached. Holtje has a lengthy award history, including being awarded Cop of the Month eight times, Cop of the Year three times, and Exceptional Police Service twice. One of those awards was earned fairly recently, while Officer Holtje was off duty with his family enjoying the Bacon Festival at the Pennysaver Amphitheater at Bald Hill in Farmingville in 2017. According to his supervisor, he heard a commotion across the parking lot and heard that someone was possibly struck by a car. As it turned out, an unmanned military Humvee located at the festival came out of gear and rolled down hill into the crowd striking a woman and nearly severing her arm below the elbow and causing an additional severe wound to her left leg. The woman was bleeding profusely from both injuries. Officer Holtje was one of two off duty officers that immediately jumped in to render aid to the woman to address these life-threatening injuries. Their actions that day were effective in controlling her bleeding and saving her life. For his efforts, Officer Holtje was awarded the Exceptional Police Service Award. This wasn’t Officer Holtje’s first time completing his civic duties to the highest degree. On June 15, 2009, Officer Holtje along with several other officers responded to a report of an armed home invasion of a family with small children in Lake Grove. When police responded to the victim’s address several suspects ran out the back door. Officer Holtje and another officer gave chase and apprehended two suspects following a foot pursuit. As a result of their efforts, two handguns were recovered, and the suspects were arrested and charged with Burglary and Assault.
Holtje also tells us about the third time he was recognized as Cop of the Year, which was for several arrests in which he was involved. “I assisted the Fourth Precinct detectives in identifying and arresting a subject for a robbery of a liquor store on Smithtown Boulevard in Nesconset,” says Holtje. “I arrested two subjects for numerous larcenies from vehicles in the Commack area, I assisted the Fourth Precinct detectives with locating and arresting a subject for Menacing in the Second Degree (threatening another with a weapon), I arrested a subject with felony weight possession of cocaine and illegal possession of Xanax pills (80), I arrested, along with the Anti-Crime unit, a known subject wanted for six warrants and subsequently the subject was in possession of Fentanyl, Adderall, Xanax, and a weapon, and lastly I assisted the detectives with an arrest of a subject wanted for a knife-point robbery. Holtje’s supervisor also shared with The Messenger an incident just a few years after the start of Officer Holtje’s career. In October 1999, Officer Holtje was on patrol and responded to an armed robbery of a gas station near Motor Parkway. He and his partner observed a car matching the description of the suspect vehicle. They attempted to apprehend the vehicle, but the suspect took off. During a high-speed pursuit that ensued, the suspect lost control and skidded off the road. Officer Holtje and his partner boxed him in and apprehended him without further incident. The cash from the robbery and a loaded rifle were recovered from the suspect’s vehicle. The suspect was charged with that armed robbery along with eight other robberies occurring in Suffolk County. This arrest earned Officer Holtje and his partner, Officer Scott Badeer, Cop of the Month in May of 1999. “The biggest thing that I will miss most of all, is the camaraderie,” says Officer Holtje. “I’ve made great friends in the precinct and department as a whole. I’ve vacationed, barbecued, celebrated special occasions with, and that doesn’t include all the breakfasts, lunches, and dinners with [people from the precinct and department]. I still have K9 Razor; He’ll be 14 years old in March. He’s slowed down but he’s such a part of our family. My wife and daughters just love him.” Holtje transferred into the K9 unit in May of 2011 where he was assigned to Razor, his K9 partner. (pictured right) Together, Razor and Holtje went through sixteen weeks of initial training which focused on obedience, evidence searching, handler protection, and tracking training. After these 16 weeks, the two conducted several months of explosive detection to earn Razor the title of “Bomb Dog.” In 2017, Razor was coming up for retirement, however he continues to be cared for by the Holtje family. “Retirement is bittersweet. I love being a cop, but I believed it was time to go. I loved working anti-crime; it’s best described as being a street cop,” explained Officer Holtje. “Now, I’m just looking to take it easy for a little bit before I/we set off on a new chapter,” concluded Holtje, starting a well-deserved ending to a decorated and selfless career. “Brian Holtje is one of the most exceptional officers I have had the pleasure to work with,” says Lieutenant Brian Michels, of the Fourth Precinct Crime Section. “His skills in investigating cases, mentoring younger officers, and presence as a consummate professional are second to none. He is an irreplaceable component of the Fourth Precinct Anti-crime Unit and will be sorely missed by our department.” The Messenger would like to thank Officer Holtje and his fellow officers for their bravery and courageous service to our community and extend our sincerest congratulations on their retirement.