Islip Messenger Archive July 4, 2024

County Legislature Grapples with Cybersecurity Issues Amid Testimony from Lisa Black

By Cait Crudden

The Suffolk County Legislature convened a crucial cybersecurity meeting, grappling with the aftermath of the 2022 ransomware attack that targeted the county’s systems. At the center of the discussion was testimony from Lisa Black, the former Chief Deputy County Executive, whose account of the events during the cyber-attack raised eyebrows and frustrations among lawmakers.

The meeting, held in Riverhead, sought to shed light on the details surrounding the ransomware attack that crippled Suffolk County’s operations for several weeks in 2022. Lisa Black, a key figure during the crisis, appeared before the legislature and testified for nearly three-and-a-half hours.

“We did a lot of very important work together and we can take pride in the fact that ultimately this event impacted less than 2% of county systems, all backups are retained or restored, or rebuilt, and this county did not pay a ransom to criminal actors,” said Black in Riverhead last week. The attack is known for taking multiple county systems and websites offline for months, as well as exposing the personal information of over 400,000 people. Black and former members of the previous administration continue to maintain that the compromising hack came from a specific type of vulnerability that originated in the County Clerk’s Office.

Continued on page 10

West Islip Residents Protest Proposed Cell Tower

By Matt Meduri

Hundreds of West Islip residents attended a public hearing last Thursday on a proposed cell tower construction. Residents delivered overwhelming opposition to the plan and offered alternatives.

The meeting was simply the first step in what could turn into a long and arduous process in Crown Castle Communications’ construction of a wireless telecommunications tower. The meeting was held to garner public input on the proposal. The proposal consists of a 102-foot-tall wireless cell tower on State-owned land at the northeastern onramp from Sunrise Highway (State Route 27) onto the Robert Moses Causeway. The proposed site is in the middle of a denselypopulated part of West Islip and along a major tourist route to Captree and Fire islands.

Crown Castle has been New York’s Wireless Telecommunications Site Manager since 1997, pursuant to a contract administered by the New York State Police.

Continued on page 15

The proposed site of the cell tower by the northeastern onramp to the Robert Moses Causeway from Sunrise Highway (Credit - Crown Castle)

Legislator Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) (Credit - Matt Meduri)

A Walk Towards Grace Monthly Bereavement Series

Supervisor Carpenter’s Corner

Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter

Happy July!

Carpenter’s Corner 3

Thursday, July 4, 2024

Welcome to the July Carpenter’s Corner! Summer is here in the Town of Islip. With the school year over, many are looking for an affordable vacation or a funfilled “staycation.” Whether you’re searching for a family-friendly getaway, friends’ trip, or a romantic weekend for two, our very own Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) offers a variety of destinations that fit everyone’s lifestyle.

Long Island’s hometown airport is bustling with new and exciting options for travel. Since 2015, the airport has doubled the number of air carriers serving the Long Island community, and more than doubled the number of nonstop destinations. Airlines are investing in ISP. It is the fastest-growing airport among its northeast competitors based on available seats.

This year, our carriers are serving four new nonstop destinations; Breeze Airways launched Vero Beach, Florida and beginning October 2, year-round service to Fort Myers, Florida; Frontier Airlines is now serving Atlanta, Georgia; and Southwest Airlines announced Miami, Florida, service that will begin in November.

While many air carriers have been rapidly consolidating service, ISP has enjoyed tremendous growth, including the latest announcement from New York’s hometown airline JetBlue, which will begin service in October from MacArthur Airport to three destinations in Florida: Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, and West Palm Beach.

In summer 2022, Breeze Airways launched nonstop service from McArthur Airport to Norfolk, Virginia, and Charleston, South Carolina, and “BreezeThru” flights from ISP to New Orleans, Louisiana, with a brief stop in Charleston, but no change of planes. Since then, Breeze has added nonstop flights to Richmond, Virginia; RaleighDurham, North Carolina; Portland, Maine; and Vero Beach, Florida. Breeze has also added “BreezeThru” flights from ISP to Jacksonville, Florida with a brief stop in Richmond, with no change of planes.

Each destination provides a special charm and allure, perfect for a weekend getaway or extended vacation.

The city of Norfolk is brimming with culture. Surrounded by historic waterfronts and a vibrant art scene, the city offers a variety of festivals, museums, beaches, wineries and restaurants. Charleston, South Carolina’s oldest city, exudes southern hospitality and a rich history, exceptional cuisine, and amazing beaches. Richmond is a vibrant city steeped in history located near Colonial Williamsburg, Shenandoah National Park and Virgina’s Wine Country. RaleighDurham, in the center of the Research Triangle, offers a dynamic fusion of technology and culture, with prestigious universities, attractions, museums, scenic parks and lively festivals.

Nicknamed the “Big Easy,” New Orleans is wellknown as the birthplace of jazz! The city offers

culture, delicious cuisine, lively music and a rich history. Nestled along the rugged coast of New England, Portland captivates visitors with its coastal beauty, culinary delights and outdoor adventures. Relaxation comes easy in the town of Jacksonville, with abundant outdoor activities and beautiful beaches, it’s an ideal destination for travelers seeking both relaxation and exploration.

Frontier Airlines offers nonstop flights to Atlanta and Myrtle Beach, and a variety of flights to Florida including Orlando, Tampa, Fort Myers, Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale.

Southwest Airlines offers nonstop flights to Baltimore / Washington D.C. and four destinations in Florida: Orlando, Tampa, Palm Beach, and Fort Lauderdale. The airline offers connecting flights to over 100 destinations through its vast network, including convenient same-plane options. Want to escape on a tropical beach vacation? Southwest Airlines has several destinations to choose from, such as Montego Bay, Jamaica; Aruba; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Cancun, Mexico; San Jose, Costa Rica; and Nassau, Bahamas. For those interested in exploring the scenic beauty of the United States’ West Coast, consider flights to Oakland, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, California; Las Vegas, Nevada; Phoenix, Arizona; Salt Lake City, Utah; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Denver, Colorado.

Enjoy making your travel plans from our “Stress Less, Fly More” MacArthur Airport. Learn more about the offerings at MacArthur Airport on their newly redesigned website: flymacarthur.com/

This summer, we hope you will avail yourself of the FREE wonderful family activities the Town’s Parks and Recreation Department offers including movie nights, concerts and festivals, in addition to affordable summer camps and activities for children. Information on these programs is available in the Summer Recreation Newsletter, which can be found on the Town’s website, www.Islipny.gov.

Make certain you keep upto-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.

Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip) has served as Islip Town Supervisor since 2016. She has previously served as a Suffolk County Legislator, including Deputy Presiding Officer, and Suffolk County Treasurer.

Kennedy Audit Reveals Non-Compliance in School Bus Safety Program Oversight

By Cait Crudden

Recent findings from an audit conducted by Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy’s (R-Nesconset) office have highlighted significant lapses in oversight and compliance within the Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency (TPVA) regarding the administration of the Stop-Arm Program in collaboration with School Bus Patrol.

The Stop-Arm Program, which encompasses installing, implementing, operating, maintaining, and managing school bus monitoring systems, is crucial for ensuring the safety of school children across Suffolk County. However, the audit uncovered several instances where TPVA failed to adhere to contractual obligations and local laws.

Key among the audit’s findings was TPVA’s failure to invoice and receive reimbursement from School Bus Patrol for the County’s administrative costs and related expenses incurred in support of the Suffolk County School Bus Safety Program during the audit period. This lapse in financial oversight raises concerns about accountability and efficient use of taxpayer funds allocated for school bus safety initiatives.

Upon receipt of the audit, this was eventually paid by sending in over $400,000 spanning invoices over a three-year period. This past-due amount was compelled to be paid by the agency due to the Comptroller’s review. This is another example of not doing proper contract monitoring by the agency. If not for the audit, this would never have been discovered. This shows the importance of independent auditing and monitoring of funds by the Comptroller’s office.

“I found it absolutely astounding that the prior administration eliminated the Termination for Convenience Clause,” stated Comptroller John Kennedy. “In my thirty-five years of County employment, I have never seen an action like this before. I welcome the opportunity to work with the County Legislature, Public Safety Committee, and County Executive’s office to implement the recommendations made in this audit”.

Additionally, the audit revealed TPVA’s non-compliance with Suffolk County Law by neglecting to submit an annual report on the school bus violation monitoring system to each member of the County Legislature and the Clerk of the Legislature by June 1 of each operational year. This reporting requirement is designed to provide legislators with essential information regarding the program’s effectiveness and compliance with local regulations.

The audit’s findings have prompted calls for improved oversight and adherence to contractual obligations within TPVA and its partnership with School Bus Patrol. County officials have expressed concern over the implications of these lapses on public safety and the efficient management of taxpayer resources.

Moving forward, Comptroller Kennedy’s office has recommended corrective actions to address the identified deficiencies, including implementing robust invoicing and reimbursement procedures, ensuring timely submission of annual reports, establishing a process for collecting past-due unpaid citations, and enhancing oversight mechanisms to prevent future lapses.

“I want to take the opportunity to commend my auditing staff for the thorough, comprehensive and diligent work they do on behalf of the residents of Suffolk County on a daily basis,” said Kennedy.

As Suffolk County works to rectify these issues, stakeholders and the public await assurances that corrective measures will be promptly implemented to uphold the integrity and effectiveness of the Stop-Arm Program and other critical public safety initiatives.

The Suffolk County Comptroller’s audit serves as a reminder of the importance of diligent oversight and adherence to contractual obligations in safeguarding taxpayer funds and ensuring the efficacy of essential public services. Efforts to address the audit’s findings are expected to reinforce Suffolk County’s commitment to maintaining high standards of accountability and transparency in all aspects of governance.

Congratulations, Sachem High School North Class of 2024

On Thursday, June 27, the Sachem High School North Class of 2024 gathered at the Fred Fusaro Alumni Stadium field one last time to celebrate their graduation. Seniors were welcomed by cheers from their families as “Pomp and Circumstance” played throughout the stadium.

Students who will be entering the armed forces upon graduation were called in front of the stage to be honored for their service. At this time, the Sachem North Symphonic Choir sang the National Anthem before a special guitar solo of “God Bless America” was performed by senior Steven Mattiolo.

High School North Principal Andrew Larson presented Superintendent of Schools Dr. Pellettieri with an honorary diploma ahead of his retirement this July, before speaking to the graduating class. Mr. Larson noted his special connection to the Class of 2024 as they started their careers at Sachem North together. He then introduced guest speaker Kristen Bowes Burke. Bowes Burke, general counsel for Mercy College, imparted advice to the seniors as they go off into the world.

Following the remarks, elementary principals Dr. Thomas Desmond and Mr. Joseph Watson introduced the top 25 academic leaders of the class including salutatorian Ryan DeSimone and valedictorian Avi Talsania. Talsania addressed his peers.

“Treat everyone’s life just as valuable as yours and welcome each hardship you face as another steppingstone in your journey. It has been the greatest gift getting to know you guys the past few years and with that, I can wholeheartedly say, we are the ones who will change this world because that is exactly what we have been prepared to do,” Talsania said.

Senior class president Nicholas Abbate stepped up to the podium and reflected on some memories during his time at High School North. He posed a question to his peers

in the hopes of empowering them to overcome future obstacles.

“What can any one of us do in the face of insurmountable challenges? Should we retreat from them and passively accept that there’s nothing to do but accept our bleak fate? Or do we summon the strength to believe that with a little courage and a little determination, we can beat the odds that are seemingly stacked up against us? Because we’ve already beaten those odds to arrive at this unique moment in history,” Abbate said.

Following the student speeches, board of education president Rob Scavo introduced trustee and parent of a graduating senior, Meredith Volpe to present the diplomas. Students walked across the stage as they were congratulated by administrators and board of education members. Once back in their seats, the seniors turned their tassels and threw their caps to the sky, marking the end of their high school careers.

Remember What Really Counts this Independence Day

Americans are regularly in need of a holiday, sometimes so much so that we look at an interrupted work week or long weekend as a great excuse to relax, get together, have a few drinks, and not much else. And while it’s not necessarily false that such an opening on the calendar can’t lend itself to such activities, it’s important to remember what actually counts on a day like Independence Day.

You might not know what your plans are. Barbecue? The beach? A bar crawl?

You might not know who you see. Friends? Family? Just yourself in the company of a good television show and a loving pet?

You might not know where you’ll go. The Hamptons? Robert Moses? The parade in Patchogue or Port Jefferson? Perhaps out of town or state?

These might be tough questions to answer on the fly, especially as we get absorbed into our work week more than we’d care to admit. But in reality, these are the easy questions.

The Founding Fathers were charting truly unnavigated waters during our country’s infancy. Would they be arrested and tried for treason? Would they survive the Revolution? Would the country over which they had just defied the world’s largest superpower live to tell the tale?

This is just where the basis of our recognition of July Fourth starts, but it’s safe to say already that generations of the past had indisputably more difficult questions than we do.

What about the Veterans who have served, some making the ultimate sacrifice to this country? Did they know whether or not they would return? Did they anticipate a life of physical and/or mental ailments after their service? Did they expect that their government would not be able to take care of them adequately upon return?

The Fourth of July is a unique holiday, in that it couples our most rudimentary history with our most current problems, all serving as a bleak reminder that

the United States was an underdog like no other in the Revolutionary War, and that we still, to this day, are a treasure sought among the world’s population and a reflection, in many ways, of what many nations aspire to be.

Yet, the Fourth of July also plays host to some foolish decision-making and unfortunate circumstances. Look no further than the recent DWI crash at the nail salon in Deer Park. Did the NYPD officer, recently married, getting her nails done for a wedding think there was a chance she would never leave the salon? Did the owner of the salon know that his small business, one that was his family’s sole source of income, would wind up being the place he’d take his last breath, leaving behind two young children and a wife with years of recovery ahead? Does anyone truly anticipate a horrific act like that?

Don’t be the reason those questions must be asked. Be responsible this weekend. We all owe it to ourselves to have fun and unwind, but we owe a greater duty to our community to be responsible and not make them pay the price for our fun, and we have an even greater duty to reflect on our country’s unlikely founding and history.

True to this caveat of the holiday, Suffolk County held a demonstration of what could go wrong when handling fireworks and explosives. Someone, somewhere in this state, is currently living their final week with all ten fingers, and they have no idea. For your own sake, please don’t be foolish in your backyard. If you feel inclined to put on your own show - as there are numerous throughout Suffolk County on July Fourth - do so within your own understanding of pyrotechnics, and please don’t let someone inebriated light the fuse.

Do you have all ten fingers? Did you make it home safely from your seemingly-innocuous errand? Did you wake up in a country for which countless men and women have died over the last two-and-a-half centuries?

These are easy questions to answer, we hope. Keep them easy to answer, and most importantly, keep them easy to answer for others.

First Debate Single-Handedly Changes the Race

Some people aren’t fans of political debates, and we can understand why in some cases. Apart from oft-repeated platitudes and sound bites, debates can often offer nothing of true substance and just be two divided candidates shouting into echo chambers, as their supporters cheer them on without question, opponents factcheck everything the other says, and everyone dukes it out in the comments section of your preferred social media platform.

That isn’t to say debates can’t serve the public well; they typically work very well on the local level. But the higher-profile we get in the political arena, it’s become less of an informative panel and more of a spectacle.

We’re confident in saying last week’s presidential debate, the first of the election, did in fact offer substance and seems to have significantly altered the state of the race.

Let’s start with the elephant (or donkey) in the room: President Biden’s clear inability to stay on task and retain his train of thought. The campaign called most of the shots for the debate setup and had weeks to prepare. And that’s what we got. Biden campaign people are split on messaging. Some say Biden had a cold, while others are reportedly panicking over his lackluster performance. It’s no secret that Biden’s cognitive decline has been largely in the public eye since before he was done being vice president, but the rapidity of that decline has clearly increased in recent years. For years, the media has tried to pull the wool over the public’s eyes over his mental acuity, and last week’s debate put the nail in that coffin. Even CNN couldn’t rescue Biden from his objectively poor performance, essentially ending any talking points that he is mentally fit for the job.

Don’t get us wrong: we take no pleasure in making these observations, as do the vast majority of Americans. During the 2020 campaign, the public was clearly worried at Biden’s ability to handle climbing stairs and delivering intelligible campaign speeches, let alone running one of the world’s most powerful countries. Not only could this have massive ramifications on the direction of the country, but it begs the question: who is really in charge in Washington?

Moreover, we and the vast majority of Americans find it downright criminal what Jill Biden, the Democratic Party, and people on the president’s team are doing to him. This is a man who is clearly unfit for sleepless nights, the stresses of running this country, and campaigning all over the map. We don’t wish to see any leader, regardless of their ideology, in this type of position, and we think it’s borderline elder abuse that they insist Biden remain in one of the most demanding jobs, if not the most demanding job, the country can offer. Biden should be enjoying the remainder of his life, not retiring from the Oval Office at 87 years old should he win a second term.

But this is where Democrats truly have a massive zero-sum on their hands: the only strategy worse than keeping Biden on the ticket is dumping Biden for another candidate. Going with the incumbent is almost always the best strategy in politics. Replacing or primarying unfavorable candidates can yield some electoral benefits, but

these, for the most part, are few and far between. On the presidential level, so much of the national, state, and some local tickets, are dependent on a strong standard bearer. Biden’s enthusiasm among Democrats is plummeting and Trump’s numbers remain strong in the swing states and he’s even closed the gap in blue ones. However, replacing Biden for a more “electable” Democrat would change the dynamic of the entire race, likely complicating a unified message and down ballot energy the party needs to retain the Senate, flip the House, and perform well in state races.

Neither seems to be the optimal strategy, as the post-debate polling spread showed Trump leading over notable top Democrats, like Governor Gavin Newsom (DCA), Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), Vice President Kamala Harris (D-CA), Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (D-IN).

Trump’s debate performance was also much better than what many were expecting. He kept on message, delivered solid answers, and only acted snarky in choice amounts, reminding viewers of one of the main reasons he won in 2016: people voted for him because he got on stage and said the things people have dreamed for years of saying to the people running this country.

Biden and company concede his debate performance was subpar, but that at least he told the truth. A massive lie Biden told during the debate was that of the Border Patrol Union (NBPC) endorsing him, only for them fact-check him mid-debate on X, formerly known as Twitter, by saying “To be clear: We never have and never will endorse Biden.”

Only to add insult to injury, Trump has retained leads in the prime battlegrounds, with many Democrats in the field reportedly settling on losing Nevada, Arizona, and Georgia in pursuit of a narrow Electoral College victory via the Rust Belt. Ohio, Iowa, and Florida, once top swing states, seem to be off the table for Democrats almost entirely. Dreams of flipping Texas and North Carolina and making inroads in South Carolina and Kansas will have to wait.

But the news gets worse for Biden, as Trump now has aggregate leads in New Hampshire and Maine, which have not backed Republican nominees since 2000 and 1988, respectively, and even New Jersey, which delivered a sixteen-point-win for Biden in 2020. Trump’s approval rating in New Jersey, while five points underwater, pales in comparison to Biden’s twenty-point deficit with Garden State voters. Trump’s onpar contention with Latino voters and historic levels of black support make him a far more formidable candidate than Democrats would care to admit. Such developments have shown Trump creeping up on Biden in solidly-blue New York, as Biden’s average lead has dropped to just seven points in a state that backed him by more than twenty points four years ago, and internal polls suggest Trump leads the race narrowly in New Mexico.

If Trump picks a solid running mate - we personally would like to see Governor Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) or someone like him - it would help him carry out these map expansions that not only paint the road to victory in November and win the popular vote, but also give Republicans favorable territory in the foreseeable future.

By Congressman Nick LaLota

LaLota: God Bless America, Happy Independence Day

We must always remember those who came before us and sacrificed so each of us can live in the greatest nation in the world. Independence Day is not just about fireworks and barbecues; it is a time to reflect on the freedoms we enjoy, and the sacrifices made to secure them.

As a Navy Veteran and your Congressman, I have had the privilege of serving our great nation in various capacities. My years in the Navy taught me the values of honor, courage, and commitment. It was a true privilege to serve alongside brave and selfless men and women who were willing to put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms. Their commitment to our country serves as a reminder of the cost of independence and the ongoing responsibility to uphold the principles the founders enshrined in the Declaration of Independence.

In Congress, my mission remains the same: to serve the people, protect our freedoms, and fight every day for the community in which I grew up. I firmly believe we must ensure the values and principles that have made our country great are preserved for future generations. This involves not only defending our nation from external threats but also working to create a society where every individual has the opportunity to pursue the American Dream.

This Independence Day, as you watch the fireworks light up the sky, let us also remember the light of liberty that shines brightly in our nation. Let us honor the sacrifices of those who have served and continue to serve in our Armed Services. Their dedication is a testament to the enduring spirit of America.

Moreover, let us take this opportunity to come together as a community. Our strength lies in our unity, in our ability to stand together despite our differences. As we celebrate our independence, let us also celebrate our interdependence, the idea that we are stronger together, working towards a common goal of a more perfect union, and ensuring Suffolk County is the best place to work, live, and raise a family.

In the spirit of patriotism and unity, I wish you all a happy and safe Independence. May we continue to cherish and protect the freedoms that make our nation the land of the free and the home of the brave.

Congressman Nick LaLota (R) is a lifelong Long Islander and Navy Veteran who is proudly serving New York’s First Congressional District.

The State Is Hiding This in Their Referendum

Few people know it, but if people go to the polls this November to vote yes on a referendum to enshrine abortion rights into the New York State Constitution, they will also be voting yes on a semi-secretly hidden provision that forces schools and sport teams to allow biological males to play on girls’ sports teams.

Regardless of how you stand on either of these issues, abortion and biological males playing in female sports, the Legislature has no place combining the two in one referendum.

The reason we need an alternative media outlet such as Long Island Life & Politics is to expose this chicanery from our elected officials. Very few liberal media outlets are exposing the tying of these two issues into a single up-ordown vote.

We at Long Island Life & Politics applaud Nassau County in passing a resolution that keeps female sports reserved for those born anatomically female.

It’s not only common sense, but it’s following the science to say that biological girls are going to be at a competitive and safety disadvantage to those who were born biologically male.

It’s the same reason we don’t allow 16-year-olds to play against 10-yearolds.

The mainstream media tries to give the impression that this is a gay rights issue. That’s nonsense.

And it’s inaccurate to paint a picture that claims the gay community is overwhelmingly in favor of allowing biological men to play in women’s sports. The gay community is not monolithic on this, just as the straight community is split to some extent. Still, the overwhelming majority of those surveyed oppose this safety hazard and the unfair aspect of biological girls losing scholarships and recognition that was so feverishly worked for.

We don’t have a problem if the state Legislature wants to have an upor-down vote on that specific issue, but it is simply wrong to fold that very

controversial proposition into a larger vote on whether or not people want to codify abortion rights into the constitution.

Keep them separate and stop trying to fool the public.

Photo by Matt Meduri

8 County News

County Holds Fireworks Demonstration to Warn of Potential Dangers Around Holiday

By Matt Meduri

While the Fourth of July is generally regarded as one of the most exciting holidays in terms of celebration, it doesn’t come with that distinction without regular dangers and mishaps.

Regular PSAs consist of safe handling of pyrotechnics and explosives, as well as obtainment, storage, and usage of such commodities.

Although firecrackers, bottle rockets, roman candles, spinners, and aerial devices are illegal in New York - with sparklers illegal in Suffolk County - usage still persists across Long Island every year. Elected officials and members of various Suffolk County departments convened at the Suffolk County Fire Academy in Yaphank on Monday afternoon to convey the dangers of these products if handled incorrectly.

Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness Committee.

“Celebrate our country, but do it responsibly,” concluded Thorne.

“Everyone who is a true American wants to celebrate [the Fourth of July], but we’re here to say celebrate safely and don’t employ illegal fireworks,” said County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches), standing next to a table full of illegal fireworks confiscated by the Suffolk County Police Department.

28% of the fires that occur in this country happen because of Independence Day fireworks, with over 19,000 fires tied to the holiday. Children between fifteen and nineteen have the highest rate of injury, with 35% receiving injuries to their fingers and hands, 22% their head, ears, face, and neck, 19% eyes, 11% other parts of the body, 8% legs, 5% arms.

“Don’t allow someone you care about to shoot off fireworks. Don’t spend money on something that is illegal for a reason,” said Romaine. “If you want to do something for Independence Day, take the money you would spend on fireworks and donate it to a food kitchen. If we want to show how proud we are as Americans, let’s make sure all Americans have enough to eat.”

Romaine said to leave fireworks displays to the “professionals,” saying that there are numerous professional shows being put on by the Towns and Villages. Romaine added that they don’t pose a danger to the general public.

“This Fourth of July, we are going to have extra patrols out this week in Suffolk County. We are concerned about DWIs,” said Romaine. “Drink responsibly. If you have more than two drinks, don’t drive.”

Romaine invoked the recent death of four people, including NYPD officer Emilia Rennhack, caused by an alleged drunk driver who drove his car into a Deer Park nail salon last Friday. The crash also took the owner of the salon, leaving behind two young children, and left the owner’s wife with critical back and hip injuries, recovery from which is expected to take one to two years.

Romaine also warned against drinking while boating, saying “do the right thing.”

“We have already seen firework-related injuries this week leading up to the holiday,” said Deputy Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (FRES) Commissioner Rudy Sunderman. “We urge residents to leave firework displays up to the professionals. 74% of firework-related injuries occur in the weeks leading up to the Fourth of July.”

Sunderman said that while sparklers seem “relatively innocent,” yet they burn between 1200 and 2000 degrees. To give perspective, Sunderman said that a match burns at 800 degrees.

“You wouldn’t give a child a match. Why would you give them a sparkler?” said Sunderman.

“In 2023, we had ten emergency room consults, one burn center admittance, fifteen referrals to the burn center from other hospitals. On average, Suffolk County sees one [firework-related] fatality every five years,” said Sunderman.

Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), joined by Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), said that the best emergency that can be hoped for is one that never has to be called in.

“Public safety is paramount in this county and it’s something we take very seriously. Keep in mind, the life you save might be your own or someone you love,” said Thorne, Chair of the Fire,

A demonstration was then held to show what the result of improper storage of fireworks in a car could be. A totalled Jeep Grand Cherokee was stocked with many of the explosives on display at the press conference and detonated on site. A large explosion started an approximately twenty-minute long fire, while fireworks and explosives continued to ignite throughout the duration of the blaze.

Dr. Steven Sandoval, Medical Director of the Burn Unit at Stony Brook Hospital, described what he normally sees every year around the Fourth of July.

“Every year, there’s a loss of a limb, whether it be a hand, a foot, or something else like that. There’s always some kind of loss that we see,” Sandoval told The Messenger. Sandoval urged residents to understand that Stony Brook’s Burn Unit is specifically equipped to handle these types of injuries, and that delaying treatment or seeking other medical attention might prolong injuries or reduce the chances of saving a limb.

“What happens sometimes is patients go to these outside hospitals and they’re given information and then they wind up coming to Stony Brook eventually. In the clinics, a lot of the delayed injuries are people trying to manage things by themselves by going to other hospitals or walk-in clinics,” said Sandoval, adding that many injuries he sees are children with third-degree burns from sparklers.

“In the hospital itself, we see people making their own fireworks, making their own mortars, checking the mortars by putting their faces over it, and it could be a limb or their life that goes with it,” said Sandoval. “I get that everybody wants to have fun, I don’t want to be a killjoy, but this is the reality of it.”

Sandoval said that Stony Brook also has a great reattachment service for limbs and digits that might be lost due to firework-related injuries, but he cautioned that full reattachment might not be guaranteed based on the situation.

“Sometimes you get lucky and get one or two fingers back, but it depends on what’s left over,” said Sandoval. “We’ve had some success with these [types of reattachments] in the past, but it’s few and far between.”

Sandoval mentioned a patient last weekend who came to the burn unit with a severed hand, but that there wasn’t much for the burn unit to do as there was “not much left” to treat.

Sandoval also said that many firework-related injuries rarely occur in a “sober situation,” saying that alcohol consumption certainly lowers judgment and risk assessment when dealing with these types of products, especially homemade pyrotechnics.

“We have enough staff [at Stony Brook] and we never really exceed our capabilities, but we do have coordinations with other burn centers, such as Nassau County, Cornell, Westchester, Staten Island, and even in Bridgeport, Connecticut,” said Sandoval. “Worse comes to worst, we can helicopter a patient up and send them where they need to go. Thankfully, we have had to utilize that in the last twenty years.”

Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy (R-Nesconset), Minority Leader Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon), and a representative for Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) were also present, along with numerous emergency service and fire department personnel.

The Messenger urges all to stay safe in the days after the Fourth of July, as celebrations and fireworks displays tend to continue after the holiday proper.

Trump

Trump also leads Biden in the critical demographic of young voters. Among respondents between the ages of 18 and 34, Trump leads with 44% to Biden’s 27%. Trump trails Biden among female voters by just seven points and leads Biden among Jewish voters by a similar margin.

Trump’s favorability rating is also only five points underwater in an otherwise blue state, compared to Biden’s approval rating that is close to twenty points underwater in a state that backed him by sixteen points in 2020.

New Jersey’s last close presidential race was in 2004, when John Kerry (D-MA) bested George W. Bush (R-TX) by around seven points in the typically blue state. A “high floorlow ceiling” state for the GOP, capturing 40% of the vote is typical for almost any New Jersey Republican, but venturing north of that is generally seen as a challenge. The latest results show not only a stunning upheaval of conventional political wisdom and a map possibly expanded beyond what observers would have likely anticipated, but it could indicate a bellwether effect among voters of similar demographics in states with political leanings similar to that of New Jersey. New York, Delaware, and Illinois could possibly be tracked in a similar scenario if the pollster’s findings are accurate.

The same polls also show a thin race for the open U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Senator Bob Menendez (D). Menendez earned notoriety late last year for his alleged federal corruption, bribery, and conspiracy charges and for allegedly acting as a foreign agent to the governments of Egypt and Qatar.

Congressman Andy Kim (D, NJ-03), first elected in 2018, maintains a decent, yet relatively thin, seven-point lead over Curtis Bashaw (R). New Jersey has not elected a Republican to the U.S. Senate since 1972.

The New Jersey poll has a margin of error of +/- 3.42%.

Another poll to further shake up the race is from New

the seat since 1973. Nella, Domenici’s daughter of the late Senator, is hoping to flip the seat red this November.

Finally, a St. Anselm College poll of the perennial swing state of New Hampshire finds Trump two points in lead, just within the margin of error, with third-party candidates collectively receiving just 6% of the vote. Trump not only leads in the slightly Republican-leaning First Congressional District, containing Portsmouth and Manchester, but also the blue-leaning Second District, which contains Concord, Dartmouth, and Nashua. Democrats have a four-point voter registration advantage in NH-02, a signal that Biden’s typical base is unenthusiastic for his candidacy, and that the open congressional seat could spawn a competitive race.

This is the first time this year that Trump has been tracked in the lead in the Granite State. New Hampshire has not backed a Republican nominee since 2000.

In other national news, the Supreme Court handed Trump a win in the case regarding his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election.

In a 6-3 ruling along ideological lines, the Supreme Court found that Trump cannot be prosecuted for any actions that were within his constitutional power as president, but that he can be tried for private acts conducted during his term.

“We conclude that under our constitutional structure of separated powers, the nature of presidential power requires that a former president have some immunity from criminal prosecution for official acts during his tenure in office,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, adding that immunity for former presidents is “absolute” regarding their “core constitutional powers.”

The landmark ruling tosses out a lower court’s decision that had rejected Trump’s claim of immunity from federal charges regarding the 2020 election. THe ruling is also the first in history that recognized presidential immunity.

stakes employment decisions” based on those metrics.

The new bill concentrates more on “educator growth,” and allows each school district to construct their own metrics for evaluation. Those metrics must be approved by the State Department of Education. Districts must also inform parents of the teachers’ scores.

Local

Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY-01) voted to pass the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, and the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act.

The trio of bills provides $300 million for border security technology, $4.1 billion for custody operations, $822 million to fund transportation and removal operations for removable illegal immigrants, a 4.5% pay raise for all military personnel, a 15% pay increase for junior enlisted service members, funding and policies to combat the flow of fentanyl and illegal drugs into the U.S., and host of equipment and technical support for the Armed Forces.

“I am proud to help pass three bills to support our military and my fellow Veterans, secure the border, and keep American families safe at home and abroad. These bills include vital provisions I championed, including language to counteract the malign influences of China, Russia, and Iran, reinforce our unwavering support for key allies such as Israel and Taiwan, and address the ongoing border crisis by holding President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas accountable,” said LaLota. “I’m also proud to have secured language supporting the release of citizens wrongfully detained in China, such as Kai Li of Huntington, improve airport security and screenings, fund the Disaster Relief Fund, and support Law Enforcement.”

Continued from front cover

County Legislature Grapples with Cybersecurity Issues Amid Testimony from Lisa Black

However, tensions quickly escalated as Black appeared hesitant and occasionally evasive in her responses, citing advice from her legal counsel. At times, she outright refused to answer certain questions, citing ongoing DA investigations and stating that she could not recall specific details.

Legislators expressed frustration over what they perceived as a lack of transparency and accountability in Black’s testimony. They pressed for clarity on critical issues such as the timeline of the attack, the extent of data compromised, and the effectiveness of the county’s cybersecurity measures at the time and ongoing.

Cyber Security Committee Chairman, Legislator Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) questioned Black on why there was no appointment of a Chief Information Security Officer prior to and immediately follow the attacks. He asked how long it was between the FBI tip that Suffolk County’s systems were vulnerable and the September 2022 malware attack as well as why when leaving office, she “scrubbed” her computer of all data. She stated the timeline of the FBI tip to malware attack was a few months prior and refused to answer any questions regarding the computer deletions after conferring with her counsel.

The questions are in line with an ongoing investigation

by Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) into allegations that members of former Executive Steve Bellone’s (D-West Babylon) administration improperly destroyed and/or removed county data after they left office last year.

Piccirillo asked that the “record reflect” Black’s refusal to answer questions.

Black’s attorney, David Kelley, spoke on her behalf regarding the questions of document mishandling and removal.

“It’s a subject, reportedly, from a district attorney’s investigation and they can pursue it and contact her if they wish,” said Kelley.

During her testimony, Lisa Black acknowledged the severity of the ransomware attack but maintained that she followed protocols and directives provided by legal advisors and cybersecurity experts. She emphasized the complexity of managing such a crisis and defended her actions during the chaotic aftermath.

Additional questioning included any retaliation against whistleblowers within the administration, recruitment and retention issues including department requests for additional personnel, and any directives given to limit the size of the county’s workforce. Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) questioned the FBI call further, asking why this was not escalated to her level and she was not made aware of it. She stated she was not upset that she was not made aware of the call by those who reported to her directly.

Despite Black’s explanations, legislators present at the meeting emphasized the importance of accountability and transparency in handling cyber threats. They underscored the need for robust cybersecurity protocols, preparedness, regular audits, the need for additional personnel, and comprehensive training to strengthen Suffolk County’s defenses against future attacks.

Moving forward, the Suffolk County Legislature pledged to conduct a thorough review of the testimony and evidence presented during the cybersecurity meeting. They are committed to identifying areas for improvement in cybersecurity policies and procedures to safeguard county systems and sensitive data.

As the meeting concluded, legislators reiterated their commitment to holding accountable those responsible for safeguarding Suffolk County’s digital infrastructure. They vowed to continue pursuing answers and implementing necessary reforms to prevent future cyber incidents and protect the interests of county residents and stakeholders.

The Suffolk County Legislature’s cybersecurity meeting underscored the critical importance of transparency, accountability, and proactive measures in safeguarding against cyber threats. As Suffolk County continues to recover from the 2022 ransomware attack, efforts to strengthen cybersecurity defenses remain a top priority for local officials and cybersecurity experts alike.

Lisa Black (left) and her attorney David Kelley (right) testify in Riverhead (Credit - Suffolk County Legislature)

Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) (Credit - Matt Meduri)

County

Signed Romaine Capital Budget Rebuilds Suffolk Infrastructure, Invests in Safety and Affordability

After its unanimous passage, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) signed the first capital budget of his term. It includes funding for public safety, improving county infrastructure and upgrades for Suffolk County’s Board of Elections.

“With this budget, we can remedy problems long neglected by the prior administration,” said Romaine. “We prioritize upgrades to our critical infrastructure and delay noncritical projects to deliver results that are both impactful and fiscally responsible.”

Upon assuming office, the Romaine administration identified areas in need of investment, including cyber infrastructure still reeling from the 2022 cyber breach, neglected buildings, law enforcement and the vital upgrades needed at the board of election accommodate for Albany imposed even-year elections.

The signed 2025 Capital Budget is $535,014,841. Amendments made to the three-year capital program amount to $673,605 in savings.

“Our residents rely on our infrastructure for transportation, wastewater management and water quality, public safety and elections,” said Romaine. “With these investments, we can meet and exceed the expectations of Suffolk County residents.”

Highlights of the 2025-2027 Capital Program include:

SEWAGE INFRASTRUCTURE

$150 million for Carlls River-Wyandanch, Wheatley Heights and Deer Park sewer infrastructure

$150 million to expand the Forge River Sewer District

$139.5 million for upgrades for the Southwest Sewer District No. 3

$101.3 for Smithtown sewers

PUBLIC SAFETY

$10 million for state-of-the-art tasers

$10 million for body cameras and accessories

$36 million for new public safety vehicles

BRIDGES, ROADS, AND TRANSIT

$33 million to repair and resurface county roads

$31 million NYS Route 110 Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), connecting LIRR stations at Amityville, Republic Airport, and Huntington

$25.1 million road safety improvement

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

$12.9 million for fiber cabling, network protection, hardware replacement, and technological disaster recovery upgrades

$3.6 million for technology upgrades and digitization of records

QUALITY OF LIFE PROJECTS

$41.6 million for improvements to the county parks, including campsite upgrades and park upgrades

$24.2 million for improvements and renovations for numerous county historical sites and museums throughout Suffolk County

$23.1 million for dredging, upland disposal restoration, and new dredging equipment

$22.5 million for Hike and Bike Master Plan

OPEN SPACE ACQUISITION

$15 million for farmland preservation

ECONOMIC DRIVERS

$11.5 million for Mastic Beach Revitalization

$4.7 million for improvements at Gabreski Airport

$1.8 million Suffolk County Downtown Revitalization Program

BOARD OF ELECTIONS

$34.8 million for new voting machines and other infrastructure.

“This is a budget the residents of Suffolk County can be proud of,” said Romaine. “Every step of the process was taxpayers first. It was the first budget delivered on time in over a decade. The Legislature had ample time for input, and every cent mattered.”

“Since before his election, and through his State of the County Address to the Legislature in May, the County Executive has expressed a clear vision for the place we all call home,” said Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst). “Now, the capital budget sets forth in clear economic force his emphasis on our shared priorities for public safety, fiscal responsibility, water quality, infrastructure, and improved technology – all investments to keep Suffolk County a desirable place for current residents, and for the next generations of our children, grandchildren, and beyond. I am confident that the County Executive, working together with the County Legislature, will ensure a needed and continued improvement in Suffolk County over the next four years.”

Partnering with Allstate Insurance, East Islip High School’s Students Against Destructive Decisions club and adviser Bridget Lopiccolo hosted their annual SMASHED press conference on June 11, helping to spread the message of driving safety. The event coincides with what is known as the “100 Deadliest Days,” the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day when the number of deadly accidents involving teen drivers is the highest. As in past years, Bang Towing and Gershow Recycling provided a frightening assemblage of destroyed vehicles on the school’s front lawn, which will remain on display until after graduation.

“During the 100 Deadliest Days, we see a 20% spike in teen fatalities on the roads and highways nationwide,” said SADD President Florence Gonzalez. “Our SADD Club wants to make sure our community and my peers do not fall into that statistic.”

“We don’t want to lose another student or community member to the destructive decisions that drivers make like drinking and driving, texting and driving, driving while impaired or distracted driving,” Lopiccolo said. “We want our students and our community members to stay alive, so please make great decisions. Stop and think before getting behind the wheel and stay focused while behind the wheel.”

Thursday, July 4, 2024

East Islip High School SADD Club Continues Annual SMASHED Advocacy

Ten Islip Seniors Sign to Continue Athletic Careers in College

Confirming their commitment to participate in collegiate athletics this fall, 10 exceptional Islip High School seniors signed national letters of intent on May 22. School administrators and proud family members joined the student-athletes for a recognition ceremony in the school’s cafeteria, congratulating them on their college decisions.

Students signing letters at the ceremony included Matthew Breslin, who will join the track team at SUNY Cortland; Gianna Capolongo, who will play soccer for SUNY Oneonta; Annika Cripe, who will play tennis at SUNY Oneonta; David Domena; who will join the track team at SUNY Cortland; Sabrina Frazer, who will play field hockey for Marywood University; Elizabeth Kurka, who will run cross-country at St. Joseph’s University; Jack McLoughlin, who will join SUNY Maritime’s football team; Zachary Miller, who will wrestle at Johnson & Wales University; Tyler Simonetti, who will play golf for SUNY Oswego; and Jared Spahn, who will wrestle at Ithaca University.

“You have come a long way in your journey, and now you are going to the next level, which is

West Islip Senior Receives Full College Scholarship

West Islip High School student Michael Washington has been granted a full tuition academic scholarship to the University of Miami, along with the prestigious Isaac Bashevis Singer Scholarship. Due to his dedication, resilience, and academic achievements, Washington has also been accepted into the Foote Fellows Honors Program, which will allow him to pursue a double major in aerospace engineering and physics. The full academic scholarship at the University of Miami is worth $260,000.

Washington was invited to the University of Miami’s Premier Scholars and Cane for a Day Program. During this program, he was informed that out of more than 56,000 applicants in 2024, he represents only 0.025% of the accepted students. He is pictured with guidance counselor Evelyn Hanlon and West Islip High School Principal Dr. Anthony Bridgeman.

always a lot of fun,” Athletic Director John Sparacio said. “Enjoy it, make a lot of friendships and try to make more memories. College goes very, very quickly. Before you know it, in the blink of an eye, four years are going to pass. It doesn’t make any difference if you’re playing Division I, II, III or junior college, you’re going on to continue on with your passion of yours, and to me, that’s what it’s really all about.”

“You are in a very special and very small group of high school athletes that are bringing their talents to the next level, so congratulations on that,” Assistant Principal Charlie Rizzuto said. “The things I miss about being a college athlete are all the little things that you can’t replicate once they’re gone. So, my simple message to you is appreciate the little things, because when it’s all done, you still may play your sport. You still may run or wrestle or compete in adult leagues, but those little things will be gone forever, so don’t waste a moment with your teammates. Make those lifelong friendships and appreciate the little things that being a college athlete will bring you.”

School Highlights

Thursday, July 4, 2024

Sachem CSD Appoints New Superintendent of Schools

The Sachem Central School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Patricia Trombetta as its new superintendent of schools, effective August 1. She succeeds Dr. Christopher Pellettieri who is retiring at the end of this school year. Ms. Trombetta is a Sachem alumna and will be the district’s first female superintendent.

“We are excited to welcome Ms. Trombetta as the district’s next superintendent of schools,” said Board of Education President Robert Scavo. “As a current administrator, we are confident Ms. Trombetta’s familiarity, wealth of experience and skills will be an asset to our Sachem students, staff and families.”

Ms. Trombetta has been a member of the Sachem family as a staff member since 2006 and, most recently, helped lead the district as deputy superintendent. With nearly 20 years of administrative experience, she is proficient in collaboration, supervision and school improvements, while holding a commitment to student success. Prior to being named deputy superintendent, Ms. Trombetta was Sachem’s assistant superintendent for student support and administration.

Throughout her time working in Sachem, Ms. Trombetta served as principal at High School North, Sagamore Middle

School and Grundy Avenue Elementary School. Additionally, she was an assistant principal at Sagamore Middle School. Under her leadership, several programs were implemented into the curriculum including project-based learning and the AP Capstone program. Additionally, Ms. Trombetta developed mentoring programs for new teachers and holds the experience of serving on a number of school-based and district-based committees in Sachem.

“I am very excited and honored to be the next superintendent of Sachem,” said Ms. Trombetta. “Sachem is a very special place to me, and I am deeply rooted in continuing the culture, pride and strong sense of community that exists. I look forward to working with everyone in the educational process to ensure that we continue to develop the culture of excellence in all we do.”

Ms. Trombetta received her bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, her master’s degree from Dowling College and a school district administrator professional diploma from CW Post University.

The Sachem Central School District looks forward to welcoming Ms. Trombetta into this new role.

Hauppauge HS Celebrates Graduating Cohort

of

IB Diploma Candidates

Hauppauge High School celebrated its 2024 IB Diploma cohort with a Stoling ceremony. Twenty-four students from the Class of 2024 completed the requirements for the IB Diploma: six IB classes and the IB core: Theory of Knowledge, Creativity, Activity, and Service and the Extended Essay.

This year’s cohort pursued essay topics in a wide range of subjects, including the impact of language use in rap lyrics, mathematical frequencies in a favorite computer game and Netflix’s business model. In addition to receiving their stoles, candidates voted for classmates who they felt best exemplified aspects of the IB Learner Profile.

Congratulations to IB diploma candidates Kaylah Adam, Jamie Barshay, Brianna Burton, Colin Buscarino, Tommaso Clarke, Brayden Dickneider, Juan Duarte, Savvy Dusad, Dayana Gonzales, Peyton Gribbin, Linda Lee Hargis, Shannon Ilnitski, Sweta Jha, Sofia Kalaitzis, Robert Marietta, Hunter Pipia, Stevie Donna Rosenfeld, Sri Sagiraju, Mia Sferrazza, Sadiq Shaik, Daniela Silva, Tia Sowa, Gina Vaughan, and Kairan Zhang.

Bayport-Blue Point Students Offer Fifth Graders a Glimpse Into Middle School Life

On June 7, Bayport-Blue Point School District’s fifth graders ventured to James Wilson Young Middle School for a fun and informational orientation. Fifth grade students from all three of the district’s elementary schools, Academy Street, Sylvan Avenue and Blue Point, mixed and mingled for the first time. The event was put together by students in James Wilson Young Middle School’s superintendent’s council.

The fifth graders began the morning with some icebreaking field day games such as “capture the flag” and “run the bases” before heading inside the middle school for a thorough tour of the building. On the tour, students learned everything from what line to stand in for lunch to what electives are offered at the middle school level from their sixth to eighth grade guides. They even met and interacted with some of the middle school’s teachers and staff.

Superintendent’s council subcommittees led presentations at the elementary buildings, offering fifth graders a glimpse into the “day in the life of a middle schooler,” showing students more of what to expect next year.

The Necessary Standard for American Education

House Standing Committees - Part I

By Matt Meduri

Congress, already divided between the House and Senate, becomes further departmentalized at the committee level. Standing committees are simply those that are permanent. The party with the majority in the chamber of Congress earns the chairmanship and majorities on the chamber’s committees. The top spot for the committee member of the minority party is called the Ranking Member.

Committees are divided to utilize specializations and knowledge of its members as it pertains to a certain area of focus, as well as view legislation before to debate, amend, or table it before the legislation can advance to the floor of the chamber for a vote from all representatives.

While standing committees are permanent, there are several other types of committees and caucuses that serve numerous purposes in Washington. Each committee also has certain subcommittees that are composed of members of the committee at large. For the purpose of this week’s column, we’ll look at the first few of the twenty standing committees afforded to the U.S. House of Representatives.

Agriculture

The Agriculture Committee has general jurisdiction over federal agricultural policies, as well as oversight of some federal agencies. The committee can also provide and recommend funding and support for agricultural research and development.

Created in 1820, the committee was started to give agricultural issues equal weight with commercial and manufacturing interests. Initially a seven-member body, the committee now has fifty-two members: twenty-eight Republicans and twenty-four Democrats.

Agriculture has six subcommittees, the first being the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit. The body has oversight of policies, statutes, and markets pertaining to “barley, cotton, cottonseed, corn, grain sorghum, honey, mohair, oats, other oilseeds, peanuts, pulse crops, rice, soybeans, sugar, wheat, and wool,” according to their website. The subcommittee also deals with Federal Crop Insurance and agricultural credit.

The Forestry Subcommittee deals with policies and statutes regarding forests and forestry under the purview of the Agriculture Committee, particularly the National Forest Service.

The Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology Subcommittee deals with conservation, pest and disease management, pesticides, bioterrorism, research, education, and extension of agricultural studies, and biotechnology.

The Nutrition, Foreign Agriculture, and Horticulture Subcommittee pertains to matters of horticulture, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, ornamentals, and bees. This body also governs from a perspective on nutrition and has oversight of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

The Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Subcommittee includes inspection, marketing, and promotion of the aforementioned items, as well as seafood. The subcommittee also has oversight of aquaculture, animal welfare, and grazing.

Finally, the Commodity Markets, Digital Assets, and Rural Development Subcommittee handles matters of commodity exchanges, energy, and rural electrification.

Glenn Thompson (R, PA-15) serves as Chair and David Scott (D, GA-13) serves as Ranking Member.

Appropriations

“No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law.” - U.S. Constitution Article I, Section 9, Clause 7.

This is what is displayed on the homepage of the Appropriations Committee’s website. This is the constitutional basis for the committee. Appropriations was formed in 1865 to separate the tasks of the Ways and Means Committee into three parts. Legislation affecting taxes remained with Ways and Means, while banking regulation went to Banking and Commerce. The split was mainly due to the burden placed on Congress during the Civil War.

The power to appropriate money, essentially to control the federal pursestrings, was transferred to the Appropriations Committee. The committee is primarily responsible for funding most functions of the federal government.

This column will seek to address the long-forgotten concept of civics and how it relates to American government in general, from the federal level to the local level. This column will explore Constitutional rights, the inner workings of government, the electoral process, and the obligations and privileges of citizens.

Composed of sixty-one members - thirtyfour Republicans and twenty-seven DemocratsAppropriations has twelve subcommittees, each charged with funding their respective departments of the federal government: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Defense; Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; Legislative Branch; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

Tom Cole (R, OK-04) serves as Chair and Rosa DeLauro (D, CT-03) serves as Ranking Member.

Armed Services

The Armed Services Committee is responsible for the funding and oversight of the Department of Defense and the U.S. Armed Forces, and some portions of the Department of Energy. The committee is responsible for the annual National Defense Authorization Act, which has been passed and enacted every year since 1962.

The committee is made up of fifty-nine members: thirtyone Republicans and twenty-eight Democrats.

The Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation Subcommittee is primarily charged with acquiring computer software, matters relating to the electromagnetic spectrum, and electromagnetic warfare.

Intelligence and Special Operations deals with programs related to military and national intelligence, countering weapons of mass destruction, counter-proliferation, counterterrorism, special operations forces, and other sensitive military operations.

The Military Personnel Subcommittee handles matters relating to military personnel and their families, Reserve Component integration and employment, military health care and education, POW/MIA issues, commissaries, and cemeteries under the auspices of the Department of Defense. It also handles issues of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, military retirement, and the civilian and contract workforce.

The Readiness Subcommittee is tasked with maintaining military readiness, training, logistics and maintenance, military construction, military installations, family housing, and base realignments and closures.

Seapower and Projection Forces handles Navy and Marine Corps acquisiton programs and accounts related tro shipbuilding and conversion, reconnaissance and surveillance, ship and submarine-launched weapons, ammunition, and tanker and airlift aircrafts.

Strategic Forces manages policy related to strategic deterrence and stability, nuclear weapons and safety, nuclear arms control, missile defense, and space.

Tactical Air and Land Forces manages policy and accounts relating to aircraft, ground equipment, missiles, and ammunition. Marine Corps programs are related to ground and amphibious equipment, fighter aircraft, helicopters, and air-launched weapons. Air Force programs are related to electronic warfare aircrafts.

Mike Rogers (R, AL-03) serves as Chair and Adam Smith (D, WA-09) serves as Ranking Member. Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY-01), a Navy Veteran himself, serves on the Armed Forces Committee, and serves on the subcommittees of Cyber, Information Technology, and Innovation and Tactical Air and Land Forces.

Budget

The Budget Committee is essentially the third part of the financial equation in Congress, along with Appropriations and Banking and Commerce. The committee is tasked with developing a concurrent resolution, one that also includes the Senate’s approval, on a budget to act as a blueprint for spending, revenue, and debt-limit legislation. It considers priorities of the executive and legislative branches, while also

accounting for fiscal constraints and fluctuations.

The Budget’s Committee’s makeup is different from those of other committees. The rules of the House require that the committee contains five members of Ways of Means, five members of Appropriations, and one member from Rules. Members of Budget may also not serve more than four in any six successive Congresses. The rotation allows as many House members as possible participation in Budget activities.

Budget is also responsible for “scorekeeping,” reports that are made available to the House at-large at least on a monthly basis. This allows House members to remain aware of budgetary effects of pending and enacted legislation against the recommendations in the budget resolution.

The Budget Committee is comprised of thirty-seven members: twenty-one Republicans and sixteen Democrats. Jodey Arringon (R, TX-19) serves as Chair and Brendan Boyle (D, PA-13) serves as Ranking Member.

Education and the Workforce

The Committee on Education and Labor was founded after the Civil War and during Industrialization. Education and Labor were then split into two separate committees in 1883.

The committee’s purpose is to “ensure that Americans’ needs are addressed so that students and workers may move forward in a changing school system and a competitive global economy,” as per their website.

The Workforce Protections Committee has jurisdiction over wages and work hours pursuant to multiple employment and employee protection laws. It has oversight of workers’ safety and health in focuses of general occupation, mining, immigrant workers, agriculture, and all matters of equal employment opportunity and civil rights in employment.

The Higher Education and Workforce Development Subcommittee is concerned with education and workforce development beyond the high school level, including postsecondary student assistance and employment services, the Higher Education Act, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, all domestic volunteer programs, programs related to arts and humanities, museum and library services, and arts and artifacts indemnity. The subcommittee also has oversight of apprenticeship programs, vocational rehabilitation, adult basic education, the Native American Programs Act, and welfare reform programs.

The Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee has oversight of early learning to the high school level, special education, education for the homeless and migrants, overseas dependent schools, career and technical education, school safety and alcohol and drug abuse prevention, school lunch and child nutrition programs, and educational research and improvement.

The Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee has oversight of relationships between employers and employees, with respect to the National Labor Relations Act, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the LaborManagement Relations Act, and the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act. It deals with employmentrelated health and retirement security, pensions, health, employee benefits, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA).

The committee is composed of forty-five members: twenty-five Republicans and twenty Democrats. Virginia Foxx (R, NC-05) serves as Chair and Bobby Scott (D, VA-03) serves as Ranking Member.

West Islip Residents Protest Proposed Cell Tower

The goals of the contract include Crown Castle meeting the State’s obligations under the federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, which works to provide “fair and open access” to State lands for wireless infrastructure development. Crown’s responsibilities also consist of developing infrastructure to support “governmental, public safety, and commercial wireless communications needs,” promoting the “shared-use of wireless infrastructure to reduce the proliferation of new structures,” and “ensuring compliance with State and federal health, safety, and environmental regulations.”

Murray says the carriers have examined private land for construction, but have found no private sites to be viable, kicking the process to New York State to acquire land for the project.

Thursday evening’s meeting was held in the auditorium at West Islip High School and moderated by Tim Young, Regional Manager for Crown Castle, and Jacqui Phillips Murray, Esq., of the Murray Law Firm.

Young and Murray described the process and what Crown Castle’s role in the project is. The land was identified as a possible candidate for a cell tower to improve connection in the West Islip area. Commercial carriers Verizon Wireless and T-Mobile identified the area as one of improved connection needs. Crown Castle simply installs and maintains the structure, while carriers provide and maintain the service.

The public meeting is the first step in the process. Public comments are taken into account, which, if comments are overall positive, the plan would move forward with an environmental assessment. Murray said that the project is in such an early stage that soil testing and geotechnical investigations have not been completed to see if the site is even viable for construction.

The caveat to the project is that since it’s on State-owned land, it is immune from local zoning ordinances. Elected officials urged Crown Castle to host the public meeting at the high school, as it was a central, accessible location that included areas that would be most affected by the project.

commercialized with some huge tower,” said DiBernardo. “If you asked yourself ‘what would be the worst place we could possibly put something like this?’ That [the proposed site] would be the area.”

After the panel explained the process and the function of Crown Castle, residents took to the microphone to express their opposition to the project, citing health concerns, proximity to residential areas, and the compromise of natural beauty.

One resident, whose son lives two hundred feet from the proposed site, recommended the tower be built in or adjacent to the Great South Bay, or perhaps one of the bridges connecting the mainland to the barrier islands. Murray said this suggestion would be taken into consideration, although she stipulated that it is uncommon for wireless antennas to be constructed on bridges because of “maintenance purposes.”

The first speaker, as well as a majority of residents who spoke, questioned Murray and Young on possible health impacts to community members living in such close proximity to the tower. Murray and Young could not answer these questions specifically and deferred to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines on human exposure and safety. She said that Crown Castle is obligated to follow those rules, but did not specifically say whether or not the tower could impose health risks. Murray also said that she cannot give a “medical opinion.”

“I understand that our cell reception is not very good in West Islip, but I really don’t want my children and grandchildren to be exposed to hazards,” said the resident. “We’ve seen the State work on projects and do a lousy job of them.”

Another West Islip resident, Al DiBernardo, suggested Captree State Park and Robert Moses State Park as viable alternatives, if Crown Castle is “looking at State property.”

DiBernardo suggested an uninhabited island near the Babylon Cut and the Bergen Point Sewer Plant in West Babylon.

“You have so many different areas that don’t have a lot of people. Why pick an area that is one hundred feet away from somebody’s backyard?” asked DiBernardo. He also said that in terms of aesthetics, the tower would be a “horror show.”

“You don’t expect to see something like that in a nice area like in West Islip, where we pay premium property taxes to live in a nice area. We don’t need it

Murray said that Crown’s findings show that property values tend to increase after the construction of cell towers, as people like living in areas with good reception.

Andrew Campanelli, Esq. has been retained by West Islip residents concerned about potential health consequences of the power. He pressed the panel if the contract between New York State and Crown Castle requires regular electromagnetic emission tests from the tower. Murray responded that the contact acquiesces to FCC guidelines and that every wireless facility that she has worked on in twenty-seven years has emitted radiated power in “relatively low” levels. Murray did not specify on the proposed guidelines.

have carte blanche access to the tower, to which Murray said they technically would, although it’s unusual for carriers to visit towers outside normal monthly maintenance checks or impromptu repairs.

Councilman Mike McElwee (R-West Islip), (pictured left) representing the Third District in the Islip Town Council, spoke at the meeting.

“This community has been through a lot. They are very passionate about their community and I just urge you to listen to what they’re saying tonight,” said McElwee. McElwee then dismissed claims of compromised emergency response because of poor coverage by saying he had consulted with departments in the area.

Campanelli also asked for points of contact with various levels of State government involved in the project, which Murray did not supply as she said there are “several people” involved and she did not want to give Campanelli the “wrong person’s name.” She accepted a business card to further the contact information to him once she had a clear point of contact.

Only one resident spoke in favor of the project, citing poor cell service interfering with 911 calls in the area.

Residents quickly jumped on his claims saying that the expanded hospitals, namely Good Samaritan, exceed the area’s bandwidth.

“Your calls didn’t go through because the hospital is eating up all the service!” yelled the opponent from the back of the auditorium.

“99% of what I’m hearing is ‘not in my backyard,’” said the resident supportive of the tower.

“I’ve talked to all of the chiefs, all of the district commissioners. I spoke to the inspector of the precinct. He went to his communications people. Nobody came back to me to say that there is a concern for that [tower],” said McElwee. He added that there is a “dead spot” and a need for coverage, but asked that Crown Castle seek other locations.

Opponents of the project heckled the supporter and arguments reached a heated moment before decorum was reestablished.

One opponent said that the community understands that the cell tower is needed, but that the community does not “need any more destruction in West Islip.”

Christina Marks, a Trustee on the West Islip School Board, represented herself as a resident and not the school board. She asked the panel if the FCC study on emissions, regularly referenced by Murray, is updated as wireless technology has changed since its initial publication in 2002. Murray said she does not believe they have updated it.

Marks also asked if carriers would

He also said that Crown Castle must demonstrate support from the public and elected officials representing the area and asked if Crown Castle has received said support. Murray said that her team has not sourced any support from elected officials.

Senator Alexis Weik (R-Sayville) (pictured left) also spoke on behalf of the community at the meeting.

“The public felt gypped and they felt like you had been sneaking and working behind their back, which is never a positive thing when you’re trying to work in a community. You should be working with the community, which you clearly were trying to avoid,” said Weik. She added that in Crown Castle’s initial letter to Islip, they intended for a three-minute speaking window at a Town Board meeting to be their public hearing.

“I said ‘Hell no,’ we will help you find a place and you will have a public hearing,” said Weik. She added that a letter from her, Assemblyman Mike Durso (R-Massapequa Park), who represents West Islip proper, and Assemblyman Jarett Gandolfo (R-Sayville), who represents bordering communities, stated their and the public’s opposition to the project.

“Now you have just waited and come forward again and decided you were going to give it another shot,” said Weik. “I’ve been sitting here listening, you have clearly not answered any questions in a satisfactory manner. There’s no need to proceed. We don’t want it. We spoke to our emergency services and they don’t find a need for it.”

Weik said that Crown Castle had tried in September 2023 to find community support for the project, which the community, she, and Assemblymen Durso and Gandolfo opposed.

Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip) and Suffolk County Legislator Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters) have also written letters stating their and their constituents’ opposition to the project.

A supporter (left) argues with an opponent (far right) (Credit - Matt Meduri)

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

The Generation Crying in the Middle Room

By PJ Balzer

For nearly ten years now, I’ve been visiting the local correctional facilities on a regular basis. I’ve slowly learned that if you’re going to make an honest attempt at truly caring for other people, you’re going to have to actually show up and love them through some mistakes, some rough seasons, and even some iron bars. I’m definitely a work in progress and so are they.

My wife came with me on the first few visits. We were running a community kitchen at the time in our neighborhood. It was a free and open dinner table to anyone who’d like to join us, held in a small store front church. We began with eight teenagers and a few pizzas and grew within a few years to seating and serving around a hundred human souls from literally every walk of life. It was beautiful.

There were many men who walked in right off of the street to sit down and have a home-cooked meal in the family atmosphere that God had established there. Some even parked their shopping carts full of their entire lives outside while they came inside to be served a decent meal in the safety of people who had no ill intentions towards them.

Over the years at the community kitchen, we really got to know some of the people who joined us. We sat to hear their story and how they ended up where they were. Many of them never really had a fair chance since childhood. They grew up in circumstances that would destroy any one of us mentally, physically and emotionally. Some of them ended up going back to jail in the time that we were running the community kitchen. A few of the teenagers that used to attend also ended up in some trouble and incarcerated. We followed them there to continue the caring that started at the dinner table.

In the Riverhead Correctional Facility specifically, there is a cell that the visitors wait in until they are called into the actual visiting room. You first go through a metal detector and shoe scan, then you step into a middle cell with the other visitors. When all of the visitors are scanned and inside the cell, the iron bars close and you’re inside an actual jail cell until the opposite cell gate opens to let you into the visiting room. The same thing happens after your visit before you enter the waiting room.

My wife and myself were there visiting a young man on a really busy day. It was right before Christmas, so everyone was trying to spend time with the person they loved for the holiday season. As we were exiting and standing in the middle cell waiting for the iron gate to open up and let us into the waiting room, a little girl, no more than two years of age, was next to us, being held by her mother. She suddenly realized that we were all leaving and grabbed onto the iron bars behind us and looked for her father. She started to scream, “Daddy, I want my Daddy,” as she simultaneously clung tightly to her Coco Melon doll. There wasn’t a dry eye within the sound of her cry. Maybe she knew that she was going home to celebrate Christmas without her Daddy. When we arrived at the car my wife said, “I can’t come back here, jail ministry isn’t for me honestly.” The little girl’s cry for her Father in that middle room was absolutely soul-piercing and, I believe, completely and highly symbolic.

There is a whole generation of children and young people crying out for their Father or for a father. Their father is addicted to drugs, in and out of jail, or working a double shift once again. Maybe he never cared to know them or he’s there but not truly present in their everyday lives. Their eyes search the stands at football and basketball games to see if, by a miracle, he actually showed up to watch them play. These children are crying out for their father and some are doing it in destructive ways. Their cry is doing wheelies into oncoming traffic, drinking and smoking by the fifth grade, joining a gang, or totally withdrawn from society. Our society needs men to step in and be inconvenienced for the neighbor’s child. We need mentors, mentorships programs, and men willing to care for kids that aren’t their own and are difficult to love initially. There is an entire generation of children crying out for their father and it can’t be silenced by mom, by their iPad, the staff in the group home, or by getting involved in the streets. Only a real Father can silence that cry.

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

SCPD Unites Narcan Training with Purple Rock Project at Patchogue Alive at 5

Combines Education with Healing for Parents Who Have Lost Children to O.D. & Fentanyl

The Suffolk County Police Department and the Purple Rock Project joined together on June 27 at Patchogue’s Alive at 5 street event and trained countless people in the use of Naloxone (Narcan) and distributed 352 doses of the life-saving antidote to opioid overdose.

Jason Byron, SCPD Emergency Medical Service Officer, conducted the Narcan trainings alongside a “memorial rocks and informational” station run by the Purple Rock Project parents Carole Trottere and Lori Carbonaro. The Purple Rock Project (PRP) supplies purple painted rocks to that can be inscribed with the name of a loved one lost to overdose. The rocks are then exhibited at the Suffolk County Environmental Center at the Scully Estate, Tree Memorial and Serenity Garden, 550 South Bay Avenue, Islip and other locations as a reminder of how many Long Islanders have died from O.D. and fentanyl poisonings.

“Writing a child’s name on a rock may seem like a small thing, but I think it is a way of saying to the world that their child was once here,” said Trottere, who lost her son Alex in 2018.

Throughout the Alive at 5 event attendees were educated about Narcan and the risks associated with illicit drug use. Byron also talked to many young teens and adults about the 911 Good Samaritan Law, which allows people to call 911 without fear of arrest if they are having a drug or alcohol overdose that requires emergency medical care or if they witness someone overdosing. Police Officer Karl Allison from Community Relations Bureau was also on hand to help with the Narcan training and answer questions.

Look for the Narcan training table and The Purple Rock Project at: Alive at 5 in Bay Shore • July 9, July 23, August 13 & 20 Alive at 5 Patchogue • July 11, July 25 and August 8

If you are interested in sponsoring a community event, contact the Community Relations Bureau at SCPDCRB@ suffolkcountyny.gov

If you have lost a loved one to O.D. or fentanyl poisoning, and you would like to incorporate a Narcan training into a memorial event for your child, or loved one, please contact Police Officer Bridget Topping at bridget.topping@ suffolkcountyny.gov

For more information about The Purple Rock Project visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/p/ The-Purple-Rock-Project-61552503092645/

LI Life & Politics

Three Shell Fishing Areas to be Closed July 3-10

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will temporarily close three shell fishing areas on the North Shore of Long Island during the upcoming July 4th holiday week. DEC imposes these closures during busy holidays to protect public health from potentially contaminated shellfish associated with increased boating activity in shell fishing waters. Boaters are reminded to use pump-out facilities to help protect water quality.

“Each summer, DEC closes these three popular boating areas to shell fishing during holiday weekends to safeguard the health of shellfish consumers from potential water quality issues resulting from increased recreation,” DEC Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said. “All recreational boaters are urged to be mindful of the no-discharge zones and boat responsibly by using pump-out facilities while enjoying New York’s marine waters.”

Since 1995, DEC has designated these areas as temporarily uncertified for the harvest of shellfish during the July 4th and Labor Day holidays. During peak holiday periods, discharges from marine sanitation devices (toilets) may contaminate nearby shellfish beds with pathogenic bacteria or viruses, rendering shellfish unsafe for human consumption.

DEC is designating the following areas on the North Shore of Long Island as closed to the harvest of shellfish beginning at sunrise on July 3:

• 445 acres in a section of Oyster Bay Harbor

• 347 acres in northern Port Jefferson Harbor

• 50 acres in the area known as the Sand Hole in Lloyd Neck

Shellfish harvesting is expected to resume in these areas on July 11. If poor weather causes fewer boaters to visit these areas, DEC may rescind the closure and reopen the areas to harvesting before that.

Boaters should be aware that Oyster Bay Harbor, Port Jefferson Harbor, and the Sand Hole are designated as no-discharge zones in their entirety. A no-discharge zone is a designated body of water where the discharge of treated or untreated boat sewage is prohibited. Boaters in these areas should utilize the pump-out facilities listed below:

• Oyster Bay Harbor (West Harbor): One pump-out boat is operated by the Town of Oyster Bay at no cost to boaters. Hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekends. Contact the pump-out boat via marine radio VHF Channel 9 or

by phone at (516) 375-9864. In addition, the town provides two pump-out stations on floats near the Oyster Bay Marine Center and Waterfront Park and a land-based pump-out in the town marina at Theodore Roosevelt Park.

• Port Jefferson Harbor: The Town of Brookhaven operates a pump-out boat (no fee) in Port Jefferson Harbor. Hours of operation are 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Boaters may contact the town’s pump-out boat via marine radio VHF Channel 73 In addition, the town provides a pump out station on its transient dock, east of the boat launch ramp, west of the charter fishing vessels.

• The Sand Hole (Lloyd Neck): Although there are no facilities within the Sand Hole, boaters should contact the town of Oyster Bay pump-out boat as noted above. There also is a land-based pump-out facility at Powle’s Marine Center in Cold Spring Harbor. In addition, boaters traveling from Town of Huntington waters can request the services of the town’s pump-out boat (no fee) by calling on marine radio VHF Channel 9. There are also a number of land-based pump-out facilities at marinas in Northport Harbor and Huntington Harbor.

Kerry J. Maher Lic. Manager & Director

Kenneth Maher, Jr. Lic. Director

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

AMAC

Thursday, July 4, 2024

Democrats’ Dilemma: Only Thing Worse Than Running Biden Is Replacing Him

By Walter Samuel | AMAC

A review of the reactions to Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance sets up the scale of the current Democratic conundrum.

Democratic insiders told CNN’s John King that “it was over” and they were exploring ways of removing Joe from the ticket. MSNBC’s Van Jones, who said he “loves Joe Biden,” could barely hold back tears of despair. Rachel Maddow and Chris Hayes coped by insisting that “communication and campaigning” are separate skills from “governing.” Nate Silver likewise suggested the party should dump Biden.

But however real the panic among Democratic elites, the screams to replace Joe show that they are even more out of touch with reality than indicated by their initial support for Biden to run again in the first place.

It is theoretically possible to remove Biden from the ticket in a legal sense, albeit only with his consent. Democratic Party rules require all delegates to vote for the candidate to which they are pledged on the first ballot, and Biden currently has more than enough pledged to him to secure the nomination automatically on the first ballot even if he were comatose. Any scenario in which Joe Biden is not the Democratic nominee would require Joe Biden to decline the nomination after receiving it.

In that case, the floor would be opened – in theory at least. Delegates would be free to vote for whomever they wish, and candidates to woo them.

The reality, however is quite a bit different. It was always going to be hard to bypass Kamala Harris’s claims. One reason it was so difficult for Joe Biden to contemplate replacing her was that it was hard to justify dropping her from the ticket without calling into question the judgment of Biden and the Democratic Party for leaving her one octogenarian heartbeat away from the presidency.

After what occurred last week, any effort to drop Joe Biden from the ticket would make denying Harris the nomination incomparably more difficult to justify, and vastly more damaging politically if by some chance it was successful. Why? Because if Joe Biden is stepping down for reasons of incapacity, it creates a crisis not just of politics but of governance.

Joe Biden is not merely a candidate for president. He is, for good or ill, the sitting president of the United States. If he is unable to conduct a campaign for president, mentally or physically, serious questions will be raised over how he can carry out the duties of his current office. By the act of replacing Joe Biden as a candidate for reasons of capacity, the Democratic Party will be conceding not only that they have saddled the United States with a man incapable of exercising the office in a time of crisis, but that they intend to leave him there for the remaining seven months of his term.

Before last Thursday night, it might have been possible – just – to credibly sell a Biden withdrawal as the result of a desire to spend more time with his family while focusing on the international crisis. Such an argument is laughable now. Biden wanted to serve another four years. There is no way he would have subjected himself to what occurred Thursday night otherwise. In this desire, the Democratic Party and primary electorate indulged him. If he withdraws now, there can be no doubt as to why.

That brings us to the role of Kamala Harris. The logic of a Biden withdrawal following Thursday’s debate almost argues in favor of a resignation from the presidency as well. At the very least, it places a premium on the person who may be called upon to carry out the duties of president if Joe Biden cannot exercise them.

For the Democratic Party to suggest Kamala Harris is not fit to be their nominee for president is to concede she is not fit to exercise the duties of president. That in turn means that not only has the Democratic Party installed a man who is now unable to carry out his duties, which the party only conceded when he was caught, but it also installed in the vice presidency a woman who could not carry them out either.

In short, the Democratic Party will be opening itself to the charge that they have filled the White House with two individuals incapable of leading the country.

This is compounded by the chance that Kamala Harris may well have to step up to fill in the duties of president before the election. In that event, it would create a crisis of legitimacy for a new Democratic nominee, who would somehow have to justify why Harris is somehow fit to be president now but wasn’t for the next four years.

Without a doubt, the correct political decision for the Democratic Party would have been for Joe Biden to opt against running for reelection last year. The correct decision also would likely have been not to nominate Kamala Harris for vice president. Having prioritized shortterm expediency over both the nation and the party’s long-

term interests, Democrats find themselves trapped.

Democrats could choose to persevere in forcing Biden out and repudiating Harris. They may well reason that the risks justify the rewards, and that neither Biden nor Harris can win an election, while California Governor Gavin Newsom or Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer just might, even with the damage inflicted in the process of switching candidates.

If they believe this, Democrats should pay close attention to what has happened in the United Kingdom. The British Conservative Party has had three Prime Ministers since the 2019 election, removing both Boris Johnson and, perhaps most infamously, Liz Truss after less than two months in office.

The party attempted to take credit for replacing Truss, whom they admitted had “crashed” the economy, with Rishi Sunak, a suave, professional banker. Rather than earning gratitude for having saved the country from Truss, however, the Tories find themselves blamed, correctly, for having foisted her upon the nation in the first place. After all, the Conservative Party made her

Overview - AMAC - The Association of Mature American Citizens

The Association of Mature American Citizens represents Americans 50 plus. AMAC is centered on American values, freedom of the individual, free speech, and exercise of religion, equality of opportunity, sanctity of life, rule of law, and love of family, with benefits at all levels. AMAC plays a vital role in helping build the services that will enrich the lives of America’s seniors. AMAC Action, a 501 (C)(4) advocates for issues important to AMAC’s membership on Capitol Hill and locally through grassroots activism. To Learn more, visit amac.us

Prime Minister, and if even they admit she crashed the economy, then the party is by its own admission the type of reckless entity willing to gamble with the nation’s future.

By replacing Joe Biden because he is unfit to be president, the Democrats would be admitting before the entire world that they installed an unfit man in the White House and kept him there, lying about his condition until their deception was exposed.

By bypassing Harris, meanwhile, they would be admitting they put a woman who they now believe to be unfit for the presidency a heartbeat away, serving under a man whose condition they knowingly covered up.

By going before the country expecting gratitude for having admitted the truth after it was exposed for all to see, with both individuals still in the White House, Democrats will be declaring that they see the electorate for fools. Even the most desperate and delusional strategists must comprehend where that will end in November.

20

WORD OF THE Week

Origin: early 17th century: from Latin scintillat- ‘sparkled’, from the verb scintillare, from scintilla ‘spark.’

Source: Oxford Languages

Synonyms: gleaming, invigorating, stimulating

Antonyms: dull, boring, matte

& Pieces

SUDOKU

SCINTILLATING

adjective

Pronounced: sin·tuh·lay·tuhng

Definition: sparkling or shining brightly; brilliantly and excitingly clever or skillful

Example: “The blind date went well due to common interests and scintillating conversation.”

WORD WHEEL

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

July 4, 1776: U.S. Congress proclaims the Declaration of Independence and independence from Great Britain

This Week in History

July 5, 1994: Amazon.com founded in Bellevue, Washington, by Jeff Bezos

July 6, 1945: Abbott and Costello’s film “The Naughty Nineties” released; features longest version of their “Who’s on First?” routine

K

A O E C

July 10, 1856: Renowned scientist and inventor

July 8, 1777: Independent Vermont introduces a new constitution, prohibiting slavery

July 7, 1947: Alleged and disputed Roswell, New Mexico, UFO incident

July 9, 2001: “The Office” mockumentary

created by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, starring Ricky Gervais and Martin Freeman premieres on BBC Two in the UK

Nikola Tesla is born in Smiljan, Croatia.

Burnout – Alive and Well in America’s Workplace

By Peter Chidichimo

While “burnout” may not be a classic medical term, it nonetheless affects thousands of workers, who, before their work life has concluded, will succumb to it. This is especially true for healthcare workers but can affect all occupations.

According to Psychology Today, burnout is a state of emotional, mental, and often physical exhaustion, brought on by prolonged or repeated stress. Though it is typically work related, it can also appear in other areas of life, such as parenting, caretaking, or even romantic relationships.

Sophie Nathenson, PhD., Director of the Health Management Research Center at Oregon Tech, defines workplace burnout as “chronic, occupationrelated stress, leading to emotional exhaustion and disengagement from one’s career or profession.” Whether work-related or not, severe, burnout poses a critical threat to a person’s mental and behavioral wellbeing, says Nathenson.

While burnout can affect any occupation, individuals providing ongoing and service-oriented care to others, can be emotionally draining, leading to Burnout. This could include caring for a parent or disabled child.

Although the phenomenon of burnout has been around for years, the COVID-19 Pandemic greatly contributed to its prevalence and awareness, especially among healthcare workers, but among the general population as well. To be sure, the public was unprepared to deal with the growing restrictions, death toll, uncertainty and overwhelming sense of loss and fear that abounded during and following the crisis.

“While Burnout can affect anyone, those serving in the helping professions are particularly vulnerable”, says Theresa A. McKenna, Ph.D., RN, Director of Psychology Services at St. Charles Hospital, in Port Jefferson. These so-called people-serving professions include healthcare workers, educators, and people working in social services and nonprofits. And like any other form of mental health or addiction, left unchecked, “burnout will soon become a family issue as well,” says Dr. McKenna.

While previously on the decline, the burnout rate among doctors began to spike with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to research by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the Mayo Clinic. By the end of 2021, the physician burnout rate rose to an unprecedented high. One study, published

in Mayo Clinic Proceedings, found that the prevalence of burnout among U.S. physicians was 62.8% in 2021, compared to 38.2% in 2020. The unfortunate result is that one in five physicians intends to leave their practice within two years.

“While the worst days of the COVID-19 Pandemic are behind us, there is an urgent need to attend to physicians who put everything into our nation’s response to COVID-19, often at the expense of their own wellbeing,” said Dr. Jack Resneck Jr., President of the AMA.

And it’s not just physicians that succumb to burnout, but other healthcare professions as well. According to Dr. Nathenson, and research conducted at Oregon Tech, 43% of nurses, and 79% of Respiratory Therapists, said they experienced burnout at some point during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Workplace Factors

Workplace factors such as workload, work-life balance, job autonomy, and support from leadership, are associated with an increased risk for burnout. Preexisting mental health problems, such as anxiety or depression, and lack of sleep, can also be contributing factors for burnout.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), health care workers who worked during the outbreak of COVID, and were in direct contact with patients, experienced significant burnout. This is highly significant because burnout among healthcare workers can affect the quality of care provided, leading to an increase in medical errors, and impacting patient safety. Therefore, not unlike other workplace issues that affect healthcare workers, it is necessary to design and implement in-house intervention programs which workers can access for assistance.

Burnout in any occupation can lead to reduced productivity and increased turnover. Since a high turnover rate results in higher labor costs to the employer, it makes sense for companies to adopt an overall strategy to support mental health in the workplace, whether its addiction, Burnout or something else. Larger companies typically have EAPs (Employee Assistance Programs) for workers, however most smaller companies have limited resources to address employee mental health issues, leaving workers to seek help on their own.

Strategies To Manage Burnout

Since burnout involves feelings of mental exhaustion, and a sense that one is not being effective in their work, Dr. McKenna opines “treatment for work-related burnout often starts with recognition by a manager that there is a real or potential problem.”

“Management can help by listening to workers and attempting, where possible, to institute changes.” It could be something as simple as flexible scheduling, changing an assignment, more positive reinforcement, or something else.

According to Dr. McKenna, workers experiencing Burnout should take some initiative on their own behalf. This may involve counseling, where coping strategies in the workplace can be explored. Finding a hobby to relieve stress, or spending time with friends or family can be helpful, says McKenna. The key is finding something one enjoys that fits into their schedule. Medication can prove helpful when necessary.

Healthcare workers did not have the benefit of remote work. However, in some professions, the COVID-19 Pandemic led to greater flexibility in schedules and an increase in remote work, which for some, worked to decrease stress. For others, however, remote employment led to an increase in stress, due to a sense of isolation, especially for those with a history of depression.

Burnout often involves situations in the workplace that you can’t control. But there are ways to address how you cope with stress. According to www.mayoclinic. org:

• For workplace burnout - Talk to your boss about your concerns, maybe you can work together to make changes. If your job offers an employee assistance program (EAP), look at the services offered. If things at work are not likely to change, you might need to find a job that would be a better fit for you.

• Consider a hobby or physical activity you enjoy, such as yoga, meditation, dance or tai chi. Something as simple as taking some deep breaths a few times a day, or taking a walk at lunch, can help relieve tension.

• Exercise as much as possible. Regular physical activity can help cope with stress, take your mind off work, and even lower your blood pressure.

• Practice mindfulness, such as imagery, meditation or prayer. Mindfulness is the art of being aware of what’s going on around you, without judging or reacting. This practice can help you deal with what’s happening at work.

Burnout is a prevalent mental health issue affecting all walks of life. For medical professionals, Burnout can lead to medical errors, creating safety concerns for patients. Per Dr. McKenna, burnout and depression are often related, and either one can facilitate the other. Both burnout and depression can respond well to intervention once they are recognized. Those experiencing feelings of Burnout, whether occupational or not, should seek intervention. Counselling, coping strategies, an enjoyable hobby, and regular exercise, can help to mitigate the effects of Burnout. In some cases, a job or career change may be necessary.

Councilman O’Connor Welcomes Community to Fully Renovated Byron Lake Park Pool on Opening Day

The Town of Islip is proud to announce the grand reopening of the Byron Lake Park Pool following an extensive renovation. The pool, located at 76 Bayview Drive in Oakdale, has undergone major reconstruction to enhance the overall experience for residents and visitors.

Islip Councilman James P. O’Connor (R-Great River), whose Councilmanic District 2 includes Byron Lake Park, expressed his excitement for the reopening of the pool and the positive impact it will have on the community.

“The total renovation of the Byron Lake Park Pool is a testament to the Town of Islip’s commitment to providing quality recreational facilities for our residents,” said Councilman O’Connor.

“I am thrilled to see this project come to fruition and I am excited to be here welcoming residents and families back to enjoy all that this park has to offer.”

Councilman O’Connor praised the Town of Islip Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Affairs, along with the Public Works Departments for their steadfast professionalism and expertise in completing the renovations, which

began in October of 2022. The upgrades included the demolition of the original pools, now replaced with state-of-theart facilities such as an Olympic-size pool, a splash pad, water slide, and activity area. The revamped park also saw upgrades to the septic system and the construction of a new 3-Season Restaurant.

Additionally, serving as Chairperson of the Town’s Disability Advisory Board, the Councilman stated that, “the new Olympic-size pool is handicap accessible with an apparatus to lower and raise individuals with limited mobility into the water. Improvements have also been made for ADA accessibility, providing a fun and safe environment for park visitors of all differing abilities.”

Councilman O’Connor added, “I encourage the community to come out and experience all that the newly reconstructed Byron Lake Park Pool has to offer.”

Councilman O’Connor was joined by Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip), Councilman John Lorenzo (R-West Sayville), and Councilman Mike McElwee (R-West Islip).

The Byron Lake Park Pool is open to residents of the Town of Islip and their guests. For more information on pool hours, programming, and membership options, please visit the Town of Islip website at www.islipny.gov.

Councilman Jim O’Connor (R-Great River) has represented the Second District on the Islip Town Board since 2022, previously serving on the at-

large Board since 2020. The Second District contains East Islip, Great River, Islip Terrace, North Great River, Oakdale, and parts of Bohemia, Central Islip, Hauppauge, Islandia, Islip hamlet, and West Sayville. The Second District office is located on the second floor of Town Hall at 655 Main Street in Islip and can be reached at 631-595-3905.

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Knicks Land Another Villanova Wildcat

By James Haupt

Last summer, the New York Knicks signed Donte DiVincenzo to a four-year deal sparking one of the most intriguing stories in the NBA. With this addition, the Knicks became home to three former starters from the 2016 Villanova NCAA championship roster. DiVincenzo joined star point guard Jalen Brunson and “glue guy” Josh Hart as the third Villanova Wildcat to play for New York.

The “Nova Knicks,” as they were coined, went on to have a terrific season. They surprised everyone after earning the second seed in the East and defeating the 76ers in round one of the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Sadly, the season came to an end in the second round as the Knicks fell victim to the injury bug and lost to the Indiana Pacers in Game 7.

Despite the disappointing ending, the former Wildcats all became fan favorites after having career years. Brunson earned All-NBA second team while being a legitimate MVP candidate. Hart and DiVincenzo became elite role players who could take over games at any point.

Heading into the offseason, there were many questions surrounding New York. Thankfully, these were all answered as the Knicks made the first big splash of the summer.

On Wednesday, June 26, the Knicks made a blockbuster trade for the star forward from the Brooklyn Nets, Mikal Bridges. He joins Brunson, Hart, and DiVincenzo now as the fourth former Villanova Wildcat from that 2016 roster. The “Nova Knicks” now holds the title for the most college teammates from any NCAA Championship team to take the court on the same NBA team.

By James Haupt

As great as that is, it’s not even the best part. Bridges is a terrific player who will instantly improve both the offense and defense for the Knicks. This addition genuinely makes them contenders in the Eastern Conference next season.

Last season with Brooklyn, he averaged 19.6 points, 3.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds and 1 steal per game while shooting 43.6% from the field and 37.2% from three-point range. Bridges also played all 82 games for the Nets, something he’s done every year as he now holds the active record for most consecutive games played since being drafted. He even played 83 games in the 2022-23 season when he was traded to Brooklyn.

This durability and efficiency combined with his elite offensive and defensive traits makes for a dangerous addition to a Knicks lineup that was already extremely talented. His presence alone lightens the load that Brunson had to carry when the rest of the team was injured last season.

However, trading for such a talented player usually comes at a price, and with the Knicks there were a few problems that came from this move. New York gave up five first round picks in the deal, something that may be detrimental for their future. If the Knicks don’t win a championship they absolutely lose this trade.

Another concern was the impact this trade had on key rotation players OG Anunoby and Isaiah Hartenstein who both were free agents this offseason and were expecting a major contract. Half of this issue was solved as the Knicks

NBA Draft Recap

June 26 was an exciting day for the NBA as it hosted its annual draft night for the incoming rookie class. The best young players from college basketball, the G-League Ignite, international leagues, and other leagues around the world were chosen to make their ways to the best level of professional basketball.

New York City has been home to the NBA Draft at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn every year since 2013. This was the first year that the arena didn’t host both rounds as the second round took place at ESPN’s Seaport District Studios in Manhattan. New York continues to be a poster child for the NBA.

Knicks and Nets

The hometown teams were fairly silent in this year’s draft as neither had a lottery pick. However, there were several interesting trades, late round choices, and undrafted signings that both the Knicks and Nets made waves with.

The New York Knicks came into the draft with the number 24, 25, and 38 overall picks. The first draft day move was trading pick 24 to the Oklahoma City Thunder for five future second-round picks. This provided more assets to include in trades and saved money for the team to aid in any potential signings during free agency.

The Knicks then drafted Pacome Dadiet with the 25 pick. He is a young player from France that has raw talent. The 18-yearold will certainly be a project, but New York has the luxury to play it out and potentially build up their future while still competing with the talented roster they already have.

The last deal they made was trading two second-round picks to the Portland Trail Blazers for the 34 pick, which they then used to draft former Marquette point guard Tyler Kolek. Despite being an older player in this year’s draft at 23, he is a perfect fit for New York.

Kolek was dominant in college and can provide instant bench depth for the Knicks this season. He averaged 15.3 points and 7.7 assists on 49.6% from the field and 38.8% from three in this past season with the Golden Eagles. He highlighted

the productive day that earned the Knicks the label of a 2024 draft winner.

It was a different story for the Brooklyn Nets, who was the only team without a selection in the 2024 draft. There was some speculation of making some trades to earn a spot in the first round, but nothing worked out.

The Nets did make some minor moves after the draft with their undrafted rookie signings. The top deal brought in yet another Villanova player to New York. Wildcat guard Mark Armstrong agreed to a contract with the team after averaging 8.4 points per game in his sophomore year.

Another interesting move they made was for a D-II player named KJ Jones II. It’s rare to see Division II players make the NBA, but Jones made a compelling case after averaging 26.2 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4 assists per game at Emmanuel College.

Brooklyn didn’t make any flashy moves in this year’s draft, but in their defense it was labeled as one of the weaker draft classes in recent years. The Nets will look to rebuild their roster this season and stock up on picks for future drafts.

Hometown Selection

For NBA fans from Long Island, the highlight of the draft had to be seeing Ryan Dunn selected 28 overall by the Phoenix Suns. Many labeled him as the best defensive player in the draft.

Dunn grew up in Freeport and played basketball at Long Island Lutheran High School. His brother, Justin Dunn, also played a professional sport as he was drafted into the MLB by the New York Mets.

Ryan Dunn attended the University of Virginia where he averaged 8.1 points and 6.9 rebounds this past season. His elite defense was also on display as he averaged 2.3 block per game despite only being 6’8”.

This was enough to get him drafted as he has the potential to be an all-time great defender. He hopes to represent Long Island well in the 2024-25 season.

also managed to re-sign Anunoby for five years creating one of the best wing duos in the league.

On the other hand, the Knicks were forced to give up Hartenstein who ended up being their starting center at the end of last season and into the playoffs. He recently inked a three-year deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder, ending his tenure in New York.

Despite these losses, fans should still be excited for this upcoming season. Bridges is the perfect fit for New York and a title is within reach.

“The vibes here are at an all-time high,” said Colin Manning, a Madison Square Garden Employee from Commack. “Everybody is excited for next season. I look forward to seeing him shine at the Garden this year.”

And for Villanova fans, it’ll be nice to see all four of the Wildcats step on the court in 2024. The “Nova Knicks” will certainly be one of the most entertaining teams to watch as they try to repeat the history they made in college.

History in the Making

Another highlight of the NBA draft came towards the very end. With the fifty-fifth pick, the Los Angeles Lakers selected Bronny James Jr. This arguably made the most headlines as the son of all-time great LeBron James was officially drafted into the NBA. What’s even better is the fact that the father-son duo will be playing together in L.A. It’s incredible for something like this to occur and will be exciting to watch next season. The historic news wrapped up a successful and entertaining 2024 NBA Draft.

Photos by James Haupt

Blue Point Greek Festival Delights South Shore

By Cait Crudden

The aromas of grilled souvlaki and sweet loukou mades (pictured right) filled the air over the weekend as St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church in Blue Point, hosted its annual Greek Festival. This beloved event drew crowds from near and far, eager to experience the rich culture, delicious cuisine, and festive atmosphere that defines the Blue Point Greek Festival.

From the moment visitors entered the grounds of St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church, they were greeted with the sights and sounds of Greece. The air resonated with lively Greek music, setting the stage for a celebration of heritage and community spirit. Colorful decorations adorned the festival grounds, creating a vibrant and inviting ambiance.

The church offered visitors a chance to see inside their beautifully painted walls and had a tour of the church and the meanings of the paintings on the walls to educate guests about the differences between Catholics, Protestants and Orthodox religious beliefs.

Food enthusiasts rejoiced as they indulged in a culinary journey through traditional Greek cuisine. The festival’s food offerings were a highlight, featuring classic dishes such as moussaka, spanakopita, and gyros (pictured below) prepared by talented chefs from the church community. Long lines formed at food stalls where attendees eagerly awaited their turn to savor these authentic flavors, served with a side of warm hospitality.

No Greek festival would be complete without the irresistible allure of desserts, and the Blue Point Greek Festival did not disappoint. Tables overflowed with trays of baklava (pictured right), kataifi, ekmek and other delectable pastries, each bite a sweet reminder of the rich culinary traditions passed down through generations.

Carnival-type games and activities added to the festive atmosphere, providing

entertainment for attendees of all ages.

Children delighted in classic games such as ring toss and water gun games, while adults tested their luck at raffles and enjoyed friendly competition at games of skill.

Throughout the festival, the sounds of Greek music and the rhythmic clapping of dancers filled the air. Traditional Greek dance groups performed lively routines in colorful costumes, captivating the audience with their skill and enthusiasm. Festival-goers were invited to join in the dancing afterwards, creating a joyous spectacle of unity and cultural pride.

Vendors dotted the festival grounds, offering a variety of goods ranging from handmade crafts and jewelry to imported specialty items. Attendees browsed the stalls, discovering unique treasures and souvenirs that reflected the richness of Greek culture and craftsmanship.

Community spirit was palpable throughout the event, as volunteers from St. John’s Orthodox Church worked tirelessly to ensure a memorable experience for all. Their dedication and passion were evident in every detail, from the quality of the food to the warmth of the hospitality extended to each visitor.

As the sun set on another successful Blue Point Greek Festival, attendees departed with hearts full of fond memories and bellies satisfied with delicious food. The festival not only celebrated Greek culture but also fostered a sense of unity and camaraderie among the diverse community of Long Island.

Looking ahead, organizers and attendees alike are already looking forward to next year’s festival, where they hope to continue the tradition of sharing Greek heritage and hospitality with all who attend. The Blue Point Greek Festival at St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church remains a cherished event, embodying the spirit of joy, community, and cultural pride.