Islip Messenger Archive Apr. 24, 2025 by The Messenger Papers, Inc.

Tierney, Officials Call for Stronger State Drug Laws

By Matt Meduri

As Albany’s Executive Budget negotiations drag on, several officials and families find themselves in an eerily similar position year after year.

Indeed, District Attorney Ray Tierney (R), officials from varying levels of government, and, most importantly, the families and friends of those who have been killed at the hands of impaired drivers, make their case yet again to the State Legislature to include road safety and criminal justice provisions into this year’s budget.

“On average, in Suffolk County, there’s 150 fatalities a year due to road accidents. A lot of that comes from distracted or drugged driving,” said County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches). “Recent statistics say that a third of the accidents that occur as a result of a drunk or distracted driver.”

“When did the State lose its way?” asked Romaine of the lack of examination of the laws the Legislature passes.

Continued on page 4

DawnMarie Kuhn Kicks Off Campaign for Islip Town Council

By Matt Meduri

In 2021, the Town of Islip switched from its at-large method of electing members of its Town Board to the councilmanic district method, one in which each council member represents a district of set geography. The new election method debuted with the First and Second Council districts on the ballot, followed by the Third and Fourth districts’ debut in 2023.

Incumbent Second District Councilman Jim O’Connor (R-Great River) was first elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2021. O’Connor recently announced his departure from the Town Board after this year to seek an election to a judicial position.

Continued on page 12

DawnMarie Kuhn (R-Bohemia) (Credit - Matt Meduri)

Tierney calls for stricter drug and driving laws from Albany (Credit - Matt Meduri)

PUBLISHER

Madison

By Ashley Pavlakis

Sayville Varsity Girls’ Golf: Teeing off with Eyes on the Green

Golf season has returned, get your clubs ready in hopes of a better summer on the green. The Golden Flashes teed off for the 2025 season at their home course, West Sayville Golf Club. They’re making their swings count and it’s paying off.

The varsity team is a member of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and competes in League III. The girls are led by head coach Sean Piotrowski, who is in his first year as varsity coach. Piotrowski spent ten years at the JV level coaching the boys’ and girls’ teams. This season, he’s coached the girls to a 7-0-0 record on the green.

At the varsity level, they compete for up to 9 points. With an eight-player roster, six girls will have their scores counted toward the total while the other two will compete in an exhibition. Six spots are designated, meaning the number one will go up against the other team’s number one, and so forth. Each win is one point, and three points are awarded to the team with the lowest combined strokes.

Maura Rielly and Meghan McMackin are leaders for the team this season, captain and co-captain respectively. They lead by example, their experience with a set of clubs speaks for itself.

“Maura Rielly and Meghan McMackin have been my one and two, they’re almost irreversible, either one can be number one. They’re a good combination together where they kind of feed off each other and work really well together,” said Piotrowski.

Golf isn’t for everyone, but some people get lucky and become good at it. The Golden Flashes have taken advantage of having fresh talent.

“My three and four spots, Ava and Mia Schuttes, they’re sisters, they were both on the team last year but are a little newer to the game. It’s been fun watching them, they’re very dedicated, and they practice a lot on their own. It’s been fun watching them grow both as golfers and individuals,” said Piotrowski.

A spot in the starting lineup is all one can hope for, but to play you have to earn it.

“Our five and six spots have been filled by a mix of Kelly Stewart, Stella White, and Joely Pepe, Kelly and Stella are both freshmen and first-year varsity players. They have both worked very diligently on their games and their improvement is showing. Joely is a senior and was on the team last year. She is a pleasure to have on the team again and I’m very excited for her continued growth,” said Piotrowski.

Three sisters on the same team? Phenomenal! The Schuttes family is proudly represented on the golf course this season.

“Isabella Schuttes is an eighth grader and is a first-year varsity player. Just like her sisters, Ava and Mia, she loves the game of golf. I’m looking forward to having her on the varsity team for many years ahead,” said Piotrowski.

“It’s working on what needs to be addressed, everyone has different strengths and weaknesses and kind of just leaning into both. The mental part of the game is very important, so not getting down when you hit a bad shot or if you’re not driving the ball well that day. Being okay with it but also making sure the other parts of your game are also where they need to be,” Piotrowski told The Messenger

Continued from front cover Credit

Tierney, Officials Call for Stronger State Drug Laws

“I can tell you exactly when the State lost its way: 2019,” said Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue), a staunch advocate for these changes and author of Nick’s Law, which would increase penalties for those who knowingly flee hit-and-run accidents. “That’s when we had Bail Reform, Discovery Reform, and all these pieces of legislation rammed into the budget.”

“If 150 people a year died in plane crashes or got shot on the streets in Suffolk County, it would be an outrage,” said Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst).

“If you have a distracted driver who’s speeding and you have a number of charges - say six speeding charges in a year - you can install in the car a device that will prevent that driver from traveling faster than five miles per hour above the limit,” said Tierney. “There are other states that have taken the initiative to make their roads safer. Every year, we [Suffolk] have led the state for the last twenty-three years [in road fatalities].”

Tierney mentioned that the dangers on roadways have prompted County government to add nine more patrol officers to the highway patrol unit, with more likely inbound for the summer months.

“It’s getting old, having to constantly come up here and advocate change when no one is coming,” said Tierney of the annual requests often made to Albany that go seemingly unnoticed. “We have the most registered drivers in the state. We have the most miles of highway; we have the most deaths. That means we have the most to lose and the most gain when we can actually have fundamental change.”

New York is one of four states in which law enforcement personnel must consult a list of known substances when making a roadside impairment stop. If the suspected drug is not on the list, an arrest cannot be made if identification is the only hurdle. That’s why Tierney and several Suffolk families are imploring the State to make these needed changes.

“That is a ridiculous law; that was a law that was enacted back in the time when our drugs only grew out of the ground,” said Tierney. “You have marijuana, heroin, and cocaine. Now, we have designer drugs created in a lab. Every day, a new drug comes out, and law enforcement can’t possibly keep up, right?”

Tierney and company call for a law that would allow for a driver to be charged if the driver is determined to be impaired. He insists he and other advocates are “not trying to increase penalties”, but “just trying to improve” the law, while also treating drunk driving similarly to drugged driving.

“If you drive while impaired by drugs, or if you drive while impaired by alcohol, there should be no difference, and we want our law to reflect that common sense,” said Tierney, dismissing claims of detractors who say that he and his fellow advocates are “trying to criminalize all sorts of activity.” He affirms that despite “obsession” from the cannabis lobby, his and law enforcement’s problems do not lie with marijuana usage and sale themselves.

changing a flat tire on the side of the southbound lanes of the Sagtikos Parkway, just south of Exit S1E. She was opening the trunk when her vehicle was rear-ended by Kevin Rosasdaqui, 25, of Brooklyn. Her legs were amputated in the crash. Rosasdaqui was about three times above the legal alcohol limit.

“I’m here by the grace of God because there was a cop who was able to save my life, but that can’t be said for a lot of people,” said Vanderveer.

Tim and Andrea Carpenter, of Lake Grove, spoke of their son, Timothy, who at 21 was killed by a known fentanyl addict on Middle Country Road in Centereach just over two years ago. Christopher Guzman, 40, had passed out behind the wheel, hitting another car before the fatal blow with the Carpenters. Timothy died on impact, while his uncle, Stacey, suffers from permanent disabilities from the accident.

“This is a nightmare that we will never wake up from,” said Andrea Carpenter. “While we were mourning our only child and planning his funeral, Christopher Guzman was out on a ridiculously low bail. He was supposed to be in rehab, but he continued using drugs until he finally OD’d for good with nobody there to save him with NARCAN this time.” Guzman had been stopped prior to the fatal crash and was a known “career” fentanyl addict, in Carpenter’s words.

“I hold his family equally responsible for Timothy’s death because they all knew what he was. They knew he was driving around impaired and that he was a menace,” said Carpenter.

It’s been almost seven years since the horrific drunk driving incident that rattled a Boy Scout Troop and left Andrew McMorris, 12, dead, yet his mother, Alisa, says it still feels like they’re “standing still.”

Tierney also debunked another “myth” of detractors in that prescription drugs will be in the catalog of impairing substances. He says that the law already provides for a driver to be charged if driving while impaired by a prescription drug and that the presence of the drug, legal or not, when determining an impairment case is effectively irrelevant in terms of public safety.

The D.A. railed against New York’s “Bail Reform” laws, which makes driving while drunk a non-bail eligible offense.

“We significantly increased the size of our highway unit. We are going to be increasing it again for the 100 deadliest days of the year,” said SCPD Commissioner Kevin Catalina, who made the promise when taking the oath of office in February. “But they need help. They need the assistance of Albany to change the laws.”

Catalina is also asking for strengthened legislation when charging drivers who are distracted while operating a vehicle.

“The penalties for distracted driving have to be stricter. We can’t have people convicted three or four times in getting a $500 fine. It should be equivalent to driving while impaired,” said Catalina. “You pick up your phone while you’re driving and you hurt somebody, that’s not an accident; you made a choice.”

Officials were joined by victims and families of victims of impaired driving, with survivor Daycnee Vanderveer speaking of her ability to join the fight for stronger laws. In 2022, Vanderveer, a single mother, was

“These are not accidents; they’re choices. They’re 100% preventable,” said McMorris. “Time moves on and we’re just the headline for a week or so. But for us grievers, time has no real meaning since the heartache remains and our lives attempt to grow around that emptiness.”

McMorris says she promised her son on his deathbed that she would “do everything she could to never let this happen to anyone else.”

“The Drugged Driving Bill is a good, honest change that is needed to save lives. This offers the drivers the best science available with roadside screening, toxicology, trained observations because impaired is impaired,” said McMorris.

Senator Murray (pictured above left photo) saw the onslaught of bad bills stem from mixing legislation in with budgetary matters, with some representatives using the budgets as “cover”, so as to essentially hold the budget and operation of the State government hostage to push through poor legislation.

Murray also mentioned a quote of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Williamsbridge) regarding retail theft, saying that he didn’t believe that “punishment is a deterrent for breaking the law.”

Assemblyman Michael Durso (R-Massapequa Park) (pictured middle left photo) says a common theme of this year’s budgeting session: “You made the problems in the budget. Let’s fix them in the budget.”

“There’s no reason not to get these bills done,” said Durso, adding that there has been a recent uptick in tow truck drivers being killed on the sides of the roads due to distracted drivers.

Durso says that he is working on a bill that would revoke one’s driver’s license if they are convicted of a DWI.

“Why is that not a deterrent? I have a motorcycle license; if I get pulled over for driving my motorcycle while impaired, I lose my driver’s license,” said Durso.

As a freshman legislator, Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay (D-Port Jefferson) (pictured left photo) says she is reaching out to colleagues across the County to ensure she is fighting for “common sense legislation.”

“This should not be a partisan issue,” said Kassay. “I’m diving right in to understanding how we move these pieces of legislation forward because they should have moved forward already and every day is too long to not have them moving forward.”

By Matt Meduri

Assemblyman Doug Smith Blasts Albany for Budget Delay Impacting Schools

Assemblyman Doug Smith (R-Holbrook), Ranking Member of the Assembly Education Committee and a former high school math teacher, sharply criticized Albany’s failure to pass a state budget, now over three weeks past its April 1 deadline. The delay, which missed a critical April 22 cutoff for school districts to receive finalized State Aid numbers, has left districts across New York scrambling to prepare budgets for public votes on May 20.

Smith, a parent and vocal advocate for education, described the delay as a “betrayal” of students, educators, and communities.

“Albany’s lack of urgency is unacceptable,” Smith said in a statement. “School districts from Long Island to Western New York are being forced to guess their State Aid because the Governor and legislative leaders can’t deliver. As a former math teacher, I know how vital stable funding is for our classrooms. This isn’t just incompetence—it’s a failure of leadership that hurts our kids.”

The state budget determines Foundation Aid and other funding streams that make up roughly 32% of school district revenues statewide. Without clarity on these numbers, districts face tough choices, potentially cutting programs, laying off staff, or raising property taxes to balance budgets. The delay exacerbates challenges for school boards, which must finalize budgets for voter approval by May 20. Last year’s budget, finalized nineteen days late, caused similar disruptions, a pattern Smith called “unconscionable.”

Speaking from his experience in education, Smith highlighted the real-world impact of the delay.

“School boards are up against hard deadlines. Every day without a budget means less time to plan for teacher salaries, classroom resources, or special education services. Rural, suburban, and urban districts are all suffering because Albany can’t get its act together.”

Smith demanded immediate action from Governor Kathy Hochul (D), Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Williamsbridge), and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) to finalize the budget.

“Our children’s education isn’t a bargaining chip,” he said. “It’s time for Albany to stop the excuses and deliver a budget that supports our schools. New York’s students, teachers, and taxpayers deserve better.”

As Ranking Member of the Assembly Education Committee, Smith has consistently fought for equitable school funding, opposing cuts to Foundation Aid and advocating for suburban and rural districts. He vowed to continue pressing for accountability, stating, “I won’t stand by while Albany’s dysfunction shortchanges our schools. Our kids deserve a government that works for them.”

The ongoing budget impasse has drawn criticism from educators and local officials, who warn that further delays could disrupt planning for the upcoming school year. With the May 20 deadline looming, pressure is mounting for Albany to act swiftly to provide school districts with the certainty they need.

Assemblyman Doug Smith (R-Holbrook) has represented the Fifth District in the New York State Assembly since 2018. The Fifth District is split between the Towns of Brookhaven and Islip, containing the communities of Lake Grove and parts of Bohemia, Centereach, Farmingville, Holbrook, Holtsville, Islandia, Lake Ronkonkoma, North Patchogue, Ronkonkoma, and Selden.

Assemblyman Smith serves as Ranking Member of the Education Committee and serves on the committees on Aging; Energy; and Higher Education, and serves on the Commission of the Future of the Long Island Power Authority.

The Fifth District office is located at 4155 Veterans Memorial Highway, Suite 9, in Ronkonkoma and can be reached at 631-585-0230.

CreditOffice of

Assemblyman Doug Smith

When Did Our State Lose Its Way?

This was the soberingly realistic question asked by Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) at last week’s presser, as officials gathered with victims and families of victims of distracted or impaired driving.

The assembly is always a noble one, although we wish a different set of circumstances lent themselves to such bipartisanship. Officials read out their wish list of legislative changes that they implore the State Legislature to include in their final one-house budgets, as well as Governor Kathy Hochul (D) in her Executive Budget. Victims and victims’ families gave heart-rending speeches of the unspeakable horrors that turned their lives into nightmares in the blink of an eye.

Last week’s panel included Daycnee Vanderveer, a single mother who lost both her legs while changing a flat tire on the side of a highway when a driver three times above the legal alcohol limit rear-ended her vehicle, with her in the middle.

Two years after Timothy Carpenter’s, 21, death, his parents, Tim and Andrea, remain steadfast in advocating for laws that could have prevented their only child’s death in Centereach, when a known fentanyl addict passed out behind the wheel. It left the young college boy dead and his uncle permanently disabled. The driver, as is often the case unfortunately, made it out of the accident relatively unscathed, but later overdosed when NARCAN could not be administered.

Alisa McMorris spoke of her son Andrew, 12, who was killed when a drunk driver careened through his Boy Scout troop.

But what makes last week’s press conference - featured on the cover of this week’s edition of The Messenger - all the more infuriating is that we’ve seen this same event for the last several consecutive years, yet Albany refuses to listen.

What Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R), Executive Romaine, Suffolk’s local and State-level elected officials, and the victims and the families

are requesting are reasonable laws that many other states have on their books.

Chief among them is updating the laws around substances and impaired driving. New York continues to operate off an outdated list that only includes naturally-occuring drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, and not the endless cavalcade of synthetic designer drugs that are being introduced faster to the streets than officials can act and legislate in response.

It’s interesting how New York State could have been so complicit in arguably the most lax-in-thenation bail laws - in which several people charged last week with operating a nationwide drug ring out of Suffolk could not be held on bail - as well as the eye-opening border crises that unarguably contribute to more hard drugs on the streets.

If New York wanted to have its humanitarian cake and eat it too, the least they could have done was afford our public safety officials more tools to take impaired drivers off the roads, even if the intoxicating substance in question cannot be identified against an archaic list. This lack of balance makes us think some in the Legislature are pathological in their beliefs or simply do not act in good faith.

It’s also frustrating to witness the top prosecutor for the largest suburban county in the nation make the same requests year after year, hat-in-hand, only for those requests to go seemingly unheard. D.A. Tierney is clearly a capable, credible professional. Why Albany won’t at least take his word for what it’s worth is astounding to us.

Moreover, what unnecessarily adds to the fray are the activists who vehemently fight Tierney and company along the way. He mentioned the cannabis lobby and those concerned with how the laws would play out regarding prescription drugs.

We can understand the prescription drug question, and Tierney was quick to flatten the “myth” that he and others lobbying for change would include these to the “list” of drugs. In fact, the list already contains prescription drugs.

But our problem is with the cannabis industry, namely those who think that the actions of those who desire change would infringe upon the right to buy and use marijuana. The efficacy of using marijuana can be debated, but Tierney has made it clear that he’s not coming for the stash of the guy at home on a weekend. He’s more interested in ensuring police can arrest obviously impaired drivers, despite New York’s probable cause laws and the nascent stages of roadside toxicology testing for cannabis. Reliable roadside marijuana toxicology tests do not exist as those for measuring alcohol intoxication do.

Herein lies a classic “knee-jerk” of New York. A group wants stricter laws to make worthy arrests of those driving high on marijuana. The first and immediate reaction is to insinuate it’s a move against marijuana at large.

Smith Haven Mall

Retraction

April 10, 2025, Smithtown

Messenger

In our article covering the swearingin of the new board of Celebrate St. James and the plans for the Calderone Theatre, we stated an initiative of the non-profit is to raise $1 million to purchase the theatre back from the Town of Smithtown. The non-profit is not looking to raise money to purchase the building back. They are looking to raise money to renovate and overhaul the property for the purpose of being a community cultural and arts center.

Dear Editor,

I am totally against the idea of flying this flag, as a Veteran who served as a medic in the Air Force during the Korean War and for twenty years in Nassau Hospital, then went to seminary and was ordained as a minister; as an ordinated minister, serving in the American Legion as Chair of the Suffolk and District 10 PTSD committees working with Veterans since 2012. We have trained over 100 Veterans on how to help their fellow Veterans and helped train fifty clergy on how to work with Veterans on these problems.

To better understand the problem, we need to first look at suicide, as to why and how they occur. As the article, “County Legislature Debates Flying of SAR Flag, Consults with Veterans”, The Messenger, 4-17-2025, correctly states, the Veterans Affairs did not track Veteran suicides until 2005. This is due to the fact that prior to the Vietnam War, the suicide rate of military and Veterans was about the same as that of the civilian population. Prior wars were fought mostly on battlefields where the enemy was hundreds of yards away. The Vietnam War was different, in that it was more a guerilla-type war where the enemy was very close by and often in civilian clothes.

In addition, the military personnel did not know why they were there, and our civilian population was against the war. Thus, when they came home, they were spit on and called baby-killers. Then, we had the Afghanistan War, where the enemy was not only dressed in civilian clothes, but now included women and children with explosives attached to their bodies. After about twenty years of war, we unconditionally surrendered, causing the suicides to rise to about forty per day both in the military and Veteran populations. Thus, many more personnel developed PTSD and Moral Injury that led to the high increase in number of suicides. That number is not twenty-two per day, which is the number reported to the VA, but is closer to forty per day

Debate on Flying the SAR Flag Support RecruitNY: Strong Communities Start With Volunteer Firefighters

By Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

New York’s volunteer firefighters have long demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting our communities. Whether responding to a fire, natural disaster or public health emergency, they bravely face these challenging situations with courage and sacrifice. In New York, over 90% of fire departments are registered as volunteer, highlighting the crucial role they play in the state’s emergency response system.

Firehouses throughout New York will soon participate in RecruitNY, a statewide initiative designed to boost recruitment and retention for volunteer firefighters. Launched by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) in 2011 to address declining membership, the program has helped fire departments recruit thousands of new members over the years.

On the weekend of April 26-27, hundreds of fire departments will open their doors to the public, offering a firsthand look at what it means to be a volunteer firefighter. Visitors can tour the stations, try on gear, watch live demonstrations and get answers to any questions on becoming a member. If you’ve ever considered serving your community, this could be a great opportunity to learn more. Even if you are unsure about joining, I encourage everyone to stop by their local fire department to show appreciation to our dedicated first responders.

It’s important to note that no prior experience is required to become a volunteer firefighter—whether on the front lines or assisting behind the scenes, there are plenty of ways to make a meaningful contribution.

The Assembly Minority Conference has always stood with our volunteer firefighters, and we will continue to advocate for the resources and support they need and deserve. Our Conference has introduced the following pieces of legislation:

• A.4414 (Bologna) – Permits volunteer firefighters to attend mandatory training under 19 NYCRR 426 without risk of employer penalties; establishes tax incentives for employers who hire volunteer firefighters;

• A.1064 (Angelino) – Provides a state income tax credit of up to $2,500 for volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance corps members in good

as many of those Veterans reported as dying from an overdose of drugs –which are suicides.

A Veteran or military person suffering from PTSD or Moral Injury often suffers with guilt and shame that keep them away from seeking professional help. Instead, they isolate themselves, self-treat with alcohol or drugs, which only strengthen guilt and shame, so they can take the final step. Having helped Veterans with PTSD and Moral Injury for the past twelve years, and actually helping prevent eleven suicides, I am afraid the flag may have the wrong message.

“Honor the fallen”, as is written on the SAR flag, may actually help those considering suicide that it is right thing to do. Instead, we need to tell them why it is absolutely the wrong thing to do, how it hurts the family and friends left behind alive. It is important to tell them their shame and guilt can be eliminated, with a little help. The Veteran organizations using the buddy system can be a great help and will keep your problem between you and the Veteran helping you. The clergy can also be a great help and will also keep it confidential; however, some are not sure how to help, but can help find the ones who can help you.

So please, let’s spend our time helping those Veterans and saving lives, by helping them know that they can be helped. Instead of the flag, let’s put out signs where the Veterans should go to for the help they need. Veteran organizations, if you can help our Veterans, please put out a sign saying so, or where else they can go for help.

Sincerely yours,

Frederick Miller, Ph.D.

Shirley

standing for a minimum of five years;

• A.2068 (Manktelow) – Authorizes excused leave for civil service employees who are members of volunteer fire departments or volunteer EMS/rescue squads during declared states of emergency at the federal, state or municipal level;

• A.4720 (Bologna) – Establishes a mileage reimbursement tax credit for active volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers who use personal vehicles for emergency response duties; and

• A.3576 (Miller) – Allocates a portion of the public safety communications surcharge to support volunteer fire department initiatives and creates the New York State Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary Fund.

I am proud to share that many fire departments throughout Oswego, Cayuga and Jefferson counties in my district will be participating in RecruitNY. A full list across the entire state can be found here.

Volunteer firefighters are often our neighbors, friends or coworkers. They have shown an unparalleled commitment to protecting New Yorkers and saving lives in times of crisis. In the coming weeks, let us show our deepest support for the volunteers who selflessly offer their time and energy to protect our communities. Whether by visiting a local firehouse during RecruitNY or simply saying thank you, every gesture of support reminds them that their service does not go unnoticed.

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.

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Suffolk Hosts U.S. Army of Oath of Enlistment

By Matt Meduri

Last Thursday, at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge, Suffolk County played a pivotal role in hosting the Oath of Enlistment for several U.S. Army recruits, the first time the County has ever had the privilege.

Captain Logan McNally, Company Commander for the Suffolk County Army Recruiting Company, issued opening remarks.

“Today, we recognize those who have made the decision to join the United States Army and protect our nation. We are here as a family, a family of soldiers, soon-to-be soldiers, family members, military community organizations, and even past and future soldier families that are here in attendance,” said McNally. “We are here to show why Suffolk truly leads the way in supporting our men and women in uniform and their families.”

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) (pictured right) wished the recruits well as they embark upon their new journey.

“We exist as a nation only because of people like yourself. This nation doesn’t exist unless people volunteer,” said Romaine. “For the last at least forty years, this country has had a volunteer army, which means it depends on recruits.”

Romaine said that Captain McNally informed him that Suffolk is leading the way in number of recruits.

“For those of you who call Suffolk home, we want you to come home after your service is done,” said Romaine, adding great aspects of the service. “Number one, it changes your attitude about life. It gets you ready to come to the real world and do a good job afterwards. You learn a lot of skills, but you learn a lot about yourself in the military.”

Romaine offered to the young cadets that the County’s Veteran Services Agency, run by Marcelle Leis, will be waiting for them with answers, information, and resources when they return.

Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa (C-Selden) (pictured above), Chair of the Veterans Committee, also gave remarks before the official oaths were issued. He mentioned that when he received the call about Suffolk hosting the

oath ceremony, he didn’t hesitate.

“This is a no-brainer for us; our County has always supported our Veterans a great deal,” said Caracappa. “You will embark on a journey that begins today here, a journey that you will learn to honor and respect. A journey where you will be educated, where you will learn physical fitness, learn how to work as a team, learn how to defend yourself, protect your fellow soldier. And if called upon, you will stand, defend, and protect our freedoms.”

Lieutenant Colonel John Rhodes (pictured above) said that Suffolk County has gone from one of the most difficult areas for recruitment to one of the strongest.

“All the support they [the recruits] have in this community are from their elected officials, their friends, their families, their schools, their friends who tell them you’re doing a good thing,” said Rhodes. “The market potential [for recruiting] is wrong because it doesn’t count for spirit and patriotism, and that’s why this county is breaking all-time records for new enlistments.”

Brigadier General Daniel Hershkowitz (pictured above left) served as the event’s keynote speaker. Hailing from North Massapequa, Hershkowitz feels right at home on Long Island, mentioning that bagels, pizza, and other staples are just incomparable to anywhere else he’s lived or served.

“Whatever your reason for joining, thank you for having the courage to walk into a recruiter’s office, have a conversation with that recruiter, and at the end of that conversation, hopefully you went home, you talked it over with your loved ones, and you made a conscious decision to be part of a team that represents something bigger than yourself,” said Hershkowitz.

Family and friends gathered for photos after the formal oaths were issued. Almost forty young cadets ranged in age from 17 to 42, with eight going into the Army Reserves.

The Suffolk County Recruiting Company has five centers; Bay Shore, Patchogue, Smithtown, Riverhead, and Selden. Their company headquarters is located in Ronkonkoma.

National, State, and Local Temperature Checks

By Matt Meduri

National

The world awoke Monday morning, just a day after Easter, to a significant passing, that of Pope Francis.

Francis served as the leader of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 2013 until his death on Monday.

Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, has often been known as “pope of firsts”. He was the first pope from Latin America - he was born in Argentina, the first from the Jesuit Order (the Society of Jesus), the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first born or raised outside of Europe since Pope Gregory III, who was born in Syria and whose papacy ranged from February 731 to November 741.

Francis was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1969 and from 1973 to 1979, he was the Jesuit principal superior in Argentina. He came the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was made a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.

He was elected pope by the papal conclave after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, making him the first Pope to take the name.

Francis was noted for his work in increasing the worldwide clout and respect of the church, teaching acceptance, love, tolerance, and even bucking the church’s more culturally conservative values. He believed that the Catholic Church should be more sympathetic to cultural and ethnic minorities, bless same-sex relationships - albeit devoid of liturgical context - and was a critic of certain forms of economics and capitalism. He was also an ardent advocate for climate change and committed the Catholic Church to a worldwide abolition of positive views on the death penalty, which he viewed as inadmissible.

He also signed the Vatican’s first treaty with Palestine and condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Francis had been in declining health for several weeks prior to his passing, making his final public appearance on Easter Sunday.

In U.S. news, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (I-CA) (pictured above) is moving closer to fulfilling a key campaign promise to “Make America Healthy Again” by announcing a phase-out of petroleum-based food dyes in the American food supply. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary said on Tuesday that the agency would take steps to eliminate the use of synthetic dyes by the end of 2026.

Kennedy has said that while the federal agencies and the food manufacturers “don’t have an agreement”, they do “have an understanding.”

Kennedy and company have said they will establish a timeline and standards for the industry to switch to natural alternatives. They will also be proactive in revoking authorization for dyes not in production within the coming weeks and they will also take actions to remove remaining dyes from shelves.

“Today, the FDA is asking food companies to substitute petrochemical dyes with natural ingredients for American children as they already do in Europe and Canada,” said Makary. “For the last fifty years, we have been running one of the largest uncontrolled scientific experiments in the world on our nation’s children without their consent.”

The FDA currently allows for thirty-six color additives, which include eight synthetic dyes. The agency already announced in January that Red 3, used in candies, cakes,

and some medications, would be banned by 2027, due to its link to cancer in laboratory rats.

Food manufacturers in Europe and Canada are required to carry warning labels. Several states, including California and West Virginia, have already passed laws against using synthetic food colorings. West Virginia’s state law to prohibit red, blue, yellow, and green artificial dyes from school meals will take effect on August 1. A larger ban will cover all foods sold in the Mountain State starting January 1, 2028.

Some manufacturers have already climbed aboard the initiative. The International Dairy Foods Association has said its members would do away with artificial colors in milk, cheese, and yogurt products sold in the U.S., primarily its school meal programs, by July 2026.

On the other hand, the International Association of Color Manufacturers said that reformulating foodstuffs in less than two years would “ignore scientific evidence and underestimates the complexity of food production.” They added the process could be neither “simple” nor “immediate”, with supply disruptions likely to hit shelves.

On the electoral level, Democrats scored two strong recruits to help bolster their already-long-shot prospects at retaking the U.S. Senate in 2026.

In Michigan, the open seat presents one of Democrats’ greatest problems for the next cycle. Having won every Senate race in the Wolverine State since 1994, Democrats are hoping Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D, MI-11) can present an edge to the field.

Stevens flipped a suburban Detroit seat in 2018, holding it in 2020 before it was redrawn to become a safely blue seat in 2022 and 2024. Should Stevens win, she’d follow the path of Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), who flipped a Lansing-based seat in 2018, defending a seat that remained competitive until she was narrowly elected to the Senate in 2024.

Meanwhile, Democrats scored perhaps one of the best recruits in Governor Andy Beshear (D-KY) to run for Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) open seat.

McConnell has represented Kentucky in the Senate since 1985, and amid health concerns and a changing power dynamic on Capitol Hill, he decided to retire rather than pursue an eighth term.

Democrats spent nearly $100 million on an effort to oust him in 2020, only for him to win in a landslide. Now, with the open seat scenario, Democrats are hoping to capitalize on anti-Trump sentiments next year, and Kentucky provides one of the most moderateconservative Democrats in the nation.

Narrowly ousting an unpopular Republican in 2019, Beshear held re-election over a worthy opponent in 2023. He is term-limited in 2027, making his run for Senate all the more natural.

Popular governors of the party opposite their state’s typical lean have a historically difficult time winning Senate elections, which, especially as of now, are more adherent to their presidential voting preferences. Larry Hogan (R-MD) suffered the same fate in Maryland in 2024, as did Phil Bredesen (D-TN) in 2018, and Linda Lingle (R-HI) in Hawaii in 2012.

Finally, Republicans held a special State House election in Connecticut on Tuesday night, but Democrats can add another overperformance to their 2025 scorecard.

Jason Perillo (R) resigned after winning a State Senate special election in February. He held Connecticut’s 113th House District for seventeen years, winning most recently by a 64%-36% margin.

Amy Romano (R) held the seat over Mike Duncan (D),

but by a five-point margin.

Democrats have a large 102-seat majority of Connecticut’s 151-member lower chamber. Republicans control 48 seats; one seat is vacant.

State

A Siena College poll has found Governor Kathy Hochul (D) (pictured bottom) doing something that’s rare in their polls: improving her numbers.

Hochul’s job approval rating now takes a net-positive, albeit still a plurality, at 48%-45%, up from the underwater 46%-48% position she was in last month. Her favorability rating has also improved, standing at 44%-43%, up from 40%-50% in March.

However, a majority of voters still prefer someone else to serve as governor, with 39% of voters eager to reelect her. 48% want “someone else”, which is a modest improvement from the 34%-56% gap observed last month.

Hochul’s slight improvements seem to stem from her budget proposals, including a smartphone ban in schools during instructional hours, criminalizing wearing masks to commit crimes, and amending Discovery Reform. All three initiatives enjoy mostly the same levels of support from Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, varying between 41% to 70%.

This is Hochul’s first positive approval rating since January 2024.

President Donald Trump (R-FL) also experiences little movement in his numbers from last month. His favorability is up 40%-55% from 39%-57%, while his job approval rating rests at 42%-56%, little changed from 42%-55% in March.

New Yorkers remain split on his plans to make the federal government more efficient (48%-49%), as well as his initiatives on reducing the cost of living and enhancing the country’s reputation internationally (52%-55%).

Senator Chuck Schumer (D) has also tracked his lowest favorability ratings in twenty years of Siena College polls, with a 39%-49% rating, down from 45%-41% in February. The poll was conducted April 14-16 among 802 registered New York voters through a combination of landline and cell phones, text-to-web, and online panels.

Local

Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) recently hosted a telephone town hall that drew thousands of constituents.

According to his office, 10,281 residents joined the NY02 telephone town hall.

“The fight right now is front and center…Now we have the numbers, and any extension of the $10,000 cap will not fly...We’re going to have [SALT relief] in the [reconciliation] bill, and it’s gonna be something that I think you all can be very proud of, because if it’s not something I can be proud of, I’m not going to vote for it,” said Garbarino in a statement.

On potential cuts to Social Security, Garbarino said, “Social Security, under the budget reconciliation process, is not permitted to be touched. There is a lot of bad information out there, saying that the reconciliation bill will affect Social Security benefits and such. We are not legally allowed to touch it under this process, so that information that you’re getting out there, that this might be changed under reconciliation, is false.”

Dueling Protests Outside Garbarino’s Office

By Cait Crudden

Hundreds of progressive activists gathered outside Congressman Andrew Garbarino’s (R-Bayport) district office on Oak Street in Patchogue over the holiday weekend, as part of a coordinated national demonstration labeled the “50501 campaign,” which staged simultaneous protests across all fifty states.

Billed as part of the “Stop Trump, Speak Up” movement, the protest targeted President Donald Trump (R-FL) and Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.) Senior Advisor to the President Elon Musk, and aimed criticism at Republican lawmakers who organizers claim are aligned with them.

While promoted as a peaceful protest, the event quickly drew controversy and tension as a group of Trump supporters, exercising their own First Amendment rights, arrived to push back against what they viewed as a partisan attack on conservative voices and governance.

The protest in Patchogue was one of many driven by progressive organizers and left-wing advocacy groups that have increasingly sought to paint Trump-era policies, and now Musk’s leadership of D.O.G.E., as threats to democracy, a narrative that many conservatives reject as exaggerated and politically motivated.

Protesters voiced opposition to a wide array of issues, from federal deregulation to digital privacy concerns, but many on the ground offered vague or generalized accusations. Critics argue that these demonstrations are more about generating political momentum heading into the midterm election cycle than engaging in substantive debate.

Congressman Garbarino continues to serve residents of Suffolk County and hosted a recent telephone town hall with thousands of constituents and reaffirmed his commitment to delivering practical results for the district, rather than engaging with protestors in what his supporters describe as political theater.

Despite this, protest organizers took aim at Garbarino, accusing him of not being vocal enough in opposing former President Trump and Musk. However, Garbarino consistently emphasizes the importance of focusing on local issues such as infrastructure, Veterans’ services, and economic development, a position many voters in his district support.

The counter-protest by Trump supporters added a striking visual contrast to the demonstration. Waving American flags and campaign signs, they voiced support for Trump’s legacy of economic growth, border security, and regulatory reform, principles that have remained popular among conservative constituents across Long Island.

Some critics of the protest questioned the motives of the “50501 campaign,” calling it a coordinated media spectacle designed to distract from the challenges, including rising inflation, energy instability, and concerns over free speech on digital platforms.

Observers also noted the increasingly aggressive tone of some activist movements, which they believe undermine civil discourse and vilify anyone who holds opposing political views. Calls for elected officials to “speak up” are often interpreted as demands to fall in line with a specific political ideology, rather than genuine invitations for bipartisan conversation.

As the event ended, the protesters vow to continue their efforts in the coming months. However, for many residents, the demonstration raised more questions than answers about what these groups ultimately seek to achieve, and whether their tactics are unifying or polarizing the communities they claim to represent.

For Congressman Garbarino and his supporters, the message was clear: stay focused on delivering tangible results for NY-02, not on chasing headlines created by national activist groups.

LaLota Urges GOP to Prioritize Compassion, Responsibility in Medicaid Reform

By Cait Crudden

As Congressional Republicans weigh potential reforms to Medicaid, Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) is leading a group of House Republicans in a direct message to party leadership: protect vulnerable Americans and safeguard vital healthcare coverage.

LaLota joined a coalition of Republican lawmakers in signing a letter addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R, LA-04), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R, LA-01), Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R, MN-06), and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R, KY-02). The message is clear: while reforms are necessary to improve the program’s efficiency and sustainability, they must not come at the expense of those who rely on Medicaid the most.

The letter, authored by GOP members from districts with high rates of Medicaid enrollment, reaffirms strong support for the healthcare safety-net program and warns against any legislation that would reduce coverage for vulnerable populations. Among those highlighted in the letter are children, pregnant women, seniors, and individuals living with disabilities, groups that, according to the lawmakers, would be disproportionately affected by sweeping budget cuts or inflexible policy changes.

The signatories expressed concern that Medicaid cuts could have far-reaching consequences not just for individual beneficiaries, but also for hospitals and

community health providers, particularly in rural and underserved areas where Medicaid reimbursements play a critical role in keeping facilities operational.

Congressman LaLota and his colleagues emphasized that reforms must be “responsible and compassionate,” and that safeguarding care for those in need should remain a priority. At the same time, the lawmakers endorsed a series of proposed reforms aimed at improving accountability within the system. These include implementing work requirements for ablebodied adults without dependents, limiting eligibility to legal U.S. residents, and increasing the frequency of eligibility checks from once a year to every six months.

These changes, they argue, would help reduce fraud, increase transparency, and ensure that resources are given to the individuals the program was designed to help, without jeopardizing access to care for society’s most vulnerable.

Congressman LaLota’s position reflects a growing sentiment among moderate and pragmatically minded Republicans who view Medicaid not just as a line item in the federal budget, but as a lifeline for millions of Americans, particularly in states like New York. In many Long Island communities, Medicaid supports children with special needs, elderly individuals in nursing homes, and families struggling with the high cost of living.

The letter also strikes a tone of political realism, acknowledging the significant role Medicaid plays in district economies. Many hospitals and clinics rely heavily on Medicaid reimbursements to remain financially viable. Any reduction in coverage or funding could destabilize local healthcare networks, lead to layoffs, and restrict access to essential services, a risk lawmakers say the country cannot afford to take.

While internal GOP discussions on Medicaid reform continue, LaLota’s message appears to set a marker for what a sizable block of Republican members would and would not support. With a narrowly divided House and key appropriations battles looming, such positions could significantly shape the legislative process moving forward.

For now, LaLota and his fellow signatories hope their letter serves as a reminder that healthcare policy must be guided by both fiscal responsibility and compassion. They argue that it is possible and necessary to protect the integrity of Medicaid while pursuing reforms that promote efficiency, reduce misuse, and preserve the program for generations to come.

As debate over entitlement spending intensifies in Washington, Congressman LaLota’s stance may represent a middle path: one that balances conservative principles with the practical needs of constituents and communities across the country.

Spanning

Conveniently

Continued from front cover

DawnMarie Kuhn Kicks Off Campaign for Islip Town Council

O’Connor is also known for having run for Suffolk County Executive in 2015 against then-Executive Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon).

Eager to succeed O’Connor on the Town Board, and sporting the Republican and Conservative lines this November, is DawnMarie Kuhn (R-Bohemia).

Chief of Staff to Suffolk County Legislator Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) since he took office in 2020, Kuhn has deep roots within the Second District and is looking to put much of her extensive studying to practice for her community. Her fundraiser was held at Marconi Manor in Islip last Thursday evening, with several high-profile officials in attendance, including Suffolk County Republican Committee Chairman Jesse Garcia (R-Ridge).

The Second District contains the hamlets of Bohemia, East Islip, Great River, Islip Terrace, Oakdale, and North Great River, as well as parts of Central Islip, Hauppauge, Islip hamlet, Sayville and most of West Sayville.

“We need to preserve our suburban way of life and that our blighted and vacant properties are refurbished instead of knocking down woods,” Kuhn told The Messenger. The Connetquot High School graduate (class of ‘05) also holds a degree in political science and minor studies in art and history from St. Joseph’s College - now University. She graduated with her first master’s degree in urban development and public administration in 2012, her master’s in elections and campaign management from Fordham University in 2017, and her third master’s in quantitative methods and social sciences from Columbia University in 2024.

is looking to get to work on dealing with development and the traffic problems that can arise from it. She takes note especially of the notorious “Oakdale Merge”, where Sunrise Highway (NY 27) Exit 46A allows for Montauk Highway (NY 27A) to become County Route (CR) 85. CR-85 continues parallel to Sunrise Highway for one exit before meandering south, with incomplete access to and from the Sunrise South Service Road.

The New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT) announced proposals for the merge, including roadway grade separations, movable barriers to create reversible lanes, and express lanes. The $7.2-million project saw ramp meters installed, emergency access improved, and updated pavement and lane markings. Since 2022, millions have been allocated for fixing the merge, including provisions in last year’s Executive Budget for studies on how to best reconstruct the interchange.

She is currently pursuing her fourth master’s, also from Columbia, in political analytics. She is set to graduate in spring 2026.

Kuhn looks to bring her studies to the table with a “data-drive” approach to decisionmaking that will help “bring Islip into the Twenty-First Century”, adding that constituent services are her “number-one” priority.

“Different departments could use data differently for constituent services. We could track constituent complaints differently, utilizing apps or different machine-learning techniques for something as easy as tracking plows during a snowstorm and finding the most efficient method,” said Kuhn. “I would love to see an app created for the Town of Islip where people could log their constituent complaints, get push notifications for various events and happenings going on in town.”

The Town of Smithtown has a free app where constituents can track several constituent service requests, as well as receive information on roadwork, parades, festivals, utility work, and other information.

Kuhn has no shortage of government experience, starting with the Town’s Department of Environmental Control in 2012, where she spent five years. She then spent two-and-a-half years as Councilman O’Connor’s Chief of Staff. Although the Town did not have councilmanic districts yet, Kuhn still became acquainted with the areas that would become the very district that she is now running to represent.

The lion’s share of her government work has been that of Chief of Staff to Legislator Piccirillo, who has represented the Eighth Legislative District (LD-08) since 2020. LD-08 overlaps with some communities of the Second Council District, such as Bohemia, Oakdale, Sayville, and West Sayville, giving Kuhn a leg-up in understanding parts of the Town she could be representing next year.

“Working for Legislator Piccirillo has been great. I have my hands in everything from constituent services to drafting legislation to community service events, even coat drives and Valentine’s for Veterans drives,” said Kuhn. I’ve gotten to take a big role in his office; it’s been a pleasure to work for him.”

“DawnMarie is one of the most qualified people I’ve ever met to run for local office,” Legislator Piccirillo told The Messenger of his own chief of staff. “I can’t wait to not only support her in this endeavor, but to work with her when she’s an elected official after we have a big victory in November.”

“We need to make sure our water quality is good and that we protect our sole-source aquifer,” said Kuhn, noting that she is “keen on the environment”, adding that the Second District borders a precarious environmental situation with the Great South Bay and houses the mouth and majority of the Connetquot River.

Specifically within her own neighborhood, Kuhn

“There’s a lot happening on Lakeland Avenue (CR-93) in Bohemia, not far from the Oakdale Merge,” said Kuhn. “Taking a look at the traffic flow that’s happening now that all of these developments are popping could definitely help the constituents.”

“DawnMarie is going to bring a new perspective to the Town of Islip,” Assemblyman Doug Smith (R-Holbrook) (pictured left), whose Fifth Assembly District contains parts of Islip, told The Messenger. “As a Millennial running for the Board, she is focused on water quality, open space preservation, and making Islip safer and more affordable. I’m looking forward to supporting her and seeing her be successful on Election Day.”

The first and, so far, most recent time the Second District was on the ballot was in 2021. Councilman O’Connor defeated Darrin Green (D-Central Islip) 68.62% to 31.38%.

Photo credit - Matt Meduri

How Albany’s Budget Games Leave Suffolk County Holding the Bag

By Raheem Soto

In government, delays have costs—and in New York, the bill often lands on someone else’s desk. As Albany continues to stall on a final state budget this year, Suffolk County is again left waiting to see how much it will receive, what it must cut, and what projects it will be forced to delay.

Initially due on April 1, the state budget is now weeks overdue. With a proposed total of $233 billion, the 2025 spending plan contains everything from education funding to housing policy, and nearly all of it is still tied up in political negotiations behind closed doors. This lack of clarity for Suffolk County—home to over 1.5 million residents—is more than frustrating. It’s a fiscal liability.

Consider the facts. Under Governor Kathy Hochul’s (D) proposed budget, thirty-four Suffolk school districts face State Aid reductions. One district, Three Village, is staring at a cut of nearly $9 million. And yet, the same County that may be asked to tighten its belt is one of the state’s largest revenue generators. According to the New York State Comptroller’s Office, Suffolk County contributes over $8.5 billion in personal income tax revenue to Albany’s coffers. That’s more than many upstate regions combined.

Local school officials are now forced to plan budgets for voter approval in May—without knowing how much state support they’ll actually receive. This isn’t just poor planning; it’s planning made impossible.

At the County level, the situation is no better. Suffolk’s adopted 2025 budget shows a $46 million shortfall in sales tax revenue and a 21% jump in mandated pension obligations. Long-term projections show a general fund deficit approaching $552 million by 2028.

County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) (pictured right) has proposed a $1 billion infrastructure plan to expand the sewer system—a project intended to address environmental concerns and future housing growth. However, projects of this scale require reliable backing from the State, and when that backing is wrapped in Albany’s indecision, local governments are left juggling risk instead of managing progress.

Some may argue that the State has larger concerns—and it does. But the issues holding up the budget are not simply fiscal. They are political. Hochul’s administration is seeking changes to criminal justice laws, specifically around the 2019 Discovery Reforms. The new proposal would reduce the burden on prosecutors by scaling back the timeline and scope of required evidence disclosure. Critics argue this undermines due process. Supporters say it corrects a reform that went too far.

Then there’s education funding itself. Disagreements over the Foundation Aid formula—how the state allocates money to school districts—have halted consensus. Some lawmakers want to revise the formula to reflect updated needs. Others insist on preserving the “hold harmless” clause, ensuring districts never receive less aid than the previous year. What began as a matter of arithmetic has turned into a tug-of-war of interests.

Housing has emerged as another sticking point. Hochul’s support for “Good Cause Eviction” legislation would limit a landlord’s ability to evict tenants without court justification has divided lawmakers. Tenant advocates support it. Property owners, especially on Long Island, warn that it will discourage investment and limit new housing supply.

And through it all, most of these policy debates are being negotiated not through public committee hearings or open-floor votes—but behind closed doors by a small circle of State leaders.

The result? Rank-and-file legislators are sidelined, and local governments are left to adjust to outcomes they didn’t help shape.

What’s at stake isn’t just Suffolk’s next budget cycle— it’s the principle of fiscal governance. When a county that contributes heavily to the state’s revenues is left in the dark and potentially shortchanged, it raises a deeper question: is this about needs or priorities?

Suffolk is not asking for a favor. It’s asking for fairness—and some measure of predictability. Local governments can manage setbacks. What they can’t manage is being kept out of the loop. At the same time, their obligations continue to rise, and their funding remains uncertain.

In the private sector, delayed decisions come with opportunity costs. In government, they come with real-world consequences: fewer services, higher taxes, and delayed development.

If Albany’s current budget strategy has a lesson, it’s this: the longer the State takes to decide, the more local taxpayers are left to clean up the mess.

Four Islip High School Students Selected for Boys and Girls State

Four of Islip High School’s young leaders were selected by Islip American Legion Rusy-Bohm Post 411 to attend the summer 2025 American Legion Boys’ State and American Legion Auxiliary Empire Girls State programs, with an additional student selected as an alternate.

Connor Ancipink and Kieran Freelin

Edward

were chosen as primary delegates for Boys’ State, with Aidan Biscari selected as an alternate. Anna Lettieri and Jadyn Zink were chosen as citizens for Empire Girls State. Representatives from the American Legion visited the high school on the morning of April 4 to congratulate these patriotic young men and women.

J. Bosti Elementary Unveils

New

Serenity Space

Edward J. Bosti Elementary School in the Connetquot Central School District has officially opened its new Serenity Space, a room designed to help students manage stress, practice mindfulness and support emotional wellness.

The idea for this calming space was born from the school’s Shared DecisionMaking Committee in September. After months of thoughtful brainstorming and research, the Serenity Space opened in March and has already become a widely used resource within the school.

“If a test is hard, I love to ask my teacher if I can come here for five minutes and just get my mind off of things and play with the toys, read or just sit in the tent,” said fifth grader Benjamin Rios.

The room is packed with comforting and sensoryfriendly items, including bean bag chairs, weighted blankets, oversized plush toys and a cozy tent. The soothing ambiance is enhanced by a galaxy light projector, sound machine, lava lamp, LED bubble tube, sound bowl, chime and more. Students

can also engage with a variety of hands-on toys and tools like a puzzle pillow, Zen Garden, squishy toys, books, a drawing board and a sensory sequin wall panel.

“I really like the weighted blankets, and I also just like coming in here if something’s hard during class,” said student Caitlyn Dunne. “I can just unwind and forget about what’s in the back of my mind so when I go back to class, I’m calmer and can get my work done better.”

“One of my favorite parts of the room is that you can come here and just have a minute or five to breathe and relax and get your mind off of everything,” added fifth grader Caroline Abel. “It’s very calming and it feels like a very safe space. You can have the LED lights on, and it just feels like you’re at home because it feels like a room of your own.”

“Over the years, I’ve noticed that not only students, but even staff, have been experiencing a lot of anxiety and stress,” said Principal Laura Kimball. “So, I felt like there was a need to create a space where students could come and feel safe, relax and decompress. If you’re stressed out, you’re not ready for learning, so when you can calm yourself, then you’re able to go back to class, or back to work if you’re a teacher, with a clearer mind.”

Hauppauge H.S. Promotes Financial Literacy Fun with Financial Fridays

In celebration of Financial Literacy Month, Hauppauge High School partnered with Jovia Credit Union to bring a fun and educational experience to students through “Financial Fridays.”

During lunch periods throughout April, Jovia representatives hosted their version of “Jeopardy” designed to promote financial literacy. Students tested their knowledge on topics like budgeting, saving, credit, and financial fraud. Those who answered questions correctly won prizes such as tote bags, highlighters, shaker bottles and gift cards, and walked away with valuable knowledge.

East Islip H.S. Tech Students Explore Career Opportunities at MacArthur Airport

Students from East Islip High School’s Technology Education and Career Exploration classes embarked on a field trip to Long Island MacArthur Airport on April 4. The engaging experience was made possible through a collaborative partnership between the airport, Cradle of Aviation Museum and Town of Islip, aimed at empowering local youth to discover the diverse career paths available in aviation and airport operations.

The initiative serves as a vital opportunity for students to gain firsthand insight into the myriad of professions within the aviation industry. Throughout the visit, participants learned about various career options, including roles such as airline pilots and crew, Transportation Security Administration personnel, airport operations and management, law enforcement, and fire and emergency services. By exploring these pathways, students gained knowledge about potential future careers but were also inspired to consider how they can contribute to the aviation sector. The handson experience at the airport allowed them to see the

practical applications of their studies, bridging the gap between education and real-world careers.

“This unique partnership serves as a testament to the commitment of local organizations to invest in the future of our young people,” East Islip School Business Partnership coordinator Bridget Lopiccolo said. “By providing access to such resources, we are fostering a new generation of professionals who will contribute to the growth and innovation of the aviation industry. Partnerships and experiences like this not only enhance our students’ curriculum but open their eyes to career fields that are growing in the near future. This will help them navigate the work world, which is what we want for our students.”

“After participating in the field trip to the airport, I’ve realized how exciting and rewarding a career in aviation can be,” junior Chris Hernandez said. “It inspired me to consider becoming a fireman, where I can combine my passion for helping others with the thrill of working in a dynamic environment.”

Sachem North Raises $5K for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Bringing Six-Year Total

Sachem High School North recently hosted its annual St. Baldrick’s event, raising approximately $5,000 for childhood cancer research. With this year’s contribution, the event’s total fundraising over the past six years has now exceeded $50,000, a remarkable achievement that reflects the dedication and spirit of the school community.

This year’s event was marked by high energy, with the senior class taking home the coveted title of the most spirited. Their enthusiasm helped fuel a day filled with fun and meaningful activities, including silly competitions and interactive audience participation, designed to bring students together for a great cause.

The inspiration for the event came from cancer survivor Dominick Strebel, who was a student at Sachem North back in 2018 and is now a student teacher in social studies.

The Interact Club, which organizes the fundraiser, spends months planning every detail to ensure the day is both fun and impactful. This year,

to Over $50K

students participated in shaving and shenanigans, a series of lighthearted competitions that help raise awareness while creating lasting memories. The event also saw a wonderful performance by the school’s orchestra ensemble, which played an Irish song to celebrate the occasion.

One of the highlights was Principal Mr. Nolan’s decision to shave his head in support of the cause. Additionally, the school’s talented cosmetology students and teachers were on hand to manage the head shaving, a service they have provided each year with dedication.

Though there was no specific guest of honor battling cancer this year, the event recognized all children fighting the disease, continuing its tradition of raising awareness and showing solidarity with those in need.

St. Baldrick’s at Sachem High School North is more than just a fundraiser –it is a chance for students to come together, laugh and make a difference. The Interact Club looks forward to continuing this tradition of community, fun and support for childhood cancer research.

James Wilson Young Ecology Club Dives into Long Island’s Water with SCWA

Students in the Ecology Club at James Wilson Young Middle School in the Bayport-Blue Point School District took a deep dive into Long Island’s water system with a presentation from a representative of the Suffolk County Water Authority during their most recent meeting.

Students learned that Long Island is built on an aquifer system that supplies the region’s drinking water. Using an interactive simulator, they explored how pollution impacts water sources and how contaminants are filtered out. The demonstration included models of water storage tanks, wells and cesspools, offering a look at the infrastructure that supports clean water.

The presentation sparked thoughtful questions and discussion among students, all centered around the importance of protecting local water resources.

Civics 101

The Necessary Standard for American Education

The Eighteenth and Twenty-First Amendments

By Matt Meduri

Introduced at a particularly unique and tumultuous time in American history, the Eighteenth Amendment is responsible for having banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol in the United States. It’s also the only constitutional amendment to have been effectively repealed.

Eighteenth AmendmentHistory and Origin

“After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

“The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

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.

“This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.”

The Eighteenth Amendment was the result of the decadeslong temperance movement, which sought to curb the consumption of alcohol, and thereby, the large influence it had on public life, politics, and crime, all amidst a rapidly-growing nation off the heels of the Industrial Revolution.

The Anti-Saloon League (ASL) began in 1906 in Saratoga, New York, as a campaign to ban the sale of alcohol in the state. Their campaign included elements that Prohibition, as the movement at-large would later be called, would curb poverty and social problems, such as violence and immoral sexual behavior, as well as create happier families, reduce workplace accidents, and give way to new forms of sociability.

Churches were also highly influential in garnering support for Prohibition, with the Women’s Christian Temperance Union affecting some 6,000 congregations across the country. Others, such as reformer Carrie Nation, would become known for vandalizing saloons.

By 1916, twenty-three of the forty-eight states at the time had already passed laws against saloons, and some even went further as to ban the manufacture of alcohol outright.

Eighteenth Amendment - Ratification

By August 1, 1917, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution containing the language for an amendment to be sent to the states. In a 65-20 vote, thirty-six Democrats voted in favor, twelve against, while twenty-nine Republicans voted in favor, eight in opposition. By December of that year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its revised resolution. In a 282-128 vote, Democrats supported 141-64, and Republicans supported 137-62.

What made the Eighteenth Amendment unique is that it was the first amendment to impose a deadline date. If the minimum number of states did not ratify before the deadline, the amendment would be tabled.

Mississippi became the first state to ratify on January 7, 1918, followed by Virginia, Kentucky, North Dakota, and South Carolina. Nebraska was the tipping-point state for ratification, coming in as the thirty-sixth state to do so on January 16, 1919. New York would be forty-third to ratify just two weeks later. Connecticut and Rhode Island are the only two states to have rejected the amendment.

The better clarify the language in the amendment, Congress passed the Volstead Act, otherwise known as the National Prohibition Act, in October 1919. President Woodrow Wilson (DNJ) vetoed the bill, but the House immediately overrode his veto, with the Senate doing the same the following day. The Volstead Act set the starting date for nationwide Prohibition for January 17, 1920, which was the earliest date permissible by the Eighteenth Amendment.

The Volstead Act

The legislation was the product of Wayne Bidwell Wheeler, the leader of the Anti-Saloon League. It was supported by

Congressman Andrew Volsted (R, MN-07), Chair of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, and later the namesake of the legislation.

The Volstead Act defined how alcohol’s production and distribution would be banned. It contained three main sections.

The first section handled the previously enacted Prohibition during and after World War I. Not only did the time serve as an opportunity for reformers to get their measures passed, including Prohibition, but some suspicions of foreigners remained, as many saloons were operated by immigrants. Additionally, drinking was akin to being pro-Greman at the time, as many breweries at the time had German names.

Furthermore, the War Time Prohibition Act was less about the consumption of alcohol and more about prohibiting its usage to conserve grains. Title II of the Volstead Act defined “intoxicating beverages” as those with an alcohol content equal to or great than 0.5%.

The second section outlined how to enforce Prohibition pursuant to the Eighteenth Amendment. This included fines and jail sentences for the manufacture, sale, and movement of alcohol. It also enumerated search and seizure and enforcement powers.

However, the Volstead Act did not ban the consumption of alcohol. Citizens were allowed to possess alcohol if they were obtained before Prohibition and if drinks were customarily in the homes for occasions or company, as long as proof of purchase accompanied the beverages. Alcohol used for medicinal purposes also remained legal under the act. Physicians were allowed to prescribe one pint of spirits every ten days. Clergy could also apply for permits to provide alcohol for sacramental practices.

The third section of the Volstead Act dealt with alcohol for industrial purposes only.

The large-scale ban on manufacturing gave way to at-home winemakers, as the grapes from vineyards often could not withstand long journeys to markets where sale and manufacture were still legal.

Perhaps the largest byproduct of Prohibition, however, was the proliferation of organized crime. Major gangsters, like Chicago’s Al Capone, and Omaha’s Tom Dennison became robber barons of the drink and law enforcement’s powers were somewhat neutered by the breadth and affluence of these gangs. Speakeasies, illicit alcohol establishments, began popping up, and many “bootleggers” became sympathetic to the gangs. Even the upper echelons of society were partaking, with a Michigan State Police raid on the Detroit establishment Deutsches Haus incriminated the mayor, the sheriff, and the local congressman.

Twenty-First Amendment - Origin and Ratification

“The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

“The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of

intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

“This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.”

Due to a lack of societal acceptance, the sheer logistical project of enforcement, and the rise of powerful criminal organizations made Prohibition an experiment worth ending. On February 20, 1933, almost fifteen years after the Eighteenth Amendment was ratified, the Twenty-First Amendment was ratified. It remains the only amendment that specifically repeals a prior amendment.

What also makes this amendment unique is that it is the only one to have been passed via state ratifying convention. Article V of the Constitution permits the House and Senate, when they deem necessary, to call a convention for the purpose of dealing with a specific issue, allowing Congress to effectively bypass certain levels of state sovereignty. The method calls a convention of state legislatures to deliberate and vote on the proposed amendment as written, rather than giving it to the states legislatures. Ratifying conventions also elect delegates by a popular vote for the issue, rather than going through the regularly-elected state legislatures. The convention method requires the same three-fourths majority to approve, as it does in the typical legislative method.

Michigan first voted to ratify on April 10, 1933, followed by Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Wyoming, and New Jersey. Utah was the tipping-point state, ratifying in December that year. Maine and Montana subsequently ratified. South Carolina rejected the measure unanimously at its convention, while North Carolina rejected the convention altogether.

Dry and Wet Counties Today

Even though there isn’t much federal oversight of how alcohol is manufactured, sold, and moved as there once was, states can still afford their counties and municipalities to enforce their own alcohol laws.

Thirty-three states have laws that allow localities to prohibit the sale, consumption, and possession of liquor. New York is one of these states that are “wet” by default, but have provisions for localities to exercise a local option by public referendum to go dry and to what extent. Most states defer the matter to public referenda, but some allow municipalities to enforce laws stricter than those of the state overall.

Seventeen states prohibit “dry” counties overall. In states like Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, and Maryland prevent localities from enforcing alcohol laws greater than those of the state. As a result, no “dry” communities can be formed in these states. States like Hawaii only allow local control of alcohol in terms of licensing of manufacture and sale.

While Missouri law prohibits municipalities from going “dry”, incorporated cities can by public referendum, although none have done so.

States like Montana that have Native American reservations cannot enforce liquor laws on said lands, as reservations are entirely under the purview of the federal government.

In New York, eight towns are completely “dry” and thirtynine are partially “dry”. Dry towns include Caneadea (Allegany County), Lapeer (Cortland County), and Berkshire (Tioga County). Several towns do not allow off-premises consumption, while others bar on-premises consumption, except in year-round hotels.

There are twenty-two partially “dry” counties in New York that have varying specific rules for special on-premises consumption. The Town of Wilmington (Essex County) is a “dry” county, except for on-premises consumption at race tracks and outdoor athletic fields and stadiums where admission fees are charged.

Only two states - Kansas and Tennessee - are “dry” by default and localities must pass by referenda their ability to sell alcohol subject to state laws.

Alcohol control in the U.S. (Red = Dry, Blue = Wet, Yellow = Mixed)

East Islip Varsity Softball is Focused on ‘Today’

By Ashley Pavlakis

Batters up, the East Islip Redmen have taken the field for the 2025 varsity softball season. The young squad is on a roll this season, with the offense producing and the pitchers getting it done on the mound.

The Redmen are members of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and compete in League IV. The girls are 5-10 this season and sit at the top of their league.

The varsity team is led by head coach Jason McGowan, a seasoned skipper in the dugout. McGowan began his nineteenth season at the helm, making stops at Bayshore, Half Hollow Hills, and Plain Edge before finding his home at East Islip in 2012. McGowan is joined by assistant coaches Katie Wallace and Mike Montouri.

Nineteen seasons is a pretty long time, which means some wins were accumulated over the years. On April 2, McGowan earned his 300th career win as a varsity head coach. The skipper was honored for his achievement with a commemorative banner at the game on April 4.

“It was awesome, it’s a great feeling. 300 is nice, that’s a lot of wins and it feels good. It’s really about the kids, all these athletes that came through my programs. Just tough kids that were willing to buy into my system,” said McGowan.

Being a varsity athlete is a big responsibility, but if you buy into the program, you usually find yourself in a better place when you leave it.

“We go hard; you have to be dedicated to go six days a week, two, three

hours a day. It’s a huge commitment and we do the offseason and all winter,” said McGowan. “I’ve never even had to make a cut on my team. These kids know, it’s just from years past that if you want to play for East Islip Varsity you have to be all in. If they’re all in and they want to make that commitment, my goal is to make not just better players, but better people. We become like a family.”

The 2024 season brought an unexpected turn of events that saw a young pitcher make her mark on the program.

“We have no seniors on the team. Caitlin Ropiak, then an eighth grader, had to jump onto the mound and figure it out. She was thrown into the fire and long story short, her [Ropiak] as a pitcher, led us to the County final as an eighth grader. Our oldest starter was a tenth grader; we were a tremendously young team, but tough,” said McGowan.

Culture is an integral component for any sports team. McGowan has cultivated a culture that focuses on the present.

“We have t-shirts. After every home game, the kids wear a t-shirt and they hang their jerseys on the fence. The t-shirt says ‘TODAY’, that’s all it says. It says East Islip Softball and in big letters it says ‘TODAY’. We don’t care about last year or making the County finals with our oldest kid in tenth grade. We don’t care about the championships we’ve won in the past. It’s about today. I don’t care what happened yesterday, I don’t care about tomorrow, let’s focus on today. We literally take it a day at a time,” McGowan told The Messenger

2025 Community Service Award of the Rotary Club of Islip Recipient

Legislator Steven J. Flotteron (R-Brightwaters) recognized Angela Capone Mandelos, as a recipient of the 2025 Community Service Award of the Rotary Club of Islip. For the past eight years, she has served as Community Relations Director at South Shore University Hospital, where she works to build meaningful partnerships with local organizations, advocates for community health initiatives and promotes preventive healthcare education. Her passion for addressing social determinants of health is unparalleled, working tirelessly to bridge gaps in healthcare access and improve the overall well-being of the communities served by the hospital.

Beyond her professional achievements, she is deeply involved in her community, serving on the Islip Chamber of Commerce board and multiple community committees. Her dedication to strengthening community ties and enhancing healthcare accessibility has made a lasting impact on those she serves.

Legislator Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters) has represented the Eleventh District in the Suffolk County Legislature since 2018. The Eleventh District includes parts of North Babylon and West Babylon within Babylon Township, as well as Brightwaters, Fire Island, Ocean Beach, Saltaire, West Bay Shore, West Islip, and parts of Bay Shore, Captree, and Islip hamlet within Islip Township.

Legislator Flotteron is the Deputy Presiding Officer of the Legislature and serves as the Chair of the Public Safety Committee, Chair of the Budget and Finance Committee, and serves on the Committees on Education and Diversity; Government Operations, Personnel, and Information Technology; and Ways and Means.

The Eleventh District is located at 4 Udall Road, Suite 4, in West Islip and can be reached at 631-854-4100.

Photo creditJames Vessalico

Feds: State Risks Losing Road Funding Due to Congestion Pricing

By Hank Russell | Long Island Life and Politics

The Trump administration is giving Governor Kathy Hochul (D) until May 21 to end the congestion pricing plan or else the state will no longer receive federal funding for non-safety road projects.

As previously reported in Long Island Life & Politics, President Donald Trump (R-FL) told Hochul that she initially had until March 21 to end the Central Business District Tolling Program (also known as the congestion pricing program). But, Hochul said she will dig in her heels and has no intention of shutting it down.

The Trump administration later changed its mind and extended the deadline by another 30 days. But now, Hochul has until next month to stop the cordon pricing program.

“I write to warn you that the State of New York risks serious consequences if it continues to fail to comply with Federal law, and to direct New York to show cause why the Federal Highway Administration … should not impose appropriate measures to ensure compliance,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote in an April 21 letter to Hochul.

Duffy reiterated to Hochul that the program “imposes a disproportionate financial hardship on low and medium-income hardworking American drivers for the benefit of high-income drivers.” He added that motorists already pay for the roads through the gas tax and those who have to pay to drive below 60th Street in Manhattan “are now being forced to pay again while receiving no new highway benefits in return.”

their legal options, citing the legal issues Duffy raised in the letter.

“In the meantime, cameras are staying on, and New Yorkers continue to benefit from the first-in-the-nation congestion pricing program – with less traffic, cleaner air, safer streets and a stronger regional economy,” Lieber said in a statement.”

Long Island Life & Politics reached out to Hochul’s office. The governor responded in a statement, “I received the letter from USDOT extending their congestion pricing threats once again. I repeat: congestion pricing is legal — and it’s working. Traffic is down, business is up and the cameras are staying on.”

LILP also reached out to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Janno Lieber, the agency’s chair and CEO, said they are exploring

‘Light

By Cait Crudden

The MTA told Newsweek that the congestion pricing program, under the current tolling system, is expected to raise $500 million by the end of the year. Had the toll been set to $15 as initially proposed, that amount would have been $700 million.

This article originally appeared in Long Island Life and Politics. For more from LILP, visit them online at lilifepolitics.com.

It Up Red’ Campaign Illuminates NY’s Volunteer Firefighter Shortage

A new statewide campaign is literally lighting up New York to raise awareness about a critical issue facing communities from Long Island to the Adirondacks: the growing shortage of volunteer firefighters.

The initiative, called “Light It Up Red,” is a collaboration between the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) and the longstanding RecruitNY program. The goal is simple but urgent, to inspire residents across the state to consider joining their local fire departments and to highlight the vital role volunteer firefighters play in keeping communities safe.

As part of the campaign, FASNY is encouraging residents to light their homes and businesses red, the symbolic color of fire service during the week of April 21 through April 27. Municipal leaders are also being asked to join the effort by illuminating government buildings, town halls, landmarks, and bridges in red light to show solidarity and support for local fire departments.

New York State relies heavily on volunteer fire departments, especially in rural and suburban areas. Many of the state’s fire departments are volunteer based. However, over the past two decades, these departments have seen a steady decline in membership. FASNY reports that the number of active volunteer firefighters has dropped significantly, straining emergency response systems and increasing the burden on current volunteers.

The campaign runs alongside RecruitNY, an annual statewide initiative held every April where fire departments open their doors to the public. Through open houses, equipment demonstrations, and meet-and-greets, these events allow residents to learn what it means to be a volunteer firefighter and how they can contribute.

“Light It Up Red” adds a fresh layer to that effort, aiming to spark curiosity and start conversations. Seeing local landmarks lit in red serves as a reminder that volunteers are urgently needed and that fire departments welcome people of all backgrounds, ages, and skill sets.

Joining a fire department doesn’t necessarily mean running into burning buildings. Many departments need volunteers for support roles such as administrative work, fundraising, logistics, public education, and emergency medical services. The message from FASNY and RecruitNY is clear: there’s a place for everyone.

Participating is as simple as changing a porch light bulb or placing a red floodlight in a storefront window, but organizers hope the impact will be far-reaching. Beyond recruitment, the campaign aims to build stronger connections between fire departments and their communities, encouraging residents to not only volunteer but also donate, advocate, and educate others about the challenges volunteer departments face.

Local officials across the state have already begun responding. In towns and cities from Buffalo to Brookhaven, red lights are going up on firehouses, town halls, and historical landmarks. School districts and civic organizations have also pledged support, using their networks to spread the word and drive turnout to local RecruitNY events.

As the red glow spreads across New York, the message is simple: volunteer firefighters are essential, and they need help. To learn more about how to get involved or find a local fire department’s RecruitNY open house, residents can visit www.recruitny.org or contact their town’s fire officials. When it comes to protecting our communities, it’s not just about lighting it up, it’s about stepping up.

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, April 24, 2025

California Put Illegal Aliens on Medicaid – Now Every American Will Pay for It

By Matt Lamb | Contributor for AMAC

In an extraordinary act of financial mismanagement, California Governor Gavin Newsom, a prospective 2028 presidential candidate, is taking out $6.2 billion in loans from the state’s general fund to meet a Medicaid funding shortfall – a direct consequence of his decision to add 1.6 million illegal aliens to the program.

While “borrowing” money might cover the gap in the short run, the true problem is that overloading welfare with millions of illegal aliens is financially unsustainable. Even worse, federal taxpayers are now on the hook for California’s farleft excess thanks to a Biden-approved scheme that lets the state take in billions of extra dollars from the federal government to fund Medicaid expansion.

The problems began in 2022 when Newsom and the state legislature celebrated becoming “the first state in the nation to provide universal access to affordable health coverage for lower-income individuals by providing coverage for Californians ages 26 to 49, regardless of immigration status.” This followed a 2019 decision to expand the taxpayer-funded health insurance plan to all residents 26 years old and younger, even illegals.

“California is tackling the cost of health care head on,” Newsom said in 2022. “Doubling down on our actions to reduce costs for middle-class families and expand access to important services, this proposal is a transformative step towards strengthening the health care system for all Californians. Everyone is healthier when everyone has access to quality, affordable care.”

The changes officially took effect in 2024. Just over a year later, they have led to an enormous, entirely predictable financial headache for the state. Unsurprisingly, providing free healthcare led to more people taking advantage of it. The state originally predicted “an estimated 764,000 undocumented immigrants” would enroll. However, the actual figure has been more than double that – and is growing by the day.

There are now “roughly 1.6 million immigrants without legal status,” enrolled in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program, according to Cal Matters. This has caused a surge in costs above even what many critics of the program predicted, and Newsom now must keep going back to taxpayers to make up the difference. He first asked for a $3.4 billion loan last month, followed by another $2.8 billion in April.

The cost of the loans is almost exactly the same as the price tag for providing health insurance to 1.6 million illegal aliens as part of the state’s $157 billion annual Medi-Cal budget, according to California Healthline.

Additionally, describing the funding requests as “loans” seems dubious at best – the Medi-Cal program will never truly “pay” those funds back into the state’s general fund. It’s a bailout, plain and simple – even as the state’s current debt stands at $273 billion. The $6.2 billion transfer merely keeps the program afloat temporarily until the next inevitable funding shortfall arises.

Republican leaders argue the expansion should be scaled back to put the program on stronger financial footing. “We must stop new enrollments of illegal immigrants and rein in this unsustainable program before it collapses entirely,” California Republican state Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones said.

“Democrats and the governor are picking priorities, and they’re prioritizing people that have come into our country illegally over people who immigrated here legally, people that are citizens,” Jones added.

Republican Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher has similarly criticized Newsom’s mismanagement. “What has been the biggest driver of cost to the medical system?” Gallagher asked in March. “It’s been adding illegal immigrants to those rolls.” With a Democrat supermajority in the California state legislature, however, Golden State Republicans can do little besides look on in disgust.

But Republicans at the national level might be able to do something to stop the rest of the country from funding California’s handouts for illegal aliens – namely ending a Biden-era program that effectively allows California Democrats to

launder federal tax dollars for unrestricted Medicaid expansion.

As the Paragon Health Institute, a conservative think tank, explained in a blog post last month, in 2023 the Biden Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved California’s plan to massively expand its tax on insurers. (Thanks to a regulatory loophole, states are allowed to tax Medicaid insurers to help pay for Medicaid.)

Under California law, the state must pay Medicaid providers the same amount as the taxes it collects. In this case, California’s increased provider tax was expected to raise about $16.7 billion in additional revenue – all of which would be paid back to providers at no cost to the state.

But the federal government pays a 60 percent match on all Medicaid funds. This means that California can now take in an extra $9.5 billion per year – all of which is paid for by taxpayers nationwide. Those funds then go toward programs like Medicaid for illegal aliens.

Overview - AMAC -

The Association of Mature American Citizens

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

AMAC plays a vital role in helping build the services that will enrich the lives of America’s seniors. AMAC Action, a 501 (C)(4) advocates for issues important to AMAC’s membership on Capitol Hill and locally through grassroots activism. To Learn more, visit amac.us

In other words, it’s a shell game designed to hide the fact that federal taxpayers are footing the bill for illegal aliens to receive government healthcare.

Even more concerningly, as Paragon has noted, other states such as New York may now be looking to follow suit. Taxpayers in conservative strongholds could soon be forced to pay for liberal Medicaid-for-all schemes in the bluest states in the country.

California notably has sky-high taxes and by far the largest economy in the nation – if the state were its own country, it would have the 5th largest economy in the world. Yet still, it can’t pay for left-wing priorities without raiding the pockets of American taxpayers nationwide.

That should be a warning sign to the rest of the country – and an incentive for Republicans in Washington D.C. to end the ability of blue states to game the system and send Medicaid costs ever-higher.

WHERE BROADWAY MEETS MAIN STREET

WORD OF THE Week

Etymology: mid 16th century: from Latin magnanimus (from magnus ‘great’ + animus ‘soul’) + -ous.

MAGNANIMOUS

adjective

Pronounced: /mag·na·nuh·muhs/ Definition: generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person. Example: “He remained steadfastly humble in victory and magnanimous in defeat.”

Synonyms: generous, altruistic, merciful Antonyms: ignoble, vicious, selfish

Source: Oxford Languages

SUDOKU

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

April 30, 1859: Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” is first published in literary periodical “All the Year Round” (weekly installments until Nov. 26)

April 27, 1810: Ludwig van Beethoven composes his famous piano piece “Für Elise.”

the first solar battery made from silicon. It has about 6% efficiency.

Finding a Friend on the Road of Discouragement

By PJ Balzer

These weren’t two well-known people. They weren’t part of the hyper-spiritual inner circle.

One of them was named Cleopas and the other remains nameless to us until this very day.

The Bible never mentioned that person’s name, while Cleopas is only mentioned once in the entire Bible. But Jesus loved them and cared immensely about how downcast they were feeling. Despite them not having a big name or being a spiritual giant, a faith-filled mover and shaker, He cares for the lowly, unseen and nameless as well.

As they were journeying away from Jerusalem, walking on the lonely road to Emmaus, the two persons were recorded walking and talking together, talking specifically about what everyone else in the region was talking about: the main and current event that just took place, the execution and burial of Jesus. They had also recently heard that He was resurrected from the dead and was walking around town. They were too disappointed to believe it for themselves though.

The Bible insinuates that they reasoned with one another while sounding really discouraged. They initially thought and definitely had hoped that things would have worked out differently. They most likely witnessed many of His miracles and wonders. They saw His power on visible display and the way He was able to answer prayer. They probably figured, “This is it; it’s only up from here. We will never want, suffer, or experience loss ever again. God is here, walking amongst us, to eliminate all oppression, depression, tragedy, and everything else we’ve had to suffer through.”

But suddenly, the One that they had hoped in was also taken captive and taken away. Everything they had hoped for and possibly planned for was in a dark tomb. They found themselves walking the lonely road of discouragement, the road that each one of us has or will walk at different points in life.

A person who they thought was a stranger walked up behind them. He asked them what they were talking about and sounded so discouraged over, as if He didn’t already know.

But He’s a gentle friend that’s willing to walk and talk with us. He’s willing to entertain our heartbreak and our loss of faith. He’s known to meet an individual along the journey while we’re at the depths of our discouragement. He walks and keeps walking, because He knows that healing a heart is an ongoing process and not a one-time event.

Their eyes were opened as they realized it was Jesus walking up behind them. Furthermore, He was also willing to continue until sundown on the lonely road with these two seemingly unknown people He answered their honest and transparent questions. He encouraged them; He explained what had happened according to His divine purposes that they couldn’t initially understand. The resurrected Christ didn’t harshly condemn them; He encouraged their hearts as they shared a meal together. His presence and voice helped them to continue on the journey.

When I was much younger, someone older told me, “As life goes on, you’ll find out who their true friends are when you’re at the very bottom. You’ll have dozens of friends when everything seems to be going well, when you’re fun to hang out with and have money to throw around. But wait to see who is sitting next to your hospital bed, who stands with you as you’re on the unemployment line, who comes to visit you regularly if you’re ever incarcerated, who is still looking to be your friend when you’re feeling lost and in a deep depression, when you’re broke, have nothing to offer in return, and find yourself in need. You’ll unfortunately be able to count your friends on only one hand then.”

While he wasn’t totally wrong, I can also say that those times have revealed a friend I’ve found that has been willing to walk every step of every lonely road with me. Jesus has been there at the very top and the very bottom too, situations that I thought would pummel me have ended up working out for a greater purpose that I couldn’t see at the time. There’s been healing, provision, encouragement, and a heart change along the narrow way. He’s been a friend I’ve found along the road of discouragement.

Lord,

I pray for everyone today who opened this newspaper to this very page who has been discouraged, those who have been feeling alone, friendless, confused, hopeless, and swimming in the depths of depression. I pray that you would touch their minds and hearts with a hope that only you can provide. I pray for your comfort to surround them and for your word to encourage their hearts. Thank you, God, for being a friend that’s nearer to us then even our own breath. We look to you today for help, hope and a personal resurrection of our own hearts.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

22 A Milestone Year for the Navy SEAL LT Michael P. Murphy Run Around the Lake -

The team behind the Navy SEAL LT Michael P. Murphy Run Around the Lake proudly invites the community to take part in a milestone event: the 2025 Run Around the Lake, commemorating the Twentieth anniversary of LT Michael P. Murphy’s heroic sacrifice during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan.

Saturday, June 28, 2025

This annual event honors the legacy of Ronkonkoma native and Medal of Honor recipient Navy SEAL LT Michael P. Murphy. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just looking to support a meaningful cause, there’s something for everyone:

• A relaxed, untimed Fun Run

• The signature 4-Mile Run

• A timed Half Marathon (three scenic laps around Lake Ronkonkoma) Register now: https://events.elitefeats.com/25murph

Sponsored by the Ronkonkoma Rotary and Northwell Health, the Run Around the Lake is more than a race—it’s a powerful tribute to Murph’s selflessness, courage, and enduring legacy.

That legacy lives on through the LT Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum in Sayville, NY. Proceeds from the event help support and expand this state-ofthe-art facility, ensuring that future generations can learn from and honor the sacrifices of our nation’s warriors.

Funds also benefit the LT Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation, which provides scholarships to students who embody Murph’s values: honor, courage, and commitment—empowering them to pursue dreams once thought out of reach.

This year’s event holds deeper meaning as it falls exactly twenty years to the day since LT Michael P. Murphy and eighteen fellow service members gave their lives during Operation Red Wings.

In June 2005, during a harrowing mission in Afghanistan, Murphy and his SEAL team were ambushed and heavily outnumbered. Wounded and pinned down, with no signal to call for help, LT Murphy knowingly exposed himself to enemy fire to transmit a distress call. Amid a hail of bullets, his final words before hanging up were simply, “Thank you.”

Join us this June 28 in honoring LT Michael P. Murphy and all of our nation’s fallen heroes.

About the Race

The original Run Around the Lake began in 1980 with just 35 runners on a certified 4-mile course. In 2011, Dan Murphy—father of LT Michael P. Murphy— approached the Ronkonkoma Rotary with a vision: to turn the race into a living tribute to his son and the heroes of Operation Red Wings. We were honored to accept.

In 2012, the event was officially renamed the Navy SEAL LT Michael P. Murphy Run Around the Lake. That year, nearly 900 runners participated. Since then, the event has grown tremendously, with over 3,600 participants in 2024 and the addition of a certified Half Marathon.

Learn more, donate, register, or become a sponsor at: www.runaroundthelake.com

A Closer Look at Suffolk County’s Sales Tax Extension and the Road Ahead

By Raheem Soto

There are few things more permanent in government than a “temporary” tax. Suffolk County’s 1% sales tax increase, first introduced in 2001 as a short-term revenue measure, is once again up for renewal— this time through Senate Bill S7420.

The bill, currently under review in the Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee, proposes extending the county’s authority to collect this additional tax through November 30, 2027. And so, a temporary measure becomes routine. Again.

To be fair, the tax itself isn’t new, nor is the need for funding basic services. Local governments, unlike Washington, can’t run endless deficits. They need balanced budgets. In that context, extending an existing sales tax is the path of least resistance. It keeps the cash flowing to law enforcement, emergency services, and general operations—without raising property taxes or making deeper structural reforms.

choice: patch the hole, don’t fix the roof.

The stated goal of this extension, as outlined in the bill, is to maintain support for “public safety” and the county’s general fund. That’s a wide net. How those funds are prioritized within that framework is left to local discretion. If the past is any indication, the money will be used— efficiently or not—and few will ask questions unless a crisis forces the issue.

Of course, there’s no immediate harm in keeping the tax as-is. The rate isn’t going up. Services aren’t being slashed. But what’s missing is a serious public discussion about alternatives: are there efficiencies to be found elsewhere? Can outdated programs be reformed? Is there a plan to wean off the extra 1%—or is permanent extension just the plan?

It’s easy to approve a policy that’s already in place. It feels familiar, even safe. But familiarity can breed complacency. And policies, no matter how routine, deserve scrutiny—especially when they involve the automatic transfer of wealth from the private sector to government coffers.

But the more important question isn’t about whether the money is needed. It’s whether the underlying spending has been examined with the same level of urgency.

Sales taxes are broad-based and easy to collect. They also hit lower-income families harder, as a larger share of their income goes to taxable purchases. For over two decades, Suffolk County has leaned on this tool. The 1% add-on may not seem like much in the moment, but over time it reflects a deeper policy

As the bill moves forward, Suffolk County residents might do well to ask: What’s the long-term plan? Is this just another extension—or the new normal?

For those wanting to see the numbers and the law for themselves, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance provides public updates.

But beyond the fine print lies the broader principle: taxes are never just about revenue. They’re also about responsibility—and whether government is using its share as wisely as you’re expected to spend yours.

By Raheem Soto

Four Fatal Crashes, 36 Hours

Suffolk County’s roads turned deadly over the weekend, with four lives lost and others injured in a series of separate traffic incidents. What these events have in common is not just tragic timing—but a reminder of what happens when ordinary decisions carry extraordinary consequences.

The first occurred Saturday evening in Lindenhurst, where 53-year-old Jose Batresmendez of Copiague was struck by a motorcycle while crossing North Strong Avenue. The motorcyclist didn’t stop. Police say the driver fled the scene. Batresmendez was seriously injured and taken to Good Samaritan Hospital. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are asking the public for help identifying the rider.

Just a few hours later, 69-year-old Carlos Villafane of Mastic Beach was hit and killed on Sunrise Highway in Blue Point. According to police, he was standing in the center eastbound lane near Waverly Avenue when a Ford Mustang, attempting to avoid several pedestrians, struck him. The driver remained on the scene. Villafane died where he stood. The vehicle was impounded for a routine safety check.

That same night, a multi-vehicle crash in Massapequa claimed another life. Police say 19-year-old Brian Romero Guy August of Medford was driving a Bentley SUV and tried to turn right from a left-turn lane on Sunrise Highway near Unqua Road. The result was a chain-reaction collision involving a threewheeled motorcycle, a second vehicle, and a utility pole.

facing charges that include vehicular manslaughter, assault, and driving while intoxicated.

And by Sunday morning, the toll climbed again. Twenty-six-year-old Airton

The motorcyclist, 48-year-old Willie Singleton of Bay Shore, died at the hospital. His 47-year-old passenger was seriously injured. August is now

Local History

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Lake Ronkonkoma Homemakers Unit 38

By Ellyn Okvist, B.Sc.

After the Lake Ronkonkoma Equal Rights Suffrage Club was victorious with the 19th Amendment, the continuity of the women in Lake Ronkonkoma followed in 1941 with the formation of the Lake Ronkonkoma Home Bureau Unit Organization.

“Mrs. Vera Brush of the County Home Bureau will conduct a meeting next Monday at the local Legion post rooms, preparatory to forming a Lake Ronkonkoma Unit of the Home Bureau. A minimum of 20 members is necessary, and those desiring to join are asked to get in touch with Mrs. George Pearsall of Church Street.” - The Mid-Island Mail February 12, 1941.

The newly formed group made the twenty-member quota with twenty-nine original members. Mrs. George Pearsall was chairman; Mrs. Frank Dehe, vice chairman; Mrs. Ivar (Elsie) Okvist, secretary and treasurer; and Mrs. Eric (Billie) Okvist corresponding secretary. Members all signed in using their husband’s first names. Their meetings were held at Burke’s Bus Terminal on Union Avenue but were gradually disbanded and reorganized in 1947 with a new increased membership.

1952 showed fifty-six members, and 1953 was sixty-six members. Their meetings were held at St. Mary’s Parish Hall on Pond Road, and the classes were welcome and much needed by the women. Included were fur coat remodeling, cotton dresses, glove making, lamp wiring, caning, hat remodeling, remodeling upholstered furniture, slipcovers, and card making. The Silver Tea each year had a display of such articles. Sandwiches and cookies were served, and an auction was held of handmade articles which became the highlight of the afternoon.

Mrs. Ivar (Elsie) Okvist, who at the time was chairman, began a cancer drive in the area. Mrs. Nellie Olsen volunteered her services to drive a patient to Bay Shore for treatment. A cake sale was held in Conklin’s Pharmacy for the Palsy Project. Card Parties and Chinese Raffles were held using Stanley Brush gifts that were won from their parties. Day Trips to New York City were common, to see the Arthur Godfrey Show, Kate Smith, International Flower Show, The Robe, etc., and sometimes just to shop! Get-togethers were held at Duffield’s Beach on the Lake. Dues were $2.10. The first Christmas Party was held at Club 38 on Pond Road with Nellie Olsen playing Santa, which she continued to do for many years.

The Seventh Anniversary of the Club was held in 1954 at a wonderful party, and at the same time, the Home Bureau was officially changed to Extension Service Unit. From 1954-1955 there were eighty members. They were now teaching basketry, simple carpentry, refinishing wooden salad bowls, gardening, winter

corsages, and hooked rugs. Card and games parties seemed to be successful fundraisers. They continued their bus trips to the city, silver teas, and covered dish luncheons. Mrs. Fred Meagher was in her second term in office.

In 1960, Yarlow’s Variety Store offered a 10% discount to all Unit members. However, there was a lull in raising money. The Unit held a trip to the Blue Point Laundry, where 50 cents was paid per member to the unit of eighty-nine members. In 1961, the legality of card parties was discouraged, as the Department of Agriculture frowned upon it. Covered luncheon dinners, Dark Horse, and social card parties were deemed acceptable.

The Unit once again changed its name to Nesconset-Lake Ronkonkoma in 1962, and they were now meeting at the Nesconset Armory. Fund raisers included Tupperware sales, Chinese Auctions, and in 1964, a trip to the World’s Fair. In 1967, dues were increased to $2.50, and classes were added such as lawn culture, rose culture, bread making, meat classes, pattern alterations, and weight control. There was also more freedom for courses to be taught, and crafts had become more acceptable.

Unfortunately, records from 1968 through the late 1980s are missing. The Holy Cross Lutheran Church became the meeting site in 1988, and prices were changed. The grab bag was raised to $2.00 per gift; in 1990 it was raised to $3.00 to prevent members from receiving “junk”, finally reaching $5.00. In 1989, the Unit moved into the Islip Senior Citizen Center and was renamed Lake Ronkonkoma Homemakers.

The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Unit was held in 1991 at the Christmas Dinner. Three of the “Original Members” attended- Nellie Olsen, Elsie Okvist, and Sunny Birch.

The Unit remained at the Islip center until 2008 when they moved to the Lake Ronkonkoma Fire House Building on Hawkins Avenue. Popular crafts are card making, anything that can be sewn, crocheted, painted, or glued. The Unit gives to the Rodden Home residents, soup kitchens, food pantries, and outreach to local churches and miscellaneous charities, and holds various social functions during the year. New people are always eager to pitch in and help or to teach crafts.

Today, the membership is seventy-five, and the dues are $26.00. The monthly food collection is given to local church pantries. School supplies are collected in September and given to local schools that are in need. Toys are collected in December for the Lighthouse Mission, and many community service projects that the members fully participate in are recognized.

Eighty-four years strong this year, and they still have their Chinese auction every year, which is their main fund raiser. This Friday, April 25, 2025, at 10:00a.m. is the Annual Spring Auction, held at the Lake Ronkonkoma Firehouse. Join them for a lot of fun and adventure to see what they are all about!

Christmas toy donation Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

A2A Is Here. Move Smart or Get Moved Past

By Mollie Barnett

The second wave of AI has arrived. Not with more headlines—but with more autonomy.

It’s called A2A: Agent-to-Agent communication. And while it may not sound as flashy as chatbots or virtual assistants, it’s the biggest shift yet in how AI will work inside your business.

Here’s the short version: A2A enables AI systems to talk to each other. Not just once. Continuously. In real time. Across your entire organization.

What does that look like in practice?

An AI system monitoring your inventory detects low stock. It alerts another agent managing marketing, which pauses ads. A third AI updates your cash flow projection. Then your customer service system preps messaging about availability—before you even know there’s an issue.

No prompts. No waiting. No human input.

This isn’t hypothetical. These systems are already being tested across industries. And they’re moving faster than most business owners realize.

The Shift from Tools to Teammates

Most companies spent the last year learning how to use AI tools. They asked questions, generated content, maybe automated some tasks.

That’s the first wave: AI as a highly capable assistant. You give the prompt. It gives you output.

A2A is the second wave: AI as a fully autonomous operator. It doesn’t wait for your instructions—it collaborates with other AI agents to take action on your behalf.

That shift—from tool to teammate—is massive. Because once AI systems start coordinating without you, the conversation changes from “What can AI do?” to “What is AI deciding?”

And if you’re not in control of those decisions, you’re not in control of your business.

Why This Matters for Mid-Sized Firms

Large enterprises have teams to test, govern, and fine-tune AI systems. Startups have the flexibility to experiment and pivot.

Mid-sized companies live in the tension between ambition and resources. They’re big enough to need scale, but often too lean to absorb missteps. And they’re the ones most at risk of diving into A2A without the safety nets in place.

Right now, many of these firms are just getting comfortable with AI basics. But A2A isn’t waiting for them to catch up. It’s already arriving—built into SaaS platforms, offered by vendors, marketed as plug-and-play solutions.

What looks like an upgrade may be a handoff: You’re not just speeding up processes— you’re ceding parts of them to autonomous agents.

Without oversight, that’s not innovation. That’s risk.

Where to Start: Five Smart Moves

The good news? You don’t have to pause. You have to proceed with clarity.

The companies navigating A2A well are doing five things:

1. They start small. They run A2A pilots in one department or use case. Supply chain. Finance. Customer support. Then they measure results before scaling.

2. They map decision chains. Who triggers what? What’s the threshold for action? Who’s accountable if it goes wrong?

3. They invest in AI fluency across teams. This isn’t just IT’s job. Everyone—from ops to marketing—needs to understand what AI is doing in their lane.

4. They demand visibility. Every AI interaction must be traceable. If something goes wrong, they know which agent triggered it—and why.

5. They tie AI performance to business metrics. Time saved. Errors reduced. Customer satisfaction improved. No vanity dashboards—just real impact. It’s not about avoiding AI. It’s about owning it.

What Comes Next

A2A will keep accelerating. Open-source projects are building plug-and-play frameworks. Tech platforms are integrating multi-agent orchestration by default. What feels cutting-edge now will be standard in 18 months.

That means your competitors will be faster. More efficient. More adaptive.

But the advantage won’t go to whoever adopts A2A first. It will go to those who adopt it well.

Those who align it with strategy. Who will govern effectively. Who trust it—because they understand it.

The Bottom Line

This is not just another AI upgrade. It’s a turning point in how decisions are made inside organizations. The companies that build their systems—and their strategies—for autonomy will lead the market. Those that don’t will be led by it.

Mollie Barnett, a Microsoft-certified Generative AI expert and Forbes Communications Council member, brings twenty years of marketing leadership to AI transformation. She specializes in helping SMBs implement practical AI solutions for business, training, and integration, and provides strategic guidance on AI ethics, security and compliance.

26 Theater & The Arts

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Theatre Three’s

‘Wait Until Dark’ is a Spine-Chilling Thriller

By Cindi Sansone-Braff

Christine Boehm’s emotionally driven direction was apparent from the moment the house lights dimmed, and the cat-andmouse onstage action began. The tight-knit ensemble brought the compelling characters in “Wait Until Dark” to life, while the highstakes plot, with well-timed twists and turns and a few well-placed red herrings, kept the audience on the edge of their seats right up to the blockbuster ending.

“Wait Until Dark” is a suspense-filled 1966 Broadway drama by the English playwright Frederick Knott, a master of cunning plot devices. Lee Remick starred in that production and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her captivating portrayal of Susy Hendrix. Knott’s version took place in the 1960s; however, Theatre Three’s masterful production features Jeffrey Hatcher’s gripping 2013 adaptation, set in 1944.

This two-act play revolves around Susan Hendrix, a recently married woman who lost her vision in a car accident 18 months before the play’s action begins. Susan is still navigating a sightless world when three con men, anxious to find a mysterious music-playing doll, wangle their way into her life. Trapped in her basement apartment, she draws on her newly acquired intuitive skills and amplified senses to outwit the criminals.

When it comes to “Wait Until Dark,” most people think of the 1967 movie starring Alan Arkin,

The unholy trinity of con men is the evil engine that drives this play forward. Scott Joseph Butler’s intense facial expressions and body language sent chills up my spine with his spot-on depiction of Harry Roat, Jr., the psychopathic criminal mastermind determined to fight to the death to get what he wants.

David DiMarzo gave a standout performance as Mike Talman, a smoothoperating petty crook who manipulates Susan by pretending to be a Marine Lieutenant who served in Italy with her husband. Susan and Mike’s relationship is complicated. DiMarzo effectively communicates the inner conflict he feels about deceiving Susan with the exacting delivery of his lines and through his nuanced facial expressions.

Weston, Julie Herrod, and Audrey Hepburn. Hepburn received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her stellar performance as Susy Hendrix.

In Theatre Three’s production, Jessica Mae Murphy was perfectly cast as Susan Hendrix. She fully possesses the brains, beauty, and talent to step into the shoes of the iconic Audrey Hepburn while making this demanding role uniquely her own. Murphy delivered a believable and likable portrayal of Susan, a strong-willed, determined, visually impaired woman striving to live her best life.

Eric J. Hughes was outstanding as Sam Hendrix, Susan’s photographer husband, who has PTSD. The electrifying onstage chemistry between Murphy and Hughes was one of the show’s high points.

Adriana Mia Como gave a memorable performance as Gloria, Susan’s mischievous young neighbor. Como played this complicated, troubled, intelligent tween with the right blend of sometimes spoiled, often sassy, but mostly childlike vulnerability.

Richard O’Sullivan shines as the bogus Police Sergeant Carlino, a bearish man in a heavy overcoat who is Roat’s half-witted henchman. When Sgt. Carlino isn’t scaring the hell out of the audience, his onstage antics provide some much-needed comedic relief.

Randall Parsons’s realistic Greenwich Village brownstone basement apartment, Indigo Shea’s awe-inspiring lighting design, metaphorically juxtaposing darkness and light, Tim Haggerty’s fightor-flight-triggering sound design, and Ronald Green III’s period costumes contributed greatly to this production’s overall success. A special shoutout goes to Heather Legnosky, Fight Choreographer, for her perfectly timed, visually exciting, and realistic-looking fight sequences.

Theatre Three’s terrifyingly terrific production of “Wait Until Dark” proves why this theatrical gem continues to fascinate audiences. If you’re stumped about what to give the moms in your life for Mother’s Day, gift them with tickets to this tensionfilled thriller, which runs through May 11, 2025. To purchase tickets, please call the box office at 631-928-9100 or visit www. theatrethree.com.

Content Warning: This show contains adult situations and may not be appropriate for all audiences.

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

Richard Crenna, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Jack

Photos courtesy of Jeff Bellante

Duck Season! Ducks Host ‘Fan Day’ for 25th Anniversary Season

By Matt Meduri

Long Island’s very own professional baseball team has been waiting in the dugouts for a special season - their twenty-fifth in play, live from Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip.

Last year’s season was originally intended to be their big milestone, but the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, making this year all the more significant.

Of particular celebratory note, the team will be wearing special twenty-fifth anniversary jerseys all season long, which will be auctioned off after the season with proceeds benefiting the QuackerJack Foundation, the ball club’s charitable arm.

All parties have been all-in on the Ducks’ commemorative season, with the Town of Islip having been faithful partners on several initiatives, and Suffolk County pitching in some funds for renovations.

Renovations include an all-new turf field, with a massive Ducks logo emblazoned just beneath home plate. The pitching mound was also fully replaced, with new bullpens and padded outfield walls.

The Ducks are particularly excited for this coming weekend, with Opening Day slated for Friday, April 25gates open at 5:35p.m. for a 6:35p.m. game against the Lancaster Stormers - and a Family Fun Day on Sunday, April 27, with gates opening at 12:35p.m. The Family Fun Day will allow families and children to experience the allnew ballpark for themselves, as well as interact with the team.

Weekly promos continue to run, with Thirsty Thursdays making a return, and one lucky fan will have the chance every Saturday to win 40,000 Breeze Airway points, valid for two tickets on Breeze Airways which flies out of Islip MacArthur Airport (ISP).

runs in the middle of play. O’Connor threw out 44% of runners in his career, with 49% last year.

Regarding pitching staff, Ford and company are optimistic on “limiting three-base runners and making the other team work instead of giving away the ball.”

“I feel like this is a path God put out in front of me. This is a very high-level place to play baseball, to get back into affiliate [baseball], to get back into the big leagues and prove that I’m healthy,” said Ducks infielder Seth Beer (#28) (pictured left), referencing an injury-plagued career that he’s been eager to overcome, adding his praise for the team and organization.

“These are the types of guys who come in every day ready to play; they work hard, they play hard,” said Ford.

“This is what we expect from the Ducks and these are the types of guys who are going to further their careers.”

“We’ve been consistent,” said Atlantic League of Professional Baseball CEO and Ducks founder Frank Boulton. “We’ve had great fans throughout the twenty-five years here on Long Island. But I don’t think that just happens. That happens because the entire organization works all year long. We don’t just put the ‘baseball today’ sign out. It happens because we’re here 365 days, working to make sure that we fulfill our mission of affordable family entertainment.”

The Heroes of the Game program returns, wherein Veterans and active-duty military personnel are honored at each game.

“It’s been such a pleasure to have out so many Veterans and we’ll continue that this year with the partnership with [Suffolk County Executive] Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) and the Suffolk County Veterans Agency,” said Ducks Communications Vice President Michael Polak at the ballpark last weekend.

Polak and the Ducks are also glad to have Chris King and David Weiss back in the broadcasting booth for another season. The duo make up the longest-running broadcast crew in the Atlantic League and are about to begin their twenty-fifth season together.

Ducks starting pitcher John Gant (#35) invoked a similar feeling to his teammate.

“This game of baseball is real special,” said Gant. “I feel like God has brought me here specifically.”

“New York is split 50-50. We have New York Yankees fans and we have New York Mets fans. But the entire Island is Long Island Ducks fans,” Ducks pitcher Nick Tropeano (#41) told The Messenger. The West Islip native reflects fondly on his time of visiting the ballpark as a child, only to pitch from the mound today.

Foremost, the organization remains committed to their creed of local, affordable family fun. Parking will remain free throughout the season.

“We’re very excited about the roster we’ve put together this year,” said Ducks Manager Lew Ford (pictured right). “Last year, our team stole 190 bases and we’re looking to build off that this year. We looked for players that can run, play defense, but also have some power in the middle of the lineup. It’s very balanced on the roster side.”

Ford says catcher Justin O’Connor (#11) is of particular interest, owing to the need of a good catcher who can stop

“It’s kind of full-circle,” said Tropeano. “I came here when they first opened, I was twelve years old watching these guys play, and now I’m on the field.”

The Ducks went on to soundly defeat the California Dogecoin in a spring training match, in which the Ducks denied the Dogecoin a single run throughout the game, save for two in the seventh inning.

The flock hit the baselines running at the start of the game, racking up six runs in the bottom of the first inning, courtesy of River Town (#14), Justin O’Connor (#11), and Troy Viola (#24). Chris Roller (#9) earned the flock a tenth run in the fifth inning, while Zach Plesac (#17) (pictured left) pitched three scoreless innings, striking out four and giving up one hit. Juan Hillman (#36), Tim Melville (#51), and Mark Washington (#33) also produced scoreless innings.

The Ducks defeated the Dogecoin 14-2 in their first public game of the season. All eyes now look to a not only strong but commemorative season going forward.

The Long Island Ducks are entering their 25th Anniversary season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip. They are the all-time leader in wins and attendance in Atlantic League history, have led all MLB Partner Leagues in total attendance for four consecutive seasons, and have sold out a record 713 games all-time. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).