Meet the ‘Lake Keeper’
By Matt Meduri
Decades of work to clean up Lake Ronkonkoma and restore it to its former glory hit a crucial turning point this week, as the County and community gained a formal “Lake Keeper” whose sole responsibility it will be to focus on the ecology and hydrology of Long Island’s largest freshwater lake.
The Lake geographically borders the towns of Smithtown, Brookhaven, and Islip, which all lay claim to certain shores of the Lake, as does the County, creating a multi-layered system that has complicated aspects of its remediation over the years. Moreover, the Lake represents the upper glacial layer of the County’s aquifer, meaning it’s a gateway to the sole-source drinking water supply for the region.
Kevin Lazzaro, (inset picture) the aforementioned Lake Keeper, interacted with concerned citizens and members of the Lake Ronkonkoma Advisory Board (LRAB) at the Suffolk County Legislature building in Hauppauge last Thursday.
Continued on page 5
Hauppauge Boys’ Baseball Wins County Title
Hauppauge Eagles celebrate their County win. (Credit - Frank Bayer)
Lake Ronkonkoma from Larry’s Landing on the Brookhaven side. (Inset) Kevin Lazzaro, the new Lake Keeper, in Hauppauge
SPRING EVENTS
Sayville Farmers Market at the Islip Grange Every Saturday until November, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Port Jefferson Summer Farmers Market Every Sunday until November, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Smithtown Festival Day 2026
June 7, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
America Sings: Celebrating America and Its 250th Birthday at United Methodist Church, Bayport June 7, 4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Summer 2026 Truck Fest at The Maples in Manorville June 7-9, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Sample & Support at Station Yards, Ronkonkoma
June 9, 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Gallery North’s Wet Paint Festival in Setauket
June 13-14, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Butterfly and Bird Festival at Sweetbriar Nature Center
June 13, 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM
14th Annual Farmingville Street Fair
June 14, 10:00 AM
Father’s Day Festival at Harbes Family Farm & Vineyard
June 20-21, Times may vary
Lavender Festival at Hoshyla Farms
June 27-28, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
(631) 269-6421
Conveniently
Conveniently
BAY SHORE
AMVETS Post • Boulton Center • Leggio’s Deli
EAST ISLIP
American Legion Post • Harry’s Bagel
Mister Softee Ice Cream • Pat’s Market
ISLIP
American Legion Post Bagels & More • Oconee Diner
OAKDALE
The New Idle Hour Deli
50% Cards Store (Wendy’s Shopping Center)
RONKONKOMA
718 Slice Pizzeria – (719 Hawkins Ave)
Airport Diner • AMVETS Post 48 • B&B Bagels
B.L.D.’s Restaurant • American Legion Post Ronkonkoma Train Station
SAYVILLE
Sayville LIRR Train Station
Sayville American Legion Post • Stop & Shop
WEST ISLIP
Best Farms Market
Higbie Bagels • West Islip Bagels West Islip Community Center West Islip LIRR Train Station
WEST SAYVILLE
LI Maritime Museum
CENTRAL ISLIP:
American Flag Bead Art Shadow Box - June 15, 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM
ISLIP:
Blindfolded Cookie Competition - June 11, 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
EAST ISLIP:
Nesting Birds of Long Island - June 8, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
WEST ISLIP:
Seashell Charm Holders - June 10, 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM
CONNETQUOT:
Country Line Dancing - June 5, 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM
SAYVILLE:
Paint a Rainbow - June 15, 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM
BAYPORT:
Lo-Fi Chill and Study Sesh - June 9, 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
BRENTWOOD:
Family Maker Night - June 17, 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM
By Madison Warren
Stony Brook Children’s Hospital Launches $55 Million Pediatric Emergency Expansion
Stony Brook Children’s Hospital officially broke ground on its new Pediatric Emergency Department this week, marking a major step forward in expanding specialized emergency care for children across Long Island.
Hospital leaders, donors, staff, and community members gathered to celebrate the start of construction on the more than 37,000-square-foot facility, which will nearly quadruple the current pediatric emergency department’s footprint. The expansion is designed to address growing demand for pediatric emergency services and increase access to specialized care for children and families throughout the region.
As Suffolk County’s only Level 1 Pediatric Trauma Center, Stony Brook Children’s Hospital currently treats approximately 25,000 pediatric emergency patients each year. According to Dr. Carolyn Milana, Physician-in-Chief of Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, that number has grown dramatically over the years, placing increasing pressure on a department that was never designed to handle its current volume.
“We’ve gone from probably around 8,000 visits a year to 25,000 visits a year,” Milana said. “The space just is not big enough.”
The current Pediatric Emergency Department occupies a 14,456-square-foot footprint and has just nine exam rooms and one fast-track treatment area. Despite the limitations, Milana praised the department’s physicians,
nurses, and support staff for continuing to provide highquality care in an increasingly crowded environment.
The new facility will feature 20 private patient exam rooms, two dedicated critical care bays, expanded pediatric trauma services, and a designated fast-track area for loweracuity patients. Once completed, the department will have the capacity to accommodate more than 35,000 patient visits annually.
Construction is expected to be completed in 2029. While the project may seem years away, Milana noted that planning for the expansion actually began before the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“We had started this project before COVID and then had to put it on hold for a couple of years because of everything going on in the world,” she said. “Now we’ve come back to
making it a reality.”
The $55 million project is being funded through a combination of institutional and philanthropic support, including more than $21 million raised from nearly 200 donors. Milana said the community’s commitment reflects the important role Stony Brook Children’s Hospital plays for families across Long Island.
Site preparation work began in fall 2025 and included structural improvements beneath the existing parking garage, where the new facility will be constructed. Throughout construction, hospital officials will maintain uninterrupted ambulance access to ensure emergency services remain fully operational.
In addition to expanding the physical space, the project will support the growth of the pediatric emergency care team through additional physicians, pediatricians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. Hospital officials also plan to establish new telemedicine connections with community hospitals and launch a pediatric emergency medicine fellowship program to help train future specialists.
For Milana and her team, the groundbreaking represents more than a construction project, it represents the future of pediatric care on Long Island. As the new facility rises over the coming years, they look forward to continuing their mission of providing expert, compassionate care to children and families while preparing for the next generation of pediatric emergency medicine.
The Moloney Family
Published
Continued from front cover
In August 2023, officials announced they were opening the search for a Lake Keeper, and in October 2025, that search culminated with Lazzaro’s ascension to the post. The health and viability of the lake has been a decades-long pet project of Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset) (pictured below)
“We’ve listened to every presentation, we’ve analyzed what we can analyze, but we are not marine science experts,” said Kennedy. “Now we have one.”
Lazzaro hails from the Stony Brook University School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences. He holds a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Mathematics from SUNY Geneseo (‘14). He then earned an M.S. in Marine Biology from Northeastern University (‘17). With the Cornell Cooperative Extension, he’s worked as a water quality technician, managed geese populations, and studied discharges of local waterways.
While his collegiate work took him to the Finger Lakes to the San Juan Islands of Washington State, his work has also taken him across Suffolk, from Cold Spring Harbor to Mastic Beach.
Lazzaro, currently of Coram, grew up in Lake Ronkonkoma and stresses his personal connection to the area and the Lake itself.
chlorophyll levels, temperature, acidity, etc. Where exactly the devices will be launched remains to be determined, as Lazzaro says that the water level is too low to produce sufficient sites. A dock could be used, but Lazzaro says that a water quality buoy in the center of Lake is an option currently being explored.
The data it collects on a weekly basis would be publicly available, either through a newsletter, website, or an online GIS service.
Community outreach events, such as beach cleanups, are also on Lazzaro’s docket.
“We want people to use the Lake and to show enthusiasm for the Lake.”
The short-term data will form the foundation for a ten-year improvement plan. Lazzaro plans to target high-impact projects to be completed by Stony Brook environmental professionals. Grant funding and community collaboration are also part and parcel to that plan.
“Ultimately, the success of this program is going to be very dependent on collaborating with the community and taking any feedback they have,” said Lazzaro.
prohibits the import and transport of these fish and they are strictly illegal to own.
The confirmed presence of the fish is being taken seriously by the State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and is the first such report of them on Long Island.
Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) (pictured below), who also has life-long ties to the Lake, asked Lazzaro what his top priorities are, to which Lazzaro said that bacteria is the top issue. Of the two samplings done so far, the first test had “some very bad implications” regarding bacteria. He says that E.Coli is one of the biggest culprits, possibly due to antiquated septic systems that are potential sources of contamination.
Dissolved oxygen and invasive species are also issues Lazzaro is looking at closely, and they go handin-hand.
“Theoretically, if we improve the water quality, that might assist in helping our native species to outcompete some of these invasive species,” said Lazzaro. “Typically, the issue is a low oxygen level. These invasive species are more adapted to surviving at lower oxygen levels.”
“This is more than just a job to me. I want to see this lake be improved because it means a lot to me,” said Lazzaro, recalling fond memories of growing up at the Lake.
What’s Been Done
On the job for just under a month, Lazzaro says current projects consist of weekly beach sampling for bacteria, blue-green algae, and dissolved oxygen. Those samplings are being taken from the County park in the northwestern, Smithtown portion of the Lake, the Islip beach on the southwestern side, and the Brookhaven portions to the east.
Monthly, lake-wide samplings of nitrogen and phosphorus levels are to be taken. Lazzaro is also prioritizing tracking microbial sources, which determines which animals are contributing bacteria to the water. He’s also in the process of mapping the stormwater system and tracking “illicit discharge” - road and storm runoff that carries chemicals into the water. He’s keen on using the wet season to track runoff and points of beach erosion.
What’s Planned
Plans include technology to regularly troll the bottom of the Lake for data such as oxygen and
Odds and Ends
Lazzaro took questions from the LRAB panel and community attendees, quickly putting to rest claims that he uses a motorized boat to take samples. That was alleged by Suffolk County Legislator Trish Bergin (R-East Islip), who was not present at last week’s meeting, in a statement after her planned fireworks show over the Lake was cancelled due to watercraft restriction as per Islip Town Code.
Lazzaro said he has not actively been on a boat, as he’s been on the job only under a month. However, he said he is working on getting an electric trolling motor, which complies with Islip Town Code.
A large source of concern are snakeheads, an aggressive, predatory fish that have been spotted in and near the lake. They’re known for their sharp teeth and ability to breath air, which allows them survive out of water for several days and even migrate across short land distances. That allows the fish to cross from Lily Pond Nature Preserve to the north of Lake Ronkonkoma into the Lake itself.
Native to Africa and Asia, snakeheads are considered invasive species and lack natural predators. Those who spot them are encouraged to kill or harvest them to protect local ecosystems. The federal Lacey Act of 2002
Residents brought up garbage along Lake Shore Road from the 7-Eleven and Lake Towers all the way up to the former site of the Bavarian Inn. They’re requesting regular cleanups and greater enforcement of ordinances. Signage and park rangers present at the County Park on the Smithtown side have also been requested.
Representatives from Humane Long Island were also present, sharing experiences of birds swallowing fishing hooks and getting tangled in fishing wire.
Lazzaro also responded to a question on “broken window theory,” a theory that asserts that visible signs of disrepair and neglect create an environment that perpetuates that neglect, as a community might believe the initial slips are indications of apathy. Many residents believe that theory has applied to the Lake and over the years, the Lake’s quality has only gotten worse.
“Ever since I was a kid, the Lake has always been the butt of the joke,” said Lazzaro. “They’d say it’s radioactive. I think people stopped caring and they’ll chuck whatever they have into the Lake. That’s why so much of this [initiative] is community engagement.”
The next meeting of the Lake Ronkonkoma Advisory Board is set for Thursday, June 25, at 6:00p.m. at the William H. Rogers Building, 725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Hauppauge.
LaLota Delivers, His Opponents Out-Left Each Other
Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) had a productive week, namely for Smithtown and northern Brookhaven.
For Smithtown, LaLota brought $5 million for urgent townwide road resurfacing projects. The Town is intent on prioritizing major thoroughfares after their quick and successful repavement and storm drain upgrades on Edgewood Avenue.
In the same day, LaLota brought just over $1 million in funding to hook up 26 homes along the Nissequogue River to the Smithtown Water District. The move gets the homes off private wells that have been contaminated with PFAS and 1-4, dioxane - “forever chemicals” - to the point that residents couldn’t even use the water for typical home use.
For Brookhaven, LaLota brought in over $1 million for the Miller Place-Sound Beach drainage project, a sorely-needed stormwater upgrade to the hilly North Shore that was historically ravaged by Hurricane Ernesto in August 2024.
We appreciate that LaLota has stayed out of intransigent political debates and instead focuses on the nuts-and-bolts issues to return federal tax dollars to Suffolk County. Moreover, he’s not a headline-chasing partisan who grabs every cable news slot to spew cheap, partisan vitriol.
Meanwhile, two Democrats currently competing for the right to take on LaLota in November seem to be more intent on doing just what LaLota isn’t: handing out common left-wing buzzwords without any real substance.
Chris Gallant (D-Amity Harbor) and Lukas Ventouras (D-Northport) are running in the Democratic Primary for NY-01 on Tuesday, June 23. A debate hosted by the Suffolk Democrats in Jamesport shed some light on their priorities.
Of the two candidates, Ventouras, 25, is the more outspoken and plays as more of a typical political activist on the left. Gallant, 36, is more rhetorically reserved but doesn’t differ greatly on most platforms.
Both state that they would keep their feet planted in the ground if elected, especially if they have to work with Republicans, which Ventouras lamented as an “unfortunate” circumstance. Valiant effort, although many have said the same before. Donald Trump (R-FL) hasn’t been doing a great job at “draining the swamp,” so we’re not sure that a freshman member of Congress will have the pull to make any significant points. Moreover, for a more conservative-toindependent district, being partisan solely to “stand up to Trump” doesn’t exactly speak to the district’s idiosyncratic needs.
LaLota, while undeniably on the Republican side, has bucked his party when necessary. Moreover, he and Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) held up the Speaker vote during the power crisis in October 2023 to ensure a Speaker amenable to Long Island’s needs and the SALT deduction was elected. They also ensured that the SALT cap would be included in Trump’s landmark bill last year, despite Trump having been in the wrong to eliminate the cap in 2017.
Both candidates agree that healthcare should be an entitlement. It’s a worthy cause and one we don’t think comes from a point of malintent. However, healthcare, at the end of the day, is a service, not a “right.” Such a right would tie not only man hours, but schooling hours, associated costs, and R&D figures that would have to be given up carte blanche. We agree that the healthcare system is broken and getting Big Pharma out of the way and allowing drug prices to be negotiated are good starts, but universal healthcare isn’t the way things should go.
First, neither candidate mentioned Trump’s executive order to allow the negotiation of drug prices. Because it wouldn’t survive judicial scrutiny, populist Congressman Ro Khanna (D-CA) submitted the unedited EO as a bill. It failed in Congress. If Gallant and Ventouras had a genuine plan, they’d have started there instead of recycling talking points that ultimately lead to no reform.
Ventouras also committed a serious faux pas by saying that while he believes in a Medicare-for-all platform, he intends to allow those who like their healthcare to keep their healthcare.
Correction - 5-28 Smithtown and Brookhaven Editions
Federal funds appropriated by Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) for Harbor Road in Stony Brook are just to reconstruct the road and road resurfacing across Brookhaven Town. Those federal funds are not earmarked for reconstruction of the Mill Pond Dam.
Where have we heard that before and how did that go? If that promise of Obamacare was true, this wouldn’t be a conversation.
Moreover, with how broken Washington is, we shouldn’t be handing them more oversight, especially over lives and health. Allow drug prices to be negotiated, keep drug manufacturing here instead of offshoringwhich then results in the U.S. paying premiums on those drugs once they come back into the states - and do some trust busting of the Big Pharma companies.
Ventouras also chimed in with some scare tactics about climate change, alleging that Long Island will some day be underwater and we’ll have to “flee.” Protecting the environment should be a universal agreementwe like to think it is - but a looming armageddon due to environmental negligence is essentially propaganda, as it’s been throughout the decades. The goalposts move, but the narrative doesn’t. It also doesn’t add up when the U.S. has done more to reduce global emissions over the years than some of our fiercest international competitors.
But the most left-wing comments come from the two on immigration and civic reform.
Ventouras said he’s in favor of doing away with ICE and pointed out that the agency has only been around since 2003 and we handled our immigration enforcement fine before then. That’s a valid point, but Democrats didn’t seem to care about abolishing ICE until immigration became a partisan issue in 2015. State and local Democrats didn’t bat an eye when Obama deported over 3 million people during his tenure. We think that the Trump Administration’s oversight of ICE has been far from perfect, but that doesn’t mean it should be scrapped entirely.
Ventouras also admitted to suing DHS for arresting a man who was protecting an illegal immigrant in his car. We don’t think illegal immigrants should be treated with anathema, but illegal immigration is still a crime in and of itself. Why work to protect people who skirt our laws?
Gallant, meanwhile, said that ICE detention centers go against the Geneva Conventions and says they should be shut down “entirely.”
On civic reform, Gallant says would work to explore altering or scrapping the Electoral College, while the Democratic moderator snidely questioned whether the College was ever effective. Both said they’re in favor of expanding the Supreme Court. Ventouras ironically said that “even FDR couldn’t get it done.”
That’s an interesting point, considering most Democrats then didn’t think it set a good precedent to shift the goalposts to hammer through controversial legislation. They’re also in favor of nuking the Senate filibuster, another parliamentary procedure that we think should remain in place for the sake of debate at best and strategy at worst. We disagree with Republican-led Senates who have done away with it for political expediency.
To spare them some grief, we’ll agree on some of their points: term limits for the Supreme Court, banning congressional stock trading, stopping the scourge of AI data centers for the sake of a “billionaire’s arms race,” in Ventouras’ words, and overturning the Supreme Court decision of Citizens United V. FEC
But that’s about where it ends, and that’s about where Democrats’ prospects in NY-01 end as well. Instead of talking about local issues, it’s a nationalized buzzword salad. We sense their passion and we laud their efforts on the above initiatives, but neither offer any plans for their large goals that seek fundamental change.
Meanwhile, LaLota will keep bringing home the bacon…
LaLota and Smithtown officials celebrate funds at the Nissequogue River (Credit - Matt Meduri)
Second-Order Solutions Don’t Solve First-Order Problems
By Mollie Barnett
The heavy construction equipment outside my window this morning was ripping up the road again.
Next to it stood a large orange sign with a name – a familiar reminder that someone, somewhere, wants residents to know the potholes are being handled.
And maybe they are.
But it is also election season, so forgive the cynicism.
The roads are being fixed again. The same roads that never seem to stay fixed. The same roads residents keep paying for through some of the highest taxes in the country. The same roads that have become a seasonal symbol of a deeper Long Island frustration: we keep funding repairs, but the system itself never seems to improve.
Standing there watching another temporary repair to a recurring problem, it struck me: we are living at the end of a seventy-year journey of a can kicked down the road that has finally run out of reasons to keep paving it.
That was the connective thread quietly running through several opinion pieces published in The Messenger recently.
In a recent op-ed, former Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy warned that public-sector unions and elected officials have become structurally intertwined through campaign finance and political dependency, weakening independent governance and taxpayer representation. “Don’t blame the players, blame the game,” Levy wrote, arguing the system itself now incentivizes conflicts of interest and institutional selfpreservation, which should not come as a surprise.
At the same moment, Assemblyman Doug Smith (R-Holbrook) defended continued legislative pay during prolonged budget negotiations, warning that “financial pressure changes negotiating environments” and that lawmakers negotiating a $270 billion state budget should not become financially strained during the process.
This is a hard pill to swallow for many privately employed citizens who have experienced this dynamic during times of crisis: work does not always equal a paycheck, and unemployment does not necessarily mean a person is unpaid — or economically inactive.
Rounding out the most recent of op-eds published in The Messenger, Empire Center President Zilvinas Silenas delivered the most brutal summary of all, writing that New York now “leads the world in spending, not achievement,” as state education spending continues climbing despite mediocre outcomes and declining enrollment.
Individually, these pieces addressed different issues.
Together, they painted a much larger picture: Long Island and New York may be entering the exhaustion phase of a governing and economic model built for a different era.
Taxes continue rising while institutional performance erodes, and the governing class increasingly appears trapped inside systems it no longer has the fiscal, political, or organizational capacity to meaningfully repair.
That is no longer merely a partisan complaint. It is becoming a structural diagnosis.
Long Island’s modern framework was largely built during decades of expanding suburban growth, cheap land and energy, strong middle-class ownership, industrial expansion, rising population, stable family formation, and broad institutional trust.
For decades, the model worked well enough because growth itself masked inefficiency. Pension obligations, fragmented governance, infrastructure maintenance, administrative expansion, housing rigidity, political dependency structures, and over-reliance on property taxes were repeatedly deferred because the underlying system still appeared stable enough to absorb the pressure.
Now the pressures are converging all at once.
Middle-income residents increasingly leave because they can no longer justify Long Island’s cumulative cost structure — property taxes, housing costs, insurance, utilities, childcare, transportation, and overall cost of living. At the same time, much of Long Island’s older wealth base — homeowners who purchased decades ago under entirely different economic conditions — is aging out, downsizing, leaving, or dying. For years, that accumulated equity cushioned the region from deeper structural imbalance. That cushion is thinning. Meanwhile, homelessness rises. Welfare, SNAP, and public assistance dependence expand. Local businesses struggle while others quietly leave altogether under the combined weight of taxes, insurance, labor pressure, regulation, and energy costs.
Infrastructure ages. Public frustration grows. Trust weakens.
Long Island increasingly tilts toward healthcare, education, public-sector ecosystems, services, real estate, and consumption activity. These sectors are important, but they primarily circulate money internally. They do not always generate the broad productive growth necessary to sustain one of the highest-cost regions in America indefinitely.
That is why so many residents increasingly feel they are paying premium prices for declining institutional performance.
The roads still function. The schools still function. The hospitals still function.
But more people feel exhausted, overburdened, and unconvinced the trajectory improves from here.
This is also why development itself increasingly creates backlash. Many residents no longer view growth as regenerative. They view it as transactional.
More housing. More density. More projects. More deals. More extraction.
But not necessarily more beauty, more affordability, more opportunity, or more long-term civic confidence.
Long Island was never just valuable because of its proximity to New York City. It represented something larger: upward mobility combined with ownership, stability, space, and quality of life.
Now many residents fear the region is slowly losing the very characteristics that once justified its enormous cost structure.
None of this necessarily means Long Islanders are bad people, or that every politician is corrupt or malicious. In many ways, this is the end result of a seventy-year-old operating model gradually reaching the limits of what it can sustain.
Even many elected officials themselves increasingly appear trapped inside systems they did not create and no longer fully control.
That may be the most uncomfortable realization of all, because the deepest fear underneath these debates is not
immediate collapse. It is that Long Island has entered a stage where the system increasingly consumes the very foundations required to sustain itself: the middle class, productive businesses, younger families, civic trust, affordability, and eventually even the beauty and identity of the region itself.
Long Island still possesses enormous strengths — strategic geography, educated populations, coastline, healthcare infrastructure, research assets, entrepreneurial pockets, and proximity to global capital.
But strengths alone do not guarantee renewal.
The real question now is whether Long Island can transition into a sustainable next model before extraction, cynicism, demographic strain, and institutional exhaustion permanently hollow out its civic core.
That is no longer merely a political question.
It is becoming a civilizational one.
Mollie Barnett is an AI Decision Architect and systems thinker who helps leaders deploy meaningful systems and strategies for the AI era.
Letters to the Editor
Teaching Civics
Dear Editor,
Teaching civics in schools is essential for sustaining a healthy democracy, fostering informed participation, and preparing young people to navigate complex social and political systems. Civics education equips students with the knowledge needed to understand how government works, what rights and responsibilities citizens hold, the rule of law, and how individuals can influence public life.
Students who learn about the structure and principles of government—such as the separation of powers, checks and balances, and constitutional rights—are better prepared to interpret political information and evaluate policy debates.
Understanding the Constitution helps students see how laws are grounded in enduring principles, while learning about institutions like the Supreme Court, thereby demonstrating how those principles are applied in practice. This knowledge reduces vulnerability to misinformation, social media and polarized discourse and political manipulation while promoting critical thinking and media literacy. Students must learn how to evaluate sources, distinguish facts from opinions, and recognize bias.
Civics helps preserve democratic norms across generations. Democracies are not self-sustaining; they depend on citizens who understand both their freedoms and their responsibilities.
Civics education is the preparation for citizenship. By teaching students how their government works and why participation matters, schools help ensure that democracy remains vibrant and responsive.
Sincerely, Charlie
Gueli Laurel
Response to Newsday Article on Islip Tax Cap
Dear Editor,
Your recent coverage – “Islip Town Expected to Pierce Tax Cap for 3rd Straight Year, Comptroller Says”of Islip Town’s budget outlook deserves an important clarification: the tax cap has not been pierced. What the Town Board was asked to consider was a precautionary authorization, a first step that would preserve the option to exceed the cap if it becomes necessary during the 2027 budget process. No final decision has been made. Responsible fiscal planning sometimes requires getting ahead of known cost pressures. The $4.1 million increase in garbage disposal spending is a real and documented figure, driven by a contract that modernizes the Town’s sanitation fleet and accounts for years of cost-of-living increases. Acknowledging that reality early in the budget cycle is not the same as raising taxes, it is simply prudent governance. Residents deserve accurate context: the Town has not yet pierced the cap, and Town officials are working through this process transparently. We remain committed to delivering essential services while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.
Angie Carpenter Supervisor, Town
of Islip
St.
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SCAN ME
This Week Today
Thursday, June 4, 2026
National, State, and Local Temperature Checks
By Matt Meduri
National
Two American political commentators were barred entry into the United Kingdom over the weekend in what they allege was retaliation for their comments on Israel.
Cenk Uygur, founder, CEO (pictured right), and host of the progressive Internet show, The Young Turks, and his nephew, Twitch streamer Hassan Piker, were denied entry into the U.K. Uygur was set to speak in Oxford, while Piker was scheduled to speak at the SXSW London Festival.
The British Home Office cancelled both commentators’ visas as they were preparing to board their flights. While they gave no specific reason for the cancellations, the Home Office said that Uygur’s and Piker’s presence in the U.K. “may not be conducive to the public good.” The Times of London reported that Uygur was banned due to fears he could “fuel antisemitism.”
This materializes after a dense few weeks in the U.K., including a rally led by right-wing provocateur Tommy Robinson that saw eleven activists barred from entering the country. In April, rapper Kanye West was denied entry for comments that have been perceived to be antisemitic and pro-Nazi.
However, Uygur and Piker stress a difference between criticism of the Jewish diaspora and the government of Israel, a distinction they allege was not considered by the British government.
Uygur has been perhaps one of the most vociferous opponents of the Iran War and Israel’s domestic and foreign policies. He’s called Israel’s actions in Gaza “genocidal” and denounces the political hegemony for writing off his claims as “antisemitic tropes.”
Piker, meanwhile, has a much more inflammatory past. In 2019, he said that the U.S. “deserved 9/11” and claimed that he would “vote for Hamas over Israel every single time.”
“We’re allowed to criticize our own government, anything we like - except the government of Israel,” said Uygur on his platform on Monday morning. “If you don’t think that’s insane, there’s something wrong with you.”
The length of the ban remains unclear, but Uygur posits that if the U.K. is intent on banning critics of Israel, they would have to ban “billions of people” around the world.
Several states held crucial primaries on Tuesday night, chief among them being California.
Democrats had long worried that California’s top-two primary system could allow two Republicans to lock out Democrats in the deep-blue state. The race has seen many twists and turns, especially after the high-profile exit from the race, and Congress, of Congressman Eric Swalwell (D).
As of Wednesday morning, BritishAmerican political commentator Steve Hilton (R) topped a massive field of 61 candidates, currently with about 28% of the vote. Xavier Becerra (D), who served as Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Biden, is in second place with 25.4%. As of
press time, only 57% of the vote is in, but it appears likely that the general election will be set between Hilton and Becerra.
Tom Steyer (D), a hedge fund managerturned-political mega-donor, made a late entry into the race hoping to self-fund his campaign with a net worth in the billions. He held third place with 19.6% of the vote.
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco (R) takes fourth place as of press time with 11.3% of the vote, nixing fears that the GOP would lock out Democrats from the general election ballot.
Republicans haven’t won a gubernatorial election in California since 2006.
With 63% of the vote reporting from Los Angeles, Mayor Karen Bass (D) is advancing to a runoff at the very least. If she clinches a majority of the vote, a runoff is avoided and she will win a second term. However, that remains in limbo as Spencer Pratt (R), a former reality television star whose house burned down in the Palisades Fire last year, only trails Bass by 4 points with 30% of the vote earned. A runoff between the two would be a high-stakes showdown in one of the most liberal bastions in the country in the wake of devastating wildfires that many Californians lay at the feet of Mayor Bass and Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA).
A crucial Senate race is in play in Iowa. Three-term Congresswoman Ashley Hinson (R-IA) easily won the nomination to fill the open seat of two-term Senator Joni Ernst (R). She will face Josh Turek (D), who also won his primary handily. Iowa represents a must-win state for Democrats to win their uphill battle for the Senate this year, as well as a state in which Democrats have not won a Senate seat since 2008.
For governor of Iowa, President Trump’s endorsement fell just short in Congressman Randy Feenstra (R). Political newcomer Zach Lahn (R), who funded most of his campaign, will face State Auditor Rob Sand (D), who is making this open seat competitive. Democrats haven’t won a gubernatorial race in Iowa since 2006.
A first-ever runoff is afoot in South Dakota, as an obscure law was invoked after none of the four candidates running managed to get more than 35% of the vote. Such a scenario has never occurred since the state put the law on the books in 1986. Governor Larry Rhoden
(R-SD) and businessman Toby Doeden (R) edged out four-term Congressman Dusty Johnson (R, SD-AL).
No Democrat has won a gubernatorial race in South Dakota since 1974, the longest such streak for any party in any state. 2018 saw the closest gubernatorial race in state history, and Democrats are hoping they can parlay midterm energy to stage a stunning upset.
In New Mexico, Biden-era Interior Secretary Deb Haaland (D-NM) easily won the nomination to fill the open governor’s seat. She’ll face Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull (R), who hails from one the more conservative population centers around Albuquerque.
Republicans also avoided a serious embarrassment in the Land of Enchantment, although it does little to solve their general election problems. Their candidates were disqualified from the ballot earlier this year, which almost made 2026 the first time in New Mexico history that the GOP would not have a candidate on the Senate ballot. However, Larry Marker (R) won enough write-in votes to earn the nomination. Freshman Senator Ben Ray Luján (D) is heavily favored for a second term. Republicans haven’t won a Senate race in New Mexico since 2002.
In Montana, Senator Steve Daines (R) made the last-minute decision to retire,
allowing a hand-picked successor in Kurt Alme (R) to run away with the primary. Despite being a Republican, Rocky Mountain constituency, the Treasure State is one of the most politically idiosyncratic states in the country. It was only in 2024 that the state opted for Republicans in both Senate seats, the first such occurrence 1911. Democrats’ prospects are uncertain here, however, as former University of Montana President Seth Bodnar is staging an Independent bid.
State
In the eleventh hour of the New York State Legislature session, Democrats are hoping to pass a measure to overturn a State ban on mid-decade congressional redistricting.
If approved on Thursday, the approach is one of the more aggressive options, as Democrats would be allowed to pass a new map with a simple-majority vote. However, such a map would not come online in time for the 2026 midterms. Because it would be a constitutional amendment, it would have to be approved by voters in two separate legislative sessions. The earliest a new map could be enacted would be for the 2028 elections.
Democrats went to the courts earlier this year to alter NY-11, a strongly Republican district containing Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn. That plan fell through but New York Democrats have remained eager to counterbalance Republicans’ national gerrymandering efforts.
Democrats had also altered the maps on a judicial technicality ahead of the 2024 midterms, a move that some estimate helped them flip three seats that year. Floor leaders are sponsoring the bills in their respective chambers, Assembly Leader Carl Heastie (D-Williamsbridge) and Senate Majority Leader Andrea StewartCousins (D-Yonkers) (pictured above left)
Local
The Suffolk County Farmers’ Market is returning for its second year.
Thursday, June 4, is the kickoff and the market will be held weekly on Thursdays from 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. in the north lot of the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge.
“The Suffolk County Farmers Market is a wonderful way to support our local agricultural community while providing fresh, healthy, locally sourced products to our residents,” said County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) (pictured left). “We are excited to welcome back our vendors and encourage everyone to shop local and experience the best of what Suffolk County has to offer.”
For additional information, residents and vendors can email Farmlands Administrator Mikael Kerr at mikael.kerr@ suffolkcountyny.gov.
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Islip Matters Supervisor Carpenter’s Corner
Islip Town Supervisor
Angie Carpenter
Carpenter’s Corner - June 2026
Welcome to June’s Carpenter’s Corner! Summer is just about here in the Town of Islip, and we have many FREE family-friendly events for our residents to enjoy. The Town’s Parks and Recreation Department offers affordable summer camps and activities for children. Information on these programs is available in the Summer Recreation Newsletter, which can be found on the Town’s website, www.Islipny.gov.
Kicking off the season in a big way is the Town of Islip’s 8th Annual SeaFest on Saturday, June 13, from 2:00p.m. to 8:00p.m. at Bay Shore Marina, South Clinton Avenue, Bay Shore. This all-day event features continuous live tribute performances across two stages from local favorites including Penny Lane (Beatles), Blink 180 Who (Blink 182), Let It Bleed (Rolling Stones), and Milagro (Santana). Enjoy food trucks, a beer garden, and plenty of family-friendly activities. Admission and shuttle bus services are FREE. Come enjoy live music, great food, and beautiful bay views!
The Town is also partnering with Good Samaritan University Hospital to bring you several events including hosting a FREE Cancer Survivors Day Concert on Saturday, June 20, at Islip Grange, 10 Broadway Avenue, Sayville. The parking lot opens at 12:00p.m. and the show begins at 1:00 pm, featuring live music from Vinyl Revival.
And for even more to look forward to, our yearly Summer Fun Series, sponsored by Good Samaritan University Hospital, also returns this month with the ever-popular FREE Movies and Concerts in the Park. Residents can enjoy FREE entertainment outside all summer long at various parks throughout the town.
The Concerts in the Park series will begin Wednesday, June 17, with shows taking place weekly at scenic venues across the Town. Food trucks open at 5:00p.m., and concerts kick off at 7:00p.m. Grab a lawn chair or blanket and enjoy a summer evening of great music. Come be a part of the summer fun!
See the full Concerts in the Park Series Lineup below:
• Wednesday, June 17: Rich Mahogany, Rock & Roll
- Brookwood Hall, East Islip
• Wednesday, June 24:
Completely Unchained, Van Halen Tribute
- Holbrook Country Club, Holbrook
• Wednesday, July 1: 70’s Rock Parade, Rock Hits of the ‘70s
- Ronkonkoma Beach, Ronkonkoma
• Wednesday, July 8:
The Warped Tour Band, Emo Pop/Punk
- Bay Shore Marina, Bay Shore
• Wednesday, July 15: American Ride Band, Toby Keith Tribute
- Islip Grange, Sayville
• Wednesday, July 22: Wonderous Stories, Classic Rock
- Casamento Park, West Islip
• Wednesday, July 29: Foreign Journey, Foreigner/Journey Tribute
- Gull Haven Golf Course, Central Islip
• Wednesday, August 5: The Dedications, ‘50s/‘60s Rock & Roll
- Brookwood Hall, East Islip
• Wednesday, August 12: Freebird, Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute
- Bay Shore Marina, Bay Shore
FREE Movies in the Park return on Monday, July 6, offering the perfect opportunity to enjoy family time on a beautiful summer night! An ice cream truck will be on site during the movies. Pack a cooler, lawn chair, and blanket for a movie night under the stars! Gates open at 6:30p.m., and movies start at dusk.
Full list of Movies in the Parks:
• Monday, July 6: Daddy Day Camp (PG)
- Brookwood Hall, East Islip
• Monday, July 13: The Emoji Movie (PG)
- Casamento Park, West Islip
• Saturday, July 18: Lilo & Stitch (PG)
- Atlantique Marina, Fire Island
• Monday, July 20: Kung Fu Panda (PG)
- Roberto Clemente Park, Brentwood
• Monday, July 27: Elio (PG)
- Islip Grange, Sayville
• Saturday, August 1: Happy Feet (PG)
- Atlantique Marina, Fire Island
• Monday, August 3: A Minecraft Movie (PG)
- Ronkonkoma Beach, Ronkonkoma
• Monday, August 10: Zootopia 2 (PG)
- Byron Lake Park, Oakdale
Admission to the Summer Fun Series is FREE, however non-perishable food donations are appreciated and will benefit local food pantries. As summer fun begins, the Town of Islip would like to remind everyone to please prioritize boat safety when on the water.
With the full implementation of Brianna’s Law as of January 1, 2025, all operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, are now required to hold a valid New York State Safe Boater Certificate. To support residents, the Town offers FREE certification courses, with the next and final session for summer held on Saturday, June 13. Completion of this one-day course is for lifetime certification, and participants as young as 10 years old are eligible to attend. To sign up or learn more, search https://www. parks.ny.gov/boating/.
This summer, we hope you will avail yourself of these wonderful family activities. Have fun, be well, and stay safe!
Make certain you keep up-to-date with the latest events in our Town by following our social media accounts, or by visiting the Town’s website found here: https://linktr.ee/ townofislipny.
If you have not yet done so, stay informed on important Town news, alerts and weatherrelated emergency information by signing up for our E-Alerts here: https://islipny.gov/notifyme.
Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip) has served as Islip Town Supervisor since 2016. She has previously served as Suffolk County Treasurer and as a Suffolk County Legislator from the Eleventh District, as well as Deputy Presiding Officer of the Legislature.
Islip Town Hall is located at 655 Main Street in Islip. The Supervisor’s office is located on the second floor and can be reached at 631-224-5500 or at supervisorsoffice@ islipny.gov.
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Connetquot High School Announces Top of Class of 2026
Connetquot High School has named Declan Doran as valedictorian and Madison Holzmacher as salutatorian of the Class of 2026, recognizing the two students for their outstanding academic achievement and exemplary contributions to their school and community.
Declan, who served as vice president of the Class of 2026, holds the second highest GPA in the school’s history. He has earned recognition as an AP Scholar with Distinction, has received the College Board National Recognition Program Award, has been named a National Merit Scholarship Commended student and has been awarded the New York State Seal of Biliteracy. He was a winner of the National Toshiba ExploraVision Science Competition and a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society and Science National Honor Society during his time at Connetquot High School.
He was also active in Science Olympiad, Robotics, and Engineering Club.
A standout athlete, Declan captained both his school and club swim teams, setting three school records in the sport.
He qualified for All-League, All-County, AllLong Island, and All-State honors five times and received All-American consideration. He was also named a News 12 Scholar Athlete.
Outside the classroom, Declan logged more than 300 hours of community service.
He is a Red Cross certified ocean lifeguard and an Eagle Scout, which is among the highest achievements attainable in the Boy Scouts of America.
Madison Holzmacher, named salutatorian, served as president of the Model United Nations Club and as Building Event Manager for Science Olympiad. She is an AP Scholar with Distinction, received the College Board First-Generation
Recognition Award and earned the New York State Seal of Biliteracy.
Madison is a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Science National Honor Society, World Language Honor Society, and Rho Kappa Social Studies Honor Society. She captained the school’s tennis team, earning All-Division honors, and also competed on the badminton team.
A musician and performer, she was a member of Connetquot’s chamber singers, symphony orchestra and chamber orchestra, was selected to the New York State Council of Administrators of Music Education Treble Choir, and was part of the school’s stage crew.
Madison also dedicated more than 350 hours of community service at the Connetquot Public Library and served as a peer tutor. She is also a member of Girl Scouts.
In the fall, Declan plans to attend Hamilton College where he will major in physics and Madison plans to attend Duke University, majoring in
biomedical engineering. The Connetquot Central School District is proud of Declan and Madison for their hard work and achievements throughout their high school careers and looks forward to seeing all they accomplish in the years ahead.
East Islip HS Honors Seniors Signing for College Athletics
East Islip High School held a signing day ceremony for student athletes, hosted by Athletic Director Stephen Restivo on May 19 in the school’s forum.
Eighteen seniors were recognized for signing to play Division III college athletics this fall: Brooke Andresen (Arkansas State University, bowling), Dario Baerga (University of Valley Forge, baseball), Dylan Bayer (Sacred Heart University, football), Tim Coakely (SUNY Plattsburgh, baseball), James Downey (Saint Vincent College, volleyball), Marcus Duncan (SUNY Polytechnic Institute, soccer), Julani Ellis (SUNY Geneseo, track), Patrick Gannon (Endicott University, football), Aidan
Godbout (SUNY Oswego, swimming), Jude Harbison (St. Joseph’s University, volleyball), Christian Horeis (Long Island University, wrestling), Evan LaFata (Lynn University, ice hockey), Aidan McConnell (Mount St. Mary’s University, track), Grace Micali (SUNY Geneseo, track), Sara Pepp (SUNY Cortland, golf), Max Schwalm (Skidmore College, swimming), Jake Simmons (SUNY Cortland, football), and Kayla Stegna (SUNY Geneseo, flag football).
“Congratulations to each and every one of you — parents, coaches and our student athletes — for doing such a great job, culminating in going to play in college, which not many kids get to do,” Restivo said.
Barnyard Buddies Visit Blue Point Elementary
Blue Point Elementary’s kindergarten students got up close with some feathered and furry friends during a visit from Suffolk County Farm.
Goats, chickens, ducks, and rabbits visited the school, giving students a hands-
on opportunity to observe the animals and learn about their unique adaptations, physical features and behaviors. After learning more about each animal, students were excited to gently pet some of their new farmyard friends.
Hauppauge Boys’ Baseball Wins County Title
Hauppauge battled back from an early deficit to defeat Eastport-South Manor, 5-4, in the Suffolk County Class AA Championship, securing the program’s second County title in the past three years and punching its ticket to the Long Island Championship.
The victory was especially significant given the challenge before the Eagles. Eastport-South Manor entered the postseason as one of Suffolk County’s top teams, posting a 20-1 regular-season record and an 18-1 mark in League V. Hauppauge, meanwhile, finished the regular season 15-8 overall and 12-7 in league play.
The Sharks had also swept Hauppauge during the regular season, defeating the Eagles 10-1, 15-5, and 3-2 in a three-game series in April. Despite those setbacks, Hauppauge found its stride when it mattered most and saved its best baseball for the postseason.
The Eagles found themselves trailing 3-0 before erupting offensively in the fifth inning.
Tucker Brown sparked the rally after being hit by a pitch to lead off the frame. Kyle Magill followed with a two-run double to cut the deficit to one run. Roman Dixon then singled before Nick Lombardi delivered an RBI hit to tie the game and keep the momentum firmly on Hauppauge’s side.
With the score tied and runners on base later in the inning, Matthew Oliveto came through in a clutch moment, driving a two-run double into center field to give the Eagles a 5-3 advantage.
That fifth inning proved to be the difference.
On the mound, Hauppauge received strong performances from multiple pitchers. Kevin Hoeler got the start and worked 3.2 innings, allowing just one walk while striking out four batters. Nick Poulos then delivered three crucial innings in relief, surrendering only one run while limiting EastportSouth Manor’s offense.
With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Magill was called upon to make his pitching debut of the season. He recorded the final out, sealing the championship victory and sending the Eagles into celebration mode.
The county title came on the heels of another impressive postseason performance, as Hauppauge advanced to the championship game with a 1-0 victory over West Islip in the Suffolk Class AA semifinals.
Throughout the playoffs, the Eagles relied on timely hitting, strong pitching and a resilient approach that helped them overcome some of the county’s top teams.
Offensively, Giuseppe Calabrese led Hauppauge with two hits in the championship game, while Brown reached base twice with a hit and a walk.
The Eagles totaled seven hits and capitalized on their opportunities during the decisive fifth-inning rally.
For Eastport-South Manor, the loss marked the end of an outstanding season. The Sharks spent much of the year atop the Suffolk County rankings and entered the championship round as one of the favorites to claim the county crown. Their success throughout the spring helped establish them as one of Long Island’s premier baseball programs in 2026.
For Hauppauge, however, the day belonged to the Eagles.
By overcoming a three-run deficit and defeating a team that had swept them earlier in the season, Hauppauge demonstrated the resilience and determination that defined its championship run. The county title serves as another milestone for a program that has become one of Suffolk County’s consistent contenders and adds to an already impressive stretch that has now produced two county championships in three years.
With the Suffolk County championship secured, the Eagles now turn their attention to the Long Island Championship, where they will look to continue their postseason run and add another chapter to a memorable 2026 season.
Central Islip Seniors
Take a Trip Down Memory Lane
The Central Islip High School Class of 2026 conducted its annual tradition of the Senior Walkthrough on June 1. Students were invited to sign up and visit their former elementary schools to walk the halls where their academic journeys began.
Organized and led by senior class advisors Mr. Darren Ehrhardt and Mrs. Claris Villatoro, the morning began with breakfast and a gathering before the top 60 members of the class were recognized with a purple and gold stole.
Multiple buses were filled with students and made their first stop at Reed Middle School before each group traveled to Cordello, Morrow, Mulligan, Mulvey and O’Neill.
To end the day, all students walked the halls of Alfano Elementary School, where they were in sixth grade when the COVID-19 Pandemic occurred in March 2020.
After visiting each school, Mister Softee ice cream trucks were available to put a bow on a nostalgic, fun-filled day for the Class of 2026.
The Necessary Standard for American Education
The Department of Veterans Affairs
By Matt Meduri
No other department has quite the history that this one does, in that its needs and responsibilities have ebbed and flowed with time and combat.
History and Origin
The Continental Congress of 1776 encouraged Revolutionary War enlistments by offering pensions for soldiers who were disabled in combat. Shortly thereafter, Congress awarded land grants for all who served in the Continental Army.
However, medical care for Veterans in the early days of the republic was substantiated by states and municipalities. Naval Square would be formed in Philadelphia in 1811, the first domiciliary and medical facility for Veterans. It wouldn’t open until 1834, but would house the U.S. Navy until the formal opening of the Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, in 1845.
Later into the 1800s, the federal program for Veterans’ pensions and benefits would be extended to their widows and dependents, and before the end of the Civil War, the first national Veterans’ home would open. Delphine Baker (pictured right), a volunteer Civil War nurse, led the charge for the federal government to create a home for Civil War Veterans. The National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers would be greenlit through a bill passed March 3, 1865, the day before President Abraham Lincoln (R-IL) recommended future facilities as his second term began.
which created the Veterans’ Administration.
Its first secretary was former Brigadier General Frank Tines (R-UT) (pictured right), who had led the Veterans Bureau since 1923. His first crisis was the racial divide over how the Veterans’ hospital for black Veterans in Tuskegee, Alabama, would be staffed. Protests and death and terror threats from the Ku Klux Klan eventually led Hines to staff the department with black medical professionals.
Between 1866 and 1930, fourteen Homes would open across fourteen states. The first was the Eastern Branch Home in Togus, Maine, and the most recent was the St. Petersburg Home in St. Petersburg, Florida. New York State is home to the Bath Branch of the Home system.
From 1832 to 1930, the Bureau of Pensions would handle benefits for military personnel as a subset of the Department of the Interior. After the Civil War and eligibility expansions before 1900, pension numbers increased from around 300,000 to over 960,000. The agency closed in 1930, and its duties were transferred to the Veterans Affairs Department, which was created that same year.
The United States’ entrance into World War I would change how the federal government handled Veterans’ benefits. Not only did the war add a massive number of Veterans to the federal dole, but bureaucracy complicated their recovery process.
To obtain benefits, Veterans had to navigate three separate federal agencies, the Bureau of War Risk Insurance for compensation, the U.S. Public Health Service for medical care, and the Federal Board for Vocational Education for job training and reintegration to civilian life. It was such a hot-button issue, that President Warren G. Harding (R-OH), upon his 1921 inauguration, pledged to ameliorate the problem.
The Sweet Act, signed on August 8, 1921, would establish the Veterans’ Bureau, which absorbed the aforementioned agencies. After some minor shifts throughout the 1920s, July 1930 would see President Herbert Hoover (R-IA) sign Executive order 5398,
This column will seek to address the long-forgotten concept of civics and how it relates to American government in general, from the federal level to the local level. This column will explore Constitutional rights, the inner workings of government, the electoral process, and the obligations and privileges of citizens.
Hines would helm the department throughout the Great Depression, construction of Veterans’ hospitals and its entire system, and the rollout of the G.I. Bill. He was even physically attacked by Veterans several times. Hines would serve until 1946, making him the longest-tenured leader of Veterans’ affairs in the federal government to date.
World War II would present its own challenges. Not only did demand for soldiers and medical personnel skyrocket, but 16% of Veterans’ Affairs employees would be furloughed for military service. The end of the war saw a massive need for care, as some 16 million WWII Veterans were in need of service, compared to 4 million WWI Veterans. Since most of the services were centralized in D.C., the bottleneck allowed the department to decentralize throughout the 1940s. The Servicemen’s Readjustment Act, known as the G.I. Bill, was signed into law in 1944.
In 1988, the department saw its final metamorphosis into what we know the department as today. The Department of Veterans’ Affairs Act transitioned the independent agency to a Cabinet-level department, where it earned the name, Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
any county in the state and secondlargest in the nation, behind only San Diego. This is due to a large concentration in manufacturers that built the middleclass here throughout the 20th Century.
The twelfth and current Secretary of Veterans Affairs is Doug Collins (R-GA). He was appointed to serve by President Donald Trump (R-FL) and the Senate confirmed him in a landslide 77-23 vote on February 4, 2025.
Collins is a native of Gainesville, Georgia, and interned for Congressman Ed Jenkins (D-GA) before taking a job as a senior pastor while co-owning a retail scrapbooking store with his wife. He’s been a managing partner at the Collins and Csider law firm since 2010.
Collins served two years in the Navy as a chaplain and after the September 11 attacks, he joined the Air Force Reserve Command. He currently serves as a Colonel. He served a five-month deployment in Iraq in 2008.
Collins was elected to the Georgia House of Representatives in 2007 and would rise to be one of the administrative floor leaders. In 2012, he was elected to the U.S. House representing GA-09, which covers the northeastern corner of the state. Collins ran for U.S. Senate in 2020 and failed to advance to the runoff.
The Department of Veterans’ Affairs Today
The Department has a workforce of about 455,000 people, which makes it the second-largest federal agency by staff behind the Department of Defense. Their 2026 budget request came out to $441.2 billion, an increase of $40.3 billion (10%) from 2025 that includes discretionary and mandatory spending. Mandatory spending accounts to $248.1 billion
The Department’s 2026 estimates include over 7.5 million unique patients treated by the VA, 162.2 million outpatient visits, $3 billion for construction, education assistance programs for over 1 million trainees, Veterans Readiness and Employee (VR&E) benefits for almost 200,000 Veterans, Loan Guaranty Service (LGY) credit benefits for 4.2 million active home loans, and over 135,000 internments for Veterans and eligible family members in the VA National Cemeteries.
The Department estimates that there are 17.9 million Veterans living in the U.S. Suffolk County is home to over 50,000 Veterans, the largest number for
As VA Secretary, Collins (pictured left) announced last March that 72,000 jobs, about 15% of total department employees, would be cut. He’s also redirected over $100 million to health and caregiver programs. He eliminated Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives upon taking office and required in-person work for all personnel. He’s also launching new clinical trials for MDMA-assisted mental health therapy for Veterans with severe PTSD and alcoholism.
Bureaus and Agencies
The Department has three primary subdivisions, each headed by an undersecretary.
Veterans Health Administration (VHA): This bureau is responsible for all healthcare and biomedical research. It also handles Community Based Outpatient Clinics (CBOCs), Regional Medical Centers (VAMC), and Readjustment Counseling Services (RCS) Veteran Centers.
Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA): This branch handles initial Veteran registration, eligibility, and some benefits. These include Home Loan Guarantee, Insurance, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Employment; Education (G.I. Bill), and Compensation and Pension.
National Cemetery Administration (NCA): This agency provides burial and memorial benefits and maintains 157 national cemeteries across 44 states and Puerto Rico. The NCA also maintains over 125 state, territorial, and tribal Veterans cemeteries nationwide. They provide burial options, furnish headstones and markers, and plan and develop new cemeteries.
At April’s General Meeting of the Suffolk County Legislature, Legislator Trish Bergin proudly recognized Flora Parekh as the Tenth Legislative District’s Champion of Diversity. As the Founder and President of Gift of Life USA, Flora has dedicated her life to advocating for individuals with physical and mental challenges through education, community support, and empowerment initiatives. Her unwavering commitment to promoting inclusion and creating opportunities has positively impacted countless lives throughout Suffolk County. Congratulations to Flora on this well-deserved recognition and thank you for your continued service to our community.
Community Spotlight
Thursday, June 4, 2026
BERGIN’S BRIEF APRIL 2026
Legislator Bergin had the pleasure of recently honoring Henry Melchiona at the Scouting America Suffolk County Council Sparkling Brunch. While Henry’s distinguished military service and accomplished career in law enforcement are remarkable achievements, his lasting legacy can be found in the generations of young people he mentors through Saint Joseph CYO in Ronkonkoma. Through decades of leadership, Henry continues to expand opportunities for boys and girls in athletics, guides countless young athletes, and helps instill the value of teamwork, discipline, and community service. His positive influence is felt throughout the community, and the Tenth Legislative District is proud to celebrate his extraordinary contributions and enduring example of leadership. Congratulations to Henry and thank you for your continued service to our community.
Legislator Trish Bergin (R-East Islip) has represented the Tenth District in the Suffolk County Legislature since 2022. The Tenth District includes East Islip, Great River, Islandia, Islip Terrace, North Great River, and parts of Central Islip, Ronkonkoma, and Hauppauge.
Legislator Bergin serves as the Chair of the Education, Labor, Consumer Affairs & Diversity committee, Vice Chair of the Economic Development, Planning & Housing committee and Vice Chair of the Government operations, Personnel, and Information Technology committee and as a member of the Budget and Finance committee.
The Tenth District office is located at 44 East Main Street in East Islip and can be reached at 631-854-0940.
Hauppauge Man Reunites with Life-Saving Good Samaritans
By Madison Warren
This week marks National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) and Automated External Defibrillator (AED) Awareness Week, and Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches), along with local legislators, is helping spread an important lifesaving message. In a special gathering at the H. Lee Dennison Building, they brought together Hauppauge resident Tommy Norchi with the first responders and individuals who helped save his life after he suffered a heart attack earlier this year during a public meeting.
Carol Cherwinski, Brian Mahon, Shawn Viniotis, and two members of Executive Romaine’s staff, Mike Martino and Brian Monahan, were honored for their heroic actions and quick thinking during the emergency. Their immediate response helped save Tommy Norchi’s life, ensuring that the 69-year-old would have many more years to spend with his family and loved ones.
The heart attack happened at a public meeting, as residents were giving input on the Stump Pond Dam at the Blydenburgh County Park. Norchi delivered a powerful, impactful speech about how he wanted the dam fixed. He said afterward he suddenly felt a surge of energy throughout his body before collapsing. He later learned that six individuals from different backgrounds and walks of life immediately sprang into action, performing CPR and using an AED to restore his heartbeat.
Although Norchi has no memory of the event itself, he recalled waking up to the smiling face of one of the first responders, Shawn Viniotis, who jokingly welcomed him back “for the third time.” Norchi was transported to the hospital, where he made a remarkable recovery and was discharged just two days later.
“Angels walk amongst us every day; we just don’t see them
until they’re called upon,” he said. “To my angels, you know how much you mean to me and how much I love you. Words can never express my gratitude, and I am forever grateful to call you my angels.”
Romaine praised the quick actions of the Good Samaritans who stepped in to save Tommy Norchi’s life, emphasizing that their knowledge of CPR and AED use made the difference between life and death. He thanked those involved for their heroic efforts and expressed gratitude that Norchi not only survived the medical emergency but also made a strong recovery. Romaine noted that many people who suffer similar cardiac events are not as fortunate.
Romaine said the gathering served two important purposes: to recognize and thank the individuals who saved Norchi’s life and to raise awareness about the importance of
CPR and AED training. He stressed that knowing how to respond during a medical emergency can save lives and encouraged residents to learn these lifesaving skills.
Commissioner Sunderman noted that Suffolk County has more than 2,000 publicly accessible AEDs located throughout the county and that emergency dispatchers are trained to provide CPR instructions over the phone while first responders are en route. Suffolk Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (FRES) received approximately 10,000 heart-related emergency calls in 2025, including about 2,000 cardiac arrest cases.
To improve survival rates, Suffolk County continues to invest in CPR education for residents. According to Sunderman, 6,000 people were trained in CPR throughout 2025, and another 2,500 have already received training in 2026. Residents can contact their local fire department, EMS agency, or Suffolk FRES to learn these lifesaving skills.
Legislator Thorne stressed the importance of the “Chain of Survival,” which includes early recognition of a medical emergency, calling 911, rapid CPR, prompt AED use, and continued medical care. He noted that the county has expanded access to lifesaving resources through initiatives such as placing AEDs in houses of worship and promoting the PulsePoint app, which can notify trained users of nearby cardiac emergencies and direct them to the closest AED.
For Tommy Norchi, CPR and AED awareness is more than a public health message, it is the reason he is alive today. Officials hope his story will encourage more residents be prepared to help in an emergency, because one person’s quick action can mean another person’s second chance.
TRISH BERGIN, SUFFOLK COUNTY LEGISLATOR, 10TH LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT
Paws of War Hosts Car Show in Honor of 250th Anniversary
By Joe Cuminale
Paws of War is a group based out of Nesconset whose mission is to rescue dogs from around the world and bring them to Long Island for training to become assistance and therapy dogs for our Veterans in need.
This car show helps to raise funds to help that mission. This year’s show was once again a huge success. Many car clubs, independent classic car owners, and spectators arrived early and stayed late to support this great cause. There were many different and awesome raffle prizes, ranging from nights on the town to huge shop toolboxes
and everything in between. Members of the Civil Air Patrol and the Navy SEAL Lt. Michael P. Murphy Sea Cadets were on hand to present the Colors, and the Amityville American Legion Pipers were on hand for a few military song selections. There were various food trucks on site for those attending and tables from various Veteran services to assist those in need of services and advice.
Thank You to the entire staff and volunteers from Paws of War for their hospitality. If anyone needs information on this group, reach them by phone at 631-406-6595, email at info@pawsofwar.org, or in person at 127 Smithtown Boulevard, Nesconset. www.pawsofwar.org. - Helping both ends of the leash. Help a Vet, save a pet.
Rolling Thunder NY6’s Memorial Day Ride for Freedom
By Joe Cuminale
On the rainy Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend, the members of Rolling Thunder NY6 gathered for a ride from the Nassau County Courthouse in Mineola to the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Navy Seal Museum in West Sayville. A group of motorcyclists braved the rainy conditions to honor America’s fallen Veterans.
Weather conditions have never stopped or postponed a war, so it doesn’t stop memorial services for our fallen heroes. The museum staff were kind enough to provide an indoor space for our service. The museum’s Sea Cadets provided the Color Guard for the service and Lyza Paradise sang a beautiful rendition of our nation’s National Anthem. The Honor Guard presented a wreath in their memory and Taps was sounded, which always brings tears to my eyes.
Rolling Thunder NY6 President Bill Byrne delivered a powerful speech about what Memorial Day is all about remembering the men, women, and service animals who gave their tomorrows for our today. They paid the Ultimate Price for the freedom the rest of us enjoy, and many take for granted, every day.
Lt. Michael P. Murphy was a Patchogue native, who became a Navy SEAL. Michael was awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Afghanistan. This museum not only tells Michael’s story, but also the History of the U.S. Navy SEALs. Please take some time to visit this space and learn some amazing history. Thank you to Michael’s father, Daniel Murphy, for keeping his son’s spirit and memory alive, and to the families who were touring the museum for staying for our service.
Never forget the fallen. Freedom is not free-someone always pays the ultimate price!
Theatre & The Arts
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Catch Transylvania Mania at Theatre Three
‘Young Frankenstein’
By Cindi Sansone-Braff
Beware: The symptoms of Transylvania mania include contagious, nonstop belly laughter, and an overwhelming feeling of euphoria.
Judging from Theatre Three’s packed house, “Young Frankenstein” is selling out fast, so get your tickets soon to see this monstrously entertaining musical, which closes on the summer solstice, June 21, 2026.
It’s a testament to Executive Artistic Director Jeffrey Sanzel’s dedication that Theatre Three is among Long Island’s most beloved theatrical treasures. Sanzel, assisted by Jason Furnari, directed this comedic masterpiece, capturing the original 2007 Broadway musical’s over-the-top, zany lunacy. This dynamic directing duo also pulled out all the stops to resurrect “Young Frankenstein” as an evening of theater that feels remarkably refreshed, reenergized, and revitalized.
Based on the 1974 critically acclaimed black-and-white film by comic genius Mel Brooks, the stage musical features a book by Brooks and Thomas Meehan, music and lyrics by Brooks, and includes Irving Berlin’s popular Jazz Age showtune, “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” This wacky musical lovingly spoofs the classic 1930s Universal monster movie franchise while celebrating the Golden Age of Broadway musical comedy.
Thanks to Jeffrey Hoffman’s expert musical direction and Josie McSwane’s funky, fun, and fast-paced choreography, this tongue-in-cheek comedy proved entertaining from the moment the curtain rose through the “Together Again” reprise, which sent the audience home on a high-energy, upbeat note.
Randall Parsons’ clever scenic design evokes the shadowy grandeur of vintage horror films, complete with crackling laboratory equipment. Lightning-quick set changes, from a train station to a castle to a mad
scientist’s lab, made this show a visual triumph. Steve Barile, Jr.’s atmospheric lighting, Ronald Green, III’s colorful, glamorous, and weird-and-wacky costume designs, Tim Haggerty’s spoton sound design, and Jack Eisenman’s outstanding projection design made this show a sensory treat for the eyes and ears!
The multi-talented Bobby Peterson was perfectly cast as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein, a brilliant yet insecure brain surgeon and medical school professor who kept insisting
that his name was pronounced “Fronken-steen,” a rather lame attempt to distance himself from his infamous family legacy. The musical opens with a bang as Peterson belts out the comedic, vaudeville-infused song, “The Brain,” highlighting his manic obsession with the most complex organ in the human body.
Jules Greaves delivered a standout performance as Elizabeth Benning, Frederick’s self-centered, superficial socialite fiancée. Greaves’ stellar vocals and sultry star power were showcased during the bawdy number “Please Don’t Touch Me,” where Elizabeth unintentionally proves she is a cold and calculating diva. Greaves’ solo “Deep Love,” a parody of Broadway’s romantic ballads, was a memorable onstage moment.
Keith Jones, a talented actor who gave an unforgettable performance as Jesus in Theatre Three’s stellar production of “Godspell,” portrayed Igor, Dr. Frankenstein’s quirky, hunchbacked lab assistant. Through contorted movements and bizarre facial expressions, Jones transformed
himself from the handsome, healthylooking young man he is in real life into the archetypal, odd-looking Shakespearean-style clown.
Veronica Fox excelled as Inga, the bubbly blonde, free-spirited, voluptuous lab assistant from Transylvania. Fox delivered a powerful rendition of the rollicking “Roll in the Hay,” effortlessly shifting between operatic singing and yodeling. Fox and Peterson’s duet, “Listen to Your Heart,” was a playful seduction number that delighted the audience.
Beloved Theatre Three veteran Linda May stole the show as Frau Blücher, the gothic and grim housekeeper of the Frankenstein estate. At the mere mention of her name, horses whinny in terror, but over time, a fiercely, albeit quirky, romantic side of her emerges in the comedically confessional song, “He Vas My Boyfriend.”
A big round of applause goes to the multi-talented actor Bryan Bowie for his hilarious portrayal of The Monster. A showstopping, bigproduction number was “Puttin’ on the Ritz.” This standard of the Great American Songbook is bursting with catchy, quick-fire lyrics, syncopated rhythms, and a sophisticated, upbeat tempo. Bowie wowed the audience, all decked out in a tuxedo, tap-dancing in thick-soled, heavy platform boots, keeping up with Frederick, Igor, Inga, and the entire energetic ensemble!
Other Outstanding performers were Bob Kaplan as The Hermit, a bumbling blind man desperate for companionship, and Steven Uihlein as the darkly comic Inspector Kemp. The rest of the stellar cast includes Angie Barrientos Gómez, Louisa Bikowski, Will Brennan, Patrick Campbell, Ali Crosley, Rachel Geiser, Kaitlyn Jehle, Will Logan, Angelina Miller, Michelle Su, Zac Allen Thompson, and Kiernan Urso Tickets for Theatre Three’s freakishly funny “Young Frankenstein” can be purchased by calling the box office at 631-928-9100 or visiting www.theatrethree.com.
Cindi Sansone-Braff is an awardwinning playwright. She holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Connecticut and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. She is the author of “Grant Me a Higher Love,” “Why Good People Can’t Leave Bad Relationships,” and “Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic.” Her full-length Music Drama, “Beethoven, The Man, The Myth, The Music,” is published by Next Stage Press. She is a proud finalist in the 2026 Press Club of Long Island Media Awards for outstanding journalism in entertainment.
CreditPeter Lasncombe
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, June 4, 2026
Trump’s Historic D.C. Renovations Give America a Capital Worth Celebrating
By Alan Jamison | AMAC Contributor
While it has been largely ignored by the corporate media, President Donald Trump’s stunning makeover of Washington, D.C., represents perhaps the most successful urban revitalization project in American history – and a fitting 250th birthday gift to the nation.
In an X post on Monday, the White House outlined the full scope of efforts thus far to beautify the city and make it safer ahead of the semiquincentennial. In total, the administration has cleaned up more than 500 instances of graffiti, removed 153 homeless encampments, restored 22 fountains – including some that had not run for decades – and cleaned 28 statues.
One of the most noteworthy restorations was of the Columbus Circle Fountain, located outside Union Station just blocks away from the Capitol. The fountain – formerly vandalized by Hamas graffiti and flags just two years ago – is now unrecognizable in the best way. As of May 28, 2026, the fountain stands in pristine condition, with clean white marble and flowing water for the first time in nearly two decades.
Union Station is particularly important as the symbolic gateway to the capital. Longtime D.C. residents have seen the area become an unsafe and unsanitary den of crime, drug addiction, and neglect. But now it has been fully restored to its original grandeur.
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also noted the need to revitalize Columbus Circle and Union Station after a “lack of leadership” under the Biden administration. “The station had become dilapidated,” he explained. “A central station that once represented a nation on the rise has eroded into a ruin built by a people past its prime.”
While the nation’s capital has long enjoyed a flood of federal tax dollars, the liberal city government and apathetic federal leadership have allowed once pristine parks and monuments to crumble and decay for decades. Crime and homelessness had become pervasive problems in even the ritziest of neighborhoods.
That all changed with Trump’s return to the Oval Office in January 2025.
President Trump’s city-wide revitalization not only includes aesthetic improvements, but marks a new era of safety and hope in our nation’s capital – especially timely with the millions of visitors expected to participate in the American 250 celebration this summer.
In addition to the reopening of the Columbus Circle Fountain, Trump undertook a major renovation of the National Mall’s Reflecting Pool, spanning the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial.
Trump decided to drain and paint the pool with a waterproof, industrial coating in “American flag blue.” The pool, once a murky basin of leaks, mudflat shifting, and algae, now has an enlivened and polished look, fitting for our prestigious nation.
Trump commented on the former state of the Reflecting Pool in a Truth Social post: “The Biden and Obama Administrations spent over 100 Million Dollars, and made it far worse! It was only open for a short while, during each Administration, before the leaks and decay took over.”
Other important renovations include the Albert Pike Memorial, Confederate Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, Meridian Hill Park, Freedom Plaza, and the regilding of the “Arts of War” and “Arts of Peace” statues near the Lincoln Memorial – many of which were destroyed or defaced during the summer 2020 riots.
Taken together, these projects represent more than routine maintenance; they reflect a
Overview - AMACThe Association of Mature American Citizens
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broader effort to revive the capital’s historic character and national symbolism.
Trump promised to restore Washington, D.C., to the city’s former glory, and he is ensuring the job is finished. The nation’s capital is no longer a symbol of poor leadership and organization, but is now noticeably cleaner, safer, and more inviting, finally mirroring the greatness of the American people and our proud history.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Single
WORD OF THE Week
Etymology:
16th Century Middle English, unmeaning “not”; Latin conscientia, “with knowledge”
Source: Merriam-Webster
UNCONSCIONABLE
adjective
Pronounced: / uhn·kaan·shuh·nuh·bl/
Definition: shockingly unfair or unjust
Example: “The criminal justice reforms were completely unconscionable from a victim’s perspective.”
Synonyms: immoral, ruthless, unprincipled
Antonyms: ethical, honorable, conscientious
WORD WHEEL
S N B U A I T
See how many words you can create. Must have center letter in word and can use letters more than once. 4 letter word minimum.
SUDOKU
See left for the answers (please don’t cheat!)
This Week in History
June 4, 1973: Patent for the ATM is granted to Don Wetzel, Tom Barnes and George Chastain.
June 10, 1898: U.S. Marines land in Cuba during the Spanish–American War.
June 6, 1982:
30,000 Israeli troops invade Lebanon to drive out the PLO.
June 5, 1967: Six-Day War begins between Israel and the neighboring Arab states of Egypt, Jordan, and Syria.
June 7, 1972:
June 9, 1934: First appearance of Donald Duck in the cartoon “The Wise
June 8, 1869: Ives W. McGaffey of Chicago patents the first vacuum cleaner, calling it a “sweeping machine”.
Source: Onthisday.com.
Little Hen.”
Jim Jacobs and Warren Casey’s musical “Grease,” starring Barry Bostwick, Carole Demas, and Adrienne Barbeau, opens at the Broadhurst Theatre in NYC; runs for 3,388 performances.
By PJ Balzer
A Bad Beginning, A Forever Ending
It was ten years ago, 2016, and I was simply coming to pick a friend’s kids up for a church youth group my wife and I were holding. As I walked to the car with his kids, he shouted, “Do you actually believe this stuff? The ‘man in the sky’ fairytale?”
Over the next few years, we became friendly. It’s always little by little that you win someone’s trust. Every time I knocked on the door or beeped the horn to let the kids know I was there, he was always very cordial, yet he had to let it be known often that what I believed in wasn’t what he believed in. I was perfectly fine with that. Sometimes, silence is a powerful weapon.
One night he unexpectedly walked into the church during the youth group. The door flung open and in he walked. It was totally random. We used to open a few tables and grab a few pizzas just to have the place to eat with the kids. Many of them didn’t have a dinner table at home so we wanted to provide that for them, along with that family dinner table feeling that some had never felt.
He said he had to drop something off for one of his kids, but I think that was an excuse to check out what we were doing. I also think he secretly wanted to join us.
That he did.
He actually sat and ate with us after first listening to the short sermon and time of prayer I had always shared before we ate together. Looking back on that specific evening, I think something special happened inside the depths of his heart.
During the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic, he ended up leaving his house and family to go on a long drug and alcohol binge. He bounced between drug houses, shelters, and sober houses until he ended up getting arrested on a manslaughter charge. He was housed in Riverhead correctional facility awaiting a lawyer and ultimately a plea deal.
I didn’t go to visit him immediately. I gave it a few months. I know all too well that there’s an initial shock, realization, denial, anger, and sadness when something like this happens. I’ve been involved in a good amount of jail/prison ministry. There’s usually a really explosive range of emotions in the first few months of being incarcerated. One Monday, I woke up with him on my heart, so I made the appointment to go visit.
My name didn’t appear on the visitors chart that day. He knew he had a visitor waiting but didn’t know who was walking in. He told me afterwards that he thought it was his lawyer. He had tears in his eyes when he saw me walk in. He was too tough on the outside to actually cry them though. All that he said was, “I was praying with hope you’d show up eventually.”
Over the next few years, I visited once a week, sometimes I’d stretch it to every other. We’d talk about life, his kids, what was happening with sports, and just random stuff. I never really tried to minister to him because he left me where he stood on religion. He apparently had some really bad dealings with devout church folks in the past. Knowing that, I didn’t push it. I just prayed for him behind closed doors and befriended him in public.
Once the pandemic restrictions let up a little, his case started moving along rapidly. He received a plea deal for over twenty years and ended up taking it. His only request before being moved to a maximum-security facility upstate was to see his daughter and that I’d keep in contact. My wife and I took her to see him the following Friday evening. The next week, he was transported to a long-term prison upstate.
The last visit before he left, he asked me, “Do you honestly believe that the second criminal on the cross next to Jesus made it to Heaven?”
“Of course,” I replied. “Jesus said He would. He’s experiencing paradise as we speak.”
I didn’t say anything else because I didn’t want to push the envelope, but I knew he’d been reading the Bible.
When he got settled upstate, he asked me if I knew any Bible studies or resources for him on the inside. I did. Someone I’m acquainted with has a Christian men’s roundtable group that operates through the prison email system. He ended up getting plugged in with them and loved it.
He began noticeably changing. He started reading, studying, and keeping himself occupied with positive activities. He got a job behind the walls and made a few “friends.” Friends in prison is a very fragile word, but at least they were guys that he felt he could talk to.
Everything slowly changed about him over the next few years. The content of his emails, his desire to start righting old wrongs. He became a new creation in Christ, just like the Bible said he would. He told me how much he loved me and appreciated me every chance he had. It was like talking to a completely different human. While he still struggled with the past, his decisions, and much remorse, he was moving forward and even preparing for his possible release in 2040.
About a month ago, we spoke and he had a different tone in his voice, a tone I’ve heard before yet not from him. It was urgent and more of a plea than a friendly letter to catch up. He told me that he felt like he had something to tell the youth back home. He asked me to use any means necessary to relay the message.
“This place is horrible. The violence, the food, the outright abuse. It’s a really dark place that the kids and teens should fight not to come to. Fight by staying in school, going to church, getting a job, and volunteering. Keep busy with good activities that will build your life and future. The opposite of what I did in my life, especially in the beginning. I just finished hand washing my clothes in my toilet that I share with another guy. I am praying for you young people.”
This past week, I received a call from the chaplain at the facility my friend was housed in. His call was to let me know that my friend was found deceased when they went to do the morning count. He never answered the call back when the corrections officer called his last name.
Thankfully, he did though answer the call back just a few short years ago when Jesus called his name. His first name, his many sins, and his weary soul, Jesus knew it all and still called out to him.
Maybe, just like my friend did, you’d also like to ask me if I truly believe my friend is in Heaven, despite the bad beginning, many mistakes along the way, and a life cut unexpectedly short.
My reply is, “Of course he is, he’s experiencing paradise as we speak. A bad beginning but a beautiful forever ending.”
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. That whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16
Shoreham Wading-River
Flag Football Captures County & L.I. Championships
By Ashley Pavlakis
Flag football is a new sport at Shoreham Wading-River High School this season, but the girls ran the field like they owned it, capturing both the Suffolk County and Long Island championships this past week. They’ll head to states on Friday, where they’ll look to go three-for-three in their inaugural season.
The Shoreham Wading River varsity flag football team is a member of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and competes in League II. The girls are led by first-year head coach Bob DeSilva. He’s joined on the sidelines by assistant coach Christina Johnson. The Wildcats finished the regular season 11-4-0.
“It’s been really fun. When we started the open gyms in the beginning, I saw that there was a lot of talent and a lot of potential. I told the girls early on, ‘Hey, we put it all together. We could maybe go make a run at a championship,’ and they go in, and here we are now,” said DeSilva. One title in your inaugural season is one thing, but two? Amazing!
DeSilva’s squad raised the stakes and put it all out on the field against both Kings Park (Suffolk), 34-0 win, and Cold Spring Harbor (Long Island), 46-7 win.
“The County title was great, and I thought the Long Island Championship
was even better. We had put up dominant performances in both games; it’s not an easy thing to do in a championship situation. All the girls raised their level of play, and we just continued to get better throughout the season,” DeSilva told The Messenger.
With two championship games under their belt, the Wildcats have a chance to go for more as they make their way to the New York State tournament held in Cortland. Being a first-year team means facing opponents who maybe have more experience. That doesn’t faze DeSilva as he’s confident in his group.
“I think we have better teams than we’ve seen in the last two games. We’re going to play against some really good quarterbacks. But our defense and as a team, I think we’re more athletic than pretty much every team, and just in terms of flat-out speed. We have a quarterback who can throw the ball down the field, but she could also run like the wind. We have weapons out there on offense that we could get the ball to,” said DeSilva. “So, it’s not just about the one girl you have to stop. We have three or four real weapons that you have to stop on offense. Our defense is an elite defense. Our speed, we close on things really fast, we put a lot of pressure on quarterbacks, we have girls in the back end that are ball hogs that go get the football, and the girls are really smart.”
DeSilva received significant interest from girls looking to play flag football when he put feelers out in February. He had an athletic group of girls participate in the open gyms. Once tryouts took place, it eventually came down to who his quarterback would be.
“I had one girl who played flag football before [Jessica Manick]. She’s a ninth grader, our backup quarterback, and I think she’s going to be a really good player. Shealyn’s [Varbero] like a leader; she has all the intangibles that you look for in a quarterback. She’s a great athlete and has come a long way. She really started from square one. If you see the film from the beginning of the season of some throws she was making, and you see how she’s throwing the ball now, it’s like night and day. She’s a legit quarterback now, throws the ball all over the field, reads defenses, makes good decisions, burns people with her legs, and just runs all over the place,” said DeSilva.
SWR makes the trek to Cortland on Friday as a member of the final four competing for a state title. They’ll play Saturday, and if that goes well, they’ll play Sunday afternoon for all the marbles.
Congratulations on two, here’s to representing Long Island for one more!
Sachem North Softball Claims First County Title Since 1993
By Ashley Pavlakis
It was 30-plus years in the making, but the Sachem North Arrows have finally hit their target. The varsity softball team has claimed the Suffolk County title for the first time since 1993.
The Sachem North varsity softball team is a member of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and competes in League II. The Arrows are led by 17-year head coach Ken Sasso. He’s joined in the dugout by assistant coach Jackie Messina and volunteer assistant Sam Butler. Sachem North has won the League II title in five of the last six seasons. The Arrows finished the regular season 18-2-0.
The Arrows had a dominant season, setting a new single-season program record for wins. They also had a blast at the plate, outscoring their opponents 224 to 46.
“They’re quite amazing. The seniors have been together as starters, five of them, since they were in ninth grade. We’ve been building with this group for a while. They set the regular season record last year with 15 wins. They blew that
away this year with 18. Then they went through the winners’ bracket without a loss, which was quite satisfying,” Sasso told The Messenger.
Sachem had been eyeing a County title and finally got over the hump this season, capturing the title in a 4-3 win over the Commack Cougars. The two teams played twice in the regular season, splitting the series one a piece. In the playoffs, Sachem took both games.
“It really was incredible. It’s a goal you set for yourself every year. You realize how incredibly difficult it is to get there; there are so many obstacles. It was really an incredible achievement, and the girls are so proud. They love each other so much,” said Sasso.
Sasso praised his group up and down the lineup, citing strong hitters no matter who’s up to bat. Their scoring output benefited greatly from having all nine batters contribute on offense.
“We were playing a game early in the season against Lindenhurst, and my number eight batter hit one over the fence. We can all hit; everybody can hit on the team. We really don’t have a weak
spot. Most high school teams, once you get past five, they’re not as good a hitter as the top of the order. They’re [Sachem] just really tough top-to-bottom hitters. I got to give credit to the girls. We hit every day, but they put the work in on their own, too,” said Sasso.
The Arrows are equipped with a League II title and a Suffolk County title in 2026; they’ll look to add a Long Island title on Saturday.
“We’ll just play our game. The girls are very confident. We haven’t had many setbacks, two losses to two good teams, and they were one-run losses and both on errors. So, it wasn’t like we just forgot how to play. I think they’re confident going in. I believe they think they can beat anybody, they belong on the field, and they’re looking forward to the challenge,” said Sasso.
Section XI Boys’ Lacrosse Recap
By Jacob Infald
This past weekend, the Section XI boys’ lacrosse County Championships took place at Stony Brook University. The Long Island Championship games will also take place at Stony Brook University next weekend.
Class A:
#1 Northport High School vs.
#2 Sachem North High School
It was a bounce back season for the Sachem North Flaming Arrows. After losing in just the second round of postseason play last spring to Northport, they advanced all the way to the championship game, where they would once again face a perennial powerhouse the Tigers. The Flaming Arrows were able to get in front early, outscoring the Tigers 3-1 in the first quarter, with two of the goals coming from junior attack Johnny Calabria, who is fifth on Long Island in points on the season and is committed to play college lacrosse at Bryant University in two years.
Calabria continued to have a major impact in the first half, starting the second quarter with two unanswered points, the first being an assist to senior attack Stephen Castellano from the X spot, and the following being his own goal, assisted by junior midfielder Gavin Nuzzi.
The Tigers did not go away easily, scoring four unanswered goals to tie the score heading into halftime, with the final one being a backhanded ripper from about twenty yards out from senior midfielder Luke Loiacono, who is committed to play college lacrosse at Marist University next spring.
Despite entering the locker room losing momentum, it was Calabria and the Flaming Arrows who struck first in the second half, with Calabria notching his fourth goal of the game to put Sachem back in front. This lead was short lived as Bucknell commit Ryder Mag scored two goals of his own for the Tigers giving them a 7-6 lead.
While it looked like this game was going to be backand-forth from this point until the final buzzer, the Flaming Arrows halted all Northport momentum, scoring six unanswered goals. Sophomore defender Tyler Jerome scored the go ahead goal in the third, an overhead, top shelf shot as he came streaking down the right side. Castellano scored the final two goals in the fourth quarter, silencing the Tiger fans, and giving the Flaming Arrows their first county championship since 1995.
They will take on the winner of Massapequa and Syosset in the Long Island Championship on Saturday at 5:30p.m. to determine Long Island’s representative in the Class A state championship.
Class B:
#3 West Islip vs. #1 Smithtown East
The Smithtown East Bulls were able to keep their momentum going from their semifinals game against East Islip, and take down West Islip to win their first County championship since 2015.
The Bulls were led by their star, senior attack Cameron James, as James led the squad in points, goals and assists. Bulls’ goalie, sophomore CJ Stein was also a key contributor, being credited with 12 saves on the day.
Despite two early goals from James, the Bulls found themselves down 3-2 at the end of the first quarter, and 4-3 heading into halftime.
The Lions demonstrated a balanced attack, with five different players accounting for their seven goals. Senior attack Chase Busking led the way, with two goals and two
assists for a total of four points for the Lions. Busking is ninth in points for all of Suffolk County this season with 84, including the postseason.
After outscoring the Lions 4-2 in the third quarter, the Lions were able to tie the game back up in the fourth, leading to the pivotal moment of this contest. With just 37 seconds remaining, it was an underclassman who stepped up for the Bulls, as sophomore midfielder Brock Bernhardt fired the game winning shot to the top right portion of the goal, finding the back of the net, and the Bulls had an 8-7 that they would not surrender.
The Bulls will take on the winner of Garden City and Manhasset in the Class B Long Island Championship game Saturday at 10:00a.m.
Class C:
#3 Sayville vs. #1 Mt. Sinai
The Sayville Golden Flashes were all over top-seeded Mt. Sinai, dominating the championship game in an 18-4 route, as the Golden Flashes advance to their first Long Island Championship game since 2012.
The Golden Flashes were dominant from the start, scoring four unanswered goals in the first quarter, setting the tone early. Despite a 10-7 regular season record, the Golden Flashes have looked like an elite team this postseason. They won their semifinal game against the two seeded Shoreham-Wading River 10-5, outscoring their opponents by a whopping 19 goals across the two postseason games.
The Golden Flashes saw eight different players score goals, with senior midfielder Tristian Vitale leading the way with four. Their leader in points was junior Brady O’Donoghue, who had a total of six points with two goals and four assists.
The Golden Flashes will look to ride their playoff hot streak for at least another week in the Class C Long Island Championship at 12:30 p.m where they will be facing the winner of Wantagh and South Side.
Class D:
#1 Bayport-Blue Point vs. #2 Babylon
The Class D championship was a low-scoring, grinder of a game, with neither team being able to separate themselves throughout the contest. It ended up being the Bayport-Blue Point, who were able to take home the victory by a score of 7-6.
The Phantoms have a rich history of boys’ lacrosse, winning the Class C New York State Championship in 2024. However, they fell in the County Championship last season to Kings Park. This season, playing in Class D, they have regained their position in the Long Island Championship game.
They were led by sophomore Sean Richman, who scored two goals in the contest, with none being more important than his game winner with 2.8 seconds remaining. Richman had the ball on the left side, he burst past a defender as he made his way towards the goal. Now, in the middle of the field, Richman fired a bullet to the top right shelf, sending the Phantom sideline and supporters in the stands into a frenzy.
The Phantoms will continue their season next weekend, as they look to add a Class D Long Island Championship to an already loaded resume for this program. They will take on the winner of Cold Spring Harbor and Locust Valley, Saturday at 3:00p.m.
Brentwood Hosts Annual COPA Tournament
By PJ Balzer
Since 2009, the Brentwood community has been coming together for this event. Brentwood’s COPA Club - which stands for Community, Obligation, Professionalism, and Achievement – has hosted this wonderful event.
This past week was their annual spring inter-district soccer tournament, which brought out over 400 student-athletes. The athletes include Brentwood’s district’s middle schools, their freshman center, and high school. As you can imagine, for a district and community that takes soccer so seriously, it’s a full day of both fun and fierce competition.
It’s also a day that faculty and school staff look forward to. They come out, along with community volunteers, to help coach, supervise, and serve. This is one of the entire Brentwood community’s most cherished and long-standing traditions.
In a district that has a long trail of successful soccer teams, both boys and girls. Brentwood soccer and the competitiveness of their youth programs show us all why they sit on top year after year.
Brookhaven Town Represented at FIFA World Cup
By PJ Balzer
We should be proud, Brookhaven Town!
The Town has a driving force in this summers’ FIFA World Cup. That driving force is Joe Scally, a 23-year-old defensive fullback from the Sachem community.
At only 15 years of age, Joe Scally signed a professional soccer contract. While he developed his skills early on playing for our local Long Island Junior Soccer League (LIJSL) clubs like the Sachem youth teams. As a teenager, he signed a contract with New York City FC (NYCFC).
Now, Sachem alumni Scally is headed back to the world’s biggest stage. He was recently named to the United States Men’s National Team roster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will take place across the United States this summer. While Scally was on the 2022 selection, he has yet to appear on the field. This World Cup will be undoubtedly different for him.
He has intentionally worked on his game and skills these past four years, with this World Cup in view. He’s since gained valuable experience as he’s currently playing professionally in Europe. Scally currently plays professionally for Borussia Mönchengladbach in Germany’s Bundesliga and is competing at one of the highest levels of club soccer in Europe.
The Lake Grove native has earned his way to being a key piece on the United States’ defensive line. He’s one of only ten defenders selected to the U.S. roster by head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Not only is he now playing in the World Cup, he’s doing so on home soil as the United States, Mexico, and Canada will host the games.
The United States’ first match this cup will be on Friday, June 12, at 9:00p.m. against Paraguay. Tune in to see our own Joe Scally (pictured left) defend the home turf and home goal!
