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Thursday, December 25, 2025 ~ Volume 71 ~ Issue Number 10 ~ $1.00

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Thursday, November 6, 2025 ~ Volume 71 ~ Issue Number 3 ~ $1.00

Tierney, Toulon Re-Elected By Matt Meduri

Four years ago, Ray Tierney (R) mounted a campaign then thought to be unwinnable, but ousted then-District Attorney Tim Sini (DMt. Sinai) by a whopping ten point margin. Unopposed for re-election this year, Tierney earned 144,417 votes to earn a second term. “Four years ago, I was told I wouldn’t win,” Tierney told supporters Tuesday night at the GOP watch party in Patchogue. “My opponent had more money, Page 3 more institutional support, and the advantage of incumbency.”

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Thursday,(Left November 6, 2025 ~ Volume 71 ~ Conservative Issue Number 3 ~ $1.00 to right) Suffolk GOP Chair Garcia, Suffolk Chair Torres, D.A. Tierney (Credit - Matt Meduri)

Thursday, January 23, 2025 ~ Volume 137 ~ Issue Number 10 ~ $1.00

Tierney, Toulon KuhnRe-Elected

Zeldin Goes Before Senate EPW Committee

By Matt Meduri

Four years ago, Ray Tierney (R) mounted a campaign then thought to be unwinnable, but ousted then-District Attorney Tim Sini (DMt. Sinai) by a whopping ten point margin. Unopposed for re-election this year, Tierney earned 144,417 votes to earn a second term. “Four years ago, I was told I wouldn’t win,” Tierney told supporters Tuesday night at the GOP watch party in Patchogue. “My opponent had more money, more institutional support, and the advantage of incumbency.”

The Messenger Reports from D.C. By Matt Meduri

Zeldin sits before the Senate EPW Committee on January 16 in Washington, D.C. (Credit - Official U.S. Senate photo by Ian Cunningham)

Former Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) has been nominated by President Donald Trump (R-FL) to lead the Environment Protection Agency (EPA). If confirmed by the full U.S. Senate, Zeldin would join the president’s Cabinet and oversee a department of numerous divisions, ten regional offices, nearly 15,000 employees, and a budget of nearly $10 billion. Last Thursday, Zeldin went before the Senate Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee to screen for the nation’s top environmental job. The Messenger took the trip to Washington, D.C., to cover the hearing as well as Zeldin’s, 44, monumental rise to such significance that will undoubtedly put Suffolk County in the national spotlight. Continued on page 4

Piccirillo

Sweeps in LD-08 By Matt Meduri

Continued on page 4 DawnMarie Kuhn (R-Bohemia) (Credit - Matt Meduri)

State-of-the-Art Athletic Fields Planned for

Autopsy: Dems Surge in National Elections

Carpenter’s Corner

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Forge River Sewer Treatment Plant Completed

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Sweeps in LD-08

Thursday, February 13, 2025 ~ Volume 137 ~ Issue Number 13 ~ $1.00

Hochul Visits ISP for $150M Airport Investment

By Matt Meduri

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

The Islip GOP kept their heads above water in retaining all of their seats at the Town and County level on Tuesday night, with a political newcomer securing an open seat on the Islip Town Board. DawnMarie Kuhn (R-Bohemia) has won the open seat in the Second Council District, succeeding Councilman Jim O’Connor (R-Great River), who was elected a Suffolk Family Court Judge. Kuhn cruised to victory in the open seat that includes Bohemia, East Islip, Great River, Islip Terrace, North Great River, and Oakdale, as well as parts of Central Islip, Hauppauge, Islandia, Islip hamlet, Sayville, and West Sayville. Continued on page 15

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Autopsy: Dems Surge Carpenter’s USGS to Monitor Governor Kathy Hochul (Credit - Matt Meduri) Five Suffolk Rivers in National Elections Corner

Futterman Lanza, LLP, Expands to New Office Page 5

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Monday February 17, 2025

USGS to Monitor Five Suffolk Rivers

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Brush Fires

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Thursday, March 13, 2025 ~ Volume 70 ~ Issue Number 15 ~ $1.00

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By Matt Meduri SC Legislator Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) (Credit - Matt Meduri) On Wednesday morning, Governor Kathy Hochul (D) visited Islip MacArthur Airport (ISP) to announce a $150 million State investment to make the airport a transit hub, with improved connectivity to the LIRR Ronkonkoma Station. The funding, along with $50 million from Suffolk County, will also lay the groundwork for the purchase of forty-eight acres of land that could be used for a north terminal, a plan that is still under deliberation by the Town of Islip. The funding comes not only at a time of discussions of a significant overhaul of the airport to improve mass transit connectivity, but also to preserve the economic powerhouse that is ISP and the surrounding areas. Continued on page 8

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After years of planning, construction, and preparation, the Forge River Treatment Plant is now complete and online. The completion of the plant comes just six years after a 2019 referendum in which Mastic and Shirley residents voted overwhelmingly - a 414-71 vote - to create a sewer district to serve the area. The Forge River Wastewater Treatment Plant began three years thereafter, which has long been seen as the basis for revitalization and water quality mitigation in the area.

America 250

Ducks Take the Field in 25th Anniversary Home Opener Game Continued on page 10

Community Spotlight: Sam Faber Page 22

Giglio: ‘Invest in Us’

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Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) officially launched the county’s role in America 250 last week with a vibrant celebration at the historic Sagtikos Manor in West Bay Shore. The milestone event marked the beginning of Suffolk’s participation in a nationwide, multi-year initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. Set against the backdrop of one of Long Island’s most significant historic landmarks, the celebration brought the colonial era to life for hundreds of attendees.

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THE YEAR IN REVIEW Continued on page 27

QuackerJack gets the crowd riled up (Credit - Matt Meduri)

Guy Leggio Kicks Off County Legislature Campaign On the November 2025 ballot, all eighteen districts of the Suffolk County Legislature are up for grabs. Legislators are limited to six (6) two-year terms. Two open seats are on the docket, the Thirteenth and Fourteenth districts, represented by Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst) and Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga), respectively. The other sixteen incumbents are running for re-election, with four freshmen hoping for another two years in Hauppauge. One of those incumbents is Legislator Samuel Gonzalez (D-Brentwood), who has Page 3 represented the Ninth District (LD-09) since 2019. LD-09 includes parts of the communities of Bay Shore, Brentwood, Central Islip, Hauppauge, and Islip hamlet.

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Thursday, September 18, 2025 ~ Volume 70 (R-Bay ~ Issue Number ~ $1.00 Guy Leggio Shore) speaks to48 supporters at his campaign kickoff on Tuesday night

Thousands Attend LI Vigil for Charlie Kirk FULL STORIES ON:

Carpenter’s Corner Page 3

Earth Day at the Scully Estate Page 17

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(Credit - Matt Meduri)

By Matt Meduri

Last week saw perhaps one of the most historic events of the century, the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The conservative activist was just 31 when he was shot and killed in Utah while conducting his trademark “Prove Me Wrong” series in which he invited and promoted open political debate and discourse on college campuses through his organization Turning Point USA. Spellman HV Installs Kirk founded Turning Point at the age of 18 in his garage, steadily EV Charging Stations Page 26 growing it into a massive movement that spans nearly 2,000 college and high school campuses nationwide and himself into an avatar not just for young conservatives, but for Christian ideals as well.

Continued on page 4

State, County, and Town officials gather at Sagtikos Manor (Credit - Madison Warren)

Planning Board Hears Variances for Proposed Where To Find Us By Matt Meduri

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Developers looking to construct a Starbucks coffee shop near the Smith Haven Mall in Nesconset took their pleas for variances to the Smithtown Planning Board at a board meeting on Tuesday night. Page The3proposed location is on the southwest corner of Alexander Avenue and Middle Country Road (State Route 25). The current parcel is an undeveloped, wooded space across Alexander Avenue from Sonic, which proved to be a controversial proposal several years ago. The wooded lot is currently zoned as commercial property.

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Continued on page 10 Thursday, November 6, 2025 ~ Volume 71 ~ Issue Number 3 ~ $1.00

Tierney, Toulon Re-Elected FULL STORIES ON:

By Matt Meduri Four years ago, Ray Tierney (R) End of Summer Romaine Makes Pitch to mounted a campaign then thought to be Concert unwinnable, but ousted NYC Businesses Series then-District Page Attorney Tim Sini (D3 Page 5 Mt. Sinai) by a whopping ten point margin. Unopposed for re-election this year, Tierney earned 144,417 votes to earn a second term. “Four years ago, I was told I wouldn’t win,” Tierney told supporters Tuesday night at the GOP watch party in Patchogue. “My opponent had more money, more institutional support, and the advantage of incumbency.”

Page 13

Continued on page 4 (Left to right) Suffolk GOP Chair Garcia, Suffolk Conservative Chair Torres, D.A. Tierney (Credit - Matt Meduri)

Kuhn Town Extends 12-Month Cruises in Council Race Moratorium on Know Someone Who Would Enjoy This Paper? Scan the QR code Piccirillo Messenger BESS Facilities

in LD-08 Consider a Gift SubscriptionPapers - subscribe@messengerpapers.com toSweeps Subscribe to... Inc. By Matt Meduri

One of the latest controversial topics is that of the relatively new Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Facilities. These stations are stocked with batteries, primarily made of lithium, that are designed to harness generated power for later use, either to relieve the grid during times of peak usage and/or outages. BESS facilities are becoming more discussed as New York State intends to increase the stock of these stations across the state to relieve the grid. The Town of Islip, along with other Suffolk municipalities, has renewed multiple moratoriums on the construction of such facilities, citing health and environmental hazards in the event of a thermal runaway that leads to an explosion and fire. Continued on page 10

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

In Memorium: Hon. Jerry Garguilo Pages 13

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Deck the Halls…Carefully! ‘Remaining Vigilant’: FULL STORIES ON:

Garbarino Wields Powerful Homeland Security Gavel By Matt Meduri

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

Town Public Access Changes Channels Page 10

Suffolk firefighters simulate a fire with a watered tree against a dry tree in Yaphank (Credit - Suffolk FRES)

‘Remaining Vigilant’:

Story on page 17

Congressman Andrew Garbarino as Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee (Credit - Office of Congressman Garbarino)

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Garbarino Wields Powerful Homeland Security Gavel New Column: The FRES Files Page 4

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Murray’s Message Page 10

Shake Shack Opens in Selden Page 15

Congressman Andrew Garbarino as Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee (Credit - Office of Congressman Garbarino)

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Newsday Pulls Charlie Kirk Cartoon

PART 1

The classic tradition of getting a Christmas tree, putting it in its stand, adorning it with decorations, and leaving it as a classy focal point of the living room isn’t optional for most people; it’s a must. But Suffolk County Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (FRES) urges that residents mustSoto also take great care when By Raheem decking the halls, as the holidays can The Town Brookhaven earned the kind of financial quickly turn of tragic if proper just precautions distinction that most governments never see. Both Moody’s aren’t taken. and S&P Global Ratings ADVERTISE Suffolk FRES tookhave theawarded liberty the of Town a coveted AAA bond rating, with a stable outlook, according to an August 21, demonstrating what a house fire would 2025, release the Town Brookhaven. Moody’s placed look like withfrom a watered andofcared-for BUSINESS Brookhaven in itstotop category for the seventh year in a row. tree, as opposed one that is neglected. Page 3 S&P assigned the same rating to both new and refunding The watered tree is unexpectedly resistant bonds worth more than $60 million. to the flames, while the unwatered tree Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches) didn’t Email publisher@ lights almost instantaneously, with the messengerpapers.com mince words in describing the achievement. rest of the room and the house not too far behind. Continued on page 5 Continued page 3FRES) Suffolk firefighters simulate a fire with a watered tree against a dry tree in Yaphank (Credit on - Suffolk Continued on page 10 4, 2025 Thursday, December ~ Volume 71 ~ Issue Number 1 ~ $1.00

The classic tradition of getting a Christmas tree, putting it in its stand, Culper Ring and leaving adorning it withSpy decorations, Thorne’s Consumer it as aFestival classy focalReturns point of the living room Bill Passes Cmte. Affairs isn’t optional Page for most 3 people; it’s a must. Page 5 But Suffolk County Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (FRES) urges that residents must also take great care when decking the halls, as the holidays can quickly turn tragic if proper precautions aren’t taken. Suffolk FRES took the liberty of demonstrating what a house fire would look like with a watered and cared-for tree, as opposed to one that is neglected. The watered tree is unexpectedly resistant to the flames, while the unwatered tree lights almost instantaneously, with the rest of the room and the house not too far behind. Continued on page 5

Smithtown - St. James Little League Champs

The Long Island Loud Majority (LILM) held candlelight vigil for Kirk Saturday night at the LIRR Station in Seaford with several thousand attendees. (Credit - Matt Meduri)

By Matt Meduri

Deck the Halls…Carefully! Brookhaven Retains Coveted AAA Bond Rating By Matt Meduri

Nesconset Starbucks

(Left to right) Ronald Lanza, Aaron Futterman, and Jaclyn Kramer cut the ribbon of Futterman Lanza, LLP’s, new office (Credit - Matt Meduri)

All eyes are on the 2026 gubernatorial race in New York as Republicans are hoping to defy decades of drought to win the seat for the first time in over twenty years. A Grandson’s HSW Girls’ Basketball New York, hardly a competitive state at virtually every level, The Mattera Report Senior Center Tribute Claims Championship has received national attention over the last couple election Page 7 Page 15 Page 23 cycles. Then-Congressman Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) came about six ADVERTISE points away from flipping the state red in 2022 gubernatorial race, Republicans’ path to the House majority ran straight through New York, and the state took the sharpest rightward swing in last year’s presidential election. Now, both parties expect a fully engaged race in the Empire State next year as Republicans seek to challenge the entrenched Email publisher@ Democratic status quo in a midterm year expected to be at messengerpapers.com least somewhat unfavorable to the presidential party, while Democrats seek to defend their platform in a state that leads the nation in 1net population loss. Thursday, December 4, 2025 ~ Volume 71 ~ Issue Number ~ $1.00 Continued on page 4 Elise Stefanik at a private event in Smithtown (Credit - Matt Meduri)

By Madison Warren

Long Island’s very own baseball team, the Long Island Ducks, took to the diamond last Saturday for their home opening game of their twenty-five anniversary season. The week prior, members of the organization and the team spoke of what has led them to see such a milestone. “We’ve been consistent,” said Atlantic League of Professional Baseball CEO and Ducks founder Frank Boulton last week at Fan Day. “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.” Indeed, almost 5,400 fans lined the seats, concessions, and the Waddle-In Shop, while the venerable QuackerJack got to entertaining fans and rooting for the flock for the twenty-fifth year in a row.

By Matt Meduri

Stefanik Stumps in Suffolk

Celebration at Sagtikos Manor

Legislator Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches) (Credit - Matt Meduri)

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ISP Announces Avelo as New Carrier By MattPage Meduri 8

A long-venerable Smithtown law practice is not only celebrating a milestone, Thursday, August 70 ~ Issue Number 39 ~ $1.00 but has also expanded into a new office space with28, their2025 sights set ~ onVolume future growth. Futterman Lanza, LLP, was founded by Aaron Futterman and Ronald Lanza almost twenty-one years ago on East Main Street in Smithtown. Since then, their scope has expanded to two other firms, one in Garden City and the other in Bay Shore, while their staff has grown significantly from the small-scale operation it once was. While the firm has now moved into a new office space in the Hillside Village Plaza in Village of the Branch, along with an expanding staff list of attorneys, secretaries, and paralegals, the firm remains just as committed to providing expertise in the areas of elder law and estate planning. Continued on page 3

Thursday, August 14, 2025 ~ Volume 137 ~ Issue Number 39 ~ $1.00

Thursday, May 1, 2025 ~ Volume 70 ~ Issue Number 28 ~ $1.00

Page 5

Cruises in Council Race

New Column: The FRES Files Page 4

Murray’s Message Page 10

Shake Shack Opens in Selden Page 15

Messenger Papers

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, December 25, 2025

WINTER EVENTS Port Jefferson Festival of Trees December 1-January 2, 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM

Comedy Night at the Seaport Diner January 11, 6:00 PM to 9:15 PM

Holiday Spectacular On Ice at The Gateway December 10-January 4

The 16th Annual 10 Mile Brewery Run in Memory of Ric DiVeglio at The Sandbar January 17, 8:15 AM to 11:15 AM

Port Jefferson Holiday Window Decorating Contest December 16- January 2 Share The Enchantment of The Nutcracker at CM Performing Arts Center December 28, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM

Fearless: The Taylor Swift Experience at The Suffolk January 25, 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM DRUM TAO – The Best at Staller Center for the Arts January 31, 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM

New Year’s Eve Dance Party Explosion 2026 at Windows on the Lake, Lake Ronkonkoma December 31, 8:00 PM

Valentine Craft Fair at Charles B Wang Center February 7, 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM

The Suffolk 54 New Year’s Eve December 31, 10:00 PM to 1:00 AM

Hot Cocoa Crush 5K LI at Eisenhower Park Field 2 February 21, 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM

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Library News Thursday, December 25, 2025

CENTRAL ISLIP: Beef Kofta Kebabs -

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Official Newspaper for County of Suffolk, Town of Brookhaven, Town of Islip, Inc Village of Lake Grove, Middle Country School, Centereach, Selden, Middle Island, Ronkonkoma Fire Dist, and Farmingville Fire Dist. Periodicals Postage Paid at Ronkonkoma, NY and additional entries. Islip Messenger December 25, 2025 (USPS No. 470440) is published weekly for $35 per year by Messenger Papers Inc., 558 Portion Road, Suite B, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779. Periodicals postage paid at Ronkonkoma, NY and additional mailing offices.

The Islip Messenger serves Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma, Oakdale, Holtsville, West Sayville, Sayville, Holbrook, Patchogue, Bohemia, Islandia and Islip 71 Years of Service to Our Community

This newspaper will not be liable for errors appearing in any advertisement beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. The opinions expressed in byline articles, letters and columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of Messenger Papers, Inc, its publishers or editors. Pictures submitted for publication remain property of the publisher. Postmaster: Send address changes to Islip Messenger, P.O. Box 925, Smithtown, NY 11787

Smithtown Messenger - Brookhaven Messenger - Islip Messenger - Thursday, December 25, 2025

Congratulations Natalie Affenita: Top 40 Under 40

Natalie was recently Honored in a special edition of the Long Island Real Producers Magazine as being one of the Top 40 Under 40 Licensed Real Estate Agents

Natalie Affenita has never been one to follow a straight path. In fact, she’s taken more detours than most-including captaining a collegiate dance team, traveling the world, working as a travel agent in Florence, and selling stone in a mason’s yard before realizing that real estate was where she was meant to be. Her journey into the industry was anything but conventional. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was working with her father in construction when a customer walked in, looking for materials. Natalie didn’t just sell him a piece of stone-she sold him on her talent. So much so that he took her to lunch the next day, not to discuss masonry but to convince her to get into real estate. After a few conversations and some paperwork, she was officially in the business, and she hasn’t looked back since. Real estate has tested her in ways she never expected, especially when health complications forced her to undergo surgery to insert a cardiac monitor, which Natalie still has today. But slowing down? Not an option. Even during recovery, Natalie found a way to keep her deals moving, show properties, and stay present for her clients-thanks to an incredible support system of family, colleagues, and sheer determination. “Real estate doesn’t pause, and neither do I,” she says with a laugh.

Now, with Douglas Elliman Real Estate, She’s laser-focused on breaking into the luxury market, expanding her network, and making a difference through her extensive charity work. And if her track record proves anything, it’s that no matter what life throws at her, Natalie will always find a way to turn it into an opportunity.

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Thursday, December 25, 2025

Contained: Fire Crews Halt Eastern Brush Fires

Originally published March 13, 2025

By Matt Meduri

Suffolk County received a rare, yet potentially disastrous, development over the weekend: brush fires in southern Brookhaven and Southampton towns that sent smoke high enough in the air to be seen from across the Long Island Sound. The fires scorched hundreds of acres in the Pine Barrens, shut down service on Sunrise Highway east of the Moriches, and became especially serious on Saturday night when the flames jumped Old Riverhead Road (County Route 31) near Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton. By Sunday afternoon, the fires had been mostly contained while fire and rescue monitored active hot spots that were somewhat contained mostly due to vegetation-scarce barriers formed by roadways. Detectives currently suspect that the wildfires started on Saturday morning with a backyard ember produced to cook s’mores at a Center Moriches residence on Cozine Road, just off Sunrise Highway’s North Service Road. The resident could not get the fire started using pieces of cardboard as kindling due to the strong winds. The resident subsequently discovered that the fire had been lit, but the Smoke seen in Manorville on Saturday (Credit - Office of Suffolk County Executive Romaine) uncontained embers led to the backyard going up in flames. The Center Moriches Fire Department extinguished that fire around 10:30 that morning, but detectives engines from Nassau. We also had twenty ambulances on site, but we’re also backfilling ambulances believe that the strong winds from that fire started a blaze just south of Sunrise throughout the county to make sure that we have coverage for the routine 911 calls,” Legislator Dominick Highway. Thorne (R-Patchogue), Chair of FRES Committee in the County Legislature, told The Messenger. “This is a The Cozine Fire - also referred to as the S’mores Fire - was unfortunately standard pyramid-type response. When you drain resources, you bring more in and backfeed.” complemented by wind gusts from the northwest of up to forty miles per hour Romaine also said he received “several” calls from Governor Kathy Hochul (D), who declared a state that day, gusts that continued into Sunday. of emergency and an immediate burn ban for Downstate New York and parts of the Hudson Valley. The “That path makes perfect sense,” Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) Governor also sent the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), State Forest Rangers, State Commissioner Kevin Catalina told reporters in Mastic on Monday afternoon. Park Police, and State Police. He also thanked the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) - an public-benefit Catalina added that a second fire was reported at 1:00p.m. on Chapman Boulevard corporation independent from Suffolk County government - for their regular maintenance of hydrants and in Manorville, just an eighth-mile southeast of the Cozine Fire. Around the same water mains that allowed these fires to be fought. time, another fire was reported near CR-111 in Manorville. “Without the combined efforts of everyone involved, we would not have been able to stop this fire,” said “It was initially reported that there were four separate fires all reported at the Romaine. same time. Those fires are in a direct line with the strong northwest winds that “DEC was out there helping around the clock,” said Romaine on Monday afternoon, adding that he not were blowing that day, and it is believed that the embers from each fire traveled only received a phone call from New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) offering help, but also the White House. and continuously started more fires,” said Catalina. Despite the circumstances, Romaine, who served on the Pine Barrens Commission for twelve years, While the start of the brush fires are believed to have been accidental, the called the outpouring of support and aid in a time of crisis as “humbling.” investigators are not ruling out arson. “This is so humbling because you’re watching the fires destroy our Pine Barrens; you care about them “We want to interview every 911 caller. We want to run down every and watch them burn. And when people are calling to say, ‘how can I help?’ It made all the difference,” said Crime Stoppers lead just to rule out every possibility,” said Catalina on Romaine. Saturday night, joined by Sheriff Errol Toulon (D), Assemblyman Tommy Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches) told The Messenger on Saturday evening John Schiavoni (D-North Haven), and Southampton Town Supervisor that neither road closures within the town, nor vehicular or dwelling damages had been reported. Maria Moore (D-West Hampton Dunes). “But we feel very, very strongly “...had these winds blown to the southwest, this fire would have ravaged through potentially Eastport, the that this is an accidental fire that was started as a result of the initial business district, Manorville, a ton of homes in East Moriches, it could have been a very different fire had it Cozine Fire.” gone into Brookhaven Town,” said Supervisor Panico in a statement on Monday. Twenty-five detectives are investigating the cause of the fire. The full analysis Romaine and others were particularly concerned that if the fires jumped Sunrise Highway to head north, it includes drones and helicopters observing patterns from above, in addition to could have been much more catastrophic, hearkening back to the Sunrise Fire of 1995, which burned for about other leads being taken. one week and scorched 3,200 acres. The 1995 fire, believed to have been started by human activity, occurred On Saturday, the flames had jumped CR-31 into Westhampton and under similarly dry conditions. Westhampton Beach. CR-31 is home to Gabreski Airport, which houses the 106th The Pine Barrens’ infestations from the Southern Pine Beetle are also considered to have been a catalyst Rescue Wing, who were conveniently equipped and ready to fight the blazes from in these flames, while not a cause themselves. The beetles are known for burrowing into pine trees - with a above. The fires were observed as heading east towards Quogue, while flames preference for Pitch Pine, a chief component of the Long Island Pine Barrens’ flora - creating S-shaped pathways already ripped through the wooded areas of Center Moriches, East Moriches, while feeding on the tree’s cambium layer, the thin separator between the tree’s prominent nutrient highways. Eastport, and parts of Manorville. Popcorn-like nodules of resin are often left behind on the barks, a tell-tale sign of a pine beetle infestation. Suffolk County Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (FRES) Commissioner Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville), while thanking the first responders for their fantastic work in Rudy Sunderman said on Monday that 400 acres had been burned containing and extinguishing these fires, urged the U.S. Senate to pass the Fix Our Forests Act, a bipartisan at that point, but “overall,” he said, the total is likely closer to 600 acres. Some bill passed March 6 to address the threat, among others, of the Southern Pine Beetle. small evacuation orders were issued, but no sweeping mandates were called. Once the trees cannot retrieve nutrients, they die, leaving behind dried bark and branches, which make Additionally, FRES reports that two for perfect kindling in wildfire conditions. commercial structures were damaged, The pine beetles’ presence on Long Island one at Gabreski Airport and the other is relatively new. While they’re endemic to the on CR-31. Southeastern U.S., warmer winters have brought So far, only one serious injury has been them as far north as New Jersey and New York. reported, a firefighter who received secondThankfully, the Pitch Pine is known for its innate degree burns to the face. He was airlifted to fire adaptation, offering a slight check on the power Stony Brook University Hospital for treatment the beetles might have in setting the stage for a on Saturday. USPIS New York Division Acting Inspector in Charge Brendan T. Donahue catastrophic blaze. The Westhampton Beach Fire Department “I’m really pleased to report that [these fires] are (Credit: Matt Meduri) had two aviation units flying all day on Sunday, 100% contained with a hard line. We’re remaining with the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office sending vigilant to ensure that we are continuing to do fifty deputy sheriffs for protection. patrols, ensuring that we are addressing any hot Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine spots as they come up,” said acting Commissioner for (R-Center Moriches) announced that nearly NYSDEC Amanda Lefton in Mastic on Monday, urging ninety fire departments responded with residents to comply with the burn bans. apparatus, some as far west as Deer Park. While Long Island continues into a historic Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman drought period, as does much of the U.S. at the (R-Atlantic Beach) also dedicated resources time, take note of the burn bans in place for Long Fire Departments battle the blaze in Westhampton. from eleven agencies to eastern Suffolk. Island effective immediately. State bans take effect (Credit - Office of Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine) “We had five brush trucks and five on March 16.

Best Editorial

Thursday, December 25, 2025

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

We’ve Come to a ‘Turning Point’ for the USA Originally published September 18, 2025

“When you tear out a man’s tongue, you are not proving him a liar, you’re only telling the world that you fear what he might say.” - George R. R. Martin, A Clash of Kings Last Wednesday was a Turning Point for the USA. It’s safe to say the entire country, even the world, stopped. Even our office here at The Messenger came to a grinding halt. We knew what we were watching in real time and we, like many others, felt the pits in our stomachs expand. We were still going to print the moment it happened. We contemplated an editorial, but instead included as many details as we could get from our primary sources. But the week between the last issue and this issue of The Messenger, we’ve had time to think. We’ve had time to let this fully marinate, witness the reactions and responses, and let the dust settle a little. September 10, 2025, will be forever remembered as one of the most historic days in the history of our republic - the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The charismatic speaker and political influencer was not only one of the most prominent conservative voices, but across the entire political floor in general. Perhaps no one - on the right, left, or center - had the reach that he did. That’s why this is so heavy. This wasn’t a rogue gunman committing a mass shooting because of a policy disagreement. This was a coordinated, concerted assassination of the single-most influential political speaker of our time. At just eighteen years of age, Kirk founded Turning Point USA in his garage. Aimed at galvanizing the younger populations with constitutional values, the nonprofit became an empire that spans nearly 1,200 college and high school campuses in the United States as well as overseas. The influence of Kirk and his organization cannot be understated. Many credit him with helping fundamentally restructure the GOP into a populist, big tent party, as well as helping elect President Donald Trump (R-FL) twice. At just thirty-one years of age, Kirk was assassinated by a single bullet, fired from a hunting rifle, in the middle of a debate on gun violence. The venue was held outdoors on the campus of Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, and attended by a couple thousand spectators. Kirk’s presence on campus was reportedly widely accepted by the college and its community, with the event having sold out nearly instantly. Kirk is survived by his wife and two young children, one of whom was born just last year. We regret to inform our readers that we have learned that his family was present there that day, making this all the more horrifying. His children will now grow up with only memories, photographs, and anecdotes of their loving father. The lack of humanity from some, however, is almost just as terrifying. Firstly, how can anyone justify his family having witnessed this? This alone is enough to destroy someone’s life, but the fact that they watched Kirk speak his last words that day is bone-chillingly cruel. MSNBC analyst Matthew Dowd was promptly fired after attempting to rationalize Kirk’s assassination. He stated that Kirk was “one of the most divisive” figures that was “constantly pushing hate speech.” He also said, “hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions.” He also posited, while details were still being collected, that the gunfire might have been a Trump supporter “firing his gun into the air in celebration”, as if all conservatives are cartoon cowboys. Good riddance, loser. Charlie promoted open dialogue and eternal search for the truth. He wasn’t part of the problem; he was part of the solution. To those who say he was a bigot, what kind of bigot hands the microphone to someone who disagrees with him the most? Take notice of how the conservative right isn’t burning down cities, rioting in the streets, or looting stores. They’re holding candlelight vigils and paying tribute to him online. Some on the right have used the opportunity to demonize the entire left. This is misplaced, as it misses the fact that many, many people are horrified for the right reasons. However, many on the left are playing off and even celebrating his

death. The two are not the same. The Turning Point for the USA comes now. You can either identify with the side that is snidely jubilant, or you can side with the rest of the country who at the very least understand the totality of this moment. You didn’t have to love or even remotely agree with Charlie Kirk, but the common person understands what this means for the future of our civil discourse, our individual liberties, and our nation as a whole. We’re not blowing this out of proportion either. Head to Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, and TikTok and see just how much evil is in our world. There are thousands of legitimate posts that show the pleased reactions to this news. It’s not just those who disagreed with him; it’s those who intend to be snide, condescending, or take some sort of moral high ground by twisting Kirk’s words to seemingly justify or at least rationalize his assassination. Kirk has also been widely considered not just an influencer, but a diplomat. Some conservatives didn’t agree with everything he said, but at least they recognized him as someone who promoted cordial, open-floor debate and shook hands with opponents. If people can justify violence against someone like that, they can justify violence against anyone. This is not what happens in this country. We would be just as shocked and frankly, broken - if this happened to anyone on the political spectrum. From the worst to the best, the most conservative to the most liberal, this is not what happens in our country. What exactly is that Turning Point? It’s difficult to prognosticate. We hope it’s for the better, but we didn’t think it could go this far. All that we know for sure is that this is a different country now. And to make matters even worse, the very moment of Kirk’s death was instantaneously broadcasted to the entire world within a matter of minutes - the first tragedy of this magnitude and with gigantic ramifications spread in the modern age of the Internet and social media. Instead of asking what exactly that Turning Point is, we ask, what else will it take? What else will it take for people to turn down the temperature? What else will it take to make us realize this isn’t worth it? It wasn’t an election. It wasn’t riots and demonstrations. It wasn’t a worldwide pandemic. It wasn’t a “summer of love” in which some of our cities burned to the ground. It wasn’t a Capitol riot. It wasn’t two assassination attempts of a president, one of them being damn-near fatal. It wasn’t a stunning political comeback. Is it this? If it’s not, we don’t want to know what is. But for the vast majority of people - right, left, and in between - this is enough. This is adequate grounds for a ceasefire. Whether you were inspired by Charlie Kirk or whether you couldn’t stand him, we need to let his legacy live on by engaging in civil, respectful debate. It doesn’t mean being right about everything and it doesn’t mean everyone needs to suddenly abandon their ideals and hitch their wagons to the Charlie Kirk caravan. It just means that we need to learn how to talk to each other again. But more importantly, we need to be bold - bolder than ever before. We need to not hide our ideas and values. We need to not fear speaking up in fear of derision. It’s inevitable, but the alternative is far worse. We need to participate in the marketplace of ideas persuasively and forthrightly. Finally, Charlie’s death isn’t just proof of a fever pitch, but proof that religious martyrs are still made. Perhaps no one on the political spectrum witnessed as boldly as he did for Christ. While not all conservatives are Christian, it can’t be taken from him that his faith was what guided him and that he very regularly preached ideals that our country sorely needs. The Turning Point for the USA is clearly now and that single shot last week was heard around the world. So, which side are you on? The side of empathy and the bigger picture, even if you think someone was completely disagreeable, or the side of breeding chaos and discord for the sake of fiat political currency? Your move, USA. The world is watching your Turning Point.

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Thursday, December 25, 2025

Albany’s Getting Set to Sock New York with Yet MORE Pro-Criminal Laws That’ll Make Us Even LESS Safe

Originally published April 17, 2025 By District Attorney Ray Tierney Parents put their children on the school bus each morning, trusting they’ll return home. Seniors walk their dogs, assuming their neighborhoods are safe. These are not luxuries; they’re the most basic expectations of a functioning society. Yet dangerous legislation in Albany again threatens that safety. Two radical bills — the Elder Parole Bill and the Fair and Timely Parole Act — will open prison doors and allow convicted murderers and violent criminals to walk free. As Suffolk County’s district attorney, I cannot remain silent while public safety is sacrificed for ideology. Thousands of cases illustrate the insanity of these two bills, though I need only two from the Long Island’s recent past to prove my point: Colin Ferguson’s commutertrain massacre and the murder of 8-year-old Thomas Valva. The Elder Parole bill is peddled as a mercy mission: it would let inmates over 55 who’ve served 15 years plead for parole. It sounds compassionate — until you realize who’s in line. Colin Ferguson, the monster who murdered six innocent Long Island Rail Road commuters in 1993, leaving 19 others injured, in a cold-blooded shooting rampage, is 67 now, well past the bill’s age threshold. Do we want to put him in front of New York’s notoriously lenient parole board every two years? Fifteen years doesn’t erase the blood on his hands. Even if parole is denied, why would we want to drag the families of the victims — people just trying to get home from work who were sitting in a train car — to a parole board hearing every two years to relive the worst day of their lives? The parole process is notoriously antagonistic to victims, their families and prosecutors, and it’s only getting worse, with most victims reporting that they seldom, if ever, receive timely notification of parole hearings. That’s not compassionate, and it is not just. Reaching middle age does not undo evil. Then there’s the Fair and Timely Parole Act, an ironic name for a dangerous game. It rigs the parole hearing, changing the rules by mandating that parole decisions be based primarily on current risk rather than past actions, virtually giving a pass to violent offenders. Consider Michael Valva, the ex-NYPD cop convicted in Suffolk County for the 2020 murder of his own son, Thomas. This wasn’t a one-off lapse in judgment — Valva and his fiancé, Angela Pollina, starved and beat 8-year-old Thomas and forced him to sleep in a freezing garage until he died of hypothermia.

Originally published June 19, 2025 By Brianne Wakefield

The case had multiple examples of this child’s tortured existence in this house of horrors. Valva’s 25-years-to-life sentence reflects the depravity of his actions. Should his “good behavior” in prison someday outweigh the tragic horror of Thomas’ life? This bill says yes, prioritizing a convict’s progress over a child’s stolen life. That’s not fairness; it’s insanity. Let me be clear: I believe in rehabilitation and second chances. But I also believe that some acts are so heinous, so depraved, that those who commit them forfeit the right to walk freely among us. I also believe powerful, durable sentencing deters crime. There is a line — and Albany is trying to erase it. New York has already suffered enough from the effects of misguided criminaljustice reforms. “Bail reform” ties the hands of prosecutors and judges, flooding our streets with repeat offenders. The result? Spikes in violent crime, overwhelmed law enforcement and a growing sense of fear in our communities. We cannot allow these parole bills to be the next wave of reckless policy. What’s most infuriating is the disconnect between Albany’s legislative chambers and the real-world impact these bills will have: A mother’s fear of running into her attacker at the store, the pain of a family that must relive a loved one’s murder at recurring parole hearings. These bills will retraumatize victims, upend hard-won peace and make neighborhoods less safe — all to satisfy a political agenda that prioritizes criminals over communities. And there is a very real threat that these bills will be garner enough Democratic and Working Families Party votes to pass this year. New Yorkers must speak out. Contact your state senator and assembly member. Demand that they oppose Elder Parole and the Fair and Timely Parole Act. Demand that they remember the victims. Demand that they remember their duty to public safety. Ray Tierney (R) has served as Suffolk County District Attorney since 2022. He has over thirty years of experience as a prosecutor.

It’s Time

There are two powerful scriptures in the Bible that I would love to share, especially for a time such as this. The first is in the book of Matthew, where Jesus says, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand” (Matt 12:25). The second is Psalm 133:1, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” I believe Republican New Yorkers, in particular, need to pay attention to the wisdom that’s in these two verses. These scriptures focus not only on the importance of unity and the dangers without it, but also the good that comes from it. For nearly twenty years, Democratic Governors have held control of our state. And before Governor George Pataki (R) served from 1995-2007, it was over thirty years of the same. We know that the city is winning our gubernatorial elections, and it’s very frustrating that it does not reflect the morals and values of Long Island and other parts of New York. If Republicans hope to reclaim the Governor seat, a unified party is essential. We must be vigilant of social media and the “fake” news, looking to always divide us and amplify every disagreement. We need to rise above the noise. We need to internally lay aside some of our minor differences, nitpicking, and slandering and fix our eyes on the future. Like never before, we need to come together and refocus our efforts on our state and strengthening our communities. Remember, no one is perfect. No public servant will ever be completely ideal, but when we lead with integrity and stand united, we can achieve far more than we ever could divided. The gubernatorial race is next year and there is too much at stake to sit back.

Right now, we’re witnessing the future of our state unfold before us. If you are someone who is calling yourself a Republican then I ask you to look out onto the horizon of the future of New York and mend what’s broken, unite around our shared values, and fight for our state back. What do we want to see restored back to New York? What are we fighting for? For me, the answer is clear. - I want to see the Constitution of our great country respected and upheld. - I want our God-given freedoms to not be threatened,

but celebrated. - I want religious exemptions restored—because they are our rightful liberties. - I want our schools to go back to teaching the foundations of education and not indoctrination. - I want us to be a state that protects the unborn, that defeats the drug epidemic, and helps to restore mental health. - I want our senior citizens to be cared for and not mistreated. These are just a few things, and maybe you think this sounds like an impossible feat, but I have hope for New York, however it will not come without work. If we really want to see a change in our state, it will take a fully united front. It’s time for the Republican party to come together as never before and boldly change the direction of New York to a brighter more hopeful future.

In Memoriam

8 Thousands Attend LI Vigil for Charlie Kirk Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, December 25, 2025

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Originally published September 18, 2025 By Matt Meduri Last week saw perhaps one of the most historic events of the century, the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The conservative activist was just 31 when he was shot and killed in Utah while conducting his trademark “Prove Me Wrong” series in which he invited and promoted open political debate and discourse on college campuses through his organization Turning Point USA. Kirk founded Turning Point at the age of 18 in his garage, steadily growing it into a massive movement that spans nearly 2,000 college and high school campuses nationwide and himself into an avatar not just for young conservatives, but for Christian ideals as well.

The Long Island Loud Majority (LILM) held candlelight vigil for Kirk Saturday night at the LIRR Station in Seaford with several thousand attendees. (Credit - Matt Meduri) Kirk’s movement is credited with reshaping the Republican Party into a populist movement and has been deemed influential to the 2016 and 2024 elections of President Donald Trump (R-FL). The Long Island Loud Majority (LILM) held a candlelight vigil for Kirk on Saturday night at the LIRR Station in Seaford, where at least several thousand attendees descended on the parking lot to pay their respects and pray for the nation. An opening prayer was given by Susan Weingarten of the Huntington Northport Smithtown Patriots, while attendees held photos of Kirk, signs with Bible verses, and solemn, yet determined, expressions. “Charlie Kirk was a man of God. He loved his family, our country, engaging with young people all across our great nation and challenging them on their ideals,” said Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) (pictured left). “He would allow the people who disagreed with him to come to the front of the line to express their views, and he would have a peaceful exchange back and forth with young people all across our great country.” LaLota said that “political violence is meant to quiet our voices”, but noted the stark contrast in how conservatives are handling such a tragedy. “We’re not rioting in the streets. We’re not burning things down. Your peaceful presence here today gives Long Island and our great nation an inspiration that while Charlie Kirk may not be of this world anymore, that his spirit carries on in each and every one of us here,” said LaLota. LaLota asked attendees to pray for the United States, “keep the faith, and be peaceful.” Former Congressman Anthony D’Esposito (R-Island Park) (pictured right) took the microphone after LaLota. “What I love about the legacy of Charlie Kirk is that he embraced the youth of this nation. Unfortunately, college campuses throughout this nation have become petri dishes of hate,” said D’Esposito. “But Charlie Kirk made it his mission to march into the lion’s den and to embrace the young men and women of this nation. Very often, that generation is criticized for living their life in their phone and their tablet by only communicating by text message and emojis. He went to college campuses and he made American youth talk again.” D’Esposito added that Kirk made the youth talk about “things that matter”, but did so peacefully. “He always brought the people who disagreed with him most to the front because he wanted to answer their questions,” said D’Esposito. “Someone tried to silence that voice, but little do they know the wildfire that they have started. Continue to share the message of Charlie Kirk and continue always to be a proud, proud, proud American.”

State Senator Steve Rhoads (R-Bellmore) (pictured right) spoke of Kirk not only as an “unapologetic American”, but as “unapologetically religious.” “There is a power, confidence, and a peace that comes from the knowledge that we are here for a greater purpose,” said Rhoads. “That we are here to serve something and someone greater than ourselves. While the left may take shots at us and try to silence us, we know that we cannot be silenced.” Rhoads added that Kirk was “about empowering people, letting people know that you have a role to play, that you have a voice that needs to be heard, that liberty, freedom, and good in the world needs to be defended from evil.” Rhoads shared an anecdote that he learned in his first-grade catechism class, wherein an old man walks down a beach littered with starfish and notices a boy throwing them one by one into the ocean. The old man says that just one little boy cannot make a difference, but the boy replies, “I made a difference to that one.” “The power of individuals together in a group - that movement is all of us,” said Rhoads. “Let’s gather up those starfish. Let’s join together and save this country and restore decency to our conversations.” Kevin Smith, co-founder and president of LILM (pictured right), said that he had met Kirk in Tampa, Florida, just two months ago. Smith was asked by Kirk to be an ambassador for Turning Point. “It was one of the greatest honors of my life,” said Smith. “He knew what was happening out here in our little corner of the world.” Smith spoke directly to the young people in attendance specifically, telling them, “It’s up to you to preserve the values that came before you. If you want to honor Charlie Kirk and keep his memory alive, get involved.” Smith said that he, elected officials, and other activists who host forums and rallies are regularly afraid of violence, but that they won’t cave. “They want us afraid. That want us quiet. They want us in fear. And all of you coming out tonight are telling them that you will not stop, that you cannot stop,” said Smith, adding that Kirk’s influence and intellect likely would have resulted in his candidacy for president at some point. Smith then announced the launching of the Long Island Young Republican Club, open to high school and college students, as well as adults in their twenties and thirties. “You may have killed the messenger, but you will never kill the message,” said Smith. Thousands of candles, cell phone lights, and American flags then lit up the Seaford LIRR parking lot, followed by a crowd rendition of “Amazing Grace.”

Veterans News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, December 25, 2025

Legislator Walks 66 Miles to Mount SAR Flag in Hauppauge

Originally published September 25, 2025 By Matt Meduri

Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon (C-Rocky Point) has made Veterans’ issues and awareness the pinnacle of just his first two years in Hauppauge. The Marine Corps Veteran not only led platoons in Afghanistan, for which he received a Purple Heart, but remains on active reserve duty. He’s sponsored legislation to commemorate September 22 as Veterans Suicide and Awareness Remembrance Day. The specific date is a reference to the daily average of twenty-two Veterans who take their lives due to PTSD and other mental health issues. Lennon also sponsored legislation to have Suffolk County formally recognize the Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance (SAR) Flag, making Suffolk the first, and currently only, county in the nation to do so. The move isn’t just symbolic; it’s home-grown. Suffolk County has the largest population of Veterans in the State of New York, and the secondlargest in the country, behind only San Diego. This weekend, Lennon, along with a platoon of several others, made the sixty-six-mile trek from the Orient Fire Department at the tip of the North Fork with an American flag and the SAR flag all the way to Armed Forces Plaza at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge. The trek was performed in one instance, totaling for twenty-six hours of constant walking, with a few stops along the way. Members of Lennon’s staff also partook in parts of the trek, with one aide accompanying his boss for about half the journey. Stops along the way including a 7-Eleven in Greenport, Ahkobaug Farm in Aquebogue, J&R’s Steakhouse in Calverton, Dunkin’ Donuts in Miller Place, and McDonald’s in Lake Grove, before making the final stop in Hauppauge. The route tracked along State Route 25 to NY-25A to Nesconset Highway (NY-347). Lennon arrived at Armed Forces Plaza, SAR Flag in hand, around 11:00a.m. on Sunday, just one day before Veteran Suicide Remembrance and Awareness Day. “This isn’t about me; this is about the issue of Veteran suicide,” Lennon told The Messenger. “I hope the spotlight stays on this issue.” Lennon said that the support from police and EMT who trailed the entourage from Orient to Hauppauge, as well as from passersby, kept them going, even through the middle of the night. “We might have blisters and sore backs and knees, but what’s significant here is that we drove through the physical pain and we want to be there for each other, just like for those who may be in mental pain,” said Lennon. Lennon is no stranger to physically grueling tasks. Apart from the physical strain that’s part-in-parcel to being a U.S. Marine, Lennon makes the annual kayaking trek from Connecticut to Port Jefferson for awareness for the same cause.

“There’s no rest and your body is beaten, but it’s all about your mentality. Are you going to sit there and say, ‘there’s a reason for me to quit,’ and fall into it? “No, we all kept going.” The creator of the SAR Flag, Kevin Hertell, of Melville, is campaigning for more states and municipalities to recognize the flag. He’s even lobbied Washington for national recognition. Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) announced a bipartisan resolution on September 22 for Congress to recognize the SAR Flag. Hertell, an Air Force Veterans, lost two cousins to suicide within one year, one of whom was a fellow Air Force Veteran. “The mission is to break the stigma of mental health and suicide. It’s the leading cause of death for our Veterans and military,” said Hertell. “We will lose more in one year to suicide than all of the casualties of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan combined.” Assemblyman Steve Stern (D-Dix Hills) (pictured left), Chair of the Assembly Veterans Affairs Committee, said that if “there’s one critical issue” that should “never be political”, it is the “care and support for our Veterans and their families.” “One of the most important things that you can and should be doing is raising awareness, to do everything we can to sack that stigma and get everybody talking about it, get everybody working on it, because there literally is a role for all of us to play,” said Stern. “This year, my first year as Chairman, I insisted that we hold a public hearing on Veterans’ mental health services and that we hold it right here in Suffolk County.” Hertell (pictured right) reminded those struggling with mental health issues to call 988, the suicide crisis hotline, where professionals are available to speak 24-7. “We are resilient. We’ll make it through together. I know because I have struggled. I have made it,” said Hertell. “With your help we can and we will make a difference and we can stop this tragic loss of life.” The SAR Flag was promptly raised on its own flagpole, alongside the American Flag, the POW-MIA Flag, and the flags of the U.S. Armed Services.

10 Central Islip Juniors Recognized for Water Quality Research Islip Matters Thursday, December 25, 2025

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Originally published May 29, 2025 By Matt Meduri Two Central Islip High School juniors were recognized last week for their water quality research on the school’s property. The research is part of the Long Island Water Quality Challenge, an opportunity for students to play a role in improving the Island’s overall water quality and reducing nitrogen pollution on school grounds by creating green infrastructure solutions. The challenge was developed by the Long Island Regional Planning Council in collaboration with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), as a part of the Long Island Nitrogen Action Plan (LINAP), a multi-year initiative to reduce nitrogen pollution. Central Islip juniors Heisel Fuentes Delgado and Allyson Saravia, under their advisor Michael Soldano, have proposed implementing bioswales around the edges of the school’s parking lot - where ground elevation is the lowest - to efficiently filter pollutants carried by rainwater and to prevent flooding. Bioswales are gently sloped, shallow land depressions, usually planted with vegetation. They’re designed to collect and filter stormwater before it reaches storm drains, sumps, or waterways. They’re typically used to help reduce pollution, prevent erosion, and improve water filtration. Bioswales are similar to rain gardens, but they’re designed specifically to capture more runoff coming from impervious surfaces, such as streets and parking lots. The bioswales proposed by Delgado and Saravia will focus on plants and mosses native to Long Island that will retain water and adapt to various conditions. The plan also calls for monthly nitrate level monitoring to gauge the effectiveness of the bioswales. “As educators, we’re always trying to provide opportunities for students, and this year was my first year taking over our science research course,” said advisor Soldano. “Sometimes, it felt like we were going nowhere; sometimes, things were going well.” Soldano added that most of the juniors’ time spent was outside taking pictures of the school grounds and researching their project. For the first time ever, the Central Islip Union Free School District entered into the challenge this year clearly a worthy venture, as their entrance produced two winners. “As Jane Goodall once said, ‘what you do makes a difference.’ Heisel and Allyson, we are so very proud of you,” said Soldano. “I commend both of you for your vision, your dedication, and making history as our first students to receive this honor.” Central Islip High School Principal Eric Haruthunian (pictured left) recalled receiving the pitch for the project. “I remember Allyson and Heisel coming to me when they were in the developmental stages of this project asking about nitrogen levels within the waterways and cesspools and how that equates to the Suffolk County and Town of Islip averages,” said Haruthunian, adding that the juniors consulted with the school’s building and grounds director for more information. “But they really took the proverbial bull by the horns and ran with it, did the research, the lead work, and took pictures. That’s just the type of students Allyson

C.I. H.S. Juniors Heisel Fuentes Delgado and Allyson Saravia (Credit - Matt Meduri) and Heisel are,” said Haruthunian. “We hope you continue to wow us with future research and future submissions,” adding his praise for Soldano. Town of Islip Councilman Jorge Guadrón (D-Central Islip) called the recognition a “great deal for our community.” He lamented the near-constant negativity in the newscycle, and wishes that these types of positive messages are “amplified.” “I congratulate both of you, the Central Islip School District, the high school, and the principal for making such a great labor,” said Guadrón, adding that the district’s administration “gets better every year, just like wine.” A representative for Senator Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood) was also on hand to recognize Delgado and Saravia. “As Long Islanders, water isn’t just a part of who

we are as living beings, but it’s a part of our shared heritage. And to see young students like you working so hard to protect this most precious of natural resources, it lets us know that future generations are tackling this challenge with every bit of the dedication that previous generations have and that our future is in good hands with you.” Delgado and Saravia then took the podium. “We would like to say thank you to the Long Island Regional Planning Council for the opportunity,” said the juniors, adding their thanks to the administration for being supportive of the STEM program. “We would also like to thank our wonderful science research teacher, Mr. Soldano (pictured left) and Mr. Harthunian for presenting this challenge to us and giving us the opportunity to present our project.”

Cabinet Appearances Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, December 25, 2025

Zeldin Encourages Local Control for BESS Facilities

Originally published August 21, 2025

By Matt Meduri

As New York continues to grapple with energy concerns, an alternative is on the horizon: Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facilities. BESS facilities use batteries, typically lithium-ion, to store energy for later use. The aim of these facilities is to help stabilize the grid and provide a consistent power supply during periods of renewable energy fluctuations, reduce demand during peak usage hours, and provide backup energy during outages. Batteries are charged during periods of excess electricity generation and discharged when the grid needs the extra power. Despite the benefits, BESS facilities do pose potential dangers, such as fires and explosions. Such events can lead to the release of toxic gases and substances into the air and water supply. Thermal runways can be triggered by power surges, physical damages, and extreme environmental conditions. The lithium-ion batteries are also notorious for their inability to be extinguished in the ways that conventional fires are. Multiple batteries can also lead to chain reactions if a fire starts in just one battery cell. Much of the resistance to the construction of these facilities comes from local fire departments who simply do not have the technology and equipment to put out these fires when they occur. The fire departments are joined by elected officials and community members who are concerned about the close proximity of some of these proposed BESS facility sites and are nervous that the State will supersede local control to site the facilities to alleviate demand on the grid. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) joined a host of elected officials and community members at the Hauppauge Fire Department on Monday morning, particularly as concerns mount of a proposed BESS facility at 220 Rabro Drive. The site is located at the eastern end of the Hauppauge Industrial Park, the second-largest industrial park in the nation, just off the Long Island Expressway, near residences, churches, and Bretton Woods Elementary School. The Islip Town Board extended its BESS facility moratorium in March for six months. Another vote is scheduled for September 16. Smithtown also has a moratorium in place, while Brookhaven has not imposed one. Zeldin reassured Hauppauge and other localities that the federal government will not intervene to help the State site these facilities and maintained that local control will not be adulterated on the matter. “We have seen in recent years the impacts of these lithium batteries on local communities and the challenges that result for these local fire departments to be able to respond,” said Zeldin, adding that some lithium fires take days or even weeks to burn out. “These environmental concerns that we are hearing from the local experts are voices that absolutely must have a very emphatic, strong, influential seat at that table,” said Zeldin. “They are speaking out very professionally. They are doing so based on experience. This is something that is not based on fear.” Zeldin also took issue with BESS facilities in New York that have seen issues, such as the facility in East Hampton in May. He says that there is a “rush” by the State to get “many thousands” of these facilities placed throughout the state and that since he took office in January, he has been receiving concerns from all across New York. He also reinforced his administration’s concept of “cooperative federalism” in dealing with issues like this. “There is a belief in this federal agency [EPA] that the bureaucrats in Washington don’t know best, that we should be advancing partnerships with state and local communities, wherever common ground can be found, wherever there is overlap. Advancing cooperative federalism is a spirit that really applies no matter what level of government you serve in,” said Zeldin. “Now, for people in government, they might just say that they know best from that higher perch, and that a community needs to be railroaded and steamrolled. “But understand, when disaster strikes and those batteries are on fire, and there are toxic emissions and water quality impacts, it’s the people in this room [the local fire department] who are going to have to answer that call to put it out. The EPA stands ready to assist.” Zeldin released the first-ever national guidelines based on “lessons learned” from BESS facilities. The guidelines suggest that communities should “consult BESS facility safety experts” when considering and designing installations and that improvements in BESS quality and design have led to a decrease in the number of failure incidents per gigawatt hour deployed. Some notable incidents include a May 2024 fire in San Diego, where a BESS fire continued with flare-ups for one week. The facility contained about 15,000 batteries. Another incident was a January 2025 fire in Monterey County, California, resulting in a twenty-four-hour evacuation of about 1,200 residents. The EPA suggests complying with state and local siting, zoning, marking, and permitting requirements for site suitability; considering the design

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin at the Hauppauge Fire Department (Credit - Matt Meduri) of BESS units for quality assurance and industry safety standards; including remote sensors and monitoring; and communicating with local first responders to develop emergency response plans for incidents. Responders should be uphill and upwind of a facility, air emissions must be assessed for different substances, and runoff from water applications should be minimized, contained, or redirected as much as possible. “The Hauppauge Fire Department is speaking out on behalf of their fellow firefighters because they’re the ones who are going to be in danger dealing with this,” said Zeldin. Hauppauge Fire Commissioner Scott Monroe expressed “strong concerns and opposition” for the proposed 79-megawatt BESS facility on Rabro Drive. “With nearly 20,000 residents in Hauppauge, this facility has the potential to impact many of them,” said Monroe, adding that the proposed location is less than one-half mile from St. Thomas More Church, 3,000 feet from the headwaters of the Nissequogue River, and just a stone’s throw away from a residential area and Bretton Woods Elementary School. His other concern is the ability of local departments to respond. Hauppauge is just one of 177 volunteer fire departments on Long Island, but they have the “added challenge” of protecting the Hauppauge Industrial Park. “We urge the developers to reconsider this proposal and prioritize the safety and well-being of our residents,” said Monroe. Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R-Atlantic Beach) also took umbrage with the siting for BESS facilities on Long Island, particularly as Nassau County is much denser than Suffolk. “Long Island doesn’t want to see these battery warehouses in our communities,” said Blakeman. “A fire in our [Nassau] community can set a whole village on fire. It’s common sense that we would oppose the location of these warehouses.” Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James), the Ranking Member of the Energy and Telecommunications Committee, delivered a fired-up speech against the proposal and expressed doubts about the efficacy of BESS facilities at large. “If we do have a blackout, battery storage will only last for an hour, maybe two. It’s going to cost trillions of dollars. This experiment will be paid for by the rate payer,” said Mattera. “We have rates that are going up over 100% because of this experiment that’s not going to work.” Mattera, calling himself a “preventative maintenance person”, has advocated for different forms of renewable energy, such as opening the Constitution and NESE natural gas pipelines and retooling existing power plants with carbon capture. Such alternatives would alleviate the demand on the grid and drive energy rates down. “Everybody needs to be vocal to make sure that there’s going to be a moratorium in Islip against

these facilities,” said Mattera. He thanked Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) and the Town Council for extending the town’s moratorium on BESS facilities. While the EPA does not oppose the construction and usage of BESS facilities, they remain concerned about their proximity to the general public and water supply. He also said that New York’s out-migration is snubbing possible energy investments, as the future of energy policy should not rest exclusively with bureaucrats in Albany or Washington. Zeldin said that research and development is taking place regarding lithium firefighting technology. “I’m sure that in years ahead, abilities are going to grow. The EPA’s ability to assist has grown,” said Zeldin. “But if you polled this crowd, I’d be pretty confident in saying that it’s not going to extinguish their concerns when you place a facility right next to a school or playground.” Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director of the Citizens Campaign for the Environment, said that the EPA coming out with guidance and assistance is a “good thing”, but that the energy situation in New York requires an “all of the above” approach to solving. “We’re concerned that this administration is working to stop solar, wind, and now battery storage. That doesn’t work for America,” Esposito told The Messenger, adding that “we can’t stay addicted to fossil fuels.” Esposito says that the BESS facilities should be “sited very carefully and with rigorous public input”, but that the “technology has advanced.” “The new technology is much safer than it was five or ten years ago.” Esposito also says that there were some “mistatements” about the East Hampton BESS fire. The New York State Energy Development Agency (NYSERDA) found that there was no contamination of groundwater or the soil. Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), a decades-long first responder and Chair of the Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness Committee, says that the concern of BESS facilities remains high in the County’s eyes. “Last year, we had to add $125,000 in operating budgets to train our firefighters on the different tactics of fighting lithium fires,” Thorne told The Messenger. A standard car fire takes roughly fifteen minutes to put out, Thorne says, but that electric vehicle fires can take three to five hours to burn out. “We won’t know for some time what the impact is,” Thorne said of the East Hampton BESS fire. “The problem is that the contaminants are known to seep into the water. I’m concerned that we don’t yet have the proper data to say that there was no environmental impact.” The next Islip Town Board meeting will be held at Town Hall - 655 Main Street in Islip - at 5:30p.m. on September 16.

Legislative Progress Thursday, December 25, 2025

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Romaine Signs Caracappa’s Safe Housing Legislation Originally published October 9, 2025 By Julia Katz Last Friday afternoon, officials gathered for the signing of I.R.1329, a law designed to hold property owners accountable and ensure that all group homes and temporary shelters meet local building and zoning codes. The bill also allows for County subsidies to be revoked from landlords who do not pass inspections or do not allow their properties to be inspected. Sponsored by Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa (C-Selden)]and unanimously approved by the Suffolk County Legislature, the legislation was described as a “long overdue” effort to protect residents, neighborhoods, and first responders from the dangers of overcrowded and unsafe housing. In recent years, Suffolk County has faced mounting criticism over lax enforcement of housing codes, with some landlords exploiting vulnerable tenants. Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) remarked that the new law will give local governments the authority they need to enforce safety standards that state loopholes had undermined for too long. “Just because someone’s on Social Services does not mean they have to live in substandard housing… all housing should meet state building and sanitary codes,” said Romaine. Romaine, who previously served as Brookhaven Town Supervisor, recalled past incidents of extreme overcrowding, including a Gordon Heights home where 39 people were found living in a three-bedroom house. “This bill gives us the clout to stop that kind of exploitation once and for all,” said Romaine. “We’ll lobby for additional housing subsidies, but that doesn’t mean we should ever accept less than what the code requires.” Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches) called the legislation a major step in dismantling what he described as “the slumlord model” that has harmed communities for years, emphasizing, “packing dozens of people into homes isn’t altruism, it’s greed…it drags down entire neighborhoods. He explained that Brookhaven will now require all rental properties, including those used for Social Services, to obtain rental registrations. “We’re not throwing anyone into the streets; we’re raising the bar for what’s acceptable living, and for families who deserve safety and for the neighborhoods who have endured this,” said Panico (pictured right). Panico and other speakers further explained the danger these illegally altered homes pose to first responders. “When firefighters crawl into a home expecting a normal layout and they hit a wall that was never supposed to be there, that’s not just dangerous; it’s deadly.” In addition to the law protecting residents, it also protects the first responders who risk their lives

Suffolk County Executive Romain (seated, right) signs County Leg. Caracappa’s (seated, middle) bill, joined by Brookhaven Sup. Dan Panico (seated, left) (Credit - Matt Meduri)

to save them. For Caracappa, the bill is about fairness, safety, and restoring community trust. “These landlords put lives at risk residents, police, firefighters, and emergency responders. Today, we’re putting an end to that,” said Caracappa. “To those landlords and property owners exploiting people in need, we know who you are. You’ll comply, or you’ll be out of business.” Legislator Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches) praised the collaboration that made the bill possible. “Never in my lifetime have I seen what we have here today. This bill touches everyone, residents, civic leaders, first responders, business owners, because housing conditions ripple through every part of our communities,” said Mazzarella, adding that the measure would help “change the business model” of landlords who treat fines as the cost of doing business. “When they realize their funding is being cut off, they’ll start to think twice.” Echoing a similar message to Panico, local law enforcement and fire officials stressed the dangers of illegally modified homes. Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President Lou Civello called these homes “havens for crime” and entering as “one of the most dangerous things” first responders do. He described the overcrowded “slumlords” as “mazes,” making it extremely difficult to reach people in an emergency. Civello was joined by Deputy Sheriffs Association President Thomas Bivona and Suffolk County Chiefs Association President Mike Barry Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), Chair of the Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (FRES) and Preparedness Committee, echoed these sentiments. “We [FRES] will not be calling peoples’ families because they have fireman who won’t be coming home because some moron subdivided a house and trapped one of our firefighters,” said Thorne, joined by

Suffolk County Legislators Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters) and Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset). From the community side, civic leaders praised the County’s leadership for listening to long-standing concerns, marking a turning point. “This is not just another press conference, it’s real progress. We have leadership ready to act on the quality of life and safety issues our communities have been dealing with,” said Frank Fuggarino, President of the Pattersquash Creek Civic Association. Part of the problem stems from how landlords are able to effectively “hide” behind LLCs, which are used to purchase houses – in some cases dozens or even hundreds of homes registered to one LLC. Officials lamented the lack of State assistance on the matter. “Sober homes are anything but sober,” said Panico. “That is another tremendous issue that we have throughout all our communities. On William Floyd Parkway, we had a Legislator tackling one boarding house for over a decade. The house manager kicked people out and the occupants wandered the streets. There’s a role for the State to play, and the State, on many issues, has been absent.” Thorne added that there were twenty-three boarding houses in a two-square mile area in substandard conditions. “This is not picking on the poor; this is protecting them,” said Thorne. “There was a bill on the table in the State Legislature last year to make sure there was some kind of contact person you could reach. It was voted down by the State. It was absolutely absurd. That’s how they ‘hide’ behind LLCs.” “We stand with you. We support you. We’re here for you,” said Caracappa before the bill received its ink. “To those who need help - whether it be mental health issues, dependency issues, domestic violence issues, or if you’re just down on your luck – Suffolk County is here. We’re ready to help you.”

Legislative Progress Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, December 25, 2025

Romaine Signs Mazzarella’s Consumer Protection Bill

Originally published October 30, 2025 By Madison Warren

Executive Romaine (seated, right) signs Legislator Mazzarella’s (seated, left) bill (Credit - Suffolk County Legislature)

Romaine and Mazzarella were also joined by Suffolk County Legislators Trish Bergin (R-East Islip), Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue), and Nick Caracappa (C-Selden), who were co-sponsors of the bill. Among them were Commissioner of Labor Wayne Rogers and Deputy Commissioner of Labor David Stewart — all united by the same goal: keeping Long Island’s communities safe. Romaine emphasized the importance of verifying credentials before hiring anyone for home improvement work. “The first thing to know is, make sure that the contractor you deal with is licensed by the County,” he said. This distinction is crucial — if something goes wrong with an unlicensed contractor, homeowners are left to resolve the issue in court. However, when working with a licensed contractor, the Department of Consumer Affairs can step in to help mediate and reach a fair resolution. Romaine said the new law will increase penalties for dishonest contractors, modernize the licensing application process, and expand the county’s online registry of unreliable contractors. The goal, he said, is simple: to protect homeowners, ensure quality work, and hold contractors accountable. Mazzarella said that protecting the public remains the Legislature’s top priority, and this new law strengthens that mission. He explained that the contractor application process will now be more comprehensive, requiring additional background information beyond basic identification and residency details. Penalties will also become stricter to help prevent future scams and hold dishonest contractors accountable. “We hear so many heartbreaking stories of people who have been

Last Thursday, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) officially signed I.R.7452025 into law — a new measure designed to protect residents from dishonest contractors. The legislation, sponsored by Suffolk County Legislator Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches) strengthens the county’s licensing process and increases penalties for those who violate consumer trust, marking an important step toward greater accountability within the home improvement industry.

scammed out of thousands of dollars,” Mazzarella said, noting that “it’s the senior population who bears the brunt of this.” He reflected on how years of such incidents and constituent complaints ultimately led to the creation and passage of this legislation. Commissioner Rogers explained that the legislation further strengthens the County’s ability to hold contractors accountable. “We license the electricians, we license the plumbers — all of them have to be licensed if they’re on any job,” Rogers said. He emphasized that contractors must provide valid insurance and accurate business information to prevent fraud. Rogers added that under the new “digital wall of shame,” which all contractors need to agree to, the County can now pursue not only employees but also the owners of companies found in violation of regulations. “It used to be $250 to get fined; now we can get up to $5,000,” he said. He also noted that homeowners who work with licensed contractors are eligible for reimbursement of up to $5,000 from the County if something goes wrong — a protection that, he said, “many people are unaware of.” County officials say this legislation represents more than just more rigid rules — it’s a promise to protect residents, support honest local businesses, and make Suffolk County a safer place to live and work. Residents who wish to verify a contractor’s license, file a complaint, or seek assistance can contact the Suffolk County Department of Labor, Licensing & Consumer Affairs at 631-853-4600 or visit www. suffolkcountyny.gov/consumeraffairs for more information and online resources.

The Gilgo Beach Case Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, December 25, 2025

Gilgo Beach and the Price of Truth: Justice Meets Forensics on L.I. Originally published August 21, 2025 By Raheem Soto For more than a decade, the Gilgo Beach murders have haunted Long Island. A lonely stretch of dunes and scrub pine became a cemetery for women discarded as if their lives held no more weight than driftwood washed ashore. The case, mired in false leads and bureaucratic inertia, became a symbol of delay and neglect. For many, it stood as a damning question: did the system care enough about the victims to ever deliver justice? Now, with a suspect in custody and the courts preparing for trial, Suffolk County finds itself at a crossroads between justice delayed and justice delivered. The Man on Trial At the center is Rex Heuermann, a 61-yearold Manhattan architect accused of murdering seven women whose remains were found along Ocean Parkway between 1993 and 2011. He has pleaded not guilty. His fate will be determined in court. But the trial is bigger than one man. It is a referendum on how law, science, and society respond when the vulnerable fall prey to the violent. The DNA Revolution The true breakthrough is not only in the charges but in the science. Suffolk County Judge Timothy Mazzei has allowed prosecutors to use cutting-edge forensic methods—whole genome sequencing and nuclear DNA analysis—on decades-old, rootless hair fragments. It is the first time such techniques have been admitted in a New York courtroom. Traditional DNA testing requires intact roots; these samples had none. Without this technology, the case might have remained forever obscured, as hazy as the fog rolling off the Atlantic. Prosecutors say the science now links Heuermann to six of the seven victims. Defense attorneys object, pointing to licensing disputes and jurisdictional technicalities. A hearing on September 23 will decide how much of this evidence survives. But the implications reach far beyond Suffolk: if accepted, New York could join the ranks of states where advanced DNA is legitimate courtroom proof, a precedent that may unlock hundreds of cold cases nationwide.

Their lives were cut short, their dignity often diminished by the circumstances of their disappearance. But their humanity—not the evidence bags or trial transcripts— must remain the anchor of this story. Without it, justice becomes sterile, stripped of the very reason it matters. The Broader Lesson There are two trials unfolding. One asks: did Rex Heuermann commit these crimes, and can the state prove it? The other asks: can our system adapt to new science while upholding fairness? Fingerprinting was once controversial. Blood typing was once untested. Today, they are routine. Whole genome sequencing may soon join them. But there is a deeper reckoning. For years, the Gilgo case languished in part because the victims were poor, vulnerable, and stigmatized. Only when prestige science entered the scene did the system accelerate. That fact should unsettle us all. When violence touches the powerful, armies mobilize. When it touches the powerless, the response too often withers until evidence becomes impossible to ignore. What Comes Next On September 23, Judge Mazzei will rule on the defense challenges and decide whether the seven charges will be tried together. The trial itself may not begin until 2026, by which time the very technology in question may already be standard. But the larger verdict cannot wait. Gilgo Beach is more than a crime scene. It is a mirror. It reflects a culture that too easily discounts the worth of the marginalized, and a bureaucracy that hesitates when urgency is most needed. For too long, the facts were ignored. Now, science has dragged them into the light. Whether truth can prevail—and justice can follow—will test not only the courts, but the conscience of Long Island itself. Photo by Matt Meduri

A Grisly Discovery at Jones Beach Even as the courts weigh science, the ground itself continues to yield grim reminders. This month, workers near the East Bathhouse at Jones Beach unearthed a cache buried beneath two feet of sand: purses, rayon skirts, torn shirts, and a glove stained with blood. The symbolism was stark. Jones Beach, built by Robert Moses as a shrine to leisure, now revealed artifacts of violence. Detectives noted burlap fencing near the site—eerily similar to the burlap sacks that once shrouded the victims along Ocean Parkway. Whether these items tie directly to Heuermann or not, they deepen the case’s shadow and remind Long Islanders that the scope of this tragedy may stretch well beyond Gilgo Beach. Who the Victims Were Too often, the women lost to Gilgo are reduced to labels: “the Gilgo Four,” “sex workers,” “missing women.” But each had a name, a family, a life. • Melissa Barthelemy, 24, disappeared in 2009. • Megan Waterman, 22, vanished in 2010. • Amber Costello, 27, went missing that same year. • Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, last seen in 2007. • Jessica Taylor, 20, murdered in 2003. • Valerie Mack, 24, disappeared in 2000, identified years later. • Karen Vergata, 34, missing since 1996, identified in 2023.

Melissa Cann, sister of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, speaks of her sister.

Around Town Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, December 25, 2025

Paper Doll Vintage Boutique Reopens at New Sayville Location

Originally published August 21, 2025

By Madison Warren The Paper Doll Vintage Boutique has been a staple in the Sayville community since it opened its doors in 2012. Owner Dominique Maciejka faced the most challenging point in her career this past year when her store, along with several others on the Montauk Highway strip, was destroyed in a devastating fire. But things have turned around for her and her business. Its grand opening at a new location this past weekend was a huge success and a strong step forward in this new chapter. Dominique’s love for vintage began as early as she can remember—a hobby that soon grew into a passion. For her, fashion became a form of self-expression, with standout pieces serving as an art she held close to her heart. After attending college and getting her feet wet in the business, she set a goal to open her shop. She stayed busy making money wherever she could, bartending, and taking on office jobs, all for the goal of making this dream a reality. When Dominique opened her doors, the boutique quickly became a hotspot on Long Island and a haven for vintage lovers everywhere. Over the years, the shop has earned the “Best of Long Island” award for more than a decade straight, cementing its reputation as one of the region’s most beloved vintage destinations. Then came the day no businessowner ever wants to face. On October 25, 2024, the Sayville Main Street fire broke out, a destructive blaze that affected a total of eight businesses. Small business owners were left with nothing but the ashes of their livelihoods. Dominique had started her Friday shift as usual, with customers coming and going throughout the day. But everything changed when she and a few shoppers suddenly smelled heavy smoke as the fire alarm went off. Rushing outside to safety, they saw flames already spreading from the former Café Joelle’s next door. Thankfully, no one was hurt in the fire, but inside the shop, only a few pieces from the jewelry case remained. Everything else Dominique had worked so hard to collect was gone, along with an entire basement filled with vintage treasures and future inventory she had carefully set aside for the years ahead. Unsure of where to go from there, Dominique even considered going back to college and starting over. She didn’t know then that a hopeful new chapter was waiting for her. An overwhelming wave of support poured in from all over—customers who had shopped there for years, vintage enthusiasts, fellow collectible shops, and small businesses across Long Island. Each of them felt the loss as deeply as Dominique and rallied together to ensure this would not be the end of Paper Doll Vintage Boutique.

Photo credit - Ricky TeeVee

“People have made lifelong friendships at this store.” Dominque told The Messenger. “So, people took it very personally because the store has touched so many people. I know people were really moved by this because this was their safe space.” She, along with her longtime righthand and store manager, Amanda Reilly, set out on this new chapter together to find and open a new space to call home. An outpouring of support eased the nightmare of loss—backed by the Sayville Chamber of Commerce and the wider business community—through fundraisers, donations from people and businesses across Long Island, and even pop-up events at neighboring stores. All of it gave them the push they needed to move forward and rebuild. With the help of Ricky Saetta—better known as “Ricky TeeVee”—who quickly stepped in to be part of this new chapter, the boutique found its design force. His vision became the creative driving power behind the stunning and simply iconic new look of Paper Doll Vintage Boutique. Dominque, Amanda, and Ricky, three creative and dedicated artists, all in their way, helped create not only a vintage shop but a shop with an immersive and retro experience for all its customers. Dominque said, “It has been since February [when the new location was found], I was working very closely with Ricky and Amanda to design the space from floor-toceiling to make it the most special and unique vintage clothing store that we could really ever imagine.” Many different businesses stepped in to help move the process along, donating everything from flooring and wallpaper to paint and vintage pieces to restock the racks. These contributions were just a few of the many gestures that made the grand reopening possible. Dominque and Amanda have been blown away by the community’s support and the outcome of the store. There have been so many people to thank for all its success in creating an “immersive, living, breathing piece of art and not just a store but a creative outlet for all of us,” as Dominque put it. This past weekend’s grand opening was a massive success, with hundreds of customers lining up to see the big reveal of the new vintage shop. Dominique and Amanda are now looking ahead with excitement for what’s to come. With the momentum of their new location, they hope to expand by becoming vendors for other vintage stores, in addition to their current spot at Rosie’s Vintage in Huntington. They also aim to return to the world of TV productions, just as they had once been at their previous location. Above all, their mission remains the same—to continue sharing their passion for vintage treasures with a community that deeply appreciates them. We wish Paper Doll Vintage Boutique continued success at its new location and look forward to all that’s still to come. Take a step back in time and visit Paper Doll Vintage Boutique at its new and improved location, located at 106 Railroad Avenue in Sayville. The shop can be reached at (631) 319-1919, followed on Instagram at @paperdollvintage, or visited online at shoppaperdoll.com.

Summer Fun Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, December 25, 2025

Long Island’s First Oyster Jamboree

Originally published August 21, 2025 By Aiden Lorenzo

If you live in a seaside town or work in the seafood industry, you know that the oyster industry is crucial to not only the environment, but also the economy. Long Island, and especially Suffolk County, most definitely knows that, as this past Saturday, Suffolk County held the first ever Long Island Oyster Jamboree at Smith Point in Shirley. The event kicked off with a ceremonial oyster shuck at 1:00p.m. and the event continued with many different festivities including live music and contests, as well as fresh oysters from exclusively local vendors on Long Island. Of course, the oyster industry has had significant growth over the years. “The oyster industry continues to grow every year and in the last ten years, it’s grown over 400%... they’ve harvested over 9.5 million oysters in 2024 alone,” said Suffolk County Legislator Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches).

Officials kick off the jamboree with the first oyster shuck (Credit - Office of Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine) The event itself was also MC’ed by local standup comedian Joe Mylonas. When asked about his involvement with the event, he said, “We’ve got to support local businesses, communities, and families, and an event like this where it’s all Long Island growers and oyster farmers, it’s all great! I lived in Savannah, Georgia, for four years and they’ve got nothing on Long Island oysters. This is the best in the world, the best in the country, and I’m just glad to be here!“ Of course, Long Island does have a fascinating history when it comes to oysters, as they helped feed the original settlers and the natives that settled here. Naturally, the massive number of people who attended this weekend shared the same love for oysters. “We knew it was weekend be a big one, we just didn’t know how big. I’m happy to report that we have a lot of people here and they’re all happy!” Legislator Mazzarella told The Messenger. He also acknowledged the many other facets of the community that chipped in to help during the festival, including many people from Suffolk County’s Parks division, the lifeguard staff at Smith Point, the officers of Suffolk County’s Police Department, and the many volunteers from the surrounding fire departments and ambulance companies. Mazzarella was joined by a host of elected officials, such as County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches), Suffolk County Legislators Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport), Trish Bergin (R-East Islip), and Catherine Stark (R-Riverhead), Brookhaven Town Deputy Supervisor Neil Foley (R-Blue Point), Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue), Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (R-Baiting Hollow), Suffolk County Parks Commissioner Charlie Bartha, Suffolk County Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (FRES) Commissioner Rudy Sunderman, and SCPD Deputy Commissioner Belinda Alvarez-Groneman. When it comes to seafood on Long Island, it would be impossible to not bring up the recently introduced seafood trail throughout Suffolk County. Starting in Oakdale and stretching all the way out to Montauk, the Seafood Trail was introduced by Governor Kathy Hochul (D) and the State Agriculture Department this past March in order to promote the aquaculture and seafood industry of Long Island’s South Shore. “We want to bring exposure to these folks, we wanted to give them a little boost of income today and have people actually come and spend money, maybe folks will develop a favorite oyster, and they can find where these particular oyster growers are serving them,” said Mazzarella. “The restaurant gets exposure, the oyster growers get exposure, the resident is happy, we get economic activity, and we get a product that is also cleaning our waterways at the same time. It’s a win-win-win all across the board!” But it’s not just County officials who are excited about the trail. Local oyster companies have also expressed their optimism about it and the potential upsides it has for their business. Take for instance, North Fork Oysters, an oyster company based near the Peconic Bay that is also a family business. The Messenger had the opportunity to speak to one of the owners, Rosie, about it and she said “It hasn’t been tremendous yet, but there’s definitely a tick towards the positive,” North Fork Oyster co-owner Rosie told The Messenger. “We’re starting to see a little more people interested, more people starting to celebrate the local lifestyle, and hopefully, we can keep this all continuing.” North Fork Oysters is also a family-run business as Rosie’s son has been running the farm since graduating college, her husband has handled the sales and marketing, and her

daughters have been on the boats collecting oysters. “ We all work together, we do the farmers’ markets, and we just love everything about it! It’s really hard work but it’s also so important for the environment, the locals, and everything else,” said Rosie. Overall, it’s safe to say that the first ever Long Island Oyster Jamboree was a success. The community was out in full force, the love and attention that these oyster vendors got was truly incredible, and you can really tell how passionate these people are about their craft. Here’s to what’ll hopefully be the next great Long Island tradition!

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Thursday, December 25, 2025

First Life Saved Under Thorne’s EpiPen Bill

Originally published September 11, 2025 (Left to right) Greg Kronred, the first life to be saved under the new EpiPen law & Legislator Dominick Thorne (Credit - Matt Meduri)

Continued on page 3

By Matt Meduri

In 2022, Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue) sponsored a bill that was unanimously passed by the Legislature to allocate Epinephrine autoinjectors (EpiPens) to Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) vehicles. Thorne’s bill, called “Gio’s Law”, just went on the books last year, with full implementation occurring just weeks ago, and has already proven to be a life-saving initiative. Greg Kronred, 72, of Dix Hills, was working on Sunday in Wyandanch and was stung by a bee. He suddenly felt dizzy and managed to get inside the building and call his son, Kevin, who called 911. The police officers who arrived administered the EpiPen to Kronred’s leg, saving his life. “What’s the value of a life?” asked Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) (pictured left). “Priceless.” Romaine said that while the initiative cost about $25,000 - “not a huge amount” in the overall operating budget - it was “well worth” the investment for such a valuable tool. The law is named for Giovanni Cipriano, a fourteenyear-old Lynbrook boy who passed away after experiencing an anaphylactic attack. Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue) (pictured right) and Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R-Medford) helped carry the bill in Albany to clarify that Nassau and Suffolk first responders were permitted to carry the devices. “With the addition of our new police commissioner and our county executive, we implemented this law, and I’m so very thankful for them pushing for this,” said Legislator Thorne, joined by Legislators Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters), Nick Caracappa (C-Selden), Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon), and Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport). “I made Georgina a promise that I would not let this go. To the rest of the State, pay attention to Suffolk County and do the same so we can all save lives.” Giovanni’s mother, Georgina Cornago, thanked Legislator Thorne for “keeping his promise” to her that he would solve the problem. “Allergic reactions can happen anywhere and at any time,” said Cornago. “This is the kind of forward thinking and action we need to see everywhere. I’m sure Giovanni is looking down right now saying, ‘thank you.’” Senator Murray said that the bill’s passage through Albany was promulgated not just through bipartisanship, but by cooperation between legislators as far apart on the political spectrum as possible. The bill was carried by Senator Julia Salazar (D-Bushwick). As far as their differences, Murray said, “none of that mattered.” “This is what happens when government actually works the way it’s

supposed to,” said Murray. “This is how it’s supposed to work. We hear about all the dysfunction, the partisanship and all of that, but when common sense, doing the right thing, and working together at all levels of government, regardless of party, it works out great.” Kronred said that if the officers weren’t there with an EpiPen, he wouldn’t have survived. “They did a fantastic job. If they weren’t there doing their job, I wouldn’t be here today. I couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Kronred. The police body cam footage from the incident was played, showing officers’ quick use of the EpiPen to save Kronred’s life. The officers were commended with proclamations for their work. “They say timing is everything, and in this case, timing saved a life,” said SCPD Deputy Commissioner Belinda Alvarez-Groneman. “Twenty-five of our patrol cars were equipped with these life-saving EpiPens on Thursday, and just a few days later, we were reminded of the critical need for these devices. Make no mistake, had this EpiPen not been at our disposal, the outcome could have been deadly.“ One of the responding officers was Sara Feldman, a rookie who just completed her graduation in July. She told CBS News that the EpiPens had been stocked in her cruiser just two days before the incident in Wyandanch. Other responding officers included Ryan Belanger and Brandon Casco. The three were honored after the press conference at Hauppuage’s H. Lee Dennison Building on Tuesday afternoon. State Legislators continue to lobby for an expanded version of the bill that would unlock $25 million in funding to proliferate EpiPens to police cruisers. Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) and Congresswoman Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre) have introduced a bipartisan federal version of “Gio’s Law”, which would establish a national grant program under the Department of Justice to provide access and training to police officers on the use of these life-saving tools. “This is a prime example of the result when you fund your police department,” said Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President Lou Civello (pictured above right). “What sets the Suffolk County Police Department apart is that these are not just police professionals; they’re also EMTs. More often than not, police are the first ones on the scene when someone is in medical distress.” Civello said that the response is multi-faceted, wherein a department can have “all the training in the world”, but can fall short of saving lives without the proper tools.

Cabinet Appearances Thursday, December 25, 2025

Energy Sec. Wright Visits Northport Power Station

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Originally published October 2, 2025 By Matt Meduri

In the fight for clean and cheap energy, Energy Secretary Chris Wright (R-CO) visited the Northport Power Station to talk about updating and upgrading existing power stations to meet demand, as well as pitch President Donald Trump’s (R-FL) ambitious energy policies. Wright founded Pinnacle Technologies in 1992, which was involved in commercial shale gas production fracking. He served as its CEO through 2006. In 2011, he founded Liberty Energy, a company which, as of 2023, is valued at $2.8 billion, as per The Wall Street Journal. Wright earned media recognition in 2018 for drinking fracking fluid to demonstrate its safety and to emphasize Liberty Energy’s “greener solutions” for chemical additives. On November 16, 2024, then-President-elect Trump nominated Wright to lead the Energy Department. The U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources voted 15-6 to advance his nomination to the full Senate. He was confirmed on February 3 by a 59-38 vote, with seven Democrats and one Independent who caucuses with the Democrats, joining 51 Republicans to confirm him. Fellow Coloradans Senators John Hickenlooper (D) and Michael Bennet (D) were among those eight crossover votes. “I’m passionate about energy. It enables everything we do in our lives, our business, and our hobbies. It’s the infrastructure of life,” Wright told the press on Tuesday afternoon in Northport. “President Trump got elected because Americans were frustrated by rising energy prices. New York and New England have among the highest energy prices in the country - 50% to 100% higher than the national average.” Wright (pictured right) added that it isn’t “bad luck” that New York has this problem, but an “accumulation of political decisions.” He stated, however, that he is “optimistic” about “changing trajectories”, and that these problems are “fixable.” “When you have wildly high prices, it means industry leaves and low-income people struggle to pay their bills. I’ve never seen the upside of it,” said Wright. “One of the biggest drivers of the last twenty years has been a misunderstanding of climate change.” Wright clarified that “climate change is a real physical phenomenon”, and that he’s “engaged with the issue for twenty years.” “The United States is by far the biggest reducer of greenhouse gas emissions of any country on Earth,” said Wright, adding that the net-zero emissions goals by 2050 has been a “drum that’s been beaten and justified all sorts of laws.” Wright said that there is a “0.0%” chance that the world will hit net-zero by 2050, but called the effort “justified”, nonetheless. He outlined three problems that have arisen from adherence to this goal. “Energy has been more expensive everywhere,” he said, adding that the leaders of the net-zero movement, the United Kingdom, Germany, Denmark, and Canada, only stand to “elevate energy prices” and “impoverish” their citizens the “longer and more aggressively” the goal is pursued. Secondly, Wright said that “deindustrialization” is another byproduct of the ethos. “California, the economic engine of our country, the birthplace of semiconductor and defense manufacturing - a state that had everything going for it - made their energy prices so expensive that the industry just left,” said Wright. He said that when industry leaves, it typically goes to China. “That’s not emissions reduction; that’s just the moving of emissions. But the jobs and economic opportunities move with it.” Thirdly and finally, Wright said the standard of living becomes stunted, as most citizens, especially low-income households, “don’t have the economic prosperity and progress they wish they had.” “Blue-collar jobs, lower-wage jobs tend to be energy-intensive jobs. California was an expert at moving all of those jobs out of its state. How does California today have the highest adjusted poverty rate of any state in the country? Bad energy policies are central to that evolution of that state,” said Wright. “The answer is better political decisions and leadership.” Wright called for more energy infrastructure across New York, namely via natural gas. He said that “well over” 40% of all electricity in the U.S. is generated through natural gas - 50% in New York. The switch from burning oil to burning natural gas nets two benefits, according to Wright: lower costs and cleaner air. “I haven’t found anyone who’s opposed to either,” said Wright. “The goal of the Trump Administration, and my goal personally in the Department

Energy Secretary Chris Wright at the Northport Power Plant on Tuesday (Credit - Matt Meduri)

of Energy is how we can help every state lower its cost of energy, clean the air for our citizens, and provide expanded economic opportunity.” Wright called New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) “totally nuts.” “That ban on natural gas means more gas will be burnt [from other states], and the cost of heating in that home will go up from two to five times,” said Wright. “The multiplier is about threeand-a-half times more expensive to heat with electric instead of heating with natural gas directly at the point.” Wright said that he met with Governor Kathy Hochul (D) early in his tenure and has had “many productive dialogues” with her about the NESE and Constitution natural gas pipelines, which have been stalled by Albany. “These are two pre-planned projects that will lower energy costs and clean the air. That shouldn’t be a hard sell, but yet politicians in New York stopped them,” said Wright. “Both pipelines would be massively helpful in pursuing those goals.” The Northport Power Station is about sixty years old. Wright said that the federal government is looking to alter the “regulatory environment” for investments to be made in existing power facilities. Funding from the Department of Energy could play a part in that. Wright added that the department can match funds from corporate players for better return. “We are in constant negotiations and dialogues with people right now about that,” said Wright. “A lot of the money allocated under the Biden Administration was to encourage business and utilities to do the opposite, to spend money to make electricity more expensive and less reliable, but some of those funds are still available to better the system.” Of updating existing infrastructure, Wright said it comes down to upgrading them with more modern equipment and monitoring plants’ yearly peak outputs to gauge regional demand. Wright said that he’s “all in” on nuclear - the second-largest source of power in the U.S. behind natural gas. However, he stressed that specific assets should be adjudicated by local control. He said that if state and local governments wished to pursue nuclear, he would do “everything” he could to help them. Coal power plants are the third-largest source of U.S. energy after natural gas and nuclear, accounting for 16% of total energy production. Wright said that the Biden Administration planned to close “100 gigawatts of coal and natural gas power plants.” “Totally insane,” said Wright. “To lead the race in AI and re-industrialize our country, we need to add that 100 gigawatts of capacity, especially when the wind’s not blowing and the sun’s not shining.” Wright was pressed on his stances on climate change when overlaid with his past as a fossil fuel executive. “I helped start the American shale gas revolution, the largest driver of reduced greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. by far. Roughly 60% has been natural gas displacing coal in the power sector,” said Wright, adding that if climate change was a big of a problem as presented in most cases, it would have been “awesome for his business.” “Since fossil fuels came into the world, human life expectancy has more than doubled. Wealth per person around the world has grown about sixteen-fold,” he said, adding that, despite the benefits, the fuels have “increased atmospheric CO2 by 50%, absorbed infrared radiation, which is contributing to the warming, and contributing to the sea level rise that was already underway before hydrocarbons.” Regarding wind energy, Wright called its history a “train wreck”, and that Denmark, Germany, and the United Kingdom, which have some of the largest offshore wind farms, have the most “expensive electricity prices in the world.”

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Thursday, December 25, 2025

Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled By Robert Charles | National Spokesman for AMAC

All days are not equal. They deliver different news, some good, some bad, some gifts that lift, some losses that consume us, but there is truth in it all. The seminal truth – for those of faith – is just this: “Let not your heart be troubled.” What does the Archangel Gabriel, bearer of good news, say to Mary when she learns she will become the mother of Jesus, the Mother of God? “Do not be afraid Mary, for you have found favor with God.” (Luke 1:30) What do the shepherds, tending their flocks on the night Jesus is born, hear from the angel who visits? “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people…” (Luke 2:820) When we are prodded by media, social media, secular schools, political leaders, and those who push fear – asked to swap courage and faith for fear, do not. These Christmas passages are lightness itself, reminding us at Christmas that our loving God is here, ever present in our lives, and specifically – quoting John – “The truth will set you free,” meaning an earnestly held faith leads to salvation. But look deeper. Recall that the Bible’s whole message is that those with faith, who place themselves at the service of His mission – which turns on love – will be protected. Thus, John 14:1 says: “Let not your heart be troubled…” In effect, the world is filled with trials, grief, stress, and loss. From Christ’s time to now, we are goaded to accept fear, replace faith in God with government, give up independent reasoning and faith for the false security of fallible leaders. The fallacy is simple. Government is not a “stairway to heaven.” It never will be. Government is simply a means for managing the material needs of humanity, and – at its limited best – promoting private responsibility, civic duty, moral compass, and faith. Matthew writes: “Render unto Caesar what is Caesar’s,” meaning do not confuse what is owed to government with what is owed to your loving God, who gives us life. This theme – “Let not your heart be troubled” – is far broader than the messages delivered by Archangel Gabriel to Mary and the angel to the shepherds. While we get a description of the promise in “The Beatitudes” and the New Testament, the promise begins earlier. The Old Testament foreshadows the promise. In Isaiah 41:10, we read: “Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, I will help you, and I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” In Psalms 34:4, we read: “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” Here is a testament to the promise fulfilled. In Joshua 1:9, the promise is explicit: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” As many learned young, others when needed, the 23rd Psalm is a rock: “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” The 23rd Psalm finishes: “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Over and over again, we are assured, promised, told to set aside anxiety, fear, grief, and the human forces of diminished courage in favor of unbending faith. In the New Testament, which tracks the Old, we hear the affirmations, repeatedly assuring cause and history, depth and reason to “let not your heart be troubled.” In Timothy 1:7, “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control,” and

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John 14:27: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, do not be afraid.” Truth be told, this hardly scratches the surface. The Bible is filled with reassurance. That reassurance carried our Founding Fathers forward in their darkest hours, carried the Union Army, carried all who have faced fear – to favor. So, as we face a new year and the natural uncertainty that attaches, remember the promises we hear vividly at Christmas – and “Let not your heart be troubled.” All days are not equal, but they are all made by God, and ours is a loving God.

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Bits & Pieces

Thursday, December 25, 2025

WORD

RESPITE

Hard

Pronounced: /reh·spuht/

Week

Definition: a short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.

Etymology: rom Old French respit, from Latin respectus ‘refuge, consideration’. Synonyms: lull, break, intermission

Example: “The staff was given a muchneeded respite after the busy news cycle.”

4 9

Expe

2 5 1

5 4

2 2 8

8 7 3 4

6 8

Source: Oxford Languages

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

SUDOKU

Antonyms: clamor, racket, turmoil

5 9 3

noun

OF THE

1 9

2 6

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

Master

This Week in History 4 9

WORD WHEEL

December 28, 1612:

First observation of Neptune - Galileo observes and records a “fixed star” without realizing it is a planet.

8 3 7 4 5 9 6 2 1

3 7 1 9 2 5 8 4 6

9 5 4 8 1 6 3 7 2

6 2 8 3 4 7 1 5 9

1 9 5 2 6 3 7 8 4

7 8 3 1 9 4 2 6 5

2 4 6 5 7 8 9 1 3

5 1 9 6 8 2 4 3 7

4 6 2 7 3 1 5 9 8

Download the original Sudoku.com mobile application and play thousands of Sudoku puzzles anytime, anywhere! 12/09/2025

4 5 2

December 6 25, 1914:

Legendary “Christmas Truce” takes place on the battlefields of World War I between British and German troops; instead of fighting, soldiers exchange gifts, play football, and sing carols together.

1 3

December 27, 9 1845:

Ether is likely first used in childbirth by surgeon Crawford Long while his wife is giving birth in Jefferson, Georgia.

December 31, 1994:

Master

9 6 2 4 1 5 3 7 8

1 8 5 7 6 3 4 2 9

3 7 4 9 2 8 5 6 1

4 9 6 1 5 7 8 3 2

7 5 3 2 8 4 1 9 6

2 1 8 3 9 6 7 4 5

5 3 1 6 7 2 9 8 4

6 4 9 8 3 1 2 5 7

8 2 7 5 4 9 6 1 3

5 8 9 7 3 4 6 1 2

7 4 6 2 1 9 3 5 8

1 2 3 6 8 5 7 4 9

4 7 2 5 6 8 1 9 3

9 5 1 3 4 2 8 6 7

6 3 8 1 9 7 5 2 4

3 9 4 8 5 1 2 7 6

8 1 7 9 2 6 4 3 5

2 6 5 4 7 3 9 8 1

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

8 5

2 8 7

Battle of Bastogne: US General George S. Patton’s Third Army repulses German forces

1 2

December 7 1944: 26,

6 1

December 30, 1953:

The first NTSC color television sets go on sale for about $1,175 from RCA.

Date skipped in Kiribati as the Phoenix Islands and Line Islands change time zones from UTC-11 to UTC+13 and UTC-10 to UTC+14, respectively.

December 29,1902: Scott Joplin copyrights “The Entertainer” and several other piano rag compositions with the US Copyright Office. Source: Onthisday.com.

Dow mob Sudo

Expert

Hard

5 3 1 4 9 8 6 2 7 8 2 7 3 6 1 5 9 4

1 8 5 4 2 6 7 9 3 7 3 6 8 9 5 4 2 1

Messenger Perspectives Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Originally published July 31, 2025

Thursday, December 25, 2025

What are You Really Seeking Here?

21 Photo credit - Freepik

By PJ Balzer

Over the past fifteen years, I’ve seen people walk through the doors of the church with all types of needs. Many walk in after experiencing a personal tragedy or traumatic experience. They sit in the pew searching for answers, healing, and finding peace in their hearts. Others walk in because their marriage is crumbling, their health is unexpectedly declining, or their once stable financial tables have drastically turned. The truth is that I myself also walked into a church for a few of these reasons. I’ve also seen people walk into the church building because of personal wants. The church may seem like a good place to meet people, to gain votes or followers, possibly to attempt meeting a nice, modest “church girl.” People walk in because they feel that God might be able to add something tangible to their life, to enhance their personality, or give them some sort of edge of charisma or increase in the career realm. Jesus has seen those doors fling open for every reason possible. Yet, He is so lovingly, mercifully, and sovereignly is able sort through every heart and circumstance. He meets us as we are and where we are. Throughout the Gospel accounts, there were also all types of people who came to Jesus with every conceivable need. There were blind beggars who cried out loud and unashamedly on the roadside for help. There were people who desperately brought their sick relatives to Him for healing. There were zealots who felt that Jesus should immediately overthrow an oppressive Roman government. There was a rich and influential young man that came to Him for personal justification in following religious requirements but wouldn’t follow the ultimate call of discipleship and journey of self-denial. There were rulers, lepers, tax collectors, prostitutes, and fisherman - all who had different needs both inside and out. Jesus responded differently in each case, again, because He knows the depths of the individual human heart and intent. Flipping back a little to the Old Testament, but speaking of the same Eternal God, the revered King David was so far from a perfect person. David had private issues that became a public spectacle. Still, David was the only individual throughout the Scriptures that God Himself said was, “A man after My own heart.” David made some heavy and costly mistakes along the way. Instead of repenting immediately and running towards God for mercy and forgiveness, King David ran far away from Him, far to the point of attempting to manipulate the mess he’d made by orchestrating the murder of the woman’s husband in an

When God scans the earth for potential leaders, He is not on a search for angels in the flesh. He is certainly not looking for perfect people, since there are none. He is searching for men and women like you and me, mere people made up of flesh. But He is also looking for people who share the same qualities He found in David. God is looking for men and women “after His own heart” (1 Samuel 13:14).

attempt at fixing up his love triangle. David ruined other people’s lives, and it cost him personally and greatly. But God never stopped loving him; David, a man that’s still after “My own heart.” Throughout King David’s life, there were great victories and gains along with losses, disappointments, and times of waiting on a God who seemed silent and absent. All of these various seasons of life shaped David’s heart into one that was slowly melted and molded into God’s own heart. King David ended up being a person who cared about what God cared about. He desired what God desired, and his heart sought after the things that God sought after. David’s heart found rest in the character, faithfulness, and presence of God. In his later years, David ended up reigning with righteousness and with God’s definition of justice and fairness in every decision he made. King David gave out compassion when it was warranted and judgement when it was warranted as well. David truly ended his life being a man and a King that could hear the heartbeat of God. The one thing that the Lord has always and still desires is a person, man or woman, that would end up seeking after Him for Him. While we each may initially be drawn to the church and towards God with needs, wants, or both, God searches individual hearts for a person that wants to know what’s in His heart, not only in His hand. While God may answer our prayers for the tangible things that we need to live on this earth, I believe that beyond those answers to prayer for the temporary things, there’s a resounding question… “What are you really seeking here?”

Originally from Thursday, November 20, 2025

Port Jefferson Girls’ Volleyball

Claims League, County, & Regional Titles By Ashley Pavlakis

A royal flush was in the cards this season for the Port Jefferson varsity girls’ volleyball team as they claimed every title possible. The Royals dominated their opponents on the court and were rewarded well for their efforts. The girls’ volleyball team is a member of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and competes in League 8. The Royals are led by head coach Charles Hafner. The bench boss has been at the helm of the Royals since 2022. Additionally, he was awarded Newsday’s Suffolk County Coach of the Year in 2022. He was also awarded Section XI League Coach of the Year in 2022. Courtside, he is joined by assistant coach Matt Dolan. The Royals boast a 20-2 record, going 8-0 in league play. The girls have gone undefeated in league play since 2023. Let’s get to the trophies the Royals have brought home throughout the years. They won the League title in ‘21, ‘24, and ‘25. They won the County title in ‘22, ‘23, ‘24, and ‘25. They won the Long Island title in ‘22, ‘23, and ‘24. They won the Downstate title in ‘22 and ‘25. Finally, they were New York State finalists in ‘22. Easy to keep track of, right? The Royals entered the postseason and competed in the Class C bracket, where they took home the Suffolk County title with a 3-0 win over Greenport/ Southold. From there, they played in the Downstate regionals, where they defeated North Salem with another clean match, 3-0. Finally, they took on Madrid-Waddington, where they posted another clean slate to claim victory. Thus, claiming the title of Class C Regional champions. “It’s good. They definitely had a little bad taste in their mouth after we lost to Mount Academy last year in the Downstate final,” said Hafner. “As soon as we got to our team dinner that day on our way home, they were asking when the first offseason practice was so that they could come back next year to right the wrongs. They definitely have put the effort in. So, it’s been a lot of hard work from them, and they’ve earned what they got.”

The squad had a lot to celebrate on and off the court as they celebrated nine seniors on October 16. McKayla Pollard, Ava Rielly, Bianca Nakagawa, Lexi Verruto, Lilliana Swift, Chloe Alonso, Anna Brown, MeKenzie Rogers, and Hannah Pflaster represent the Class of 2026 and will graduate in the Spring. On the court, Pollard and Rielly had milestones of their own to celebrate. Pollard earned her 600th career kill earlier this season. She’s third in Suffolk County with 279 and has 48 aces, which is good for 19th. Rielly earned her 1,000th career assist last season. Currently, she has 676 this season, which puts her in first place in the county. Pflaster is 22nd with 213 digs. Sara Puopolo sits in 11th with 245 digs. “We have a lot of seniors, and a lot of younger kids in the starting lineups changed a bunch,” said Hafner. “There’s been a lot of different girls playing in different positions, and we’ve gotten to a point where it seems the girls are more excited when other girls have an opportunity to play and get subbed in for them. I don’t think there’s really a ton of animosity between the girls. They seem to be very supportive of each other, which is what we’ve been trying to work on this past year.”

The Royals were queens of the court, taking their opponents down in three straight sets 19 times this season. Only twice did they need to play five sets to pull out the ‘W’. Their only two losses came to Islip (2-3) and Connetquot (0-3). The T-Birds sit atop League II, while Islip is in the middle of the pack in League V. “We’re going to do pretty much a team a day. We only have three days to get up there, so we’re gonna prep for Fortville one day, prep for Mount Academy one day, and prep for Lansing one day. They’ve watched film on all three teams and kind of know some of the tendencies of what their offense and defense are going to do. So ideally, we will be able to work through some more of that stuff over the next few days and then put in some defensive and offensive stuff that’ll help us out with it. Hopefully, we show up, have energy, and play tough. I think that’s the biggest thing, not getting down when you make a mistake,” said Hafner. Port Jefferson Girls’ Volleyball certainly had plenty to be proud of this season as they racked up the titles to add to their trophy case. The hunt continues as they look ahead to the New York State Championship that takes place next weekend in Glenn Falls. The trip will be the Royals’ first time back to states since 2022.

The First Annual ‘Play for Gilmore’ Game Originally published October 2, 2025

By PJ Balzer It was just the way she would have wanted it. Her family gathered together along with multiple teams, towns, and even counties. The sport she loved was on full display, generosity and giving back going on at the same time. Adrian Gillmore would be extremely proud to see what her life on earth signified. Coach Adrian passed away suddenly this past spring. While she was coaching at Shoreham-Wading River, Gillmore unexpectedly suffered a brain aneurysm while on the field. She was attended to immediately and rushed to a nearby hospital, but ended up passing away the following day at the young age of 42. She left behind her husband Tim and three children, who have since taken up her torch and turned something painful into something useful and positive, “The Gillmore Game.” Prior to kickoff, Adrian Gillmore’s husband Tim and her daughter Kayla took center field to greet the crowd. Along with Shoreham-Wading River’s current girls’ varsity soccer coach, Lydia Kessel, who was coached by Gilmore and now has been tapped to fill her position. “My mom loved where she coached and where she grew up and played soccer. We’re so thankful that Shoreham-Wading River and William Floyd both made a commitment to participate. There is a gaping hole today without her here, but this is what her life consisted of - her family, sports, and giving back,” said Kayla Gillmore, a William Floyd graduate and all-American girls lacrosse player who is now playing at Maryland in her Sophomore year. With not many dry eyes on the field or in the stands after her family opened the day with heartfelt words, the William Floyd girls’ soccer team took on Shoreham-Wading River in the opening game. Additionally, a second game saw the boys’ Shoreham varsity soccer team taking on Garden City. Shoreham, a renowned soccer powerhouse with multiple league, county, and one New York State titles under Gilmore’s leadership, defeated the Colonials 5-1, while the boys defeated Garden City in a much closer contest of 1-0.

Support for this game poured in from every angle of the community as people volunteered their time and rolled up their sleeves to make such a special day possible. Tim Gilmore’s student athletes on the Shoreham-Wading River boys’ varsity basketball team came out in support of their coach and his family, along with Bayport-Blue Point student athletes who were also in attendance in solidarity with the other schools present with the Gillmore family. The female players wore burgundy ribbons in their hair for Brain Aneurysm Awareness Month, while the males wore the same color armbands. Baskets and other items that were donated by the schools present, along with multiple organizations who stepped up to help, were raffled off with the proceeds going to support the Gillmore family. Adrian was someone who not only cared deeply about her students and the soccer program at Shoreham-Wading River, but also in helping those students find the potential in themselves no matter the challenges, disabilities, or adversities they may face in their lives. She always tried to meet people where they were currently in their life and communicate and support them in a way that was uplifting to help them find a path forward, or simply help them with guidance in reaching their own individual goals and aspirations. The event was special and they did a great job in encapsulating the qualities she tried to live in her life. We thank the Shoreham-Wading River and William Floyd Girls’ Soccer Programs and both communities for their compassion, love, and commitment to preserve the memory and life of Adrian. We would also like to give a special thank you to all the lady Wildcats past and present that showed up to support their former coach. Also, those that reached out to us personally but were unable to make it on Saturday. The soccer program has been great all of these years because of their commitment to the program’s success and their unwavering dedication to Play For Gilmore,” the Gilmore Family. #playforgilmore

Center Moriches Boys’ Lacrosse Wins First-Ever County Title Originally published June 12, 2025 By Ashley Pavlakis

The Red Devils needed just one chance to make a name for themselves. The playoffs are a brand-new season, and they took full advantage of it. The boys’ varsity lacrosse team claimed their first-ever Suffolk County Championship title with a win over Babylon. The Center Moriches boys’ lacrosse team is a member of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and competes in Division II. The squad is led by head coach Mike Vitulli who is joined on the sidelines by assistant coach Ian Leary. Center Moriches had an even record, winning eight and losing eight for the 2025 spring season. What that record earned them was a playoff spot in the Class D bracket. There’s a saying that the playoffs are a brand-new season where anything can happen and the regular season means nothing. The Red Devils were determined to make that statement a reality for themselves. The 2025 Red Devils schedule saw them compete against fourteen Division II opponents and two non-conference opponents. They began the season against Bellport and Middle Country, securing wins over both before heading into conference play. Their conference play proved to be a tough battle as they won six and lost eight versus teams in their division. The Red Devils made the playoffs and encountered Babylon in the Class D bracket. The two schools met twice during the regular season, each winning one game. Center Moriches won 7-6 on Babylon’s turf, and Babylon won 7-5 on Center Moriches’ turf. There was more on the line this time as they were playing for a Suffolk County Championship title. To keep with the scoring pattern, the championship game followed suit. The game took place at a neutral site, East Islip High

The Center Moriches Boys’ Lacrosse Team (Credit - Instagram @cmboysvlax) School. 7-6 was the final score and the Red Devils were on the winning end of the rubber match. This season the Red Devils honored six seniors earlier in May. They’ll graduate this month before heading off to college in the fall. Jake Mazza will be attending Manhattanville to play DIII soccer, Marcellus Shedrick will head to Oswego to pursue DIII basketball, and Noah Reed is off to New Paltz to play DIII lacrosse. Also graduating are seniors Matt Albino, Braedan K, and Daniel Krauss. Seasonal awards are given out annually, and there was no shortage of Red Devils on the lists. Caden Leslie, Gavin Javetski, Austin Faller, John Marino, Will Jordan, Mason Walsh, Matt and Michael Albino made the All-League team. Colin Casey and Mason Walsh were named to the All-County team with Casey being an honorable mention. With a Suffolk County Championship win under their belts, they advanced to the Long Island Championship where they met Cold Spring Harbor. The Seahawks entered the title game having won three straight. Their experience was evident as they beat the Red Devils 16-8 to earn their fourth consecutive Long Island Championship.

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Thursday, December 25, 2025