Thursday, October 22, 2026 ~ Volume 72 ~ Issue Number 1 ~ $1.00 Credit: Matt Meduri
Endorsement Alert:
LOSQUADRO FOR COUNTY COMPTROLLER
PULEO
FOR COUNTY CLERK Endorsements on page 4
Town of Islip Welcomes Eight Cadets to Training Academy The Town of Islip recently welcomed a new class of recruits during a swearing-in ceremony held at Islip Town Hall, marking their commitment to public service and the safety of the Islip community. The cadets included two park rangers and one fire marshal from the Town of Islip and five park rangers from the Towns of Smithtown and Babylon, and were sworn in by Islip Town Clerk Linda Vavricka (R-West Islip). Continued on page 22
Town officials welcome new cadets to the training academy (Credit - Town of Islip)
FULL STORIES ON:
Suffolks Bond Rating Upgraded Page 5
Candidates Vie in 4th Senate District Page 10 & 15
Candidates Vie in 12th Assembly District Page 12 & 13
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Messenger Papers Thursday, October 22, 2026
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AUTUMN EVENTS Sayville Farmers Market at the Islip Grange: Every Saturday until November, 9:00a.m. to 2:00p.m.
Nutrition in Nature: Thursday, November 5, 10:30a.m. to 11:30a.m. at Sunken Meadow State Park.
Port Jefferson Farmers Market: Every Sunday until November, 9:00a.m. to 2:00p.m.
Historic Clubhouse and Grist Mill Tours: Sunday, November 1, 1:00p.m. to 3:00p.m. at Connetquot River State Park.
Introduction to Wilderness Survival (Adult Program): Saturday, November 7, 9:45a.m. to 12:00p.m. at Caumsett State Park. Reservations required: 631-423-1770 Spooky Lantern Walk (Family Program): Saturday, October 24, 6:30p.m. to 7:30p.m. at Caleb Smith State Park.
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Messenger Papers
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Endorsements
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Thursday, October 22, 2026
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Dan Losquadro for Suffolk County Comptroller By The Editorial Board Suffolk’s finances during a time of global economic upheaval. For us, the question is just how bad that will be. While there’s effectively nothing local elected officials can do about the AI bubble, the War in Iran, and other salient topics as of late, their job is to prepare the municipality for the worst and get creative. We think Losquadro’s strategy for budgeting his department in Brookhaven gives him a leg up. But Losquadro has another facet to his candidacy that makes us confident in his ability: his relationship with County Executive Ed Romaine. Losquadro entered Town government shortly after Romaine took over as Supervisor. The two governed together for about a decade until Romaine was elected County Executive in 2023. Losquadro is familiar with Romaine’s leadership style, and vice versa. Moreover, as Romaine is presiding over economic stability in Suffolk - cash reserves are at an all-time high and the bond rating continues to improve and stabilize - we think the transition from a Kennedy-run Comptroller’s Office to a Losquadro-run office will be a seamless one. Losquadro’s opponent is Jon Estriech, an attorney, former prosecutor, judge advocate in the JAG Corps, and a recently-promoted Army Headquarters Commander. Estreich, a Dix Hills Democrat, is sharp, affable, and has a well-rounded background. From doing investigative work for the MTA, to working under Governor Cuomo digging into nonprofit fraud, we don’t doubt he’s up to the task. He
Credit -Matt Meduri
Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy is termlimited and a new era of fiscal stewardship in Suffolk will begin in January. Voters have two good candidates for this position: Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro and attorney and first-time candidate Jon Estreich. Losquadro, a Shoreham Republican, knows the ins and outs of government. A former Suffolk County Legislator and former New York State Assemblyman, Losquadro understands who the players are and how to navigate the proper channels of local government. He’s presided over Brookhaven’s Highway Department since 2013, which is no small task. Some voters have characterized Losquadro as merely a “roads guy,” but that underscores his budgetary prowess. Brookhaven is one of the largest townships in the State by area and about half of that budget goes to the roads. To say there’s no budgetary know-how in that role would be an understatement. Losquadro gets credit for having inherited an antiquated and unbalanced department in 2013. He’s championed stockpiling reserves for unpredictable circumstances - in his case, weather and snow. Despite several mild winters, the proof was in the pudding this past winter which saw snow accumulation records shattered across Suffolk. There’s almost no doubt that whoever wins this contest will be in the unenviable position of having to navigate
talks about sniffing out pay-to-play and creating an economic dashboard so Suffolk residents can see where their tax dollars are going in real time. We would have liked more substantive examples of what he alleges could be payto-play, and we’re not sure just how effective such a dashboard would be, but he does rightly point out that despite ostensibly good finances, there are “warning signs” of impending economic trouble. As a side note, both candidates are intensely welltraveled, which we think gives both broadened horizons and plays well into a job as strenuous as that of the Comptroller. But Estreich, in our view, is simply unable to match Losquadro’s experience and the invaluable connection the Highway Superintendent has to the County Executive. However, we do urge Estreich to stay involved and perhaps seek office at the local level first. We’re interested to see where his drive can take him. The Messenger endorses Losquadro.
Vincent Puleo for Suffolk County Clerk By The Editorial Board face a serious backlog. For Puleo, that’s consisted of growing the size of the storage room, adding more servers, and even improving the HVAC to keep the room cool so those machines work without a hitch. In the meantime, he’s looking to secure cloud storage while lobbying Albany for much-needed guidelines to ease at least some of the burden. Puleo’s customer service and community-oriented background also makes him deserving of a second term, we think. He pointed out in our interview that the dayto-day is making processes easier for applicants, which trickles down to development and redevelopment on Main Street. He seeks to prevent as many redundancies in those processes as possible. Puleo’s opponent is Abigail Field, a Cutchogue Democrat who is running a write-in campaign. Field’s core promises are to revamp the website and look into whether satellite Clerk’s offices for the East End are necessary. She gets credit for having lobbied the New Jersey Legislature for identity theft legislation, which is her primary claim to understanding the IT and cybersecurity workings of the Clerk’s office. Field opened her interview with us by saying she’s running a “positive campaign,” but hardly said anything positive. Field seems to think she could be better at many jobs than other people. She not only said that of Puleo, but of her 2025 opponent in Southold Town Clerk Dennis Noncarrow. She called the latter a “lovely human being,” but not one who is good at his job. Field has also lambasted the inner workings of the Clerk’s office, claiming to have insiders talking of bureaucratic backlog and testimonies from real estate agents that Suffolk’s Clerk’s Office is the “worst in the state,” but she can’t back up any of her claims. She’s said the job isn’t “rocket science.” We think she’s underestimating the task ahead of her should she prevail.
For such a “positive campaign,” in her words, she tossed around phrases like “corrupt,” “clueless,” “gullible,” and “grossly inefficient” among others. There’d be more weight to these claims if they could be corroborated and had there been consistent reporting from various sources throughout the last four years. Field spared no expense in digging into Puleo on a Newsday story this summer that claims he is the landlord for a strip mall in which an illegal massage parlor was operating. Puleo didn’t shy away from it; in fact, the tenant up and left at his behest. But Field made the jarring claim that Puleo “profited off of sex trafficking” and that during his time as Smithtown Clerk, was somehow involved in derailing a bill that would have cracked down on those types of businesses. We think she should choose her words more carefully, and we also think that had Puleo been such a “slick dude” - as she described him in our interview - the Town of Smithtown, known for its community values and retail politics - wouldn’t have retained Puleo as their Clerk for over a decade. Field has waged an angry campaign and we see it as nothing more than an avatar for the disaffected Democrats who lost their insurgency against Chairman Rich Schaffer. We think they’re taking their anger out on the wrong guy. The Messenger endorses Puleo.
Credit -Matt Meduri
The Clerk is considered the “cover on the book” of local government. Documents, resources, chains of custody, and storage is all under the purview of the Clerk. And while it’s not exactly the most riveting topic, it’s arguably the most important one. Incumbent County Clerk Vincent Puleo is seeking reelection to a second, four-year term. He was first elected in 2022, just as the County was grappling with the crippling cyber attack that took systems offline for months and left Suffolk with two options: fixing the infrastructure from within or negotiating with the hackers. The County took the former option. Their report showed the hack originated in the Clerk’s office due to the amateur-hour - at best - policies that were more to do with the IT Department than anyone else. Clerk Puleo, a Republican of Nesconset, has made IT services one of his top priorities over the last four years. He puts immense faith in his IT department and they’re not looking to be complacent with the relative safety the County has after the 2022 hack. He’s shopping for new software to replace an outdated contract and is carving a respectable balance between using AI as a tool but not displacing workers. A big task Puleo has had is dealing with the evergrowing storage needs for police bodycam footage, something we view as a necessity, but also something that the State mandates to be preserved. Since the State has not provided specifics and how and for how long those footages need to be held, Puleo has been working to scale their internal storage. This sounds easy on paper, but the terabytes add up quickly. For reference, the average home PC’s hard disk has maybe 500 gigabytes of space to maybe 1 terabyte - and most users won’t take up about half that space. Video files are an easy way to fill up a hard drive, and with footage constantly pouring in, it’s easy for an operation like that to
Suffolk Matters Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
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and preserve the county’s financial future. This is a win for all of Suffolk County, and I commend everyone whose work helped make this possible.” The upgrade reflects the changes the Romaine Administration has made to ensure better cybersecurity in the county. In September 2022 Suffolk County was the target of one of the largest cyberattacks on a municipality in the United States. Under the prior administration the county did not have cyberattack insurance, resulting in the county having to spend tens of millions of dollars to respond. “A county of this size should have never been left vulnerable to such an attack, especially with no insurance to assist in recovery,” said Romaine. “I want to thank the county’s information technology leadership and staff for their dedication to protecting taxpayer services and information.” “Since the (2022 cyberattack) incident, the county has instituted significant improvements in its technology-related infrastructure and oversight, including the hiring of a full-time, onsite Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), helping to mitigate against future attacks,” said
Fitch in its report. The County’s budgeting has also protected its reserve funds, a critical component in Fitch’s decision to once again upgrade Suffolk’s bond rating. “The ‘AA’ ratings also reflect the county’s sustained sound liquidity and overall reserve levels reflective of strong revenue performance and management’s recent conservative budget assumptions,” said Fitch in its report. “Conservative budgeting means preparing for the future, and Suffolk County has done its best to keep the budget steady, even in these difficult financial times,” said Romaine. In his annual State of the County address in September, Romaine announced his 2027 budget will not raise general fund taxes in 2027. “Working with my colleagues in the legislature, I am confident we will continue to strengthen the county’s financial position and protect taxpayer dollars,” said Romaine. “This upgrade represents the work we do on behalf of our residents each and every day, and we are not done yet.”
Credit -Matt Meduri
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) announced this week that Fitch Ratings has upgraded Suffolk County’s rating from ‘AA-’ to ‘AA’ with a stable outlook. This is the fifth bond upgrade the county has received since Romaine took office in January 2024. “This upgrade is a vote of confidence in the way taxpayer dollars are being protected and managed,” said County Executive Romaine (pictured top right). “I want to thank my partners in the Suffolk County Legislature for their work in achieving this upgrade.” A higher credit rating generally lowers the county’s borrowing costs, which means savings for taxpayers on bonding or other borrowing. “Fitch’s decision to upgrade Suffolk County’s bond rating to AA with a stable outlook is a significant achievement for our residents and a strong endorsement of the county’s financial management,” said Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) (pictured bottom right). “A strong bond rating helps reinforce confidence in county government and supports our efforts to protect taxpayers
Credit -Matt Meduri
Fitch Ratings Upgrades Suffolk County Bond Rating to ‘AA’ with Stable Outlook
Suffolk County Soil & Water Conservation District Funds School, Community Projects By Matt Meduri
School Funding According to a release from the District, six educational projects have been funded: $50,000 for the Brentwood Freshman Campus. Through the Urban Farms and Community Gardens Grant. The project, “Campus Fresh: Cultivating the Next Generation,” entails converting an underutilized warehouse into a farmto-table lab. Funds will be applied to an aquaponics system and a hydroponics unit for leafy greens. The “Campus Fresh”
project will provide students with skills for the agricultural industry. Produce will also be used to supplement meals at the school. $19,344 for Cold Spring Harbor Jr.Sr. High School. The award will fund equipment for projects with agricultural robotics. Students will assess traditional soil-based versus hydroponic production systems. $5,320 for Half Hollow Hills High School East. The funds will contribute to supplies for experimental research in plant tissue cultures. $12,200 for North Babylon High School. The project will improve their garden’s irrigation system. $3,637 for Babylon Jr.-Sr. High School. “Crocus with the Mostus,” a project to create space for the school’s STEAM: Sustainable Agriculture class. The school will be adding a pollinator garden and raised garden beds, to grow a variety of crops including crocus for saffron, lettuce, and potatoes. $9,500 for Oregon Middle School. The project will add an outdoor classroom space and a native pollinator garden. Students at environmental clubs will be involved with the Patchogue-Medford’s Seed Lending library, to help educate the community about seed harvesting.
Four Projects with Lasting Environmental Impact After a competitive review process, four award recipients were notified of award status in the spring of 2026. The Davis Park Association is being allocated $31,000 to mitigate erosion along the shoreline of the Great South Bay. The project aims to “restore marsh habitat and stabilize the eroding shoreline in Davis Park, Fire Island, by planting native vegetation and using coir fiber logs.” Save the Great South Bay, a previous CAP grant awardee, will receive $30,000 to fund efforts for their Creek Defenders Program. Funds will be used to “expand their ongoing cleanup and restoration of creeks that feed into the Great South Bay.” The Town of Smithtown is being granted $20,000 for the “S.P.R.O.U.T.” project, or the Stormwater Pollution Reduction through Optimized Urban Tree planting project, which will “focus on planting trees in the Long Island Industrial Park in Hauppauge, in efforts to reduce excessive stormwater runoff and urban heat island impacts.” The Bayport-Blue Point Heritage Association will receive $19,000 in grant funds for their habitat restoration project
Credit -Matt Meduri
The Suffolk County Soil and Water Conservation District aims to support the County’s goal to protect and preserve natural resources. The District assists the County’s agricultural community, private landowners, and municipalities through partnerships with local, County, State, and federal government agencies. The District also provides technical assistance, site plan/subdivision reviews, and conservation planning, among other services. The District, chaired by Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue) (pictured bottom right), announced this week $100,000 in funding to expand agricultural education in schools, and $100,000 for four community projects.
at the site of the former The Avery Five Mile Look Hotel. Funds will be used to “remove invasive plant species and introduce native plants to the area to improve the resiliency of the ecosystem.” Including this year’s funding, the Agriculture in the Classroom program has applied a total of $398,142.35 towards K-12 school projects since 2017. K-12 public schools in Suffolk County are encouraged to keep an eye out for future grant proposal requests.
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Editorial Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
The Top Local Issues in 2026
Election Day is just two weeks away and candidates are making their final pitches to voters. The 2026 cycle has been chaotic, both nationally and locally, to say the least. Donald Trump’s (R-FL) record unpopularity looms large in the background while the Democratic Party’s metamorphosis continues in earnest with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) ousting notable incumbents across the country. The national upheavals have thrown prices and priorities out of whack, while many voters and social media demagogues are keen to lean into their sophistry to somehow connect Town Hall with the White House in every conceivable instance. We’ve talked to nearly every candidate this cycle across our three towns. Here’s what we think the top issues are based on how they’re campaigning. Affordability Surprise, surprise. Affordability is, yet again, the top issue - as it should be. The problem is, we’ve noticed it has a few times presented itself as a nice cop-out from being substantive on the issues. Moreover, the question isn’t that affordability is a problem; rather, how it’s addressed. Unfortunately, there’s very little the County and the Towns can do when they’re met with massive headwinds from Washington or Albany. They municipalities are constantly in a catch-22: maintain current spending levels or even pierce the tax cap, or cut services and earn the residents’ ire. Republicans have made no bones about the State’s obvious spending problems; only a few Democrats have been forthright in that regard. At the very least, they say it’s a “discipline” problem. We’ll take the wins where we can get them. Many Democrats we’ve interviewed, however, don’t seem keen on addressing that massive liability. The reality is, that brand of the party only knows spending, the last decade or so of Albany governance says. Additionally, many Democrats running in Republican-held seats assert that they would be better equipped to get funds and prioritize the district’s needs better than a Republican would. We firmly disagree. Not only do Democrats not deserve more members in their chamber than they already have, in our view, but any additional seats for the caucus would be more mouths to feed. Another unspoken rule of politics is that freshmen in the state and federal legislatures must “wait their turn” before generating any significant amount of progress for their districts. And at that rate, the only party in New York of whom bipartisanship is rightly required is the Republican Party. Sanctuary Policies This is where we find practically all the Democrats squeamish. Republicans aren’t afraid to call out the Sanctuary State/City policies one bit. Here’s the reality: illegal immigration is illegal. We’ve been pitched many creative arguments as to why it’s a civil offense or a criminal offense, or how the federal government is leveraging their resources, but it’s still an offense. It’s unconscionable to us that state and municipal governments have been allowed to supersede federal laws in this regard. Both parties are correct in saying that the issue ultimately lies at the feet of the federal government. That’s a responsibility both parties have been abdicating for decades, and much to our disappointment, no substantive changes have been made under the Trump Administration. Still, the State can do its part to stem the flow which hurts local demand on housing, jobs, and services. That’s not to say that the immigrants themselves should be blamed. Don’t hate the player, hate the game, we say. Congress is wholly compromised by special interests, corporate donors, and foreign lobbyists, and as a result, is wholly ineffective. The State still has responsibility to its own citizens and to prioritize them first. Democrats, however, find themselves in a catch-22 of their own on this issue. They can’t criticize the machine too much, lest they get cut off from funding that makes them ideal candidates for re-election in their home districts, at best, or they find themselves on the unsatisfactory end of the retribution stick as Mayor Eric Adams (D) did when he bucked his party on the migrant crisis, at worst.
We also think that since the Albany/ Manhattan machine understands that since the Empire State is gradually becoming more competitive, millions have fled, and millions more are expected to flee, counting more citizens towards the Census will help them preserve their political power. There must be a coalition of commonsense Democrats who can break through the orthodoxy, but we expect them to show their faces when the Albany machine inevitably crumbles. Until then, we see the Republicans as better equipped to answer that question. Energy This is the issue where there seems to be the most consensus. Republicans were ultimately proven right that the CLCPA mandates were unrealistic, at least for now, and that an all-of-the-above approach to energy is what the State should endorse. Many Democrats we spoke with were glad to see the brakes pumped on those mandates, although they signalled they would like to get them back online some time in the future. The biggest impediment that we found, however, was that of natural gas. The Marcellus Shale in Western New York can solve a litany of problems, and while it’s in contrast with net-zero goals, it’s far cleaner than burning oil or coal. The modern era of politics is rife with pontification, but no sense of the realities that bind any constituency. That includes writing off any ideology or construct of yesteryear as archaic and regressive - utilizing resources, maintaining borders, genders, to name a few. Resources are meant to be utilized and resources are perhaps the strongest strengths and opportunities at sovereignty any constituency can have. Some Democrats shied away from that, although perhaps offering a tepid approval, perhaps just to tell The Messenger what it wanted to hear. All in all, we’ll take the wins where we can get them, and that includes a more realistic outlook on energy. We intend to hold our representatives to their 2026 pitches. Unfunded Mandates As Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches) has repeatedly said, no matter how “meritorious” an idea or policy might be, it shouldn’t break the backs of the municipalities. This goes into the aforementioned spending problems, and we think there’s a component of handing goodie bags to voters, only to make the opposition party out to be the bad guys when the programs are reduced or clawed back. In many such cases, the municipalities are made out to be the bad guys. We think this is another long-term chess play for the Albany machine to retain their power. They pass unfunded mandates with good intentions - at least ostensibly - force the municipalities to pay into them in ways that many other states do not mandate, and when the banks are broken, the residents descend on Town Hall with pitchforks and torches instead of the State Capital. It’s a classic divide-and-conquer strategy that goes hand-in-hand with the even-year elections. Any attempt to water down local politics to make it more nationalized works for an insipid and ineffective political machine, regardless of party affiliation. Odds and Ends Data centers are a very salient topic this time around. We’re not so sure that some of the older members of politics and government quite see the bigger picture. It seems they think it’s nothing different than the concerns of the Dot-Com Boom, but never before have we seen an obvious threat to greater employment, so much so that the executives are even making that point themselves - rather nonchalantly, we might add. BESS facilities are another item. Neither party is willing to endorse these, rightfully so, but the wait-and-see approach on this plateau of the energy front, we find, should err more on the “wait” side of things. Finally, all the candidates we’ve spoken to speak to bipartisanship and “reaching across the aisle.” Of course, no candidate would want to openly campaign on partisanship, and while a voting scorecard doesn’t give the behindthe-scenes look at legislation, it’s fairly simple to figure who lives up to that universal promise and who doesn’t dare put their toes out of line.
Op-Ed Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
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Thursday, October 22, 2026
Trump’s Taxpayer-Funded Commercials: Illegal and Bad PR By Steve Levy | Long Island Life & Politics I was wondering when Donald Trump was going to start unloading the tens of millions of dollars he has in his PAC to help in the midterm elections. Then, lo and behold, I started seeing some commercials with Trump walking down a corridor giving a speech about communism. My first thought was, “What a waste of money this was,” because it was all about Trump at a time when he’s hovering in the mid-30s on the polls. But then, at the end of the commercial, I fell off my chair when I saw a logo noting that the commercial was paid for with tax dollars. As someone who has been involved in government for 26 years, it was clear to me that such a blazingly political commercial cannot legally be financed with taxpayer dollars. Just days ago, a court agreed. There are a million ways to use public
funds to get a generic message out, but this was way over the line. But just as importantly to me, this was a missed opportunity to send a clear message for Republicans in next month’s election. Where were the commercials’ beforeand-after pictures of Biden’s border assault versus the quiet border after Trump’s election? Where were the commercials touting how waiters, Social Security recipients, and blue-collar workers putting in overtime were saving thousands of dollars annually on their taxes and how the average family saves $2,000 a year with the tax plan? Where were the commercials about how the Democrats’ green policies caused electric bills to increase by 60%? Where were the commercials noting that, once Democrats regain power, the
border will be reopened, sex change operations for children will begin again within our hospitals, men will be allowed back in women’s locker rooms, and taxes on middle-class families will rise by $2,000 when the Trump tax cuts are eradicated? Where were the commercials that noted that the New York City housing czar wants to do away with private property or how candidates promoting Medicare for All will prohibit your private insurance and make seniors wait in line for Medicare along with healthy 25-yearolds? Any of these items would’ve been good messaging. But instead, Trump made these commercials about himself, showing five-second soundbites of him making speeches and walking down a corridor. So, not only were these commercials
illegal, but they were terrible messaging. Meanwhile, Trump himself said that the Republicans have the facts on their side, but poor messaging. Well, on the latter, he could look in the mirror. This op-ed originally ran in Long Island Life & Politics. For more from LILP, visit them online at lilifepolitics. com.
AI Is Changing Medicine. Medical Education Must Change, Too By Dr. James W. Schroeder Artificial Intelligence is poised to revolutionize most industries, and medicine is no exception. Eight in ten doctors already use AI for everything from taking notes to getting up to speed on the latest medical research in order to better diagnose patients. AI promises to deliver enormous benefits to clinicians and patients alike. But like any tool or technology, AI also has limitations. Medical educators need to adjust their curricula in response to the AI age. That means putting less emphasis on memorization -- and more on developing an empathetic bedside manner, communicating well, and handling the many other uniquely human elements of the job. Doctors have the unique privilege and responsibility of being invited into some of the most intimate and vulnerable moments of patients’ lives. Physicians often meet patients and their families when they are confronting anxiety, life-altering diagnoses, even death. In those moments, the relationship between doctor and patient matters. Over half of patients say that they want their doctors to display qualities like compassion and a good bedside manner. Those qualities aren’t merely “nice-to-haves” -they deliver real clinical value. Studies show that
for some conditions, stronger bedside manner and physician empathy are associated with better patient outcomes. No matter how capable AI tools become, they can’t fill physicians’ shoes in these moments. So, in the coming years, it will be even more important for medical educators to create training programs that enhance empathy among aspiring physicians and teach students how to navigate interactions with patients and their families. Medical educators will also need to train students to leverage the benefits of AI -- while recognizing its biases and mitigating its shortcomings. AI systems are trained on human-generated data. So AI models can have the same blind spots and erroneous assumptions as humans. One study found that AI exhibited “significant performance disparities” based on race, gender, and age across nearly 30% of cancer diagnostic tasks. Future physicians need to learn to incorporate AI into their workflows to make them more effective without blindly accepting the outputs AI systems produce. That will require changing how physician trainees are mentored. Traditionally, medical students have gone through clinical rotations -- and later, through residency -- to shadow experienced
physicians, observe cases, and build a mental library of experiences to draw upon throughout their careers. But the entire corpus of medical knowledge will soon be on each and every smartphone. AI models can sift through clinical databases and synthesize decades of research in seconds. Three years ago, ChatGPT began outscoring medical students on the United States Medical Licensing Examination. AI models have grown exponentially more capable since then. Consequently, the trainees of tomorrow should not even try to know more than the machine. Instead, they will need to observe how senior physicians effectively integrate AI into their workflow, identify bias in results, and deliver difficult news to patients. Artificial Intelligence will transform medicine. But it won’t eliminate the need for human judgment, compassion, and trust. That’s why medical schools must redouble their focus on training students in the skills machines can never replace. James W. Schroeder, Jr., MD, MBA, is the Chief Academic Officer at Hospital for Special Surgery. This piece originally ran in Chief Healthcare Executive.
Veterans Affairs
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Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Leathernecks Host 25th Annual Ride to Northport VA Credit - Joe Cuminale
By Joe Cuminale On Sunday, October 18, the Leathernecks M.C. DERNA Chapter held their 25th Annual Ride to the VA Hospital/Residence Center in Northport to visit with our Veterans and bring them a few small gifts of new clothing items to help sustain them through the winter. These items were donated not only by the riders, but by many that don’t ride. The non-riders answered the call for donations. Thank you to the Commandant of the Marine Corps League of Suffolk County, Jaclyn Imperah, Leathernecks Chapter President Loyd Ellis, and Vice President Paul Russell for their efforts in putting together this ride. Thanks to the Marine Corps League of Suffolk County for providing the new start/end location and their hospitality. I have been reporting on and participating in this annual event since their first ride on December 16, 2001, when there were 28 riders in 36-degree weather. This year’s ride had 85 riders. Not only does this ride provide clothing for our Veterans, but the money raised also provides for outings for many Veterans - movie Nights, dinners, and breakfasts, just to name a few trips. It has been an honor for me to be a small part of this great event for all 25 Years, letting our local Veterans know they are not forgotten. Semper Fi!
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This Week Today Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
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Thursday, October 22, 2026
National, State, and Local Temperature Checks By Matt Meduri
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli (D-Great Neck Plaza) reported this week that State tax receipts totaled $68.5 billion - $7.3 billion higher than estimates by the Division of Budget (DOB). Tax receipts were also $8.6 billion higher than those through September 2025. “Higher state tax collections, particularly personal income and business tax receipts, are partially a result of financial market growth,” said DiNapoli. “As noted in my recent report, Wall Street profits have increased significantly in the first half of the year. However, consumer costs keep rising and many families are still struggling. While strong financial market growth bodes well for some, we must ensure the economy works for all New Yorkers.” Personal income tax (PIT) receipts totaled $36.4 billion, coming about $2.5 billion above DOB projections through the second quarter. The State’s General Fund ended September with a balance of $63.9 billion, beating expectations by about 18%. The Comptroller’s report notes that primarily due to higher-than-anticipated tax collections and lower-than-anticipated spending. In other state news, federal, State, and City authorities conducted about a dozen raids on adult care centers in a focus to rein in Medicaid fraud. Allegations stem from fraudulent Medicaid billing for clients who received no services or were dead. Local Suffolk County Democratic Committee Chair Rich Schaffer (D-North Babylon) is being investigated by federal authorities and the New York State Attorney General’s office. The agencies have reportedly interviewed several committee members. They allege that Schaffer offered payments to committee members
to miss work in order to secure their attendance at the convention for his own re-election. Schaffer (pictured bottom right), who also serves as Babylon Town Supervisor, ultimately prevailed over Southold Democratic Committee Chair Kathryn Casey Quigley (D-Southold). Governor Kathy Hochul called the inquiry a “political hit job.” Party tensions continue within the Suffolk Democrats. They’re alleging the chair vote in Brookhaven was tilted due to lastsecond appointments by Schaffer to elect his candidate of choice. Some within the Suffolk Democrats are raising similar alarms regarding upcoming Islip and Huntington votes. In other local news, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) and law enforcement officials announced the Operation Safe Stop program. It’s a regional initiative to increase enforcement and public education to protect schoolchildren who are boarding or disembarking school buses. Penalties for passing a stopped school bus with flashing red lights can
vary, but generally, the first conviction carries a $250-$400 fine, the second conviction within three years carries a $600-$750 fine, while the third or subsequent convictions within three years carry a $750-$1000 fine. Officials note that based on the severity of the infraction, imprisonment can follow. The Suffolk County Traffic and Parking Violations Agency, the Suffolk County School Bus Safety program issued about 83,000 citations for vehicles illegally passing school buses in 2024 and more than 73,000 in 2025. Statewide statistics say that about 50,000 motorists illegally pass school buses every day. “We rely on our dedicated bus drivers and transportation staff to keep them safe, but that responsibility extends to every motorist that we share the road with. No appointment, no meeting, no destination is more important than the life of a child,” said Patchogue-Medford School Superintendent Dr. Patrick Harrigan. Suffolk County Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport) said, “... young children and teenagers are not as developmentally mature to spot dangers and traffic, or to be able to judge distance and speed.” Credit - Matt Meduri
White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia (R-CA) was fired after five days on the job, making her the shortest-serving White House Press Secretary in history. Zacharia’s first press conference last week showed her visibly nervous. She’s also been scrutinized for referring to herself as a lawyer, despite having never been a licensed attorney. White House communications aide Daniella Alvarez is reportedly stepping into the role in an acting capacity. Meanwhile, President Trump’s approval rating has hit record lows as found by Reuters/Ipsos, New York Times/Siena, and CNN. His rating has been tracked between 31% to 36% approving. His ratings are among the worst for any post-WWII president heading into a midterm environment, even worse than those of George W. Bush (R-TX) before the 2006 blue wave and about on par with Harry Truman’s (D-MO) before the good Republican year of 1950. Over 10 million ballots have already been cast in the 2026 midterms. Places like Harris County, Texas (Houston), are seeing record turnout, while Trump continues to campaign in deep-red states. At a rally in Park City, Kansas, this week, Trump announced an $8 billion Harvest Fuel Relief Program for farmers’ diesel costs, and said that permanent, year-round ethanol sales hinge on Senator Roger Marshall’s (R-KS) re-election. Trump’s midterm rallies continued to into deep-red territory like Montana and Kentucky, while medium-red and battleground states also saw him visit: Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina. Democrats also placed their first ad buy in Mississippi this year. A state of more static and boring politics, Democrats believe they have an outside chance of winning a Senate seat in the Magnolia State for the first time since 1982. A Republican House candidate in Nevada is battling claims of stolen valor. David Flippo (R), running for an open House seat in northern Nevada, has been spotted wearing a hat that included a Bronze Star with two V-shaped emblems, despite having received a standard Bronze Star award for a tour in Iraq. The last-minute shakeup makes the GOP nervous in a Trump +14 seat that includes Reno and Carson City. NV-02 is the only seat held by Republicans in the Silver State’s congressional delegation. Reports are emerging that Elon Musk ordered a slowdown of Starlink and the related Starshield technology that allows Ukrainian drones Internet access. Some reconnaissance and combat drone missions were cancelled due to the greatly reduced Internet speeds. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that Ukrainians could die without critical access. The report now spawns a deeper question: should one, unelected person have such control over the battlefields of the world? American teacher Stephen Hubbard was released from Russian custody on Wednesday as part of a deal between the Putin and Trump administrations. He had been detained by Russian forces during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, and in 2024, he was sentenced to six years and ten months in prison on charges of acting as a mercenary. Hubbard lived in Japan for 25 years and in Cyprus
for a short time before settling in Ukraine with his partner. Hubbard (pictured left) was not released in a conventional prisoner swap or through reciprocal U.S. concessions. Trump stated that Hubbard was freed on a direct appeal to Vladimir Putin, courtesy of diplomatic talks in St. Petersburg by U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff. Wiktoff called Putin a “humanitarian” in response. Hubbard is expected to be flown to Texas for medical treatment due to health concerns. Canadians in the province of Alberta overwhelmingly voted to remain part of Canada in a Monday night referendum. Alberta, Canada’s most conservative and oil-rich province, has seen growing interest in a separatist movement since the COVID-19 Pandemic. They’ve generally had negative views on Ottawa policies, but now see President Trump’s remarks about their nation as a reason to remain part of a united Canada. Alberta makes up about 11% of Canada’s parliamentary districts (called ridings). After the 2025 elections, which were largely seen as a snap against Trump’s perceived encroachment on Canadian sovereignty, Albertans gave 34 of their ridings to the Conservative Party, 2 to the Liberal Party, and just 1 to the New Democratic Party. State Credit - Facebook
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Candidate Spotlight Thursday, October 22, 2026
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Brianne Wakefield By Matt Meduri
Brianne Wakefield is making her first run for public office to unseat two-term Senator Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood) in a district that encompasses most of the towns of Islip and Babylon. Brianne Wakefield sat down with The Messenger for this candidate spotlight interview. Q: What is your professional background and how does it equip you for the Senate? A: I have a degree in business management, but what I believe truly qualifies me is that I’ve been very involved in the community since I moved to Bay Shore over 10 years ago. I’m in my third year chairing the Suffolk County Human and Sex Trafficking Subcommittee, which is part of the Suffolk County Women’s Advisory Board. When I started, I was unaware of how much trafficking was happening locally. Some people have the same mindset - “it’s not happening here.” It’s one of the most prominent issues right now. It’s mostly happening to women in their 20s and 30s who have mental illnesses and/or drug addictions. Traffickers usually target vulnerable women and they’re known to groom underage girls by targeting these women in groups. The committee has been about outreach and awareness. A coffee shop just opened up in one of the hotspots, so I had the Human Trafficking Investigation Unit come in and train the employees on what trafficking looks like. They now know what to look for and can discreetly hand cards for resources to people who they think might be victims. We did the same thing for the moms at a ballet school and got the Suffolk County Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (FRES) Department to implement training. As far as the information from our most recent meeting, the Town of Islip had the highest trafficking numbers in Suffolk County. Amazing work is being done to tackle the issue, but it’s still there. My husband and I started WayMaker Church in our home during the pandemic. It’s grown since then; we now have Bible studies in our home. We’ve also hosted a dozen exchange students over the years.
to be replaced or heavily modified. I live near a crime hotspot; I see firsthand the consequences. I’ve sat at victims’ roundtables and heard victims’ stories. Some of them don’t want to call the police anymore because they think there’s no consequences. On immigration, I do think localities should be cooperating with ICE. However, my view on ICE, in general, is that we should absolutely be deporting those with criminal records, but those who have invested themselves in the community need to be helped. I believe in having that compassion because I have seen the fear in people in this district. We had somebody who stopped coming to our church because they were afraid to leave their house. When you don’t have communication and cooperation between local and federal authorities, that’s where you get issues. In Brentwood, I’m hearing that even the kids are threatening to call ICE on one another. You can’t have a community doing well when there’s that kind of fear. I’m not against ICE, but we need to make sure we’re not doing an injustice to the communities. On energy and environment, as a Christian, we have to take care of our environment. I fully believe that. I can’t stand the idea that Republicans are against clean energy, but I believe we need to use wisdom and sound Q: What is the state of the State in your view? judgement when we decide these things. We can’t just A: The State is quite broken right now and needs jump the gun. I don’t agree with the Climate Leadership some healing. The next five-to-ten years are going to be and Community Protection Act’s (CLCPA) current very important depending on how we handle things. timelines, but I do believe we need to be moving in that The cost of living is outrageous, people do not feel direction. I think we should be leveraging every resource we have, including our natural gas reserves Upstate. safe, and I think the State has a lot of work to do. Everybody is struggling financially right now, and we’re feeling it especially as a family of eight on one Q: What plans do you have for SD-04 if you income. With six kids, will any of them be able to afford are elected? a home? I think about it all the time. When we bought A: The biggest problem is NY-111; it’s a nightmare. our house, it was $150,000 in 2014. We built an addition Over the course of this campaign, I’ve learned just how for another $100,000; now, it’s worth around $700,000. much anger there is in the district over NY-111, especially We can’t pretend affordability will be an easy thing to fix, in the Central Islip-Brentwood area. People have been but we have to start making steps in the right direction. telling me it hasn’t been paved properly in 20 years, but One plan I have is to introduce a first-time they’ve been told it will be fixed over and over again. My homebuyer’s tax credit for primary residences. That priority would be to get that full, near-ten-mile stretch would be for five years to offset some of the costs. I would completely repaved the right way. The patches just also like to introduce a senior citizens’ tax credit because keep making it worse and worse. I’ve talked to residents they can add accessibility improvements in their homes. who had to pay to get their cars repaired because the It’s difficult for seniors to stay in their homes when they damages were so bad from the condition of that road. need stair lids, guardrails, shower walks, etc. I go to all the police precinct meetings in the district; I don’t think the State is handling crime very well with bail reform gets brought up a lot. The police are very the bail reform and discovery laws we have. They need frustrated, and the community is definitely frustrated.
Candidate: Brianne Wakefield Residence: Bay Shore Occupation: Stay-at-home mom Office Sought: New York State Senate, District 4 (SD-04) Prior Campaigns: None Party Lines: Republican, Conservative Notable Endorsements: Right to Life
Q: Do you have any plans for the state at-large if you are elected? A: I definitely want to be focused on human and sex trafficking. I would like to implement a curriculum into the schools so that by the time kids are in middle school, they can learn the signs of what trafficking, grooming, and the vulnerabilities look like. On other issues, I’d like to get my feet wet and get a feel for how to best approach them. Q: Where do you fit into Albany politics as the Democrats are seeing the rise of the DSAs, and how would you advise your caucus on shifting politics going forward? A: I’m going to bring my Christian faith into it. I want to work with everyone and see my community thriving. I’m willing to work across the aisle to get things done. When I go door-to-door, it’s frustrating to be written off as a MAGA Republican simply because I’m a Republican. I think the incumbent Senate Republicans do want to work more with Democrats. I just think that that doesn’t end up happening because of one-party rule. Overall, it’s sad we’re in the place we are with so much political division and hatred. Q: What is your favorite quote, motto, or work ethic? A: Before you become a great leader, you must first become a great servant. Jesus says in the Gospel of Matthew, “the last will be first, and the first will be last.” It’s important to be a servant first. Q: How do you like to connect with your community and what do you do in your spare time? A: I attend many community/civic events. I learn a lot at the police precinct meetings since you can hear people’s concerns and frustrations. Those meetings bring up points that aren’t even necessarily policerelated. Otherwise, I hear a lot from the community at church. I’ve been attending Brentwood Chamber of Commerce meetings as well. In my spare time, I love music; I play the piano and sing. We love all the parks and our family’s yearly tradition is going to Brightwaters Farms. The Messenger thanks Brianne Wakefield for her time for this interview.
Long Island Locavore Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
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Pumpkin Treats Made for Small Hands and Paws By Nancy Val | Long Island Locavore A pumpkin on the porch welcomes fall. A batch of pumpkin treats in the oven brings everyone into the kitchen-little helpers eager to stir and four-legged companions hoping something might come their way. This season, bring home an extra pumpkin from the farm stand and turn it into something worth gathering around. Homemade purée provides the starting point for Chef Paolo Fontana’s baked pumpkin donut holes and a batch of simple dog biscuits. There is measuring for small hands, cinnamon sugar for happy fingers and a little something for the family pup.
Pick Your Pumpkin For carving, choose a classic jack-o’-lantern pumpkin with a broad face and steady base. Mini pumpkins brighten a mantel, while deeply ribbed Cinderella pumpkins make handsome centerpieces. For cooking, look for sugar or pie pumpkins, which offer sweeter flesh and a finer texture. The pale tan Long Island Cheese pumpkin, named for its resemblance to a wheel of cheese, is a local heirloom with smooth, sweet flesh well suited to baking. Plain pumpkin also supplies fiber, potassium and vitamins A and C-a welcome bit of goodness before the cinnamon sugar comes out.
Small Hands, Sweet Memories For local Chef Paolo Fontana, the kitchen has always been more than a workspace. His children grew up alongside the sounds, rhythms and aromas of a working kitchen. “My kids grew up among the clang of pans and the hum of service, and like most children, they wanted to be part of the action. To keep them busy and smiling I relied on easy, delicious recipes like this one.” His baked pumpkin donut holes give little helpers plenty to do: measure flour, stir batter and help fill the mini muffin pan, with a grownup handling the oven. Once the bites have cooled enough to handle, the finishing touch is a tumble through cinnamon sugar “snow.” The result is more than a plate of sweets. It is sugar-coated fingers, flour-dusted counters and an afternoon spent making something together. “Recipes like these don’t just make sweets,” Chef Paolo says. “They make memories.”
Homemade Pumpkin Purée Keep this base plain so it can be used in both the donut holes and dog biscuits. Yield: Approximately 2-3 cups from a 3-pound pie pumpkin Ingredients: 1 sugar or pie pumpkin, about 3 pounds, or a manageable section of Long Island Cheese pumpkin Directions: 1. Heat oven to 375°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. 2. Scrub the pumpkin under running water and dry. On a stable cutting board, carefully halve it beside the tough stem. Scoop out the seeds and stringy center.
3. Place halves cut-side down on the baking sheet. Roast for 45-60 minutes, or longer for thick pieces, until the flesh is easily pierced with a fork. 4. Cool until comfortable to handle. Scoop the flesh into a food processor and blend until smooth without adding water. If watery, drain in a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl in the refrigerator until thick and spoonable. Storage: Refrigerate promptly in a covered container for 3-4 days, or freeze in measured portions. Thaw in the refrigerator and drain excess liquid before baking.
Pumpkin Biscuits for Furry Paws While the cinnamon sugar treats are for the children and grown-ups, these plain pumpkin biscuits give the family dog something of their own. Little helpers can cut shapes while a grown-up supervises. Ingredients: 1/2 cup plain pumpkin purée 1 large egg 2 Tbs. unsalted peanut butter, free of xylitol About 2 cup whole-wheat flour, plus extra for rolling Directions: 1. Heat oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment. 2. Stir together pumpkin, egg and peanut butter. Gradually add flour until a firm, rollable dough forms. Add a teaspoon of water if dry, or a little flour if sticky. 3. Roll to 1/4-inch thick and cut into small biscuits appropriate for your dog’s size. 4. Bake for 25-30 minutes, until firm and lightly browned under neath. Larger biscuits may need additional time. 5. Cool completely before offering a small piece.
Created by Nancy Vallarella, who brings farm-fresh recipes and local food knowledge to Long Island through farmers’ markets, demos, and more. For more recipes or to connect: DM @lilocavore495 on Instagram or email lilocavore495@gmail.com
Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Donut Holes (Baked) From Chef Paolo Fontana, makes about 24 mini donut holes
Ingredients (Donut holes): 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 1.5 tsp baking powder 1/2 tsp baking soda 1/2 tsp salt 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp ground ginger 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted and slightly cooled 1/2 cup light brown sugar 1 large egg 3/4 cup pumpkin purée-not pie filling 1/2 cup milk 1 tsp vanilla extract Suggested cinnamon sugar coating: 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1.5 tsp ground cinnamon
A note for the pups: Use plain pumpkin and check the peanut butter label. Xylitol, sometimes called birch sugar, is poisonous to dogs. Choose ingredients your dog already Directions: tolerates, skip added spices and sweeteners, 1. Heat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a and offer these as occasional treats. 24-cup mini muffin pan. Storage: Refrigerate in a covered container 2. Whisk together flour, baking powder, for up to five days or freeze extras. baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg With little hands at the mixing bowl and and ginger. paws waiting nearby, a pumpkin becomes the 3. In a separate bowl, whisk melted beginning of a family afternoon. Expect a little butter and brown sugar. Add egg, flour on the counter, a little sugar on the floor pumpkin, milk and vanilla; and plenty of volunteers for the next batch. whisk until smooth. 4. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients just until combined. 5. Divide among the prepared cups, filling each about three-quarters full. Bake any remaining batter in a second batch. 6. Bake for 10-14 minutes, until the tops spring back lightly and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let rest in the pan for five minutes, then transfer to a rack. 7. Mix granulated sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Once the donut holes are comfortably warm to handle, lightly brush with melted butter and roll in cinnamon sugar.
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Candidate Spotlight Thursday, October 22, 2026
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Craig Herskowitz By Matt Meduri Craig Herskowitz is making his third consecutive run for office in Suffolk County. He was soundly defeated in 2024 by Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James) and came up just short in a County Legislature race last year. Now, he’s running for this open Assembly seat that takes in the north shore of Huntington and parts of Commack, Deer Park, Baywood, Brentwood, and North Bay Shore.
Candidate: Craig Herskowitz Residence: Northport Occupation: Attorney ffice Sought: New York State Assembly, O District 12 (AD-12)
Craig Herskowitz sat down with The Messenger for this candidate spotlight interview. Q: What is the state of the State in your view? A: We’re hurting; affordability is a big issue. With the gas prices and utility bills, housing, and healthcare, everything is becoming less and less affordable. Long Island has the highest property taxes in the country. Our tax dollars are going out but they’re not coming back. My focus will be working with leadership to bring hundreds of millions of dollars back into the district to alleviate our property taxes and costs. Safety is a big issue. I think the changes to bail reform providing judicial discretion in cases where someone commits a second offense while they have an open case - have been helpful to prevent repeat offenders, particularly people with mental health issues, from returning to the streets. People are tired of going to CVS and seeing everything put behind glass; it’s really obnoxious and hurting businesses. We need to support our local law enforcement. The pendulum has swung on immigration. Biden mishandled the border crisis, and Trump won on immigration. When I was campaigning two years ago, people would ask why the State is spending money housing migrants and giving migrants debit cards. Now, they think we don’t have due process and they don’t like these random ICE raids that are hurting families, communities, and the economy. I’m seeing people being randomly grabbed off the streets at bus stops or 7-Elevens. They’re being detained for months before they ever get to see a judge. These are people who have no criminal record, they have work authorizations, they’re paying taxes, many of them came in legally on visas, many have open asylum claims, and some even have legal status. I had one case where a U.S. citizen was arrested by ICE because they thought his passport was fake. He was detained for one month and then released. We obviously want a secure border and to get rid of people who are dangers to the community, but we don’t want to hurt farmers, restaurant workers, people who have been here for years and have families here. We’re spending billions on detaining people who are not threats and are contributing to our economy. If there is a judicial warrant, local law should fully cooperate with ICE. I think the problem is now ICE operating with administrative warrants, in which case, I think local law should not be cooperating with ICE. The cases are civil in nature. If you enter the country without inspection, you’re being charged with a civil violation. You’re not being criminally charged. I understand the purpose of Sanctuary policies because we want to encourage people who are in the country illegally to cooperate with law enforcement, to report crimes, and not be arrested solely because of their immigration status. Technically, if you enter the country illegally, you can be charged with a federal crime, but no one ever is. Our local law enforcement should not be going after actual criminals, not civil crimes. I was an attorney for the FBI and my friends who are still there say they’re being told top federal investigations into criminal activity to assist ICE with random raids. On energy, I would love to see this push towards renewable energy, and these big breakthroughs in nuclear. There’s a lot of pushback against wind because of the myth that it kills whales, and there’s a lot of pushback on battery storage. We obviously don’t want battery storage in residential areas. With energy prices and War in Iran, we obviously need to pursue renewable energy.
rior Campaigns: New York State Senate, District 2 P (2024), Suffolk County Legislature, District 18 (2025) Party Lines: Democratic, Working Families otable Endorsements: Suffolk AME, NYSUT, N CWA 1199, NSYNA, Sierra Club, NYSBCTC, NYS AFL-CIO, LiUNA
Q: What are your plans for AD-12 if elected? A: The Deer Park area has been part of my concern; it’s been ignored for many years. I want to repair Deer Park Avenue and revitalize the area around it, replicating what Deputy Speaker Phil Ramos (D-Brentwood) did in Bay Shore. I want to bring in millions of dollars to repair all the facades on the storefronts to make it a beautiful, walkable community. I’ve got commitments from leadership to bring that money in. For the Islip section of my district, they’re really scared of ICE enforcement and the Supreme Court basically saying that racial profiling is permissible in these cases. I want to work closely with Ramos to support them. That Deer ParkBaywood-Brentwood area is blue-collar; a lot of them voted for Trump, but they’re not MAGA. People there want money for sewers, money to repair the ball fields and schools. For Huntington, we have nitrates and forever chemicals that are seeping into the water. I’ll be looking to bring funds there to improve the water quality. The Town got a low rating on our water quality recently. Q: Do you have any objectives for the State at-large if elected? A: When I was with the FBI and the Department of Justice, I led financial investigations into terrorist organizations and recovered millions of dollars used to compensate victims. I led the Bernie Madoff victim remission case, which allocated $4.4B to victims. I worked at JPMorgan Chase doing financial investigation, and I was the chief legal advisor for all financial matters in New York under Governor Cuomo. I oversaw the Department of Financial Services, the Department of Taxation and Finance, and the NYS Insurance Fund. I know how Albany works. I want to work with the Senate Finance Committee and the Ways and Means Committee to bring back the money to Long Island. As a financial expert, I’m really hopeful of bringing money to the district and making sure there’s no waste, fraud, or abuse. There could be more done with investigating Medicaid fraud. I worked those cases while at the DOJ. I want to send a strong message that anyone who commits these financial crimes that hurt the State or our people, they will not profit from it, and their assets will be seized. I’d also like to look into consumer fraud. Consumers don’t have lobbyists to advocate for them.
mishandled it. I understand the desire for bail reform - you don’t want someone sitting in Rikers Island for six months waiting for a court date for a petit larceny charge - but at the same time, you don’t want someone who is shoplifting from CVS to be let go and then shoplift again. I was a criminal defense attorney. I saw 99% of people who are released on their own recognizance show up for court, no problem. They took their cases very seriously. But when you have that 1%, those repeat offenders, mainly because of mental health issues, it’s a very, very bad thing. That the Legislature did not want to create new bail-eligible offenses really hurt us on Long Island. I think leadership is not going to be too happy with some of their DSA members likely to get elected. I’ll also stand up to the far-left on Israel. I’m not happy with a lot of what Netanyahu is doing, but I think the rise in anti-semitism is a problem. I’m not opposed to Israel, but opposed to the Israeli government. I’ve had people on the left say they won’t support because I won’t call what Israel is doing to Palestine a “genocide.” Our tax dollars should stay in New York, but we still want to support our allies. Governor Hochul (D) is more of a moderate like me. She’s not an extremist. Q: You lived in the City up until recently. How do voters know you identify with their way of life and can work for them? A: I lived in Manhattan a year before I ran for State Senate (2023) since I was an administrative law judge in Brooklyn. I had to resign to run for office and moved back to Northport. I was born in Huntington, graduated from Northport High School (‘99), spent my summers on Long Island while studying in D.C., worked for Congressman Steve Israel (D-Dix Hills), worked for the Suffolk D.A.’s office. Q: What is your favorite quote, motto, or work ethic? A: “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t worry about who gets the credit.” - Harry S. Truman
Q: How do you like to connect with your community and what do you do in your spare time? A: I’ve met with some of the civic groups and chambers of commerce in my area. Knocking doors, I see the pendulum shifts from two years ago to now. The environment is totally different. People who thought Democrats are soft and weak now see the Trump Administration as cruel and corrupt. They love Long Island, they want to stay on Long Island, but they’re struggling to stay on Long Island. I find it hard to turn my brain off. I enjoy going to the Q: Where do you fit into a changing Democratic Party gym and trying new restaurants in the district, but I’m excited that has had full control of Albany since 2019? that once I’m elected, I’ll be able to accomplish a lot for this A: The reality is, our Republican representatives are not district. going to have a seat at the table. I’ll be able to push back against some of the extreme-left agenda and I can do it more The Messenger thanks Craig Herskowitz for his time for effectively than a Republican will be able to. We need to elect strong, Long Island suburban Democrats to represent us this interview. because we can’t allow the far-left in the City to govern the State. When I was working for the State, I joked that bail reform was going to turn me into a Republican; the Democrats really
Candidate Spotlight Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
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Thursday, October 22, 2026
Dave Weber By Matt Meduri Northport Village Trustee Dave Weber is making his first run for higher office in perhaps Suffolk’s most competitive Assembly seat this year. He’s looking to succeed three-term Assemblyman Keith Brown (R-Northport), who is retiring. Dave Weber sat down with The Messenger for this candidate spotlight interview. Q: What is your professional background and how does it equip you for the Assembly? A: I have an associate’s degree in criminal justice. I was a police officer in Daytona Beach, Florida. I left Florida to move back to New York to run the family boatyard in Northport. I would work the summers here and work for Daytona Beach Police in the winters for two years. It was interesting trying to juggle it back and forth. The department there and I parted amicably and am still subject to rehire if I ever moved back there. At Seymour’s Boatyard, we have 15 employees who manage all the moorings, we offer launch services, and deal with three U.S. Coast Guard-verified launches, which are passenger-carrying vessels. Those are inspected vessels that go through strict code testing every year. It’s my job to make sure they’re all compliant. We also have a petroleum station to sell gas, and it’s my job to ensure we’re in compliance with State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) regulations. We also store and repair vessels and prepare them for the summer seasons. Seymour’s Boatyard is a historic boatyard that has been in continuous operation since 1923. I was able to get the yard listed on the New York State Historic Business Registry. My first career was a regular patrol officer in Daytona Beach. It gave me the background to understand what police officers need on the street. I started with the Northport Fire Department in 1996; I’ve been a volunteer firefighter for 30 years. I rose through the ranks and am now an ex-captain. That helped me learn how to budget and I understand what the first responders need to get their jobs done. As a Village Trustee in Northport, I’ve been through two administrations and I’ve been able to grow into the role. I’ve been successful in championing an LED street light program, which has saved the Village tens of thousands of dollars since we started the program 5 years ago. I was also able to get the Village over $150,000 in grants, at no cost to the taxpayers, for a community basketball court and a harbor walk study. That study looks at the water’s edge along the commercial area of Northport, mainly where the parks and the parking lot are. We’re looking at different factors: stormwater runoff, floodwaters, rising tides, and coastal erosion. We’re studying the best way to harden the shoreline and prevent flooding and erosion. I’m Chair of the Local Waterfront Revitalization Plan (LWRP), which is going to be the blueprint for commercial or recreational access to the waterfront, whether it’s enjoyed by boaters or pedestrians. We’re looking at Northport now and where we’d like to see it go. The LWRP is a State-run program that will probably take about 5 or 6 years, and it will lay out the future potential development along the harborfront from one end of the Village to the other. Most of the Village’s waterfront is residential; those areas won’t be touched. We’re not looking to do any development or construction along the waterfront; there’s really no ability for that. But we’re looking at a buffer along the waterway from the parking lot to prevent oil, gas, and other fluids from the cars leaking into the harbor. Parking is a big problem in the Village. I’m working to redesign Lot A to capture rainwater runoff and redesign the parking for more spaces. A project like that doesn’t end in Northport, though. It can be done in Deer Park, such as a park walk in a low-lying area that needs drainage. I know the players in the DEC and the State agencies. That’s a benefit residents would get by electing me. There will be no learning curve. We know from the Long Island Sound Study that Northport’s harbor is not the cleanest right now. We’ve been fighting back C and D letter grades for many years. It’s mostly attributed to nitrogen leaking into the harbor from septic systems or stormwater runoff. These are things I’ve been trying to make headway on for six years. We’ve already hooked up 40 houses to the sewer plant and we’re looking to get the lowest-hanging fruits off septic and onto sewers so we’re not polluting the harbor. It’s something I look forward to continuing if I’m elected. I also run the Oyster Project in the Village, making sure we grow oysters in the harbor, transplant them into the Sound so they can be cultivated. We also grow oysters through recycling shells to help the reef formation in
Candidate: Dave Weber Residence: Northport Occupation: Small business owner Current Office: Northport Village Trustee (elected 2020, re-elected 2024) Office Sought: New York State Assembly, District 12 (AD-12) Party Lines: Republican, Conservative Notable Endorsements: Suffolk Law Enforcement Coalition, New York League of Conservation Voters the bay. Those oysters aren’t for consumption, but for marine habitat regrowth. We also manage the Kelp Program which we grow in the off-season and it can later be used for fertilizer. Q: What is the state of the State in your view? A: It’s in poor shape. People are fed up. I’ve knocked on thousands of doors over the past nine months and the concerns are always affordability and utilities. I’m a thirdgeneration Northporter and I worry for my three sons about how they’re going to be able to stay here on Long Island and raise a family. I don’t see them being able to purchase a house here. I want to be able to give my kids the opportunity I and my parents had. We need more affordable housing and programs or tax credits for first-time homebuyers. On energy, I believe in an all-of-the-above approach. I think offshore wind has a purpose, but it won’t solve all our problems. Nuclear will also help, but we need multiple types of energy. What we don’t need is unfunded mandates coming from Albany telling us what we need to do or demanding things by certain deadlines. It’s difficult for these utility companies to put in these programs forced down their throats. The electric school bus mandate, for example, didn’t have a practical timeline. They had to pump the brakes on that and slow it down. On crime, I defer to what law enforcement needs to do their jobs. I know many of them are frustrated because they can arrest someone and that person will turn around and be out the same night because of bail reform. The judges need more discretion to look at individual cases and determine whether a person is a repeat offender, not just because of the seriousness of the crime. That’s where the revolving door comes from. In the long run, that individual is costing taxpayers by coming in and out of the system. Let’s hold them accountable for what they’ve done. I’ve been a police officer before and since I’ve worked in local government for the last 6 years, I know that we need intercommunication between agencies. It’s of the utmost importance. We should not be taking away the ability for local agencies to cooperate with federal authorities on immigration. There are illegal immigrants in this country who have gotten NYS driver’s licenses and commercial licenses. It has created issues. I think allowing communication solves a lot of problems. Lessening that communication creates more chaos. Q: What are your plans for AD-12 if elected? A: I have a good relationship with the fire chiefs in Deer Park and Brentwood. They need grants for equipment and various needs; they’re always talking about being underfunded. These are relationships I can continue to grow if I’m elected - that includes the school districts and civic groups as well. One of my big objectives is beautification. I see the work they’re doing along Deer Park Avenue and I’m certainly willing to help them with them. I think we can make the area, whether by the Tanger Outlets or the other commercial spaces, safer and improve them with signage and lighting. I think we can also relocate some of the utilities and improve the infrastructure as well. I’ve been talking with people in East Northport about a proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) Facility. I’m not in support of Albany taking control of projects. I think our local communities know what they need and what they can handle. They should be the ones controlling construction projects in their districts, especially something like a BESS facility. Even though it’s a State issue, I think Albany dictating what to do is not the right way forward. I’m not in favor of those BESS facilities right now. I think they should be banned
from Long Island. Long Island is an environmental hotbed as it is. We live on sand that’s right on top of the aquifer. If there’s an emergency or some kind of catastrophic incident, it could damage the aquifer. These facilities should be Upstate. Q: What would be your objectives for the State atlarge if elected? A: I’m a big champion for environmental causes. Working at a boatyard for the last 30 years, I have the understanding to keep the Long Island Sound clean. I also want to continue Keith Brown’s work on substance abuse disorders and mental health. I’ve been involved in that issue as a Village Trustee, I know the treatment centers, and I attend many seminars. It’s a passionate subject for me. I hope to be on the Alcohol and Substance Abuse Committee if I’m elected. There’s not enough advocacy in the field of mental health to guide kids from high school into young adult life. They get pumped out of high school and they’re suddenly on their own. When you have a two-parent working family, it’s difficult to find time to dedicate to getting kids the right help. Q: As the politics shift in Albany, where do you find yourself in that fold if elected and what advice can you give your potential caucus? A: I’m a middle-of-the-road guy. I look outside the box for solutions to get things done. I think we are going to have a problem with the socialists in Albany, but I would like to keep them in check while not being someone on the extreme right who is just going to argue. Those sides will always butt heads and never get anything done. We don’t need that. My opponent at a debate the other week slammed his fist on the table and said we need to abolish ICE. That’s not a moderate; that’s an extremist. I’m a middle-of-the-road fiscal conservative. The State budget has increased over $100B over the last five years. How much are we going to be able to sustain with the budget going up $20B a year? It’s insane. The mayor of New York runs out of money and puts his hand out and Albany just bails him out. Q: What’s your favorite quote, motto, or work ethic? A: “You can’t help everyone, but you can help some people. And in this way everyone will be helped by doing something.” - Ronald Reagan My life has been about public service, whether it’s the Village, the fire department, raising money for the Veterans’ organizations, or working with different civic groups. We all, individually, have the ability to help somebody. We should be doing the right things for ourselves, but we can definitely help a bit collectively. And that’s how we’re able to help each other a lot. Q: How do you like to connect with your community, and what do you do in your spare time? A: Technology and social media have been a great way to get in touch with people and see what they’re saying. I’m a founding member of the Rotary Reach, which is an environmental action Rotary based in Huntington. We started that about 4 years ago. It goes along with what I’m doing in the Village. I’m a 30-year member of the Northport Chamber of Commerce as well. I do fundraising for Paws of War, based in Nesconset. I grew up on the water water. Boating is a part of my life. Weekends for me include boating on the North Shore or taking it to the ocean on the South Shore. I’m an outdoorsman; I love the sun and sand and you’ll find me vacationing or spending the summers here on Long Island. I’m also a foodie and love trying all the different restaurants across the Island. The Messenger thanks Dave Weber for his time for this interview.
Civics 101
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Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
The Necessary Standard for American Education What Happens in a Tied Senate?
This column will seek to address the long-forgotten concept of civics and how it relates to American government in general, from the federal level to the local level. This column will explore Constitutional rights, the inner workings of government, the electoral process, and the obligations and privileges of citizens.
By Matt Meduri We’re taking a break from the Constitution breakdown this week to address a growing possibility as a result of the midterm elections. The elections are just two weeks away, and while the fate of the House appears to be a foregone conclusion - the question isn’t whether Democrats will win, the question is by how much - the fate of the Senate is a much more dynamic question. Republicans are now playing the toughest defense they’ve played yet, while all but one of their offensive targets haven’t come online. Democrats, meanwhile, have the herculean task of flipping four states (net) to take control. While North Carolina is now being written off the GOP, Maine is proving to be a tougher task than expected. That leaves Democrats highly competitive in Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, and Texas - all went to Donald Trump (R-FL) by double-digit margins two years ago. All that unfolds while an Independent candidate is running a strong bid in Nebraska and Democrats have coalesced around two other candidates in some of the nation’s reddest states. There are multiple ways a tied Senate is the outcome of this election. While we’ve discussed this before, we’ll give the “Civics 101” of the possibility, and explore some more unlikely, yet still conceivable, scenarios. What is a Tied Senate? The Senate is considered tied when neither party has an outright majority. The constitutional definition of a “tied Senate” only applies to when any given vote of the Senate is split evenly between the “ayes” and the “nays.” An election outcome of a tied Senate does not necessarily mean every vote comes down to a tie, although the chances do increase, especially with polarization as a factor. Article I, Section 3, Clause 4 of the Constitution empowers the Vice President as the President of the Senate. The Vice President’s most crucial role is casting tie-breaking votes; there have only been 309 tie-breaking votes cast by the Vice President in history. The first was cast by John Adams in 1789 and the most recent was cast by Vice President J.D. Vance (R-OH) earlier this year. Former Vice President Kamala Harris (D-CA) holds the record with 33 tie-breaking votes, followed by John C. Calhoun (1825-1832) with 31. John Adams holds third place with 29 between 1789 and 1797. Only four times in history has the Senate been “tied” by partisan composition, three as a result of elections and one as a result of rotating vacancies. In 1881, Democrats and Republicans each held 37 states; each party had one Independent Senator caucusing with them. Then-Vice President Chester A. Arthur (R-NY) cast 3 tiebreaking votes and presided over what was called the “Great Senate Deadlock.” From 1953 to 1954, the Senate was split nine times due to multiple deaths and one resignation. Then-Vice President Richard Nixon (R-CA) cast 8 tie-breakers. After the 2000 elections, the Senate was divided 50-50 until June, when Vermont Senator Jim Jeffords left the GOP to become an Independent and caucus with the Democrats. It remains the sole instance in history in which an incumbent effectively switching parties flipped control of either the House or Senate. Then-Vice President Dick Cheney (R-WY) cast 8 tie-breaking votes. A power-sharing agreement was negotiated after Jeffords switched parties. The most recent tied Senate was after the 2020 elections. To date, 38 different vice presidents have cast tiebreaking votes; 12 have never cast any. Tie-breaking votes can be especially contentious during Cabinet confirmations. Only two have ever occurred, one for Betsy DeVos (R-MI) as Education Secretary in 2017 and the other for Pete Hegseth (R-TN) as Defense Secretary in 2025. Internal Politics In a tied or closely divided Senate, Independents and party mavericks have more power than ever. It’s what led to former Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV), arguably the Senate’s most conservative Democrat at the time, becoming dubbed the “most powerful Joe in America” while Biden was in the White House. For Trump, the most notable mavericks include Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), and Rand Paul
(R-KY). That said, as Democrats appear favored to gain Senate seats this cycle, what’s more certain is the Trump agenda will face serious, if not impenetrable, hurdles after this election. Even if the GOP limps off with a 50-50 hold on the Senate (Democrats need 51 seats to take nominal control of the chamber due to Vance’s tie-breaking authority), whipping votes will be the most important job on the Hill come January. Likeliest Path to a Tied Senate Assuming Democrats come up short in some of the Republican-held seats and only flip three seats while the GOP flips none, control of the Senate remains with the Republicans. That pathway effectively guarantees North Carolina flipping blue, and the path of least resistance right now appears to be Maine and Ohio. Democrats in the past have been wrong to count Susan Collins out in Maine, where retail politics goes strong and Collins is the last Republican standing in once one of the reddest states in the country. That Collins is performing better in polling now than she was in 2020 - she went on to win by 9 points that year - gives Democrats pause in putting all their eggs in this basket. Assuming Maine is out of the picture, Democrats seem to be poised for an upset in Alaska, while the GOP is preparing for the very real possibility that Texas finally flips blue for the first time in decades. If Democrats only pick up three seats, the most powerful people in the country become Collins (assuming she wins), Murkowski, Paul, and Senator John Fetterman (D-PA). For politicking for 2028, Senators can take advantage of the gridlock to position themselves as the voices of reason either to the parties or to the media and voters, or they can give themselves significant sway in brake-checking legislation. Senators Jon Ossoff (D-GA) - who appears likely to win a second term in November - Rand Paul, Ted Cruz (R-TX), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ) are indicating or have been speculated to be candidates in 2028 and will likely elevate themselves in the event of a split Senate. The map above shows what we think is currently the likeliest path to a contested Senate. The highlighted stripes show what seats would have to flip in November to make this possible. The Independent Question There are only two Independents in Congress: Vermont’s Bernie Sanders and Maine’s Angus King. Both caucus with the Democrats and don’t present regular surprises in that regard. For 2026, Independents Dan Osborn in Nebraska, Brian Bengs in South Dakota, and Todd Achilles in Idaho are running spirited campaigns in some of the nation’s reddest states. Osborn almost won in 2024, albeit against a milquetoast opponent and with an unexpected surge at the end of the race. The fundamentals of this year appear to be
making it a race, but commentary suggests Osborn’s best chance was in 2024. However, there’s still a realistic chance he wins. The scenario we call the “Nebraska Nightmare” unfolds with Osborn winning that fourth seat Democrats need to take control. We currently see it as highly unlikely Independents flip Idaho and South Dakota, but we’re testing that scenario for the purpose of this column. Independent Senators are not required to caucus with a party, and Osborn has repeatedly claimed he would not caucus with either party. He’s pitching an independent “Fulcrum Caucus,” in hopes other Independents win their races this year or that some partisan incumbents have second thoughts next year. But Independent members of Congress don’t get dutiful committee assignments, seniority, or legislative oversight. The Independent is quickly reminded of requiring a record with which to return to his/her constituents. In that scenario, we assume Osborn would caucus with the Democrats, since they bowed out in 2024 and this year to support his candidacy. Whether he’d be a reliable vote with the Democratic Party is an entirely different question. Osborn already has a significant level of power in this scenario. If he does not caucus, he is still a factor in a powersharing agreement that will be facilitated by all 100 members. When Jim Jeffords became a Democrat-caucusing Independent in 2001, Senate leadership brokered a deal that gave both parties equal membership of committees and shared resources, among other deals. At that point, Osborn effectively becomes the most powerful person in Washington. If Democrats flip three seats, Republicans flip none, and if Osborn wins in Nebraska, he can essentially shut down the Senate by digging in his heels on whatever party deal attempts to be made and he could find unique leverage for the Fulcrum Caucus if the parties don’t budge. The internal politics there, however, says that the institutional relationships and seniority of some members of the Senate would likely see a bypass, but not before some intense negotiations and chess-playing by party leaders. Osborn has much more weight to his prerogatives if two or three other Independents win their elections in November. The hegemony of both parties would likely test this nascent coalition’s loyalty and strategy, but the numbers would present an unexpected headache that could significantly delay progress in the Senate. Since the Constitution says nothing about party organization, only Article I, Section 3, and Article I, Section 5, would apply to how they navigate the disruption: the Vice President casts tie-breaking votes (Section 3), and each chamber of Congress determines the rules of its own proceedings (Section 5). There are no constitutional definitions of party caucuses, a “majority party,” and the process of selecting leaders. And should the unlikeliest scenario occur - Independents sweep three or more contests in November and neither party has a clear majority - it would be unparalleled in American history.
Candidate Spotlight Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
15
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Senator Monica Martinez By Matt Meduri
Senator Monica Martinez made a comeback in 2022 by narrowly winning an open seat after being defeated for re-election in 2020. She was re-elected by 2024 by 13 points and serves as Suffolk’s only Senator in the Democratic majority.
Candidate: Senator Monica Martinez Residence: Brentwood Office: New York State Senate, District 4 (SD-04) Elected: 2022, re-elected 2024
Senator Martinez sat down with The Messenger for this candidate spotlight interview. Q: What is the state of the State in your view? A: Although we have accomplished many positive things for our communities, there’s so much more that needs to be done. Families on Long Island are being squeezed by energy bills, housing costs, and taxes, and they want Albany to focus on affordability and public safety instead of ideology. I give the State credit for real progress, including universal childcare funding and school aid, but progress only counts if people feel it in their budgets. My job is to keep pushing for policies that grow our economy and make life more affordable for working Long Islanders. On energy, my philosophy is that we need an allof-the-above approach that keeps the lights on and bills down. I want renewables to keep growing, but I acknowledge that natural gas will remain part of the mix as a bridge for the time being while the grid and infrastructure are built out. This year’s budget replaced the 2030 target of a 40% cut with a goal of a 60% reduction by 2040 and kept the 2050 mandate in place. I believe a timeline adjustment was necessary given what ratepayers are facing. On crime, shootings and violent crime are trending in the right direction, and I credit our police and the state’s investments in GIVE, SNUG, and community violence programs. I also understand why people are skeptical when the way numbers are reported changes, so I support clear, consistent public data. On bail, I believe the law should keep evolving based on evidence. Judges need the discretion to protect public safety, and I’m open to further fixes if the data shows gaps. On immigration, I want local police focused on local crime, and I want violent offenders held accountable. The budget bars local agencies from entering 287(g) agreements, but cooperation on criminal matters and judicial warrants remains. I think that framework is reasonable, and I want clear guidance, so departments are not left in legal limbo. I believe we can strengthen public safety and continue to lower crime, but Washington needs to do their job and pass a comprehensive immigration reform. Q: The State’s spending has incontrovertibly ballooned. Does the State have a spending problem? A: Our state has a discipline problem, especially in areas where costs are growing faster than our ability to manage them. I have voted over 300 times against tax increases, and I support strong reserves and tougher oversight of how dollars are spent. Families on Long Island budget carefully, and Albany should too. However, the impact of the federal budget cuts imposed on us last year is real, especially when it comes to health care. We need a federal government that will partner with us in providing more and better coverage to New Yorkers instead of moving in the opposite direction.
Committees: Local Government (Chair); Aging; Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Disorders; Commerce, Economic Development, and Small Business; Education; Transportation; Disabilities; Joint Senate Task Force on Opioids, Addiction, and Overdose Prevention; Legislative Women’s Caucus; Select Majority Task Force on Minority and WomenOwned Business Enterprises Party Lines: Democratic, Working Families
Q: What are some of your accomplishments for SD-04 over the last two years? A: I measure my work by what changes in our neighborhoods. In recent budgets, I’ve brought home funding for public safety and community needs that matter most: $1 million for a new radio system and $313,000 for an ambulance for the Central Islip Fire Department, protective equipment for the Deer Park Fire District, a new parking lot for the Wyandanch Fire Department, and $250,000 for fencing at the Brentwood train station. I secured $2 million to help revitalize Deer Park, and funding for parks, pool, and tennis court projects across the Town of Babylon. I’ve also directed grants to the organizations that care for our neighbors, including Island Harvest, Long Island Cares, the Crime Victims Center, and PRONTO of Long Island, and schools in our district saw record Foundation Aid, an average increase of 7.6%. Q: What have your statewide prerogatives been over the last two years? A: Direct support professionals (DSPs) are a top priority for me because they make it possible for people with developmental disabilities to live with dignity in their own communities. Too many of them are underpaid and leave the field. I’ve stood with colleagues and advocates in calling for stronger investment. This year the Senate’s budget proposal called for a 4% increase for nonprofit providers, and the final budget delivered 2.7%, along with a 5% rate increase for Family Care and new money for services and housing. That’s progress, but it’s not the finish line, and I’ll keep pushing to stabilize this workforce. Q: The notable shift in the Democratic Party has given many voters pause. You’ve billed yourself as a more moderate, pragmatic member of the party. What are some runaway bills you’ve brake-checked in the last two years, or votes on which you took a more maverick position, and where do you fit in the fold of the Democratic Party in Albany should the party transition more towards the DSAs?
A: I’m a pragmatic Democrat, and I’ve worked across the aisle to get things done for Long Island. When a bill would raise costs for families or hurt small businesses, I’ve said so and voted accordingly. If my party moves further left, I’ll keep representing SD-4 first and judge every bill by what it does for our neighbors. Q: What is your favorite quote, motto, or work ethic? A: “To seek, to strive but never to yield.” Alfred, Lord Tennyson Q: How do you like to connect with your community and what do you do in your spare time? A: Being out in the community, not only hearing from them, but listening and providing necessary resources for individuals to succeed. In my spare time, I relax with my furbabies who give the best unconditional love especially after a long and stressful week. I also spend time with my loved ones and friends. The Messenger thanks Senator Martinez for her time for this interview.
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Local History Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Got Milk?
By Ellyn Okvist, B.Sc. Milk was readily available to us since the first settlers in the 1600s. Individual families owned their own farms and provided milk with no difficulties based on the fact there was plenty of grazing land available, and others were producing the needed produce adjacent to their farms. It was a tough way to make a living, and as land began to become congested, it became more difficult. As a customer, you could stop at the dairy farm and purchase your milk. Usually, you would bring your milk cans, which were made of many different materials such as wooden churns or shaped metal and then go your way. As time progressed, the dairies began to deliver milk to their customers by horse and wagon. The customer would fill their milk pitcher, or container of their choice from the large container in the back of the wagon either by dunking or ladle. Again, the hard work was mounting, especially with customers on an almost 24-hour round-the-clock schedule. To supply more efficiently and eliminate the large milk container stored in the back of the wagon, the dairies began to use experimental glass jars and bottles, with no patent issued due to the unstable bottles in the early 1870s. The first successful commercial milk bottle was made by Thatcher in 1884. Lake Ronkonkoma had many small dairy farms, and farms that sold “one cow” amounts of milk daily. Local farmer Charles Hawkins (pictured right) sold milk from his farm on Gatelot Avenue. We have historic records of some local dairies: Lake Ronkonkoma: Maier’s Dairy, 19271928; Eklunds Dairy, 1940s Lake Grove: Dellwood Dairy, 1961; Presske’s Dairy, 1930-1958; Wilkinson Egg Farm Centereach: Williams Dairy Farmingville: Edith Calhoun; Carl Enshin; Farmingville Dairy Holbrook: Johnson Dairy; Koppleman; Lyon’s Farm Dairy; John Mullen; Storbel Dairy, 1930s; Weisman Dairy, 1930s; Weseman & Pedersen Dairy, 1930s. Other nearby dairies included Central Islip, Sayville, and St. James. Dr. Hervey Dexter Thatcher was a Potsdam druggist who had witnessed an incident when a little girl’s doll stirred him to devise an invention which has had a profound effect on the lives and health of hundreds of millions of Americans. That invention was the milk bottle. One hot summer day in 1884, Dr. Thatcher, 48, was walking along Market Street when he saw a milkman’s wagon pull up to the curb to make a delivery. On the wagon was the traditional 40-quart dip can and ladle with which the milkman was dispensing his wares and collecting three cents a quart. While the milkman was busy, the little girl dropped her soiled ragged doll into the milk can. When the delivery man noticed it, he calmly fished it out and continued on his rounds. Dr. Thatcher also continued on his way; his brain was stirred by an inspiration. Long an advocate of sanitation in the handling of milk, he had a sanitary milk pail made in the previous year which covered the vessel permitting the milk to be drawn directly from the cow to the pail without contacting any impurities. The doctor’s inspiration, born of that chance scene on Market Street, was the milk bottle. He turned out a wooden form, first on a lathe in his home. Dr. Thatcher realized the value of publicity. He knew that a plain undecorated bottle would have small appeal to the customer. He had an idea of the design he wanted and took his wooden bottle to a local woodcarver, Henry Batchelder. The result was a sketch of his image, the doctor milking a cow and using his own sanitary pail. Above the drawing were the words “Absolutely Pure Milk;” beneath was the slogan, “The Milk Protector” (pictured right). There was no firm in Northern New York then able to produce the bottles, so Dr. Thatcher took his model to the Whitall-Tatum Company in New
Jersey, manufacturers of ink bottles, demijohns, and glass insulators. The first bottles were hand-blown because there were no machines available at that time. While the first bottles were being produced, Dr. Thatcher was looking for a market. He could interest no milk dealer in Potsdam, so he turned to Ogdensburg, the largest community city in the county. With his brother-in-law, Harvey Barnhart, the inventor had $7,000 sunk in his plan. He was desperate for an outlet for his untried invention. Few inhabitants of Ogdensburg owned their own cows and there were three milk dealers who had a virtual monopoly on milk deliveries in that city. They were Wilcox, Hutchunson, and Daniels. Dr. Thatcher first approached Wilcox, who at first objected on the grounds that it would make more work and cost more money. Finally, he agreed to buy 400 bottles at 10 cents each and pay $50 royalty for their use. With this comparatively heavy investment sunk in untried bottles, Wilcox loaded a few bottles in his wagon on August 6, 1884, and set off for the city. They rested on a bed of straw and were capped with makeshift wooden plugs carved by Batchelder. As a result, the bottles jostled and spilled most of the milk before Wilcox completed the 2.5mile journey. Wilcox had to return to his farm that day and start all over with the traditional can and ladle. Indignant, he sat down that night and wrote Dr. Thatcher as follows: “My dear Doctor: You must think a man is a fool to be driving around the streets with milk in glass bottles. It is a failure and will never amount to anything.” Thus did the milk bottle industry made its start in New York, the North Country. Collecting old milk bottles is a popular hobby, and we wonder how many of the original early milk bottles fill those collections (pictured top).
Small Business Spotlight Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
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Gina Lollo – North Shore Properties Realty By Diane Caudullo
Every year, Gina Lollo prepares to host her annual client appreciation event around the holidays. A way to say thanks to every buyer and seller that has trusted her and her boutique real estate brokerage team at North Shore Properties Realty. With 20 years in the real estate business and the last 11 owning her own brokerage, Gina has mastered the art of building real, long-lasting relationships. This is clearly evidenced by all the clients that attend long after the transaction is over and come back year after year. Gina has attended numerous weddings and baptisms as a guest of clients who became friends. At one of the recent appreciation events, a Christmas tree was decorated with an individual ornament of every house they ever sold, and each of the guests were invited to go find their ornament, the house they called home at some point in time or currently. Every home sale is unique because the people are unique. No two situations are ever identical. The needs of every buyer and seller always add to the nuances of the sale. Early on, Gina experienced a challenging task of selling a horse property known as Smoke Run that for some reason wasn’t selling with other brokers. She knew she needed a unique approach and asked the owner to tell her about the history of the house. More than dimensions and bedrooms, she wanted to really know the house. From that moment on, every showing and every advertisement became more of walk through time which led her to attract the buyer that connected with the house’s true story, its personality, and its sense of belonging. It was such a successful campaign it made the pages of Newsday. Gina prides herself on a few things. First off, the reason she went away from corporate real estate-type organizations and into a boutique brokerage was that she knew whatever the unique situation was for each house, she could mold her own approach to it, not be bound by corporate one-size-fitsall sales tactics. She also has a full-service, all-hands-on-deck approach to preparing the home to put its best face forward for sale. She incorporated family members such as her husband, Dominic, who owns a handy man business so she can rely on him when repairs need to be made in the best interest of the buyer.
Her sister-in-law Tina Lollo, also a real estate agent, came on board early on and in addition to selling, manages the 12 agents they have on their team. Gina says it is a team approach; there is no competition amongst them. This allows Gina to oversee her clients with all the extra things that almost always come up, such as cleaning, decluttering, and staging. She believes by addressing more issues early on it allows the house to sell for its highest value, and although many agents may say they all provide similar services, Gina does not sub it out. They handle a lot of it in house, so homeowners aren’t dealing with multiple subcontractors or services and not having payments going everywhere before the sale. Gina is confident that her brokerage delivers the stellar service in the end that they promised in the beginning. Apparently, her clients, both buyers, and sellers agree, as she enjoys repeat business and referrals from more than 70% of her clients. Earlier in her career she was a behavioral therapist for developmentally disabled people and still has a heart for helping this community of people. Gina is also very active in the Port Jefferson Lions Club. The brokerage sponsors and gets involved with many events such as the Dragon Race in Port Jefferson and the 3 Village Electric Parade. Gina’s idea of downtime is finding and taking on the next big project whether it be for a buyer, a seller or the community. You can learn more about Gina and North Shore Properties Realty at https://northshorepropertiesrealty.com. Her office is located at 175 Main Street, Setauket. You can reach her at (631) 625-4500.
Messenger Perspectives
18
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Bringing the Most Expensive Gift By PJ Balzer
This past weekend was my youngest niece’s third birthday. You probably wouldn’t be surprised to hear that she requested Bluey as the theme for her cake, her gifts, and party favors. As we slowly pulled up to my sister’s house for her party, the very first thing my wife and myself could clearly see were four excited children waiting patiently while staring out of the front window. When they saw our car pull up and park, the frantic jumping, giggling, and playful hiding began. They had apparently been anticipating our arrival the whole day and were acting as if the party had finally arrived. My wife and I have never been the family members to show up with the biggest box and most memorable gift. There’s nothing at all wrong with doing that, but for us personally, it just hasn’t been in our budget or capabilities. We bring something and make sure its presentation is appealing to a child’s eye. Glitter, sparkles, colorful tissue paper, and cool gift bags usually assist us with that. But even with all of the glitter, sparkles, colors, and outward presentation, that’s definitely not why the children wait for us and are found jumping in the window when we arrive. There’s another gift that we bring that causes that. The fondest memories I have as a child were specific moments in time. I think back
often to gatherings, sights, smells, sounds, and the warm feeling that they gave to my heart. It was that feeling I felt on the Fourth of July as my uncle lit the barbeque and retrieved his firework box from inside. It was my cousins arriving on Thanksgiving with the traditional desserts and an extra set of clothes to play soccer in. It was the way my grandfather made home fries on a Saturday morning after a Friday-night sleepover. It was sitting around the old antenna radio on Christmas Eve listening to the “Santa Tracker.” It’s these beautiful, nostalgic moments in time that are impressed into my heart and memory forever. Before I blink twice, my nieces and nephews will be where I am now - God willing, of course. While they are young now, that’s also changing a little each day. Time certainly doesn’t wait for anyone. It ticks by even when we wish it would slow down. Before I know it, they’ll be teenagers with sports schedules, work responsibilities, and girlfriends or boyfriends. Shortly after that, they’ll have families of their own and will be busy with their own children. We only have a few short years to make lasting memories with them before “real life” sweeps away their childhood, playfulness, and such innocence. We try to remember this the few times a month, if that, that we get to spend playing with them. Right now is the time and age to create memories that hopefully they’ll remember forever. So, with no hesitation we roll around on the floor with them and let them jump on top of us. We color and paint, play dress-up, and chase them around outside. I play one-versus-one against my nephew in soccer, while my wife gets her own fashion show from my fashionista niece. I usually lay next to him on the couch after our soccer game to watch him play his Nintendo Switch. We eat cookies, do scavenger hunts, play hide-and-seek, listen to their stories about school, and dance with them in the kitchen. My wife and I are willing to look totally foolish and wake up sore and exhausted following day, all for the sake of seeing them jump behind the window each time we arrive at their house. As much as I do remember my brand-new BMX bike with mags on the back or seeing my new He-Man castle sitting under the Christmas tree that morning in 1987, the most unforgettable memories I have were when the irreplaceable gift of time was given. Time is the gift that you can’t replace, earn back, budget in or try to exchange. Time is the gift that costs the giver much, a piece of their own life. Maybe that’s why it’s the gift that’s so impactful for years and generations to come. Time is one of the greatest gifts and assets we’ve all been given. Use it wisely.
(631) 269-6421
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Overview - AMAC The Association of Mature American Citizens
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Hollywood Lawyers Perverting Justice By Betsy McCaughey | AMAC Newsline
The civil trial of the seven Cornell University fraternity men is already being turned into a media spectacle with almost no chance of fairness to the accused unless the court shuts down the theatrics pronto. This is a case basically about the actions of eight college kids, but it has an all-star cast of legal titans, with Thomas Giuffra lawyering for the female accuser. Giuffra has raked in millions of dollars representing women accusing Harvey Weinstein and Sean “Diddy” Combs of sexual assault. Mark Geragos, who has represented Combs, NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick, and Hunter Biden, is acting as what Giuffra calls a “shadow member of the defense,” appearing on TMZ, while his daughter, Teny Geragos, an established lawyer in her own right, represents one of the accused. These big-shot lawyers are on the case because deep-pocket Cornell is also one of the defendants. Civil suits are about money, not sending anyone to jail. Jane Doe, the accuser, is firing off written statements to CNN and other media outlets claiming she was “raped” and “brutalized” in the Chi Phi fraternity house. But New York state law shields her with anonymity. Public officials can’t release her name unless the court orders it. The anonymous Ms. Doe is awash in accolades. Actress Florence Pugh called Doe “so unbelievably powerful” and “so strong-willed.” Nonsense. There’s nothing powerful about hiding your identity instead of standing by your claims. Meanwhile the seven accused young men -- all named in the complaint filed on Sept. 16 -- are being dragged through the mud; one was even gotten fired from his job. Giuffra could have omitted their names, calling them John Doe No. 1 through John Doe No. 7. In fact, Giuffra spared certain Cornell faculty and administrators who are also defendants, calling them John Does. But with the frat men, he went for the jugular. Last week, lawyers for one of the accused male students asked the court to put a stop to the trial by publicity “to ensure that the litigation occurs where it belongs, in the courtroom, rather than through an ongoing public relations campaign.” They warned of “improper influence upon the prospective juror pool.” The request cited examples of Doe and Doe’s attorney asserting that she was incapable of consent and that defendants had engaged in a cover-up and disposed of evidence, facts that should be established in a courtroom with witnesses cross-examined. The defense lawyers requesting the gag order asked that it be applied to both sides, an evenhanded approach. But Friday, Judge Phaedra F. Perry-Bond summarily rejected the request, offering a lot of blather but no real substance. She claimed that the request is a “’side show’ meant to muddy the waters and distract from the merits of the claims.” She added, “there’s nothing stopping defendants from demonstrating through the course of litigation” that the statements made in the press are untrue. That’s like saying “the sky is blue.” The result is that Doe is free to attack the defendants by name, but they are muzzled from naming her. The judge’s ruling leaves Giuffra free to continue playing the press like a fiddle. Even before filing the suit, he had provided information to a Cornell Daily Sun reporter, ensuring she was, in her own words, “really prepared” when the story broke. On Tuesday, Giuffra was at it again. The New York Times ran a front-page story about a letter from Doe, delivered by Giuffra to the Cornell University
Senate, asking the body to condemn the university administration for its inactions. He’s trying to get a judgment against Cornell in the court of public opinion before the trial even starts. This civil case is just beginning. There’s time to right the ship and provide justice. First, look for one of the defendants to request that Doe be identified. Her active engagement with the press should automatically forfeit her right to anonymity. Secondly, pressure is building for the defendants to also face criminal charges and, if convicted, long prison sentences. But the decision should be made based on evidence, not politics. Ithaca District Attorney Matthew Van Houten says
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criminal charges were not brought in 2024 because “(n)othing in Doe’s original statement indicated she was drugged without consent or had sex against her will.” According to Van Houten, Doe’s statement to police in 2024 says that “each time Jane Doe asked to stop the sexual conduct, the sexual conduct stopped.” These facts are omitted from the civil complaint. Doe’s experience at the Chi Phi fraternity house was horrible. But a jury will decide who is responsible for the tragedy that night. That’s the American way -- an impartial jury presented with the facts. Not Hollywood lawyers calling the shots on television.
S T A G E
SEP 10– OCT 25 U P
N E X T
By William Goldman Based on the Novel by Stephen King
JAN 14–FEB 28 M
NOV 12–DEC 27 C H I L D R E N’S
SEP 26–OCT 25
T H E A T E R
Frosty NOV 21–DEC 27
Bits & Pieces
20
WORD OF THE
Week
Etymology:
1640s, from Greek dēmagōgos “popular leader; leader of the mob,” from dēmos “common people” (originally “district,” da-mo- “division”) + agōgos “leader,” from agein “to lead.” Sources: Merriam-Webster, Etymonline.com.
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
SUDOKU
DEMAGOGUE noun Pronounced: /dem·uh·gahg/ Definition:
a political leader who appeals to popular prejudices and who makes false claims and promises in order to gain power.
Example:
“She presented herself not on core issues, but as a demagogue to criticize the incumbent.”
Synonyms: agitator, firebrand, rabble-rouser Antonyms: reconciler, placater, mediator
See bottom left for the answers (please don’t cheat!)
This Week in History October 24, 2008:
Bloody Friday: Many of the world’s stock exchanges experience the worst decline in their history, with drops of around 10% in most indices.
WORD WHEEL
October 22, 1879:
X
E A
B
Thomas Edison perfects the carbonized cotton filament light bulb.
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.
H
October 23, 1941: Walt Disney’s animated film “Dumbo” is released.
October 25, 1978:
“Halloween”, directed by John Carpenter, starring Donald Pleasence and Jamie Lee Curtis in her film debut, is released.
October 27, 1938:
DuPont announces its new synthetic polyamide fiber is called “nylon.”
C October 28, 1919:
October 26, 1881:
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral: The most famous shootout in the Wild West occurs between lawmen, including Wyatt Earp and the Cowboys, with Tom and Frank McLaury and Billy Clanton killed.
The Volstead Act is passed by Congress, establishing a nationwide ban on alcohol, despite President Woodrow Wilson’s (D-NJ) veto. Source: Onthisday.com.
Bits & Pieces Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
NATIONAL 3 children and 1 teacher were killed in school shooting, Bend, Oregon. A chemical tank exploded in North Toledo, Ohio, and leaked chemicals. 1,000 residents in a 1-mile radius were ordered to evacuate. The Supreme Court blocked President Trump’s order to restrict access to surgeries and “gender-affirming” care for inmates in federal prison. Vivek Ramaswamy (R), who is running for Governor of Ohio, released a controverisal attack on his opponent. The ad featured Amy Acton’s (D) estranged mother calling her daughter a liar. Plans cancelled to livestream the live execution of Nidal Hasan, Fort Hood shooter, after backlash from both parties and evangelical leaders. Meta was ordered to pay New Mexico $25B for deceiving users about privacy and content moderation on Facebook. It is the largest fine against the company. Inflation rose to 3.7%, from 3.4% in September, prices outpace wages. The U.S. and Israel are drafting plans for renewed strikes on Iran after the midterm elections. The FAA has cleared Boeing’s 737 Max 10 aircraft into service after about a decade after its unveiling.
STATE A retired NYPD detective was charged with murder in a road rage incident on the George Washington Bridge. Congressional candidate Brad Lander (D) detained by the IDF in West Bank while volunteering with Palestinian farmers. Later released. Governor Hochul signed a bill to quadruple the State tax credit for volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) was announced to open November 2 to aid 1.5 million New Yorkers amid escalating fuel prices. The first meeting was held of the exploratory committee to bring the 2042 Winter Olympics to Lake Placid and NYC. Former Mayor Michael Bloomberg has spent about $80M towards Democratic House candidates. A Bronx couple are accused of starving their 3-year-old to death. The girl’s brother is also malnourished and hospitalized.
LOCAL The Suffolk County Water Authority received $4.55M in State funds to support three water treatment projects. Construction underway for new live fire-training structure at Suffolk County Fire Academy, Yaphank. $3M capital project will simulate various scenarios from apts and multi-family homes to industrial settings and motels. Officials are expected to announce $5M in State funds for Suffolk’s first Ronald McDonald House in Stony Brook.
WORD SEARCH
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Around Town
22 18
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 22, 2026
Continued from front cover
Town of Islip Welcomes Eight Cadets to Training Academy
Executive Director of the Islip Arts Council Retires After 18 Years of Service
The cadets began a robust 14-week-long Town of Islip Academy led by NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) certified instructors and has been built from the ground up to better prepare recruits and current officers for service in the Town and beyond. As a point of pride, the DCJS has recommended the Town’s academy to other law enforcement agencies. “We are so fortunate in the Town of Islip that our Public Safety Division is comprised of individuals with the skills and resources necessary to build, grow and conduct its own in-house training Academy,” said Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip). Classroom instruction focuses on law, ethics, communication, daily defensive tactics, as well as de-escalation, Narcan, CPR, First Aid training, and more.
Legislator Steven J. Flotteron (R-Brightwaters), along with many friends, family and colleagues, gathered to celebrate and honor Lynda Moran on her retirement following 18 years of dedication, vision, leadership, and unwavering commitment serving as Executive Director of the Islip Arts Council. The Council hosted a “A Gallery of Gratitude” in honor of her many accomplishments over the years at Shandon Court in East Islip. Ms. Moran has made high-quality cultural arts programs available for a diverse population in varied artistic disciplines (many free of charge) to seniors in the community. In addition, she has served on boards of local community organizations such as a Board of Trustee for the East Islip Library from 1991 to 1995; is a member of the Rotary Club of Islip from 1993 to present; serves on the Citizen Arts Advisory Board for Suffolk County from 2007 to 2026; served on the Splashes of Hope Board of Directors for 10 years; member of the East Islip Historical Society from 2008 to 2026; and is a member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization from 2015 to 2026.
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L.I. Ducks Featured In ‘Best of Long Island’ Voting The Long Island Ducks have been nominated for six different awards in this year’s “Best of Long Island” competition, presented by FourLeaf Federal Credit Union. Fans allowed one vote per person per day for each category through Sunday, December 15th by visiting BestofLongIsland. com/voting, selecting the section and award the Ducks are nominated in and then clicking “VOTE” next to the desired nominee. QuackerJack has been nominated as Best Mascot in the Arts & Entertainment category as well as Best Team Mascot in the Sports & Activities section. QJ has garnered a record 16 Best of Long Island awards and was recently named the Atlantic League’s Mascot of the Year for the fourth time (2015, 2017, 2023, 2026). QuackerJack is an active member of the Long Island community, visiting fans at schools, little leagues, holiday parades, hospitals and many charity events. He also serves as the President of the Ducks Kids Club, presented by FourLeaf Federal Credit Union. Fairfield Properties Ballpark, the home of the Ducks, has been nominated in the Sports & Activities category for Best Family Amusement Place. The ballpark welcomed over 300,000 fans to Ducks games in 2026. Long Island led all MLB Partner Leagues in total attendance for the sixth consecutive season and led the Atlantic League in attendance for a record 20th time. The “Duck Pond” has also now hosted a league record 730 sold out crowds all-time as well. Fans were treated to an exciting season of Ducks baseball, complete with exciting promotions to celebrate America’s 250th Birthday, and was the site of the Ducks clinching victory of the 2026 Atlantic League Championship. For a 19th consecutive year, the Ducks have been given a teamspecific honor in the Sports & Activities section – Best Long Island Duck. Fans can vote for one of 15 members from the 2026 Ducks to receive
this honor. Should it be Manager Lew Ford, who led the Ducks to a league-best 80-46 record during the season? Or could it be Team MVP Jorge Bonifacio, who set franchise records for home runs (30) and RBIs (108). Outfielder River Town earned last year’s title. In the Food category of the contest, Fairfield Properties Ballpark was nominated for Best Hot Dog. Fans enjoyed this ballpark favorite, served in delicious Martin’s Potato Rolls, during all 66 home games and additional events in 2026. Finally, the Ducks have been nominated for Best X (Formerly Known as Twitter) Account from Long Island in the Arts & Entertainment section of the competition. The Ducks account (@LIDucks) provides fans with the most up-to-date information about all things Ducks baseball. Over 15,300 followers receive the latest news, promotions, game highlights and so much more by following the team on X.
Smithtown Messenger - Brookhaven Messenger - Islip Messenger - Thursday, October 22, 2026