ADVERTISE
YOUR
BUSINESS
HERE
Email publisher@ messengerpapers.com
Thursday, November 12, 2026 ~ Volume 138 ~ Issue Number 52 ~ $1.00
Stolen Valor: Tierney Nabs Military Imposter Ahead of Veterans Day By Matt Meduri Suffolk County is home to the largest Veteran population in New York, and the second-largest in the nation behind San Diego. Suffolk’s citizenry, governments, and civic groups are well-known for their reverence for Veterans. But one man is alleged to have taken advantage of that good will. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) on Tuesday announced that David Agtsteribbe, 58, of Hampton Bays, was arrested and charged for allegedly fabricating his military service history, submitting falsified military documents to obtain personal and financial benefits, and stealing money from an American Legion post where he served as a finance officer since 2021. Continued on page 4
Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney (Credit - Matt Meduri)
Colombian National Indicted for Allegedly Bringing Stolen Gun to HSW By Matt Meduri A 16-year-old Colombian national is facing three felony charges for allegedly bringing a stolen firearm into Smithtown’s High School West (HSW). Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) announced on Tuesday that the Colombian national, living in Nesconset, was indicted on charges of Criminal Possession of a Weapon and related. The firearm, which was reported stolen, was allegedly confiscated from the defendant’s backpack after several students alerted school officials to a concerning social media post. According to the investigation, on October 26, 2026, the defendant was involved in interviews by the school’s principal regarding a previous incident with another student. During those interviews, the principal learned that the defendant had allegedly posted an image of himself holding a gun on social media. That post was reported by three separate students. Continued on page 10
Entrance to Smithtown High School West’s campus (Credit - Smithtown CSD)
FULL STORIES ON:
Ray Romano Commack H.S. Visits Inducted Into LIMEHOF Legislature Page 5
Page 12
St. James Non-Profit Holds Art Gala Page 15
2
Messenger Papers Thursday, November 12, 2026
Messenger Papers Papers Inc. Inc.
AUTUMN EVENTS Nature Knowledge Night – Constellations: Friday, December 11, 6:30p.m. to 8:00p.m. at Connetquot River State Park (Reservation required at Eventbrite.com). Historic Clubhouse and Grist Mill Tours: Sunday, December 6, 1:00p.m. to 3:00p.m. at Connetquot River State Park (Reservation required at Eventbrite.com). EJ’s PJs - This Little Light of Mine Pajama Extravaganza: December 3, 5:30p.m., Connect Church, 31 Horseblock Road, Centereach. Holiday Tree Lighting: Bayard Cutting Arboretum, Friday, December 4, 5:00p.m.
Seal Hikes: December 5, 10:00a.m. to 12:00p.m. at Montauk Point State Park (Reservations required at parks.ny.gov). Destination Saltmarsh Hike (Family Program): Saturday, November 14, 10:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. at Caumsett State Historic Park. Fall Wildlife Safari (Family Program): Saturday, November 14, 10:30a.m. to 12:00p.m. at Caleb Smith State Park. Pirate Coe’s Treasure Hunt (Children’s Program): Saturday, November 21, 10:30a.m. to 12:30p.m. at Planting Fields Arboretum. Citizen Science – Beach Hike (Adult Program): Wednesday, November 25, 11:30a.m. to 12:30p.m. at Wildwood State Park.
ALL ABOARD
X E P R R E A I R E LXPE NC E
SSE
PO
Port Jeff Station Terryville Chamber of Commerce Presents
Wear your Pajamas!
Private Shows available
$25PP
ALL AGES MUST HAVE A TICKET
INCLUDES: POPCORN, WATER, HOT CHOCOLATE, COOKIE, SHOWING OF THE POLAR EXPRESS MOVIE, & VISIT WITH A SANTA!
THE CHAMBER TRAIN CAR THURSDAYS ~ NOV 12, 19- DEC 3,10,17 FRIDAYS ~ NOV 13,19 - DEC 4, 11,18 SATURDAYS ~ NOV 14, 21- DEC 5, 12,19 SUNDAYS ~ NOV 15, 22 - DEC 6,13,20
Ticket & More Info At www.PJSTChamber.com Rt 112 & Rt 347 Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776
631-821-1313 @pjstcofc pjstchamber@gmail.com
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
SMITHTOWN | BROOKHAVEN | ISLIP SMITHTOWN | BROOKHAVEN | ISLIP PUBLISHER Diane Caudullo
SCAN QR
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Matt Meduri
ART PRODUCTION MANAGER Sergio A. Fabbri
ONLY Delivered $CODE TO SUBSCRIBE To Your MESSENGER A YEAR! PAPERS Door!
35
Delivered $ ONLY To Your CONTRIBUTORS A YEAR! PJ BalzerDoor! Ashley Pavlakis
35
Name: ____________________________________________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________ Phone: _____________________ Email ________________________________ CHOOSE ONE:
METHOD OF PAYMENT:
IN COUNTY
Credit card information:
12 Months - $35.00 24 Months - $65.00
Name: _______________________________ Card Number: ________________________ CVV: __________________
Expiration: _____________ 36 Months - $90.00 Name: ____________________________________________________________ Signature: ______________________________ Address: __________________________________________________________ OUT OF COUNTY Feel free to call (631) 265-3500 or pay by check __________________________________________________________ 12 Months - $50.00 (Make out to Messenger Papers) Phone: _____________________ Email ________________________________
OFFICE ADMIN Gia Rudilosso CHOOSE ONE:
Call Us
631-265-3500
METHOD OF PAYMENT: Cut this out and send to: Credit card information:
Messenger Papers, Inc. P.O. Box 925 Smithtown, NY 11787-0925
IN COUNTY SOCIAL MEDIA 12 Months - $35.00 Name: _______________________________ In Person subscribe@messengerpapers.com JACK Creative Card Number: ________________________ 558 Portion Rd., Ronkonkoma, NY 11779 24 Months - $65.00 __________________ Marketing Services CVV: Expiration: _____________ Mail 36 Months - $90.00 Signature: ______________________________ DISTRIBUTION & Box 925, NY 11787 OUT OF COUNTY Feel free toP.O. call (631) 265-3500 or paySmithtown, by check 12 Months - $50.00 (Make out to Messenger Papers) CIRCULATION Display Advertising Messenger Papers, Inc. MANAGER Cut this out Publisher@MessengerPapers.com P.O. Box 925 and send to: Smithtown, NY 11787-0925 Tim Walz Legal Notices &
subscribe@messengerpapers.com
DELIVERY PERSONNEL PJ Balzer Joe Cuminale
Classifieds Advertising
Legals@MessengerPapers.com
News Tips or Leads
Editor@MessengerPapers.com
Branch Funeral Home of Miller Place
Let
Four Generations of Hope, Guidance & Compassion
Conveni and A m our Cer t
A Fami l Spanni
Fami ly for Near
Branch Funeral Home of Miller Place
Family Owned & Operated Family Owned & Operated Family Owned & Operated for Nearly 125 Years for Nearly 125 for Nearly 125 Years Years Family Owned & Operated A Family of Funeral Directors for NearlyLegacy 125 Years A Family Legacy of Funeral Directors A Family Legacy of Funeral Spanning Four Generations Directors A Family Legacy of Funeral Directors Spanning Four Spanning Four Generations Generations Spanning Four Generations Conveniently Located, Modern Facilities Conveniently Located, Modern Facilities and Amenities including Hudson, Conveniently Located, Modern Facilities and AmenitiesGrief including Hudson, our Certified Therapy Dog and Amenities including Hudson, our Certified Grief Therapy Dog
O
Let
Four Generations of Hope, Guidance & Compassion
Conveni and A m our Cer t
our Certified Grief Therapy Dog
A Fami l Spanni Four Generations of Hope, Guidance Four Four Generations Generations & of Compassion Hope, Guidance of Hope, Guidance & Compassion & & Compassion Compassion
Let Our Family, Serve Yours. Let Our Family, Serve Yours. Let Our Family, Serve Yours. CONVENIENT LOCATIONS: LetOUR Our Family, Serve Yours.
Fami ly for Near
OUR CONVENIENT LOCATIONS:
Branch Funeral HomeOUR CONVENIENT Branch FuneralLOCATIONS: Home Branch Funeral Home of OUR CONVENIENT LOCATIONS: Branch Funeral Home Branch Funeral Home Branch Commack Funeral Home of of Miller Place of Smithtown Branch Funeral Home Branch Funeral Home Branch Funeral Home of of Miller Place of Smithtown Commack Funeral Branch Funeral Home Branch Home Branch Funeral Home of of Miller Place Commack of Smithtown of Miller Place Commack of Smithtown
USPS No. 499220
One of the Official Newspapers for County of Suffolk, Village of Head of the Harbor, Village of Nissequogue, Inc., Village of the Branch, Hauppauge, Kings Park, Commack, Smithtown School District. Periodicals Postage Paid at Ronkonkoma, NY and additional entries.
Smithtown Messenger November 12, 2026 (USPS No. 499220) is published weekly for $35 per year by Messenger Papers Inc., 558 Portion Road, Suite B, Ronkonkoma, NY 11779. Periodicals postage paid at Ronkonkoma, NY and additional mailing offices.
BRANCHFH.COM BRANCHFH.COM BRANCHFH.COM
The Smithtown Messenger is a community newspaper serving Smithtown, Kings Park, St. James, Nesconset, Hauppauge, Commack, and Stony Brook
This newspaper will not be liable for errors appearing in any advertisement beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. The opinions expressed in byline articles, letters and columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of Messenger Papers, Inc, its publishers or editors. Pictures submitted for publication remain property of the publisher. Postmaster: Send address changes to Smithtown Messenger, P.O. Box 925, Smithtown, NY 11787
4
Suffolk Matters Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Stolen Valor: Tierney Nabs Military Imposter Ahead of Veterans Day
Continued from front cover
The investigation shows that Agtsteribbe enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1986. A year later, he was court-martialed and pleaded guilty to stealing money from another soldier. He was sentenced to five months’ confinement and received a bad-conduct discharge. He formally separated from the Army in 1988 and has never served since. In 2021, Agtsteribbe joined the Hampton Bays American Legion and secured the position of Finance Officer by allegedly using fabricated credentials. Although the defendant did not qualify for membership to the Legion due to his bad-conduct discharge, the investigation found that he submitted a fraudulent DD Form 214 that included multiple alterations to his official DD Form 214. The alterations included charges to his active-duty time, a wounded-in-combat designation, retirement at the rank/paygrade of SP4/E-4, an honorable discharge characterization, and a Purple Heart award. Between September 2022 and August 2026, Agtsteribbe allegedly abused his position by stealing funds belonging to the American Legion. He allegedly transferred funds into his personal checking account and used the Legion’s funds to settle personal expenses, including Amazon purchases, electric bills, cable bills, streaming services, travel, leisure, clothing, accessories, and other personal purchases. The District Attorney’s office alleges he stole $81,798.31. “There is something particularly despicable about fabricating a military record and claiming honors you have never earned,” said Tierney in a press release. “This defendant allegedly took that disgraceful deception even further. He is accused of falsely portraying himself as a war hero, infiltrating an organization for those who actually served this country and then betraying their trust by stealing their money. Our Veterans earned their honors through sacrifice and service. This defendant allegedly exploited those sacrifices for his own selfish gain. It is a shameful abuse of trust, and one that we will prosecute.” The investigation further revealed that Agtsteribbe had been applying for and obtaining membership in other Veterans’ organizations for which he didn’t qualify dating back to 2019. He allegedly submitted false documents to obtain benefits and privileges reserved for actual Veterans, including membership of the Military Order of the Purple Heart (MOPH). The defendant’s alleged conduct extended beyond the American Legion post in Hampton Bays, however, as the investigation alleges he filed a falsified DD FOrm 214 with the Town of Southampton to avoid paying a $50 resident permit fee. In 2024, Agtsteribbe submitted multiple
letters to the Southampton Town Clerk’s office for handicap permits. He claimed to have been an Army Veteran who was wounded in combat, a Purple Heart recipient, and a member of the aforementioned Purple Heart Order. He allegedly claimed to be a retired Lieutenant Colonel. At the time of his discharge, he held the rank of Private. Records provided by the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office show the falsified DD Form 214. Agtsteribbe claimed to have received the Army Service Ribbon, the Rifle M-16 Marksman Badge, the Purple Heart, and the Distinguished Service Ribbon. Under the “Remarks” category, “combat wounded, medical discharge” is listed. When compared with the official record, it shows he received the Army Service Ribbon and the Rifle M-16 Marksman Badge, but no mention of a Purple Heart or a Distinguished Service Ribbon. The allegedly falsified document also exaggerates his military education, listing Airborne School, Combat Weaponry, and Close Quarter Combat as qualifications. On the official document, only a Light Wheel Vehicle Mechanic Course appears to have been taken in April 1987. The allegedly falsified document lists Agtsteribbe’s last duty assignment and major command as Fort Bragg, North Carolina. The official document says Fort Riley, Kansas. The D.A.’s office has also provided a letter written by Agtsteribbe to Southampton Town Clerk Sundy Schermeyer (R-Remsenberg), although he addressed it as “Sunday Schermeyer.” In that letter, he identifies himself as a “combat wounded Veteran,” a Purple Heart recipient, and a member of the MOPH, and requests handicap permits for three vehicles belonging to the Hampton Bays American Legion post. He signs off the letter identifying himself as a Lieutenant Colonel. Agtsteribbe was arrested on Sunday by the Southampton Town Police Department. He has been charged with Grand Larceny in the Second Degree, a class C felony; Criminal Possession of a Forged Instrument in the Second Degree, a class D felony; two counts of Offering a False Instrument for Filing in the First Degree, both class E felonies; and three counts of Falsifying Business REcords in the First Degree, all Class E felonies. Agtsteribbe has been remanded during pendency of the case. He is due back in court on November 13 and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted on the top count. He is being represented by the Legal Aid Society. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Patrick Rooney of the Public Corruption Bureau.
The Moloney Family
Request Your FREE Planning Tool Kit Online At
Celebrate the memories The love. The laughs. It’s every special moment. When you plan a service with us, we don’t want you to think about just a funeral or cremation. We want to create a priceless memory for your family.
MOLONEYFH.COM/PLANNINGTOOLKIT OR MAIL IN COUPON BELOW
Name
Phone
(631) 450-3913 Serving all of Long Island with locations in: Bohemia, Central Islip, Holbrook, Lake Ronkonkoma, Center Moriches, Port Jefferson Station, and Hauppauge.
Address MAIL TO: 132 RONKONKOMA AVENUE · LAKE RONKONKOMA, NEW YORK 11779 FREE PLANNING TOOL KIT. OF COURSE, THERE IS NO COST OR OBLIGATION.
Entertainment Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Ray Romano and Executive Producer Rory Rosegarten Inducted into LIMEHOF
5
Actor and Comedian Ray Romano Island. The Barones lived in Lynbrook (star of Everybody Loves Raymond) and his and Raymond was a sports columnist for long-time manager and show Executive Newsday. For 9 years, we put Long Island Producer Rory Rosegarten were recently into millions of living rooms every week. inducted into the Long Island Music and The love, the arguing and the parents Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) who live way too close.” at their Stony Brook Village location (97 And successful it was. Everybody Main Street). Loves Raymond earned 15 Primetime The two have the distinct honor of Emmy Awards out of 69 total nominations being the first entertainment (non-music throughout its nine-season run from related) inductees in the organization’s 1996–2005. 22-year history. The event was open to Ray went on to prove that with the public and completely sold out to his comedic delivery and timing he is room capacity. The event was more than just as talented of a comedian as the just an induction; it was a powerful insight musicians in the hall are at music. He into the value of family, friendship, hard shared his comic genius and style of selfwork and lucky timing in making up the depreciating humor; rocking the packed road to success in a 40-year journey that hall with the sound of laughter from his led to the Hall of Fame. opening line. “I am thrilled that our first non-music “I really think luck is the theme of inductees are Ray Romano and his tonight,” Ray started. “I was so lucky longtime manager, Rory Rosegarten,” that 40 years ago you (Rory) saw me in said Ernie Canadeo, LIMEHOF Chairman. a comedy competition and in your head “Our very successful “Everybody Loves you said, ‘I want 15% of everything that Raymond - Celebrating 30 Years” guy makes,’” Romano joked. “And it was exhibition has been hugely successful equally as lucky that my wife saw me and and would not have been possible said, ‘I’ll take whatever’s left.’” without their input and support. As our Ray went on to tell behind the scenes organization has expanded from music stories from Everybody Loves Raymond to include entertainment, they are worthy (Left to right) Ray Romano and Rory Rosegarten accepting their LIMEHOF awards and thanked and Phil Rosenthal, Patricia (Credit - Steve Leung) inductees into our Hall of Fame.” Heaton, Doris Roberts, Peter Boyle, Brad LIMEHOF inductees need to have either Garrett and the writers and crew of the been born on Long Island (including Brooklyn, Queens, Nassau and Suffolk show and credited them with the show’s success. He shared stories about his Counties) or have lived on Long Island for a significant amount of time. Ray career and most significant was following a set-back after Ray’s brief two-day Romano was born in Queens (which LIMEHOF considers part of Long Island) stint on the 90’s show News Radio. The story showed how a setback turned and Rory Rosegarten is a long time Nassau County resident who grew up in into a positive move that led to a greater outcome of the show that we all Great Neck. know and love. Since 2006, LIMEHOF has inducted over 140 Long Islanders from the Ray’s brother Richard, who was the inspiration for his brother on the show music industry. The two are now the first entertainment inductees joining an and who came up with the title of the show, was present. impressive line-up of talent from Long Island including Billy Joel, Tony Bennett, Ray said the best piece of advice he gives people is to “marry a woman Joan Jett, Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Gibson, Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, from Queens or Long Island because they’re going to keep it real. If you get George Gershwin, Harry Chapin, Neil Sedaka, Lou Reed, Barbra Streisand, and successful and you get big, you know you’re not.” Gene Simmons, Paul Stanley, and Peter Criss of KISS, and many others. He shared a story about when he won his first Emmy. His wife said, “I hope The event also featured a comedy set by comedian Paul Anthony and you win tonight and if you do, and you go up there and in front of everybody a music performance featuring songs from the show ‘Everybody Loves you say, ‘you love me,’ don’t think it makes up for never saying it when you’re Raymond’ by the LIMEHOF Orchestra, directed by musician Jack Licitra and down here.” featuring upcoming musician Albert Liu. Right before the event, the Town of Hempstead made a special presentation During the induction ceremony, career highlight videos were shown and, in of the keys to the Town of Hempstead to Ray Romano and Rory Rosegarten, their speeches, Ray and Rory reflected not only on their careers, but also their crediting them with making Lynbrook more famous by setting ‘Everybody friendship. The inductions were quite emotional with each of them thanking Loves Raymond’ there. their families, friends and co-workers for the success that propelled them to the Hall of Fame. Both recognized that their 40-year partnership and friendship was a large part of the success that led to the induction and that neither one would be there without the other. They got there by working together. “Being born and raised in New York, it’s a huge honor for me to be inducted into the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame,” Romano said. “Their ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ exhibit is the closest thing to time travel for me, transporting me back to a magical period in my life both personally and professionally.” “In the late 80’s at the KROCK Comedy competition in New York City, I saw a comedian [Romano] from Queens for the first time,” said Rosegarten. “I fell in love with his comedy. I thought he was brilliant. I had no idea he would become such a huge star. I just knew that he was incredibly funny and I wanted to work with him really badly. I became Ray’s manager and I’ve been his manager ever since, his first and only. Working with Ray is the most important business accomplishment of my entire life. To this day it simply makes me happy and proud.” “In 1996, Everybody Loves Raymond premiered on CBS, followed by 9 seasons and 210 episodes,” Rosegarten said. “I flew to L.A. from New York 28 weeks a Matt Capp (center) presents Romano and Rosegarten with special Keys to the Town of Hempstead year for 9 years which is kind of ironic considering the show took place on Long (Credit - Steve Leung)
Editorial
6
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
The Blue Wave Was the Best Thing for the GOP It’s been a week since the historic blue wave of 2026 washed across the United States. Since then, we’ve had the chance to talk with many Republicans. All do have a sense of fury among the GOP and President Trump, particularly because it washed away effective legislators in local elections. It’s further proof that Albany Democrats’ even-year elections law is partisan damage control. While the national GOP deserved to get swept away because of Trump’s disastrous presidency, which is now completely destroyed, we continue to hold that national elections and moods should not interfere with local environments, regardless of which party stands to benefit. But they don’t mourn the massacre last Tuesday. In fact, many are saying it’s the best thing to happen to the Republican Party since Trump first came down that escalator in 2015 - for better or for worse. We contend that the party stands to benefit from having a mostly cleaned house and an open bench. Moreover, it puts every other Republican on notice that no seat is truly safe. While this newspaper is not surprised by most of the results, we did fundamentally underestimate the Democrats’ numerical gains in our forecast, mainly because we didn’t think such a wave was possible in the current era of polarization. We’re glad we were proven wrong, frankly. This shows a true wave election that deviates from typical polarization is still possible. That the electorate can be that elastic in any direction these days might just have let off a little steam. This paper’s values align with most of the values of the Republican Party, and we criticize them not to denigrate the party, but improve it. Tuesday night incontrovertibly proved the party is in need of improvement. The Numbers Tell the Story While some ballots in the West are still coming in, Democrats seem poised to secure at least 260 seats. That’s the largest House majority for either party since Tom Foley (D-WA) led a Democratic charge in 1990 to earn 267 seats. Democrats are on track to win the generic ballot by 12 to 13 points. That makes 2026 the first double-digit House popular vote margin since Democrats surged to a 10-point win in 2008. Before that, the last such margin was for Democrats in 1982. Republicans lost seats that weren’t even remotely on the radar. Institutions like Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), Mike Carey (R-OH), and Bill Huizenga (R-MI) all went down. The mid-decade redistricting, which we opposed immediately after the “arms race” began in August 2025, didn’t go as anticipated. Republicans hoped to earn 14 seats with their gerrymandering ploy, with only two of those states’ remappings ordered by the courts. Republicans only picked up one seat in Dallas-Fort Worth, and only by a hair. They went zero-for-four in Florida, and while they flipped the Memphisbased district they had carved up, Democrats pulled a stunner in a Nashvilleto-Chattanooga seat by about 200 votes out of 200,000 ballots cast. There was no net gain in Tennessee for the GOP. In Ohio, Republicans had hoped to flip a Toledo-based seat, but instead came up short there and lost three, double-digit Trump seats in the wave. In North Carolina, Republicans failed to flip their targeted race there, and instead lost six of their own seats. The humiliation, we think, was deserved for trying to cheat and effectively rig the election to pad their losses ahead of time. Their desperation was highly detectable when they started the process last summer, almost as if they were surrendering early, knowing they would have not delivered for the American people to trust them with power. But even in districts and counties that went to Trump by as little as 20 and as many as 50 points just two years ago, Democrats either won them in key Senate races or Republicans barely won in the House races. Districts in places like South Carolina, Oklahoma, and even the ruby-red state of Idaho saw monumental leftward swings that were not anticipated by this newspaper or any major political handicapper. The reality is, numbers like these aren’t produced by just every Democrat hitting the polls and Democratic candidates winning nearly every Independent voters. Republican voters had a hand in this too, and we can’t blame many of them, especially those who were part of Trump’s unique big tent coalition in 2024. Younger voters, Hispanic voters, and many first-time voters are either never voting again, or never voting Republican again. It’s one thing to court voters on the other side, but how exactly does a party finally convince a rightfully-obstinate conscientious objector to give them their votes? Trump and the GOP squandered unparalleled political capital that was given to them in 2024: the votes of historical non-voters. It turns out, they were right all along. Democrats and Republicans alike have gotten screwed by the faux-populist standardbearers going back to Obama. Many voters on all ends of the spectrum have realized the pony only has one trick, all while
also realizing they’ve been getting poorer and less free no matter who is in charge. This is not what MAGA signed up for a decade ago, and that movement was still alive in 2024 and was enough to convince those who have seen the charade for far longer than most. They were proven right yet again, unfortunately. Survivors on Notice “Tell the other Republicans what you just saw,” many Republican voters say to the incumbents who survived. House Republicans who politically lived to tell the tale must now choose between the lesser of two evils - how the tables have turned. Is political retribution from the Trump Administration worse, or is political retribution from the voters worse? In our view, both roads lead to a dead end, but what remains to be seen is how aggressively the Trump Administration tries to retain its heavily marred image after the election. The lame-duck, hellbenton-revenge president might just finally have to let bygones be bygones. The justice is oddly poetic. Then again, the national GOP just went with Jim Jordan (R-OH) to lead the House and John Thune (R-SD) to continue leading the Senate. Those coronations didn’t come without a fight, thankfully, but at-large, the national Republican Party seems less interested in doing soul-searching and would prefer rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. To be fair to the GOP, the Democrats are in their own fight. It’s just been much more prominent this cycle, as would be expected for the opposition party in a crucial midterm. To their credit, they didn’t squander their chances. While Republicans remained loyal to Trump and chewed up and spit out dissidents, the Democrats had some brutal infighting across the landscape, from the marquee state of Michigan to right here in Suffolk County. We believe the GOP can respond to these mood shifts adequately and productively. Many of the Republicans we’re talking to are actually optimistic. And so are we. The Sky is the Limit Washington Republicans need to get back to true conservative, freemarket, limited government values. The old playbook doesn’t work for either side anymore, and while we agree that socialism is not the better option, their messaging was entirely wrong. They attacked socialism as a concept and warned against its ever-encroaching nature. The United States already has socialist policies. The federal government’s equities portfolio is larger than ever. The federal government redistributes wealth on a constant basis, particularly from the young to the old via Social Security, an inherently socialist policy, and from the taxpayer to the special interests. The federal government gives subsidies and tax breaks to giant corporations. The citizens’ equities are tied to the stock market and losses are always socialized after a crash. Profits are, of course, privatized. Drug prices cannot be negotiated, which counters Capitalism 101. Socialism is preferred among Millennials and Generation Z because they haven’t witnessed true capitalism. What aspects of capitalism the U.S. does have is crony capitalism, free of guardrails that are necessary in any system of government. In the voting booth, perception is reality, and the declared party of capitalism, the GOP, has preferred to not uphold truly capitalist ideals in legislation. Just as the Democrats needed to reflect after a humiliating night in 2024, Republicans will be doing the same this year, as 2026 was invariably more humiliating for them than 2024 was for Democrats. The electorate also craves mavericks, not for a mere number on a bipartisan scorecard, but just a representative who can be nuanced and practical. The culture war issues shouldn’t be at the forefront of the campaigns going forward. Democrats and Republicans are equally responsible for giving the culture wars more oxygen than they deserved, especially while not delivering for voters. The Republicans should consider themselves freed from the albatross around their neck in Donald Trump. There was a short while where he had a political Midas Touch, but those days are clearly long gone. The party can rebuild itself with the populist ideals it needs while also identifying companions within their own ranks and even across the aisle in correcting the wrongs done to this country. Something had to give at some point.
Op-Ed Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
7
Trump’s Tone-Deaf Post-Election Presser on the Ballroom By Steve Levy | Long Island Life & Politics President Donald Trump’s (R-FL) dayafter-the-election press conference, centering on his obsession with the White House ballroom and reflecting pool, exhibited an alarming level of stupidity and a new level of tone-deafness. The public just sent a resounding electoral message that they believed the president wasn’t feeling their pain on the affordability issue. So, what does he do the day after Election Day? He focuses on his White House beautification vanity projects, signaling he’s right up there with Marie Antoinette’s “let them eat cake” attitude. So, the question has to be asked: wasn’t there a high-level administrative staffer who could have suggested to the
prez that this was a horrible idea? One of two scenarios was in play here. The first is that his group of yes men didn’t have the nerve to tell their boss something he didn’t want to hear. The second is that they advised against it, yet Trump did it anyway. If we had to wager, we’d say it was the latter. Trump does what Trump wants to do. He truly is enthralled with building things. That’s his raison d’etre for going back to his days of building skyscrapers and affixing his name to everything in sight. He truly believes his legacy will be cemented if he can ensure his name is enshrined on the Kennedy Center or the new arch he wishes to build. Unfortunately for the prez, the folks
in mid-America don’t give a damn. They care about their inability to afford a house or to fill up their cars or cupboards. Trump had much to be proud of in the last two years, including controlling the border, brokering the return of hostages and providing needed tax breaks for seniors and middle-class workers and families, but he also perpetuated selfinflicted wounds with his erratic tariff policies, his stop-and-go policy on Iranian nukes, and picking needless fights with our allies, while cozying up to the dictators. But what seemed to light up Trump’s world was his DC building projects. That’s OK when you are a New York City
real estate developer, but not when you are the president of the United States. This op-ed originally appeared in Long Island Life & Politics. For more from LILP, visit them online at lilifepolitics.com.
Voting Blue, No Matter Who? By Brianne Wakefield In the past year, I have knocked on more doors than I can count and attended more community events than ever before. I have talked to more people in the past year than I had ever spoken to previously. The overall message I heard from voters, both Republican and Democrat, was that they were unhappy with the man in the White House. It seemed that no matter how much I shared my thoughts, opinions, and personal stance, I was labeled MAGA, and there was no convincing them otherwise. Clearly, this was the result we saw not only in New York but across the nation. Voters were sending a clear message: they were “voting blue, no matter who!” We lost many excellent elected officials who fought hard for their communities, all because voters grouped one party together as though everyone within it was the same. Let me make this very clear: not all Republicans are the same! What a shame that voters couldn’t or
wouldn’t open their eyes to that. Throughout my own campaign, I tried to make it very clear that I believed in putting people over politics and was willing to work with everyone to better our community. But it didn’t matter, because next to my name was an “R.” I had people tell me to become a Democrat because they needed more conservative Democrats in office. But I have always supported what the Republican Party stands for. Republicans have always stood for God, Family, and Country. Our messaging is not wrong. The values we represent are firm, true, and good for our state and our country! Unfortunately, messaging didn’t matter. Character didn’t matter. Republicans were going to get hit regardless. This was a deeply concerning realization for me. People weren’t looking at individuals. They weren’t considering records, policies, or anything else. All they saw was red or blue. I am very disappointed there
wasn’t more thought behind the voting this November. So, what do we do now as a Republican Party? In 1984, Ronald Reagan’s official campaign slogan was “Bringing America Back.” That slogan feels very applicable right now, almost like a fight song. We must deal with the aftermath of this tidal wave and continue marching forward. We don’t change our values or the principles we stand on. Instead, we reaffirm those values and make sure we are truly representing them well. Eventually, I believe the tide will turn in our favor and the “prove a point” voting will cease. We must continue fighting against socialism, which is a death sentence for our state and our country. Ronald Reagan once said of socialism, “Socialism only works in two places: Heaven, where they don’t need it, and Hell, where they already have it.” The direction we are heading is a very dangerous one, and this is absolutely
not the time for Republicans to wallow, feel sorry for ourselves, or remain quiet. If there was ever a time to lace up our boots, it’s now! Winston Churchill once said, “Success is never permanent; failure is never fatal. The only thing that really counts is to never, never, never give up.” Brianne Wakefield (R-Bay Shore) was the Republican candidate for New York’s Fourth Senate District in 2026.
Redistricting
8
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
New York Redistricting Remains on the Table By Matt Meduri continues to dwindle. After Tuesday’s elections, Democrats will have a 20-6 majority in the state’s congressional delegation, up from their 15-11 split in 2022. Credit -Matt Meduri
On Tuesday, Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Hamburg) told reporters she remains open to a constitutional amendment to redraw New York’s congressional districts as soon as 2028, despite massive wins for her party across the country last week. Hochul, last year, made New York one of the first states to respond in kind to the GOP-led mid-decade redistricting “arms race” that ended up massively backfiring on Republicans on Election Day. Hochul responded immediately after Texas Republicans began their map-making process. In June, the State Legislature gave their first approval to a constitutional amendment to remove a prohibition on gerrymandering and make it much easier for the Democratic trifecta in Albany to pass maps themselves, effectively bypassing the state’s Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) instituted by ballot measure in 2014. In March, the Supreme Court had halted a court order to require a redraw of NY-11, a solid-red, Staten Island-based district on the grounds the district disenfranchised black and Hispanic voters. That redraw never occurred and Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (R) was re-elected last Tuesday. Hochul, however, hasn’t taken a firebrand position to keep the charge into this process. “Those newly-drawn lines [in other states] are still there,” said Hochul, according to Gothamist. “And while it didn’t have an effect on this year’s election, there’s always another election every two years. You can’t assume that there’s going to be the same outcome every two years, and so I want to look at it long-term.” Hochul has also acknowledged that the political landscape has changed since the middecade redistricting ploy began last May. “I’m going to take that into account,” said Hochul, adding she will mull it over with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-Prospect Heights), who is reportedly a favorite to become the next Speaker of the House. “I’m going to talk to the two State legislative leaders about where we want to go with this.” Congressman Joe Morelle (D-Irondequoit), who has worked lock-step with Leader Jeffries to see New York’s redistricting process go through, told Politico that he will urge the State Legislature to move forward with the amendment. Democrats will enter Albany in January with a supermajority in both chambers. Constitutional amendments, regardless of their content, must pass two consecutive sessions of the State Legislature to be approved for the voters’ ballots. Since Democrats already passed the first round in June, it is highly likely the amendment will pass in the upcoming session, unless Hochul flexes executive power to derail it. If it passes in 2027, the measure will be ballot-ready for November 2027. If voters approve it then, it will take effect on January 1, 2028, and Democrats will be able to gerrymander the Empire State’s congressional districts. The calculus for Democrats is whether the amendment will pass, as New York voters have resoundingly approved anti-gerrymandering and fair map-making amendments in recent years. Since New York moved local, odd-numbered year elections to even-numbered years, the question of turnout might significantly hurt or aid this movement. If Democrats do redraw the map, that map will only be live for the 2028 and 2030 elections. In 2031, the regular decennial redraw will take place and current projections show New York losing more political clout on the Hill as the population
Three Cycles, Two Maps
In 2022, when the State’s IRC deadlocked on two map proposals, the State Legislature took over the process. The resulting “Hochulmander” was panned as one of the most aggressive gerrymanders in the country. The prime example was NY-03, currently a northern Nassau-Queens seat, which was drawn to extend from northern Smithtown all the way to Westchester’s border with the Long Island Sound. Albany Democrats’ plan for NY-01 was to retain the five East End towns and the north shore of Brookhaven and bisect Smithtown on its way to take in the bluest parts of the towns of Islip and Babylon. The entire map favored Democrats in 22 of 26 districts, well above the 19D-8R split as of the 2020 elections. The gerrymander was ruled unconstitutional, kicking the process to a special master to draw the congressional map. That one used in the 2022 elections was by many metrics one of the most balanced in the nation and allowed Republicans to flip four seats to claim the House majority that year. Ahead of 2024, Democratic-aligned voters sued the IRC and alleged the court-ordered map was only temporary and should not stand for the entire decade. The IRC then overwhelmingly adopted a new map, but the Democratic Legislature rejected it, citing county splits and alleged incumbent protection. The map produced for the 2024 elections and used in the 2026 midterms was moderately tweaked but did give Democrats narrow edges in places like Long Island and the Hudson Valley. If Democrats see the current redistricting process through and voters approve of the referendum next year, it would make for the third congressional map the state has used this decade.
New York’s House map 2022, flips highlighted
New York’s House map 2026, flips highlighted
In Response to Other States The current round of redistricting started in response to the Republican-led effort in Texas. Maps were successfully redrawn ahead of the 2026 midterms by Republicans in Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. Their map in Missouri was struck down before the elections. Republicans also redrew maps in Alabama, Louisiana, and Ohio based on court orders. The Democrats gerrymandered California under Proposition 50, which passed at the ballot box in 2025. A court-ordered redraw of the Utah map allowed Democrats to easily pick up one seat last Tuesday. Their gerrymander of Virginia, which was also approved by voters in 2025, did not survive judicial scrutiny. Republicans in New Hampshire faced brief pressure to redistrict but ultimately made no effort. Voluntary plans to redraw in Indiana, Kansas, and South Carolina were rejected by state Republicans, with the process being especially contentious in Indiana. Republican members of the Indiana Legislature who did not cosign the redraw found themselves intimidated through “swatting” and 5 of the 7 legislators lost their primaries over the summer. Republicans were sued in Arkansas and Wisconsin to no avail.
NY-03 in the Hochul-mander (Credit - Redistricting & You, the CUNY Graduate Center)
Democrats in Illinois refused to gerrymander unless Indiana Republicans acted first, while massive intraparty fighting was seen in Maryland, where no redraw took place. New Jersey Democrats said redistricting was not a priority and any redraws could happen after the 2026 midterms. Finally, Democrats in Washington state relented on their attempt due to lacking supermajorities in both legislative chambers. Shasti Conrad, Chair of the Washington Democratic Party, said the prospect could be reopened after the midterms. Democrats secured a supermajority in the Washington State Senate for the first time in 1948, but came up just one seat short of a supermajority in the State House. Overall, the 2026 midterms saw 9 states implement new maps in time for Election Day. That total would have been 11 states had the
Missouri and Virginia maps not been struck down by the courts. Including New York, 8 other states at least briefly flirted with the idea, while litigation failed in two others. That brings the 2026 total to 21 states involved in the effort to varying degrees. Republicans’ attempts largely backfired based on last Tuesday’s results. They expected a net gain of 9 seats from redrawing - 14 total, with 5 lost to Democrats’ maps in California and Utah. Of those 14 seats, they flipped 2. Instead, Democrats made a net gain of 14 seats by picking up seats Republicans made less red overall to spread their perceived electoral clout to bluer turf. The initiative spectacularly backfired in North Carolina. The GOP expected to net one seat; instead, the Democrats net 5, with a net gain of 7 possible once all votes are counted. The North Carolina map is being hailed a “dummy-mander” for that result.
This Week Today Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
9
Thursday, November 12, 2026
National, State, and Local Temperature Checks By Matt Meduri National
sell-off of Nvidia stock, while the FBI is ramping up probes. On Sunday, Huang divulged the affair in an email to his employees and that he supported an independent investigation into reports that he might have been a target of a foreign intelligence effort. Nvidia’s board stated it has “no reason to believe that either national security or Nvidia secrets were compromised.” Alice Huang, the woman with whom Nvidia’s Huang - no relation - had an affair, is a Chinese citizen and former executive at Megaspeed, a Singapore-based data center and a partner/customer of Nvidia. U.S. intelligence alleges she was recruited by China’s Ministry of State Security to smuggle or divert Nvidia’s AI chips to Chinese entities. State
Local Suffolk County Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Service (FRES) has welcomed the newest member of their canine Accelerant Detection Program. Coast, a one-and-a-half year-old yellow Labrador Retriever came to Suffolk through the Guide Dog Foundation and completed a twelveweek training course with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms (ATF). She is the ninth Labrador Retriever to join the Suffolk team since 1991. “Suffolk County has enjoyed a thirty‑five‑year partnership with ATF, supplying us with these valuable dogs— at no cost to the County—that help keep our residents safe,” said FRES Commissioner Rudy Sunderman in a statement. “This is a great example of two levels of government working together for the betterment of all.” On October 18, Coast reported for duty and got to work. Her first public appearance was at the Center Moriches Fire Department, along with her handler, Fire Marshall Dave Schaffauer (pictured left). The Accelerant Detection Program remains in “high demand,” according to FRES. The teams not only deliver fire safety demonstrations across the county; they work closely with fire investigators to support their operations, including the Suffolk County Arson Squad. They aid teams in the five East End towns, Nassau County, the ATF, and other agencies outside Suffolk. “We always appreciate when we have the opportunity to add such a highly trained team member to our ranks,” said Commissioner Sunderman. “Our accelerant detection teams provide a tremendous benefit to our residents and might be the most popular coworkers in the Department.” Credit - Suffolk FRES
Credit - Wikimedia Commons - Gage Skidmore
Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Hamburg) (pictured above) is launching a first-inthe-nation AI testing program. The initiative, according to a press release from the Governor’s office, is an effort to “advance Artificial Intelligence (AI) science and safety” with the New York Center for AI Responsibility and Research based at SUNY Binghamton. “While the federal government fails to act, New York is leading the way on AI safety and holding big tech accountable,” said Hochul in a release. “The stakes are too high to simply take AI companies at their word. That’s why we are bringing together our worldclass researchers and the computing power of Empire AI to independently test powerful AI systems, understand their risks and put that knowledge to work protecting New Yorkers.” The Center will “address the fundamental and growing challenge of assessing the safety, security, and operation of increasingly powerful AI systems.” That mission consists of testing “frontier AI systems, foundational scientific research, and the training of a new generation of AI safety experts.” They claim they will help advance “responsible” use of AI in the fields of medicine, scientific discovery, and critical infrastructure while providing officials with “objective evidence” to inform on policy decisions. In January, Hochul announced the
New York Center for AI Responsibility and Research with a $30 million gift from donors led by Binghamton alumnus and Bloomberg LP co-founder Tom Secunda. That’s paired with an initial $25 million research investment from SUNY and operating capital from the State. This accompanies the RAISE Act, which requires large, frontier AI developers to register with the State and comply with safety, transparency, and reporting requirements. Any critical safety incidents are required to be reported to the State within 72 hours. Credit - Matt Meduri
Credit - Matt Meduri
House Republicans chose Congressman Jim Jordan (R, OH-04) to be the Minority Leader of their party. They chose him in a 106-73 vote over incumbent Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R, LA-01). Jordan (pictured right), first elected to a westernOhio seat in 2006, has steadily climbed the ranks of the House Republican Caucus. The hardline conservative ideologue, long-time Chair of the House Judiciary Committee, and House Freedom Caucus co-founder will ostensibly be a staunch defender of the lame-duck Trump Administration for its final two years. This will be Jordan’s top rank obtained in the House thus far; he failed to earn the Speaker’s gavel in 2018 and 2023. Jordan will preside over a historically small Republican House caucus. While about a dozen seats remain undecided as of press time, it appears in all likelihood that the Democrats will have about 260 seats to the GOP’s 175. The Democratic majority will be the largest such majority since the 2008 elections, which gave the Democrats 257 seats to the GOP’s 178. Ranked-choice vote tabulations continue in Maine, where Republicans appear to have flipped the northern ME02 with former Governor Paul LePage (R). His opponent, Matthew Dunlap (D), has conceded, although the ranked-choice vote could keep this rural, red-leaning seat under Democratic control. Another stunning upset is likely underway in North Carolina, where long-time Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R, NC-05) is trailing Chuck Hubbard (D) for this deep-red Appalachian seat. Foxx, first elected in 2004, has never won with less than 57% of the vote. Provisional ballots counted on Tuesday have widened Hubbard’s lead, likely to give Democrats a universally unexpected seat in their 2027 caucus. In the Senate, House Republicans are re-upping with Senator John Thune (R-SD) (pictured above right), who was chosen as Majority Leader in 2025 after longtime powerbroker Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stepped down. Thune was re-elected by his conference in a closed-door vote, after Republicans voted 31-15 to proceed with the election instead of delaying, much to the chagrin of members like Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO). In Politico, Hawley called the Senate losses for the GOP this year the worst since Watergate and an “incredible repudiation of the focus” of the incumbent Congress.
In Mississippi, the Senate race has been called for Scott Colom (D). He beat oneterm Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) by a margin of just 0.3% - a difference of about 3,000 votes out of over 900,000 ballots cast. Colom is the first Democrat to win a Senate race in Mississippi since 1982. Moreover, the Magnolia State had not elected a black Senator since the end of Reconstruction. That call brings Democrats’ Senate total to 55 seats. Republicans began the cycle with 53 seats of their own. In Alaska, former Congresswoman Mary Peltola (D) leads over twoterm Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) with over 80% of the vote reported. It’s not unusual for Alaska to take weeks to project results, as it is perhaps the slowest state at counting its ballots. The Trump Administration had made an eleventh-hour play to possibly save Sullivan by investigating the Peltola campaign, who allegedly sought out a candidate with the same name as the incumbent Republican to confuse voters during the ranked-choice vote. A judge rejected the Trump lawsuit to preemptively contest the results of the Senate race that includes two candidates named Dan Sullivan. The Trump Administration has asked the Chief Judge of U.S. District Court in Alaska to block the certification of the Senate election results if Senator Sullivan loses but would have won if the votes cast for the other Dan Sullivan, a retired teacher and inactive candidate, had gone to the incumbent instead. Trump on Tuesday called the Senate race, which has not been called, a “rigged election.” “Dan Sullivan PLUS Dan Sullivan wins the Alaska election by thousands of votes,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. As of press time, Peltola’s margin exceeds the combined votes of the two Sullivans. Also on the Hill, one of Republicans’ first orders of business was to quash an impeachment vote against Secretary of Defense (War) Pete Hegseth (R-TN). The House narrowly referred the articles to committee in a 211-204 vote, effectively killing the effort. The bill’s sponsor, outgoing Congressman Thomas Massie (R, KY-04), voted in favor of forcing a floor vote. All other voting Republicans supported referring it to the Judiciary Committee, while all Democrats voted against the referral. In non-political news, one of the biggest stories this week is that of Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. He admitted to an extramarital affair with a woman U.S. officials suspect of being a Chinese spy. The revelations have triggered a sharp
Smithtown News
10
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Continued from front cover
Colombian National Indicted for Allegedly Bringing Stolen Gun to HSW The defendant’s backpack was searched by the principal, who allegedly recovered a small kitchen knife with a cover, an extended magazine with five rounds inside, and a Kahr P380 caliber handgun. The defendant was arrested at the scene. “School should be a place where both students and faculty feel safe every day,” said Tierney in a press release. “I commend the students who came forward and reported the defendant’s alleged social media post displaying a firearm. Their actions enabled school officials to respond quickly, recover the weapon and work with my office to hold the defendant accountable before anyone was harmed. I encourage all students to follow this example and speak up when they see something concerning.” On November 10, 2026, the defendant was arraigned before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen Kerr on the indicted charges of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree, a class C Violent Felony; Criminal Possession of a Weapon on School Grounds, a class E
Scandinavian Bazaar
At Norway Hall – 201 Seventh Street St. James, New York Saturday, November 14, 2026 From 10:00 – 3:00 pm Our Delicious Hot lunch and Snacks will be available from 11:00 – 2:00 pm.
Free Admission
Felony; and Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the Fourth Degree, a class E felony. There is no reported estimate of what the defendant’s sentence could look like in this case, if he is convicted on the counts. However, under New York State Penal Law, a first-time offender can fetch up to five years in prison for each of the charges. Justice Kerr ordered the defendant held on $50,000 cash, $100,000 bond or $500,000 partially secured bond. The defendant is being represented by the George Terezakis, Esq. His next court date is November 23, 2026. The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) have lodged a detainer to take custody of the defendant following this prosecution. This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Yinping Liang of the Major Crime Bureau. The investigation was conducted by Detective Harvey Royce of the 4th Squad of the Suffolk County Police Department.
SPREAD THE WARMTH! SPREAD THE COAT WARMTH! 2026 WINTER DRIVE SPREAD THE WARMTH! 2026 WINTER COAT DRIVE SPREAD THE WARMTH! 2026 WINTER COAT DRIVE Assemblyman Michael J. Fitzpatrick 2026 WINTER COAT DRIVE and Senator Mario R. Mattera
Fitzpatrick areAssemblyman partnering to host aMichael Winter CoatJ.Drive to benefit the Assemblyman Michael J. Mattera Fitzpatrick and Senator Mario R. Smithtown Township Emergency Food Pantry! arethe partnering to host a Winter Coat Drive to benefit As colder months approach, let's come together to the help Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick and Senator MarioJ.R. Mattera Smithtown Emergency Food ourpartnering neighbors in need. We are collecting new and gently and Senator R. Mattera are toTownship host aMario Winter Coat Drive toPantry! benefit the As the colder months approach, let's come together used winter coats. are partnering to host a Winter Coat DriveFood to benefit theto help Smithtown Township Emergency Pantry! Smithtown Township Emergency ourtheneighbors in need. We are collecting new and gently As colder months approach, let'sFood comePantry! together to help As the colder months used approach, let's come together to help winter coats. our neighbors in need. We are collecting new and gently Monday, our neighbors in need. WeNovember are collecting new16 and– gently usedwinter winter coats. used coats.
Monday,November November16 30– Monday, 10:00November AM – 2:00 PM Monday, 1616 –30– Monday, November Monday, November Monday, November 3030 Monday, November 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Featuring items from Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland and Iceland. Authentic craft items White Elephant Table Home Baked Goods Swedish Meatball Dinners
Vintage Collectibles Raffle Baskets Scandinavian Food We promise no lutefisk
Sons of Norway Loyal Lodge 252 201 Seventh Street, St. James, NY 11780 (Down the street from the St. James Lutheran Church Craft Fair)
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Drop-Off Locations: Assemblyman Office Drop-Off Locations: Drop-OffFitzpatrick's Locations: 285 Middle Country Road, Suite 202, Smithtown Drop-OffFitzpatrick's Locations: Assemblyman Office AssemblymanFitzpatrick's Office
285 Middle Country Road, Suite 202, Smithtown
285 Middle Country Road, Suite 202, Smithtown Senator Mattera's Office Assemblyman Fitzpatrick's Office 180 E. Main Street, Suite 210, Smithtown Senator Mattera's Office 285 Middle Country Road, Suite 202, Smithtown Mattera's Office 180 Senator E. Main Street, Suite 210, Smithtown 180Senator E. Main Street, Suite 210, Smithtown Mattera's Office
180 E. Main Street, Suite 210, Smithtown Thank you in advance for your incredible generosity! Thank you in advance for your incredible generosity! Pleaseshare sharethis thiswith withfriends friends neighbors to help Please andand neighbors to help Thank you in advance for your incredible generosity! spread the word. spread the word. Please share this with friends and neighbors to help Thank you for your support! Thank you for your support! Thank you in advance for your incredible generosity! spread the word. Please share this with friends and neighbors to help Thank you forthe your spread word.support! Thank you for your support!
Long Island Locavore Thursday, November 12, 2026
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
11
Long Island Toast to Thanksgiving By Nancy Val | Long Island Locavore Thanksgiving is the delicious intersection of tradition and excess. The turkey may get top billing, but let’s face it, the supporting cast of buttery sides, savory stuffing, tart cranberries and bubbling casseroles that keeps us lingering around the table. And then there’s the wine. This year, I turned to Jimmy Kilimitzoglou, owner of Enology Wine Bar & Bistro in St. James, for a little help navigating the Thanksgiving table. Rather than choosing one bottle expected to carry an entire feast, Jimmy selected three wines (white, red, and sparkling) each with a different role to play. Even better for this Long Island Locavore, all three come from Long Island vineyards.
Start with a Little Sparkle Before the turkey ever reaches the table, Jimmy suggests opening Sparkling Pointe Imperial Topaz Brut Rosé. With wild strawberry, floral notes of rose hip and a hint of cardamom, this North Fork sparkling rosé brings both body and bright acidity to the party. Those bubbles aren’t just festive; the effervescence acts as a palate cleanser, making it a natural partner for appetizers and salads. It’s also a lovely way to greet guests. Thanksgiving is a celebration, after all. Why wait until dessert to pop the cork?
A White That Can Handle the Sides For white wine drinkers, Jimmy reaches for Lieb Cellars Pinot Blanc. Clean pear and apple notes give it easy elegance, while its intentional acidity allows it to stand up to the richer dishes on the Thanksgiving table. That balance matters. Think creamy potatoes, roasted vegetables, buttery stuffing, and all those wonderful sides competing for space on your plate. You want a wine refreshing enough to cut through the richness without overpowering the food.
A Red That Knows Its Place Red wine can be trickier at Thanksgiving. A big, aggressive red can overwhelm turkey and some of the more delicate flavors on the table. Jimmy’s choice is Rose Hill Vineyards Wild Boar Doe, a North Fork estate Bordeaux blend with dark red fruit, ripe cherry, leather, and spice. Jimmy calls it a great “supporting actor in the Thanksgiving performance,” and that may be my favorite description of a Thanksgiving wine. Its smooth but firm tannins work particularly well alongside cranberry, stuffing, gravy and dark turkey meat. The richer, fattier dishes help soften those tannins, while the wine complements the deeper flavors of casseroles and gravy. In other words, it joins the feast rather than taking it over.
Give Cauliflower a Seat at the Thanksgiving Table Jimmy also shared a vegetable dish worthy of some valuable Thanksgiving real estate: whole roasted cauliflower with tahini garlic-lemon aioli. Forget the pale florets of cauliflower we grew up pushing around the plate. Roasted whole, cauliflower becomes deeply golden and caramelized on the outside while remaining tender inside. A creamy tahini, garlic, and lemon sauce cascades over the top, followed by toasted pecans, fresh herbs and, if you like, jewel-like pomegranate seeds. Set the whole head on a platter before slicing it into wedges and suddenly cauliflower has become a centerpiece. It’s beautiful, substantial, and particularly welcome on a Thanksgiving table loaded with butter, cream, and starch. The lemon and tahini bring brightness, the pecans add crunch, and pomegranate seeds give the finished dish a festive pop of color.
Created by Nancy Vallarella, who brings farm-fresh recipes and local food knowledge to Long Island through farmers’ markets, demos, and more. For more recipes or to connect: DM @lilocavore495 on Instagram or email lilocavore495@gmail.com
And perhaps that is the best lesson to take from Jimmy’s Thanksgiving selections: everything on the table doesn’t need to shout. A crisp Long Island white, a food-friendly red, a celebratory bottle of bubbly and one beautifully roasted vegetable can quietly make the dishes surrounding them taste even better. Now that is something worth raising a glass to.
Whole Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini Garlic-Lemon Aioli Recipe courtesy of Jimmy Kilimitzoglou, Enology Wine Bar & Bistro Ingredients (cauliflower): 1 large head cauliflower, leaves trimmed and stem cut flush 3 Tbs olive oil 1 tsp garlic powder 1 tsp smoked paprika 1/2 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp kosher salt 1/2 tsp black pepper For the tahini garlic-lemon aioli 1/3 cup high-quality tahini 3 Tbs fresh lemon juice 1-2 garlic cloves, finely grated or minced 2-4 Tbs ice-cold water 1/2 tsp kosher salt 1 Tbs olive oil, optional For finishing 1/3 cup pecans, roughly chopped and toasted 2 Tbs chopped flat-leaf parsley or mint Pomegranate seeds or sumac, optional Directions: Preheat oven to 400°F. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Carefully lower the whole cauliflower into the water, stem side up, and boil for 7-8 minutes, until it begins to soften but still holds its shape. Drain well and place stem-side down on a clean kitchen towel for about five minutes to allow excess moisture to steam away. Combine the olive oil, garlic powder, smoked paprika, cumin, salt, and pepper. Place the cauliflower on a parchment-lined baking sheet or in a cast-iron skillet and generously brush the seasoned oil over the entire head, working it into the crevices.
Roast for 35-45 minutes, rotating halfway through, until deeply golden and charred in spots and a knife easily slides into the center. Meanwhile, whisk together the tahini, lemon juice, garlic, and salt. The tahini may initially become very thick - don’t panic. Whisk in the ice-cold water one tablespoon at a time until it becomes smooth, pale and pourable. Add the optional olive oil for additional richness and adjust the lemon and salt to taste. Toast the chopped pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, stirring frequently, until fragrant. Transfer the roasted cauliflower to a serving platter. Generously drizzle the tahini garlic-lemon aioli over the top, allowing it to run down the sides. Scatter with toasted pecans, fresh herbs and, if desired, pomegranate seeds or sumac. Bring it to the Thanksgiving table whole, then slice into thick wedges to serve.
School Highlights
12
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Smithtown Students and Staff Honor Local Veterans Credit - Mt. Pleasant
Students and staff throughout the Smithtown Central School District honored local Veterans during a series of special celebrations and activities held during the week leading up to Veterans Day. On November 5, Mt. Pleasant Elementary School hosted its inaugural Veterans Celebration, welcoming 12 Veterans with connections to student families. The guests of honor were greeted with a schoolwide clap-out as students and staff lined the halls to express their gratitude for their service and sacrifice. The celebration continued with a special assembly featuring performances by the school chorus and select instrumental ensemble, along with student introductions of their Veteran guests. Meanwhile, Mills Pond and St. James Elementary Schools celebrated their
annual Veterans Celebration. Students proudly escorted their Veteran family members down a red carpet through the school’s Hall of Heroes, which was beautifully decorated with photographs honoring local Veterans. Guests enjoyed patriotic musical performances by students and received special thankyou certificates and goody bags in recognition of their service. Adding to the districtwide celebrations, Smithtown High School East and West Leadership students visited all district elementary schools to share a brief history of Veterans Day with fourth grade students. The high school students also collaborated with the younger students to design thank-you cards that will be presented to a local Veterans organization.
Commack H.S. Students Debate in Mock Legislature The Suffolk County Legislature hosted seniors from Commack High School in Legislator Sal Formica’s (R-Commack) district for a hands-on introduction to the workings of the legislative process on Thursday, November 5 and Friday, November 6, at the William H. Rogers Legislature Building in Hauppauge. Students from several government classes participated in a mock legislative session, taking seats at the “horseshoe” and acting in the roles of the Presiding Officer, Legislators, and interested citizens to question, debate, and ultimately take roll call votes on model legislation. Before the session, students viewed a video narrated by the Presiding Officer which describes the Legislature’s structure and responsibilities as a separate branch of county government. “I am honored to represent students that are eager and were willing to come and learn about how our local legislative processes work and take part in this mock legislative session,” said Legislator Formica. “They all engaged in well thought out debates and brought great ideas to the group.” The participants debated and conducted votes on specific legislation that was considered by the Suffolk County Legislature, including: a local law to establish additional regulations on the use of electric scooters and electric-assist bicycles; and a local law requiring that single-use beverage straws and stirrers be distributed in Suffolk County ‘by request’ only to help protect the environment. “We’re pleased to be able to provide this opportunity to these students,” said Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo
(R-Holtsville). “Having the chance to learn how local government works is an invaluable opportunity to enhance civics among our young people– who may one day embark on their own careers in public service. These future leaders had a chance to see what it’s like to consider, debate, and vote on an issue as we do in the Legislature each session.” The students were given a chance to speak in the role of legislator and question speakers advocating for or against the resolutions. As in a real legislative meeting, students gained the opportunity to offer their views, hear other views, and obtain new perspectives. Following the session, several students – all seniors -shared their personal perspectives. “What I learned today was that lawmaking can actually be a pretty enjoyable job for a lot of people. I didn’t take it too seriously when I first got the field trip form,” said Jack Gonis. “I thought it was something strictly informational. When I heard that it was a mock session, I was a little bit discouraged. I didn’t do a lot of research, but actually stepping up to play the role of the legislator was fun. I got to engage with my peers, which was probably the best part of it. And I got encouraging support from the members of the faculty here. It was overall a good experience that I will take with me in the future.” “I really did enjoy this. I thought it was truly informative, and it showed firsthand just how difficult it is to pass these laws or bills, and how much effort, and time, and communication it takes,” said Amilia Soto-Soler. “I also appreciated being able to participate with my peers, because I got to see
their perspectives, their different sides of things, and their knowledge. When I first got the form, I kind of just took this as an excuse to skip school, because I thought ‘I’m probably not going to enjoy it. But when I was up there, I found it enjoyable. I liked communicating with all my peers and hearing their thoughts and opinions on these bills. I think this is something that everyone should at least look into, because it affects your community.” “Just as I heard [from fellow students], I didn’t initially take this as a serious thing but came here and I found out how indepth the process of getting something through the legislature is, and I discovered a little bit of something about myself -- that I may be interested in doing this one day! I really enjoyed the experience,” said Raymond Tucker. The Commack teachers also praised the experience at the legislature. “This is the first exploration into the whole process of learning how the legislature works. We came here with the anticipation of seeing ‘behind the scenes’ and how a law is made. I think leaving here, we learned a tremendous amount about how the debate happens, how the public inquiries are made, and the conversation between legislators. For us, I think it was a great hands-on learning experience about local government,” said Chris Denton, Economics and government teacher at Commack High School. Each year, the Suffolk County Legislature hosts hundreds of students in a series of mock legislative days in the legislative chambers in both Hauppauge and Riverhead. Credit - Suffolk County Legislature
School Highlights Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
13
Thursday, November 12, 2026
A Perfect 10 The Nesaquake Middle School field hockey team recently completed an undefeated 10-0 season and, even more impressive, the team didn’t allow a single goal all season long. Ranked the number one middle school field hockey team in Suffolk County, these athletes, under the guidance of head coach Jon Feiler, set the bar high with an outstanding display of teamwork, talent, and determination.
Bump…Set…champions!
The Smithtown High School East girls’ volleyball team railed from a 2 sets-to-1 deficit to defeat Half Hollow Hills West and win their second consecutive Section XI “AA” championship on November 2. Held at the Brentwood campus at Suffolk Community College, the Bulls dropped the first three points in the final set but then reeled off 10 straight points en route to another county title. “Skyla Sullivan, Brianna Cerullo really stepped up… when your leaders are playing like that, it gets everyone going,” Smithtown East coach George Alamia said. “It feels amazing,” Sullivan exclaimed. “We’ve worked so hard for this and it really showed tonight.”
Hauppauge H.S. Senior Earns Recognition for Research at International Conference Hauppauge High School senior Samvath Karanam, recipient of SAAWA’s 2026 Emerging Technology Leadership Award, has achieved another significant milestone in artificial intelligence and medical research. His research paper was accepted for an international workshop held in conjunction with MICCAI 2026, a leading conference in medical imaging and artificial intelligence in Strasbourg, France. Samvath recently traveled to Strasbourg to participate in MICCAI 2026, a leading international conference focused on medical imaging and artificial intelligence. His research paper, “Interpretable Missense Variant Effect Prediction via Sparse Feature Changes in ESM-2,” was accepted for the MI4MedFM (Mechanistic Interpretability for Medical Foundation Models) workshop, held in conjunction with MICCAI 2026. His research explores how artificial intelligence can be used to better understand the biological
effects of genetic mutations. The work represents an advanced level of research for a high school student, and Samvath was the only high school student participating in the conference. His paper is available through MICCAI’s official open-access proceedings and is scheduled for
publication as part of the Springer MICCAI 2026 Satellite Events proceedings. In addition to his own research, Samvath has demonstrated a commitment to sharing his knowledge with younger students. Through his involvement with SAAWA STEM programs, he has introduced students to emerging technologies and shared his experience in cutting-edge areas of science and technology. In recognition of his accomplishments, SAAWA is also proud to announce that Samvath will receive the SAAWA International Young Scientist Achievement Award, accompanied by a $1,000 award. The Hauppauge School District congratulates Samvath on this exceptional accomplishment and is proud to celebrate his achievements in artificial intelligence, science, and research. His participation in an international scientific conference represents an exciting accomplishment for both Samvath and the Hauppauge High School community.
Civics 101
14
Thursday, November 12, 2026
The Necessary Standard for American Education The Lame-Duck Session
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
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 As the dynamics shift in Washington, the incoming Congress is ready to do business, and the outgoing majority will seek to utilize whatever power they have left until the new session begins January 3. In modern politics, a watch can be set to this dynamic, and nothing is likely to be left on the table by the outgoing Republican majorities in Congress or the incoming Democratic majorities. This week, we’ll break down what the lame-duck process is and how the parties swapping gavels will seek to maximize their advantages between now and the first week of 2027. What is a Lame-Duck Session? A lame-duck session of Congress, particularly, is the period between elections and the seating of the new Congress - about a two-month period. More generally, the term applies to outgoing presidents in two scenarios. The first is where President Donald Trump (R-FL) currently finds himself: two years left in a presidential term where his party controls neither chamber of Congress. Moreover, he is term-limited, meaning his mandate to govern continues to lessen. The second scenario in which the “lame duck” term applies to the period between a term-limited president’s time in office after his successor’s November election and that successor’s oath of office in late January. The term “lame duck” originated not in American politics, but British finance in the 1700s. The first written records appear around 1761 as slang on the London Stock Exchange. It referred to stockbrokers or investors who went bankrupt and defaulted on their bets or loans. Those investors would have to “waddle” out of the alley in disgrace, similar to an injured duck. The phrase began to describe defeated American politicians in the 1830s, replacing the term “dead duck.” By the 1860s, it had been coined by The Congressional Globe to describe defeated or “broken down” politicians remaining in office. The lame-duck session was about twice as long as it currently is, by early constitutional standards. Travel logistics of the early republic were the main reason, as it took new legislators weeks or even months to reach Washington, D.C., from their home states. The new congressional session and presidential terms began on March 4, instead of their respective January dates now. This allowed for extended travel, but it also allowed a longer period of power for the recently voted-out or retired members of Congress. The Twentieth Amendment, ratified in 1933, fixed the outdated transition schedule and curbed the power of the lame-duck Congress. Before the amendment, a new Congress would be elected in November, but would not begin their term until swearing-ins the following March. At that time, the first session of a Congress began on the first Monday of December, meaning new elected members would not effectively be able to legislate thirteen months after their elections. According to the Congressional Research Service, there have been 25 lame-duck sessions of Congress since the Twentieth Amendment took effect. From 1935 to 1998, there were only 12 such sessions, meaning that since 2000, the phenomenon has been much more common. Since 2006, the parties have had a more backand-forth control of Congress, rather than generational presidence before the 1990s. Methods of Convening a Lame-Duck Session Congress has much of the power to reconvene after an election. That can be through a previously enacted law requiring an additional session of Congress, following
a recess within a session that spans the election, under authority of leadership at the time of a contingent adjournment or recess, or continuing to meet in pro forma sessions spanning the election period. A pro forma meeting is merely a formality, as the Constitution requires that neither chamber of Congress can recess for more than three days without consent of the other chamber. Congress can, however, move to adjourn until the required start of the next session in January. This is called a sine die (Latin, “without day”) adjournment. A session of Congress officially ends with this type of adjournment, deferring their next date of meeting to the Constitution or by another law. A sine die adjournment effectively means that the current session of Congress is over and the next session will start as constitutionally mandated. When Congress does not opt for a sine die adjournment, but wishes to continue meeting, it can opt for a simple recess of the session for the period spanning the election. Only 11 lame-duck meetings have been organized this way since 1935. A recess vote is adopted through a concurrent resolution - one adopted by both chambers of Congress, but in separate votes of their respective chambers that does not require presidential approval.
Congress can also grant itself contingent authority to reconvene. Congress often includes this provision in any concurrent resolution to recess. A lame-duck session has never been called under this course of action since 1935. If Congress adjourns sine die with this contingent authority it enacted, the sine die adjournment becomes final if and when Congress opts not to use their contingent authority. It’s effectively a failsafe in case a need to reconvene presents itself after business has been formalized. If this authority is used, it merely extends the current session of Congress. This situation occurred in 1998 to continue pre-election measures of that session. Another method is when Congress chooses not to authorize a recess spanning the election period. The lame-duck session occurs when Congress continues to meet throughout the election period and afterwards. Congress has taken this course of action three times since 1935. The final method of convening a lame-duck session is through presidential call. The president already has the constitutional power to call a session of Congress on “extraordinary occasions,” as per Article II, Section 3. If this option is used after a sine die adjournment has already been approved and before the next session is set to begin, a new session of the existing Congress begins. This has never happened since 1935. If the president calls back Congress before a sine die adjournment, the existing session continues. That occurred once in 1948 when President Harry Truman (DMO) called Congress back in the middle of recess during
the national political conventions. However, that call did not constitute a lame-duck session since it convened and recessed before the election. Notable Lame-Duck Sessions Lame-duck sessions that see a party’s power expand after an election have entailed a deference of major objectives to the incoming Congress. Lame-duck sessions where partisan hands change, as seen this year, often see the incumbent majority do as much as they can with what little time they have. Lame-duck sessions were frequent in the years around World War II (1940 to 1954). In 1954, only the Senate reconvened between the elections and January to consider the censure of Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-WI). After that, lame-duck sessions were rare. None occurred from 1956 through 1968, and only two sessions were called in the ensuing three decades. Another drought occurred between 1984 to 1992. In 1998, only the House returned after the elections to consider the impeachment of President Bill Clinton (D-AR). Prior to the ratification of the Twentieth Amendment, lame-duck sessions were more common. Notable sessions include the 38th Congress (1865), during which the House approved the Thirteenth Amendment to abolish slavery during, and the 40th Congress (1869) to approve the Fifteenth Amendment to prohibit denial of the vote based on race. In 1939, President Franklin D. Roosevelt (D-NY) called Congress into an extraordinary session in September to address the threat of war in Europe. Congress enacted $13 billion in defense authorizations and appropriations, a military draft, income tax revisions, and related measures. That session lasted until November, making the 76th Congress the last of just 24 Congresses to have had three sessions. Only the 67th Congress (1921-1923) had four sessions. In 2002, the 107th Congress created the Department of Homeland Security, along with its appropriations, and in 2010, the 111th Congress repealed the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy before a large Republican House took control the following January. The 116th Congress in 2020 saw an exceptional lame-duck session aimed at relief packages. The Current Lame-Duck Session For the outgoing Republican majority, the time between now and December is crucial. They are likely to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded and avoid a shutdown, as a full-year appropriations bill is unlikely to materialize before the stopgap expiration on December 11. Spending will likely be frozen at current levels. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is the annual defense policy bill. This year’s version is exceptionally high - $1.5 trillion for FY2027 - and includes the controversial Section 219, which would effectively merge the U.S. military and intelligence with Israel. Senate Republicans are likely to spend most of their time confirming Trump’s appointees to the judiciary, a common race-against-the-clock political maneuver a majority party uses before the new Congress takes shape. Trump’s priority bill, the SAVE America Act, would handle voter ID and election security, but it might have to be included in a broader package in order for it to pass. It will face certain defeat in the Democratic-led Senate come January. Republicans in both chambers are eager to pass as much reconciliation funding as possible for the Iran War, as Democrats in both chambers seem highly unlikely to allow it to continue.
Around Town Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
15
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Celebrate St. James Raises Over $100K at Record-Breaking ‘An American Overture’ Gala Celebrate St. James marked a major milestone on Wednesday, October 21, as its annual fundraising gala, An American Overture: Past • Present • Future, grossed over $100,000, making it the organization’s most successful fundraising gala to date. Held at Flowerfield Celebrations, the evening welcomed approximately 250 guests, including community leaders, elected officials, business owners, artists, performers, and longtime supporters. More than a fundraising achievement, the recordbreaking celebration reflected the community’s growing investment in the transformation of the historic St. James Theatre into a thriving destination for arts, culture, education, and connection. “This evening was about much more than raising funds. It was a celebration of how far we’ve come and the extraordinary community that continues to believe in what we’re building,” said Natalie Weinstein, President of Celebrate St. James. “Every contribution, whether financial, creative, or through volunteer service, brings us closer to realizing the full potential of this historic theater.” Celebrating the People and the Arts That Bring the Theater to Life The evening honored six distinguished individuals and families whose contributions to business, philanthropy, the arts, and community service have made a meaningful impact: Brooke Shatles, Nancy Buzzetta, Tony Chiofalo, Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James), Suffolk Legislator Sal Formica (R-Commack), and Kerry Maher Weisse and Family. Guests enjoyed performances reflecting the diversity of artistic programming taking place at the theater, from Broadway and community productions to original works inspired by local history. Honoree Tony Chiofalo performed alongside members of Lighthouse Repertory Theatre, offering a glimpse of the theatrical productions that regularly grace the Celebrate St. James stage. Among the evening’s most touching moments was a performance by Sam Rosin, a young actor who will take on the title role in Lighthouse Repertory Theatre’s upcoming production of Oliver! Sam captivated the audience with his heartfelt rendition of “Where Is Love?”, offering a moving reminder of what Celebrate St. James is all about. His performance captured the spirit of a theater where young performers share the spotlight with seasoned actors and Broadway professionals, and where artists of all ages, abilities, and experience levels are given opportunities to discover their talents, develop their craft, and shine on stage. Also taking the stage were Keith Hines and Jenna Schoen-Hines, accomplished performers with Broadway credits including Jersey Boys and Wicked. For Jenna, a St. James native, performing in her hometown made the evening especially meaningful. Their participation added another wonderful dimension to the evening’s entertainment, reflecting the diverse talents and experiences of the artists who have become part of the growing Celebrate St. James theater community. Carolyn Benson and Paul Mahos brought another dimension to the celebration with performances representing Shadows Rise: A Culper Spy Story, an original rock musical written and produced at Celebrate St. James this past summer. Inspired by Long Island’s historic Culper Spy Ring, the production brought Revolutionary War history to life through music and storytelling. Benson also serves on the organization’s Board of Directors. An Art Promenade, coordinated by board members Jack Ader and Sandra Ciraolo, showcased local artists and featured a particularly meaningful contribution: a collaborative community mural created by young artists from the Town of Smithtown and participants in Celebrate Connections, the organization’s inclusive arts and social program. Each participant added their own creativity to the piece, bringing together different ages, abilities, and perspectives in one shared work of art. The mural will be displayed at the historic St. James Theatre during future art exhibitions, serving as a lasting reminder of the connections being created through the arts. A Historic Theater’s Transformation The gala’s success comes during a period of significant progress for the historic theater, which has recently undergone major improvements, including enhanced accessibility, central air conditioning, renovated restrooms, flooring, and seating upgrades.
Instrumental in this transformation was Brian McCann of Global Mechanical, who spearheaded the theater’s most recent construction phase and, through his company, generously donated more than $250,000 in labor and materials in kind. His extraordinary contribution has played a pivotal role in advancing the restoration of this treasured community landmark. The improvements are already helping the theater expand its programming, attract accomplished performers, support original productions, and welcome more audiences and participants from St. James and surrounding communities. A Community United in Support The celebration welcomed numerous local dignitaries, including Town of Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park), Councilman Tom Lohmann (R-Smithtown), Councilwoman Lisa Inzerillo (R-Kings Park), Town Clerk Thomas McCarthy (R-Smithtown), Superintendent Robert Murphy (R-St. James), Chief of Staff Erika Hershberger, Smithtown Parks Director Joe Arico, Tim Freeman, and New York State Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James). The organization extends its gratitude to Presenting Partner Competition Auto Group; Overture Sponsors Ring Savvy and Answering Legal; Patron Sponsors Harbor Country Day School, Hamptons Green Alliance, PSEG Long Island, Suffolk Plastic Surgeons, and Jack Ader; and Community Friend Northwell Mather Hospital. Generous in-kind contributions helped make the evening especially memorable. Lake Avenue Floral donated the centerpieces, Sir Round Sound Entertainment provided a complimentary photo booth experience, and Core Media produced the honoree tribute videos and captured the evening’s highlights through professional videography. Jack Ader and Boris Vitebski also generously contributed event photography. Special appreciation goes to Francine Cieslak of TD Bank, whose outreach helped spread the word and secure gift cards and donations. Numerous local businesses and individuals also contributed raffle baskets, journal advertisements, and other support, demonstrating the generosity of the surrounding business community. Behind the celebration were months of planning and collaboration under the leadership of Board President Natalie Weinstein, working closely with Program Director Tami Vitebski, Gala Chair Danielle DiTomasso Grenier, and the organization’s dedicated volunteer leadership. Celebrate St. James recognizes the tireless efforts of board members Jack Ader, Dorothea McLaughlin, Lee Cirillo, Virginia Portanova, Carolyn Benson, Sandra Ciraolo, and Danielle DiTomasso Grenier, along with Patricia Clark, Grants Manager and Past President, and Charlie McLaughlin, Facilities Chair. Preserving the Past, Building the Future While the gala marked a record-breaking fundraising milestone, Celebrate St. James is already looking toward its next chapter. The organization continues its transformation of the historic St. James Theatre into a beautifully updated, intimate boutique theater and vibrant cultural hub serving St. James and surrounding communities. The vision is to create a welcoming destination for performances, art, education, and community gatherings, offering modern amenities and an enhanced audience experience while preserving the building’s historic charm and character. The next major fundraising priority is the purchase and installation of new theater seating. Through the Leave a Legacy Chair Naming Program, supporters can dedicate a theater chair in their own name or in honor or memory of someone special for $1,200 per chair, with a payment option of $100 per month for 12 months. Community members are invited to help shape this next chapter by attending performances, visiting art exhibitions, participating in programs, becoming members, making donations, and following Celebrate St. James on social media. The organization extends its heartfelt gratitude to every honoree, sponsor, donor, artist, performer, volunteer, board member, and guest who helped make An American Overture a record-breaking success. Together, they are preserving a treasured piece of local history while creating a vibrant cultural destination for generations to come. For upcoming events, membership information, and theater chair naming opportunities, visit www.celebratestjames.org.
18 16
Local History Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Clean That Lake!
By Ellyn Okvist, B.Sc. The William Merit Hallock American Legion #155 was the first complimentary pizza to participants. group to realize that Ronkonkoma Lake had to be preserved, as Hard to believe there is so much litter to be removed year it was and should have been the biggest economy boost in the after year, some by diehard individuals and some by the groups village. They were concerned with the actual water quality and of the time. The unpresedented amount of glass alone continues covered the costs of having the water tested in 1926. rise to the surface of the beach and water, and makes one jokingly The Suffolk County Lake Ronkonkoma Advisory Board wonder if this lake is perhaps bottomless as some believe! was created to receive input from the community and make But along comes the story of a group of community recommendations to improve and members and friends gathering at their protect Lake Ronkonkoma. The group is favorite hangout, Tobins II in 1999. The coming very close to starting the process conversations of the group always lead to clean the water professionally for to the horrible conditions plaguing the significant results. lake shore, and the fact that no one was The group was approved by thendoing anything about the problem. They County Executive Robert J. Gaffney wondered if the residents had come to (R-Miller Place), date of approval accept the fact that our home was being November 30, 2000. Their meetings overlooked by the towns that should be are held once a month at the William H. protecting it. Rogers Building, located at 725 Veterans Looking back, the founders of the Memorial Highway, Hauppauge. All are group found the challenge to be more like welcome. They are available to hear a dare - could we make a difference? Over Lake water-related problems. the next ten years, the group successfully One of the more visible projects in pulled the trash, glass, and filth from the the community is keeping the shores Road sign displayed during the 1999-2010 clean-ups lake shores. They fufilled their pledge of of the Lake clean of litter and other “lets do it ourselves!” debris. This problem has been solved for many years by mostly Starting with the first scheduled clean-up, the group drew invisible “keepers” who have personally removed litter while they over seventy-five people to lead the way. They were a grassroots were taking a walk, out kayaking or boating, or saw some mess group, looking to improve the area with concern and hard work. from their car while parking and enjoying the view and had the They had steered Tim Mawn to the leadership position, and with decency to get out and pick it up. I know people who have been the help of the other founders they made such a difference in kayaking – Jo Molinari and Gerry Gibbons to name a few - and those years of concern. Local political influence did not lend a have actually transported kitchen sinks and other unimaginable hand in this multi-year eneavor; however, the community came items from the shore for disposal. This may seem uncommon out in full force. They welcomed the help but so unbelievably true. and donations of many businesses and The Lake Ronkonkoma Fishing club, the Lake Ronkonkoma individuals and used the donations Lifeguard Association, Scouts, school clubs, and so many with half for t-shirts and the other half organizations have all helped out with scheduled events to for supplies such as trash bags. Hickey alleviate the burden. Last week, on October 24, the Sachem Sanitation stepped in and supplied Public Library organized an event which proved our teens could rolloffs that carried off tons of trash make a difference at the Great Giveback Lake Ronkonkoma every year at no expense to the three Cleanup. They showed us that together, we can create positive surrounding Brookhaven, Islip, and change. They gathered a record number of debris bags. So proud Smithtown townships. of their hard work and dedication! Other components made this Similar events are well documented, such as when Boy Scout decade memorable, such as local artist Troop 91 worked with Town Councilman George A. Davis during Michael Murphy who painted the Native the time period surrounding July 30, 1987. They mapped out American scene on the store side of section by section of the shores of the lake and systimatically Rosevale Avenue. Photographs were cleaned and disposed of the trash. These pre-planned Troop 91 taken, and as I researched further I projects were highly successful. found many locals still in pocession of their participation t-shirts, The Town of Islip’s Keep Islip Clean Program presented all of them from 1999-2010, and wearing them continually to Computer Associates International, Inc. with an award on April date. 22, 1999, for adopting a spot in Islip. The group cleaned litter, In my interview of Tim Mawn, who was the leader of an removed graftti, and planted flowers on Lake Ronkonkoma organized grass roots group, he proudly recalled every aspect of Beach. the journey they took together. The most important draw was On April 17, 2021, a clean-up was sponsored by the Lake the unified concern of the members who showed up and did Ronkonkoma Improvement Group at Larry’s Landing and offered their thing by cleaning the shores. They had a genuine love for
Lake Ronkonkoma Clean-up 10-24-2026
Troop 91, July 1987 the lake. They did not demand media attention nor did they look to use their hard work as a stepping stone to granduer. They cared, period. The ninth and tenth years of the Lake Clean-up was challeged with the fact that the lake had followed its “tradition” of rising to high waters. Lake Shore Road was being used as the up and down to the non-existing beach on the north side, and it became extrememly dangerous for the volunteers to clean up by climbing down every few feet to the water’s edge. The Raynor Beach area was overtaken by the lake up to the VFW Hall. Tim Mawn recalled how one of his volunteers marked the water level in the Lake on the conrete wall at the VFW, and when he visited a few weeks ago, he went and visited the water’s mark, still there and holding its history. There have been groups that follow in the spirit of unity of our strong ccommunity, and two of them have emerged once again. Both have been doing research and behind the scenes organization, and just this month announced their full participation back into the mainstay. The Lake Ronkonkoma Legendary Landmarks has been working with members to release a comprehensive and fact based history of the village and historic areas attached to its magnitude. Preliminary and completed work has shown to be dead on with our history. The Lake Ronkonkoma Wavemakers Beautification Association once again brings forward the importance of visual and environmentally sound importance to the community. Still lead by Lenore Baake, a charter volunteer of the Tim Mawn group, she is the person who added much of the improvements to town, such as the lightpoles, benches, Brookhaven Town Landmarks, Arrowhead Park, and countless other declarations. The merge of the two groups, and with over fifteen local community groups on board, are moving ahead to make Lake Ronkonkoma great again. The recent Light the Village 2026 campaign, organized by the Lake Ronkonkoma Heritage Association, has bought over 48 families together to light the holidays with their grassroots decorations. Progress is abounding. Join us, you will enjoy it!
Technology News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
17
ChatGPT Makes a Bold Move in the Search Race Against Google By Mollie Barnett | Founder & Decision Architect™, State & Signal Traditional Google searches generally begin with keywords. Someone types “best plumber near me” and receives a collection of listings, websites, reviews and advertisements. ChatGPT allows people to approach the same problem conversationally. A homeowner might ask, “Can you recommend a reliable plumber in Smithtown who works on older homes and handles emergencies?” A family planning a celebration might ask for restaurants near Stony Brook that accommodate large groups, have outdoor seating, and offer vegetarian options. Instead of requiring customers to sort through numerous websites, AI can help compare businesses based on specific needs. That changes how businesses may be discovered. OpenAI’s new Business Hub allows eligible companies to claim their profiles, verify their identities and manage certain information about their products and services. Businesses may also gain access to measurements showing how customers encounter them through ChatGPT. Search marketing expert Lily Ray has been examining the announcement and its implications for business visibility, including how OpenAI measures business mentions. It’s an important distinction because appearing in an AI response doesn’t necessarily mean someone visits your website or becomes a customer. But it does mean businesses have another place where they may need to establish a presence. Why This Matters for Long Island Businesses Long Island’s independent businesses already compete in a crowded marketplace. A family-owned contractor in Hauppauge may have an excellent reputation built over decades. A restaurant in St. James may be a neighborhood favorite. A financial professional in Huntington may receive most new business through referrals. But what happens when a potential customer asks ChatGPT for a recommendation? Does the system have accurate information about the company? Does it understand what makes the business different? Can it distinguish a locally owned operation from a national competitor with a much larger marketing budget? These are increasingly relevant questions. Customers can’t consider businesses they never discover. The new Business Hub gives eligible owners an opportunity to verify and manage some of the information ChatGPT uses to represent them. That doesn’t guarantee a recommendation. OpenAI explicitly states that claiming a profile won’t improve a business’s ranking or guarantee additional sales. Still, for businesses already investing in their online visibility, it’s another relatively accessible step worth considering. How to Get Your Business Listed If you own or manage a Long Island business, here’s where to begin.
First, visit OpenAI’s Businesses in ChatGPT page. Look for the option to claim your business and determine whether your company is eligible. The service is being introduced in stages, so some businesses may not yet have access. Second, complete the verification process. OpenAI requires eligible businesses to verify their identities before managing their profiles. Follow the instructions provided through Business Hub. Third, review your business information. Make sure your business name, website, location, contact information, services and other available details are accurate. Fourth, check your existing online presence. Your website should clearly explain what your business does, whom it serves and what distinguishes it from competitors. For example, a contractor specializing in historic homes should make that expertise easy to find. A restaurant offering private dining should explain its accommodations. A professional serving a particular industry should clearly communicate that specialty. These details help potential customers understand whether a business meets their needs. They also provide useful context for AI systems attempting to match businesses with customer questions. Finally, continue maintaining your Google Business Profile, collecting legitimate customer reviews and keeping your website current. Claiming a ChatGPT profile isn’t a replacement for those activities. Don’t Expect Miracles Every few years, businesses are told that a new marketing technology will change everything. First, it was websites. Then search engine optimization, social media, online reviews, and Google Business Profiles.
Now it’s Artificial Intelligence. Each has created opportunities. None has eliminated the need for the others. Think business’s visibility as a wagon wheel. Your website is one spoke. Your Google Business Profile is another. Customer reviews, local media coverage, community involvement, professional referrals, and public relations make it go round. AI business discovery is another spoke. Claiming your ChatGPT business profile won’t suddenly make your business famous. It won’t replace a strong reputation, and it won’t guarantee new customers. But every spoke strengthens the wheel. Your real opportunity comes from maintaining a consistent, credible presence across the places customers use to discover and evaluate businesses. That includes the information your business publishes itself, and the independent information available through reviews, news coverage, professional organizations, and other trusted sources. For smaller businesses, the challenge is deciding where to invest limited time and marketing resources. Claiming an eligible business profile is a reasonable starting point. Launching an expensive new AI marketing campaign simply because ChatGPT introduced a feature is another matter entirely. What It Means for Businesses ChatGPT is becoming another place where customers search for local businesses. For Long Island business owners, the next step is simple: check whether your business is eligible, claim your profile and verify that your information is accurate. It won’t guarantee new customers, but it’s one more opportunity to make sure your business is included. Researched and edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
Mollie W. Barnett - is the Founder and Decision Architect™ at State & Signal, where she helps businesses recalibrate how they think, decide, and invest in what moves them forward in the AI era.
18
Messenger Perspectives Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
There Will Be a Reward
By PJ Balzer Last weekend was a really busy one for me. Between work, local sporting events, and ministry responsibilities, I had enough activities to do over two weekends, crammed into one. Thankfully, it was all completed though and I even had enough time to take part in this reallife story as well. There’s one gas station I’ve been frequenting lately. This station particularly though comes with a double-edged sword. One end of the sword is that the gas here is always the cheapest in price. The other end is that there’s always panhandlers around waiting to approach whoever starts pumping gas. I personally try not to judge people for where they find themselves at the moment. I’ve learned that when you ask questions to find out more about people’s lives, life stories, and the “why’s” in between, you may come to realize that some of us have had a great start in life. If we’re able to be circumspectly honest, we’ve had a clear head start far beyond from many others. Many were handed an extremely stable household and a nurturing environment. We had parents that could read and write fairly well who also knew enough about financial literacy to begin putting money aside for our college tuition and our future, even before we were born. We had parents who tried their best to be somewhat present and cared enough to show up. In learning about the lives of the people whom we walk past daily, you’re sure to find that there are other people who had everything but that. With that said, it’s also nearly impossible to give something to every single person who asks, especially where I’m from. Every gas station, supermarket, and corner store has people asking for spare change - men, women, and I’ve even witnessed children asking as well. As much as we each don’t really like people begging of us, it’s also pretty humiliating to stand outside with your hand held out to another human. If you don’t think so, give it a try some time. When I pulled into the gas station I didn’t see anyone around ready to beg for change. I figured I was safe and would quickly pump my gas and leave. I walked into the station and asked for twenty-five dollars while handing the attendant thirty. An old five-dollar bill was the change I received, and I had a plan for it. That was for my coffee a little later down the road. As soon as I started pumping gas, I heard the footsteps coming from behind the building. The man who was approaching was my age; I’m almost positive that we went to school together. He was one of those kids who got kicked out of school in ninth grade and I haven’t seen him since. He had way oversized clothes on that were filthy, a few prominent scars on his face and head. He definitely looked like the past thirty years have been rough ones. If there was a kid in school who definitely didn’t have a head start, it was him. His home life was dark, abusive, and destructive towards the children living there.
(631) 269-6421
Remember how we mentioned many of us having a home environment of nurture, stability and planning for our future? His home life was bent on completely destroying him. “Do you have some change for a coffee,” he asked me as he approached. I did, but I honestly didn’t feel like giving anything away at the moment. Plus, that five dollars was for my coffee, not his. There was this war going on inside my heart. One side wanted to say “yes” and the other “no.” Extremely reluctantly and still torn inside, I handed over my old five-dollar bill. The “yes” won the tug-of-war this time, only because God was at work in that hesitant “yes.” God was busy writing this story. About twenty minutes and three towns down the road, I started thinking about and planning out my coffee stop. I figured I’d complete a few more newspaper drop-offs and then stop for the mid-morning recharge. At the next drop-off, I parked in the usual spot I do every week which is easily five hundred feet from the door. The owner of the convenience store often asks me jokingly, “Why do you park so far? Are you trying to get a little exercise in as well?” I stepped out of the car, opened the back door to grab some newspapers, and hurried towards the store. A few short steps in, I noticed a five-dollar bill right next to my foot - a fivedollar bill in a pretty desolate side of the parking lot placed there just for me. Immediately I thought of a proverb in the Bible that says, “Whoever gives to the poor lends to the Lord. He will reward them for what they have done.” (Proverbs 19:17) When I bent down to pick up that five-dollar bill, I was reminded of a few things. The first being that God truly does see and know everything. He knows what we do and why we do it. Nothing escapes His sight, not even our hearts’ intentions and deepest thoughts. If it was a larger bill by my foot, it wouldn’t have made the same statement. It was an old five-dollar bill just like the one I reluctantly handed the childhood acquaintance. But it wasn’t about the money or amount. It was a reminder that God is always present. Jesus wears many different disguises in this life on Earth. Although some of them may be too familiar at times or not what we’d like or expect, He comes to us as the poor neighbor, the beggar, the child in ragged clothing and the stranger looking for some comfort. Humanity in distress is His disguise of choice. I’m not telling you that you should give your money to people who panhandle at gas stations. I’m also not telling you that if you do, you’re sure to find the equivalent on the ground. What I am saying though is that my coffee that morning tasted like God Himself poured it for me. There will be a reward.
AMAC Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
The Socialists Won More Than Just Elections on Tuesday, November 3rd By Michael Freund | AMAC Reprint from Daily Signal Five new candidates backed by the Democratic Socialists of America won House seats Tuesday. Together with reelected Reps. Alexandria OcasioCortez, D-N.Y., and Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., that brings the number of DSA-backed members in the next House of Representatives, as of this writing, to at least seven. This marks a significant expansion for a movement whose official program calls for abolishing the Senate, bringing the nation’s largest corporations under public ownership, and replacing the president and the Supreme Court with institutions subordinate to Congress. Perhaps the most consequential development is the DSA’s success in making ideas once considered politically unacceptable increasingly difficult for Democrat leaders to dismiss. The Overton window, a concept developed by policy researcher Joseph Overton, describes the range of ideas politicians can advocate without being pushed outside the mainstream. That range can shift, and yesterday’s election shows that it most certainly has in recent years. Proposals once considered unthinkable have now become part of ordinary political debate. In New York, Rep.-elect Claire Valdez campaigned to abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement and impose universal rent control. In Pennsylvania, Rep.elect Chris Rabb advocated universal basic income, free high-speed public transportation, and what he calls “national grocery stores.” He also wants ICE abolished. Rep.-elect Darializa Avila Chevalier defeated former Rep. Adriano Espaillat, chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, in a New York Democrat primary. A former organizer of virulent proPalestinian activism at Columbia University, she calls for ending U.S. funding to Israel and divesting from what her website calls “Israeli apartheid.” Colorado’s Melat Kiros unseated 15-term Rep. Diana DeGette in a Democrat primary. Kiros opposes Israel’s existence as a specifically Jewish state. Asked whether the 2025 lethal firebombing of a Boulder gathering supporting Israeli hostages held in Gaza was antisemitic, she declined to say so. She later expressed regret for not conveying sufficient empathy for the Jewish community but still stopped short of calling the attack unequivocally antisemitic. In Michigan, Rep.-elect Donavan McKinney defeated incumbent Rep. Shri Thanedar in the Democrat primary before winning the general election. Thanedar had the backing of House Democrat Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., making McKinney’s primary victory another sign that DSA-backed challengers can upset the party establishment. In local elections, DSA-backed Janeese Lewis George was elected mayor of Washington, D.C. In Florida, DSA-backed Ashley Herrmann defeated a Republican state House incumbent in a district President Donald Trump carried in 2024. Most of the congressional newcomers won in overwhelmingly Democrat districts, where the primaries were decisive. That hardly means the country has embraced socialism. Herrmann’s victory, however, shows the movement can win beyond those strongholds. The socialists’ influence extends beyond DSAendorsed candidates. In Michigan, Democrat Sen.elect Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers after campaigning for “Medicare for All” and opposing military assistance to Israel. El-Sayed was not endorsed by the DSA and calls himself a capitalist, not a socialist. His victory nonetheless illustrates how positions associated with the socialist Left are gaining support beyond the DSA’s formal ranks. The DSA’s program is sweeping. It advocates moving toward the abolition of police and prisons, ending all military and economic aid to Israel, and replacing the two-party system. Not every endorsed
candidate embraces every plank, but those are the stated goals of the movement helping elect them. Public attitudes have shifted, too. Gallup reported in September that 65% of Democrats viewed socialism positively, compared with 50% in 2010. Among independents, the figure rose from 37% in 2025 to 45% this year. Overall, 43% of Americans viewed socialism favorably, a Gallup high. The DSA itself remained less popular: 38% favorable and 54% unfavorable. Those figures do not establish that Americans endorse the DSA’s platform or that the organization caused the change. They do suggest that the socialist label carries less stigma than it once did.
Overview - AMAC The Association of Mature American Citizens
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
Winning majority support for its most sweeping proposals is not essential to the DSA’s strategy. Its candidates campaign on concerns about housing, wages, and health care, then use public office to bring more far-reaching ideas into legislative debates. Each victory makes those proposals harder for Democratic leaders to ignore, particularly when a small faction may hold crucial votes in a closely divided House. The DSA does not need to control the Democratic Party to change its direction. It only needs to make its agenda increasingly difficult for party leaders to reject. Sadly, Tuesday’s election showed just how much progress the socialists have made toward that goal.
NOV 12 DEC 27
MAR 11 APR 25
Bits & Pieces
20
WORD OF THE
Week
Etymology:
early 15c., from Latin circumspectus “deliberate, guarded, well-considered,” from circum “around, round about” + specere “to look.”
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
SUDOKU
CIRCUMSPECTLY Adverb Pronounced: /sur·kuhm·spekt·lee/ Definition:
carefully considering all circumstances and possible consequences
Example:
“The officials moved more circumspectly this week after their previous strategy did not work out.”
Synonyms: cautious, wary, guarded Antonyms: careless, unmindful, impetuous
Sources: Merriam-Webster, Etymonline.com.
See bottom left for the answers (please don’t cheat!)
This Week in History
WORD WHEEL
November 12, 1966: Buzz Aldrin takes the first “space selfie,”a photo of himself performing extravehicular activity in space during the Gemini 12 mission.
M
R A
S
November 13, 1940:
E See how many words you can create. Must have center letter in word and can use letters more than once. 4 letter word minimum.
T O
November 16, 1824:
New York City’s Fifth Avenue opens for business.
Walt Disney’s animated film “Fantasia,” starring Leopold Stokowski, The Philadelphia Orchestra, Mickey Mouse, and ballet-dancing hippopotamuses, premieres at the Broadway Theatre.
November 14, 1896
Power plant at Niagara Falls begins operation.
November 15, 2017:
Leonardo da Vinci’s painting “Salvator Mundi” sells for $450.3 million at auction in New York, a record price for any artwork.
November 17, 1970:
Stanford Research Institute scientist Douglas Engelbart receives the first patent for the computer mouse.
November 18, 1902:
Source: Onthisday.com.
Brooklyn toymaker Morris Michtom (pictured) names his stuffed teddy bear after US President “Teddy” Roosevelt.
Bits & Pieces Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, November 12, 2026
NATIONAL Secretary of State Marco Rubio said economic pressures on Iran are effective enough to avoid major combat operations. Iran has rejected claims of progress and insists on deference to its seven conditions before reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Kennedy family has sued Trump over an arch planned near Arlington National Cemetery, citing obstruction of views of family gravesites. The SS United States was sunk off the coast of Destin, Florida, to become the world’s largest artificial reef. The U.S. government received over $12B in revenue from Venezuela oil exports. A nor’easter is brewing and is set to hit the Northeast with rain and snow Thursday into Friday. House Oversight Republicans released a 136-page final report that states institutional failures and federal law enforcement allowed Jeffrey Epstein to act with impunity. They found no evidence to implicate Trump, but incoming House Democrats say the report was partisan and incomplete.
STATE Democrats’ 47-seat Senate majority is the largest in 180 years. Their 111-seat Assembly majority is their largest ever. Seneca Nation President Tina Abrams is warning of legal battles with Governor Hochul over the gaming compact. Congressman Mike Lawler (R) leaves the door open on a future run for governor after losing re-election for his House seat. LIRR President Rob Free announced retirement after three years on job. Head-on collision death in the Bronx is sparking new e-bike debates. 17-year-old was charged in the murder of 15-year-old Bronx teenager. New York City Harvest and Daily News are aiming to collect 600,000 pounds of food ahead of Thanksgiving.
LOCAL Suffolk D.A. Tierney to announce identities of cold-case victims. Topgolf is cutting prices to boost traffic. Developer secured over $154M in debt to refinance previous loans on an apartment complex that replaced a North Amityville trailer park. Arizona tourist hit a $54,000 jackpot at Jake’s 58 Casino in Islandia. Good Samaritan in Islip Terrace injured in a vehicle crash while assisting victims of a separate crash. Singer/Songwriter Jared Campbell visited a Sound Beach school to encourage kindness and acceptance.
WORD SEARCH
21
Ducks
Extend Ford, Coaching Staff The Long Island Ducks today announced that manager Lew Ford, pitching coach Bobby Blevins. and bench coach/hitting coach Tim Battle, Jr. have signed three-year contract extensions through the 2029 season. “Lew, Bobby and Tim have done an exceptional job leading our club and representing the Ducks organization,” said team president Michael Pfaff. “The 2026 season was truly historic, and their leadership was instrumental in our championship success. We’re excited to keep this outstanding staff together as we look to defend our title in 2027 and build on that success in the years ahead.” The trio of Ford, Blevins and Battle Jr. have each achieved numerous accolades while serving on the Ducks coaching staff, including: Lew Ford • Franchise-best regular season record (80-46, .635 winning percentage) and undefeated postseason (6-0), culminating in the 2026 Atlantic League championship • Winning record in each of his three seasons as manager, including an overall record of 222-162 (.578 winning percentage) • 24 Ducks players have had their contract transferred during Ford’s managerial tenure, including 16 to Major League Baseball organizations • Three Ducks alumni – Robert Stock, Tyler Zuber and Matt Seelinger – have reached the Major League level after playing under Ford with Long Island
Bobby Blevins • Guided the Atlantic League’s top pitching staff in consecutive seasons (2025 and 2026) • Ducks led the Atlantic League in ERA (4.84), wins (80), strikeouts (1,175) and batting average against (.251) while allowing the fewest runs (663) and hits (1,050) in 2026 • Seven pitchers have had their contract transferred to MLB organizations during Blevins’ three seasons as pitching coach, with three reaching the Major League level Tim Battle, Jr. • Ducks offense set an Atlantic League single-season record with 692 walks and set franchise single-season records in home runs (190) and stolen bases (320) in 2026 • Long Island ranked second in the ALPB in batting (.288), OPS (.885), runs (899), hits (1,225) and RBIs (838) • Three position players had their contract transferred to Major League organizations in 2026 The Long Island Ducks are entering their 27th season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip. They are the all-time leader in wins and attendance in Atlantic League history, have led all MLB Partner Leagues in total attendance for six consecutive seasons, have sold out a record 730 games all-time and are five-time Atlantic League Champions. For further information, please visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).
William Floyd Gymnastics Team Wins League II Title & Finishes Top 3 at Counties Credit - William Floyd Gymnastics Team
By Ashley Pavlakis The Colonials’ routines on the beam, bars, and floor were up to par this season. William Floyd won the League II championship in Section XI varsity gymnastics and placed third at the Suffolk County Championship meet. The William Floyd varsity gymnastics team is a member of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and competes in League II. The Colonials are led by 13th-year head coach Rich Daly. He’s joined on the mat by assistant coach Lindsay Kulik. The Colonials finished the 2026 regular season with an 8-1-0 record, best for first place in League II. Their strong record earned them the League II title and a chance to compete for a Suffolk County title. William Floyd qualified for the Suffolk County championship for the fourth consecutive season. “It was the best in school history, a top-three finish. Our goal at the beginning of the season was to place top four,” William Floyd head coach Rich Daly told The Messenger. “It was a long shot, but we were hopeful, and to place third was pretty amazing. We have a bunch of seniors who kind of led the way, but we also have a young team who was able to push forward. It was awesome; it was a good experience for everybody,” The gymnastics team is a combined team made up of gymnasts from Longwood, Eastport-South Manor, ShorehamWading River, Center Moriches, Rocky Point, and Miller Place. Floyd has five seniors on the squad who will walk the stage this spring. Alyssa Wood, Teagan Coen, Halle Rau, Adrianna Pabon, and Isabella Manfredonia. Gymnastics is mostly an individual sport, so working on each gymnast’s routines during practice is important. The Colonials
put in a strong effort as a group and as individuals each day. “The basic routines, the outside gym routines that the kids do, are a little different than varsity, with the way everything scores. It’s just making sure we adhere to all the guidelines to score as many points as possible. At Floyd, we have to set up our events that we do every single day for practice. We think about which events we need to work on any given day. This whole season, it’s been bars day after day, just trying to get better because that was our weakness through the whole season. So, we did keep growing, and we peaked at the right time coming into counties.” At counties, Alyssa Wood and Isabella LaMare were recognized for their talents, each earning themselves a spot on the Section XI State team. ”It was the highest she’s [Alyssa Wood] ever gotten in her lifetime on bars, so she was pretty stoked about it. Winning counties and then being able to be the representative for the state team on bars,” said Daly. Floyd continued to make history this season, placing third in counties and having two qualifiers for States. “That’s an accomplishment. We’ve only had one girl at Floyd prior to them do it, so they were in an elite group. We’re super, super proud of them. They worked really hard. Isabella LaMare is a freshman, so we’re going to have her for a few more years.
We’re looking for bigger and better things to come. Alyssa, just to finish up her senior season, making the state team is awesome, and we’re very excited for her,” said Daly. Having a balance between upper and underclassmen is something the Colonials have built a support system around. “It’s a great group of girls; they really are a good team. They supported each other throughout. It’s a young team; having young girls on a varsity sport sometimes can get out of control a little bit because there’s definitely a difference between middleschool girls and high-school girls. They rolled with it, =matured along the way, and definitely learned from the older girls on the team. I think that they just kind of meshed well, and that was a big reason for our success, that they were able to do that.” Congratulations to the William Floyd Varsity Gymnastics team on a fantastic season; you’ve made Suffolk County proud!
23 SWR Track and Field (Credit - Michaela Berg)
Shoreham-Wading River Girls’ XC Wins Class C Title By Ashley Pavlakis The varsity girls’ cross country team at Shoreham-Wading River (SWR) competed in the Class C championship and won last Thursday. The win qualifies them to compete at the New York State Championship meet this weekend. The Shoreham-Wading River varsity girls cross country team is a member of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and competes in League VII. The girls are led by head coach Michaela Berg. The Wildcats boasted a 6-0-0 record in the regular season. The Wildcats’ undefeated season was rewarded with the Class C League Title, one they claimed at the end of October. As far as Suffolk County titles, the Wildcats have won eight in team history. As a team, the Wildcats took first overall in the Class C Suffolk County championship meet. The win helped solidify their spot at the New York State championship. Shoreham qualified 7 runners to compete at the state level as well. “It was incredibly exciting, especially knowing how much work went into getting there. I think the girls were able to see what happens when everyone contributes and buys into a common goal. It wasn’t just about our top runners; it was about the entire team. Seeing that hard work pay off was really special,” head coach Michaela Berg told The Messenger. SWR had 7 runners place in the top 15 at the Suffolk County Class C championship meet. Ellie Connell (1st), Emma Trentowski (4th), Victoria Hamilton (7th), Annaliese Joos (9th), Brynne Shinnick (10th), June Minetti (11th), and Aliana Kurz (13th). The Wildcats had a great season on the trails, Berg highlighted the girls’ dedication to honing their craft. “I think the biggest thing was the consistency and commitment of the girls. They understood what we were wanting to build, and really started to believe in themselves and each other. We also had a great combination of individual improvement and team growth, and I think that made all the difference,” said Berg. Sunken Meadow State Park is home to Section XI, offering two trails for varsity athletes to compete on. They have a 5k trail, used for invitationals
and championship meets, and a 2.5k trail used for dual-meets. The park is known for its terrain and ability to test the runners’ endurance. Track & Field teams are familiar with the courses, having run there at various points throughout the season. The Wildcats ran at Sunken Meadow seven times this 2026 season. “Obviously, there’s a lot of physical preparation, but we also spend a lot of time working on the mental side of running. Cross country is such a mental sport. We work on staying composed when things get difficult, leaning into the uncomfortable, and learning to trust their training. I want them to understand that racing is as much about competing with confidence as it is about being physically prepared. Because our team is still so young, I’m cognizant of instilling good habits - form and breathing, sure - but nutrition, and good sleep habits. Taking care of their whole body,” said Berg. The New York State Championship meet is taking place on November 14 at Queensbury High School. The day will consist of Classes A, B, C, & D competing for both the girls and boys. Class C is set to begin at 12:00p.m., where Shoreham-Wading River Track & Field will have the chance to compete for the state title. “We’re excited, and I think the girls are ready to embrace the opportunity. We know we’re going up against some very strong teams, but we’re there for a reason. I want them to trust their training, compete fearlessly, and run for each other. At this point, there’s nothing more we can do to prepare. It’s time to go out there, enjoy the experience and see what we can accomplish this weekend and set the tone for what’s next,” said Berg. Congratulations to Shoreham-Wading River on a phenomenal season! Running isn’t for everyone, but we’re proud to cheer you on. Suffolk County wishes you the best of luck as you represent us at the New York State level.
One Senior, Two Trophies, Zero Limits for Sachem East Girls’ Soccer By Ashley Pavlakis The Sachem East girls’ varsity soccer team hit the mark Thursday, winning the Suffolk County championship in a tight matchup against Connetquot. They did it again Sunday night, clinching the Long Island Championship over Oceanside. Sachem East girls’ soccer is a member of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and competes in Division I. The girls are led by second-year head coach Glenn Monsen. The Arrows finished the regular season with a 14-2-1 record. The Arrows claimed its first County title since 2021, but their first outright title since 2007. The title win this season came in a close battle with division rival Connetquot. The two schools were at the top of their division all season long, making their eventual playoff matchup even
better. Sachem entered the postseason as the number one seed in the Class AAA bracket, granting them a first-round bye. Their route to the Suffolk County title saw them take on Ward Melville and Connetquot. The two schools played one another during the regular season, a game where the Arrows emerged victorious with a 3-1 win. The field was set: Sachem East Arrows versus Connetquot Thunderbirds at a neutral site location, West Islip High School. In the 43rd minute, Sachem intercepted the ball, sending it back the other way where Gabriella Arculeo was awaiting the pass in front of the net to slip it into the bottom left corner. Sachem East maintained a 1-0 lead for the remainder of the game; when the final whistle blew, they were
deemed 2026 Suffolk County Champions. The Arrows are a young squad, having one senior on its roster this season. Aubree Ellis, a midfielder for Sachem, wears number 15 on the field. The senior is committed to Oneonta, where she’ll play Division III soccer in the fall. On a squad with only one senior, the 10 juniors, 11 sophomores, and 1 freshman have given Aubree Ellis her Cinderella story. The youthful Arrows wanted to get their leader a ring before seeing her walk the stage this spring. Two down, one more to go. With a County title locked in, the next challenge was for the Long Island crown. The Class AAA Long Island championship took place late Sunday afternoon versus Nassau’s backto-back-to-back county champion, Oceanside. The Sailors won the Long Island title in 2025.
The match remained scoreless through regulation and overtime, forcing penalty kicks to declare a winner. Penalty kicks are dreadful, but the Arrows didn’t let the Sunday Scaries get the best of them, dethroning the Sailors 4-3 in penalty kicks for the Long Island crown. In the fourth round of penalty kicks, Audrey McCarville sealed the deal for Sachem East, slipping one past the goaltender to secure the title and advance to States. The Arrows had a productive season offensively, outscoring their opponents 37 to 8, while also posting 11 shutouts. Paige Seaman is a huge factor in those shutouts. The goaltender has protected the box well this season, backing up her team’s offensive power. Congratulations to the Sachem East Arrows for conquering Counties and Long Island!
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Messenger Spotlight
Thursday, November 12, 2026
Treat the Family to Theatre Three’s Production of
‘A Christmas Carol’
By Cindi Sansone-Braff Much like the annual pilgrimage to Rockefeller Center to marvel at the massive Christmas tree, for many Long Islanders, the holiday season wouldn’t feel complete without a trip to Theatre Three’s “A Christmas Carol.” Bah! Humbug! That is one of the most recognizable phrases in the English language, famously uttered by Ebenezer Scrooge, the irascible protagonist of Charles Dickens’ 1843 novella “A Christmas Carol.” The miraculous transformation of this misanthropic miser into a compassionate, caring man has enthralled people worldwide for generations. Jeffrey Sanzel’s masterful stage adaptation of this literary masterpiece is the heart and soul of Theatre Three’s beloved Yuletide tradition. As Sanzel explains, his ever-evolving adaptation focuses on “creating Scrooge’s history,” adding emotional depth and dramatic richness to the familiar tale. Sanzel’s exceptional artistry shines through every aspect of this spectacular production, from his precise direction to his captivating portrayal of Scrooge. The full title of Dickens’ classic novella is “A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas,” so it is fitting that Scrooge’s metaphysical metamorphosis begins when the ghost of his former business partner, Jacob Marley, rises from the depths of hell to haunt him. Steven Uihlein was perfectly cast as the remorseful, chain-laden spirit, whose unexpected presence establishes the eerie, supernatural atmosphere that defines Dickens’ beloved tale of redemption. Haley Saunders, the Ghost of Christmas Past, looked radiant, like an angelic fairy princess in a magnificent white ballgown, as she guided Scrooge through many memories, some pleasant, some painful. As he tumbles through time, some recollections taunt him, but for a fleeting moment at Fezziwig’s Ball, Scrooge revels in what once was and what could have been if he had not thrown it all away. In this pivotal scene, we meet Mr. Fezziwig, Scrooge’s jovial and kind first employer, portrayed by the talented Renée Santos-Stewart. Theatre Three veteran Linda May commanded the stage as the fun-loving Mrs. Fezziwig. Seeing how deeply Scrooge loved the
Fezziwig’s daughter, Belle, played by the charming Angie Barrientos, made his fall from grace infinitely more painful to watch. Kiernan Urso delivered a memorable performance as Young Ebenezer Scrooge. A special shout-out goes to Urso for his festive choreography in “Wassail (Fezziwig’s Ball).” Will Brennan was convincing as Dick Wilkins, apprenticed to Fezziwig. Act II opens with Santos-Stewart giving a standout performance in her dual role as the Ghost of Christmas Present, bringing welcome comedic relief to the otherwise bleak proceedings. Santos-Stewart delivered her clever, well-crafted lines with spot-on comedic timing, drawing plenty of belly laughs. Much of this allegorical tale’s emotional appeal comes from heartwarming scenes featuring the tight-knit Cratchit family. Ray Gobes, Jr., brought warmth and humanity to Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s long-suffering clerk. Louisa Bikowski delivered a nuanced performance as Mrs. Cratchit, Bob’s devoted wife. “The Holly Cast” portrayed the Cratchit children: Skye Greenberg as Martha, Patrick Hutchinson as Peter, and Kathleen Arabelle Han as Belinda. These promising young actors brought warmth and enthusiasm to their roles. Alina Teague, as Tiny Tim, stole the show with her heartfelt delivery of “God bless Us, Every One!” One of the show’s many high points was the ominous appearance of the largerthan-life Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come. Noah Ryan expertly maneuvered one of the most awe-inspiring costumes you’ll ever see onstage. This somber specter silently reveals the tragic consequences awaiting Scrooge if he refuses to change. This nightmarish scene reminds us that the future is not set in stone and that our wise choices today can shape our tomorrows. The gifted young performers alternate roles, and “The Ivy Cast” includes Nora Andersen, Riley Burns, Eve Cruz, Roy Fleischer, Tenley Hassett, Mireilla O’Donnell, Vivian Leigh Rumble, Leo Ross, and Jonah Stuart-Rest. Other outstanding performances were given by Noah Ryan as Fred Halliwell, Scrooge’s nephew, Haley Saunders as Janet, Fred’s wife, Linda May as Mrs. Dilber,
Scrooge’s housekeeper, Zach Kanakaris as Scrooge as a Boy, Emilia “Emmie” Giangrasso as The Girl, Lily Yap as Margaret and the Charwoman, Jennifer Salvia as Fan, Scrooge’s sister, and Kaidence Russ as The Child on Christmas Morning. Much of this production’s success stems from associate director Jason Furnari’s expertise and the rest of Theatre Three’s stellar creative and technical team. Brad Frey’s outstanding musical direction, Ellen Michelmore’s original music and sound effects, with additional music design by William Roslak, all contributed to the show’s spellbinding effect. Robert W. Henderson, Jr.’s exceptional sound design and spectacular lighting, along with additional sound design by Tim Haggerty and associate lighting design by Stacey Boggs, further enhanced the production. Randall Parsons’ breathtaking set, authentic Victorian-period costumes by Jason Allyn and Parsons, and Ally Humanitzki’s outstanding wig design transported the audience to late 19th-century London. Arrive early to enjoy the cast caroling on the Second Stage, then stay afterward to take an onstage photo with Ebenezer Scrooge. Surprising your friends and family with tickets to Theatre Three’s wondrous production of “A Christmas Carol” makes a memorable holiday gift! The show runs through December 27, 2026. For tickets, call the box office at 631-928-9100 or visit www.theatrethree.com. Cindi Sansone-Braff is an award-winning playwright. She holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Connecticut and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. She is the author of “Grant Me a Higher Love,” “Why Good People Can’t Leave Bad Relationships,” and “Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic.” She won the 2026 Press Club of Long Island Media Award in the Narrative Arts category for outstanding journalism.