Smithtown Messenger Jan. 8, 2026

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Thursday, January 8, 2026 ~ Volume 138 ~ Issue Number 8 ~ $1.00

GOP’s ‘Picc’ for P.O. Anthony Piccirillo Named 21st Presiding Officer

By Matt Meduri Monday, January 5, saw the annual reorganization meeting of the Suffolk County Legislature. In addition to adopting the rules and schedules for the year, three new Legislators took their seats at the horseshoe, while Republicans elected a new Presiding Officer and Deputy Presiding Officer.

Due to former Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey’s (R-Lindenhurst) term limits, not only was his seat open, but the Legislature needed a new leader.

Hauppauge’s auditorium was standing room-only to welcome the twenty-first Presiding Officer of the Suffolk County Legislature, Legislator Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville).

Continued on page 4

Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) is sworn in on Monday in Hauppauge (Credit - Matt Meduri)

Wehrheim Begins Third Term

By Matt Meduri Smithtown Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) was sworn in for a third term on Tuesday afternoon, marking another four-year stint at Town Hall that includes an ongoing and ambitious overhaul of the Town’s assets and facilities.

Wehrheim was re-elected in November, taking 58.60% of the vote to Rosemary Griffin’s (D-Kings Park) 33.26%. According to the Suffolk County Board of Elections, 1,706 write-in ballots were cast, making up 8.14% of the town-wide vote. Griffin had suspended her campaign in July, citing “personal reasons”, according to Smithtown Democratic Committee Chair Phyllis Hart. The committee formed a write-in alliance with term-limited Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga).

Supervisor Wehrheim (right) sworn in for a third term by Clerk McCarthy (left) (Credit - Town of Smithtown)

FULL STORIES ON:

Mazzarella Elected Formica Takes Seat Deputy Presiding Officer at Legislature Page 5

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Smithtown Pet of the Week: Shiloh Page 15

Continued on page 10

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Messenger Papers

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 8, 2026

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

Sunday Funday: Shadows & Surprises at Sweetbriar Nature Center, Smithtown February 1, 1:00 PM

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

Be My Valentine: Seashell Relief Sculpture with Anna Chan at Gallery North February 6, 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Route 110 Comic Show at 110 Bingo Hall January 18 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM Fearless: The Taylor Swift Experience at The Suffolk January 25 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM DRUM TAO – The Best at Staller Center for the Arts January 31 7:00 PM to 9:00 Pm Sweet and Treats Expo at Great South Bay Brewery, Bay Shore January 31 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Valentine Craft Fair at Charles B Wang Center February 7 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM The Tragedy of Hamlet at Staller Center for the Arts, Stony Brook February 13 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM Hot Cocoa Crush 5K LI at Eisenhower Park Field 2 February 21 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM Long Island Pet Show 2026 at Suffolk Federal Credit Union Arena, Brentwood February 28- March 1, Times may vary

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Library News

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 8, 2026

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Suffolk Matters Thursday, January 8, 2026

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

The GOP’s ‘Picc’ for P.O. Anthony Piccirillo Named 21st Presiding Officer

Continued from front cover

Since 2020, Piccirillo has Suffolk County Republican represented the Eighth Legislative Chairman Jesse Garcia (R-Ridge) District, which includes Bayport, hailed Piccirillo’s ascension to Bohemia, Holbrook, Oakdale, Presiding Officer in a social Sayville, and West Sayville within media statement.

Islip Town, and parts of Holtsville “Presiding Officer Anthony within Brookhaven Town. The area Piccirillo brings deep has seen a tectonic rightward shift institutional knowledge and over the years, seeing its workingtested leadership to this role,” class, blue-collar communities go said Garcia. “His service as Chair from solidly-blue households to a of Government Operations and ruby-red landscape. the Environment, Parks, and Piccirillo earned county-wide Agriculture Committee, as well recognition for his leadership of as his leadership of the Select the investigative committee that Committee that investigated probed the causes of the crippling the cybersecurity breach under cyberattack in 2022. He’s also Steve Bellone, the previous developed a profile as Chair of the Democrat administration, Environment, Parks, and Agriculture demonstrates his command of (EPA) Committee, as well as Chair the issues and the seriousness of the Government Operations, with which he approaches Personnel, and Information oversight and governance.”

Piccirillo (left) sworn into office accompanied by Islip Town Councilwoman DawnMarie Kuhn Technology Committee.

Garcia also hailed the GOP (R-Bohemia) and Piccirillo’s mother (Credit: Matt Meduri) But first, County Executive Ed caucus’ accomplishments since Romaine (R-Center Moriches) taking control of the horseshoe He was subsequently sworn into office, in 2022. delivered the traditional address to the Legislature at accompanied by his mother and brother. the start of their year.

“Since taking the legislative majority for the first Piccirillo gave his inaugural speech from the center time after 16 years, Republicans have delivered “We face great challenges, from sewers to getting our fair share of state and federal funding, to making of the horseshoe, stating the Constitution of the results. The Republican Majority has added more sure public transportation sees the light of day,” United States “limits power, protects individual liberty, cops, more detectives, and more prosecutors to keep Romaine told the Legislators while reflecting on his and reminds us that government exists to serve the residents safe,” said Garcia. “The GOP has reallocated people, not the other way around.” own experience with two stints in the Legislature. resources properly, like funding crime fighting tools “Together, we represent communities that like Shot Spotter. A safer Suffolk is the foundation of a As Romaine starts his third year in office, he took pleasure in not vetoing a single bill that came from expect results, demand accountability, and deserve stronger and more affordable Suffolk.”

Hauppauge over the last two years. He also reiterated leadership that puts people before politics,” said Islip GOP Chairman and Assemblyman Doug Smith his commitment to not pierce the County’s tax cap, Piccirillo, calling for “finding common ground” in (R-Holbrook) lauded Piccirillo’s promotion as well. despite increasing pension and medical insurance supporting law enforcement, being “vigilant stewards” “Anthony Piccirillo’s election as Presiding Officer is costs, courtesy of unfunded State and federal of taxpayer dollars, maintaining an “unwavering a tremendous moment for Suffolk County and for the commitment” to clean water, and continuing “historic Town of Islip,” said Smith. “Anthony has been a trusted mandates.

“I need your help and your guidance to make sure investments” in preserving open space. He added friend and partner in government for many years, and that we control taxes. Not that the state has - it has his support for the County’s employees - from social his steady leadership, commitment to public safety, not. Not that the MTA has. If you ride the Long Island services and public works to crossing guards and fiscal responsibility, and integrity will serve Suffolk human resources - and called Suffolk’s sole-source County well. He understands that government exists Rail Road, you’ll find that out very quickly.”

Romaine closed by invoking his oft-repeated aquifer not just a “resource”, but a “responsibility.” to serve the people, protect our communities, and be “When I first arrived in this legislature, Suffolk a responsible steward of taxpayer dollars. I have no tongue-in-cheek assessment of government: “all County was facing a fiscal crisis. Together, through doubt he will lead the Legislature with accountability, issues of government are issues of money.”

Suffolk County District Administrative Judge Andrew disciplined leadership and tough decisions, we turned cooperation, and a clear focus on keeping Suffolk Crecca (R-Hauppauge) swore in the Legislators en the page. We stabilized our finances, strengthened County safe, affordable, and moving forward.” our bond ratings, eliminated wasteful spending, and masse before the Presiding Officer votes began.

“I think I’ve earned the respect of all my colleagues Legislator Piccirillo was nominated by Legislator Jim ended the red-light camera program that unfairly to lead this body moving into the future,” Piccirillo told Mazzarella (R-Moriches), who said Piccirillo would be burdened our residents,” said Piccirillo. “We proved The Messenger, referencing his chairmanship of two a “fully engaged” Presiding Officer and “fully informed that responsible government is possible, but we also standing committees, the cyberattack investigation about every piece of legislation” that comes to the faced harder lessons. This county once suffered from committee, and the Capital Budget Working Group. “I corruption that eroded the public trust. As Presiding think I’ve been able to show them that not only can I horseshoe.

“He is an excellent steward for our parks and Officer, I will insist on transparency, accountability, and get the job done, but I can work across the aisle and championing open space acquisition,” said Mazzarella. rigorous oversight. We will ask the hard questions, we leave partisanship to the side.”

“His role has helped us to maintain Suffolk County’s will hold hearings, and we will ensure that corruption In terms of legislative priorities, the Presiding Officer rural feel…we are now on much better footing to never again takes root in Suffolk County government.” says that it all starts at the same place: finances.

Minority Leader Richberg offered his caucus’ defend this county against future cyberattacks.”

“If you want to do things, you need the money, Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport) congratulations to Presiding Officer Piccirillo. and we need to be able to make sure we spend in a “We look forward to a constructive and professional judicious manner and we don’t bust the tax cap. And offered a second to the nomination.

Piccirillo was elected Presiding Officer in a 13-0 conversation with you and your caucus under your that’s something that I’m very happy to work with the vote, earning the vote of all nine Republicans and both leadership, grounded in mutual respect and open County Executive on,” said Piccirillo. “I think a lot of Conservatives on the horseshoe, as well as Democratic communication,” said Richberg. “It is our hope that my colleagues agree with that sentiment, that we can Legislators Samuel Gonzalez (D-Brentwood) and you will represent all of us in your capacity, and we spend money and do projects, but let’s make sure we Steve Englebright (D-Setauket). Legislators Greg look forward not only to having a seat at the table do it in a way that respects taxpayer dollars.”

Doroski (D-Mattituck), Ann Welker (D-North Sea), in words, but in action, and engaging in meaningful Piccirillo’s determination preceded him, even after Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon), Rebecca Sanin dialogue going forward so this legislature can work adjournment.

(D-Huntington Station), and Tom Donnelly (D-Deer collaboratively for the betterment of all Suffolk “Suffolk County has full-time problems and we County.”

Park) abstained from the vote. need a full-time Presiding Officer.”

Suffolk Matters Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 8, 2026

5

Jim Mazzarella Elected Deputy Presiding Officer

By Matt Meduri The Suffolk County Legislature’s reorganizational meeting was held on Monday in Hauppauge. In addition to electing a new Presiding Officer, the role of Deputy Presiding Officer was also up for a change.

That title went to three-term Legislator Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches), who was first elected in a 2021 special election for the Third District and has since secured three terms, all by decisive margins. The Third District contains Center Moriches, East Moriches, Mastic, Mastic Beach, Moriches, the Poospatuck Reservation, Shirley, and parts of Brookhaven hamlet, Eastport, Fire Island, and Manorville.

Mazzarella hails from a labor background, served on the board of the Mastic-Moriches-Shirley Library - five years as the Board President - and serves as Chair of the Economic Development, Planning, and Housing Committee of the Legislature. He also chairs the powerful Labor and Consumer Affairs Committee, serves as Vice Chair of the Education and Diversity Committee, Vice Chair of the Public Safety Committee, and sits on the Government Operations, Personnel, and Information Technology Committee.

Last year, Mazzarella delivered some landmark consumer protection bills for Suffolk. In late October, County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) signed Mazzarella’s bill that increases penalties

on dishonest and/or unlicensed contractors offering home improvement services.

The bill also strengthens the County’s licensing system and creates a digital “wall of shame” for unscrupulous practitioners who get pinched by officials.

Mazzarella was also part of a pivotal bill, sponsored by Majority Leader Nick Caracappa (C-Selden), that increases penalties on absentee landlords and LLCs who own homes stacked with families and modified outside of fire and inspection codes. The problem has been especially pervasive in the Tri-Hamlet area, the part of Suffolk in which Mazzarella was born, raised, and continues to call home.

Mazzarella succeeds Legislator Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters) as the horseshoe’s number-two.

Flotteron remains in the Legislature and continues to represent the Eleventh District.

He was nominated for Deputy by his close colleague on labor relations, Legislator Caracappa, who hailed Mazzarella as a “man of labor” who “understands the struggles of fighting for fair wages, a safe workplace environment, and having the

ability to provide for their families and futures.”

“He’s a man of integrity, honesty, and a person I know not only as a colleague, but as a person I proudly call a friend,” said Caracappa, adding that Mazzarella is a “family man first and foremost.”

Mazzarella’s nominated earned a second from newly minted Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville).

“Since taking office in 2021, Jim has been a tireless advocate for his district and a steady, thoughtful voice within this legislative body,” said Piccirillo.

“He has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to protecting our environment while standing firmly in support of public safety. Over the past five years, Jim has helped deliver meaningful results, including groundbreaking and implementation.”

Piccirillo added that the Forge River Sewer District’s status as a “transformative project” and Mazzarella’s leadership of the Economic Development, Planning, and Housing Committee have “strengthened our County’s economy and created opportunities across all communities.”

He also hailed the Moriches Republican’s

“proven negotiating skills and unique ability to find common ground, even amid differing perspectives.”

Mazzarella was elected in a 17-0 vote, with only Legislator Tom Donnelly (D-Deer Park) abstaining. He was subsequently sworn into office, alongside his wife Mary, and took his place at the center of the horseshoe, to the left of Presiding Officer Piccirillo.

Mazzarella opened his inaugural speech by thanking Legislator Flotteron for his services as Deputy Presiding Officer from 2022 to 2026, saying, “we know that Steve did his job correctly because much of his work was seamless”, and adding his thanks for “mentorship” over the years.

“I look forward to continuing my work in the areas of public safety, economic development, and education. Most importantly, and near and dear to my heart, I will continue my undying support for all hardworking men and women of Suffolk County,” said Mazzarella.

“I’m proud to take the knowledge and experience from these last fourand-a-half years and share it with the entire Legislature and the County of Suffolk,” Mazzarella told The Messenger.

“I’m going to do my best to bring people together, create cohesion, and build more bridges to ensure the success of the entire County.”

Suspect Arraigned in Christmas Day CVS Fatal Stabbing

By Madison Warren On December 25, a day intended for celebration, a 23-year-old CVS employee, Edeedson “Eddy” Cine Jr., was fatally stabbed while working behind the counter during his shift at the Lindenhurst location. The suspect, 43-year-old Lindenhurst resident John Pilaccio, was later arrested in connection with the incident.

Eddy had come into work to cover a coworker who had called out when he was stabbed in the chest by Pilaccio. He was transported to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead.

Prosecutors said the killing occurred during an attempted robbery.

According to court documents, the two men were strangers, and Eddy was not complying with the suspect’s demands. Prosecutors further stated that Pilaccio admitted to the stabbing and told investigators he was motivated by personal financial debt.

On Friday, Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina expressed frustration with CVS for not immediately complying with video-record requirements due to corporate policy, which delayed the investigation.

Pilaccio was arraigned on Wednesday after a Suffolk County grand jury returned an indictment charging him with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. He pleaded not guilty to all charges. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) stated that the top count carries a possible sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole and that his office plans to pursue an aggressive prosecution.

Tierney, reflecting on this act, said, “[it’s] just a terrible tragedy that we all peripherally felt.

So, I could only imagine what the Cine family is going through. Our condolences certainly go to them during this difficult time.”

Eddy was deeply loved by his community and family and remembered as a kind, hardworking young man who was always willing to help others. Friends and loved ones said his decision to forgo his own Christmas to cover a coworker reflected his selfless nature, a quality that has left a lasting impact on those who knew him. The loss felt by his family is both profound and unimaginable.

Kevin Catalina added, “he goes to work on Christmas and doesn’t come home. I don’t know how any parent could possibly deal with that. It is a wonderful family. He was a wonderful kid; our hearts are all broken.”

Tierney stated that the suspect has a prior criminal record and had previously served a sentence before being discharged on parole. Tierney also raised concerns about the state’s parole system, suggesting it could benefit from tighter oversight and that measures such as lifetime parole should be reconsidered to address gaps.

Counsel for the Cine family, Heather Palmore, Steven Drummond, and Joanne Squillace, also spoke about the pain and tragedy the family has endured. They stated that they and the family have faith in the prosecution team and are confident the case will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“The reality is that this occurred in a space where large corporations put profit over people, resulting in suffering for many families. And that has to stop,” Heather Palmore stated.

Along with District Attorney Ray Tierney and Kevin Catalina, counsel for the Cine family also addressed CVS’s decision not to release the recorded video footage, stating they are seeking answers about why critical evidence was not immediately turned over to law enforcement.

Counsel noted that one of the special traditions Eddy shared with his father was having his hair cut by his father, a moment the two cherished and treated almost like a ritual. It was a simple act, but one that reflected their close bond and time spent together.

Tragically, that time was cut short. However, before Eddy was laid to rest, his father was given the opportunity to give him his last and final haircut, a deeply emotional moment that allowed him one final act of love and connection with his son.

As the case moves forward through the court system, the community continues to mourn the loss of Eddy Cine Jr., whose life was taken far too soon. Our thoughts, love, and support remain with his family and loved ones as they navigate an unimaginable loss and continue to seek justice in the wake of this tragedy.

Editorial

6

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 8, 2026

The Right ‘Picc’ for P.O. “Sometimes, home-grown roots make all the difference…” read the opening line to our endorsement of Suffolk County Legislator Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) for the 2025 election.

Now, the four-term incumbent who has long been characterized by his niche, independent voice that we’ve long seen as a right fit for the Legislature, will now be leading the legislative charge for this year.

Republicans, who control the horseshoe 11-7, made their pick on Monday at their reorganization meeting in the wake of former Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey’s (R-Lindenhurst) term limitation.

Piccirillo has a tremendous prerogative at face value, and tall orders ahead, but we’re highly optimistic that he is the Legislature’s most equipped and seasoned voice on a litany of issues to fill the particularly big shoes McCaffrey left behind.

A Rising Star in Local Government Piccirillo, a third-generation Sachem graduate, is as home grown as it gets and has a [positive] George Bailey-esque element to his past. He sacrificed time in college to care for relatives and send his brother to college instead - selfless acts in exchange only for tremendous responsibilities.

Piccirillo got his start in local politics several years ago. In 2017, he came about 200 votes away from knocking off then-Legislator Bill Lindsay III (D-Bohemia), a scion of a Suffolk political dynasty who was seen as practically unbeatable.

In 2019, Piccirillo ousted Lindsay in a rematch, by a nearly identical margin by which he had lost two years prior.

Piccirillo entered the Legislature in a Democratic majority, only for the entire horseshoe - and the world - to be sandbagged by the COVID-19 pandemic. With a steep learning curve that demands time and attention, Piccirillo adapted and carved out a niche spot for himself.

Naturally, the Holtsville Republican lives in Suffolk’s mind rent-free after his leadership of the committee that investigated the crippling cyberattack in 2022, one that is considered perhaps the biggest series of missteps during the amateur administration of former County Executive Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon). Far from just an urgent matter, the remediation cost tens of millions of dollars, uncovered patterns of neglect, and gave Suffolk a significant safeguard as the Wild West of modern technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) continue to develop seemingly by the millisecond.

That, we find, is perhaps Piccirillo’s greatest claim to fame yet and uniquely molds him for a more serious brand of leadership.

Moreover, Piccirillo deserves credit for being one of the “bulldogs” on the thankfully ill-fated red light camera program. Since his arrival to the horseshoe, Piccirillo railed against the unconstitutional administrative fees tacked upon the already burdensome fines - all structured around a program fret with intersections made only more dicey under the surveillance of trigger-happy cameras.

While the push moved at glacial speed, Piccirillo got the ball rolling, proving his boldness, leadership, and effectiveness in the end.

A Welcome Philosophy For Piccirillo, government exists for one purpose: to serve the people, and “not the other way around,” as he put it in his inaugural speech as Presiding Officer. The classically libertarian-minded Republican is also known for being the horseshoe’s “bulldog”, one who’s not afraid to ask the tough questions and won’t give anyone the benefit of the doubt “simply because.”

For the new Presiding Officer, cooperation is key. He added in his speech

that he urges both parties of the Legislature to “recommit ourselves to finding common ground.”

Environmental protection, preserving Suffolk’s “suburban way of life”, and working to ensure the “next generation can afford to pursue their American Dream right here at home” are just a few of the staples not only of his Monday speech in Hauppauge, but of his philosophy approaching government in general.

It’s a welcome philosophy, especially when many elected officials, primarily Republicans, regularly remind others of Ronald Reagan’s “nine most terrifying words in the English language”: “I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.”

In the 2025 campaign, in which he was resoundingly re-elected, we argued that his intimate knowledge of the district, personability and accessibility, and near-encyclopedic knowledge of the inner workings of County government made him an obvious choice for re-election. We believe those qualities can be parlayed into putting his ear to the rail for the entire County. Steering legislative priorities and being kept closely abreast of the work of all thirteen standing committees are not for the faint of brain cells, and Piccirillo, we believe, has plenty in spades to help guide Suffolk through issues of environment, infrastructure, housing, and affordability.

A Steady Deputy In addition to the Presiding Officer’s post being filled by a worthy successor, the Deputy Presiding Officer’s post also saw a new occupant.

Three-term Legislator Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches) will serve as the horseshoe’s number-two for the next year. A Tri-Hamlet native born-and-raised, Mazzarella’s pragmatic and modest approach makes him an excellent foil to Piccirillo’s bravado.

The soft-spoken and steady-as-he-goes Mazzarella has a blended background of local labor, a series of consumer protection legislation that was passed last year, and lived experience with the precarious environmental issues of the Great South Bay. He’s also, perhaps, the Legislature’s best go-to for information on kelp farming, as he’s been part of bringing the aquaculture to the Great South Bay as part of its environmental overhaul.

Last year also brought Mazzarella a significant win not only for his own scorecard and district, but the entire County. The Forge River Sewage Treatment Plant resurrected the hopes of the Mastic-Shirley area, ecologically traumatized by Superstorm Sandy. Forge River also served as a model for the County going forward in County Executive Ed Romaine’s (R-Center Moriches) ambitious water treatment goals.

Mazzarella is also on top of reducing crime and increasing quality of life in his district, and for Mastic-Shirley, it’s common knowledge life hasn’t been the easiest there over the decades and great strides have been made. He’s also been at the forefront of a new bridge to Smith Point - a crucial choke point that offers access to Suffolk’s busiest County Park.

Excellent Timing The leadership the County is receiving in Hauppauge couldn’t have come at a better time. It will take balanced, pragmatic approaches, cordial bipartisanship, but with firm standards, and a synergy of strengths and weaknesses to continue the great work done by former leadership and get Suffolk over the next hurdle - particularly if New York State is keen on re-electing Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Hamburg) for another four years in November.

Suffolk’s home rule will need those with home-grown roots. The County Legislature has two capable skippers in Presiding Officer Piccirillo and Deputy Presiding Officer Mazzarella.

Op-Ed Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 8, 2026

7

Keeping New York Safe

By Congressman Andrew Garbarino Keeping New York and Long Island safe has always been my top priority. As Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, I take seriously the responsibility to ensure that our state receives the resources and federal partnerships it needs to stay ahead of a growing threat landscape. Twenty-four years after 9/11, New York remains the nation’s number one terrorist target.

In February of this year, a foreign national living in Brooklyn was arrested for allegedly conspiring to provide material support to ISIS and ISIS-K. In September 2024, the FBI announced the arrest of another foreign national for attempting to provide material support and resources to ISIS while planning an attack on a Jewish center in Brooklyn.

We cannot afford to let our guard down for even a moment. That is why last week’s annual Worldwide Threats hearing was so important. The threats facing our country continue to evolve, and we must be equipped to meet them. From terrorism and cyberattacks to drone warfare, the threat environment is far different from what it was even five years ago.

As a New Yorker who saw firsthand the impacts of both Superstorm Sandy and 9/11, I know the importance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) role in not only responding to natural disasters but also administering crucial grants to cities across the country, including New York City.

When FEMA announced reductions of more than 80 percent to grant funding for the New York City urban area, the consequences would have been dangerous. These cuts would have undermined the very systems that were built after 9/11 to ensure that federal, state, and local partners operate as one unified team.

New York’s preparedness model is not just about protecting our state.

It is central to the national homeland security mission. New York serves as a hub for intelligence sharing and coordination that informs threat responses across the country. Weakening that system would have left New Yorkers and Americans across the country at greater risk.

After learning how steep the final cuts were, I sent a letter to DHS asking for more information on the cuts. I was relentless in urging the White House and DHS to reverse course.

These counterterrorism grants are not abstract budgets. They are the backbone of New York’s preparedness network. Through these grants, New York City and the

surrounding region fund the capabilities they need to prevent, prepare for, protect against, and respond to acts of terrorism. For a region that remains the top terror target in the nation, these capabilities cannot be allowed to erode.

I appreciate President Trump’s responsiveness, engagement, and swift action to heed my calls and reverse those drastic cuts.

In last week’s hearing, Secretary Noem confirmed for me that “President Trump has sent more resources to New York City,” saying DHS “will continue to meet the threats head-on, because that is our mission.” The Trump administration’s decision to restore millions of dollars in grant funding will ensure New York can continue to maintain the counterterrorism and emergency preparedness capabilities that protect millions of people every day. It also reflects our shared understanding that the threat environment is changing and that our response must be strong and sustained.

I thank President Trump and Secretary Noem for working together with Congress to keep our communities safe and maintain this important partnership for New York’s security.

For New Yorkers, homeland security is personal. The people of Long Island and New York City expect and deserve a government that prioritizes their safety and works cooperatively to strengthen it.

As Chairman, I will continue to focus on that mission every day. Congress and the Trump administration must continue to work together to ensure DHS succeeds in its core, no-fail mission. With strong partnerships, clear priorities, and continued investment in security, we can keep New York safe and resilient in the face of any threat.

Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) has represented NY-02 since 2021. NY-02 includes the entire towns of Babylon and Islip, parts of the Town of Oyster Bay, and within the Town of Brookhaven, Bellport, Blue Point, Brookhaven hamlet, East Patchogue, Hagerman, Holbrook, Holtsville, Indian Landing, Mastic, Mastic Beach, Medford, North Bellport, North Patchogue, Old Mastic, Patchogue, Shirley, South Haven, Squassux Landing, and parts of Yaphank and Farmingville.

Congressman Garbarino serves as Chair of the House Homeland Security Committee and sits on the committees on Financial Services and Ethics.

The Second Congressional District Office is located at 114 West Main Street in Patchogue and can be reached at 631-541-4225.

A Farewell Message from Legislator Kevin J. McCaffrey

By Former Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey Dear Neighbor, It has been my upmost honor and privilege to serve as your Suffolk County Legislator for the last twelve years. Through that time, I have proudly represented Suffolk County’s Fourteenth Legislative District, which encompasses the Villages of Lindenhurst and Babylon, West Babylon, portions of Copiague and North Lindenhurst, and Babylon’s barrier beach communities.

As your Legislator, I made it my mission to bolster our public safety resources, bring fiscal responsibility back to Suffolk County, protect and improve our County’s great parks, ensure the economic and environmental recovery of our South Shore, and so much more.

Today, thanks to your support, I proudly feel that I have left Suffolk County in a better place than I found it. As your legislator, I sponsored and cosponsored dozens of pieces of legislation to better our community. Some of my proudest local accomplishments include facilitating an agreement with the Knights of Columbus for the restoration and operation of the historic “World War Veterans Club” property in Lindenhurst; funding the expansion of and numerous improvements to Van Bourgondien County Park in West Babylon; financially and logistically supporting numerous local groups including the Babylon Town Historical Society, the Lindenhurst and Babylon Village St. Patrick’s Day Parades; allocating millions of dollars in funding for various cultural, historic, and downtown revitalization improvement projects throughout the Town of Babylon; and more.

In 2022, I was elected by my peers to serve as Presiding Officer of the Legislature. Since then, I had the opportunity to lead the Legislature in several efforts to improve the lives of Suffolk County residents for decades to come.

With an emphasis on our environment, I proudly drafted and passed the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act, which created a long-term plan to expand and upgrade Suffolk County’s aging wastewater infrastructure. We also established a long-term funding source for wastewater improvement projects and approved numerous open space preservation expansions throughout the County.

To improve public safety and support our law enforcement, we approved increased hiring of law enforcement officers and securing additional resources for the District Attorney’s Office; reinstated the ShotSpotter program – cracking down on gun violence in our communities; crafted legislation to crack down on street racing and the use of All-Terrain Vehicles, e-bikes, and motorized scooters on our roads, parks and sidewalks; and more.

To increase transparency and accountability of our government, we oversaw the end of the controversial Red Light Camera enforcement program, eliminated public campaign financing – stopping the practice of using taxpayer dollars to fund political campaigns, and limited the term of most public Suffolk County elected officials to twelve years total.

I cannot express my gratitude enough for the opportunity to represent the residents of one of New York’s largest and most populous counties. These efforts would not have been possible if not for the tremendous strength and support of our community. From my time as a Trustee and Deputy Mayor of the Village of Lindenhurst, through the chance to serve as Legislator, Minority Leader, and lasty Presiding Officer of the Legislature, I am grateful to have served the public for the last 36 years.

Thank you for your support and opportunity to serve in this capacity.

Yours truly, Kevin J. McCaffrey Legislator Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst) represented the Fourteenth District in the Suffolk County Legislature from 2014 to 2026. The Fourteenth District includes Babylon Village, Lindenhurst, and parts of Copiague, Gilgo-Oak Beach-Captree, North Babylon, North Lindenhurst, and West Babylon.

Legislator McCaffrey served as Presiding Officer of the Legislature from 2022 to 2026.

8

News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Guatemalan National Sentenced to 15-17 Years for Attempted Assault in the First Degree Credit - District Attorney’s Office

Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney on Tuesday announced that Albaro Chacon, 38, was sentenced to 15-17 years in prison after a jury found him guilty of Attempted Assault in the First Degree, and related charges, for stabbing the mother of his children.

“Nothing about this case was easy, and nothing can undo the harm that was done,” said District Attorney Tierney (R).

“This sentence recognizes the pain endured by the victim and her children, and our thoughts remain with them as they continue the long process of healing.”

The evidence at trial established that, on November 16, 2024, the victim, who slept in a separate room from Chacon, was awoken by the sound of her bedroom door slamming open and Chacon moving toward her with a knife pointed at her chest. As Chacon tried to stab her, he told her “you are going to die here.” The victim fought to redirect the knife away from her chest and Chacon instead stabbed her three times in the arm. The victim managed to push Chacon off, while keeping him away from her twoyear-old niece who was also in the room. The victim fled the bedroom and went outside, where she flagged down a passing motorist and called 911.

Minutes later, while the victim waited for police, Chacon exited the house and approached her.

At the same time, the victim’s six-year-old son emerged from Chacon’s car and begged his father to stop. The victim then saw her five-year-old

daughter in Chacon’s car and realized that Chacon must have put them in there before stabbing her because they had been sleeping in their rooms when she went to bed.

The victim ran back into the house to get away from Chacon and saw that the floor, where she had bled profusely had been cleaned, and that the house smelled of bleach. The sheets that were on the bed where she was stabbed had also been removed by Chacon while she was outside calling 911.

When the police arrived, they placed Chacon under arrest and transported the victim to South Shore University Hospital for treatment of her stab wounds.

On November 19, 2025, Chacon was convicted by a jury heard before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr. of the following charges: One Count of Attempted Assault in the First Degree, a Class C violent felony; One Count of Assault in the Second Degree, a Class D violent felony; One Count of Tampering with Physical Evidence, a Class E felony; and Three counts of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, Class A misdemeanors.

On January 5, 2026, Chacon was sentenced to 15-17 years in prison. He was represented by Danielle Papa, Esq. This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Zachary Kelly of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Suffolk County Police Department Detective John Tighe, of the Third Squad.

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This Week Today Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

9

Thursday, January 8, 2026

National, State, and Local Temperature Checks

By Matt Meduri National

dead body” at a press conference on Tuesday.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (DMN) is now reportedly giving serious consideration to running for governor of Minnesota, which would create a vacancy in the Senate and likely a special election alongside Minnesota’s other Senate seat.

Senator Tina Smith (D-MN) is not running for re-election this year, leaving the seat open.

For the gubernatorial race, several high-profile candidates on both sides have emerged. For the Democrats, Bill Gates Jr. is the only declared candidate, while Attorney General Keith Ellison (D) and Secretary of State Steve Simon (D) are considered potential candidates.

Meanwhile, the GOP sees Scott Jensen, a former state senator who came just a few points away from defeating Walz for reelection in 2022, as well as Mike Lindell, the CEO of My Pillow.

Finally, U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) has announced she will not seek a second term.

Congresswoman Harriet Hageman (R, WY-AL) is passing on re-election to the U.S. House to vie for the open Senate seat.

Both seats are safely and reliably Republican, as Wyoming is by many metrics the most Republican state in the country. Even the bluest of waves likely wouldn’t be able to topple the GOP’s firm grip on the Equality State.

Raheem Soto contributed to this section.

State New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani (D-Astoria) gave his inaugural speech on January 1, and many have taken note of a particular line.

“We will replace the frigidity of rugged individualism with the warmth of collectivism.”

Mamdani reiterated some of his cornerstone campaign promises, such as providing free buses, rent freezes, and universal childcare subsidized by “taxing the wealthiest few.”

Mamdani is also in hot water with the Jewish community for declining to renew two executive orders signed by former Mayor Eric Adams (D-Brooklyn). One act adopted a broad definition of antisemitism.

The other prohibited city employees from engaging in movements against Israel that include boycotts, divestments, and sanctions.

Mamdani said that the order of defining antisemitism, which was provided by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), is not recognized by many Jewish organizations in the city.

“On his very first day as @NYCMayor,

Mamdani shows his true face: He scraps the IHRA definition of antisemitism and lifts restrictions on boycotting Israel. This isn’t leadership. It’s antisemitic gasoline on an open fire,” said the Israel Foreign Ministry on X, formerly known as Twitter, on January 2.

The new mayor also opted not to renew most of Adams’ executive orders, but kept several in place, including one to establish the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism.

Another he kept in place prohibits protests within certain distances of houses of worship.

Local Just before Christmas, the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) announced in a statement they have been awarded $7 million in grant funding to eliminate PFAS, or “forever chemicals.”

The grant was awarded by the New York State Environmental Facilities Corporation to support “five Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) treatment projects” to eliminate PFAS from the public water supply.

Last year, the SCWA celebrated its adherence to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) drinking water standard of four parts per trillion (ppt) - meaning the allowable limit of non-detectable PFAS that can be found in drinking water. The SCWA also met the deadline early, as the EPA set the deadline for 2031.

SCWA is already meeting the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s national 4-parts-per-trillion drinking water standard for PFAS ahead of the regulatory deadline in 2031. These new GAC projects will move SCWA closer to its long-term goal of treating all water delivered to customers to non-detectable levels.

“Grant funding is critical to protecting water quality without putting the full cost on our customers,” said SCWA Chairman Charlie Lefkowitz in a statement. “These projects allow us to continue installing advanced treatment systems, meet strict PFAS standards ahead of schedule and keep rates affordable. I want to thank the state for their continued investment in high quality drinking water.”

The SCWA has secured about $112 million in state and federal grants since 2019, which the public-benefit corporation says has helped them in reaching these clean water goals.

“We made a commitment years ago to get ahead of PFAS, not wait for mandates.

This funding helps us continue that work and accelerates our ability to fully remove these compounds from drinking water while maintaining long-term financial stability,” said SCWA CEO Jeff Szabo (pictured top).

Credit - Facebook

Credit - wikimedia commons

2026 started with a bang as the United States conducted a series of strikes on Venezuela, culminating in the Sunday capture of dictator Nicolás Maduro.

Maduro has gained notoriety across South America for his authoritarian leadership style, with corruption, electoral fraud, and human rights abuses alleged to have been committed by the administration. The United Nations estimates that thousands have been extrajudicially killed and that seven million Venezuelans fled the country between 2013 and 2023.

Maduro, also the President of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, became the Vice President of Venezuela under former Marxist president Hugo Chávez in 2012, and became the President of Venezuela in 2013. Waves of protests due to economic hardship saw calls for Maduro to be recalled. The Supreme Tribunal, the nation’s highest court, stripped the National Assembly of its power. The crisis led Maduro to call for a rewrite of the constitution.

In 2018, Maduro (pictured right) was re-elected president with results heavily challenged and seen as illegitimate by the United States and the European Union. More power crises would emerge, and Maduro would be re-elected in 2024, again under dubious circumstances.

In March 2020, the U.S. government indicted Maduro on cocaine trafficking conspiracy charges. Last year, the U.S. alleged that the Cartel of the Suns, a Venezuelan drug gang designated by the U.S. as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), was led by Maduro.

In November 2025, Maduro was named a member of a foreign terrorist organization by the United States.

In the early hours of January 3, U.S. forces launched Operation Absolute Resolve Venezuela. By 4:20a.m., President Donald Trump (R-FL) announced on social media that Maduro and his wife had been captured and flown out of the country. The two are currently in custody at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. They pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Reactions in Venezuela are nothing short of celebratory, while the legal community questions Trump’s ability to capture a foreign head of state without congressional approval.

Trump’s moves in Venezuela have renewed his calls for American intervention in Greenland. Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) has teased a war power vote to forestall a U.S. takeover of the Danish Arctic territory.

Denmark is reportedly seeking a sit-down with Trump over a possible free-use military arrangement.

In domestic political news, Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R, CA-01) died on Tuesday

at 65, according to statements from party leaders and congressional offices. His death leaves his seat vacant and trims the Republican margin in the U.S. House of Representatives to 218 seats, the bare minimum required for a functional majority.

LaMalfa, first elected in 2012, represented CA-01, a largely rural district which spans the northern interior of the state. A fourthgeneration rice farmer, he built a record focused on agriculture, water policy, forestry management, and rural economic issues.

Over seven terms, he served on committees with jurisdiction over natural resources and transportation, reflecting the priorities of his district.

California law requires that vacancies in the House be filled by special election rather than appointment. Under state procedures, the governor issues a proclamation setting the election timeline. A spokesperson for Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) indicated that a special election would be called in accordance with state law, with dates to be determined.

Under the Proposition 50 gerrymander, CA-01 went from a safely Republican district to one that would have backed former Vice President Kamala Harris (D-CA) by twelve points - a tectonic shift that all but certainly nets the Democrats one seat in this year’s crucial midterms.

LaMalfa is survived by his wife, Jill, and their children, according to statements released Tuesday.

Additionally, Governor Tim Walz (D-MN) has suspended his re-election campaign for governor of Minnesota as the fallout of the Somali day care fraud scandal continues to shape national discourse.

The scandal grows in scope as Health and Human Services (HHS) has confirmed that Somalia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Abukar Dahir Osman is linked to Progressive Health Care Services, a home health agency in Cincinnati, Ohio. HHS is now taking action against Progressive Health “in response to a conviction for Medicaid fraud,” according to the Trump Administration.

Osman is listed as having served as the “Managing Director” of Progressive Health Care Services from 2014 to 2019, during which time he also served as Somalia’s permanent representative to the UN. HHS also claims that the agency occupied the “same suite” as another company and that multiple other companies were listed at the same address - all with Somali names.

HHS has frozen federal childcare funding to all states pending an investigation.

Governor Walz, a two-term governor first elected in 2018, refused to take questions from the press amid his suspension announcement. Moreover, he’s resisted calls to resign, defiantly stating, “over my

10

Smithtown Matters Thursday, January 8, 2026

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Wehrheim Begins Third Term as Supervisor

But the dynamic of this year’s supervisor making tough, practical decisions that keep race really came to a head in June, when Smithtown a safe, affordable, and welcoming Wehrheim defeated Trotta in a long and place to live, play, and work. I’m proud to bitterly contested primary that became a serve alongside a team that puts results, referendum on development. accountability, and our residents first.”

Throughout the campaign, Wehrheim McCarthy, first elected in 1997, was sworn defended his record of redeveloping, in for an eighth four-year term. Councilwoman requiring parcels of green space to be Nowick, first elected in 2013, was sworn in for preserved to a ratio of new development, a fourth term. shepherding the Kings Park downtown “I’m so grateful for the trust our residents revitalization, and overhauling about 80% have placed in me and for the opportunity of the Town’s parks since he assumed the to keep serving a community I truly love,” office in 2018. said Nowick. “I look forward to continuing “Being sworn in isn’t a finish line; this work with heart, collaboration, and a it’s a starting point,” Wehrheim told The deep appreciation for everyone who makes Messenger. “2026 is our year of action. It’s Smithtown such a special place to call home.” a year to think differently, lead by example, Town Clerk Tom McCarthy (R-Smithtown) and treat local government the way was handily elected for a full term after winning successful businesses do - with discipline, a 2023 special election to fill the remainder of innovation, and respect for every single then-Town Clerk Vincent Puleo’s (R-Nesconset) (Left to right) Legislator Formica, Councilwoman Nowick, Councilman dollar entrusted to us. term, as Puleo was elected to County Clerk in McCarthy, Clerk McCarthy (Credit - Town of Smithtown) Wehrheim said that “from day 2022. one”, Town Hall is taking a “hard look” “Ensuring that each individual pledges to initiative that strengthens what we already have rather at operation, by “optimizing our business model, than stretching our workforce thinner.” faithfully serve the people of Smithtown is a responsibility strengthening revenue streams, and launching new For Wehrheim and his team, the goal is simple: I take seriously,” said McCarthy. “I’ve already begun initiatives that keep taxes low without cutting the services “make Smithtown more affordable and ensure families working with the administration on new and innovative our residents rely on.” ways to maximize the fiscal potential of the Clerk’s office, can continue to live, work, and grow right here.”

The Kings Park Republican added that this is the “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve and I’m confident this year will move quickly and deliver primary reason the Town chose not to host a “costly another term, and I thank my fellow elated officials, our real results for the people we serve.” inauguration ceremony”, especially since the Town dedicated Town workforce, and the entire Smithtown Highway Superintendent Bob Murphy (R-St. James) approved a near-10% tax increase in December, community for believing in this vision and in the work was re-elected for another four-year term and faced no specifically to avoid cutting services, such as the Senior we’re doing together.” opposition. He has served in this position since 2015.

Center and Horizons, or laying off Town personnel.

“Being sworn in at this moment in my life, especially Alongside Wehrheim, Councilman and Deputy Of nixing the inauguration ceremony, Wehrheim Supervisor Tom McCarthy (R-Nissequogue) and with the recent birth of my granddaughter, is a powerful stated, “it was a deliberate, day-one decision to show that Councilwoman Lynne Nowick (R-St. James) were sworn in reminder of why we do this work,” said Murphy. “We all every dollar matters, and that fiscal responsibility isn’t a as well. want the same thing: to pave the way for our children slogan - it’s a practice.”

“Being sworn in again is a responsibility I take and their families, to give them the tools, resources, “We’ll be dissecting every aspect of daily operations, seriously,” Councilman McCarthy told The Messenger. and opportunities they need to flourish, and build a maximizing grants, aggressively advocating for State “I’m committed to continuing the hard work of protecting Smithtown that’s strong enough to keep them right here and federal funding, and creating a resource-focused taxpayers, strengthening our Town’s foundation, and for generations to come.”

Sal Formica Takes Seat at Legislature

By Madison Warren On Monday, the Suffolk County Legislature swore in new members. Legislator Greg Doroski (D-Mattituck) defeated one-term Legislator Catherine Stark (R-Riverhead) on the North Fork, while RJ Renna (R-Lindenhurst) filled the seat of former Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst).

But Smithtown saw its own addition in the Thirteenth District, with Legislator Sal Formica (R-Commack). He is parlaying his extensive background in public safety, hospitality, and community service to a county-wide perspective, while also succeeding former Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga).

When discussing his future priorities, Formica told The Messenger, “Public safety is number one, affordable housing is important, our infrastructure, our water, these are things we need to protect.”

Before reaching his current position, Formica developed his passion for public safety in 1980, when he joined the NYPD in the 117th Precinct, which covers the United Nations Headquarters. From there, he was selected for the Emergency Service Unit, which required extensive training and had him working side by side with the FBI. Formica has served as chief of the Commack Fire Department and is still a member of the department. He was also a local restaurateur. A Commack resident for nearly 40 years, he especially seeks to “put Commack on the map.”

Formica was elected to the open seat over Kings Park Board of Education Trustee Shala Pascucci (D-Kings Park) with approximately 59% of the vote. While the position may be new for Formica, he is far from a new face in the district, having spent decades serving and engaging with the local community.

New Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirilo (R-Holtsville) and Deputy Presiding Officer Jim Mazzarella (R-Moriches) have both assumed their new roles this week, and Formica noted that he looks forward to working alongside them.

“They are two different types of people, but they share the same mission: making sure Suffolk County is safe and prosperous,” Formica said.

The Legislature’s reorganizational meeting was standing room-only not only for Piccirillo and Mazzarella, but also with a Smithtown crowd looking forward to Formica’s new chapter of public service.

The Thirteenth District includes Fort Salonga, Head of the Harbor, Kings Park, Nissequogue, San Remo, St. James, and parts of Commack and Smithtown hamlet within Smithtown Township, and parts of Commack within Huntington Township.

The Thirteenth District office is located at 59 Landing Avenue, Suite 1, in Smithtown and can be reached at 631-854-3900.

News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 8, 2026

11

Officers Reunite with Boy Saved from Christmas Plunge

By Matt Meduri

On Christmas Day, most Suffolk residents were sleeping in, celebrating the holiday with family, heading to church, or preparing to host.

For eight-year-old Tayvion, of East Patchogue, it was a far more eventful holiday.

Three Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) officers rushed to a call to find Tayvion stranded in frigid, chest-deep water in the middle of a manmade pond in the Heatherwood Lakeside Village Apartments.

Police body camera footage shows officers James Rizzo and Andrew Tirelli asking the boy his name and tossing him a buoy. When Tayvion could not reach the buoy, Sergeant Michael Santillo crawled out onto the ice to reach the boy. As Santillo slid up to a nearly submerged Tayvion, the boy can be heard shouting “Freedom!” as he saw his rescuer close in.

Tayvion was taken to NYU Langone Suffolk for medical assessment but made it home in time for Christmas.

The officers were honored for their life-saving actions at Police Headquarters

in Yaphank on January 2. Tayvion was also there to be reunited with his saviors and to relay a crucial message to the public.

“Don’t go out onto the ice!” declared Tayvion.

Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) Commissioner Kevin Catalina said that the icy conditions made it “difficult, if not impossible” for Tayvion to lift himself out.

“I want to thank Officers Rizzo and Tirelli and Sergeant Santillo for their quick and courageous response, especially on a holiday.

Their actions ensured that the situation was handled safely and efficiently,” said Catalina.

Catalina urged the public to stay off of frozen ponds and to skate at ice rinks. Santillo, after rescuing Tayvion from the frozen pond, used a blanket to cover his cruiser seat, drove home, showered, changed clothes, and went back out on patrol.

The officers were modest in reception of their accolades, simply stating that the events of Christmas Day in East Patchogue are part and parcel to the job.

“You don’t think; you act,” said Santillo. “You go in the burning building, get in the water, try to help people.”

How MTA Fare Changes Affect Suffolk County Riders

By Raheem Soto Recent fare adjustments implemented by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) have altered the cost structure for riders across the region, including those who rely on the Long Island Rail Road. While the percentage increases apply systemwide, their effects are not evenly distributed. For Suffolk County residents, distance, travel frequency, and limited transportation substitutes shape how these changes are experienced in practice.

The fare revisions, which took effect at the start of the year, increased weekly and monthly commuter rail tickets by several percentage points, with some noncommutation fares rising by a higher margin. In absolute dollars, the increases are largest for riders traveling from eastern Suffolk stations, where base fares are higher due to longer travel distances into Manhattan. As a result, two commuters facing the same percentage increase may experience substantially different financial impacts depending on where their trip begins.

Economic analysis emphasizes that prices influence behavior most where alternatives exist. For many Suffolk County commuters, alternatives are constrained.

Daily automobile travel to Manhattan involves variable travel times, tolls, parking costs, and congestion, which limits its usefulness as a substitute for rail service. Bus service does not offer comparable travel times over long distances. These constraints reduce price elasticity, meaning that fare increases are more likely to raise household transportation costs than to prompt large-scale shifts away from rail use.

This does not mean behavior is unaffected. Rather, adjustments tend to occur at the margins. Riders whose work schedules allow flexibility may reduce the number of commuting days per week, shift trips to off-peak hours, or reassess whether monthly passes remain cost-effective compared with pay-per-ride options. These decisions are influenced by post-pandemic work patterns, in which many commuters no longer travel five days per week. Fare structures designed around traditional commuting schedules may therefore interact differently with current usage patterns.

Household budgeting is another area where effects accumulate. Transportation costs compete with housing, utilities, childcare, and other fixed expenses. When commuting costs rise without corresponding increases in income, households must reallocate spending or reduce savings. The impact varies by income level and occupation, but for households with one or more regular commuters, the annual cost difference becomes measurable even when the per-trip increase appears modest.

Labor markets are affected indirectly. Higher commuting costs reduce the net compensation associated with jobs that require in-person attendance in Manhattan or other high-cost employment centers. Employers drawing from a Suffolk County labor pool may encounter greater pressure to offer commuter benefits, flexible scheduling, or hybrid work arrangements. Where such adjustments are not feasible, higher transportation costs can influence job choice, retention, and commuting frequency.

From the MTA’s standpoint, fare adjustments are a recurring mechanism used to address operating costs and long-term capital needs. The increases are applied broadly, rather than tailored by geography, which simplifies administration but does not account for differences in travel distance or availability of substitutes. Uniform pricing changes therefore produce uneven outcomes across the region, with longerdistance riders absorbing larger dollar increases.

Ridership data indicate that LIRR usage has recovered substantially from pandemicera lows, though patterns remain altered. Fewer riders travel daily, and discretionary trips account for a larger share of total ridership. In this environment, fare increases are more likely to influence trip timing and ticket choice than overall participation in the system.

Taken together, the fare adjustments illustrate a recurring feature of regional transportation policy: systemwide decisions produce localized effects. In Suffolk County, those effects are shaped by distance, constrained alternatives, and changing work patterns. The result is not a sudden shift in commuting behavior, but a gradual recalibration of costs that becomes visible over time through household budgets, employer practices, and ridership choices.

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Down Ballot Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Preliminary 2026 House Forecast: Democrats’ Best Paths

By Matt Meduri We’re reviving our Down Ballot column to prognosticate how the race for the House majority develops over the next nine months. Republicans start with a 220-seat quorum, just two seats north of what’s required for a majority: 218 seats. Democrats need only a net gain of three seats to retake control of the chamber, which they lost in 2022.

For the sake of this column, we’ll be looking at each state for the Democrats’ best paths to a majority. In an ensuing column, we’ll analyze the Republicans’ best hopes of flipping seats, if not holding the House majority outright, a statistical rarity that would be a massive upheaval of conventional political wisdom.

Our current forecast shows neither party projected to take control, but Democrats remain slightly closer to the magic number of 218. They sit at 213 seats, while the GOP sits at 208. We currently rate 14 seats as Toss Ups. The Usual Suspects The seats we consider “the usual suspects” are those that aren’t necessarily guaranteed to flip but usually fit criteria that makes it easy to guess. Think of them as the horses on the track with low payouts.

These seats, we find, follow a typical pattern: they’re not markedly more right or left of center practically in the middle, what pure swing seats are made of; they’re seats that have changed parties hands at least twice in the last few years, or otherwise perennially contentious; and are crossover seats those that backed one party for president and another for House.

Bonus points are added to any of the above if said seats are open - without an incumbent - or have a rematch of the previous cycle. Half-rematches are also common “usual suspects”, one in which the victor of the previous cycle does not run, and last cycle’s challenger tries again for the seat.

The vast majority of these seats, save for those significantly affected by redistricting, are the center of the competitive table for all or most of these reasons.

Arizona A swing state by every metric, Arizona will be home to at least three competitive seats this year. In the Phoenix suburbs, AZ-01 was once a safe-red seat that’s raced to the left in the Trump Era. Congressman Dave Schweikert (R) narrowly survived the 2022 midterms and had a stronger showing in 2024, but Schweikert is retiring from Congress to run for governor. The open seat without presidential coattails in a midterm environment that will be at least blue-leaning makes for a competitive race.

Forecast: Toss Up In the southeastern corner of the state, AZ-06 takes in Tucson and heavily unionized Greenlee County. Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R) has won two razor-thin races here, flipping the seat red in 2022. He’ll be in the re-election fight of his life this year, as Democrats flipped this area’s seat blue in the 2018 midterms - and it won’t take a blue wave of that magnitude to flip it back. Forecast: Toss Up AZ-02 is a sprawling district that takes in almost

the entire northern two-thirds of the state.

Congressman Eli Crane (R) knocked off a moderate Democrat in 2022 and held the seat by a decent margin in 2024. While the more Republican of the Arizona trio, Democrats are sure to target this seat that has parts of suburban Phoenix as well as the state’s entire section of the Navajo Nation. Forecast: Leans R

the win by a margin of just 6 votes out of over 400,000 ballots cast. 2024 was also a photo finish, leading us to believe this is one of Democrats’ most auspicious pickups this year. Forecast: Tilts D (Flip)

Alaska

Michigan

Alaska’s sole House seat was flipped blue in a 2022 special election for the first time in over fifty years. Then-Congresswoman Mary Peltola (D) held on in the ranked-choice election in 2022, but narrowly lost in 2024. Peltola might be eying a bid for statewide office, but Alaska’s idiosyncratic politics and penchant for local Democrats will likely keep this seat in the center of the table. Forecast: Toss Up

The GOP has two seats we rate as Toss Ups; the suburban-Detroit based MI-10 (Toss Up) and the Lansing-based MI-07 (Toss Up). MI-10 is open, meaning this could be more competitive than normal, while MI-07 is a classic swing seat. MI-10 was last open in 2022, when John James (R) won the open seat by a razor-thin margin. He had scored a more decisive margin in 2024, but he’s foregoing reelection to run for governor of Michigan. The GOP only flipped MI-07 in 2024. A district that was once more traditionally Republican backed a Democrat in the House in the three prior elections.

California Proposition 50 passed last year, meaning the state is now heavily gerrymandered to benefit Democrats. The former red seats CA-01 (Safe D Flip) and CA-41 (Safe D Flip) are now solidly blue, while CA-03 went from a Likely R district to a Likely D Flip district. Congressman Darrell Issa (R) will be in a tough fight to win in his redrawn San Diegobased CA-48, although it’s possible he threads the needle. We’re holding that race at Tilts D (Flip). Two tossups remain in the Central Valley, with CA-13 (Toss Up) being one of the closest House races in 2022 and 2024, and with CA-22 (Toss Up) being held by notable maverick Congressman David Valadao (R), who has been able to win in tough environments for his party.

Colorado One of Democrats’ best pickup opportunities lies just north of Denver in CO-08. The district was created in 2022 and won by Democrats that year.

However, Gabe Evans (R), in a razor-thin contest, wrested the seat away in 2024. The district is about 30% Latino, so it will be a crucial indicator of whether the GOP has been able to retain Latino voters they courted in 2024. Other House races in Colorado seem inelastic at the moment, but the western third of the state is in CO-03, an amalgam of ritzy, uberliberal ski resorts, small mountain towns, and a sizable working-class Latino population. CO-03 has been a wild card before, and it could be again.

Forecast: Tilts D (Flip) Florida The GOP stands atop a brutal gerrymander that gives the Democrats just eight seats out of twentyeight. Democrats will look to the Pinellas Peninsula, home to St. Petersburg, to flip a seat that we rate as Leans R, but a race could certainly develop.

Iowa Two seats here will help define the next House.

We think three-term Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R) starts as an underdog in the bluest of the four Iowa districts - IA-01 - in the southeastern corner of the state. Miller-Meeks won one of the closest House races in U.S. history in 2020, clinching

Next door, IA-03, held by two-term Congressman Zach Nunn (R), will also be a top seat to watch. We rate that one as a Toss Up.

Montana Montana regained its second House seat in 2022, which has played host to two competitive races.

Congressman Ryan Zinke (R), who served as Secretary of the Interior in Donald Trump’s (R-FL) first term, is a controversial figure. In a perfect storm, Democrats could contest this seat. We rate it more severely for the Republicans than other outlets, holding at a Tilt R rating.

New Jersey Democrats are undoubtedly keen on NJ-07, especially after their stellar performance in 2025’s gubernatorial race. NJ-07 covers the northwestern part of the state along the Pennsylvania border. A red seat by nature, it’s not a deep-red seat, nor is it one Republicans have held for some time. An ancestrally red area of the Garden State, NJ-07 flipped blue in 2018, and Republicans clawed in back in 2022. However, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr.’s (R) margins here should make the GOP go all in on protecting him this fall. Forecast: Tilts R. New York Democrats’ top choice seat is NY-17, a Westchester-based seat held by moderate Congressman Mike Lawler (R). Lawler flipped it red in 2022 and was re-elected by an impressive margin in 2024, even as his fellow Upstate and Hudson Valley Republicans lost re-election. Lawler shouldn’t be underestimated, but we think he’s better positioned for re-election than other Republicans in swing districts, primarily because this area has a penchant for being a crossover district. Forecast: Leans R. On Long Island, Democrats might be keen to oust two-term Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) in NY-01, a district that under the right circumstances could be picked up by Democrats. But LaLota has been far from inactive, and Suffolk County still sits obdurately right-of-center. Potential fallout from the newly minted Mamdani Administration could also push NYC’s immediate bedroom communities even further right. We rate this seat as Likely R.

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Thursday, January 8, 2026

Preliminary 2026 House Forecast: Democrats’ Best Paths Pennsylvania Democrats lost two seats here in 2024 and could claw them back in 2026, as well as another.

PA-07 (Tilts D Flip) includes Allentown, situated in the 26%Hispanic Lehigh County.

Congressman Ryan Mackenzie (R) won by just a single percentage point last year. Just to the north, PA-08 (Toss Up) encompasses Scranton, the mining town of Wilkes-Barre, and the blue-collar workers who were classically Democrats.

This district was won by Trump in all three of his presidential runs, but only in 2024 were Republicans able to knock off a moderate Democrat.

Additionally, PA-10, based around Harrisburg, presents itself as a top pick-up opportunity for the Democrats.

Our forecast for this seat is Tilts D (Flip), as Congressman Scott Perry (R) has had several controversial years on social media and the district continues to drift left.

Utah Nothing in terms of competition this year in Utah, but Democrats are certain to pick up UT-01 (Safe D Flip), a district that was court-ordered to be redrawn around deepblue Salt Lake City.

LEGEND Safe R/Safe D - the darkest colors represent districts that The Messenger does not currently find competitive. Respective parties should cruise to victory and by large margins.

Likely R/Likely D - The medium colors represent districts that we find potentially competitive or susceptible to margin slips. Respective parties should win these seats, but upsets and the chances of a developed race remain on the table.

Leans R/Leans D - The light blue/pink colors show districts that are certainly competitive, but one party has a distinct set of advantages. These races are the ones to keep an eye on, as they could move further to the center of the competitive table, or off completely depending on the environment, funding, and candidate quality.

Tilts R/Tilts D - The palest colors, these districts are in the eye of the hurricane, but one party has an advantage that cannot be overlooked.

Toss Up - It all comes down to these. Neither party has a distinct advantage.

Virginia The Hampton Roads-Virginia Beach-based VA02 is a prime swing district. An ancestrally red district, VA-02 flipped blue in 2018, but flipped red in 2022. Congresswoman Jen Kiggans (R) will be in the re-election fight of her life this fall, especially as the region continues to shift left. Forecast: Toss Up Democrats could also reasonably contest the northern Hampton Roads-based VA-01 (Likely R), a seat that in 2021 was drawn to be less Republican than it had been. VA-05 (Likely R), containing Richmond suburbs and the cities of Charlottesville, Danville, and Lynchburg, is also inching more towards the center of the competitive table, but remains a reach.

Wisconsin

Here’s the Count

WI-03 is set to be one of the marquee Our current forecast, albeit preliminary, gives congressional races this cycle. The western- Democrats 214 seats to the GOP’s 206. The Toss Wisconsin seat, containing the Dairyland and Up column has 15 seats, 10 of which are held by deep-blue working-class communities, has raced Democrats, 5 by Republicans. The common to the right in the Trump Era. Despite backing a jumping-off point is to split the Toss Ups down moderate Democrat by hefty margins, the district the middle and see where the cards rest. If the went for Trump in 2016. In 2022, the GOP flipped aforementioned seats flip as currently speculated the open seat, but it remains at the center of the and Toss Ups are split down the middle, Democrats table and willI D be aAlitmus of N whether half an odd FR Y , test JU E 1getting 4 Tthe Hlarger , 2 0of 2 4 number since this Democrats can take back an ancestrally blue seat year is expected to benefit them on historic that has become a red seat in the Trump Era. grounds, the Party of Jackson would flip control of Forecast: Tilts R. the House with a 224-seat margin.

There’s certainly room for that to change, and The suburban Milwaukee-based WI-01 (Likely without much in terms of fundraising and polling, R), containing Kenosha, also remains competitive, long before primaries have been held, there’s but Democrats would be wise to fixate on WI-03. likely room for this forecast to change as well.

FLAG DAY

Civics 101

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Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 8, 2026

The Necessary Standard for American Education Congressional Vacancies

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 In the wake of the passing of Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R, CA-01), we’ll take a look at how vacancies in the U.S. House and Senate are filled, as there’s no singular set of rules to follow for this perennial procedure.

What Causes a Vacancy?

A vacancy of a seat - whether federal, state, or local legislature - is created upon resignation, death, or removal of a representative who holds said seat. Resignations can arise from scandal or criminal conviction, or from an incumbent simply choosing to hang it up mid-term.

Resignation is necessitated when an incumbent is appointed to another position, and more resignations from Congress are typically seen at the start of a new presidential administration for this very reason.

There is, however, a curveball to this: redistricting. In some cases, one party might employ a strategy known as pairing, wherein a map is drawn deliberately to make two incumbents, either of differing or the same parties, compete against each other in the same district. This is usually done to force a retirement, protect an incumbent, or promulgate a costly primary.

How Many Vacancies Are There in the U.S. House?

There are currently four vacant seats. NJ-11 was vacated by Governor-elect Mikie Sherill (D-NJ). TX-18 was vacated upon the death of Sylvester Turner (D-TX) - a special election for this safely Democratic seat will be held on January 31. GA-14 was resigned at will by Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA). CA-01, as mentioned, was vacated on Tuesday after the passing of Doug LaMalfa.

Four seats are considered technically “vacant” due to pairing, while another seven are considered “vacant” due to redistricting.

The 117th Congress (2021-2023) holds the modern record for most simultaneous House vacancies, with fifteen seats open at once. Several deaths, appointments to the Biden administration, and scandals created the environment.

How Are House Vacancies Filled?

Article I, Section 2, Clause 4, otherwise known as the House Vacancies Clause, of the U.S. Constitution states, “when vacancies happen in the [House] Representation from any State, the Executive Authority thereof shall issue Writs of Election to fill such Vacancies.”

In other words, the seats are to remain vacant until the specified state authority sets a date for a special election according to the state’s statutes in question. This is a crucial point in filling congressional vacancies, as those of the Senate operate on an entirely different basis.

The Framers of the Constitution are credited with appealing to state control and adherence to local prerogatives when filling vacancies. No two states are exactly alike, and Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story (17791845) wrote in Commentaries on the Constitution of the United States, “any general regulation would have worked with some inequality.”

However, the Framers’ intentions on triggering the House Vacancy Clause was of debate. The British House of Commons did not permit resignations at the time, so some early federal leaders debated whether a resignation could be considered a vacancy. The final language of this clause

did not specifically address resignations, although such language was considered.

As such, each state has their own methods of filling these vacancies, but all require executive appointment and a specified time.

Forty-seven states call for the governor to set the date of the special election. Hawaii requires the “chief elections officer” to do so, New Mexico requires the Secretary of State, and South Carolina begins a filing period for party primaries.

Time windows are present in almost all state statutes.

For example, New York requires the governor to issue a proclamation for a special election within ten days following a U.S. House vacancy. The special election must be held between forty and fifty days following the proclamation.

Other states work with different windows, and some even specify “immediately” following the vacancy.

Many states also have additional parameters regarding proximity of a special election to a regular election. New York Public Officers Law §42 stipulates that if a vacancy occurs three months before a general election in any year, that seat shall be filled at the next general election. Some states do not have these provisions.

Since one Congress lasts two years, and each session is one year, the former half of the Congress is generally more straightforward in administering special elections. The latter half, the one closer to the next general election for the House, is where the asterisks come into play.

There is also language for extraordinary vacancies.

Following the September 11 attacks, Congress passed 2 U.S.C. Section 8 (4), which sets parameters for special elections in the event of “extraordinary circumstances.” If there are more than 100 vacancies in the House occurring simultaneously, governors must call a special election to be held within 49 days unless there is a scheduled election already set within 75 days of the vacancies. Nine states have their own laws to fill this exact procedure.

How Are Senate Vacancies Filled?

This is a much more distinct process. Instead of requiring special elections, most state governors have appointment powers until the next general election. Since Senate terms are six years each, the timetable is much different than that of the House.

Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution originally gave the state legislatures the power to appoint replacements for the Senate if the state legislature was in session when the vacancy occurred. If the legislature was not in session,

the governor would appoint a replacement until the state legislature reconvened.

However, in 1913, the Seventeenth Amendment was ratified, not only transitioning to the popular election of Senators, but allowing governors to appoint replacements.

Currently, 35 states allow for gubernatorial appointments. The position is filled and a special election is held, coinciding with the next general election. The special election winner will serve the remainder of that term. New York is one of those states.

Eleven states see temporary gubernatorial appointments followed by a special election to be held within a certain time frame from the vacancy.

Just four states bypass gubernatorial appointments altogether and instead go straight to a special election within certain time frames: Kentucky, North Dakota, Rhode Island, and Wisconsin.

Appointments are almost entirely political, and the lieutenant governor of the state in question is usually a common choice. The ideal candidate is someone who can hold down the fort in a special election and get re-elected in the next regularly-scheduled election. Some states also require a governor to appoint a Senator from the same party as the last incumbent, with parties submitting lists of candidates for consideration. Most states that allow for gubernatorial appointment, including New York, allow the governor to pick anyone for the seat.

Not all appointees run for the full seat, however, and some serve for extraordinarily short periods of time.

Senator George Helmy (D-NJ) filled a vacancy from August 23, 2024, to December 8, 2024. Helmy had previously been Governor Phil Murphy’s (D) Chief of Staff. Senator Laphonza Butler (D-CA) served from October 2023 to December 2024 after the passing of Dianne Feinstein (D).

Normally, each state gets one general election off from holding Senate races, as each state has just two Senators and each serves for six-year terms. The staggering of terms is done deliberately to ensure that roughly one-third of the Senate is up for re-election every two years.

However, the timing of vacancies can result in a state appearing on the Senate map more often than typical.

Arizona saw five consecutive elections from 2016 to 2024 due to a special election in 2020.

Double-barrel Senate races are also a common fixture due to resignations. Since Senate special elections must align with the next even-year general election, it’s not uncommon to see both of a state’s Senate seats up for grabs on the same night. In 2024, Nebraska got that honor.

In 2022, it was Oklahoma. A notorious double-barrel Senate election unfolded in Georgia in 2020, when Democrats flipped both seats one the same night, handing control to then-Vice President Kamala Harris (D-CA) for her tiebreaking vote.

2018 is the most recent year in which multiple states had double-barrel Senate elections: Minnesota and Mississippi.

As an interesting side note, most double-barrel Senate elections see one party win both seats. The most recent to deliver a split result was 1966, when Strom Thurmond (RSC) won re-election to South Carolina’s Class II seat, and Fritz Hollings (D) won the Class III seat, but only after defeating the Democratic appointee in the primary. Since 1918, of the fifty-four double-barrel Senate elections, only eight have produced split results. Idaho holds the record with two split double-barrel results, one in 1918 and the other in 1962.

Around Town Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

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Thursday, January 8, 2026

Smithtown Youth Bureau, Unity Council Celebrate MLK Jr. Day with Virtual Art Gallery The Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau, in conjunction with The Unity Council, is inviting students in grades K–12 to participate in a meaningful and creative Martin Luther King Jr. Day Community Virtual Art Gallery, titled “Share Your Dreams for Our Community.” This virtual initiative encourages young people to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy and express their hopes for a community built on unity, understanding, and shared purpose through artistic expression.

“This virtual art gallery is a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn about the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy by implementing their own creativity, technology, and self-expression,” said Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) in a statement. “By encouraging young people to take part in this meaningful initiative, we are helping them understand the importance of unity, compassion, and service—values that Dr. King lived by and taught so powerfully. It is essential that we continue to educate and inspire our future leaders to think, lead, and live with the same courage, empathy, and commitment to justice that defined Dr. King’s life.”

Students are invited to submit original artwork inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s lifelong commitment to unity and bringing people together.

Submissions may include drawings, paintings, poems, digital artwork, photography, or mixed-media creations

that reflect each participant’s vision for a stronger, more connected community and the role they hope to play in shaping it. Templates for elementary school students and submission instructions for students in grades 6–12 are available on the Youth Bureau webpage at smithtownny. gov/youthbureau. Participants should include their initials, age, and school with each submission.

“The Youth Bureau is honored to showcase youth artwork that celebrates Dr. King’s legacy and reflects their dreams for a better future,” said Janine Marc-Anthony, Executive Director, Smithtown Youth Bureau.

Town Certificates of Community Service will be provided to students in grades 6-12 for 1 hour of service. Students in grades K-5 will receive a Certificate of Participation.

“The Unity Council is always searching for new ways to bring understanding and harmony to our community and is eager to welcome the fresh perspectives of Smithtown’s young people,” said Maria LaMalfa, Town of Smithtown Unity Council chairperson.

An online gallery will be featured on the official Town of Smithtown website, www.smithtownny.gov, showcasing all submitted student artwork. Completed artwork must be emailed as a digital image to Youthbureau@ smithtownny.gov. All submissions are due by January 12, 2026, and must be original works submitted in JPEG, PNG, or PDF format.

Smithtown Pet of the Week: Adopt the Extraordinary Shiloh!

Meet Smithtown’s Pet of the Week, Shiloh — a joyful, affectionate Rottweiler just under two years old with a big personality and an even bigger heart.

From the moment Shiloh arrived at the shelter, it was clear he’s a true people lover. This handsome young gentleman lights up whenever he meets new friends and gets a chance to soak up attention. His happy, engaging demeanor makes him simply irresistible, and he approaches each day with an enthusiasm, curiosity, and zest for life that’s impossible to ignore.

When he first came to the shelter, Shiloh was noticeably underweight. The shelter team is working to determine the cause, though one thing is certain: there’s absolutely nothing lacking in his appetite, for food or for life. He is affectionate, charming, and eager to connect, winning hearts wherever he goes.

Like many young dogs, Shiloh is still learning his manners and boundaries and can sometimes get a bit overexcited. With consistent guidance, training, and enrichment, he is eager to learn and has all the makings of an incredible lifelong companion.

Shiloh would do best in a home with older children and possibly cats and other dogs. If you’re looking for a loving, spirited companion who’s ready to give his whole heart, Shiloh may be the perfect match.

If you are interested in meeting Shiloh, please fill out an application and schedule a date/time to properly interact in a domestic setting, which includes our Meet and Greet Room, the dog runs, and our Dog Walk trail.

For more information regarding our rescue animals available for adoption visit: TownofSmithtownAnimalShelter. com Foster Opportunity If you have no other pets or young children at home, and are looking for a way to serve your community, please consider signing up to be a foster. Foster parents provide temporary care for cats, kittens, and dogs in their own homes. Some animals need as little as two weeks of care, while others may need care for extended periods of time.

Download the Foster Application at: https://www.smithtownny.gov/DocumentCenter/ View/4325/Foster-Application Thinking About Adoption?

The Smithtown Animal Shelter’s primary concern is finding the perfect home for each animal that finds his/her way to us. The Animal Control Officers and Kennel Attendants at the Smithtown Animal Shelter will go out of their way to ensure both the rescued and rescuer are made for one another.

Where applicable, residents with other pets can arrange to bring four-legged family members to the shelter or set up an at home meet & greet to see how your prospective family member does with other family, pets and the household itself. Please allow an hour minimum to meet and interact with your potential new family member.

Visitor Hours at the Smithtown Animal Shelter are currently Monday to Saturday 10:00a.m. to 3:00p.m. (Sundays and Wednesday evenings: by appointment only). To inquire about the Pet of the Week or to meet your potential soulmate, please call the Smithtown Animal Shelter at 631-360-7575.

News

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Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Turning Grief Into Grace: The Purple Rock Project Goes National

By Madison Warren

Photo Credit - Carole Trottere

What started as a single purple rock has grown into a movement across Long Island and is quickly expanding nationwide.

Carole Trottere, a grieving mother since 2018, created The Purple Rock Project to support other grieving families in her community by painting purple rocks featuring the names and photos of loved ones lost to the opioid and fentanyl crisis, ensuring their stories and names are never forgotten.

This past December, Carole placed more than 100 rocks at Gabriel’s Giving Tree Memorial Park, part of the Suffolk County Environmental Center in Islip. As each name was read aloud and placed beneath the tree, family members were given the opportunity to lean on one another, honor the memories of their loved ones, and help spread awareness about the ongoing opioid and fentanyl epidemic.

This project has now reached almost 30 other states, all with a common loss, and with the hope that, with Carole’s help, their loved one can be included in this honorable project.

Having worked on the project since September, collecting, painting, and decorating nearly all of the rocks on her own, Carole was surrounded by community members and families on the day of the event and even live-streamed the memorial service on Facebook for loved ones who were unable to attend from out of state.

Following the event, Carole has received nearly as many new requests from families as there were rocks placed during the memorial, underscoring the growing reach and impact of The Purple Rock Project.

“If I can give another grieving parent a brief moment of comfort or make them smile, it means something,” Carole told The Messenger.

The fentanyl and opioid epidemic has been one of the most severe public health crises the country has faced in the past 100 years, excluding the COVID-19 Pandemic. Through The Purple Rock Project, Carole hopes to provide families with comfort and relief while raising awareness of the seriousness and ongoing impact of the epidemic.

With the growing number of requests from families, Carole hopes to expand the project to other parks across Long Island, find new homes for these meaningful memorial rocks, and continue spreading the Purple Rock effect.

People from other states have also reached out to Carole, sharing their desire to bring The Purple Rock Project to their own communities by creating and placing memorial rocks in their home states.

Through The Purple Rock Project, Carole has transformed her grief into purpose, becoming a source of comfort and light for families navigating the deep void left by the loss of a loved one. Families interested in learning more, requesting a memorial rock, volunteering, or bringing the project to their own community can find The Purple Rock Project on Facebook, where updates, events, and contact information are regularly shared. As the project continues to grow, Carole hopes its message of remembrance and hope will reach even more families, ensuring that no name and no life is ever forgotten.

Stolen Baby Jesus Returned

By Matt Meduri

PERSONAL ATTENTION AND DIGNIFIED SERVICE...

OUR CONTINUING TRADITION

Photo Credit: Suffolk County Police Department

As Suffolk County residents were celebrating Christmas, a juvenile occurrence prompted law enforcement’s attention: the Baby Jesus statue was stolen from its Nativity display at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge.

On January 2, law enforcement and elected officials spared no expense at asking the perpetrator to return Baby Jesus, “no questions asked.”

“This is definitely not of the Christmas spirit,” said County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) at Police Headquarters in Yaphank.

Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) Commissioner Kevin Catalina said that the theft occurred between December 24 and January 1, with the theft having been discovered on New Year’s Day.

“We immediately started the search,” said Catalina. “It almost seems, in a way, that the theft is trivial in nature, but it is an affront to Christianity.”

Romaine and officials emphasized “religious tolerance on all fronts.” Romaine was also not quick to chalk it up to a “hate crime” necessarily, as it could have just been a “silly prank”, adding, “I think everybody would be happy and we could go on with our lives.”

Catalina added that no questions would be asked if Baby Jesus was returned to its display in Hauppauge and that no one would be detained.

The SCPD issued a statement on Saturday afternoon that Baby Jesus had been returned to his manger. The SCPD thanked the public for their “assistance and cooperation.”

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Technology News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, January 8, 2026

17

AI for 2026:

Why Acceleration Without Differentiation Creates Sameness

By Mollie Barnett As 2025 comes to a close, artificial intelligence has reached a saturation point.

AI is no longer experimental or rare. Nearly every organization now uses it in some capacity, and most professionals interact with AI daily.

And yet, despite this widespread adoption, many leaders feel an unease they can’t quite articulate. AI feels busy. It feels fast. But it doesn’t always feel meaningful.

The issue isn’t whether companies are adopting AI. The issue is how AI is being positioned inside the organization.

As we move into 2026, the organizations that succeed will not be the ones that adopt the most AI—but the ones that design AI around what makes them distinct.

AI is an accelerant. and acceleration without differentiation creates more sameness.

What We Mean by “AI Toys” When we talk about the end of AI toys, we are not dismissing experimentation, creativity, or learning - those phases matter. AI toys, as we are defining them, are prebuilt, boxed AI solutions.

They are characterized by: • Fixed workflows that cannot be meaningfully inspected or changed • Opaque models and decision logic • Limited visibility into how data is processed, stored, or retained • Governance that lives primarily with the vendor • Convenience that replaces understanding These systems are often marketed as “plug-and-play” or “enterprise-ready.” They feel safe because the complexity is hidden.

That hidden complexity is precisely the risk.

AI toys embed intelligence into workflows while removing the organization from the decision-making loop. They make AI easy to adopt, but difficult to own, audit, adapt, or defend.

The issue is not sophistication; the issue is opacity.

Why AI Tools Still Fall Short AI tools represent a step forward, but they are not the destination.

The core limitation of most AI tools is not capability, it’s alignment.

AI tools are designed for general use.

Even when configurable, they are built to serve the “average” organization, workflow, or role and not your specific processes, products, people, or brand.

They can: • Accelerate tasks • Improve individual productivity • Reduce friction in isolated workflows But they rarely understand: • How your business actually makes decisions • Where handoffs break down • Which signals matter most • How revenue, operations, risk, and customer experience intersect • What makes your organization distinct As a result, AI tools tend to optimize activity, not outcomes.

They make work happen faster but not necessarily better, smarter, or more aligned.

This is why many organizations report high AI usage with uneven results.

The AI is working. It’s just not working for them.

Where the Real Value of AI Lives The true value of AI is not speed alone.

The value of AI lies in amplifying what is uniquely yours.

Your differentiation lives in your: • Processes • Products • People • Alignment • Brand If AI is used only as an accelerator, especially through fixed, out-of-the-box solutions, it will not emphasize your unit value proposition, it will flatten it.

AI that is not designed around your business does not help you become more you.

It pushes you toward the average.

That is why speed alone is not a strategy.

Acceleration without differentiation creates sameness.

The Different Positions of AI Inside an Organization Most organizations have AI operating in multiple positions at once, often without realizing it.

1. Personal AI: AI exists at the individual level. People experiment independently with little coordination, documentation, or governance.

2. Functional AI: Departments adopt AI tools independently—marketing, sales, operations—creating local efficiency but organizational silos.

3. Operational AI: AI is embedded into workflows. It supports repeatable processes, interacts with data systems, and operates within defined boundaries.

4. Strategic AI: AI operates across departments, connecting insights from revenue, marketing, finance, operations, and customer experience into a shared intelligence layer. Most organizations stall between functional and operational AI. The leap to strategic AI requires orchestration.

Why Orchestration Is the Shift for 2026 AI orchestration is what connects AI across the business.

It allows organizations to: • Surface insights across silos • Understand what is actually driving outcomes • Align decisions across teams • Move beyond task efficiency to business intelligence.

Without orchestration, AI remains a collection of tools. With orchestration, AI becomes an operating layer.

This is why many organizations struggle to move from pilot to production—not because the technology fails, but because the structure is missing.

Piloting the Right Way: Models, Not Tools Another critical shift is how organizations pilot AI. Most companies pilot tools. Mature organizations pilot models.

Different models are optimized for different tasks, reasoning, long-context analysis, multimodal inputs, or enterprise productivity. Piloting at the model level allows organizations to evaluate accuracy, cost, performance, and risk before embedding AI into core workflows.

Model-level pilots: • Reduce vendor lock-in • Clarify governance requirements early • Align AI to real business use cases • Accelerate the path from pilot to production.

Piloting models—not boxed solutions— is how organizations retain control.

RPA vs. Generative AI: Execution vs. Insight A foundational distinction in mature AI adoption is understanding what generative AI should—and should not—do.

Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is deterministic. It automates structured, rules-based tasks such as data entry, reconciliation, and system handoffs. It is ideal for sensitive and regulated workflows.

Generative AI is probabilistic. It generates language, insights, and recommendations.

Mature organizations: • Use RPA for execution • Use Generative AI for insight • Prevent generative AI from directly accessing secure databases, financial systems, PII, or proprietary IP This separation enables scale without unnecessary risk.

IT Security, AI Security, and Governance AI also requires clearer security thinking.

• IT security protects the perimeter • AI security governs how models behave internally • Governance ensures transparency, accountability, and auditability AI adoption is not about absorbing risk—it’s about managing it intelligently.

Governance does not slow progress. It enables trust, clarity, and scale.

Governance begins with fundamentals: • Documented prompts and use cases • Clear data boundaries • Model version tracking • Human-in-the-loop review What 2026 Will Reward AI toys helped people learn. AI tools helped people move faster. AI systems will help businesses win.

The organizations that succeed in 2026 will be those that: • Design AI around their uniqueness • Pilot at the model level • Orchestrate across the enterprise • Govern with intention • Use AI to amplify—not flatten—who they are Because in the end, speed alone is not advantage.

Acceleration without differentiation creates sameness

MOLLIE BARNETT is an AI Advisor for Business and Strategic Growth Architect on Long Island.

Her team offers Secure AI, AI options, AI planning, integration, and education.

18

By Matt Meduri

Youth Matters Thursday, January 8, 2026

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Next Gen Advisory Council Makes Annual Report to Legislature

The Suffolk County Legislature’s Next Generation Advisory Council is tasked with a specific purpose: connect Millennials and Gen Z to the local government and ensure those younger generations have a voice in municipal leadership.

For Chairwoman Sarah Zepeda, the prerogative is to also highlight the key issues of importance to these Suffolk residents and present her board’s findings to the Legislature.

The regular goal is to counsel the horseshoe on issues facing those generations when crafting new bills.

The Next Generation Advisory Council was resurrected after several gap years. Zepeda and her co-panelists delivered their first Annual Report to the Legislature on December 18 in Hauppauge. The meeting was also attended by then-Deputy Presiding Officer Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters) and Minority Leader Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon).

“Suffolk County has already taken meaningful steps through legislation, programs, and infrastructure investments,” said Zepeda. “The challenge ahead is ensuring these efforts remain in touch with youth priorities and that young residents are aware of and able to benefit from already existing programs.

Economic concerns weigh heavily on the minds of young people in Suffolk. They see other competitive markets in various states and metropolitan areas across the United States with well-paying jobs and where the cost of living is less. They see their fellow high school classmates leaving Suffolk for what is perceived to be greener pastures.”

Quarterly surveys were conducted through email, social media, and community outreach. The sample size of forty-three respondents saw 35.6% say that affordable housing is by far the most important issue of the top ten. Following that are job opportunities (10.4%), taxes (5.9%), Environment, New Business, and Water Quality (all tied 4.4%), Affordable Living (3.7%), Engagement, Open Space Preservation, Engagement, and Homelessness (tied at 3%), Wages (2.2%), Traffic, Affordable Education, Mental Illness, Access to Justice, and Accelerating the Permit Process (tied at 1.5%).

“Young people are really thinking about the environment for the long term,” said Zepeda. “They’re not just focused on conservation in theory, but on how environmental quality affects daily life and future sustainability here in the county.”

Councilwoman Heather Ciaburri (pictured right), who brings her experience as a case worker in the Department of Social Services (DSS), says that DSS is working to “create a long-term goal” to combat homelessness.

“We have caseworkers on a constant basis going out into the field on the streets, doing fast interviews, seeing what they need,” said Ciaburri, adding on housing, “The Council recommends exploring an incentive -based, application -driven housing program to encourage youth accessible units, without imposing mandates. Additionally, the council suggests an aggressive cross -platform social media campaign about each program to ensure an equal distribution of information for self -accounting.”

Ciaburri added that with young people “always on their phones”, “aggressive social media campaigns” would be of benefit in targeting new home buyers.

The Council also found that civic engagement is also of concern. Zepeda noted that while increases in the cost of living are “driven largely by state and federal forces, young people link these challenges to the County’s role in taxation and local budgeting”, despite Suffolk operating within the 2% tax cap.

“The Council suggests creating an additional advisory council seat appointed by the County Executive with previous State or federal background to provide insight into how State and federal processes intersect with County decisions,” said Zepeda. “The Council would like to see how to realistically change town zoning to allow for tiny homes and cottages, expanding educational opportunities to limit student loans and tax credits.”

Councilwoman Tabatha Fajardo hailed recent accomplishments by the horseshoe to address these issues, including workforce housing legislation by Legislator Nick Caracappa (C-Selden) and housing for volunteer EMS personnel by Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue).

“A majority of the issues stem from this major disconnect that seems to be happening from the County to the youth. Not only are there a lot of opportunities for people who are first-time homebuyers on the younger side, there’s this communication gap that exists between the County being able to successfully communicate those resources to the constituencies, based on what I’ve seen,” Fajardo told The Messenger.

“I think the Council has done a great job of narrowing down the main objectives. I think it serves as a great preliminary starting point for the Council to then build upon it in future years in ways that might be more hands-on. It’s definitely a good starting point, but it’s by no means the end of what the overall goal is.”

Zepeda (pictured left), 24, is the first Chair of the Council since its resurrection and found 2025 to be a good starting point for its objectives.

“We’ve had different kinds of people, people who just bought a house, people who are just starting their jobs, finishing college. It’s been great to get that participation because it gives us a more dynamic look and for us to get the ear of the Legislature,” Zepeda told The Messenger.

Zepeda, who is pursuing a master’s degree online from University of Albany, said that time and cost might not be worth the sacrifice for some if the earnings aren’t in the field.

“Some people who just bought a house haven’t lived a life in five years because they might have to work an extra job for a couple of years,” said Zepeda.

“People deserve a quality of life.”

Zepeda also says that her top objective for 2026 is furthering engagement and creating a synergy between the County and the youth. She highlighted Suffolk County Community College’s program, where those without college degrees by 25 can have their education subsidies to stock high-demand fields.

“The biggest problem is that the youth just isn’t aware of things,” said Zepeda.

AMAC Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Overview - AMAC The Association of Mature American Citizens

Thursday, January 8, 2026

Democrats Disgrace Themselves Following Trump’s Daring Venezuela Raid

By Shane Harris| Editor in Chief AMAC Newsline

Democrats’ Trump Derangement Syndrome has reached critical condition following a daring U.S. military raid that captured Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro over the weekend. Many of the same liberals who once criticized President Donald Trump for supposedly allowing Maduro to remain in power are now outraged that Trump has taken decisive action to end his rule.

By any objective metric, the raid was a stunning success and yet another massive feather in Trump’s foreign policy cap. In a lightning strike that lasted less than three hours, American forces captured Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, and brought them to face justice in the United States. In March 2020, during Trump’s first term, the Department of Justice filed criminal charges against Maduro for narco-terrorism, drug trafficking, and related offenses.

In the wake of the raid, tens of millions of Venezuelan citizens and freedom-loving people around the world took to the streets to celebrate the downfall of one of the world’s most brutal authoritarian leaders. “This feels like a breath of fresh air,” one Venezuelan who lives in Florida told CBS News. “It’s not an act of war. It’s an act of freedom,” another said. Videos coming out of Venezuela show tens of thousands of people waving flags and cheering in the streets.

Democrats, however, were decidedly less enthusiastic about Maduro’s capture, accusing Trump of violating the Constitution and initiating an “act of war” against Venezuela. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) called the raid “reckless,” while House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) alleged that the Trump administration showed “no evidence” that Maduro posed an “imminent threat.”

Newly inaugurated Mayor of New York City Zohran Mamdani reportedly called Trump personally to criticize the raid, accusing the President of violating international law. Mamdani’s comrades in the Democratic Socialists of America demanded that Trump release Maduro immediately.

In fact, it appears as if Democrats and NeverTrump Republicans have joined Maduro’s inner circle and other corrupt regimes in places like Iran, Russia, and North Korea as the only people who are upset that the now-former dictator is sitting in a jail cell instead of the presidential palace in Caracas.

But it was Democrats themselves who first insisted that the United States do more to bring about Maduro’s downfall – and even disparaged Trump for not taking exactly the sort of action that they now claim is reckless and unconstitutional.

Take, for instance, the criticism from former Vice President Kamala Harris, who posted on X that Trump’s actions were “unlawful and unwise” and accused him of launching a “war for regime change.”

But as users on social media were quick to point out, the Biden-Harris administration offered a $25 million reward for information that would have led to Maduro’s arrest. (Too bad Trump can’t retroactively collect it.)

Adding to the hypocrisy, back in 2020, Schumer, who is now blasting Trump for bringing an end to the Maduro regime, explicitly criticized Trump for not bringing an end to the Maduro regime.

A year before that, in 2019, Connecticut Democrat Senator Chris Murphy had this to say about Venezuela: “If Trump cared about consistency, he would make the realist case for intervention in Venezuela (getting rid of Maduro is good for the United States).” But following this weekend’s events – now that Trump has taken Murphy’s advice and done something that Murphy himself said would be good for the country – Murphy posted that “the illegality of Trump’s insane war in Venezuela is out of control.”

Murphy further called the strike “a warmongering distraction.” But it was far more than a “distraction”

for the 30 million people who live in Venezuela and the countless Americans who have had their lives destroyed by the illicit drug trade that Maduro propped up. It was also a devastating blow to China, Russia, Iran, and every other U.S. adversary that had used Venezuela as an outpost in America’s backyard.

It’s also worth noting that the same Democrats who are now accusing Trump of violating the Constitution and committing an “act of war” against Venezuela had nothing but praise to offer when former President Barack Obama took even more serious actions without congressional approval.

In 2011, Obama authorized an enormous air offensive to intervene in the Libyan Civil War, an action

19

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

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

that eventually led to the overthrow and death of Muammar Gaddafi. Obama also authorized a strike that killed Osama bin Laden inside the sovereign nation of Pakistan without congressional approval – a success which even his Republican opponents in Congress almost universally commended him for.

Now, however, when the military swoops in and captures a foreign dictator alive and returns him to the United States to face justice in a court of law, Democrats are losing their minds. Few reactions in recent memory have so perfectly captured how hypocritical, out of touch, and downright unhinged Democrats seem to the American people.

WHERE BROADWAY MEETS MAIN STREET

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S T A G E

THE MUSICAL

NOV 13–DEC 28 U P

N E X T

MAR 12–APR 26 C H I L D R E N’S

Nov 22–Dec 28

T H E A T E R

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7 Bits & Pieces

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Thursday, January 8, 2026

WORD OF THE

Week

Etymology: late Middle English (in the sense ‘immodest, indelicate’): from Latin impudent-, from in- ‘not’ + pudent- ‘ashamed, modest’ (from pudere ‘be ashamed’).

Source: Oxford Languages

IMPUDENT

1

9

Master

2 6

Pronounced: /im·pyuh·dnt/ Definition: not showing due respect for another person; impertinent.

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

SUDOKU

4 6 1

adjective

2

9 7

8 8 5

Example: “The neighbor’s impudent attitude towards his property got him in hot water with the HOA.” Synonyms: insolent, audacious, brazen Antonyms: polite, respectful, courteous

4 5 2 1 2

Dow mob Sudo

1 6 3

3 9

2 8 7

6

5

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

This Week in History

WORD WHEEL

January 13, 1936:

Screen Directors Guild incorporates in Hollywood, later voting King Vidor as their first president.

A Y

3 7 1 9 2 5 8 4 6

9 5 4 8 1 6 3 7 2

6 2 8 3 4 7 1 5 9

1 9 5 2 6 3 7 8 4

7 8 3 1 9 4 2 6 5

2 4 6 5 7 8 9 1 3

See how many words you can create.

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

4 letter word minimum.

Dr. Jesse Bennett performs 1st successful Cesarean section operation in the U.S., on his wife, Elizabeth, delivering a baby girl at their home in Edom, Virginia.

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R 5 1 9 6 8 2 4 3 7

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Apple CEO Steve Jobs announces the iPhone.

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January 9, 2007:

January 14, 1794:

January 10, 1967:

Edward W. Brooke (R-MA) takes his seat as the first African American popularly elected to the US Senate.

January 11, 1569: January 8, 1790: President George Washington delivers the first State of the Union address.

Source: Onthisday.com.

January 12, 1969: Atlantic Records releases eponymous debut album of Led Zeppelin in U.S.

First recorded lottery in England is drawn in St Paul’s Cathedral in London.

First prize was £5,000, other prizes included silver plate, tapestries and high quality linen cloth.

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

12/09/2025

Master

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

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

Messenger Perspectives Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

21

Thursday, January 8, 2026

This One Really Bright Spot

By PJ Balzer

This past year hasn’t been my easiest one if I can be perfectly honest. It opened up with a parent’s cancer diagnosis and has closed with the sudden passing of a child in my immediate family.

Then there’s all of the hidden challenges and changes, the imagery on the news I personally find disheartening - imagery and issues that have affected myself, my wife, and people we love in a life-altering way.

I find it a good thing to pray often and ask God for eyes to see the bright spots though. Otherwise, we become totally consumed with everything going wrong while we miss the “silver lining” we often refer to. This past week, I was doing just that and realized what a little bright light has shone into my 2025. It may seem small or irrelevant to you, but to me it’s been heart lifting.

Over the summer I ended up randomly running into a friend. We’ve done some youth ministry together in the past and then our personal journeys took us in different ways. In running into him, he shared that he was excited to begin a new job soon as the youth pastor at Timothy Hill Ranch in Riverhead, a place that does work that I’ve always felt was extremely valuable to individual kids and society as a whole.

In a follow-up conversation, a month or so later, once he was somewhat settled into his new position, he asked if I would come out to Riverhead and

speak to the kids at their Sunday church service, not only once, but once a month. I couldn’t fully put into words what a blessing being inside the Ranch with the teenagers has been to bring a simple yet heartfelt message of hope, healing, redemption, and change. This open door at the ranch coincides with our calling, our outreach, and most importantly, with God’s heart.

To make this little bright spot even brighter, this past Sunday my wife and I walked into the Ranch only to be greeted by two teenagers that we have known since they were in elementary school. We had no idea that they were now residents at the Ranch, and they had no idea that we were visiting this Sunday.

Towards the end of the church service, my wife was brought to thankful tears to see these two young men there, safe from the streets, safe from their own home environments, and being loved and ministered to. It reminded us both that we are just a small part of a much bigger plan in motion that we can’t even begin to fathom. God knows the end of the story before it even begins. He knows every detour, heartbreak and mistake in between as well.

Yet, He’s still working it all together for a good purpose.

I’m so grateful for such a bright spot to conclude a usually dark year. I hope you can find one bright spot in yours as well.

Congratulations Natalie Affenita: Top 40 Under 40

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

Natalie Affenita has never been one to follow a straight path. In fact, she’s taken more detours than most-including captaining a collegiate dance team, traveling the world, working as a travel agent in Florence, and selling stone in a mason’s yard before realizing that real estate was where she was meant to be.

Her journey into the industry was anything but conventional. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she was working with her father in construction when a customer walked in, looking for materials. Natalie didn’t just sell him a piece of stone-she sold him on her talent. So much so that he took her to lunch the next day, not to discuss masonry but to convince her to get into real estate. After a few conversations and some paperwork, she was officially in the business, and she hasn’t looked back since.

Real estate has tested her in ways she never expected, especially when health complications forced her to undergo surgery to insert a cardiac monitor, which Natalie still has today. But slowing down? Not an option. Even during recovery, Natalie found a way to keep her deals moving, show properties, and stay present for her clients-thanks to an incredible support system of family, colleagues, and sheer determination. “Real estate doesn’t pause, and neither do I,” she says with a laugh.

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

Just Listed / Hampton Bays $869,999

Just Listed / Ronkonkoma $325,000

Just Listed / Holbrook $585,000

Just Listed / Patchogue $590,000

For Rent / Patchogue $3,800.00 per Month

Islander Thursday, January 8, 2026

Schaefer Embraces LI

By Ashley Pavlakis

The Isles have found their guy, and Long Island watching Schaefer’s story unfold. is absolutely loving it. The New York Islanders earned Being an 18-year-old from Canada, Schaefer needed a the first overall pick in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft place to live that would offer guidance as he navigates and selected Matthew Schaefer out of Hamilton, his first year in the league. A longtime [recently retired] Ontario.

Islander and beloved ‘goon’ took him under his wing.

Over the summer, The Messenger had discussed Schaefer resides at the Martin house, home of Matt the NHL draft and the potential options available Martin, his wife Sydney, and their four children. Schaefer to the Islanders. It was between a hometown kid has fit in quite well, raiding Martin’s closet for gameday and a projected number one pick. James Hagens fits, hanging out with the two little girls, and even posing or Matthew Schaefer? The New York Islanders went in the family Christmas card as an honorary Martin. on to select Matthew Schaefer first overall. The first There was chatter about Schaefer potentially Matthew Schaefer smiles at the podium after being selected in the getting the nod for Team Canada at the Olympics, but Islander jersey Schaefer would ever wear had a 2025 NHL Draft, officially beginning his journey with the New York special touch to honor his late mother, Jennifer. A like his father said recently in an interview, he’s only 18 Islanders. Credit: @matthewschaefer (Instagram) breast cancer ribbon on the chest and a ‘JS’ inside and has a long career ahead of him. Having made the the collar.

NHL is just one hurdle for a young kid: there’s plenty of time to talk about the Schaefer has been described as generational so far in his NHL career. Keep in Olympic team in the future. mind, it’s only been 42 games that have been filled with lots of promising aspects.

As the number one overall pick in the NHL, the media attention is never-ending.

The defenseman has 12 goals and 16 assists for a total of 28 points. Schaefer is also But for Schaefer, he’s taken it in stride. The rookie is humble, happy, and loving his a +8, which bodes well for the rookie. The Ontario native played in the OHL for the time in The Show and on Long Island. In interviews, he’s constantly smiling and Erie Otters, where he amassed 10 goals, 29 assists for a total of 39 points in his two providing quality answers that showcase his knowledge of the game. seasons there.

“I love this place, I mean, I’ve said it before, and it sounds repetitive, but I Schaefer is paired with fellow defenseman Adam Pulock as the Islanders’ top really do love this place, and it feels like home as an 18-year-old coming in. From defensive pairing. He’s averaging 23 plus minutes a night. The defenseman has our whole team, staff, to all the fans and everyone here on Long Island. You go contributed six goals on the powerplay, as well as three game-winning goals and anywhere and everyone’s greeting you, so it feels like home. It’s easy for my dad two goals in overtime. Additionally, he’s only taken 20 penalty minutes which is and brother, and my mom obviously, to be happy that I am where I am because essentially nothing. everyone makes me feel so welcome,” Schafer said in a postgame interview with I, personally, am not an Islander fan. I root for the other New York team. But Kyle Bukauskas of Sportsnet (Hockey Night in Canada). since my team is not doing well and their ticket prices are outrageous, I go to Get to UBS arena and watch Matthew Schaefer play hockey; you won’t regret Islander games and spend my money on great food and a good time with no true it. His story has been fun so far, can’t wait to see what’s next for the Hamilton, stake in the game being played on the ice. With that being said, I’ve had a fun time Ontario native.

Bay Shore Girls Basketball: Hustling On The Court

By Ashley Pavlakis The Bay Shore Marauders girls’ basketball team is putting it all out on the court this season in a hunt for a title. The girls are off to a great start midway through the 2025-26 season.

Bay Shore girls basketball is a member of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and competes in League I. The girls are led by second-year head coach Devine Smith. Smith’s resume includes stints at LIU Post and Dowling College, serving as an assistant coach for both teams, respectively. Prior to that, he was an assistant coach at Copiague High School. Courtside, Devine is joined by assistant coach Aubrey Braxton. The team currently boasts an 8-1-0 record, sitting in first place in League I. Last season, the Marauders finished the season with a 13-9 record. The 2024-25 season saw them make the playoffs for the first time in a decade, as well as notching their first playoff win in 13 years.

Bay Shore defeated Longwood 47-27 and advanced to the second round, where they unfortunately fell to Walt Whitman. Aside from breaking a dryspell, the Marauders were also promoted from League II to League I ahead of the 2025-26 season.

On the court, the Marauders have a few key players they roll with. Kaitlyn Brewer, Leahlani Ellis, Kimora Pearson, and Nyah Issac. Pearson, a

guard/forward, is currently ranked 14th in Suffolk County with 37FG-20(3PTS)-19FTS for a total of 153 points. Junior forward Nyah Issac has 75 points, junior point guard Leahlani Ellis has 112 points, and senior guard/forward Kaitlyn Brewer has 46 points.

Last season, Leahlani Ellis was awarded All-League honors, and Kaitlyn Brewer was honored with the Unsung Hero award. Prior to the start of this season, Ellis messwas named to Newsday’s Top 100 basketball players.

In nine games this season, the Marauders have won eight, 5 against league opponents and 3 against non-league opponents. Their only loss came against Walt Whitman, a league opponent they’re familiar with. Their offense is averaging 52 points per game, with their highest offensive output coming in an 82-31 win over Summit High School.

Through nine games, the Marauders have kept their opponents to under 40 points in six out of nine games.

The Marauders have five seniors on the squad for 2025-26: Kaitlyn Brewer, Jaliah Collins, Emily Ehlers, Amanda Jimenez, and Julia McFadden.

Brewer, a multisport athlete, is headed to Queens University of Charlotte to play Division I lacrosse.

McFadden, another multisport athlete, is headed

to Molloy University, where she’ll play Division II lacrosse. Bay Shore will honor their senior class on February third when they take on Longwood.

The squad has fared well both at home and on the road, proving they can play anywhere. With 11 games remaining in the regular season, the Marauders will divide their time, playing six at home and five on the road.

The Bay Shore girls varsity basketball team is on a strong run so far, they look to keep the momentum going as they make a push for the playoffs and hopefully change their fate and scrap out some wins in the postseason.

23

Coach Longo Suddenly Steps Down

By PJ Balzer This past week, Suffolk County has built Floyd a football program to be proud of football fans and more so the William and that the community can rally around. From Floyd football family received news the varsity right down to the youth football league. that long-time coach Paul Longo had handed in his resignation letter. After Coach Longo hasn’t only had success coaching 31 seasons at the helm of a major ship football though. Prior to taking over the top and successful program in Suffolk spot as coach of the Colonials, Longo coached County, his playbook and headset will hockey at Sachem where he won nine Suffolk be passed on to someone else. Many County championships and back-to-back New were also left scratching their heads York State championships. He is a mastermind at such sudden and unexpected news. in sports and has a chess-like approach Coach Paul Longo took over the that is always thinking a few plays ahead.

William Floyd football program in 1995.

He used football to mentor thousands of Up until that point, the Colonials had kids and young men. Waking up early, being never won a playoff game, ever. In the disciplined, working harder than the opponents past 31 seasons Longo has completely in the weight room and on speed drills. Keeping turned an upside-down program into up good grades inside the classroom while also a powerhouse, not only by what is exercising sportsmanship and respect both done on the field in the fall months on and off the field. These are all qualities that but by all of the unseen work that he Coach Longo passed down into his players, and his players put in all year round. whether they were stars or kids who didn’t see William Floyd has since had 26 playoff the field much. He used this program to redirect appearances, 21 county championship thousands of lives. The school district has games, 15 Suffolk County titles, five Long already stated that the Lincoln football complex Island championships, three Rutgers will be named after him sometime this year.

Photo Credit: William Floyd School District trophies as the best team in Suffolk Coach Longo added, “I want to thank all the County, one top 15 national ranking (Sports Illustrated/2007). In addition, coaches, administrators and support staff who have supported me all these Longo is the most winning coach in Suffolk County history with an overall years. But most of all, the players who left their heart and soul on the field record of 253-67, a winning percentage of nearly .800. His 42-game winning and made us so proud. I will never forget the great wins and championships, streak (2005-2008) still remains as the longest winning streak in Suffolk County. but most of all the bonds we formed. I will always love William Floyd and be He was inducted into the Suffolk County Football Hall of Fame in 2021. He the biggest William Floyd fan.”

Suffolk Indoor Track Season Underway

By Messenger Sports Staff

Suffolk County’s high school indoor track and field season is gaining momentum as teams transition from early tune-up meets into league competition. Athletes are beginning to establish form ahead of upcoming league championships and the Section XI qualifying meets later this winter at Suffolk County Community College.

Coaches are using the opening weeks to evaluate depth, adjust event assignments, and identify athletes ready to take on expanded roles. Distance races and relays have already drawn attention, while steady improvements are emerging across sprint and field events. With several weeks remaining before championship competition, early performances are helping define Suffolk’s indoor track contenders.

Smithtown Messenger - Brookhaven Messenger - Islip Messenger - Thursday, January 8, 2026

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QUARTER PAGE

125 500 AD SPACE SIZES

900

1200

AD SIZE

FULL PAGE 10" X 14"

HALF PAGE 10" X 6 7/8"

QUARTER PAGE 4 7/8" X 6 7/8"

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Contact: Raheem Soto 631-830-1111

HALF PAGE

QUARTER Eighth Page Business Card AdPAGE • Strip Ads (bottom of page) 10" Ad X 6• 7/8" 4 7/8" X 6 7/8" Column Inch Ads • Front Page Banner / Footer Back Page Box or Strip • Corner Flags

FOR MORE INFORMATION: MESSENGER PAPERS INC. 558 PORTION RD SUITE B, LAKE RONKONKOMA, NY 11779 1 2 weeks

FULL PAGE

500

2000

HALF PAGE

250

1000

QUARTER PAGE

125

QUARTER PAGE 4 7/8" X 6 7/8"

FULL PAGE 10" X 14"

HALF PAGE 10" X 6 7/8"

PHONE 631-263-6863 • EMAIL PUBLISHER@MESSENGERPAPERS.COM

Contact: Raheem Soto 631-830-1111

FOR MORE INFORMATION: 500

3600

4800

1800

2400

900

1200

�� OTHER AVAILABLE PRINT AD SPACES ✅ Eighth Page Ad ✅ ✅ Strip Ads (bottom of page) ✅ ✅ Front Page Banner / Footer ✅ ✅ Corner Flags Contact: Raheem Soto 631-830-1111

QUARTER PAGE 4 7/8" X 6 7/8"

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: RAHEEM SOTO 631-263-6863 FOR MORE INFORMATION: