Islip Messenger Archive Jan. 30, 2025

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Thursday, January 30, 2025 ~ Volume 70 ~ Issue Number 15 ~ $1.00 Credit - Matt Meduri

Romaine Taps Kevin Catalina for SCPD Commissioner

By Matt Meduri

When County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) (pictured right) was inaugurated last year, he named Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) Chief Robert Waring as acting Police Commissioner. Waring has served in that role since last year, and Executive Romaine has put forth a nominee to serve as commissioner in an official role.

Romaine has put forth SCPD Deputy Commissioner Kevin Catalina as his nominee.

Continued on page 4

Suffolk County Deputy Commissioner Catalina at the H. Lee Dennison Building on Wednesday afternoon.

Street Renaming Ceremony Sachem Honors Matthew Dezy DiStefano with Street Renaming Ceremony (Credit - Sachem Central School District)

FULL FULLSTORIES STORIESON: ON:

Suffolk Responds to $60M ICE Lawsuit Page 5

Suffolk Crime Lab to Expand Page 15

Ice Racing Returns to Lake Ronkonkoma Page 16

Article on page 10

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Thursday, January 30, 2025

Words from Assemblyman Brown on EI-Hub and Zero-Emissions Buses

Assemblyman Keith Brown (R-Northport) released statements regarding two contentious issues facing New York this year: unfunded mandates from the State requiring a zero-emission school bus program, and the demanded fixes to the state’s Early Intervention (EI) Hub. “School district superintendents, board members and educators understand the environmental goals of the transition to zero-emission school buses to reduce vehicle emissions statewide, but they also understand the financial and logistical impacts this transition will have on their schools,” said Brown. “School districts work in absolutes rather than maybes when it comes to their budgets. The challenges this transition will force on schools— challenges related to cost, electrical capacity, infrastructure, energy efficiency, weather and difficult terrain—are unpredictable, vary district by district and should not be left to each individual school to tackle without any support from the state.”

“Zero-emission school buses cost anywhere from two to four times more than traditional internal combustion engine buses. One analysis found the cost would be between $8 billion and $15.25 billion for school districts to switch from gas-powered to all-electric buses. However, this cost does not even consider infrastructure and facility upgrades associated with the switch.”

“New York state is incredibly diverse both socioeconomically and geographically, and our school districts reflect these differences. We must address growing concerns from school districts statewide so we can either re-evaluate this mandate or allow school districts to opt out if they choose to do so.”

The EI-Hub was designed to manage the Early Intervention Program (EIP) for infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities.

Brown, along with Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (R-Baiting Hollow) have called on the State Department of Health to fully investigate the State’s decision to award a contract to Public Consulting Group (PCG) to build the EI-Hub, especially in the wake of issues plaguing the program.

“The issues present in the EI-Hub must be addressed and fixed immediately to prevent any further delays in both care for young children with disabilities and payment for providers,” said Brown. “So many families statewide rely on this system to help bring their children the therapies, medical care and support they require, and PCG’s version of this system is failing New Yorkers.

I fully support my Assembly Republican colleagues as well as concerned

3 Credit - Assemblyman Keith Brown

By Matt Meduri

State News

parents and service providers in early intervention services—we must call on the Department of Health to investigate why these issues are happening and identify what can be done to fix them.”

Assemblyman Keith Brown (R-Northport) has represented the Twelfth District in the New York State Assembly since 2021. Within the Town of Huntington, the Twelfth District includes Asharoken, Centerport, Crab Meadow, East Northport, Eaton’s Neck, Halesite, Huntington Bay, Lloyd Harbor, Northport, Wincoma, and parts of Cold Spring Harbor, Commack, Dix Hills, Elwood, Fort Salonga, Greenlawn, and Huntington hamlet. Within the Town of Babylon, the district includes most of Deer Park. Within the Town of Islip, the district contains parts of Brentwood, Baywood, Edgewood, North Bay Shore, and Pine Aire.

Assemblyman Brown serves on the committees on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse; Environmental Conservation; Housing; and Judiciary.

The Twelfth District office is located at 6080 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 310, in Commack and can be reached at 631-261-4151.

Assemblywoman Giglio speaks during a press conference on the EI-Hub in Albany, Brown in attendance (Credit - Assemblyman Keith Brown)

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County News Thursday, January 30, 2025

Continued from front cover

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc. Photo Credit - Matt Meduri

Romaine Taps Kevin Catalina for SCPD Commissioner

Catalina’s résumé, according to Romaine and a bipartisan slate of Suffolk County Legislators, equips him for one of the top law enforcement positions in the county. He served as Deputy Chief and Commanding Officer of the NYPD Intelligence Bureau in the Operational and Analytical Section, which was part of twenty-six-year career in New York City. He has worked in counterterrorist operations, investigations, logistical planning, and site security, prime examples of which include coordination and security for the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and the New York City Marathon.

Catalina (pictured right) also served as the Commanding Officer of the NYPD Gang Division from 2014 to 2016. He also helped pioneer an initiative in the South Bronx that reduced shootings by 40%. He also served as Commanding Officer of the Queens Gang Squad, as well as Deputy Inspector Commanding Officer for the thirty Thirty-Second Precinct, based in Harlem.

Joining Romaine and members of law enforcement were Commissioner Waring, Deputy Commissioner Belinda Alvarez-Groneman, Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy (R-Nesconset), Suffolk County Clerk Vincent Puleo (R-Nesconset), and Suffolk County Legislators - who will have the final say in Catalina’s appointment - Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), Trish Bergin (R-East Islip), Tom Donnelly (D-Deer Park), Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches), Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport), Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst), and Minority Leader Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon).

Romaine humorously described Waring’s desire to take on the role of Commissioner as “reluctant,” but that he persuaded Waring to take the job until a permanent replacement could be found.

“We chose someone [Waring] who had thirty-nine years in the police department, our chief. I said, ‘You have the experience, you have the ability, please lead this department as acting commissioner, and when you want to go back [to serve as Chief], it’s yours,’” said Romaine.

“He has proven himself as someone that knows what police work is. He’s proven himself a leader. He has proven himself, and I have confidence in him to be my department,” said Romaine of Catalina. “And I have the good fortune to have Rob Waring going back to his original position as chief of the department. You cannot get a better leadership team.”

“It was a privilege. When I entered police work in 1986, I never thought I would have the opportunity to serve as chief and commissioner as well,” said Waring (pictured right) of serving in the acting commissioner role for the last year.

Catalina thanked his executive staff, as well as his co-deputy commissioner in Belinda Alvarez-Groneman, whom, he joked, “pretty much tells me what I have to do every day.”

“I couldn’t do it without Belinda,” said Catalina.

Catalina also thanked acting Commissioner Waring, saying, “The importance of your leadership cannot be overstated. The police department is where it is today because of your tireless effort, dedication, and everything you put into the job.

I’ve learned a tremendous amount from you over the last year…Every day I go to work, I try to learn something, and I can’t even begin to remember how many things I’ve learned over the years. So, thank you for everything you’ve done.”

Catalina said that the position of commissioner is one he “couldn’t have dreamed of,” adding that he’s been a Suffolk County resident his whole life, growing up “admiring the Suffolk County Police Department,” and joined law enforcement a “long, long time ago” with the hopes of becoming a member of Suffolk’s Finest.

“It’s been the best year of my policing career,” said Catalina. “This is the best police department in the country, probably the world. I look forward to working with the people of Suffolk County to make everybody safer, and make all of your

lives better in any way that we can.”

“We interviewed a lot of people. There’s a lot of great law enforcement talent out there, and a lot of that talent is currently in our department,” said Romaine, adding that Deputy Commissioner AlvarezGroneman will remain in her current role and acting Commissioner Waring will return to his post as Chief of Police. Later this year, the County will name nominees for Chief of Detectives and Chief of Operations, consulting with the police commissioner to fill the vacancies.

“We have put in over two hundred additional police officers, an additional five percent, and we’ll be improving the facilities. Some of our precincts could use a major overhaul, including the Marine Bureau. We’ll be looking to include those and make investments so that people can comfortably come to work in a place that’s neat, orderly, and a place they want to work.”

Romaine called the current era of law enforcement one that is “not an exciting time for criminals.”

Catalina made his pitch by using a football analogy, appropriately timed with the upcoming Super Bowl.

“You’ve got two locked down corners, you’ve got an open safety, and then you’ve got an outside linebacker who let the lead get sacked. What we’re able to do is say, ‘no one’s going to be able to throw a ball on us anymore.’ Everybody’s going to stack the box and we’re going to glide against the run, and nobody’s ever going to be able to score point goals again because of our great defense,” said Catalina. “We can change the way we allocate people.”

Catalina said his department has been successful in driving down violent crime, sharing that homicides are down 38% this year, and 60% over a four-year period.

The shooting numbers, Catalina says, echoes those statistics.

“One shooting is one shooting too many, but what we are able to do is kind of build on that success,” said Catalina.

Catalina said that roadways would be a primary focus of his administration, saying that law enforcement and residents alike feel that roadways are too dangerous.

The department is already working to expand the size of the highway unit, and Catalina says it’s likely those efforts will be furthered. He also spoke of the opioid issue as one of the department’s top priorities.

“We just can’t tolerate this in Suffolk County. I think there’s probably not one person in Suffolk County who doesn’t know somebody who has been affected by the opioid epidemic,” said Catalina.

“We’re going to continue to target the people who have funneled a lot of these opioids [to Suffolk]. We’re going to continue to work with our action groups to help people who are unfortunately addicted to opioids, and we hope to drive those numbers down even further,” said Catalina.

Catalina also mentioned working closely with town public safety personnel to address violations that can affect practically anyone, even in simple cases of quality-of-life disputes.

Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President Lou Civello issued a statement endorsing Catalina for commissioner.

“Kevin Catalina brings decades of law enforcement experience, a spirit of innovation, and unsurpassed dedication to the role of Suffolk County Police Commissioner,” said Civello. “As the former Deputy PC, he worked diligently to make Suffolk one of the safest counties in the nation earning the respect of the rank and file. We congratulate him on being appointed Police Commissioner and look forward to continuing to work with him protecting Suffolk County residents.”

Catalina will undergo a hearing before the County Legislature’s Public Safety Committee. If the committee advances his nomination to the full horseshoe, Executive Romaine will submit a certificate of necessity (CN) on Tuesday to put Catalina’s nomination before a full eighteen-member vote for his confirmation.

County News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

5

Suffolk County Challenges $60 Million Court Decision Over ICE Detentions

By Raheem Soto

In Suffolk County, a legal battle is brewing that could have far-reaching implications for local governance and immigration policy.

The issue? A $60 million court ruling tied to how the county handled detentions at the request of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

But before diving into the legal weeds, let’s take a step back and look at how we got here and what this case could mean for local governments around the country.

It all started back in 2016. The county found itself at the center of a controversial federal request. ICE sent “detainees” to Suffolk County officials, asking them to hold specific individuals—those suspected of being in the country illegally and facing criminal charges—for up to forty-eight hours beyond their scheduled release dates. These detainees allowed ICE time to take custody of the individuals for deportation. The detentions came with a price tag: about $200 per person daily.

Fast forward to 2025, and the county is now facing a court ruling that finds its actions unconstitutional. Around 650 people sued, arguing that being held without a proper warrant or judicial review violated their Fourth Amendment rights, which protect individuals from unreasonable searches and seizures.

In January 2025, U.S. District Judge William Kuntz ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.

He found that Suffolk County’s cooperation with ICE violated the U.S. Constitution and New York state law. The county now faces a hefty price tag—up to $60 million in damages and legal fees. It’s a significant blow to the county, especially considering that local officials argue they were complying with federal directives.

County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) has defended the actions of Suffolk County, insisting that the county was merely following the guidance of federal authorities.

“ICE asked us to detain people for up to 48 hours. We complied, and now we’re being sued,” Romaine said. His sentiment was echoed by County Attorney Chris Clayton, who emphasized that the county had acted within the law, with ICE issuing detainers for individuals facing legitimate charges.

The court ruling stands despite these arguments, and now Suffolk County is appealing. The stakes are high—not only for the county but also for other jurisdictions that might be watching closely. A decision that forces Suffolk to pay up could set a dangerous precedent, potentially discouraging other local governments from cooperating with ICE in the future. If the ruling is upheld, it could send shockwaves through how local law enforcement handles federal immigration requests.

At the heart of this issue is a fundamental question: Should local authorities be responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws? Some argue that local governments should not be in the business of detaining people at the request of federal agencies, especially when it could lead to constitutional violations. Legal experts point out that detaining individuals without a proper judicial review risks undermining civil liberties and due process.

Conversely, supporters of local-federal cooperation argue that working together makes communities safer. They believe deporting individuals who have committed crimes is in everyone’s best interest and that local governments should not hesitate to collaborate with federal agencies on immigration enforcement. After all, it’s not just about following the law—it’s about protecting public safety.

This case raises broader questions about how much power local governments should have regarding immigration enforcement. Should they act as agents of the federal government, assisting with deportations? Or should they stick to their primary responsibility: local law enforcement?

Suffolk County is pushing ahead with its appeal, hopeful that the court will overturn the ruling. If the county prevails, it could give other jurisdictions the confidence to continue cooperating with ICE without fearing lawsuits and financial penalties. On the flip side, if the appeal fails, it could signal a shift in how local governments handle federal immigration requests. They may have to think twice before answering ICE’s calls for help.

Beyond the financial burden, there are broader implications for public trust in local law enforcement. If local police are seen as agents of federal immigration enforcement, it could erode relationships with immigrant communities who may already be wary of law enforcement. This could lead to a breakdown in cooperation with local authorities, making communities less safe in the long run.

While the future of this case remains uncertain, one thing is clear: It’s part of

a larger conversation about the role of local governments in federal immigration policy. The $60 million ruling may seem like just a number on paper, but the decision could reshape how local law enforcement interacts with ICE for years to come.

For those of us watching this unfold, it’s hard not to draw parallels to what’s happening on the national stage regarding immigration. The tension between state and federal authority continues to play out in courtrooms across the country. This case in Suffolk County could be the tip of the iceberg, setting the stage for how future cases involving local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement will be decided.

As we wait for the appeal to be heard, it’s important to keep an eye on the bigger picture.

How this case is handled could affect Suffolk County’s bottom line and set a precedent for the entire nation. The outcome could influence whether local authorities will continue working with ICE or choose to distance themselves from federal immigration efforts altogether.

So, what’s the takeaway? It’s all about balance. Local governments must navigate the fine line between protecting constitutional rights and cooperating with federal law enforcement. Suffolk County’s appeal is in motion, and the result could shape how local governments across the country engage with immigration law moving forward.

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Editorial Thursday, January 30, 2025

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Suffolk’s Past Players Foment a Deadly Cocktail, Hold the ICE Suffolk County is yet again facing another setback due to the previous administration’s lack of coordination.

The issue lies with how Suffolk cooperated with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under then-Suffolk County Sheriff Vincent DiMarco (C) in 2016. The full story can be read on Page 5, but to summarize, the County agreed to detain illegal immigrants facing legitimate criminal charges at the federal government’s request. While the move was intended to afford ICE more time to collect individuals for deportation, it came with a price tag of nearly $200 per inmate per day.

The County now finds itself on the hook for $60 million in damages after a judge ruled in favor of 650 plaintiffs that the County violated their Fourth Amendment rights, specifically those that pertain to illegal search and seizure, as one basis is that the detainees were held for up to forty-eight hours beyond their scheduled release dates.

As of late, current Suffolk leaders have faced no shortage of consequences from the actions of former officials. The Thomas Valva case and the need to revamp the Department of Social Services (DSS), the crippling 2022 cyber attack, the $160 million for which the County is on the hook for the illegal $30 administrative fees tacked onto the now-defunct red-light camera program, and the hundreds of millions in water quality restoration initiatives that were bilked from their accounts and never went to remediation, are just a few examples.

However, we find that this oversight doesn’t reek of incompetence and corruption nearly as much as the aforementioned debacles do.

Instead, we find that this was more of a lack of coordination that is likely more the federal government’s fault than Suffolk’s.

Then-Sheriff DeMarco, who had won three terms, often cross-endorsed, took the order from the feds. DeMarco’s career was tumultuous, as his investigations of public corruption of former Conservative Party Chair and Sheriff’s Lieutenant Ed Walsh caused rifts within the Conservative Party that ultimately led to him not seeking re-election in 2017.

In June 2020, DeMarco was confirmed by the U.S. Senate to be the U.S. Marshal for the

Eastern District, with bona fides from then-Congressmen Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) and Peter King (R-Seaford), as well as then-President Donald Trump (R-FL).

The ultimate question now becomes, where do we draw the line on federal oversight and local home rule? Cooperation with the federal government, especially at their behest, is almost a non-starter in most scenarios, especially in cases of public safety and law enforcement.

Detaining and deporting illegal immigrants with significant criminal records should not be a controversial position, nor is it one that local governments should dig their heels into the ground to resist.

But the recent decision would understandably make municipalities more ambivalent of cooperating with the federal government in this particular manner, especially if it means their actions could result in a massive lawsuit for political successors to litigate. The onset of Trump’s second term has begun with mass deportations of criminal aliens across the country, meaning that while municipalities concerned with the issue might have found respite in a federal administration willing to tackle the problem, they might have second thoughts if they take a page out of Suffolk’s book.

Ultimately, we believe that then-Sheriff DeMarco and the then-officials of the County made the right move. The question then falls on what terms are grounds for unconstitutionality and who sets them.

If the federal government wants cooperation, the process will need to be spelled clearly to municipalities, especially if the feds are asking or even expecting localities to pitch in, not just as it pertains to immigration. The County and other municipalities should also contribute their own due diligence to ensure that protocol asked of them won’t get them sued for upholding laws and committing relatively minor indiscretions that could set themselves up for failure later.

Indeed, the case sets a precedent for a deadly cocktail, wherein the line between federal oversight and local control becomes unintelligibly muddied, and in cases of dangerous criminals, could result in a more literal deadly cocktail.

Pardon Me? While the second presidency of Donald Trump (R-FL) was effectively certain to bring controversy, the re-inaugurated president has evoked significant debate about his use of the presidential pardon powers relating to those convicted during the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.

Similarly, former President Joe Biden (D-DE) evoked controversy not only with sweeping pardons, but his preemptive pardons of family members and other figures, such as Dr. Anthony Fauci.

Article II, Section 2, Clause 1 of the U.S. Constitution designates the president as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed services, and stipulates that the president have power to grant reprieves and pardons for “offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.”

The pardoning power has historical roots in English law and the Supreme Court has recognized the powers as broad, namely from the 1886 decision in Ex Parte Garland, where the Court found the presidential powers to be “unlimited,” save for impeachment cases, extending to “every offense known to law,” and able to be exercised “either before legal proceedings are taken, or during their pendency, or after conviction and judgement.” The decision also found that pardons can be comprehensive or partial, allowing the president to reduce a sentence length or alter certain conditions.

That said, both Biden’s and Trump’s actions are within the scope of the Constitution and adhered to precedent set by the Supreme Court.

But those aren’t without questions.

In the case of Biden, he holds the record for the most pardons ever issued by a president, 8,064, a significant number for just a single four-year term. However, records show that about 6,500 of those pardons were likely for those incarcerated due to marijuana possession. We can’t argue with that logic.

However, Biden’s preemptive pardons of his family, particularly his son Hunter, have raised questions from the public about their possible business dealings and Biden’s relationship and proximity to such dealings. The Joe-Hunter-Ukraine connection has been relatively common knowledge since before the 2016 election. A moment emblematic of that was Biden’s public admission of engaging in a quid pro quo deal in which Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin would be terminated in order for the country to receive federal funding. Documents in 2023 revealed that Hunter Biden was hired by Ukrainian natural gas company Burisma specifically for his “political weight,” as well as the allegation of his protection of his father as Shokin was investigating Burisma at the time. Hunter was a founding board member of BHR Partners, a Chinese investment company in 2013, and later served on the board of Burisma Holdings from 2014 until the expiration of his term in April in 2019.

We recognize that Shokin’s firing was in line with bipartisan U.S. policy, as well as that of the European Union, mainly because their joint view of Shokin was that he was soft on corruption. However, the theory presented by some that Shokin’s firing would lead to increased scrutiny on Burisma is unclear. According to Reuters, Shokin was investigating the company before Hunter took a seat on the board.

The devil, we believe, is in the details of Biden’s relationship with his family’s dealings.

A 2024 report of IRS whistleblower testimonies corroborated that Joe Biden was the “big guy” to whom Hunter referred in a $5 million deal. Hunter affirmed this in a February 2024 closed-door impeachment hearing, the same hearing at which he claimed he was “high or drunk” when he wrote to a Chinese associate in 2017 that he was “sitting here with my father” shortly before $5.1 million was dumped into Biden family-linked accounts.

Our verdict: Biden’s preemptive pardons of his family don’t help the swirling suspicions around his family.

Additionally, the only other preemptive presidential pardon in history was when President Gerald Ford (R-MI) pardoned then-resigned President Richard Nixon (R-CA) for his role in the Watergate scandal. It was seen as egregious then and it should be seen as egregious now.

His preemptive pardon of Dr. Fauci we find particularly abhorrent, given the origins of

the COVID-19 Pandemic remain unclear, although many have contended that the Wuhan lab leak theory is more viable than a theory of natural development. It’s no secret that Fauci, whom many have lovingly dubbed a “politician in a lab coat,” authorized gain-offunction research at this particular lab. That stone is a massive one to leave unturned, and President Trump seems to be intent on getting to the bottom of that case, as he should.

In terms of Trump’s pardons, he has issued a total of 1,700 between his two terms - the latter of which allows that number room to grow - 1,500 of whom were pardoned for the January 6 riot.

Firstly, Trump should not have pardoned those who assaulted and attacked police officers, or otherwise caused significant harm or damage to others and property. That is, we believe, a common sense position that he should have taken. We’re disappointed he didn’t.

However, the lion’s share of those convicted on January 6 were merely in the wrong place at the wrong time, or did enter the Capitol, only to be led inside by the D.C. Capitol Police. Jacob Chansley, better known as the “QAnon Shaman,” whose buffalo-horn helmet made him perhaps the most iconic citizen of that day, claimed on Piers Morgan Uncensored that he entered the building and discussed cooperating with police to help detain or discourage those deliberately vandalizing property or causing harm.

Other now-freed convicts claim they were “political prisoners,” many of whom caused no harm or destruction and were given harsh sentences completely out of line with precedent. An applicable example is that of Rebecca Lavrenz, 72, a Colorado bed-andbreakfast proprietor who gained attention for being the “J6 praying grandma.” Prosecutors sought ten months behind bars, mainly due to the judge’s berating of her “offensive” comments she made about the criminal justice system. Judge Zia Faruqui took object to Lavrenz’s comments about calling the January 6 trials “fake trials” and slamming the D.C. jurors as biased.

Lavrenz was ultimately fined $103,000, one year of probation, the first six months of which were home confinement without Internet usage.

Fining and sentencing a retired, elderly, first-time offender for simply entering the Capitol Building peacefully is, in our opinion, a miscarriage of justice. Attention should have been dedicated to the violent offenders. Again, Trump should not have pardoned them.

Conservatives have reacted by comparing the January 6 riot to the Black Lives Matter “summer of love” during 2020, in which billions in damage were committed and dozens of lives were taken, particularly in Minneapolis. Then-Senator Kamala Harris (D-CA) took to Twitter to help bail out those convicted of crimes.

We see the resemblance, but it’s not entirely congruent. That said, it’s not “whataboutism” either, as the left posits. The idea that because a riot occurred at the Capitol must equate to inflated charges is ludicrous. We understand that these structures should be sacrosanct, and the results of that day were embarrassing and unnecessary, but the base charge should be the bottom line. D.C. prosecutors flouted that convention in pursuit of political retribution.

That’s where we can understand Trump’s pardons of many convicted that day. At this point, many have served their sentences, and we hope the move is one of resetting the dial and wiping the slate clean. We think it would be in the best interest of the country and our political discourse to do so.

We understand ideas of changes to pardon powers, but they would be difficult to quantify and enforce, especially in the event of a Justice Department gone rogue. The last line of defense would be an unconditional pardon, but setting up parameters gives bad actors guidelines with which to work a case.

The only change we could see as feasible: ending the power of preemptive pardons.

It can allow presidents to be entirely too reckless, and even though charges might not be pursuable, it still allows them to effectively tell on themselves.

If they’re willing to say the quiet part out loud, it’s the government’s job to provide scrutiny and oversight and the public’s job to thoroughly vet and research their candidates before entering a voting booth, so as to hopefully not make the same mistake again.

Op-Ed Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

By Legislator Chad Lennon

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Human Trafficking in Our Community

Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act; it is modern day slavery.

We think of recent outrages resulting in the jailing of Jeffrey Epstein and the FBI raid of Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs’ home as a far-away problem, but human trafficking has been, and continues to be a persistent scourge in our community. In fact, some people are not aware that human trafficking is a national and even global problem.

The issue is ongoing, however, and continues to be so here in Suffolk County. Sex trafficking has been a problem in New York for years, and the opioid epidemic has only exacerbated the situation. Furthermore, social media has become a breeding ground for traffickers to recruit victims.

Anyone can be at risk of human trafficking, but certain demographics are considered more at-risk than others. Drug users, those with mental health conditions, those involved with the welfare system, and those who have recently moved to a new location seem to be most at risk. Sadly, children are also more susceptible to becoming victims of human trafficking.

Human trafficking is so prevalent in our community that we had a Human Trafficking Court in our criminal justice system. Many times, the women had an “Uncle” who was in court; some women even had the same “Uncle!” The most at-risk demographic in the adult population is Suffolk County women. The traffickers are mostly drug dealers who have realized that you can sell a drug once, but you can sell a person over and over again.

Some women fall victim to their “boyfriend” who will turn them into a trafficking victim. Those looking for love could be speaking with a charismatic man who is seeking to sell the woman’s body. A woman could be out for a weekend and be a casual drug user, not an addict. However, the woman is coerced into the sex trade after a weekend of partying. The drug dealer or “boyfriend” suddenly informs the woman there is a debt and she could be locked away in a room in a hotel or a house. Some

7

recent local cases of sex trafficking include a man trafficking a woman in his home, a Sound Beach man running a trafficking ring out of his parents’ basement, and a Bloods gang member who had been trafficking women in the County for years.

Recent changes in the criminal justice system, such as “Raise the Age,” have separated the victims to those who are 18 and older, adults, and those under 18, children. With “Raise the Age,” those under 18 who are charged with a criminal offense are sent to Family Court. This is where children who are potentially victims of human trafficking are sent to Erin’s Court -- Human Trafficking Court. Erin’s Court is meant to bring assistance to children who are being trafficked and pull them out of the circumstances that have led them to be sexually trafficked.

It is important to understand this issue persists in our neighborhoods regardless of demographics. Women and children remain at risk of being trafficked. That’s why educating our community about the issue, staying vigilant and aware of the signs of an individual who may be trafficked, and knowing the resources available, will help us all put an end to this atrocious crime and its tragic consequences.

Legislator Chad Lennon (C-Rocky Point) has represented the Sixth District in the Suffolk County Legislature since 2023. The Sixth District includes East Shoreham, Miller Place, Ridge, Rocky Point, Shoreham, Sound Beach, Upton, Yaphank, and parts of Coram, Middle Island, and Mount Sinai.

Legislator Lennon is the Vice Chair of the Veterans Committee and serves on the Committees on Environment, Parks, and Agriculture; Health; Public Safety; Public Works, Transportation, and Energy; and Ways and Means.

The Sixth District office is located at 745 Route 25A, Suite D, in Rocky Point and can be reached at 631-854-1600.

Hochul’s Budget Has Some Good Ideas — from the GOP

By Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay Governor Kathy Hochul’s (D) budget presentation included a number of Assembly Minority Conference ideas, but at its core, the plan still fails to properly prioritize policies that will truly make New York more affordable. The reality of the $252 billion spending plan is that it seeks to continue New York’s tradition of “get money, spend money.” The final figure will likely be even higher. In fact, once legislative Democrats weigh in on the budget, we expect the enacted spending plan to exceed the governor’s proposal.

On the positive side, the Executive Budget rightfully proposes to cut taxes for the middle class, maintain our $21 billion reserve funding, and add to our future reserves, which will help New York navigate uncertain economic conditions. No additional spending on illegal migrants is included in this budget proposal, something nearly every New Yorker could get behind as our sanctuary status has become one of the most dangerous and most costly, self-inflicted nightmares in recent memory.

Thanks to higher-than-expected tax receipts and current spending costs coming in under budget, we have a two-year, $5.3 billion surplus. Considering this, it is extremely disappointing that leaders of the Democratic conferences have inexplicably hinted at increasing taxes. This makes little sense at a time when unaffordability and high prices continue to be a drag on families across the state. The last thing New Yorkers need is a tax hike, and there is certainly no reason for it under these conditions. The responsible thing would be to use the surplus to bring down out-year deficits that under the governor’s proposal have ballooned to $27.3 billion over the next three years.

Further, the governor’s budget includes enormous sums of money for green energy initiatives that have immense initial costs and little economic benefit on paper. It is beyond irresponsible to allocate billions upon billions of dollars without conducting a full financial impact analysis; the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which is driving the governor’s green energy machinations, didn’t include one when passed in 2019.

For these reasons, the Assembly Minority Conference has called for a statutory cap on our state spending. Most households and businesses are forced to spend within their means, so why shouldn’t New York State? Our conference believes a fiscally sound budget should emphasize holding the line on spending, investing in economic drivers like infrastructure, keeping taxes as low as possible and eliminating outstanding debt.

The Assembly Minority Conference firmly supports a budget that prioritizes spending in areas with tangible economic benefits. Our roads and bridges are the lifeblood of our state’s economy. Investing in our children is a must. I also recently signed onto a letter calling for an additional $450 million in capital support for the critically important, job-creating SUNY upstate hospital. Every economic decision we make should be made with purpose, and it’s hard to believe that will be the case with a financial plan including more than $10 billion in new spending.

The governor has talked a big game about “affordability,” but we are never going to spend our way into a lower cost of living. Our Conference will continue to fight for a responsible, effective budget as we get closer to a vote on the massive spending proposal; unfortunately, we have a long road ahead of us to get there.

If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 19 Canalview Mall, Fulton, NY 13069 and by email at barclayw@nyassembly.gov. You may also find me, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, on Facebook or Twitter at @WillABarclay.

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R-Pulaski) is the Assembly Minority Leader and has represented the 120th Assembly District since 2003. The 120th District contains most of Oswego County and parts of Jefferson and Onondaga counties.

Letter to the Editor

Every Thursday

Don’t forget to write, we’d love to hear from you!

Email us at: editor@messengerpapers.com

End or Modify Presidential Pardons Dear Editor, For many years the press (media) honored and respected the Office of President of the United States.

The President’s personal life was not reported on.

For example, Thomas Jefferson and Sally Hemmings, FDR’s White House live-in mistress, LBJ’s pool parties.

Gradually, Bill Clinton’s affair started to get media coverage.

With the emergence of Donald Trump all hell broke loose.

Trump’s sexual life became front page news.

Biden’s family life was openly questioned. The ensuing

congressional investigations, and jury trials further muddied the waters.

Meanwhile, the country stagnated both domestically and internationally. The result: Trump rewon the Presidency.

Now, in order to protect themselves, both sides are issuing pardons for deeds done in the past or may have been done and only be discovered in the future.

This presidential ability is being abused and must be ended or at least modified.

Yours truly, Paul H. Schmutz Nesconset

8

County News Thursday, January 30, 2025

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Annual Long Island Economic Survey Reveals Optimism

By Raheem Soto Long Island business leaders are optimistic and brimming with hope for the future. As highlighted in the thirtieth Annual’ Long Island Economic Survey— Outlook 2025, released by PKF O’Connor Davies in partnership with the Siena College Research Institute, this positive outlook is a beacon of light. The survey reveals that 84% of CEOs are confident in their companies’ growth prospects over the next five years. This optimism is further reflected in employment plans, with 43% of respondents intending to expand their workforce in 2025, while only 6% anticipate layoffs.

The positive outlook extends to the national economy, where confidence has risen from 28% in 2023 to 48% in 2024. Concerns about a potential recession have also diminished, with only 32% of CEOs considering it likely, down from 43% the previous year. This shift suggests a broader sense of economic stability and recovery.

Revenue growth remains a primary objective for many businesses, with 58% expecting increases and 52% aiming to boost profits. Market demand and new opportunities are key drivers of this anticipated growth. In response, companies focus on workforce development, with 43% planning to hire additional employees in 2025. This commitment to expansion underscores confidence in the region’s economic environment.

Despite the optimistic outlook, businesses face significant challenges, notably rising operating costs and housing affordability. The survey highlights concerns over increasing expenses and affordable housing availability, which impact talent attraction and retention. In Suffolk County, 60% of CEOs report that high housing costs hinder their ability to recruit and retain skilled workers.

County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) acknowledges the severity of the housing affordability issue. He emphasizes the need for immediate solutions that balance economic growth with affordable living. His stress on addressing housing costs is a call to action to ensure the region remains competitive and livable for all residents.

The survey also reveals a pressing need for changes in tax policies and increased investment in infrastructure. Businesses are not just advocating; they are urgently calling for tax reforms that would alleviate financial burdens and for enhancements to infrastructure that support economic activities. These concerns highlight the need for collaborative efforts between business leaders and policymakers to create a conducive environment for sustained growth.

Real estate remains a significant component of Long Island’s economy.

According to the survey, 69% of CEOs expect home prices to rise in 2025, a 13-point increase from the previous year. While this indicates a strong market, it also exacerbates the tension between growth and affordability, particularly for first-time homebuyers. Local leaders are urged to find ways to meet housing demand while ensuring affordability to maintain the region’s economic vitality.

The Annual Long Island Economic Survey provides valuable insights into the region’s economic landscape. While optimism prevails among business leaders, addressing rising costs, housing affordability, and infrastructure needs is crucial. Collaborative efforts between businesses, policymakers, and community leaders are essential to foster a sustainable and inclusive economic environment that benefits all residents.

LaLota Champions ‘Fix Our Forests’ Act to Combat Pine Beetle Infestation and Wildfire Threats

By Cait Crudden Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) has announced the passage of the Fix Our Forests Act in the U.S. House of Representatives, marking a significant step toward addressing the southern pine beetle infestation devastating Long Island’s Pine Barrens. The bill includes a provision introduced by LaLota that calls for a comprehensive study of the causes, effects, and potential solutions for pine beetle outbreaks in the Northeastern United States.

The Pine Barrens, a 55,000-acre nature preserve in Suffolk County, are vital for maintaining clean drinking water and supporting endangered species. However, the southern pine beetle infestation, exacerbated by recent droughts and brushfires, has caused extensive damage. According to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the destruction has created additional fuel for potential wildfires, heightening the region’s fire risk.

“The Fix Our Forests Act takes crucial steps to stop the southern pine beetle from ravaging the Pine Barrens and worsening Suffolk County’s wildfire threat. We cannot let Long Island become a tinderbox like the wildfires devastating Los Angeles,” said LaLota. “The Brookhaven Blaze of 2012 scorched 1,100 acres and forced over 1,000 families to evacuate. Protecting our forests isn’t just about conservation, it’s about keeping our communities safe. We must act now to preserve the Pine Barrens, strengthen our natural defenses, and ensure a healthier, more resilient future.”

The Fix Our Forests Act aims to reduce wildfire risks by streamlining the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) regulations, improving forest

management practices, enhancing ecological resilience, and supporting rural economies.

Central to the legislation is LaLota’s amendment, which directs the Secretary of Agriculture to conduct a detailed study of the southern pine beetle’s impact on Northeastern forests. This builds on an earlier amendment introduced by LaLota in 2024, which passed the House in November.

The study will analyze the beetle’s spread, its ecological and economic consequences, and potential solutions to mitigate the infestation. This research is expected to guide targeted efforts to protect vital habitats, including the Pine Barrens.

By addressing the dual threats of pine beetle infestations and wildfires, the Fix Our Forests Act represents a holistic approach to forest management and conservation. LaLota emphasized that protecting Long Island’s natural resources is not only an environmental priority but also a matter of public safety.

The Pine Barrens play a critical role in preserving the region’s water quality and biodiversity. However, the damage caused by the southern pine beetle has left these forests vulnerable, necessitating swift and effective intervention.

With the passage of the Fix Our Forests Act, LaLota’s efforts to safeguard Long Island’s forests and communities have taken a significant step forward.

The bill now awaits further consideration in the Senate. Meanwhile, local officials and environmental advocates continue to stress the importance of preserving the Pine Barrens for future generations.

This Week Today Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

9

Thursday, January 30, 2025

National, State, and Local Temperature Checks

By Matt Meduri

Credit - United States Senate

and restores integrity to the system,” said Menendez, tagging Donald Trump’s X account at the end of the post.

State

Governor Kathy Hochul (D-NY) seems intent on helping federal immigration officials with deportations, to an extent.

The governor’s office released a list of four specific circumstances under which the State will cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to deport criminal aliens.

Illegal immigrants convicted a statelevel crime; immigrants “suspected of an immigration crime,” such as an unofficial border crossings - those not at official ports of entry, as well as immigrants apprehended after a previous deportation; an immigration whose national status is “relevant to the investigation of a crime;” and if an immigrant is suspected of a crime with “potential multinational dimensions,” such as working with a drug cartel.

The four categories are, according to Hochul, in line with current immigration policy.

“We believe that the immigration system is broken,” said Hochul. “We do not have open borders here. That was never the intent. But I also know the great state of New York will not stand for children to be in fear in schools, or people in churches cowering in basements out of fear.”

The announcement comes off the heels of ICE raids in the Bronx. Federal officials announced the detainment of a suspect charged with kidnapping and assault.

“The state of New York should not be colluding with immigration enforcement to separate our families, harm our local communities, and our local economies,” said Murad Awawdeh, president and CEO of the New York Immigration Coalition. “That just runs counter to what New York has stood for and what New York is.”

However, what makes some immigration enforcement efforts in New York, especially in New York City, is the “sanctuary” statuses of both jurisdictions. Under a 2020 state law, federal officials are prohibited from making civil immigration arrests in state courthouses or on such properties. The same legislation prohibits federal officials from making civil immigration arrests when a defendant is arriving at or leaving the courthouse without a warrant signed by a judge.

Assemblyman Jarett Gandolfo (R-Sayville) (pictured left) sponsored Laken’s Law - named in honor of Laken Riley - last year to overturn the sanctuary state laws.

Credit -NYS Assembly

President Donald Trump’s (R-FL) second Cabinet continues to come together after the unanimous Senate confirmation of Marco Rubio (R-FL) as Secretary of State.

Governor Kristi Noem (R-SD) was confirmed as the eighth Secretary of Homeland Security in a 59-34 vote in the Senate. She received the support of seven Democrats, while six Democrats and one Republican did not vote.

Noem will oversee the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Created in the wake of the September 11 Attacks, the DHS is the third-largest Cabinet department, after Defense and Veterans Affairs. It was oversight of anti-terrorism, border security, immigration and customs, cyber security, and disaster mitigation. Noem will oversee more than 240,000 employees.

Scott Bessent (R-SC) was confirmed on Sunday as the seventy-ninth Secretary of the Treasury in a 68-29, enjoying the support from fifteen Democrats, including Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). Bessent will play a key role in helping Trump implement his gargantuan tax promises.

The Treasury Secretary is the president’s key economic advisor and is fifth in the presidential line of succession. Bessent is also the first openly gay Treasury Secretary and due to his position in the line of succession, is the highest-ranking openly gay person in American history.

Former Congressman Sean Duffy (R-WI) was easily confirmed as the twentieth Transportation Secretary.

His Tuesday vote resulted in a 7722 confirmation, with twenty-three Democrats breaking ranks to support him.

The Transportation Department has over 55,000 employees and thirteen agencies and has oversight of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), the Federal Highway Administration, and the Federal Railroad Administration, among others.

Perhaps the most controversial of Trump’s nominees, Pete Hegseth (R-TN) was confirmed as the twenty-ninth Secretary of Defense.

In a highly contentious vote, three Republicans broke ranks to oppose Hegseth’s nomination, Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), and former Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY). No Democrats supported Hegseth.

Hegseth’s confirmation ended in a rare tie-breaking vote from the vice president. Vice President J.D. Vance (R-OH) cast the final vote in Hegseth’s favor, resulting in a 51-50 confirmation.

The confirmation is Vance’s first, and so far only, tiebreaking vote in the Senate, and the second tie-breaking Cabinet confirmation vote in history. The first was made in 2017, when then-Vice President Mike Pence (R-IN) broke the tie to confirm Betsy DeVos (R-MI) as Secretary of Education.

Hegseth’s nomination drew reports of sexual misconduct, financial impropriety, spousal abuse, and alcoholism.

Hegseth served in the U.S. Army Reserve, serving from 2003 to 2014 and again from 2019 to 2021. Earning the rank of Major, he served in the Iraq War and the War in Afghanistan and earned two Bronze Stars, among other commendations.

The Department of Defense is responsible for the coordination and management of the six U.S. armed services, 1.4 million active-duty uniformed military personnel, almost 800,000 National Guard and reservist personnel, and nearly 750,000 civilian employees.

Hegseth will also likely have a hand in auditing the Pentagon, pursuant to plans of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

Finally, former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe (R-TX) was confirmed as the ninth Director of the CIA in last Thursday’s 72-26 vote, with eighteen Democrats supporting.

The CIA is charged with collecting and analyzing

national security intelligence from around the world and through covert actions. The CIA has no law enforcement mechanism, unlike the FBI, which is a domestic security department.

Nominees continue their hearing processes with respective Senate committees. Former Governor Doug Burgum (R-ND) was tapped by Trump to lead the Department of the Interior.

His nomination was advanced to the full Senate by the Energy and Natural Resources Committee in an 18-2 vote. As of Wednesday night, the Senate invoked the cloture rule to end debate and tee up Burgum for an official vote.

Meanwhile, former Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ) (pictured left) was sentenced to eleven years in prison on a conviction of conspiracy to act as a foreign agent.

This isn’t the first of Menendez’s legal troubles. In 2015, Menendez was indicted on federal corruption charges, but the jury was unable to reach a verdict. The charges were dropped in 2018, just before Menendez went into a Senate race where polling had tightened significantly in the final weeks.

However, Menendez was “severely admonished” by the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Ethics for accepting gifts from donor Salomen Melgen, who was convicted for one of the biggest Medicare fraud schemes in history. The committee found fault in Menendez for his failure to obtain committee approval, failing to disclose certain gifts, and using his political leverage to advance Melgen’s interests.

In September 2023, Menendez was once again indicted on federal corruption charges which alleged he had aided and provided sensitive information to the Egyptian government. While he resigned his chairmanship of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, he did not resign from the Senate overall. Menendez was charged last October with conspiracy to act as a foreign agent, and prosecutors alleged he had accepted bribes in exchange for promoting Egypt’s positions on geopolitical matters relevant to the region.

A superseding indictment from January 2024 alleged Menendez had behaved similarly with the government of Qatar.

In March, Menendez was indicted for obstruction of justice.

In July, he was found guilty on all charges, making him the first sitting member of Congress to be convicted of conspiracy to act as a foreign agent.

In August, he resigned from the Senate and was succeeded in the 2024 election

by Congressman Andy Kim (D-NJ).

On Wednesday evening, Menendez released a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“I am innocent and look forward to my appeal on a whole host of issues. But let me just say this whole process has been nothing but a political witch hunt, by the Justice Department’s NSD and prosecutors who are more interested in political scalps, and preparing to run for political office, like Damian Williams,” said Menendez in the statement, alleging that the Southern District of New York “embraced an FBI agent, who got caught lying on the stand, in order to make their case.”

“Welcome to the Southern District of New York, the Wild West of political prosecutions. President Trump is right. This process is political and has been corrupted to the core. I hope President Trump cleans up the cesspool

Credit: Matt Meduri

National

Local Two women were arrested for their roles in the month-long disappearance of Emmarae Gervasi, a fourteen-year-old girl who was found by her father after a lengthy search.

Suffolk County police charged Jacquelyn Comiskey, 52, and Elizabeth Hunter, 34, with sex trafficking and endangering the welfare of a child on Monday. Comiskey is alleged to have transported Gervasi to a Copiague home on January 2, the day before Gervasi was found on a boat docked at an Islip marina. Comiskey’s compensation was crack cocaine.

The arrests now bring the total number of suspects in the case to seven.

The two women plead not guilty at the Suffolk County First District Courthouse in Central Islip and their bails were set at $750,000.

Hunter is also facing a charge for promoting an obscene sex performance by a child under seventeen, to which she plead not guilty.

Hunter also faces an unrelated petit larceny charge from August 2024, to which she also plead not guilty.

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Around Town Thursday, January 30, 2025

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Sachem Honors Matthew ‘Dezy’ DiStefano with Street Renaming Ceremony

Photo credit - Sachem CSD

By Raheem Soto

It’s not every day a street gets renamed, especially to honor someone as impactful as Matthew “Dezy” DiStefano, but that’s exactly what happened Monday in Lake Ronkonkoma, where the intersection of Smith Road and Midland Boulevard was officially renamed “Matthew ‘Dezy’ DiStefano Way.” Five years after his passing, Dezy’s legacy is still alive and well, and this ceremony was a beautiful reminder of the person he was and the lasting impact he left on so many lives.

Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches) led the ceremony, and his words truly captured the essence of who Dezy was. He called the event a “lasting tribute to someone who exemplified care, compassion, and perseverance.”

“And let me tell you, that’s not just a bunch of fancy words— it’s the truth. If you knew Dezy, you knew he was the kind of person who didn’t just talk the talk but walked the walk every single day.”

For nineteen years, Dezy poured his heart into being a Special Education teacher and volleyball coach. He was the coach who believed in you, even when you didn’t believe in yourself. He had this incredible ability to make you feel like you could tackle anything. His mantra, “We Get To,” wasn’t just a catchy phrase - it was how he lived. It was his way of saying, “Yeah, life can be tough, but we’re lucky to be here, and we get to face challenges head-on.” That positivity was infectious.

Whether on the volleyball court or in the classroom, he made everyone feel like they could conquer the world.

In 2020, kidney cancer took him from us, but even in his passing, Dezy didn’t really leave. Instead, his legacy grew even stronger through the Dezy Strong Foundation, the nonprofit he founded to support cancer patients. The foundation is more than just a charity, it’s a living testament to Dezy’s resilience. It provides both emotional and financial support to those fighting cancer, just as Dezy would have wanted. His widow, Jennifer DiStefano, put it best when she spoke at the ceremony: “It’s pretty amazing that he can still live on. His legacy is still here, and it’s an incredible accomplishment.”

When you attend an event hosted by the foundation or

walk through the Sachem community, you can feel Dezy’s presence. It’s in the smiles of the people he helped, the strength of the cancer fighters, and those coming together to make a difference.

Kidney cancer is a disease that continues to affect so many families in Suffolk County. The latest stats show an ageadjusted incidence rate of 25.6 cases per 100,000 people in Suffolk County, with around 237 new cases diagnosed yearly.

That’s a lot of people facing one of the most brutal battles out there. However, organizations like the Dezy Strong Foundation are stepping up and providing support where needed most.

The foundation is doing some fantastic work. They offer support programs that help cancer patients access lifeaffirming experiences. Then there’s the Play DezyStrong Program, which encourages local teams and organizations to participate in fundraising efforts. And, of course, the annual

5K run is one of the foundation’s biggest events. I’ve been to a few of these runs, and let me tell you, there’s nothing quite like the energy. It’s not about how fast you go, it’s about coming together for a common cause and making a real difference.

If you’re wondering how to help, there are plenty of ways.

You can donate, participate in the 5K, or volunteer at one of their events. Every little bit makes a difference, and every dollar helps keep Dezy’s mission alive.

So, if you want to honor Dezy’s memory and make a tangible difference in the lives of cancer patients, consider supporting the Dezy Strong Foundation. It’s a way to strengthen his legacy of kindness, resilience, and positivity. To learn more or donate, visit www.dezystrongfoundation.org.

A Night Under the Stars to Celebrate Lunar New Year West Islip Union Free School District held a Lunar New Year celebration for its elementary-aged students on January 27 at West Islip High School.

Students and their families were invited to the West Islip High School planetarium, where they began the evening by listening to stories about constellations from around the world. Attendees then participated in a live show in the planetarium on the Chinese lunisolar calendar and star mythology. They learned why the moon plays such an important part in Chinese New Year and discovered the stars and planets they can see from their location in West Islip.

Following the show, members of the West Islip High School Science Honor Society set up activity stations featuring hands-on crafts. Students created fans, paper dragons, and lanterns to take home and enjoy.

News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

11

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Donald Trump Faces Flurry of Lawsuits Following First Week in Office

By Cait Crudden President Donald Trump (R-FL) has access. been in office for just a little over one The third legal challenge, filed by the week, yet his administration is already think tank Public Citizen, claims DOGE’s facing a wave of legal challenges. members fail to represent the interests More than half a dozen lawsuits have of ordinary Americans, violating FACA’s been filed against the president and balance requirements. his executive orders, signaling the Another significant legal battle targets contentious road ahead as Trump Trump’s executive order seeking to end moves to implement his aggressive birthright citizenship. This order directs policy agenda. federal agencies to halt the issuance The legal battles primarily focus of citizenship documents, including on three of the executive orders passports and certificates, for children Trump signed on his first day: an born in the U.S. whose parents are order to end birthright citizenship, undocumented immigrants or nonthe establishment of the Department permanent residents. of Government Efficiency (DOGE), A coalition of more than twenty and the reinstatement of “Schedule Democratic state attorneys general and F,” which allows the reclassification the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of federal employees to make them has filed a federal lawsuit to block the easier to dismiss. order, arguing it violates the Fourteenth The creation of DOGE, a Amendment, which grants citizenship to President Trump addresses the crowd at Nassau Coliseum in September (Credit - Matt Meduri) cornerstone of Trump’s campaign to all individuals born in the United States. streamline federal operations, has The lawsuit seeks an injunction to halt already triggered three lawsuits filed the enforcement of the executive order, in Washington, D.C. These lawsuits accuse the department of violating the Federal stating that it would upend decades of constitutional precedent and lead to mass Advisory Committee Act (FACA), a 1972 law that mandates transparency and public disenfranchisement. accountability for federal advisory committees.

Trump’s reinstatement of “Schedule F,” an executive order first introduced during his The first lawsuit, filed by Democracy Forward, alleges that DOGE operates as a previous term, has also drawn legal challenges. The policy allows for the reclassification “shadow organization” led by unelected billionaires, circumventing transparency rules. of tens of thousands of federal employees, effectively converting them into political Defendants named include DOGE, the White House Office of Management and Budget appointees and making them easier to fire. Critics argue this move undermines the civil (OMB), and the acting OMB director. service system’s protections and politicizes federal agencies.

The second lawsuit, brought by the public-interest group National Security These lawsuits reflect growing opposition to Trump’s early executive actions, with Counselors, names Trump, Elon Musk, and Vivek Ramaswamy (who had been tapped to state governments, advocacy groups, and public-interest organizations leading the lead DOGE but withdrew before Trump’s inauguration) as defendants. This suit argues charge. The legal disputes highlight the sharp divisions surrounding the administration’s that DOGE qualifies as a federal advisory committee and is legally required to ensure priorities and set the stage for a contentious presidency. As Trump’s agenda unfolds, balanced representation, maintain detailed minutes of meetings, and allow public more courtroom battles are likely to follow.

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School Highlights Thursday, January 30, 2025

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Hauppauge High School’s IB Diploma Alumni Share Reflections and Advice with Current Students

Alumni of Hauppauge High School’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme from the Classes of 2022 to 2024 recently returned to their alma mater for an insightful roundtable discussion, where they reflected on their experiences in the program and shared how it has influenced their academic and professional journeys.

During the roundtable, alumni discussed the personal and academic growth they experienced as part of the program, highlighting skills such as research and time management. Current students were able to ask valuable questions, including, “What are examples of skills you learned as an IB Diploma candidate that helped you personally or professionally in college?” and “What advice do you have for students in their junior and senior years?”

The roundtable gave current and past students the chance to build connections while reinforcing the value of the IB experience.

Brentwood’s East M.S. Students in Senator Martinez’s Valentine's Day Initiative to Honor Veterans

Students at East Middle School in the Brentwood School District, under the guidance of their dedicated teacher, Ms. Franceschini, recently took part in Senator Monica Martinez's (D-Brentwood) heartfelt Valentine's Day initiative to recognize the vital contributions of Veterans in the country.

As part of the project, students learned about the heroic service and sacrifices of Veterans and used this knowledge to create personalized Valentine's Day cards. These thoughtful cards are meant to express gratitude and appreciation, offering a special gesture to local veterans.

The students' heartfelt messages will be shared with veterans in the community in hopes of brightening their day and offering a small token of

thanks for their dedication and service.

“This initiative is a beautiful way to educate our students about veterans, while also honoring and appreciating them for all that they've done for us," said Ms. Franceschini. “I am so proud of our students for crafting such beautiful messages and participating in such a meaningful project. I am always grateful for opportunities that help the students learn about history, while also spreading kindness and gratitude within the community.”

Senator Martinez’s Valentine's Day initiative is part of a broader effort to engage students in community service and foster an understanding of the selfless dedication of those who have served the country.

Congratulations to West Islip High School junior Gavin Pollock and seniors Sean Koerner and Teagan McGuire, who were recently selected to the National Association for Music Education All-Eastern Honors Ensembles. This prestigious event includes the finest musicians from Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Maryland, New

Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

The festival will take place in Hartford, Connecticut, in April and will include concerts, masterclasses with professional musicians, rehearsals and opportunities to learn and network with colleges and universities.

3 West Islip Students Honored as All-Eastern Musicians

School Highlights Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Ronkonkoma Middle School Presents ‘Footloose’ Connetquot Central School District’s Ronkonkoma Middle School drama club proudly presented their production of “Footloose: Youth Edition” from January 16-18.

Based on the iconic 1980s film, “Footloose” follows Ren McCormack, a teenage boy who moves with his mother to the small town of Bomont after his father abandons them. There, Ren clashes with the town’s conservative reverend, who has banned late nights, partying, rock music and dancing after a tragic drunk driving accident shakes the town. With the help of the

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reverend’s daughter, Ariel, and Ren’s friend, Willard, Ren challenges the ban and helps the town heal from its past.

“I am incredibly proud of the cast and crew of ‘Footloose’ for their hard work and extraordinary effort in preparing this entertaining and meaningful show for our community,” said Director Jenna Micalizzi.

In addition to their performance, the students decided to donate a portion of the proceeds from the 50/50 raffle to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, supporting a cause that aligns with the show’s message.

A Stellar Senior Season for East Islip Bowling Captain Andrew Jacobsen

East Islip Saxophonist Casey Flad Performs at All-County Jazz Concert

East Islip High School senior and varsity bowling team co-captain Andrew Jacobsen is having a stellar season. His numerous accomplishments include a 223 average through 12 matches, ranking him fourth in Suffolk County; shooting five consecutive 700+ series in matches this season; placing fourth in the Jan. 15 singles and doubles tournament held on January 15 in Sayville; and being listed as one of the top 20 bowlers in the county by Newsday. Last year, Jacobsen was a member of the New York State champion Section XI All-Star team.

“Andrew has been a member of our varsity bowling team since seventh grade, and I have watched him develop into an extraordinary bowler, but more importantly, a respectful and kind person,” coach Judith Fischer said. “He is a steady and constant force on the team and leads with a quiet confidence.”

Jacobsen will attend Savannah College of Art and Design in Georgia this fall and plans to continue his bowling career.

East Islip High School saxophonist Casey Flad was recently chosen to participate in the SCMEA All-County Jazz Concert ensemble, where her talents were highlighted with a solo on Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.” Flad is currently a member of East Islip’s concert band and studies honors music theory.

“I really enjoyed SCMEA because I had an opportunity to grow in my jazz abilities,” Flad said. “We played a variety of great pieces, and I was even selected to play a solo in our last piece. I had fun learning new techniques and playing with other kids from all across Long Island who enjoy performing as much as I do.”

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Civics 101 Thursday, January 30, 2025

The Necessary Standard for American Education 2024 Election Autopsy, Part IV: The Mid-Atlantic

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

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.

By Matt Meduri We’re continuing our in-depth 2024 election autopsy, picking up where we left off on the eastern seaboard. To date, we’ve discussed results in New England, New York, and Pennsylvania. This week, we’ll look at the MidAtlantic states and the District of Columbia, a region that generated some surprising results this year.

New Jersey Perhaps the biggest surprise to many, and the biggest story in the Mid-Atlantic, is the results from the Garden State. Having last backed a Republican nominee in 1988, New Jersey has only been considered at least somewhat competitive in 2000 and 2004. Still, Al Gore (DTN) won the state comfortably in 2000, but John Kerry (D-MA) only carried it by just under seven points, mostly owing to George W. Bush’s (R-TX) handling of the September 11 attacks.

New Jersey began the 1900s as a red state, voting blue only seven times between 1900 and 1988. Bill Clinton’s (D-AR) watershed election in 1992 made New Jersey another brick in the “blue wall,” but despite consistently voting Democratic, Republicans rarely got blown out of the water here. It’s what’s called a “highfloor, low-ceiling” state for Republicans, wherein they can usually rely on about 40% of the vote, but climbing north of that can prove challenging.

That’s why Donald Trump’s (R-FL) near-six-point loss to Kamala Harris (D-CA) here was such a near-upset. Joe Biden (D-DE) had carried the state by sixteen points four years prior. Trump delivered the best Republican performance here since 1992; granted, that margin was produced in a competitive three-way race with Ross Perot (I-TX). 1988 is the nearest comparable election for the best Republican performance in the state.

Because of that statistic, New Jersey represents the second-largest shift of any state this election, a whopping ten-point swing to the right, behind only New York at 10.5%. Additionally, his 1.96 million votes is the most received by a Republican in the state’s history. The margin in New Jersey this year was closer than it was in New Mexico and Colorado, a result that would have been considered unimaginable just a few years ago, according to conventional political wisdom.

Trump managed to flip Gloucester County (Woodbury) and Morris County (Morristown), two counties he had flipped in 2016 but lost in 2020. Both delivered thin margins for Trump, historically speaking, but his Gloucester margin was the best for a Republican since 1980.

However, the bigger story is found in three other counties: Passaic (Paterson), Atlantic (Mays Landing), and Cumberland (Bridgeton) counties, the former of which backed a Republican for the first time since 1992, and the latter two accomplishing the same feat since 1988. The tectonic shift among these counties is attributed primarily to Trump’s appeal among Hispanic voters. He won ten districts in North Bergen where 70% of the population is Latino, along with large Hispanic voting blocs in Newark, Union City, and West New York.

The state also has one of the most diverse Hispanic populations in the country, with Dominican, Puerto Rican, Mexican, Ecuadorian, Venezuelan, and Cuban voters making up the largest demographics.

Trump is also the first Republican to take a majority of the Garden State’s counties since 1992 and he swung every county to the right. Moreover, New Jersey produced some of the sharpest rightward shifts anywhere in the country. Passaic’s shift of nineteen points rightward is emblematic of that. Other swings in the New YorkNewark Metro Area are dramatic for such deep-blue territory.

Amazingly, Trump won NJ-09, a Paterson-based congressional seat that went to Biden by twenty points.

The dramatic shift in one election makes it difficult to fully prognosticate just how much the playbook has been rewritten. But what makes the win more significant is that New Jersey is considered one of the least “elastic” states in the country, in that it has much less of a middle to court. Winning elections here comes to registered voter turnout, which tends to be highly partisan nowadays. Trump’s overperformance is even more historic because of that metric. The pendulum swung much farther than it should have in a state considered “inelastic.”

All eyes now turn to the 2025 gubernatorial race. The state is now poised more than it was before to flip back to the Republican column. Two-term Governor Phil Murphy (D-NJ) was narrowly re-elected in 2021, becoming the first Democratic governor of New Jersey to win reelection since 1977. Fundamentals are a big part of the gubernatorial elections here, and such elections are almost always idiosyncratic, regardless of the state.

The concurrent U.S. Senate race also gives Democrats a worrisome forecast, as popular Congressman Andy Kim (D, NJ-03) won the open seat by just nine points, despite polls showing him greatly outperforming Harris.

It marks the first time Cumberland County backed a Republican in a Senate race since 1972, and the first time for this Senate seat since 1952. This was the closest Senate race in New Jersey since 2006.

But the results of this election currently serves as perhaps the best barometer for the political shifts seen this cycle, and it’s entirely possible that New Jersey will join classic swing states in the eye of the political hurricane going forward.

Delaware One of the nation’s smallest states, Delaware used to be a valuable bellwether, a state that would vote for each general election-winner. Despite this, it still had a slight Republican lean, backing only seven Democrats from 1896 until 1988. Like New Jersey, and eleven other states, Delaware joined the “blue wall” in 1992, having not backed a Republican since 1988. The pro-business environment makes it a destination for companies more than 65% of Fortune 500 companies are incorporated in Delaware - while the state’s population is primarily working-class. It shifted heavily to the right in 2016, but went hard for native-son Biden four years later.

Harris’ 14.7% win is just within the ten-to-fifteen-point range, where parties typically identify how to start pushing the state to the competitive center or pulling it back into partisan lines. The state shifted about four points to the right, but Harris held the swingy Kent County, home to capital Dover, a bellwether county that last picked the loser of the general election in 1992.

Delaware was perhaps the first canary in the coal mine for Harris one election night, as it was the only northeastern state to not be called by all major networks

as polls closed, an occurrence not observed since 2004, when the state narrowly went to Kerry by nearly eight points.

The basket of Democratic votes in New Castle County, home to Wilmington, the state’s largest city. It shifted to Trump by 4.5%.

Interestingly, Harris slightly overperformed Biden in the rural, agrarian, and staunchly Republican Sussex County (Georgetown).

Sussex has only backed the Democratic nominee three times since 1944: the elections of 1964, 1976, and 1992. Despite Trump’s slight underperformance here - a 0.3% leftward shift - his ~55% of the vote is still in the upper-half of the best Republican performances here in the county’s history.

Trump outperformed his 2020 numbers in Kent County, but underperformed his 2016 numbers. Still, his 2024 margin is the best for a Republican since 1916, after 2016.

Despite expectations that Trump would swing significant portions of the black vote, 30%-New Castle County gave Trump one of the lowest percentages for a Republican in the county’s history.

Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (D, DE-AL) won the open seat by a much more comfortable seventeen points, while Congressmember-elect Sarah McBride (D), born Tim, won the open House seat by fifteen points to become the first openly-transgender person elected to Congress.

On paper, Delaware is a state in which Republicans should be more competitive, but its paltry three electoral votes makes for a political risk that might not be worth the reward. This is certainly a “wait-and-see” scenario.

Maryland As one of the nation’s deepest-blue states, Maryland has backed every Democrat since 1992, all by landslide margins. Harris’ 28.5% win was about four points worse than Biden’s margin, but Trump also added 2% to his own margin, meaning the state took a slightly largerthan-expected rightward shift. Trump became the first Republican to surpass one million votes in the state since Bush in 2004.

Trump flipped two counties he won in 2016 but lost in 2020: Kent (Chestertown) and Talbot (Easton). The fact that Talbot County barely shifted to the right this cycle indicates the former Republican stronghold is a swing county.

The largest rightward shift was observed in Montgomery County (Rockville), swinging almost seven points to the right. Despite this, Trump’s 21% of the vote is the third-worst Republican performance here in history, with his 2016 and 2020 totals behind it, respectively.

All but one of Maryland’s twenty-three counties swung to the right: Garrett County (Oakland), the westernmost county in the state located in the panhandle.

It has the distinction of being one of just forty counties in the country that have never backed a Democrat. Harris improved upon Biden’s margin by two points.

District of Columbia In highly partisan D.C., Trump has the distinction of having swung it to the right in 2020 and 2024. However, he, like many other Republicans, failed to eclipse 10% of the vote. He received 6.47% of the vote to Harris’ 90.28%.

The District of Columbia has the distinction of being the only jurisdiction that awards Electoral College votes in the country to have only ever backed one party. In this case, the Democrats have won every election here by landslide margins since 1964.

In short, D.C. has demonstrated no signs of partisan change. The urban federal district remains Democrats’ safest bets on the national stage.

County News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Suffolk County Crime Analysis Center to Expand

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By Raheem Soto Governor Kathy Hochul (D) and the State have pledged $1 million to expand the Suffolk County Crime Analysis Center (SCAC) located on Suffolk Police Headquarters in Yaphank.

The SCAC has been a critical part of Suffolk’s law enforcement efforts.

Nevertheless, this expansion—doubling the size and staffing of the center—is a gamechanger. The 5,000 square feet of space will now house forty-five people, which is a massive upgrade from the 1,700 square feet it had before. When dealing with crime analysis, the more space and manpower, the better.

The technology that’s now part of the SCAC include a twenty-fourfoot video wall, which will help law enforcement officers visualize crime data in real time, making it easier for them to spot crime patterns and hotspots.

But this isn’t just about having a fancy new office space or cool gadgets; this expansion is about working smarter. The SCAC will now have representatives from a variety of law enforcement agencies working together under one roof. Whether it’s the Suffolk County Police Department, the District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, the town police departments of the five eastern towns, or even Child Protective Services, everyone can share information in real time. This collaboration is key to ensuring criminals don’t slip through the cracks.

It’s all about teamwork.

Suffolk County has made strides in this reducing the crime rate. For example, last year, shooting incidents on Long Island dropped by nearly 40%, violent crime overall was down 4%, and property crimes were down 7%. It is the hope of Governor Hochul, the State, and local law enforcement and elected officials that the SCAC’s expansion can continue this trend.

The SCAC handled over 30,000 service requests last year, nearly a quarter of all requests made across New York’s crime analysis centers. That’s no small feat, and with the added capacity, the numbers will hopefully rise, and so will the effectiveness of crime prevention and resolution.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) hit the nail on the head when he said that the SCAC helps us stay safe. It’s about using the right resources to stop crime before it happens and, when it does happen, respond faster and more effectively.

However, crime doesn’t stop at the county line, and having all these agencies working together gives our police the ability to combat more significant, more complicated criminal activities, like drug trafficking, organized crime, and even human trafficking. The SCAC will be able to identify trends and spot crime hotspots in real time, which is key in today’s fastpaced world.

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon (D) called the investment in this center a “strategic investment in public safety.”

“Public safety is my number one priority — and this expansion enables law enforcement to share intelligence, analysis and support to identify hotspots and crime patterns that help them work smarter,” said Governor Hochul in a statement. “The intelligencesharing and coordination facilitated by these centers allows law enforcement agencies across the State to focus resources where they are needed most, maximizing our ability to keep New Yorkers safe.”

“The Crime Analysis Center is a great resource that brings representatives from law enforcement agencies together in one location, allowing for easy communication and shared resources,” said acting Suffolk Police Commissioner Robert Waring. “By having the technology in this center, along with analysts identifying trends and patterns, we are furthering our mission of solving and deterring crime.”

Romaine was joined at last Thursday’s revelation of the expansion by Commissioner Waring, Sheriff Toulon, State Police Troop L Major Steven Duads, Chief Assistant District Attorney Alan Bode, Shelter Island Police Chief James Reed, as well as representatives from the Suffolk County Police Chiefs Association. Executives from the police and public safety agencies across the county, as well as partners from the ATF and the FBI were also present.

“Last year alone, these centers handled nearly 131,000 requests for service from 631 law enforcement agencies; that’s a 118% increase from three years ago,” said Joe Popkin

(pictured bottom left), Executive Deputy Commissioner of the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services. “Remarkably, nearly a quarter of all of those 113,000 requests were handled by this center, the Suffolk Center.”

Suffolk’s crime center joins ten others across the state as part of the data-sharing, collaborative approach.

“The technology and all the equipment you see out here, we couldn’t have done any of this without Governor Hochul’s generosity, so thank you,” said Deputy Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina. “We have people from all over the tri-state area sitting in this room right now solving crimes, sharing intelligence between agencies and jurisdictions. We know that bad guys do not respect jurisdictional lines. They go from place-to-place committing crimes. If we’re not a step ahead of them in solving the crimes through intelligence like this, we’re never going to catch them, and we’re getting better and better at that.”

Catalina shared that the efforts were already on display that morning, as a suspect wanted for gunpoint robbery of a gas station was being pursued by police. The pursuit was called off, but the suspect was tracked with intelligence from SCAC and able to be apprehended. The benefits also extend to a decrease in high-chase pursuits, which can be dangerous for other motorists and police officers, as evidenced in the recent case of officer Brendan Gallagher.

“The message is very clear to the criminals out there. We’re watching you, we’re united, we’re cooperating, we’re working together, we’re sharing information, and if you come to Suffolk County to commit a crime, we’re going to get you,” said Executive Romaine.

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Local History Thursday, January 30, 2025

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

The Legend

By Ellyn Okvist, B.Sc.

In 1922, our own Walter “Bunny” Gubner traveled to Poughkeepsie with the intention to purchase the famous Poughkeepsie racer, “THE ISIS” and to return to Lake Ronkonkoma with a dream of The Lake Ronkonkoma Ice Boat and Yacht Club.

This first race of the LRIBYC was held on February 3, 1923. The Ronkonkoma fleet had been tuning up during the week of January 25, 1923, and the presence of “THE ISIS,” now owned by Commodore W. B. Gubner; “THE RADIO,” owned by Vice-Commodore L. C. Heilman; “ZERO,” owned by Joseph Kirk, treasurer; “BOOTLEGGER,” owned by Secretary Leo Cattanach; Dr. W. Lucas’ “FLAPPER;” and the fast scooter, “CHARLOTTE,” owned by George Cummins, were all ready for the starter’s flag.

All the ice boats except “THE ISIS” were built from plans drawn by George Buchout and assembled here after the shipment arrived by freight. The six ice boats were now representing the LRIBYC, which is still sailing today. The official banner of the club, combined red and white on a navy-blue banner, and has been displayed for 102 years. It was held up by Gubner and Heilman at this first race in 1923, the Long Island Championship.

Famous ice boat builder George Buchout, of Poughkeepsie, in his obituary was referred to as a “boat builder of note who had the distinction of constructing the fastest ice yacht in the world.” Buchout built “THE ISIS”, which Bunny Gubner purchased. Buchout also built “THE HAWK” for future President Franklin D. Roosevelt (D-NY) and “THE ICICLE” for John Roosevelt both for use on the Hudson River.

Almost 102 years later to the day, the Long Island Championship was held last weekend January 25 and 26 on our Lake. Lake Ronkonkoma is ideally located for ice racing as the fresh water of the lake freezes to a great depth and lasts much longer. After no ice conditions since the 2014 LI Championship was held here, this Saturday started out with professional ice sailors from the club. The sun was shining, the boats were prepared, and the community gave high attendance for the event.

History is held in high regard in our town, and after the no-ice conditions, many newcomers and children were not aware of the spectacle they were seeing. It is our intention to bring the sport to local eyes. Welcome back, ice boats, and the history of your races on our lake can be continued.

Note that many early first members lived on the lake shores. Gubner maintained a residence and his Evergreen Nursery on lakefront property at the west end of Ronkonkoma Lake, just south of the boat ramp.

The area is still used today as the base camp for the LRINYC. The stern steerer, “ZERO,” dates back to the original Club days and was owned by Joseph Kirk. The late George Neyssen, the next owner, sailed it for the last time in 2005 before his death in 2007. All of the original iceboats are gone except for the “ZERO,” which has been in storage with his son, George Neyssen, who is planning to undertake a complete restoration. The later ice sailor, Neyssen, kept the family tradition when sailing this past weekend in the LI Championships.

Frederick Greis, Rear Commadore of the Club, is the third generation of sailors following Dad Frederick and Grandfather Max Greis. An exciting part of the weekend was to see him and his “LEGEND OF RONKONKOMA” join the Championship. The name speaks for itself.

There are many members, iceboats, stories, and past history to discuss and they will come forward at another time. I personally stood in the middle of the Lake Saturday. What an experience.

We must wait patiently for the ice to form and be thick enough to support us and our recreational activities. Thursday, January 23, bought experts from the Club to test the ice for possible use by the iceboats. Scientific testing of course followed, and the experience of the sailors gave way for final approval to open the Lake for use.

The process of lake freezing is far from simple, dictated by a complex interplay of meteorological, geographical, and physical factors. Understanding how quickly a lake freezes requires a deep dive into these influencing factors, revealing the intricate dance between heat loss, water density, and atmospheric conditions.

1. Temperature and Air Exposure 2. Water Depth and Volume 3. Water Movement and Mixing 4. Water Clarity and Color 5. Dissolved Substances 6. Geothermal Heat 7. Initial Cooling and Mixing 8. Formation of Anchor Ice 9. Skim Ice and Ice Growth 10. Final Freeze-Over

An ice boat from the 1920s

Eventually, given prolonged sub-freezing conditions, the entire lake surface will solidify with full ice coverage. However, even after the lake has fully frozen, the ice will continue to grow in thickness, although at a slower rate, as the heat from the lake has to pass through the insulating layer of ice above.

The comradery in the Lake Ronkonkoma Ice Boat and Yacht Club is priceless. Many are third generation sailors; the fourth and fifth generation of original Club members were there; and perspective new members are ready to join the 102-year saga that was built and maintained.

The iceboats are back! Please take time to stop and watch this majestic sport and enjoy what our town has had to offer since 1923.

Lake Ronkonkoma Ice Boat and Great South Bay Scooter, 1923

THE LEGEND, Fred Greis and Ellyn Okvist

THE LAKE RONKONKOMA HERITAGE ASSOCIATION

Preparation Line Up

4 Cherry Street Lake Ronkonkoma 631-831-1670 thelakeheritage@aol.com

News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

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Tesla Science Center Awarded $500,000 Grant from NYS Parks to Support Laboratory Restoration Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe in East Shoreham has been awarded $500,000 from New York State Parks to support the restoration of Nikola Tesla’s only known surviving laboratory in the world. This crucial funding provides a much-needed boost to recovery and rebuilding efforts following a devastating fire in November 2023.

The grant comes at a pivotal moment as Tesla Science Center launches a renewed push for its Capital Campaign to restore the laboratory and complete its transformation into a world-class educational and innovation hub. The total cost of the project, originally estimated at $20 million, has risen to $24 million due to additional fire damage and adjustments for inflation. To date, $14 million has been raised toward this goal.

“This grant is a tremendous step forward in our recovery journey,” said Marc Alessi, Executive Director of Tesla Science Center. “We are deeply grateful to New York State Parks for their support in preserving this iconic site and advancing our vision for its future.”

Update on the Fire Investigation and Insurance Dispute The 2023 fire caused extensive damage to the historic 10,000-square-foot laboratory, destroying critical features of the 1901 building, including its roof, chimney, and iconic cupola, with damages exceeding $3 million. Nearly a year after the blaze, its official cause remains undetermined, though evidence points to contractor error.

Sparks from contractors using blowtorches likely ignited the fire, according to Alessi.

While the nonprofit organization’s insurance company has issued a payout, it falls short of covering the damage. Tesla Science Center has removed the contractor responsible for the work and is actively appealing the contractor’s insurance denial of liability.

Steps Toward Recovery and Restoration Despite these challenges, Tesla Science Center is making steady progress in restoring the site and advancing its mission. Immediate priorities include clearing debris, assessing the building’s structural integrity, and protecting it from further weather-related damage. The $500,000 grant from New York State Parks provides

critical support for these efforts, allowing the organization to stabilize the site and preserve its historic significance for the local community.

Tesla Science Center is also working closely with the Town of Brookhaven to secure permits for the new welcome center, which will include exhibit space and a classroom.

Construction is expected to begin in 2025, offering new educational opportunities for students across Long Island.

Join Us in Securing Tesla’s Legacy Once fully restored, the 16-acre Tesla Science Center campus will become a global hub for innovation, education, and imaginative thinking, featuring a museum, science labs, and a business incubator. The restoration is expected to bring significant economic benefits to Long Island’s North Shore, creating new opportunities for local businesses and revitalizing the region’s tourism sector. The site’s transformation into a global hub for science, innovation, and education will benefit nearby restaurants, hotels, shops, and service providers, while also generating jobs, attracting new investment, and enhancing the region’s visibility as a premier destination for cultural and educational tourism. By preserving this iconic landmark and sharing Tesla’s legacy with the world, the project will foster a stronger, more vibrant local community while inspiring future generations to pursue advancements in science and technology.

“Preserving Tesla’s legacy right here in Shoreham is not only an opportunity to inspire future generations, but also a way to drive economic growth and strengthen our community,” said Alessi. “We invite Long Islanders to join us in this effort to restore a global treasure.”

Individuals, organizations, and communities can support Tesla Science Center by donating to the Capital Campaign, attending upcoming fundraising events, and spreading awareness of this important initiative.

To join the Capital Campaign or learn more about Tesla Science Center’s recovery efforts, visit www.teslasciencecenter.org.

Veteran News

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Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

Operation VEST Hold Annual 2.2 Mile Run and Polar Plunge

By Joe Cuminale

Bay Shore Fire Department Dive Team saving the day.

Twenty-two-plus-one push-ups to remember those that have fallen.

Credit - Joe Cuminale

On Saturday morning, a Veteran’s organization known as Operation VEST (Veterans Ending Suicide Together) held their fourth annual 22-degree 2.2-mile run-walkpolar plunge. This event is held to bring about awareness of Veteran suicides, the average of which is twenty-two Veterans or more each day.

The event began with all those participating gathering to honor our fallen Veterans with our National Anthem, a few announcements about the events history, followed by everyone - including yours truly - doing twenty-two-plus-one pushups to remember those that have fallen (22 non-active duty + 1 active Suffolk Legislator Chad Lennon (C-Rocky Point) duty). “Taps” was played before takes the polar plunge. heading over the starting line for the 2.2-mile run-walk.

At first, the organizers had announced the cancellation of the polar plunge portion of the event, due to fact that the Great South Bay was frozen. But while everyone was out running, the Bay Shore Fire Department Dive Team came to the rescue and began breaking up enough of a space through the ice for the plunge to take place. As the runners/walkers began crossing the finish line, many began heading towards the beach and began cheering the dive team members for breaking through the ice.

People of all ages gathered on the beach waiting for the go-ahead to enter the water from the firefighters and the plunge began, with cheers coming from those gathered to watch. While three members of the dive team watched over those entering the water, two other members of the dive team demonstrated the team’s ice rescue methods for all those gathered to witness.

For more information about Operation VEST, please contact my friend and co-founder, Jenny Mortenson Hespeler at 631-671-4959 or jenny@operationvest.org. Thank you to everyone that made this year’s event a success!

AMAC Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Overview - AMAC The Association of Mature American Citizens

The Chinese Sputnik

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

By Ben Shapiro | AMAC Outside Contributor

This week, China shocked the West with its announcement of DeepSeek, an artificial intelligence network capable of competing with OpenAI, Meta and Google.

The fact that China was able to develop DeepSeek without a heavy supply of sophisticated microchips from Nvidia sent Nvidia stock spiraling, along with the other major tech companies in the United States: China seems to have cracked the code to bringing down the cost of AI development radically, in the process ending-around sanctions against their access to those microchips. In the words of former Intel Chief Executive Pat Gelsinger, “Engineering is about constraints. The Chinese engineers had limited resources, and they had to find creative solutions.”

Now, it remains to be seen just how revolutionary DeepSeek’s development was. China has a bad habit of both stealing intellectual property and lying about its own technological development.

Suffice it to say, however, that China has demonstrated once again that America exists in a competitive world — a world of enemies determined to outcompete the United States.

Some, like investor Marc Andreessen, have likened China’s announcement to the Soviet announcement of the launch of the satellite Sputnik in 1957, a development that shocked the American people out of their post-war arrogance and led to the creation of the American space program.

It’s time for the U.S. to take the initiative again.

And that means it is time for America to unshackle its innovators.

This is something President Donald Trump understands well. He called DeepSeek a “wake-up” call for American industry, explaining “we need to be laserfocused on competing.” He added, “If you could do it cheaper, if you could do it (for) less (and) get to the same end result. I think that’s a good thing for us.”

He is not wrong. Lowering the barrier to entry for AI means wider innovation, which means faster development overall.

But such development could be at odds with Trump’s self-stated goal of reshoring actual manufacturing to the United States: The same day he noted DeepSeek’s gamechanging revelation, he announced that the United States would “be placing tariffs on foreign production of computer chips, semiconductors … to return production of these essential goods to the United States of America.” The goal would be the forced relocation of factories from countries like Taiwan back inside America’s borders.

The problem with this, of course, is that such relocation is both expensive and burdensome, adding time and cash to the list of hurdles American companies must clear to compete with DeepSeek and China. It would be wonderful if more semiconductors were produced in America.

It is also years off. Giving up any competitive advantage — and Taiwan’s opposition to

19

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

Thursday, January 30, 2025

China means that it is oriented toward the U.S., thus granting us a competitive advantage — is a mistake.

One of the great advantages of the United States during the Cold War era was the Soviets’ addiction to economic autarky. The United States’ economic growth during the post-World War II era was attributable both to its relatively undamaged status during WWII and to its far more robust network of trade and security alliances, ranging from West Germany to Britain to Canada to Japan. If the United States wishes to outcompete China in AI — and everything else — it would be counterproductive to threaten the very

relationships that grant us inherent advantage.

No doubt Trump knows that. TSMC, the Taiwanese semiconductor manufacturer that leads the world in production of sophisticated microchips, has already vowed tens of billions of dollars in investment in the United States. Trump is utilitarian in his approach; he has no interest in losing the AI race to China over tariffs or anything else, and may well be using the threat of tariffs to pry concessions from companies like TSMC. Whatever the case, America cannot afford to lose the AI race. China has fired the first shot in the AI battle. Now it’s time for America to do what we do best: win the war.

BRINGING BROADWAY TO MAIN STREET O N

S T A G E

FEATURING THE MUSIC OF

ELVIS PRESLEY

Jan 16–Mar 2, 2025 U P

N E X T

the musical

Mar 13– Apr 27, 2025

May 15– Jun 29, 2025

Jul 10– Aug 24, 2025

20 WORD OF THE

Week

Bits & Pieces Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 30, 2025

SUDOKU

AVANT GARDE noun Pronounced: ah·vahnt·gard

Etymology: late Middle English (denoting the vanguard of an army): from French, literally ‘vanguard’. Current senses date from the early 20th century.

Definition: new and unusual or experimental ideas, especially in the arts, or the people introducing them Example: The Russian composers were known for their contributions of unique, avant garde styles that shaped composition going into the Twentieth Century.”

Synonyms: innovative, experimental, ahead of the times

Antonyms: traditional, conventional, established Source: Oxford Languages

See bottom left for the answers (please don’t cheat!)

This Week in History February 3, 1959:

“The Day the Music Died” plane crash kills musicians Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, J. P. Richardson (aka The Big Bopper), and the pilot near Clear Lake, Iowa.

WORD WHEEL

February 5, 1969:

United States population reaches 200 million.

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T A

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January 31, 2015:

Seventeen-year-old Lydia Ko of New Zealand becomes the youngest golfer in men’s or women’s golf history to be ranked No. 1 in the world.

R

January 30, 1965:

February 1, 1893:

I

H

Thomas Edison completes world’s first movie studio at West Orange, New Jersey.

February 4, 2004:

See how many words you can create.

Must have center letter in word and can use letters more than once.

4 letter word minimum.

Mark Zuckerberg launches Facebook from his Harvard dormitory room.

State funeral for Winston Churchill at St Paul’s Cathedral in London; at the time, the world’s largestever state funeral.

February 2, 1848: Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo ends the Mexican–American War. Mexico loses 55% of its territory to the U.S., including California, Nevada and Utah in exchange for $15 million.

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Thursday, January 30, 2025

21

When God Came to Class Image: freepik

By PJ Balzer It was a cold winter evening, not as cold as it’s been the past few weeks, but cold if you happen to find yourself sleeping alone on a concrete floor in a train station. At the time, my wife and I were running a food pantry in a small store front church directly across the street from the Mastic-Shirley train station. This specific area is known to have a lot of foot traffic, especially when it gets dark. It’s also known to have pretty large homeless encampments tucked away in the woods. Some are Veterans, others are immigrants, and everyone else in between.

We weren’t having our food pantry that evening though. We were having what we’d call new believers Bible study. It’s a very simple combing through of the Scriptures for people who are new to the Christian faith. In this type of study, there’s room for people to ask questions, converse about new experiences pertaining to the faith, and room for plenty of encouragement.

My wife and I happened to be teaching the class that evening. There were about ten of us sitting around a table with Bibles open to Matthew 25, specifically where it reads, “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you, a stranger, and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

Like a scene out of a movie, with timing that could only be accredited to divine intervention, the door of that small storefront church flung open. A cold winter breeze was the first one that walked in. The second was a gentleman that was in complete and utter shambles. He was absolutely filthy and smelled of complete homelessness.

That’s usually a mix of sweat and alcohol, undergarments, that haven’t been washed or changed in days – and hopelessness. Human hopelessness has a distinct smell too, in case you weren’t aware.

He didn’t say a word but just came to sit down in one of the churches chairs behind the table we had set up for our study. Everyone in the church seemed to freeze in body language and position that that screamed of nervousness. The gentleman proceeded to take his shoes off and make himself at home. He sat there waiting to listen to us continue our Bible study, while everyone else stared at my wife and myself for direction.

Each pair of eyes that glared at me said clearly, “Who is going to ask him to leave so we can continue our study?” Strangely enough we were just about to read the verse that says, “Whatever you do to the least of these, you do to Me.” The gentleman’s socks were dirty and torn to the place of being almost unrecognizable as actual socks. That’s probably where a good portion of the smell was coming from that now had permeated the small church. I got up abruptly without saying anything and went into the back room where the pantry food and other items were. Thankfully, we had some donated clothing back there along with much-needed new undergarments.

I found items in his size and brought a full new outfit to the front including socks, underwear, a toothbrush with toothpaste and soap. I placed the bag on the chair next to him as the Bible study attendees watched intently at the Bible study lesson that was unfolding. The lesson in part was that God attended our class that evening and I wanted to make sure He felt both welcomed and like our guest of the highest honor.

He took his bag of items and went into the church’s bathroom, again without saying anything. He was in the bathroom for twenty minutes as the toilet flushed twice, the water was running continuously as he was obviously doing his best to shower in the sink. In the meantime, the people who were there for Bible study collectively whispered, “What should we do now?”

“Let’s close our Bibles for tonight and have dinner together. We can get some pizza and soda from next door and share a meal with our guest. I think he’d be happy with some fresh pizza right out of the oven and especially to have other people to eat dinner with.”

That’s exactly what we did, and he seemed really happy. He did end up talking a little and telling us that life had taken a few very unexpected turns a few years ago and he found himself living alone in a homeless shelter. The shelter system was too chaotic and “dog eat dog” for him so he decided to try living outside instead, where he had been living for a few years now.

God takes on many disguises and walks amongst us. He’s the gentleman washing himself in the sink at the Ronkonkoma train station as you’re rushing off to the Knicks game at Madison Square Garden. He’s the lady standing at the bus stop with her three-month-old wrapped in blankets in her arms rocking back and forth to keep warm. He’s the women completely stripped of the little dignity she had left as she’s unkindly told her food stamp card declined in front of her four children and a line of disgruntled customers watching. He’s the guy who walks into the church smelling like diabetic urine right in the middle of our nice and neat group Bible study. He takes on disguises that many would call the bottom of society. He disguises Himself as people that most want gone, out of sight, out of mind and out of here as fast as possible.

We never saw that gentleman again after that night. That was the one and only time.

I’m still convinced that Jesus decided to attend our class that evening. Maybe it was a test for me. Maybe He wanted to give the new believers their own visual class of actions, and not words alone. Maybe that gentleman passed on shortly after that and he needed to hear the Good News of the Gospel, which he did that evening. Whatever the reason or many reasons were for that church door flinging open that night, I can say with certainty that God showed up to our class.

“In total reality, he comes in the form of the beggar, of the dissolute human child in ragged clothes, asking for help. He confronts you in every person that you meet.

As long as there are people, Christ will walk the earth as your neighbor, as the one through whom God calls you, speaks to you, makes demands on you.”

- Dietrich Bonhoeffer

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Theatre & the Arts Thursday, January 30, 2025

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Winter Heats Up with Theatre Three’s

‘Crossing Delancey’

By Cindi Sansone-Braff

Photos courtesy of Peter Lanscombe, Theatre Three Productions, Inc.

Dedicated to Melissa Giordano, a beloved theatre critic. May her memory be a blessing.

Are you feeling bogged down by the winter blues? Could you use a good laugh? Then Theatre Three’s heartwarming production of Susan Sandler’s “Crossing Delancey” is just what the doctor ordered.

“Crossing Delancey” opened offBroadway on April 25, 1985, at the Jewish Repertory Theatre. In 1988, Susan Sandler wrote the screenplay for the film adaptation of this play, directed by Joan Micklin Silver and starred Amy Irving, Peter Riegert, Reizl Bozyk, Sylvia Miles, and Jeroen Krabbé.

This well-crafted two-act romantic comedy takes place in a bustling Lower East Side neighborhood where hundreds of thousands of Jewish immigrants settled during the late Nineteenth and early Twentieth centuries. Set in the mid-1980s, as soon as the play opens, we know love is clearly

in the air on Delancey Street! The plot revolves around the loving relationship between Isabelle “Izzy” Grossman, an intelligent, independent, modern-thinking woman, and her feisty, funny, and finagling old-school Bubbie.

Izzy, content to live alone in her rent-controlled Upper West Side apartment, works in a bookstore while dreaming of falling in love with a well-known local author, Tyler. Izzy is mortified when Bubbie hires Hannah, a marriage broker, to set her up with Sam, the polite, pleasant, and patient neighborhood pickle vendor with the heart and soul of a poet.

Under Colleen Rebecca Britt’s brilliant direction, the electrifying onstage chemistry among the cast members was one of the strong points of this production.

The small knit ensemble includes four of my favorite Theatre Three Veterans: Michelle LaBozzetta as Izzy, Ginger Dalton as Bubbie, Antoine Jones as Tyler, and Steven Uihlein as Sam. I was thrilled to see one of Hampton’s most beloved actors, Catherine Maloney, make her Theatre Three debut as the in-your-face but stay-out-ofmy-way matchmaker Hannah Mandelbaum.

Michelle LaBozzetta was perfectly cast as the play’s protagonist, Izzy, a relatable and likable character who undergoes an internal and external metamorphosis upon being gifted a hat. Right before our eyes, LaBozzetta’s demeanor radically changes as Izzy lets go of her child-like fantasy of romance to embrace a mature and real-life love. LaBozzetta looked fabulous in the 80s outfits designed by Jason Allyn, and she rocked the sexy party dress with the glittering shoulder sequin appliques.

With his easy smile, soft-spoken voice, and open body language, Steven Uihlein delivered a memorable performance as Sam, the “mensch.” In Yiddish, a mensch is a person of integrity who is kind, responsible, thoughtful, and giving. Sam is a stand-up guy with the admirable traits one longs for in a romantic partner, and Bubbie, Hannah, and Sam are determined to get Izzy to recognize this.

Ginger Dalton delivered an award-worthy performance as Bubbie. Dalton is a natural-born physical comic who has mastered the art of delivering funny lines with rapid-fire precision. The audience loved Bubbie’s colorful tales about her youth and enjoyed

the theatrical way she sang her traditional Yiddish songs.

Catherine Maloney, a charismatic performer, commanded the stage as Hannah, the crass, pushy, demanding marriage broker. Jason Allyn had a field day with Hannah’s costumes, donning her in attentiongrabbing outfits like a leopard coat and a heavily sequined jacket.

Antoine Jones gave a tour de force performance as the charming, egotistical author who lacks a sensitivity chip. Although Izzy is infatuated with him, Tyler can’t even remember her name, no matter how often he sees her.

With Valentine’s Day and Singles Awareness Day right around the corner, “Crossing Delancey” is chockful of meaningful themes and messages about love and life, such as recognizing the difference between illusion and reality. Listen to the wisdom of the elders. Let go of your preconceived notions about others. Step out of your comfort zone. Your so-called dream person might turn out to be your worst nightmare. What you’re looking for may be in your own backyard. How has dating your type worked for you so far? Perhaps the overriding message in this romantic comedy is simply this: stop typecasting people.

Who says a pickleman can’t be a poet and prince charming, too?

Randall Parsons’s innovative set allows for the rapid scene changes called for in the script. One side of the stage houses the quaint bookshop and the other half Bubbie’s modest Lower East Side apartment. A few well-chosen props, like a bench, transport us to a city street, and a small table takes us to an intimate New York City restaurant.

With a rom-com that features a matchmaker, a mensh, a bubbie, and a beauty, what’s not to like?

So, go already to catch this familyfriendly, modern-day fairytale that runs through February 9, 2025. The tickets aren’t going to buy themselves! Call the box office at 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com.

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

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Thursday, January 30, 2025

23

En Garde: Ward Melville Girls Fencing Keeps Winning

By Ashley Pavlakis

Fencing was a popular sport in Egypt as early as the Fourteenth century. The sport has grown since then, modernizing over time, and has since made its way to Long Island. A handful of high schools on Long Island have picked up the sport as part of their athletic programs. The girls at Ward Melville High School have a knack for the combat sport.

The Patriots are led by head coach Ginny Siskidis, a fifth-year head coach. Siskidis is joined on the sidelines by assistant coach Louise Williams. The bench boss graduated from Ward Melville in 2009, with the title of four-time county champion fencer under her belt. She went on to fence collegiately at Fairleigh Dickinson University before transitioning to the coaching side of the sport.

“It’s extremely meaningful in a couple of ways. We had an amazing experience, my sister [Joanne] is the coach of the boys’ team, so being back there with her is a fantastic experience.

Being able to keep the experience alive for the new athletes that come into the sport and passing on the passion to new faces and new athletes is absolutely wonderful,” said Siskidis.

The Patriots are part of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association and compete in League II. Ward Melville is one of ten teams on Long Island at the high school level.

Most notably, the Patriots are 17-time county champions and 12-time Long Island champions.

The Patriots finished the regular season with a 13-0-0 record.

On the piste [playing area], the Patriots compete in three disciplines of fencing; foil, sabre, and épée fencing. The three disciplines are different in that of the type of sword they wield and how one can

strike their opponent to earn points. The first to 15 points is declared the winner of the bout.

“Not a lot of people know about the sport, people come in with hesitation. We try to make it as open and honest as possible, keeping that going has been a fabulous experience. Seeing the joy that these kids have when they’re on the team and the overall experience that they’re having means that we’re keeping alive the traditions and everything that our coaches passed to us,” said Siskidis.

The Patriots have nine seniors on the squad, and Siskidis joyfully spoke about what they have meant to this team.

“It’s a little bit bittersweet; they’re going onto their next adventure in life. I’m super proud of them in that, and obviously, we’re losing them so that’s tough. Watching them come from knowing nothing about fencing, most of them at least, and involving into these spectacular athletes to where we have a 13-0 season with most of them being starters,” said Siskidis. “The ones that stay, which we are lucky enough to have most of our kids stay and continue to come back, have a true passion for the sport which brings the team together as a whole because they all can share that together.”

The Ward Melville Patriots girls fencing team is looking to continue its rich history on the piste as it aims for another championship.

“Our mindset is to keep pushing forward with the same energy that we’ve been going with for the whole season. We took counties last year, obviously we’d love to take counties again this year and possibly Long Island [championship] just to kind of round it out completely,” Siskidis told The Messenger.

Mt. Sinai Boys Basketball: The Mustangs Are In It To Win It

By Ashley Pavlakis

The Mt. Sinai Varsity boys’ basketball team has plenty to be excited about this season.

Inside the gym, the Mustangs are putting in work on the court and it shows in their record for the 2024-25 season.

The Mt. Sinai Mustangs are members of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and compete in League VI. Currently, the Mustangs have put up a record of 13-2-0 with under five games left to play in the regular season.

The squad is led by head coach Ryan McNeely, a twelfth-year head coach for the varsity team. McNeely spent eleven years coaching at Centereach before joining the Mustang family.

Earlier this month, McNeely notched his 200th career varsity win. 130 of those wins are with the Mustangs.

Courtside, McNeely is joined by assistant coaches Tim Barbuscia and Harrison Bak. “It was a cool milestone, mostly because my father was a varsity coach for a long time, and he had over 200 wins. I think he kind of wanted me to get to that same milestone, kind of like a cool father-son both had 200 wins,” said McNeely of his supportive father.

Prior to the 2024-25 season, Newsday put out their Top 100 players list and Mt.Sinai saw two of their players make the cut. Senior guard Dominic Pennzello and junior forward Brian Vales were given the honors.

“Our main senior starter, Dominic Pennzello, has been a starter on varsity since ninth grade. He brings a lot of experience and scoring to the team. He scored

his 1,000th career point last year… He’ll probably be the all-time leading scorer in Mt. Sinai boys basketball history,” said McNeely.

The Mustangs have encountered two losses this season, one against William Floyd and the other against Smithtown East. Eight of their thirteen wins this season have come when they scored seventy-plus points, with the remaining wins being achieved with sixty-plus.

Sharp shooting and the ability to maintain the boy well is a large part of what it takes to

win in basketball.

“Pretty excited, we’re 13-2 overall and our two losses were non-league games against two of the better teams in the county. One of our losses was Smithtown East, who’s having a great season. Our other loss was William Floyd, who’s rated one of the top teams in the AAA. They’re both schools that are larger than us, so we try to put ourselves in a playoff-type environment to get us prepared for the postseason,” said McNeely.

“I’m just trying to keep the guys focused right now. We’re focusing on the small things, the little details. Those are the things that are going to help us win the bigger games. We’ve already beaten everybody the first time through the league, so now we’re going through everybody again. I just don’t want them going into each game thinking ‘We already beat these guys. We’re good, we’ll beat them again’. I just don’t want them to get complacent,” said McNeely.

As the regular season is winding down, the playoffs are coming into view. For the Mustangs, they’re ready to chase a title.

“We’re playing well, we’re undefeated in the league right now at 9-0-0. We’re trying to go and win a league championship. There’s only been one league championship in school history, which was like two years ago,” McNeely told The Messenger.

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