Smithtown Messenger Archive Aug. 8, 2024

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Thursday, August 8, 2024 ~ Volume 136 ~ Issue Number 38 ~ $1.00

The Messenger

Takes to the Skies

Gabreski’s 2nd Annual STEM Camp

PART 3

By Matt Meduri

Last August, The Messenger had the unique opportunity to attend the first Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Camp offered by the Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard (ANG) Base in Westhampton Beach. The camp was open to Department of Defense (DoD) dependents and was essentially a pilot program for a camp that could be open to more STEM students in the future.

The final day of last year’s camp also allowed campers and The Messenger to take part in exhilarating flights on the HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter (inset) and the HC-130J Combat King II aircraft.

Continued on page 12

LaLota Presents $1.4M Check for Smithtown and Kings Park Stormwater Improvements

By Matt Meduri

Elected and community leaders with the check for Smithtown’s stormwater infrastructure (Credit - Matt Meduri)

FULL STORIES ON:

The Romaine Report: Beach Safety Page 4

In May, Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY-01) announced that he had secured $1.38 million for flood mitigation to improve stormwater infrastructure in Kings Park and Smithtown. $1 million is set to renovate the stormwater infrastructure on Main Street in Smithtown and the remaining $384,800 is set to improve similar infrastructure for the Kings Park LIRR Business District Stormwater Infrastructure Project.

The funding was secured from the Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill that was signed into law in March.

Smithtown renovations have been necessitated by antiquated stormwater infrastructure that is unable to handle the large and frequent amounts of rainfall, causing basement floods in Main Street businesses and sending road runoff into the Nissequogue River tributary nearby.

Kings Park renovation will reduce stormwater contamination in the Long Island Sound Watershed.

Congressman LaLota joined Smithtown elected officials and stakeholders at Tide Park on Tuesday afternoon, just off the Route 25 municipal parking lot utilized by residents and businesses where ground will break to install sixteen drainage pools and five catch basins.

Continued on page 3

Recreation Restoration Officer Honored for Across Smithtown Life-Saving Action Page 22

Page 24

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News Thursday, August 8, 2024

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LaLota Presents $1.4M Check for Smithtown and Kings Park Stormwater Improvements

“When I was first elected, I told Supervisor Barbara Franco, Wehrheim how much I love the Town of Executive Director for Smithtown, and he replied, ‘Show me the the Greater Smithtown money,’” LaLota remarked humorously. “And Chamber of Commerce we’re here today to present $1.384 million to pictured left, spoke the Town of Smithtown for very much-needed on the project as well, projects here.” calling it a “significant” LaLota said that while some issues put day for Smithtown. before the federal government are “quite big “This project is and strategic” as they relate to issues of inflation, providing state-ofimmigration, and foreign policy, “preserving the-art parking for the quality of life and the affordability in great our local residents, towns like Smithtown” are otherwise universally small businesses, and agreeable. it’s monumental for “We have to make proper investments us,” said Franco, adding that the renovations to into our community to ensure it remains an the Route 25 municipal lot “will take Smithtown affordable, beautiful place to live and work,” up another notch by accommodating a crowd said LaLota, adding that “too many of our of visitors and creating a walkable downtown families” are moving out of state because they business district.”

Leaders meet with Chop Shop managers (Credit - Matt Meduri) feel there are “better opportunities” elsewhere.

During the round of questions, Supervisor “But we want them to stay here, and we Wehrheim addressed just how substantial the have to do things at various levels of government to keep people here to ensure Long Island rainfall has become in recent years. remains an awesome place for us all to be,” added LaLota. He mentioned similar efforts from “It’s no longer an inch-and-a-half of rain, which is what these drainage structures were built State representatives, including $900,000 procured by Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James) and for. It’s three, sometimes four inches, over just a couple of days. These drainage structures are $200,000 by Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) for quality-of-life improvements. failing,” said Wehrheim. “Once this water floods out this parking lot, it gets pitched towards “This parking lot is the lot that services all of these businesses on Main Street [in Main Street, and it winds up going into the backs and basements of these buildings.”

Smithtown], so this infrastructure is going to be very beneficial Wehrheim said that new drainage structures have already been implemented in parts of to those businesses,” said Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim downtown Smithtown, including behind Napper Tandy’s Irish Pub. The new drainage system is (R-Kings Park) pictured right. “Unfortunately, when we get two or “calculated to handle these three-to-four-inch rainstorms.” three inches of rainfall, their basements flood. That’s going to be Wehrheim also said that road runoff flowing into the Nissequogue River contains rectified. There’s also an environmental value here. These drainage contaminants, such as oil that drips from vehicles during transit. structures under the parking lot are over thirty years old. New In terms of how runoff will be treated, Senator Mattera said that wells with Advanced drainage structures will drain the water so that it will not run onto Oxidation Processes (AOP) systems will treat the water. AOP systems are capable of removing Main Street, and ultimately into the Nissequogue River.” contaminants such as 1-4 dioxane and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), two Wehrheim added that “local government cannot afford to substances often referred to as “forever chemicals,” as they are virtually indestructible and do these massive projects,” requiring help from higher levels of found almost everywhere. government. He said that with leaders from Congress, Suffolk Mattera and company also mentioned that the project will generate “good-paying” union County, and New York State, Smithtown is approaching $120 million trade jobs. worth of capital approved since 2018, calling that latest check LaLota added that of the eight towns within the First Congressional District, the $1.4 “monumental.” million check for Smithtown is “one of the bigger ones.”

“We’re in the process of sewering all three business districts,” said Wehrheim. “St. James Other elected officials present were Smithtown Councilmembers Tom Lohmann is almost complete, Kings Park is underway, and County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center (R-Smithtown), Lisa Inzerillo (R-Kings Park), Thomas J. McCarthy (R-Nissequogue), Suffolk County Moriches) has dedicated $101 million in the 2025-2027 capital budget to sewer Main Street in Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga), and Suffolk County Clerk Vincent Puleo (R-Nesconset).

Smithtown.”

Elected officials took a stroll through Chop Shop Bar & Grill, located directly adjacent to “When I said ‘show me the money,’ Congressman LaLota came to Smithtown and showed Tide Park and the Route 25 municipal lot just north of Main Street. The Messenger spoke with us the money,” Wehrheim quipped. general manager Melbin Rivera on how his business has been affected by the antiquated Senator Mario Mattera, Ranking Member on the Energy Committee pictured left, said that stormwater infrastructure.

LaLota “cares” about Smithtown and the environment.

Rivera, who has been the general manager at Chop Shop for three years, says that the “We [Smithtown] are finally coming into the Twenty-First Century with help from our great stormwater levels have increased dramatically in that short time period. leaders,” said Mattera. “We don’t need the drainage going into the Nissequogue River and “Lately, it’s been a complete disaster. It’s not normal; it’s not something you expect,” Rivera we don’t need that freshwater and saltwater intrusion. We told The Messenger. “The big problem [from flooding] is the air quality inside need to make sure that we’re replenishing our aquifer. We the restaurant.” Rivera says that dirty water caught in the restaurant’s twelveare all here to keep our environment clean.” inch crawlspace under the floor creates musty air that ruins Chop Shop’s Mattera also mentioned, as a seven-year member on atmosphere. the Suffolk County Water Authority (SCWA) Board, that it’s “Lucky for us, we don’t have a basement,” said Rivera, indicating the important to him that Suffolk County and Smithtown have aforementioned space where rainwater collects in times of flooding. “the cleanest, purest water for generations to come.”

“It’s great that they’re doing this project,” he said, citing that “temporary “Infrastructure is not pretty, it’s not something to point solutions” only go so far. at and say ‘look how attractive that project is.’ It’s actually Pumping water out of small crawlspaces can cost thousands of dollars, and quite dirty and messy,” said Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick remedying a basement flood can pose an astronomical cost to a business, as pictured right. “But infrastructure is what makes everything well as disturbed schedules, storage, and business hours. else possible. Once this project is completed, the quality of Chop Shop Bar & Grill is located at 47 East Main Street in Smithtown life will continue to improve here in Smithtown.” and can be reached at 631-360-3383.

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The Romaine Report

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Thursday, August 8, 2024

Beach Safety

By County Executive Ed Romaine Credit: Matt Meduri

Suffolk County is home to over 1,000 miles of coastline, checkered with parks, beaches and private homes. Naturally, summer should be a season of bliss and enjoyment for residents of all ages. Unfortunately, many accidents locally and nationally have marred this summer. Over 4,000 people die every year from drowning, according to numbers from the CDC. That translates to over 12 deaths per day, and this terrible trend shows no signs of reversing. Be mindful and remember to enjoy the season but enjoy it safely and responsibly.

Keeping in mind these tips, remember to have fun. Suffolk County operates three world-class ocean beaches: Cupsogue Beach County Park, Smith Point County Park, and Shinnecock East County Park. Visit our parks department’s website to learn about our Green Key Card to save on parking.

We are also home to one of the highest concentrations of swimming pools in the country. Many of the safety tips for beach going apply to pools as well. Additional safety tips for pools include: • No running by the pool.

• Only dive in deep water.

• Never leave the pool gate open.

For additional safety, consider taking a CPR course either by contacting Suffolk EMS at (631) 852-5080 or by contacting your local firehouse or EMS agency.

Let’s finish out this season strong by enjoying it safely.

Here are some helpful reminders when visiting our beautiful beaches.

• Swim between the buoys.

• Only swim when a lifeguard is on duty.

• Swim sober.

• Do not swim alone.

• Swim parallel to shore to get out of a rip current.

• Pay attention to flags and warnings from lifeguards.

• Water wings and tubes are no substitute for adult supervision.

• Check the weather forecast before you swim.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) has served as County Executive since 2024. He has previously served as a Suffolk County Legislator, representing the First District from 1986 to 1989 and again from 2005 to 2012, Suffolk County Clerk from 1989 to 2005, and Brookhaven Town Supervisor from 2012 to 2023.

His office can be reached at 631-852-1600.

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News Thursday, August 8, 2024

Steven Schwally Charged with List of Felonies in Deadly Nail Salon Crash

5

By Matt Meduri

surgery and implementation of hardware into her leg, a customer who was air-lifted for hip surgery, an employee who lost her spleen and received multiple fractures, and six other injuries requiring hospital treatments.

“We allege the defendant was intoxicated at the time of this accident. We detailed in court the defendant’s condition upon his arrest, how witnesses detected an odor of alcohol in his breath; he had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes,” said Tierney. “In addition, they found alcohol in the vehicle itself. There were two empty bottles and one full bottle of the Montebello Long Island

next court date is scheduled for the end of August.

Tierney adds that the purpose for the press conference was not just about the defendant, but about the victims’ families.

“It’s about justice for these victims, but moreover, it’s about raising awareness of what is happening on our roads, not only in Suffolk County, but across our state and across our country,” said Tierney. “It is absolutely unconscionable at this time for anyone to operate a motor vehicle while intoxicated, especially in light of all the rideshare apps we have and all of the avenues people have to make easy, reasonable choices to not endanger people. Unfortunately as we’ve seen over and over again, tragedy ensues.”

Tierney also says that the unusual decision to seek murder charges for Schwally is due to New York’s “inadequate” vehicular crime statutes. He also said that a case such as this one is “extremely fact-specific,” requiring the “marrying of facts of each individual case with the charges available.”

New York Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President Patrick Hendry (pictured below left) and other representatives spoke to media outside the Arthur M. Cromarty Building after the press conference held by D.A. Tierney.

“Police officers are in solidarity with all the families of the victims in this horrific tragedy,” said Hendry. “So many shattered lives. We need justice for all of them. As police officers, we didn’t just lose a colleague, we lost a family member. Amelia was loved by the police officers from the 102nd Precinct. Her husband lost his best friend.”

Hendry added that the PBA and the NYPD are “thankful to the prosecutors” in this case.

“We know today is just the beginning. We know there is still a long road to justice in this case and we’re going to be there by the sides of all the families in this case until this individual is convicted, sentenced, and stays behind bars where he belongs.”

“

Iced Tea cocktail. Thereafter, a search warrant was executed at his residence at the time, at the Commack Motor Inn, and an empty alcohol bottle was found in his hotel room.”

Schwally has been arraigned and is being held without bail. His license has been suspended. The

“We allege the defendant was intoxicated at the time of this accident. We detailed in court the defendant’s condition upon his arrest, how witnesses detected an odor of alcohol in his breath; he had slurred speech and bloodshot eyes. In addition, they found alcohol in the vehicle itself. There were two empty bottles and one full bottle of the Montebello Long Island Iced Tea cocktail. Thereafter, a search warrant was executed at his residence at the time, at the Commack Motor Inn, and an empty alcohol bottle was found in his hotel room.”

“

Suffolk County was shocked on June 28 as news broke of a DWI-crash at a Deer Park nail salon that killed four, including an NYPD officer.

Steven Schwally, 64, drove his Chevrolet Traverse at 78 miles per hour into Hawaii Nail & Spa located at 794 Grand Boulevard in Deer Park at around 4:30p.m.

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) (pictured right) revealed a massive list of thirty-eight charges brought against Schwally at a Riverhead press conference last Thursday.

Schwally has been indicted on four counts of murder in the second degree, three counts of assault in the first degree, two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide, four counts of manslaughter in the second degree, one count of vehicular manslaughter in the first degree, one count of aggravated vehicular assault, three counts of assault in the second degree, four counts of vehicular manslaughter in the second degree, one county of vehicle assault in the second degree, one count of reckless endangerment in the first degree, six counts of assault in the third degree, one count of reckless driving, and one count of speeding.

“This is a comprehensive indictment and it reflects the defendant’s depraved indifference in causing four fatalities and nine other serious physical injuries,” said Tierney. “This case has had a devastating impact on our community.”

Schwally has reportedly not shown remorse for his actions and continues to assert he has not broken any laws.

Tierney outlined Schwally’s itinerary in the hours leading up to the crash. Schwally had been a resident of the Commack Motor Inn at the time and purchased two 375-milliliter bottles of Montebello Long Island Iced Tea, a 42-proof beverage, at 11:00a.m. that day. Schwally is said to have been a regular at the liquor store just next to the nail salon.

Prosecutors allege that Schwally had been drinking “all day,” and that his blood alcohol content was 0.17, more than twice the legal limit of 0.08, at the time of his arrest.

“He was operating the motor vehicle, despite being intoxicated,” said Tierney. “He began swerving around other vehicles, he disregarded four stop signs, he sped through five crosswalks, nearly hit other pedestrians, and other cars. Then, he ran that red light and went airborne through Grand Avenue prior to crashing directly into the salon.”

Tierney said that witnesses described the sound of the crash as though a “bomb went off or there was an explosion,” followed by debris, dust, and glass strewn about through the smoke.

Tierney called it an “absolutely horrific scene.”

One of the four casualties was NYPD Officer Amelia Rennhack, 30, who was at the salon getting a manicure before a wedding.

Nail salon owner Zhen Kai Shen, 37, and two salon employees, Yan Yu, 41, and Mai Zi Zhang, 50, were also killed.

Shen’s wife received serious physical injuries and likely has years of recovery ahead, along with two young children and no source of income in their salon.

Other injuries include that of a twelve-yearold child who suffered a fractured ankle requiring

Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney

6 LaLota: Bringing Home the Bacon Where it Counts We’d be remiss if we didn’t take the opportunity to thank Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY01) for his most recent procurement of almost $4 million from an appropriations budget that has been earmarked for stormwater upgrades in downtown Smithtown and Kings Park.

While other members of Congress, Suffolk company excluded, spend their days nationalizing every aspect of their office, LaLota spends his time bringing home the bacon to each of the townships within New York’s First Congressional District.

Smithtown’s stormwater infrastructure is over thirty years old, unable to keep up with the torrential rain that causes flash floods in the streets and basements of businesses, as well as spilling road runoff into the Nissequogue River. A local municipality simply does not have the capital necessary to remediate these projects on their own, prompting help from higher levels of government.

LaLota, along with great partners in Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park), Senator Mario Mattera (RSt. James), Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick (R-St. James), and the Smithtown Board, have been able to deliver on a new vision for Smithtown and bring it into the Twenty-First Century.

Decades of an ineffective supervisor who found that not spearheading large projects and not spending money to modernize the town allowed his approval ratings to remain high have handed Wehrheim and company a true hot potato. But in just seven years since his tenure began, Smithtown has grown leaps and bounds beyond what many could imagine.

The Town has a valuable partner in Congressman LaLota, and we eagerly await to see just what else LaLota can bring home not just for Smithtown, but the rest of Suffolk County. LaLota has made sure that not one inch of his district has gone forgotten, recently securing almost $4 million in federal dollars for Fishers Island Airport.

LaLota deserves kudos on embodying the type of constituent service to which a member of Congress should be committed, and the Smithtown team deserves equal accolades to guiding the Town through a necessary and effective revitalization process.

Editorial Thursday, August 8, 2024

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Election 2024: World Peace or ‘Mostly Peaceful’ The complete rollercoaster that has been the 2024 presidential contest is now practically complete, with both party leaders having at least presumptively clinched their nominations and having selected their running mates.

Last week, we asked if any vice presidential nominee could save the incumbent vice president. Now, we can clearly see that Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) will likely do more harm than good to Vice President Kamala Harris’ electoral prospects, but we also understand why she selected the littleknown Midwestern governor.

Let’s start with what people, namely those in the Democratic camp, are raving about: Walz’s “folksy” Midwestern appeal. We’d be remiss if we didn’t point out how mainstream media and talking heads alike are recycling the same characterization of the Minnesota Governor, almost as if they were handed a script and marching orders from top branch, but we’re just speculating.

To his credit, Walz does have a mild-mannered way of speaking that does, in fact, make him seem like an ordinary American.

He can also get through an entire sentence without delivering a cackle worthy of a straitjacket, but the bar has been lower, unfortunately.

Walz also blends two important folds of the Democratic coalition together: working-class Midwesterners, among whom he will likely help Harris across the must-win Rust Belt states, and progressives, without whom the party would likely be one that remained in power and wouldn’t have necessitated someone like Donald Trump.

A soft-spoken Rust Belt governor who has appealed to the progressive left during his time in St. Paul is arguably one of the better choices from her shortlist.

The cons, on the other hand, don’t outweigh the pros, in our opinion. And the pros probably would have picked someone much more moderate like Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who, despite his likely ability to appeal to moderates and true swing voters, probably would have had virtually no name recognition outside the Bluegrass State.

The first problem the Walz pick sheds light on is that the Democratic Party is in their ultimate “have their cake and eat it too” phase, wherein, in order to win elections, they have to court the middle, but they have regressed so far into progressive politics, that, if they were to abandon those values, they wouldn’t have a soapbox to mount to prevent the general population from life’s simple pleasures, like finding the fun or humor in practically anything.

Democrats can’t go for someone like Beshear because he’d probably be more ideologically opposed to Harris than anyone else, despite being a champion for some more liberal values in an otherwise solidly-Republican state.

The other problem is found in who Harris was widely expected to pick, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro. With the Keystone State being the one of the Rust Belt Quartet that Democrats need the most help in winning, Shapiro was a nobrainer. But the party’s growing schisms among Jewish voters and anti-Israel agitators seemed to have left no oxygen in the room for someone who could have been the country’s first Jewish vice president.

Predictably, pundits, news stations, and even the general public came down hard on Harris for passing on Shapiro, likely because his Jewish heritage would have created more chaos on the ticket when such chaos contributed to alarmingly-large protest votes against Biden in the Michigan and Minnesota primaries earlier this year. These aren’t people racing to Trump if Shapiro was their vice presidential nominee. They probably would have just sat the election out, a lesson in enthusiasm gaps that Democrats learned the hard way in 2016.

But as far as progressive values go, Walz is pretty much just as progressive as Harris. He signed a bill codifying abortion rights in the Minnesota state constitution that provide no

gestational limits on pregnancy termination. Regardless of the debate on when abortion is considered moral, most Americans don’t agree that babies should be aborted (killed) right up until the due date.

But Walz’s most egregious display of governance was during the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots that made the Twin Cities an epicenter of lawlessness, third-world country-like behavior, and the complete lack of control and order elected officials are typically able to exhibit. Riots in nearby Kenosha, Wisconsin, were branded by CNN as “fiery, but mostly peaceful protests” were just another chapter in the long, arduous journey cynically referred to as the “Summer of Love.”

Walz called the responses by the Twin Cities mayors’ an “abject failure,” despite waiting to send in the National Guard to quell the protests that resulted in over $500 million in property damages, over 1,500 properties destroyed, over 600 injuries, two riot-related deaths, and the Minneapolis Third Precinct Headquarters being burned to the ground.

This is the guy who could be second in line for the presidency.

Some Democrats took to social media to express their disdain for the pick, citing Walz’s apparent inability to “balance the ticket,” a concern some Republicans have readily expressed over Trump’s pick in Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH).

The reality is: Walz is just as progressive as the next guy. The voting base in his state demands progressivism pathologically, and Walz has been more than eager to deliver.

It’s why the Twin Cities were front and center in 2020 and it’s why Minnesota doesn’t differ much from other much bluer states in terms of policy.

Harris is as progressive as they come. In her first year as a Senator from California, the Lugar Center’s Bipartisan Index ranked her as the sixth-least bipartisan Senator out of the body of one hundred lawmakers. Harris remained in that position in the 116th Congress (2019-2020). Harris has also only had one close race in her life: her first statewide campaign in the 2010 California Attorney General race. As the San Francisco County District Attorney, Harris defeated Los Angeles County D.A. Steve Cooley (R) by under one percentage point. Her 2014 re-election was by a much larger margin, and she was succeeded in 2018 by Xavier Becerra, who is now the Secretary of Health and Human Services.

Harris won her first and only term in the U.S. Senate against another Democrat, Congresswoman Loretta Sanchez, thanks to California’s top-two primary system that frequently results in two Democrats advancing to the general election.

It’s hard to believe that just six years prior, legendary Senator Barbara Boxer (D) was only narrowly re-elected in California over Carly Fiorina (R), who would later run for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016.

After just more than one-half term in the Senate, Harris ascended to the vice presidency, but not before running for president herself, barely registering above 5% in her home state, and dropping out well before Super Tuesday.

At least Walz has faced closer races and run in more competitive turf.

Ironically, both Harris and Trump have picked running mates from states they didn’t need that much help in winning.

Trump will likely carry Ohio by at least ten points, and while Minnesota is certainly more competitive than the former, conventional wisdom states it’s the Rust Belt state that Harris needs the least help winning. At this point, we’ll buy that Harris picked Walz just to avoid a humiliating defeat in Minnesota, where Democrats have won in every presidential race since 1972.

At this point, the country can pick a president under whom the world saw remarkable displays of peace, or they can pick a new ticket under whom the country was “mostly peaceful.”

2024 was never seen as a waltz for either candidate.

Harris choosing Walz doesn’t make it any more so for her.

Op-Ed Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Human Trafficking Thrives in Darkness, Our Conference Hopes to Shine a Light

7

By Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

Human trafficking is a deeply disturbing issue that occurs in every part of our country, including right here in New York. Anyone can be a victim of human trafficking.

It is a pervasive issue that hurts far too many. Every person has the right to dignity and freedom; this abuse and violation of basic human rights must be stopped.

Earlier this week, my colleagues in the Assembly Minority Conference hosted the first of several forums addressing the devastating impact human trafficking has on women, children and others. The first two events, one at Stony Brook University and another at Nassau Community College, were tremendous successes. The feedback we heard from law enforcement, community leaders, victims’ advocates and other stakeholders was eye-opening, and with their insights, the Task Force on Human Trafficking will be able to better craft targeted, meaningful legislation to help victims and stop perpetrators of these horrible crimes.

One of the greatest challenges in thwarting human trafficking and exploitation is its elusive nature. Victims are often difficult to identify and locate, and in far too many instances, human trafficking takes place in near-total anonymity. For example, the New York State Interagency Task Force reported there were 295 confirmed cases, yet the National Human Trafficking Hotline reported there were more than 400 cases of human trafficking in New York involving a suspected 639 victims in 2021, which is the most recent year data was published. According to the data, many of these victims were subject to sex trafficking.

One of the most common myths about trafficking is that it most often involves kidnapping. While that can be the case, according to the Human Trafficking Hotline,

kidnappers often use psychological means such as manipulation and threats to exploit their victims. The victims of sex trafficking face particularly harrowing trauma, as they often find themselves abused and mistreated with little hope of escape. For these reasons, the work of this task force is critical, and we hope to develop ways to better identify where instances of human trafficking take place and what can be done to root it out in New York.

Our task force meetings and roundtable discussions will take place across the state. While any region of the state is susceptible to human trafficking—just days ago police arrested two individuals involved in a suspected ring in Baldwinsville—highdensity locations like New York City require particular attention. I look forward to hearing from experts in these areas and others going forward; with their guidance, we will make New York a safer place for everyone, especially those vulnerable to the horrors of human trafficking.

If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 19 Canalview Mall, Fulton, NY 13069 and by email at barclayw@nyassembly.gov. You may also find me, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, on Facebook or Twitter at @WillABarclay.

Assemblyman Will Barclay (R-Pulaski) is the Assembly Minority Leader and has represented the 120th Assembly District since 2003. The 120th District contains most of Oswego County and parts of Jefferson and Onondaga counties.

Securing Our Future: The Passage of the Bipartisan Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act

By Congressman Nick LaLota Recently, with overwhelming bipartisan support, Rep. Joe Courtney (D, CT-02) and I were able to secure the passage of our Long Island Sound Stewardship and Restoration Act. Our bill’s passage represents a critical step forward for environmental preservation and the economic vitality of our coastal communities.

As a lifelong Long Islander, eleven-year Navy man, boater, Co-Chair of the Long Island Sound Caucus, and Congressman for the First Congressional District, I am deeply committed to ensuring the protection and restoration of the Long Island Sound, a natural treasure that is both an ecological marvel and an economic powerhouse.

The Sound is more than just a body of water; it is an integral part of our community’s identity, supporting over 1,200 species of invertebrates, 170 species of fish, and dozens of migratory bird species. Its waters also sustain commercial fishing, recreation, and tourism industries that are vital to the livelihoods of many in our district. However, decades of pollution and environmental neglect have taken their toll, threatening the health of this indispensable resource.

That is why I am proud to have worked alongside my colleague, Congressman Joe Courtney of Connecticut, to secure the reauthorization of the Long Island Sound Program. This legislation will provide the necessary funding and support to continue efforts to clean up the Sound, restore its ecosystems, and protect it for

future generations.

The Act’s passage is a victory for bipartisanship and a testament to what can be achieved when we prioritize the well-being of our environment and our communities. The restoration of the Long Island Sound is not just an environmental issue; it is an economic one as well. By investing in the health of the Sound, we are investing in the prosperity and sustainability of our region.

I remain committed to ensuring that the resources provided by this Act are used effectively and efficiently. Together, we can safeguard the Long Island Sound, preserving its beauty and bounty for generations to come.

Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY-01) is a lifelong Long Islander serving in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The First Congressional District contains the entire Townships of East Hampton, Riverhead, Shelter Island, Smithtown, Southampton, and Southold, as well as most of Huntington, and northern and eastern Brookhaven.

The First Congressional District office is located at 515 Hauppauge Road, Suite 3B, in Hauppauge, and can be reached at 631-289-1097. The Mobile Office is located at VFW Post 6249 at 109 King Road in Rocky Point. The Mobile Office is open Thursdays from 1:00p.m. to 5:00p.m. and can be reached at 631-289-1097. The Mobile Office is not an active mailbox.

Call on Congress to Pass the Accelerating Access to Dementia & Alzheimer’s Provider Training Act Dear Editor, The news from the recent 2024 Alzheimer’s Association International Conference is amazing, with an announcement about a blood test that is 90% accurate in diagnosing Alzheimer’s and an already-FDA-approved drug that slows cognitive decline. Yet primary care physicians, often the first clinicians to hear an individual’s concerns about cognitive loss, feel unprepared to treat and manage this terrible disease. Two-thirds of physicians in a recent study said they learned little or nothing about dementia care while in medical school.

My father passed away with Alzheimer’s disease and I believe that there is a strong need for doctors to be more educated about it. Although my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s twenty-two years before his passing, symptoms were not evident until the last five years. His physical health did not begin to deteriorate until a year before his passing. Witnessing the strongest man I ever knew lose the ability to care for himself due to an incurable disease is a memory that will be with me forever. I can only hope that reading about my experience will urge more

healthcare professionals to become educated about this disease.

The bipartisan Accelerating Access to Dementia & Alzheimer’s Provider Training (AADAPT) Act, currently pending in Congress, would address this situation by providing virtual training for primary care physicians on detection, diagnosis, and treatment of dementia. The legislation would authorize funding for physicians to get training at no charge through Project Echo, an existing and tested model.

This will be especially welcome for physicians in rural and underserved areas, for whom getting extra training poses many challenges.

Thankfully, Congressman Nick LaLota can play an important role in accelerating dementia workforce preparedness by supporting this bill. Please join me in calling on him to cosponsor the AADAPT Act today!

Best regards, Victoria Lacerda Alzheimer’s Advocate Ridge

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Blueline News Thursday, August 8, 2024

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

The False Narrative Behind Systemic Racism

By Louis Civello American police officers perform heroic actions every day. We fight crime and save lives.

In Suffolk County, we like to say, “We are your neighbors, protecting your neighborhood.”

Unfortunately, anti-police rhetoric and divisive identity politics have been tearing our country apart and pulling Americans towards extreme ends of the political spectrum. This divisiveness frays our social fabric, which once hailed police officers as people to admire and respect.

Several high-ranking government representatives have participated in this reckless game by cherry-picking isolated incidents to create an erroneous platform of racism in policing.

This has resulted in an unnecessary distrust of police officers.

Just when it seemed America might be moving past the hyperbole that led to the “Defund the Police” movement, President Biden posted on his X account on July 22, 2024, his support for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. In his post, President Biden stated, “Sonya’s death at the hands of a police officer reminds us that all too often Black Americans face fears for their safety in ways many of the rest of us do not.” President Biden’s statement disingenuously implies that police officers treat Black Americans differently than other Americans because of the color of their skin. Such broad-brush painting of police officers is unfair to the many who strive to do the right thing for the members of our community.

This broad-brush approach seems exclusive to how radical politicians talk about police officers. Other similar professions, such as teachers or medical personnel, are treated differently in this regard. These honorable professions contribute greatly to our communities but have their share of bad apples. When we hear about a mistreated student or a medical malpractice, we don’t apply the word “systemic” nor do we make baseless claims of racism.

President Biden and Vice President Harris have been spreading the false narrative of systemic racism in American policing for years. Much of the time, police critics will attempt to equate correlation with causation. They will cite statistics that show minorities are incarcerated at higher rates than whites as proof of systemic racism. This argument ignores real root causes which include many socioeconomic factors, such as upbringing, education level, and culture. Their argument falls apart upon closer inspection. Consider the prison population in the United States is overwhelmingly male. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, over 93% of people currently serving prison sentences are men, and less than 7% are women. Does anyone believe that our police are systematically biased against men? I can assure you that is not the case. In reality, men are committing more crimes. It’s something that, like the prison racial disparity, deserves further study to understand the underlying factors so that we can work towards addressing it appropriately rather than villainizing our police.

This disingenuous messaging has fostered an atmosphere of distrust in the police among minority communities. Such false statements fool people into believing that America’s criminal justice system is racist, unfair, and in need of reform.

Following George Floyd’s death in Minnesota, Kamala Harris shared a link on her social media accounts asking for donations to a fund to post bail for arrested protesters. Her posts imply that these protesters are doing something noble, but the reality is that if a protester was arrested, they were not peacefully assembling as protected by the Constitution. Local law enforcement arrested the protesters based on probable cause of committing a crime. The Minneapolis and St. Paul riots caused an estimated $500 million in damage to 1,500 properties, including 164 instances of arson and two riot-related deaths.

Many businesses never reopened, shattering the hopes and dreams of the business owners.

These people were not victims any more than those who destroyed property or attacked police on January 6, 2021. However, the media narrative surrounding the two events was very different.

Many recent criminal justice reforms have been foreseeable failures. These reforms were knee-jerk reactions by politicians to appease the angry far-left mob, often incited by pandering from far-left politicians. Bail reform in New York has been such a failure that even dangerous criminals charged with dismembering a human corpse were released without bail.

The passage of the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act would negatively affect public safety nationwide by reforming qualified immunity and lowering criminal intent standards to convict police officers of misconduct.

Qualified immunity is essential for police officers who are counted on to do their job to the best of their abilities. Qualified immunity is a legal doctrine that protects government officials from civil lawsuits for damages unless they violate clearly established constitutional or statutory rights. In other words, a police officer must qualify for immunity by acting in good faith within the scope of employment. It is not “absolute immunity” given regardless of circumstances. It does not protect or cover up for crooked cops. Qualified immunity protects government officials, including police officers, from risking their homes and life savings to frivolous lawsuits. Without it, many government officials would hesitate to act or make splitsecond decisions for fear of losing everything they have worked for.

For the good of everyone, influential politicians need to stop spreading the fallacy of systemic racism in policing. They need to return to the message of respecting law and order, emphasizing that police officers are there to help and protect the communities we serve.

Politicians should not let isolated incidents be the sole influence when determining public safety policies. Instead, we should rely on proven methods of policing and work to address the underlying causes of crime. Police officers are the thin blue line that stands between your family and those who would do them harm. We should all demand that politicians stop trying to tear that line down for political gain.

Louis Civello is the President of the Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association (PBA).

This Week Today Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

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Thursday, August 8, 2024

National, State and Local Temperature Checks

By Matt Meduri National The 2024 presidential ticket is nearing completion as Vice President Kamala Harris (D-CA) has selected Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) as her running mate.

The move comes just weeks after Harris became the presumptive Democratic nominee against former President Donald Trump (R-FL), after President Joe Biden’s (D-DE) widely-criticized June debate performance that resulted in mass concern over his ability to win re-election.

Harris chose from a slate of prominent Democrats, including Governors Josh Shapiro (D-PA), Andy Beshear (D-KY), J.B. Pritzker (DIL), and Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI), Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (D-IN).

Walz has reportedly been chosen for his Midwestern “folksy” appeal, his apparent strength in helping Harris retain the Rust Belt battlegrounds of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, and his particular strain of progressive politics.

Some in the Democratic camp are reportedly satisfied in her pick in Walz, as his Army service, twelve years in Congress representing the swingy MN-01, and his five years as Governor of the North Star State provide a list of credentials they believe can court doubtful Democrats and win back Independents among whom Biden had been hemorrhaging.

On the other hand, some Democrats are nervous in the same way some Republicans are nervous in Trump’s pick of Senator J.D. Vance (R-OH), in that Walz does little to balance the ticket. Some believe his progressive stances as governor only make less of a case for moderates who already see Harris as a highly liberal candidate.

Walz represented MN-01 in the U.S. House from 2007 to 2019. He won three narrow elections, with his most narrow being a less-than-one-point-win in 2016 to Jim Hagedorn (R), who would later flip the seat in the 2018 midterms, despite running in a good Democratic year. Walz vacated the seat in 2018 to run for the open governorship, which he secured by almost twelve points.

Walz appeared prohibitively favored for re-election in 2022, with The Messenger rating the race as Leans Democrat and putting Walz on “upset alert.” Walz was reelected, but by a thinner eight-point margin.

As governor, Walz instituted liberal policies that made national headlines, such as signing legislation that indirectly mandates menstrual products in men/boys’ restrooms, making Minnesota a “refuge” for transgender care, and codifying a constitutional right to abortion. Minnesota’s abortion laws do not impose gestational limits on the procedure, meaning it can be done at any time during pregnancy.

Walz also famously presided over the 2020 Black Lives Matter riots in the Twin Cities, calling the mayors’ responses to the destruction and violence an “abject failure.” The riots saw the destruction of the Minneapolis’ Third Precinct Headquarters, two riot-related deaths, 164 instances of arson, over 600 arrests, damages to 1,500 properties, and an estimated $500 million in damages over the two-day period.

Walz’s selection is also expected to help Harris retain Minnesota in the election, a

Governor Tim Walz (Credit - minnesota.gov) state whose electoral votes have not gone to a Republican since 1972, the longest state winning streak for the Democrats.

In primary news, four states held their primaries to determine congressional and state nominees for the general election.

In Kansas, Attorney General Derek Schmidt (R) has won the primary to succeed outgoing Congressman Jake LaTurner (R). Schmidt ran a close race in the 2022 gubernatorial election, losing to Governor Laura Kelly (D) by two points.

In KS-03, Prasanth Reddy (R) is set to take on three-term Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D). KS-03 is a slightly blue-leaning district that takes in the Democratic suburbs of Kansas City, solidly-blue Wyandotte County, and swingy Johnson County (Olathe). Davids is the lone Democratic member from the Sunflower State’s congressional delegation. Republicans are largely expected to win KS-01 and KS-04.

In Michigan, the marquee Senate race became somewhat clearer as three-term Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin (D, MI-07) will face off against former Congressman Mike Rogers (R). Rogers has had a lengthy career in the FBI, and Slotkin in the CIA. Slotkin won three close elections in the Lansingbased MI-07 and has a competitive level of charisma to run a statewide campaign. The open seat was vacated by four-term Senator Debbie Stabenow (D).

Polling has indicated a tight race, and with an even tighter race at the top of the ticket, balance of power in the Senate could come down to whoever wins the presidential contest in the Wolverine State.

Michigan has not elected a Republican Senator since 2000.

Races were also decided in the highlycompetitive districts of MI-07, MI-08 (Flint, Saginaw), and MI-10 (suburban Detroit).

Only MI-10 is represented by a Republican - John James - while MI-08 was once solidlyblue, working-class, organized labor territory that has raced to the right in the Trump era. Congressman Dan Kildee (D), of the notable Kildee political dynasty, is retiring, leaving an open seat that will likely determine control of the U.S. House.

In MI-10, John James will face a rematch with Carl Marlinga (D), whom he narrowly defeated to win a first term in 2022.

In Missouri, another progressive challenger has lost a primary bid. Cori Bush (D) was elected to the seat in 2020 after primarying

ten-term incumbent Lacy Clay (D) in MO01 (St. Louis). A notable member of the progressive “squad,” Bush was ousted by St. Louis County Prosecutor Wesley Bell (D). Bell is largely expected to win in this deep-blue district.

Bush’s loss comes nearly two months after Congressman Jamal Bowman’s (D, NY-16) primary loss to Westchester County Executive George Latimer (D). Another progressive “squad” member, the two losses are now considered a referendum on progressive policies and such camaraderie on Capitol Hill.

Missouri will also play host to an open gubernatorial race, which is not expected to be largely competitive, as well as a potentially-engaged Senate race, in which firebrand one-term conservative Josh Hawley (R) has gained nonprofit leader Lucas Kunce (D) as a challenger.

In Washington, the state’s top-two primary is yielding results that are often used as a bellwether for the general election.

The top-two primary features all candidates, regardless of party, appear on the same ballot. The top two vote-receivers advance to the general election. This creates scenarios where two Democrats (or Republicans) can appear on the ballot for one office. The final vote totals for each party between all candidates on the ballot are also analyzed to see relative party strength in the comprehensive primary vote.

The Senate race will feature four-term incumbent Maria Cantwell (D) and Raul Garcia (R). The race is not expected to become competitive, and Cantwell took 58% of the vote to Garcia’s 21.5%.

The governor’s race, however, has been shaping up to be a sleeper. Three-term incumbent Jay Inslee (D) declined to seek a fourth term, and the GOP scored a top recruit in former Kings County (Seattle) Sheriff and Congressman Dave Reichert (R).

Polling has shown Reichert not only leading the top-two primary, but also leading the general election over the anticipated Democratic nominee, Attorney General Bob Ferguson (D).

Indeed, Ferguson and Reichert advanced from a massive field of over thirty candidates, taking 45.6% and 28% of the vote, respectively.

Democrats appear on track to win the collective top-two vote by about ten points, a relatively thin margin for an obdurately blue state. However, two of the last three gubernatorial elections in the Evergreen state were decided by single-digits.

In WA-04, Trump’s vendetta against one of the last Republican House members to vote to impeach him in 2019 continues, as five-term incumbent Dan Newhouse (R) appears on track to secure second place in the primary, allowing to advance in the general election against former NASCAR driver Jerrod Sessler (R).

Finally, in WA-03, a rematch has been set against Joe Kent (R) and Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D). Kent primaried Jaime Herrera Beutler (R) in 2022 for her vote of impeachment against Trump, but narrowly lost the general election to Perez.

WA-03 includes the southwestern portion of the state, extending from the Pacific Ocean to the Portland, Oregon, satellite city of Vancouver. It’s a Republican-leaning district and Perez’s 2022 shocker was seen as the biggest upset of the night.

State Siena College has released their latest statewide opinion poll on the presidential election, Governor Kathy Hochul’s (D) approval ratings, and other political matters.

Vice President Harris leads former President Trump by fourteen-points in a head-to-head matchup. She leads him by twelve points in a six-way horse race. Trump trailed Biden by just eight points in their June poll. Biden won New York by nearly twentyfour points four years ago.

Harris has improved the ticket’s standing among Democratic voters, garnering 86%, up from Biden’s 75%. Independents still support Trump - 47%-40% - but that number is down from his 45%-28% lead he had over Biden.

Harris has improved the ticket’s standing significantly among black voters - 81%-11% up from Biden’s 59%-29% in June.

Harris also leads among women 64%-30%, up from Biden’s 51%033%. Trump improved slightly among men - 49-43% - over June’s 46%42%. Young voters, however, have given Harris less favorable marks, albeit slightly, backing her 49%-34% from Biden’s 51%-32%. Harris’ largest pickup among age demographics was among voters aged 34-54, who favor her 54%40% after favoring Trump 44%-41%.

Harris is favorable among New York voters - 53%-43% - up from 42%-47% in October, while Trump remains unfavorable at 39%59%.

Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D) leads challenger Mike Sapraicone 56%-33%.

The controversial Proposition 1, a proposed constitutional amendment that would add anti-discrimination provisions and protect abortion, rights earns 89% of Democratic support, 64% of Independent support, and 55% of Republican opposition.

Republicans have decried the proposition as an underhanded way of changing fundamental equal opportunity laws, vis-à-vis allowing men to play in womens’ sports.

The Governor’s plan to ban smartphones in classrooms is supported by both Democrats and Republicans at 58% each, with 64% of Independent support.

Hochul’s favorability rating sits at 39%-50%, slightly up from 38%-49% in June, although it’s the first time 50% of voters have viewed unfavorably. Her job approval rating, although still underwater, is slightly up at 46%-49%.

Voters believe the state and the country are on the wrong track by a 51%-39% margin.

The poll was conducted from July 28 to August 1 among 1,199 likely New York voters with a margin of error of +/- 4%.

Local Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY-01) has secured $3.76 million for Elizabeth Field Airport on Fishers Island.

The two grants of $2,460,667 and $1,300,000 from the Federal Aviation Administration under the Department of Transportation for the final phase of runway rehabilitation, restoration of 2,345 feet of existing Runway 12/30 pavement, and enhancements to maintain structural integrity and to minimize foreign object debris.

The grants are provided by the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development appropriations bill passed in March.

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Smithtown Matters Thursday, August 8, 2024

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Scouting in Smithtown The greatest accomplishment any scout in America can achieve is the rank of Eagle Scout. While it takes years of hard work and dedication to receive the Eagle Award, the capstone of this process is to complete the Eagle Scout Service Project.

These projects can take on many different forms and purposes, but they must all serve one purpose; they must benefit the community.

We’d like to formally congratulate these young constituents on their accomplishment.

Troop 349 of Smithtown awarded 6 scouts with the rank of Eagle Scout, and are as follows.

Matthew James Gemmell, who removed pavers, replanted foliage, and added mulch at Parish of the Holy Cross in Nesconset. Brendan Nicholas Tesone, who installed outdoor handrails at multiple buildings at St. James Lutheran Church in St. James. Christopher Charles Sanders, who built a pergola at the Sachem Public Library in Holbrook. Giorgio Antonio Latino, who built alpine benches and a footbridge to renovate Butler-Huntington Woods in St. James.

Donovan Patrick Degree, who constructed an outdoor sensory board at Cleary School for the Deaf in Nesconset. Caeden James Meyer, who created a rock garden at Nokomis Elementary School in Holbrook.

Troop 214 of Hauppauge awarded two scouts with the rank of Eagle Scout.

Michael Patrick Kennedy, who built an Emu Enclosure for the Holtsville Ecology Center, and Sudarshan Krishna Daniel Padmanaban, who constructed an irrigation system for Sweetbriar Nature Preserve.

We are incredibly honored and proud to have a strong scouting presence in our district, and wish good luck to these eagle scouts in their future endeavors.

Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset) represents the Twelfth Legislative District, encompassing Smithtown, Nesconset, Hauppauge, the Village of the Branch, Lake Grove, parts of Commack, Ronkonkoma, Lake Ronkonkoma and Centereach. Legislator Kennedy was born and raised on Long Island, is a former nurse and small business manager, and has dedicated her life toward the betterment of our community. She currently serves on the following committees: Environment, Parks & Agriculture; Veterans; Budget & Finance (Vice Chair); Seniors & Human Services; Fire, Rescue and Emergency Medical Services & Preparedness; Labor & Consumer Affairs; Public Safety; Ways & Means (Vice Chair); and Health (Chair).

Hauppauge Gets a Jump Start on Reading and Math Throughout the months of July and August, the Hauppauge School District is offering the Jump Start program for students in kindergarten through fifth grade. Jump Start aims to foster a dynamic and engaging learning environment outside of the traditional classroom setting, promoting continued academic growth and enrichment during the summer.

Throughout the program, teachers work with students in small groups on both literacy and math skills. This intensive program provides students with an opportunity to work on skills covered this school year and build on their skills to enhance their love of reading, writing and learning.

Congressional News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, August 8, 2024

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Congressman LaLota Reaffirms Support for Israel Following Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Address to Congress

By Cait Crudden Congressman Nick LaLota (R-NY-01) released a strong statement of support for Israel following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s address to a joint session of Congress. LaLota emphasized the shared values between the United States and Israel and called for decisive action against terrorist threats.

LaLota’s reaffirmation for his support for Israel comes just after Vice President Kamala Harris (D-CA) failed to attend Netanyahu’s address to Congress the day she became the presumptive Democratic nominee for president.

“Israel and the United States are nations founded upon religious freedom and deterring conflict and I am proud to reaffirm my support for Israel’s existence and right to defend itself,” said Congressman LaLota. “Nine months ago, Israel was dragged into an existential fight against Hamas terrorists. Now, the world must finally unite forces to confront evil head-on. The grave situation requires the Biden-Harris Administration to stop being so equivocal and demonstrate strength to achieve peace”.

Congressman LaLota, a Navy Veteran, who served three deployments previously, has been a vocal advocate for national defense and the security of U.S. allies. He currently serves on the Armed Services and Homeland Security Committees, where he continues to champion issues related to national and allied defense.

Congressman Nick LaLota (Credit - Matt Meduri) LaLota attended a roundtable discussion with One Israel Fund, an organization dedicated to supporting over 200 projects annually in Israel. These projects span various areas, including medical, educational, recreational, and preventive

security, addressing communal and social welfare needs.

Congressman LaLota has actively supported several bills aimed at bolstering the U.S.-Israel relationship and addressing terrorist threats. Key legislative actions he has supported include that a nuclear Iran is unacceptable as U.S. policy. Legislation that urges the European Union to designate Hezbollah in its entirety as a terrorist organization, condemning support for Hamas, Hezbollah, and other terrorist organizations at higher education institutions. He supported a bill to address the creation of hostile environments for Jewish students, faculty, and staff and to impose sanctions on foreign support for terrorist organizations, including Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, requiring the Secretary of State to review and report annually on the curriculum used by the Palestinian Authority.

He also voted to pass and impose sanctions on the importation or facilitation of petroleum products from Iran and supporting Israel’s defense against Iran and its proxies, reimburse U.S. military operations in response to recent attacks, and replenish defense systems like the Iron Dome.

This would also enhance the procurement of advanced weapons, which provides flexibility for transferring defense articles to Israel from U.S. stockpiles and prohibits funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) due to its pro-Hamas stance.

Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Secure Funding for 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Program

By Cait Crudden

Recently a coalition of lawmakers and advocates convened a press conference to address a critical issue facing 9/11 first responders and survivors. Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Representatives Anthony D’Esposito (R-Island Park) and Dan Goldman (D, NY-10) introduced the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024. This bill aims to provide permanent and mandatory funding for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), thereby preventing a future funding shortfall and ensuring that those affected by the 9/11 attacks continue to receive necessary medical care.

The WTCHP, established by Congress in 2011 on a bipartisan basis, offers medical treatment and monitoring for individuals suffering from the long-term effects of the toxins released during the 9/11 attacks. However, without additional funding, the program will face severe financial shortfalls by 2028, forcing it to cut services and turn away new patients.

The proposed legislation seeks to rectify this by updating the program’s funding formula and securing its financial future until 2090.

The press conference brought together a diverse group of supporters, including 9/11 advocate John Feal, President of the Uniformed Firefighters Association of Greater New York Andrew Ansbro, President of the NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association Vincent Vallelong, and 9/11 advocate Phil Alvarez.

Their presence underscored the widespread and urgent support for this legislative effort.

“There are more than 132,000 Americans enrolled in the World Trade Center Health Program. That includes responders and survivors of all ages and from every state in the nation. They are suffering from more than 60 different types of cancers and a series of other chronic conditions. They are dealing with these illnesses because they were there that horrible day, or in the days that followed. It’s because they helped pull survivors from the wreckage, clear debris, and put our city back together. For that, we owe them a debt and we mean to deliver on it,” said Congressman Andrew Garbarino.

“Over the last several years, we have successfully chipped away at the program’s funding shortfall – first securing $1 billion, and then an additional $676 million to keep the program afloat. With the introduction of this bill, we hope to move past the piecemeal funding solutions and fully fund 9/11 health care for all those who need it. This is not a Republican or Democrat issue. This is not a New York issue. This is an American issue, and I urge every one of my House and Senate colleagues to remember that and support this legislation.”

Congressman Andrew Garbarino (Credit - Matt Meduri) The 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024 includes several key provisions such as permanent and mandatory funding which ensures ongoing financial support to prevent any interruption in services, an updated funding formula which adjusts the formula to better align with the projected needs and costs of the program, increased funding for research which will allocate additional resources for research and data collection on 9/11-related health conditions and technical corrections which will implement necessary updates to the existing statute to streamline operations and address any current inefficiencies.

The WTCHP provides essential medical services to over 120,000 individuals across all 50 states and 434 of the 435 congressional districts. It covers a wide range of affected populations, including first responders, survivors, and children who were in downtown Manhattan during and after the attacks. The program’s reauthorization in 2015 extended its provisions through 2090, demonstrating long-term bipartisan commitment.

Despite recent funding infusions of $1 billion in 2022 and an additional $676 million in 2023, the program is projected to face a significant funding gap. This shortfall threatens to undermine the program’s ability to provide comprehensive

care, making the proposed legislation crucial for its survival.

“Five years ago last month, my brother NYPD Det. Luis (Lou) Alvarez, in his last few days on this earth, sick from a 9/11-related cancer, traveled to Washington D.C., like FDNY Firefighter Ray Pfeifer and so many before him, was forced to come and plea for legislation that would take care of those suffering from exposures on that dreaded day in our history,” said 9/11 Advocate Phil Alvarez. “Approximately two weeks later, on June 29, 2019, we lost my brother.

Today, I applaud Congressman Garbarino and Senator Gillibrand and others that are working together and trying to make sure those that those that are sick and dying from 9/11 exposures never have to make that trip again. On behalf of the Alvarez family, I offer our gratitude, never forget Lou Alvarez and our 9/11 heroes.”

The event saw heartfelt testimonials from advocates and representatives of affected groups. John Feal, a prominent 9/11 advocate, emphasized the urgency of the situation.

“The WTCHP is a lifeline, a heartbeat, a pulse for tens of thousands. Not taking this serious is reckless and an insult to Yesterdays heroes and survivors,” said Feal.

“Our City and our Nation paid a heavy price on September 11, 2001, one which my members and first responders across the U.S. continue to pay for willingly and selflessly answering the call to duty,” said NYPD Sergeants Benevolent Association President Vincent Vallelong.

“The courage displayed by these men and women in the response to 9/11 lifted up our nation in its hour of greatest need, and now Congress must do its duty and keep the faith with these heroes by passing the ‘9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act”.

As the bill moves through Congress, its supporters are calling on the public and their fellow lawmakers to rally behind it. The stakes are high, and the consequences of inaction are dire. With the health and lives of thousands of 9/11 responders and survivors hanging in the balance, the need for decisive and bipartisan action has never been clearer.

The introduction of the 9/11 Responder and Survivor Health Funding Correction Act of 2024 represents a critical step in fulfilling the nation’s promise to those who risked everything on one of America’s darkest days. As the legislative process unfolds, the continued advocacy and support from both sides of the aisle will be essential in securing the future of the WTCHP and ensuring that no 9/11 responder or survivor is left without the care they deserve.

12

Military News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, August 8, 2024

The Messenger Takes to the Skies: Part III pilot program; all were DoD dependents,” said Weir.

“This year, we had about a fifty-fifty split between DoD dependents and the local community. We had thirty-eight students this year representing fifteen high schools.”

Attendants also included DoD dependents from Connecticut and a high schooler from Staten Island.

Last year, the camp was open to middleschoolers looking to further advance their STEM careers in high school. This year, the camp was open to high schoolers who might be interested in the fields of STEM within the military, in addition to possibly serving in the Armed Forces.

“Last year was a proof-of-concept for the camp.

Students worked in the sheet metal shop, and they worked on engines,” said Weir. “This year, in addition to sheet metal and engines, they worked in fabrications, and made notional parts with the 3D printer.”

Weir also discussed Gabreski’s cooperation with Sikorsky Aircraft, the industry leader in vertical lift innovations since 1923. Gabreski leadership went to the Sikorsky facility in Connecticut, which manufactures Gabreski’s aircraft, before the STEM camp to preview some new models of aircraft, including the HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter.

Sikorsky’s Director of Innovation, Igor Cheperinsky, came down to Gabreski to give a demo of the S-76 helicopter, which is an “optionally-manned” aircraft that can be controlled with a tablet.

For the sake of the STEM camp, Gabreski also partnered with Palantir Technologies, Inc., a software-development company that helps organizations integrate their data with operations.

“We partnered with Sikorsky and Palantir to not only provide the students a comprehensive approach to accomplishing a mission, but to talk to the students about innovation, creative thinking, and engineering,” said Weir.

“We had Sikorsky’s Director of Innovation here to discuss how we use their aircraft, and we had Palantir contribute to the command-and-control exercises.”

Weir said that he initially worked with guidance counselors to advertise the camp to their students, but that “word of mouth” and social media campaigns were also effective in increasing the base’s outreach about the camp.

“One parent stumbled upon the STEM camp and registered her son, and she has no connections whatsoever to anyone on base,” remarked Weir. “She and her son are both blown away by the opportunity.”

Students also receive credit for their time completed at the camp, which can be presented to a high school guidance counselor or college advisor. Weir also says the camp is likely to remain open to tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders for the foreseeable future.

“Some of the content is more geared towards senior high schoolers,” said Weir, adding that the camp is effective in helping students to “get ready to look at what’s next after high school.”

Weir also mentioned that the camp offers benefits to both the student and the 106th RQW simultaneously.

“Very few people know that the 106th RQW even exists. So, it allows us to get the message out into the community and gain support from our future leaders, whether they join the service or not, it doesn’t matter. In the end, they will gain an appreciation for what the 106th RQW does and what the Department of Defense does,” said Weir. “We also have the ability to help give a leg up to those kids who are getting ready to search for a path in life. This helps build their resume, it gives them a little bit of exposure, and helps them prepare for that next phase of their lives.”

Weir added that “it’s just the right thing to do.”

“It’s about doing good for the kids in the community because we can,” said Weir.

Colonel Weir, a native of Rhode Island, has been at Gabreski ANGB since 2003, and since moving to Long Island, he and his wife “haven’t looked back.”

Weir and his family live in Cutchogue. continued on following page Credit: Matt Meduri

Students, like last year, also participated in command-and-control lessons, including the Tactical Operations Center (TOC) Radio workshop, where students are split into multiple groups to carry out a simulated search-and-rescue mission in Estonia.

Responsibilities include contacting mission control,

Credit: Matt Meduri

Last week, Gabreski wrapped up their second STEM camp, which was open not only to DoD dependents, but interested school districts across Long Island and even slightly beyond.

Students participated in three days of handson workshops with Air National Guardsmen and women to understand the base’s core value: “Saving lives.” The four tenets of STEM are highly incorporated in the base’s primary objective of search-and-rescue operations.

Gabreski ANG Base is home to the ANG’s 106th Rescue Wing (RQW), a unit of pararescuemen, pilots, and other military technicians whose high-risk missions and life-saving displays were highlighted in the book The Perfect Storm and the eponymous 2000 disaster drama film documenting a Pave Hawk crash and ensuing search-and-rescue operations carried out by the 106th Rescue Wing in the October 1991 “perfect storm.”

Students get up-close and personal to such military staff and base leaders during their time at STEM camp, as well as engage in realistic simulations for the purpose of the ANG and the 106th RQW. In a fashion similar to last year’s camp, students were able to take to the skies with the 106th RQW in the notable pair of aircraft the ANG uses on a regular basis. The Messenger joined them on a flight in the HC-130J Combat King II (cockpit right), which departed from Westhampton Beach to fly along the South Fork. The flight path rounded the Montauk Lighthouse, giving stunning views of the far East End of Long Island, before passing over Gardiner’s Island, Shelter Island, and the North Fork on the way back to base.

This year, campers were divided into four units, each represented by the NATO phonetic alphabetequivalent of the letters of STEM: Sierra, Tango, Echo, and Mike.

The Messenger was privileged to sit down with the primary creator of the program, Colonel Glyn Weir (picture right), Mission Support Group Commander, at last year’s camp and was privileged to learn of how last year’s success paved the way for a larger, arguably more successful program this year.

“We didn’t have our own DoDsanctioned youth program, so I did some research on how to develop one here,” Colonel Weir told The Messenger.

“I contacted the Director of STEM for the Department of Defense, got some briefings, and was given the freedom to develop the course how I saw fit.”

Weir added that each base has the freedom to develop their youth programs in tandem with the base’s primary operations, with the purpose of tying STEM back to the mission. Weir adding that the 106th RQW’s program is the “only one” that ties together all aspects of base operations to complete a mission, whereas other bases’ programs might be focused on just one aspect of STEM. “I thought that we’ll create this comprehensive approach to our missions and integrate the different parts of STEM from across the base.”

“Last year, we got some funding from the DoD STEM Program, and we had twenty-four kids in the

assessing the person in danger, finding a suitable landing location, managing fuel levels, navigating aircraft, and maintaining communication between the operation center and their groups.

“Students also got to take a look at a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft and work with maintenance to get the aircraft up on alert,” said Weir, highlighting a new aspect of the camp absent from last year’s pilot program.

Military News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Gabreski’s 2nd Annual STEM Camp

13 Sunset over the South Fork - Credit: Alex Moran Credit: Matt Meduri

different career fields to make one mission happen.

It’s an amazing thing that we have here to make that work. I want to thank all the kids for having a great week here.”

School districts that were represented within The Messenger’s coverage area include William Floyd, Miller Place, Middle Country, Hauppauge, PatchogueMedford, Sachem, Longwood, Islip, Eastport-South Manor, and Rocky Point. In addition, students represented Mattituck, West Babylon, Westhampton Beach, and Shelter Island school districts, Fairfield College Preparatory School, and even St. John the Baptist. One attendee is home-schooled.

Credit: Matt Meduri

an essentially unbreakable code, during World War II. The Green Feet Award states that “United States Air Force personnel recovery green feet symbol is a powerful emblem embodying the essence of rescue and recovery operations. It signifies the commitment of brave airmen to undertake perilous missions and following the motto, ‘These things that we do, That others may live.’”

The Green Feet Award was presented to Meadow D. (pictured right), who SSgt Lagrandier praised for her communication relays amidst chaos that delivered a successful mission.

The Dedication and Distance Award went to Esmeralda G. and her family for their daily trips from Staten Island to Westhampton Beach for the four-day camp.

Finally, the Wing Commander, Col. Shawn Fitzgerald, of Southold, and the Wing Senior Enlisted Leader, Command Chief Master Sgt. Edward Rittberg, were presented the legacy photo by students Gabriella R. and Henry B (pictured right).

“We’re thrilled and honored to have all the kids come out and participate,” Fitzgerald told parents and attendees. He added that Gabreski’s status as a “hidden gem” has prompted base leadership to engage with the community to increase awareness that Long Island does, in fact, have an Air Force Base.

“We do it through camps like this,” said Fitzgerald. “Thank you to the parents for your support and we hope to see you again next year.”

“I don’t want anyone to feel like this is a recruitment push, because it’s not. It opens their [students’] eyes to different possibilities for a career,” said Command Chief Master Sgt. Rittberg. “There are 127 Credit: Matt Meduri

continued from previous page The development, facilitation, and execution of the curriculum had about forty volunteers, in addition to help from base personnel, such as lunch preparation in the mess hall and security vetting for campers and their families.

At the graduation ceremony, all students received certificates for their completion of the camp, but some received awards for their leadership and outstanding performances during the four-day seminar.

The Top Wrench Award was given to Alexander W. (pictured right), for his “hard work, dedication, enthusiasm, and motivation” demonstrated during “strenuous and demanding circumstances.”

The Force Generation Award for excellence in cargo load planning was given to Bridget T. Master Sgt. Joe Graziano, of Riverhead, presented the Code Talker Award for Communications Excellence to Rocco H. (pictured below), for his communication and leadership efforts that resulted in an “overwhelming success for the mission.” The Code Talker Award was named in honor of the Navajo Code Talkers, a specialized group of Native Americans who delivered secret messages in their native language, creating

Credit: Matt Meduri

The Messenger thanks Gabreski Air National Guard Base for another fantastic STEM camp and the opportunity to take to the skies with them yet again.

The 106th Rescue Wing is located at the Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base at 150 Old Riverhead Road in Westhampton Beach.

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Civics 101 Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, August 8, 2024

The Necessary Standard for American Education

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.

Standing Committees of the House: Part V

By Matt Meduri Congress, already divided between the House and Senate, becomes further departmentalized at the committee level. Standing committees are simply those that are permanent. The party with the majority in the chamber of Congress earns the chairmanship and majorities on the chamber’s committees. The top spot for the committee member of the minority party is called the Ranking Member.

Committees are divided to utilize specializations and knowledge of its members as it pertains to a certain area of focus, as well as view legislation to debate, amend, or table it before the legislation can advance to the floor of the chamber for a vote from all representatives.

While standing committees are permanent, there are several other types of committees and caucuses that serve numerous purposes in Washington. Each committee also has certain subcommittees that are composed of members of the committee at large. In four separate columns, we looked at eighteen standing committees of the U.S. House. This week, we’ll explore the final two standing committees, as well as the two select committees afforded to the U.S. House.

Select committees are those that are created with a specified timeline and set with certain goals, tasks, and areas of focus or investigation.

Veterans’ Affairs The House Veterans’ Affairs Committee was established in 1946. The committee has oversight over the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) and is responsible for recommending legislation that relate to Veterans’ benefits. The committee at-large has jurisdiction over general measures on Veterans’ benefits; pensions of all U.S. wars, general and special; life insurance issued by the federal government on account of service in the Armed Forces; compensation, vocational rehabilitation, and education of Veterans; Veterans’ hospitals, medical care, and treatment; soldiers’ and sailors’ civil relief; readjustment of servicemen to civilian life; and national cemeteries.

The Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee has oversight of compensation, war pensions, life insurance issued by the federal government, and Veterans’ cemeteries, except those maintained by the Interior Department, as well as burial benefits, the Board of Veterans’ Appeals, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans’ Claims.

The Economic Opportunity Subcommittee has jurisdiction over Veterans’ education, employment and training, vocational rehabilitation, Veterans’ housing programs, the transition of servicemembers to civilian life, Veteran-owned business concerns, and servicemembers civil relief.

The Health Subcommittee has oversight of Veterans’ medical services, medical support and compliance, medical facilities, medical and prosthetic research, and major and minor construction.

The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee has oversight of general Veterans’ matters, Information Technology (IT), and general procurements. The subcommittee also has legislative jurisdiction over resolutions referred to the chair of the full committee.

The Technology Modernization Subcommittee handles matters of the VA Department’s enterprise technology modernization programs and projects, including the Health Record Modernization (EHRM) Program, enterprise IT governance, cybersecurity, and data management.

The committee is composed of twenty-six members: fifteen Republicans and eleven Democrats. Mike Bost (R, IL-12) serves as Chair and Mark Takano (D, CA-39) serves as Ranking Member.

Ways and Means The Ways and Means Committee is the oldest congressional committee, having been established in 1789 as a select committee and being discharged two months later. It was reappointed in 1795 and designated as a standing committee in 1802.

The committee at-large has jurisdiction over all taxation, tariffs, and other revenueraising measures, as well as Social Security, unemployment benefits, Medicare, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, foster care, adoption, and child support programs and laws.

The Constitution requires that all bills concerning taxation must originate in the U.S. House, and House rules stipulate that all legislation on taxation must be passed through the Ways and Means Committee.

The Tax Subcommittee has the sole jurisdiction to originate federal tax legislation, including taxation of individuals, families, small businesses, corporations, and nonprofits.

The Oversight Subcommittee has oversight of all matters within the scope of the full committee’s jurisdiction, limited to existing law.

The Trade Subcommittee has jurisdiction relating to customs; customs administration; tariff and import fee structure; classification, valuation, and special rules applying to imports; special tariff provisions and procedures relating to customs operation affecting imports and exports; industry relief from injurious imports; adjustment assistance and program to encourage competition; unfair import practices; commodity agreements; reciprocal trade agreements; budget authorizations for customs revenue functions of the Department of Homeland Security; the U.S. International Trade Commission; and trade-related problems, such as supply-demand shortages, market access, policies, and trade relations with other countries.

The Social Security Subcommittee handles matters relating to the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) System, the Railroad Retirement System, and employment taxes and trust fund operations relating to those systems.

The Work and Welfare Subcommittee handles matters relating to public assistance provisions of the Social Security Act, temporary assistance for needy families, child care, child and family services, child support, foster care, adoption, supplemental security income, social services, eligibility of welfare recipients for food stamps, and low-income energy assistance.

The Health Subcommittee has oversight of programs providing payments for health care, health delivery systems, or health research.

The committee is composed of forty-three members: twenty-five Republicans and eighteen Democrats. Jason Smith (R, MO-08) serves as Chair and Richard Neal (D, MA-01) serves as Ranking Member.

House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence This select committee was established in 1977 and has oversight of the U.S. Intelligence Community, including activities of eighteen elements of the U.S. Government and the Military Intelligence Program: the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Department of the Air Force, the Department of Army, the U.S. Coast Guard, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the Department of Energy, the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, the Department of

Justice Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marine Corps, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, the National Security Agency (NSA), the Department of the Navy, the U.S. Space Force.

The CIA Subcommittee has responsibility over programs, policies, budgets, and operations of the CIA, as well as the collection, exploitation, and dissemination of human intelligence (HUMINT).

The National Intelligence Enterprise Subcommittee has oversight of the Director of National Intelligence and intelligence components of the departments of Energy, Homeland Security, Coast Guard, Justice, DEA, FBI, State, Treasury, and matters regarding U.S. persons’ privacy and civil liberties, counter-intelligence, and domestic activities of the Intelligence Community.

The Defense Intelligence and Overhead Subcommittee has oversight of the Departments of Defense, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, the National GeospatialIntelligence Agency, and intelligence components of the Armed Forces.

The National Security Agency and Cyber Subcommittee handles matters of the NSA and Central Security Service, intelligence and activities of the U.S. Cyber Command, Electronic Intelligence (ELINT), Communications Intelligence (FISINT), Foreign Instrumentation Signals Intelligence, and all cyberintelligence activities of the Intelligence Community.

The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee has oversight of all responsibilities within the scope of the full committee’s jurisdiction.

The committee is composed of twenty-five members: fourteen Republicans and eleven Democrats.

Mike Turner (R, OH-10) serves as Chair and Jim Himes (D, CT-04) serves as Ranking Member.

Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the U.S. and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) This committee was formed in January 2023 to focus on economic and security competition between the U.S. and the CCP, which has ruling governance over the People’s Republic of China. Congressional Republicans sought such a committee in late 2020, but negotiations ran aground between them and thenSpeaker Nancy Pelosi (D, CA-11). Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R, CA-20) wrote in an op-ed that the U.S. is now locked in a new “cold war” with China. In December 2023, the committee released a set of 150 legislative recommendations to “reset” U.S. economic relations with China.

The committee is largely concerned with Chinese firms making large purchases of U.S. agricultural land, as well as China’s human rights violations, and ideological warfare.

The committee is composed of twenty-three members: twelve Republicans and eleven Democrats.

John Moolenaar (R, MI-02) serves as Chair and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D, IL-08) serves as Ranking Member.

Travel & Leisure Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

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Thursday, August 8, 2024

Breeze Airways and MacArthur Airport Celebrate Newest Nonstop Destination - Sarasota, Florida Today, Long Island MacArthur Airport (ISP) welcomes the announcement of new nonstop flights between ISP and Sarasota, Florida, (SRQ) on Breeze Airways. Breeze will fly nonstop between Long Island and Sarasota two times weekly - on Thursdays and Sundays - beginning November 21. Breeze customers can book special limited-time introductory fares beginning today at flybreeze.com and on the Breeze app.

Breeze is offering a system-wide 35-percent* off all roundtrip base fares if purchased by August 9, 2024 (11:59 pm PT), for travel from August 28, 2024 thru February 4, 2025 and from April 28 thru May 13, 2025, if Guests use the promo code ‘TAKEOFF’ at checkout on flybreeze. com or on the Breeze app.

“Long Island MacArthur Airport customers have long-been communicating their desire for Sarasota service to the Town and airport, and – in turn – we’ve been reaching out to airlines to evaluate the market’s potential at ISP. Breeze has been listening and their ‘Seriously Nice’ response will benefit Nassau and Suffolk counties in so many ways,” said Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip).

“Sarasota-Bradenton marks our seventh nonstop destination from Islip since we launched in February 2022, and it’s our third Florida destination for this winter with the returning Vero Beach service and new Fort Myers service starting in October,” said David Neeleman, Breeze Airways’ Founder and CEO. “We’re excited to continue our expansion from Long Island with our affordable yet elevated product.”

“Today’s announcement reinforces Breeze Airways’ focus and commitment to serving Long Island while underscoring MacArthur Airport’s dual role as our region’s “air bridge” to national markets and as an economic engine for the island.

Town and airport leadership recognized early on this new air carrier’s potential and took the initiative to showcase our region’s business-friendly mindset along with the enthusiastic support of some 2.8 million people for additional air service,” said Kyle Strober, Executive Director of the Association for a Better Long Island (ABLI).

Breeze received its air carrier certification from the US Department of Transportation on May 14, 2021, having conducted proving runs and other certification requirements from an operational base at Long Island MacArthur Airport. In December of that year in an event at ISP, Neeleman announced that the new carrier would serve Charleston, SC and Norfolk, VA nonstop from MacArthur Airport.

“Ever since those initial two markets were announced and welcomed at ISP, Breeze has been on an upward trajectory at MacArthur Airport, much to the delight of Long Island businesses and travelers,” said Deputy Airport Commissioner Rob Schneider. “Breeze Airways is building towards an all Airbus A220 fleet, and is now one of the world’s top three

Airbus A220 customers. This aircraft is quiet, comfortable, and provides good economic and performance capabilities.

We look forward to welcoming the A220s on Breeze routes, along with the carrier’s Embraer E190 and E195 aircraft,” he added.

With the Sarasota, Florida addition, Breeze Airways now serves ten destinations out of ISP – Fort Myers, Florida; Charleston, South Carolina; Norfolk, Virginia; Richmond, Virginia (seasonal); Portland, Maine (seasonal); Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina; Vero Beach, Florida; and BreezeThru flights (one stop / no plane change) to New Orleans, Louisiana; and Jacksonville, Florida (seasonal).

“In addition to providing convenient, comfortable, and affordable flights from ISP for Long Islanders, the new Sarasota service will bring visitors from Florida to our airport and region. The result will be more jobs, opportunities and economic prosperity benefiting all of Long Island,” Carpenter said. “Additionally, these new flights between Islip and Sarasota will help us build broader momentum for enhancing the customer experience at ISP, and highlighting the airport’s strategic role in regional transportation,” she added.

Breeze’s commitment to Long Island MacArthur Airport is also evident in the carrier’s doubling of service to Vero Beach, the addition of year-round flights to Fort Myers, and the increase in schedule to Raleigh-Durham, all revealed in recent weeks. With today’s announcement of Sarasota service, Breeze Airways’ new destinations and enhancements to existing cities add up to a more than 200% yearover-year increase in seats for the 4th quarter of 2024 and the first quarter of 2025.

“This airport is run like a business and airlines are taking notice,” said Long Island Contractors Association Executive Director Marc Herbst. “Airports across the country are competing for new air service.

On Long Island, we’re so grateful to have elected officials, business leaders, and a community that is supportive of efforts to build a future with prosperity and jobs in this region,” he said.

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Long Island Locavore Thursday, August 8, 2024

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Uncovering the Hidden Charm of the Southern Tomato Sandwich Credit - Nancy Vallarella

By Nancy Vallarella Imagine a summer day in the South, where the air is thick with heat, the cicadas are serenading, and the kitchen is bustling with the creation of a timeless delicacy: the Southern Tomato Sandwich. This unassuming yet irresistible treat is more than just a sandwich; it’s a celebration of the season, a testament to simplicity, and a culinary experience that social media has recently catapulted into the spotlight.

The Hook: Why the Southern Tomato Sandwich is Your New Summer Obsession You might think you’ve savored all summer has to offer—beach trips, barbecues, and lazy afternoons. But have you tasted the essence of summer itself? Enter the Southern Tomato Sandwich: a dish so straightforward, it’s genius.

Fresh tomatoes, soft bread, and a generous slather of mayo—this trio transforms into a bite of pure sunshine. And here’s the kicker: it’s not just a sandwich; it’s a cultural icon that you’ll soon be craving every summer.

Where to Find some of the Best Tomatoes on Long Island • Bakewicz Farms in Wading River and the St. James Market: Farmer Justin Bakewicz’s tomatoes are nurtured from March to August, ensuring they are perfect for your sandwiches. From beefsteaks to heirlooms, each variety is grown with care.

• Thera Farms in Brentwood: Known as the “Tomato Whisperer,” Farmer Teddy Bolkas grows an array of tomatoes using organic methods. Their farmstand even offers salsa boxes for those looking to expand their tomato repertoire.

Classic Tomato Sandwich Recipe Ingredients: • 2 slices of bread • 1-2 ripe tomatoes, sliced • 2 tablespoons mayonnaise • Salt and pepper to taste

Building the Perfect Southern Tomato Sandwich Tomatoes: The secret to the perfect tomato sandwich lies in the quality of the tomatoes. Forget the bland, out-of-season varieties. We’re talking about heirlooms like Cherokee Purple, Yellow Heirloom, and Beefsteaks, bursting with flavor and juiciness. For the best results, buy from local farmers or use homegrown tomatoes, harvested before they are fully ripe to avoid splitting and pest attraction. Allow them to ripen fully on your kitchen counter for that unbeatable fresh taste.

Bread: Traditionalists swear by soft white bread, but sourdough and whole wheat are worthy contenders, offering unique textures and flavors. Freshly baked bread elevates the experience, and while toasting is optional, consider keeping it fresh and soft to complement the juicy tomatoes.

Mayonnaise: Ah, the great mayo debate. Down South, Duke’s is king.

Elsewhere, Hellmann’s rules. For those seeking a gourmet twist, Kewpie mayonnaise with its umami kick (enhanced with a touch of red miso) or homemade mayo can take your sandwich to the next level.

Seasoning: Keep it simple with salt and pepper or get adventurous with fresh herbs like basil leaves or chives. Mix herbs and a squeeze of lemon juice into your mayo for an extra layer of flavor that amplifies the tomato’s natural sweetness.

Long Island Locavore was created

by Nancy Vallarella. Managing farmer’s markets, creating recipes, and giving food demonstrations all contribute to bringing awareness to all things farmed, fished, foraged, and produced on Long Island!

For more recipes, or to ask a question, DM @lilocavore495 on Instagram or contact her via email – lilocavore495@gmail.com

Directions: 1. Spread mayo on both slices of bread.

2. Layer tomato slices on one piece of bread.

3. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.

4. Top with the other slice of bread.

5. Cut in half and enjoy.

Tips: Experiment with the thickness of your tomato slices. Thicker slices are easier to manage. Salting the tomato slices and letting them sit on a paper towel for a few minutes will concentrate their flavor and keep your bread from getting too soggy.

Homemade Mayonnaise Recipe Ingredients: • 1 egg (room temperature) • 1 cup neutral oil (extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil) • 1 tablespoon vinegar or lemon juice • 1/8 teaspoon salt Directions: 1. In a wide-mouth mason jar, blend all ingredients with a stick blender, starting at the bottom for 10 seconds before moving up until fully emulsified.

2. Cover and refrigerate for up to four days.

With the Southern Tomato Sandwich, you’re not just making a meal; you’re embracing a tradition that tastes like sunshine. So, grab those tomatoes and get ready to bite into the magic of summer.

News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, August 8, 2024

For Immediate Release: For Immediate Release: Contact: George | george.gorman@parks.ny.gov | 631-321-3501 Contact: GeorgeGorman Gorman | george.gorman@parks.ny.gov | 631-321-3501

PERSEIDS METEOR SHOWER VIEWING AT STATE PARKS PERSEIDS METEOR SHOWER VIEWING AT STATE PARKS (Babylon, NY, 08/7/2024) New York State Office Parks, Recreationand Historic Preservation (Babylon, NY, 08/7/2024) TheThe New York State Office of of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation is pleased to announce that several Long Island is pleased to announce that several Long Island State Parks will remain open during the nighttime State Parks will remain during the nighttime for viewing of the hours for viewing of the open Perseids Meteor Shower onhours the evening Monday, August 12, 2024. Peak Perseidstimes Meteor on the eveningAugust Monday, viewing areShower predawn, Tuesday, 13,August 2024. 12, 2024. Peak viewing times are predawn, Tuesday, August 13, 2024.

There charge and normal gazing permit be re- You must remain near There willwill be be no no charge and thethe normal starstar gazing permit willwill not not be required. your vehicle. quired.

You must remain near your vehicle.

We suggest that you dress appropriately, bring bug spray, and a chair that We suggest that youare dress appropriately, bug spray, and a chair that reclines. Binoculars are reclines.

Binoculars not necessary.

Lookbring towards the northeast and enjoy not necessary.

Look towards the northeast and enjoy the celestial show. the celestial show.

State Parks that will remain open for viewing are: State Parks that will remain • Jones Beach State Park -open West for Endviewing 2 (westare: parking lot) • Sunken Meadow State Park - Field 3 • Point JonesState Beach State ParkParking - West Lot End 2 (west parking lot) • Montauk Park - Upper • Sunken Meadow State Park Field 3 • Wildwood State Park – main Parking Lot • Montauk Point State Park Upper Parking Lot • Orient Beach State Park – Main Parking Lot • Wildwood State Park – main Parking Lot • Hallock State Park Preserve • Orient Beach State Park – Main Parking Lot • Hallock State Park Preserve The New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 84 million visits in 2023. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit www.parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer App or call 518-474-0456. Join us The New Yorkour State Office ofthroughout Parks, Recreation andconnect Historicwith Preservation in celebrating Centennial 2024, and us on Face-oversees more than 250 parks, historic sites, recreational trails, golf courses, boat launches and more, which saw a record 84 book, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and the OPRHP Blog. million visits in 2023. For more information on any of these recreation areas, visit www.parks.ny.gov, download the free NY State Parks Explorer App or call 518-474-0456. Join us in celebrating our Centennial throughout 2024, and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter) and the OPRHP Blog.

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AMAC

18

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Here’s How Kamala Harris’ VP Pick Responded to the George Floyd Riots

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc. Published Messenger Papers, Inc. Overview - AMAC - The Association ofby Mature American Citizens

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By Tyler O’Neil | AMAC Outside Contributor

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz’s record amid the 2020 George Floyd riots in Minneapolis has received renewed scrutiny after Vice President Kamala Harris, the presumptive Democratic nominee for president, selected him as her running mate.

“Minnesota was ground zero for the Black Lives Matter riots of 2020.

Harris egged it on, and Walz sat by and let Minneapolis burn,” Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, posted on X on Tuesday.

Harris, then a senator from California who had suspended her presidential campaign, had touted the Black Lives Matter protests even after many of them descended into violent riots.

“This is a movement, I’m telling you,” Harris told CBS “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert in June 2020. “They’re not going to stop. And everyone, beware, because they’re not going to stop. They’re not going to stop before Election Day in November, and they’re not going to stop after Election Day. And that should be—everyone should take note of that, on both levels, that they’re not going to let up, and they should not, and we should not.”

News outlets such as The Associated Press claimed that Harris was referring to the protests, not the riots, but she did not draw a clear distinction at the time.

Only in August did she finally explicitly condemn the riots.

Harris also notably urged supporters to send money to the Minnesota Freedom Fund, which posted bail for the rioters in Minnesota. (Fact-checkers later established that Harris never personally donated to the Freedom Fund herself, though she and others helped direct more than $40 million to the organization at the time.)

A timeline of the riots in Minneapolis will help explain Walz’s record. The Minnesota-based Center of the American Experiment informed this timeline.

Mayor Asks Walz for National Guard George Floyd died in police custody in Minneapolis on Monday, May 25, 2020. A jury later convicted of second-degree murder the police officer who kneeled on Floyd’s body during his death. Thousands of protesters took to the streets on the day after Floyd’s death, and some smashed windows. By Wednesday, May 27, rioters had looted stores, including a Target, and arsonists had set at least 30 fires, including a blaze that gutted a six-story affordablehousing apartment building still under construction.

Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, called Walz at 6:29 p.m. that evening, asking him to send in the National Guard, the Minneapolis Star Tribune later reported.

“We expressed the seriousness of the situation. The urgency was clear,” Frey said. “He did not say yes. He said he would consider it.”

“Frey insisted that he explicitly asked whether his verbal requests constituted a formal request, and the governor’s staff confirmed that they did,” the Star Tribune reported. “The governor’s office disputes that.”

Yet the newspaper obtained records corroborating that Frey called the governor and that Frey later indicated that “Walz was hesitating.”

At 9:11 p.m., then-Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo sent an email to Public Safety Commissioner John Harrington including an attachment requesting “assistance of the MN National Guard for immediate assistance with significant civil unrest occurring in the City of Minneapolis.” The document stated that the police department had “expended all available resources within our Department as well as all available law enforcement assistance from our neighboring jurisdictions.”

Arradondo requested 600 National Guard soldiers, as well as vehicles.

The mayor’s office sent another request for the National Guard at 10:55 a.m. on Thursday, May 28, noting “widespread looting and arson,” along with injuries sustained by protesters and first responders.

Walz Activates the Guard Walz finally activated the National Guard at 2:30 p.m. Thursday, 18 hours after Frey asked him to do so. Walz’s spokesman, Teddy Tschann, said the governor needed more information to deploy the soldiers.

“As a 24-year veteran of the Minnesota National Guard, Governor Walz knows how much planning goes into a successful mission,” Tschann said at the time. “That’s why he pushed the City of Minneapolis for details and a strategy.

He ordered the Minnesota National Guard to start preparing Thursday morning, which allowed them to deploy to both St. Paul and Minneapolis that evening, per the Mayors’ requests.”

Yet the National Guard did not arrive on scene that afternoon. As the

Star Tribune reported, soldiers went to other locations, including the Capitol in St. Paul, but troops did not arrive at the south Minneapolis area of the Third Precinct—the site of the worst rioting—until almost 4 a.m. on Friday, May 29, by which time most rioters had left and the precinct had been burning for hours.

National Guard Bureau spokesman Rob Perino said Walz was in charge of the timeline. “The governor’s office directs the National Guard to respond— when and where,” he said. “That’s how any state will tell you it goes.”

On Friday morning, Walz shifted most of the blame to Frey, condemning his “abject failure” to handle the crisis. Then he revealed a potential reason why he delayed, in a statement that the Center of the American Experiment’s John Phelan and Tom Steward described as “validating anger towards the police.”

“The very tools that we need to use to get control, to make sure that buildings aren’t burned and the rule of law collapses, are those very institutional tools that have led to that grief and pain,” he said.

Maj. Gen. Jon Jensen, then adjutant general of the Minnesota National Guard, explained that guardsmen had been mustered that evening and awaited orders, which he said should have come from Frey. Walz said he deferred to local officials, stressing his fears that the sight of the National Guard might further inflame the situation.

Walz did accept some responsibility. “If the issue was the state should’ve moved faster, yeah, that is on me,” he admitted.

A Broken Promise Walz promised that Friday night would be different. “There will be no lack of leadership, and there will be no lack of response on the table,” he said. The governor even said he would consider imposing martial law, and he declared an 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. curfew for Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Yet when the curfew arrived, no one attempted to enforce it, and the riots began again, with looting, arson, and general mayhem returning to the streets of Minneapolis. As a Japanese restaurant, a Wells Fargo bank, and an Office Depot—among others—burned, firefighters failed to reach them because the areas weren’t secure.

Just before midnight and into early Saturday, May 30, hundreds of police officers, state troopers, and National Guard troops moved in, confronting rioters and ordering them to disperse. At 1:30 a.m., Walz and Frey held an emergency press conference, begging the rioters to go home.

That Saturday morning, then-President Donald Trump threatened to send in the military in a show of strength.

Finally, the National Guard mobilized in effective numbers. More than 1,000 additional citizen-soldiers and airmen joined the 700 who had been on duty the day before. By midday Saturday, the number reached 2,500 personnel. “The governor just announced the full mobilization of the Minnesota National Guard for the first time since World War II,” Jensen, the National Guard leader, said at the time.

After four nights of violent riots, the National Guard finally restored relative order, suggesting that Walz could have prevented much of the destruction.

Walz’s Mindset In October 2020, the Minnesota Senate’s Transportation and Judiciary and Public Safety committees released a report detailing the state government’s response to the riots. That report shone important light on the apparent mindset behind Walz’s delay, based on hearings the committee conducted.

“There is philosophically an argument to be made that an armed presence on the ground in the midst of where we just had a police killing is seen as a catalyst,” Walz stated in the hearings. While he admitted that the catalyst had already occurred and more officers and troops should have been present since the city was already burning, he added that he had been trying to strike a balance between more law enforcement and appeasing the rioters.

“The result was on the night of Friday, May 29, after his comments stating more officers and Minnesota National Guard were necessary, law enforcement was not out in full force that night to protect citizens,” the report states.

Walz said that “deciding when to move and with what level of force was a delicate balance.” He stressed the importance of “understanding what the community needs, but not coming in heavy-handed with them.”

When denouncing the violence and destruction in the riots, Walz’s office told staff that “[h]aving monitored social [media] of other electeds today, we need to be very careful with messaging like this as not to be tone-deaf or dismissive … or put property above people.”

Long Island Life & Politics Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Contract Awarded to Perform Emergency Repairs to Fire Island Shoreline

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By Long Island Life and Politics

A $52 million contract was awarded on August 5 to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company of Houston, Texas, for the work necessary to protect Long Island’s South Shore communities. As part of the federally funded contract, the company will perform emergency repairs to a damaged coastline on Fire Island.

“The safety of New Yorkers is one of my top priorities, especially communities vulnerable to the impacts of extreme weather driven by climate change,” Governor Kathy Hochul (D) said. “With increasingly frequent and extreme storms, New York is meeting the challenge head on to protect homes and infrastructure.”

“This puts us on track to begin the construction phase of the emergency coastal repairs on Fire Island this year,” said Alex Young, the New York district commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE).

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D) said, “Today’s $52 million contract award brings us another step closer to restoring the dunes on Fire Island to protect its communities and ensure the integrity of the island, a barrier that protects Long Island’s densely populated South Shore. After the storms, I worked my flip phone to secure these critical emergency repairs on Fire Island.”

“I am thrilled that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has awarded this contract to address the extensive damages that eastern Fire Island communities have experienced over the past year,” added U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D).

“This is a momentous step toward delivering critical repairs to the Fire Island community and coastline. Restoring the South Shore of Long Island remains one of my top priorities, and I will keep fighting to help secure the federal assistance communities need.”

Extreme weather events starting in September 2023 with Hurricane Lee and Tropical Storm Ophelia, followed by significant coastal storms from November 2023 through January 2024, presented a cumulative impact that eroded large sections of beach berm and dunes that are part of the Fire Island Inlet to Moriches Inlet (FIMI) project, resulting in damages to infrastructure and properties on Fire Island from the Ocean Bay Park community east to Davis Park.

In response to the damage, in December 2023 Governor Hochul formally requested expedited approval of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for emergency rehabilitation assistance for the Corps’ FIMI project along eastern Fire Island in Suffolk County. The request was supported by Suffolk County, DEC’s local sponsor for the FIMI project, who provided extensive documentation of the storm damage. New York’s requests initiated a process under the federal PL 8499 program , that allows the Army Corps to deploy significant repair funds to fix projects damaged by storms determined to constitute an extraordinary weather event. In April of 2024, the Corps approved this project for PL 84-99 funds and initiated the process to undertake the repairs.

The Corps then expedited physical inspections, completed surveys, performed engineering and design work, worked to create

an agency collaboration workgroup to advance cooperation on regulatory permitting and enhance communications, and met on numerous occasions with local stakeholders. Corps leadership, DEC expert staff, and other key stakeholders, traveled to Fire Island communities on multiple occasions to engage with local residents to address concerns. These efforts helped secure local support and allowed the project to move forward.

“Suffolk County’s barrier beaches are critical to protecting the mainland and providing an economic engine for our region,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) said.

New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Interim Commissioner Sean Mahar said, “Under the leadership of Governor Hochul, New York State is working with our

O N

local, state, and federal partners, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and New York’s Congressional delegation, to advance post-storm recovery and prepare for future climate-driven extreme weather and flooding.

The emergency repair contract award announced today advances expedited construction to protect Fire Island communities.”

This project also marks the first time the New York District of the Army Corps has implemented a project labor agreement (PLA) for the dredging and sand placement activities. The PLA ensures that the project will be completed efficiently, with a skilled workforce and in compliance with fair labor practices.

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Bits & Pieces

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Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, August 8, 2024

WORD COLLOQUIAL OF THE

Week

SUDOKU

adjective Pronounced: kuh·low·kwee·uhl

Definition: Origin: mid 18th century: from Latin (of language) used in ordinary colloquium ‘conversation’ + -al. or familiar conversation Source: Oxford Languages

Example: “The article was wide-reaching for its easy, colloquial wording.”

Synonyms: conversational, casual, idiomatic Antonyms: formal, literary, standard

WORD WHEEL

This Week in History

See how many words you can create.

Must have center letter in word and can use letters more than once. 4 letter word minimum.

W

P E

K C

New York Yankees slugger Babe Ruth becomes first MLB player to hit 500 home runs (off Willis Hudlin) in 6-5 loss to the Indians at League Park, Cleveland

August 8, 1786:

US Congress unanimously chooses the dollar as the monetary unit for the United States of America.

It was not until the American Civil War that the US had paper money in circulation as we do today.

August 9, 1959:

Michael Kors, American fashion designer and Project Runway judge, born on Long Island, raised in Merrick.

August 10, 1787:

L A

August 11, 1929:

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart completes his chamber piece “Eine kleine Nachtmusik” (A Little Serenade)

August 14, 1945: V-J Day, the Empire of Japan surrenders unconditionally to the Allies, ending World War II

August 12, 1908

Henry Ford’s company builds the first Model T car

August 13, 2008:

American super-swimmer Michael Phelps wins 3 gold medals, all in world record time, in the one day at the Beijing Olympics; 200m I/M (1:54.23), 200m butterfly (1.52.03) and 4 x 200m freestyle relay (6:58.56)

Messenger Perspective Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Raising Awareness for a Rare Disease

By PJ Balzer I remember the evening like it was last night. My wife and I were newly dating and out to eat at a popular burger place in Astoria. After taking a bite of the burger, she looked at me, my eyes both panicking and filling up with water, and said, “What’s wrong?” What was wrong was that the bite of food I just took was stuck and I didn’t know what to do. I was choking on my food.

That was the very beginning of a long journey with an unknown sickness that nearly cost me my life. Food getting stuck in my esophagus started to happen more frequently as the days went on. I began to find ways to get it down using liquids or only eating at certain times of the day when I seemed to struggle a little less. I simultaneously had to learn how to vomit out undigested food in case I wasn’t able to push it down. This also began to be a more frequent occurrence as time went on. What started out as what I thought was an isolated incident at a burger place, started to completely take over my life. I could no longer swallow food as a normal person does.

During this time, I visited a walk-in clinic in Jackson Heights and another in one Elmhurst. I sat with medical professionals and explained to them these strange symptoms I was having that seemed to be progressing each day.

Both suggested that it may be acid reflux or swallowing issues that were being caused by stress or anxiety. I left both offices with no clear answers or even leads to someone else that may know.

My swallowing issues literally began to control my life. As the disease progressed over a few years, I gradually became less able to swallow food.

I even started to not be able to swallow liquids at certain points of the day.

Nearly everything I ate and drank would feel like it was piling up in my chest causing this extreme pressure. I would have to make my way to the nearest bathroom to heave it out. I was no longer able to enjoy food and my eating in public was very limited. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and any family gatherings were miserable for me. At the same time, I started losing weight by the day until I reached a weight where I could no longer function normally.

(631) 269-6421

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Before After

The person staring back at me in the mirror was slowly dying by way of starvation.

My wife and I had since moved to Long Island, back to where I grew up. We started looking for gastroenterologists close by that could possibly provide us with some answers. We visited Brookhaven Gastro and initially ended up seeing a nurse practitioner there who suggested that the doctor perform an endoscopy. By this time, I had been struggling with this unknown sickness for seven years.

I remember waking up from the endoscopy and hearing, “So I have good news and bad news. The bad news is that you seem to have Achalasia. The good news is that there is a surgery that can help you pass food into your stomach again. We don’t perform this surgery here though; you’ll have to visit a specialist at Stony Brook.”

I walked into Dr. D’Souza’s office in Stony Brook bone-thin and severely dehydrated. At this point in the disease, I was barely able to swallow liquids.

I was spending most of the day in bed because I didn’t have the energy for anything else. Dr D’Souza expressed that I was in the worst condition that he’s ever seen any patient from the effects of Achalasia. He put a rush on a few different tests that needed to be done to ensure that it was indeed this rare disease. He helped my wife get clearance from our insurance company for each test because my condition was extremely dire and definitely time sensitive.

In 2018, I received a relatively new, three-hour long surgery that ended up saving my life. Dr. D’Souza performed the POEM (Peroral endoscopic myotomy) surgery in the operating room at Stony Brook Hospital. The surgery was successful in opening up the bottom sphincter muscle of my esophagus which allowed food to pass through again. While the disease has destroyed all of the paralysis in my esophagus and taken my ability to swallow normally, opening up this bottom muscle has allowed food to pass simply by way of simple gravity. I still remember lying in my hospital bed and everyone watching me take that first sip of cold water after surgery.

Thankful would be a vast understatement.

Achalasia is a chronic and incurable disease which the medical world still doesn’t know the cause of. It affects roughly 8-12 people out of 100,000.

Some studies suggest it’s auto immune related, while others feel that genetics may play a crucial part. With Achalasia, something causes your body to basically turn on itself, specifically your esophagus. The nerves in your esophagus begin to misfire and die which slowly leaves you without the ability to swallow. In most cases, it’s progressive and often misdiagnosed as a more common ailment. To this day, I’ve been to doctors who still haven’t heard of it.

Telling people about Achalasia and rare diseases like it is extremely important. There are people suffering in silence like I was with no clear answers or paths to regaining some sense of normalcy. Since being rightly diagnosed and outspoken about this disease, I have had the great blessing of sending a handful of other patients to Dr. D’Souza who has been able to help them as well.

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Around Town Thursday, August 8, 2024

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Recreational Restoration Happening in Smithtown Parks

By Ashley Pavlakis

Baseball field at Browns Road Park (Credit - Ashley Pavlakis)

Credit - Ashley Pavlakis

Growing up, going to the park felt like a privilege. Whether that was a reward for being good that day, or simply, a cool activity to do with friends. Nostalgia is the feeling of hearing your elementary school is next up for a playground upgrade. Smooth swaying swings, more intricate jungle gyms, and the smell of fresh mulch were like hitting the lottery as a child.

Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park), a longtime advocate for the public spaces across Town, has recently given Smithtown public parks a new look. Renovations for parks across the town’s six hamlets took place at the beginning of 2023. Under Wehrheim’s tenure, Smithtown’s recreational facilities have been recognized as the finest in New York State. Wehrheim, a former parks director, has been able to tackle parks and recreational facilities in the Town of Smithtown with passion. His drive to provide Smithtown residents with the best possible facilities to enjoy the outdoors is unmatched.

“It’s all about quality of life…When I go to Flynn Memorial Park and see the KPY [Kings Park Youth] little league teams show up there, just the look on their faces and the smiles on these kids is extremely rewarding. The parents and the children growing up in this town deserve to have class A facilities,” said Wehrheim.

Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve, the Town’s flagship park, is best known for its recreational and educational facilities which began with Edwin and Maria Hoyt in 1910. The Hoyt family reconstructed the land and fostered it into a place where people could come to be immersed in nature. In 1968 the farm was officially open to the public. Having been around for centuries, the park was due for an upgrade. Hoyt Farm holds a house museum, waterpark, nature center, playgrounds, and picnic areas on the 133-acre property. With the generosity of the Cosentino Realty Group, Hoyt received new pavilions, barbeque stations, bocce courts, a playground area, and a new water tower.

“The updates, it’s not just Ed [Wehrheim] and the Board members that help me out. My staff here, we’re always going through changes. There are always things being built and reconstructed. My staff has great ideas and I let them run with it, that’s why the park looks so good,“ said Jeff Gumin, caretaker of the Hoyt Farm Nature Preserve.

Charles P. Toner Armory Park has been a staple park in Smithtown for years. Learning, fun, and exercise can happen all in one place. The Armory is right behind the Smithtown Public Library- Nesconset Branch and brings a wealth of facilities for children and adults to enjoy. The playground and water park areas are the perfect destination for children to exhaust their energy on a sunny day. The roller hockey rink, tennis/pickleball courts, and soccer fields are ideal for athletes, both competitively and leisurely, to practice their skills.

The designated pathway is a great way to get steps in with a friend. Aside from the wellmaintained recreational facilities, the most well-known structure in the park is the gazebo.

Newly renovated and ready for summer tribute band concerts to hit the deck and bring Smithtown residents together on summer evenings. Beginning in October, there are plans to upgrade the sports fields to turf and bring them up to par with everyone else.

Little League baseball and softball players know Browns Road Park all too well. Situated right in between Browns Road and Gibbs Pond Road, the park is almost always cohabited by teams hosting practices or games. The sponsorship banners proudly hang from the chain link fences, perfectly visible from home plate where the batter envisions blasting a homerun over them. For a while, the fields were standard dirt and grass. The constant use takes a toll, and the fields eventually begin to show signs of wear and tear. The fields recently received upgrades to turf, the outfield fences, backstop replacement, as well as brand new dugouts with roofs. The new renovations require less upkeep and allow for the teams to get more use out of the field, even when it rains.

Smithtown Landing Country Club is the perfect place to play a round of golf on their nine and eighteen-hole courses.

The Country Club is home to more than just golf, as they have a pool, event spaces, and recreational areas for children.

It’s common to host weddings at country clubs and Smithtown wanted to maintain its status as one of Long Island’s premier venues. The club received updates to the event spaces starting with the

A hole at the golf course at Smithtown Landing Country Club

The playground at Charles P. Toner Park

The pavillion at Hoyt Park cafeteria, and the bar & lounge area in the Riverview Room. Across the path, Merrywood Cottage received a new bar and updated kitchen interior. The Nissequogue Room upgraded to cathedral ceilings, giving the room a more spacious feel. Perhaps the most exciting renovation for those looking to beat the heat is the state-of-the-art HVAC systems that were installed in all three venue spaces.

“Something that I did that was different from the previous administration, because we had a triple-A bond rating, was that I used capital budget borrowing. Each year, incrementally from 2018 to now, I borrowed money at low interest rates on long term bonds to be able to accomplish what I wanted to accomplish. Borrowing it the way we did was fiscally responsible, and it worked,” said Wehrheim.

Moriches Park received new turf fields, putting in a new turf soccer field and completely upgrading their baseball and softball fields to the popular turf design.

Amongst all the renovations that took place over the last year, the most important renovations were those that benefitted the handicapped. A majority of the Smithtown parks that received upgrades were also made more handicapped accessible. Renovations include upgrades to the walkways, new ramps, and accessible bathrooms. The playground equipment now includes more sensory driven pieces aimed toward younger children. Everyone should be able to enjoy going to the park and experience it to the best of their ability.

“When we do a park, we also fix the bathrooms up. All of those bathrooms are ADAcompliant now, they’re much more friendly for individuals who might be confined to a wheelchair or walker. All of the concrete, sidewalks, and walkways are handicap accessible,” said a spokesperson for the Town.

Enjoying the outdoors is a thing of beauty for Smithtown Residents as they get to take advantage of the updated facilities right in their own neighborhood.

Sports

By James Haupt

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Thursday, August 8, 2024

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Long Island Athletes in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games

This summer, sports fans around the world are being treated to the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games. The games officially began on July 26 and will come to an end on August 11.

Three Long Island athletes have been given the prestigious opportunity to take part in the 2024 Olympics. This includes Crystal Dunn of the USA women’s national soccer team, Andrew Capobianco, a Team USA springboard diver, and Syla Swords of the Canadian women’s basketball team.

soccer, and being the best at it, is inspirational.”

Dunn will look to lead the USA women’s national soccer team back to glory, earning her first-ever gold medal and the country’s fifth in history.

Crystal Dunn Dunn has been a valued member of Team USA for a while now as this is her third Olympic appearance at just thirty-two years old. She’s from Rockville Center and currently plays for NJ/NY Gotham FC in the National Women’s Soccer League.

Team USA wouldn’t be where it is without Dunn leading the way. She has taken the mantle of other former superstars like Alex Morgan as the face of the USA women’s national soccer team.

Dunn can play as a forward, midfielder, or defender, making her impact felt all over the field. She has had an incredible career and is nowhere near stopping. So far, in the Paris Olympic games, Dunn has played incredible defense and even scored her first Olympic goal, giving Team USA a chance at the gold medal.

The three-time Olympian also had a beautiful assist against Japan in extra time to lead to a Trinity Rodman goal and send the USA to the semi-finals. Team USA handled business against Germany and will now face Brazil in the finals.

“She’s always been an idol to me growing up,” said Ava Muffoletto, a collegiate soccer player from Kings Park who has played for a former coach of Dunn. “Seeing someone from Long Island making it to the biggest stage in

Andrew Capobianco Andrew Capobianco has a different story for Team USA. He is a twenty-four-year-old diver from Wantagh, making his second appearance in the Olympics.

In his last appearance at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020 he won a silver medal in the three-meter synchronized diving competition. This year he is competing in the three-meter springboard event.

He scored a point total of 382.05 in the preliminary round earning him a spot in the semi-finals. Capobianco then finished 15 in the semis with a score of 407.65.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t enough to qualify for the finals, but it was still a successful Olympic appearance for the diver. Keep an eye out for Capobianco in future Olympic Games, as he still has a long career ahead of him.

Syla Swords Syla Swords competed as the youngest player ever on the Canadian’s women basketball team at just eighteen years old. The first-time Olympian played high school basketball at Long Island Lutheran in Brookville before moving to Sudbury, Ontario.

Canada women’s basketball finished last in Group B with a 0-3 record, meaning their time in Paris has come to an end. Swords recorded 3.3 points in just 15 minutes per game in the three losses, showing great potential for the future of Canadian women’s basketball.

Ya Like Jazz?

Nobody expects Chisholm to keep these monster numbers up, but his presence on the field and within the organization is exactly what this team needed.

His defensive versatility gives the Yankees a variety of lineup options and forces every player to earn their time on the field. His natural athleticism is something New York has lacked as he can make diving plays on defense while showing off his blazing speed on the bases. And, of course, his swagger and flashiness is just what the Bronx needed to make Yankee baseball fun to watch again.

There is bound to be growing pains in every season, but the New York Yankees have seemed to finally turn things around. Chisholm is just the start as it takes an entire roster to earn the twenty-eighth World Series in franchise history.

Photo Credit: Matt Meduri

By James Haupt The MLB trade deadline last week seems to have given a spark to the struggling New York Yankees. Since mid-June, the Bronx Bombers have been on a historically bad winning drought. Now, they are amidst a three-series winning streak trending in all the right directions.

The most notable deal came on Saturday, July 27, when the Yankees landed a star outfielder from the Miami Marlins in Jazz Chisholm. In return, the Yankees sent their #19 and #20 prospects infielder Jared Serna and catcher Agustin Ramirez respectively, along with infielder Abrahan Ramirez.

There were plenty of concerns after the Yankees traded prospects for a player who was recently voted the most overrated player in the league by his MLB peers. With Chisholm being such a polarizing player, he had a lot to prove to the intimidating city of New York.

The day after being traded, he made his Yankee debut against the rival Boston Red Sox. He collected his first hit for New York en route to an 8-2 win.

Although he didn’t make a major impact in this one, there was a clear shift in culture as the Bombers earned the series win over Boston.

A major question mark in Chisholm is his attitude as he was rumored to have a toxic locker room presence. He put this worry to rest when he agreed to play third base in the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies. Chisholm has played in the outfield and at second base throughout his career, so he was entering unfamiliar territory.

This move was even more significant since it came out that Gleyber Torres, the Yankees’ seven-year veteran second basemen, refused to play third base regardless of how it could help the team. Fans didn’t like this mentality which made Chisholm’s shift to the “hot corner” stand out and helped to end these rumors of attitude concerns.

On top of all of this, Chisholm had an absolutely incredible series against the Phillies. He hit four home runs in the first two games to help lead to another series win. The Yankees would go on to sweep what some have claimed is the best team in baseball.

In just four days in New York, Jazz Chisholm had become a fan favorite, crushing any doubts about his game. Even Yankee legend CC Sabathia has seen his impact, posting a tweet that said Chisholm “is built for the Bronx.”

The Yankees have since gone on to win their most recent series against another division rival, the Toronto Blue Jays. These are three straight series wins against some of the better teams in baseball.

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Messenger Spotlight

Thursday, August 8, 2024

Officer William Parmenter Honored for Life-Saving Actions

By Matt Meduri An East Patchogue fisherman is alive and well thanks to the life-saving efforts of Suffolk County Police officer William Parmenter.

Parmenter, of Smithtown, was out fishing about eighty miles south of Hampton Bays last month. At around 2:00p.m., Parmenter received a mayday call over the marine radio from a nearby fisherman. Parmenter, a paramedic who was carrying his medical supplies with him the day of his fishing trip, contacted the ship through the marine radio and set out to his location five miles away.

The fisherman, Norman Orsinger, 66, of East Patchogue, was found by Parmenter to have already lost a large quantity of blood, with multiple lacerations to his legs and several fishhooks still lodged in his skin after attempting to reel in a yellowfin tuna that was still thrashing under the victim’s leg. Parmenter rendered first aid and radioed both the SCPD Aviation Section and the U.S. Coast Guard to provide both entities with updates on Orsinger’s status.

The Coast Guard then transported Orsinger to Islip MacArthur Airport, where he was then taken to Stony Brook Hospital for further treatment.

Orsinger was released the next day.

Parmenter was given the highest civilian honor in New York State, the Liberty Medal, by Senators Mario Mattera (R-St. James) and Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue) (pictured above right). In attendance at the ceremony at the Police Benevolent Association (PBA) Headquarters in Brentwood on Monday afternoon was Congressman Nick LaLota (R, NY-01) and Suffolk County PBA President Lou Civello.

“Anyone who has traveled Long Island’s waters knows how treacherous they can be, and how isolated you are when you’re out there, especially if you’re out there on a boat by yourself,” said Civello (pictured below left). “And I think his [Parmenter’s] actions really display what sets being a police officer apart from so many other professions. If you’re a carpenter, you’re probably not walking around with your hammer in your back pocket when you’re not working. However, our police officers routinely carry their firearms off duty. And not only did this officer carry his firearm, but he had the forethought to carry his life-saving medical equipment.”

Civello said that when someone is in a situation as Orsinger was, especially alone, “you either stop the bleeding or you die.”

“If it wasn’t for this officer’s actions while off-duty, if it wasn’t for him being prepared, thinking ahead, having his medical equipment, and considering himself never-off duty, then this individual would be dead,” said Civello.

“We are fortunate to have some of the best public servants in this department [SCPD],” said Senator

Mattera, of whom Parmenter is a constituent. “Officer Parmenter’s actions while offduty are worthy of the New York State Liberty Medal. It’s the only award that recognizes heroic and life-saving acts. You all showed all Long Islanders that our men and women in blue are committed to safety to all of our residents, even when you removed your uniform, enjoying well-deserved time off.”

“To protect and serve: Suffolk County is blessed to have 1,700 fine, selfless, brave officers who took an oath to protect and serve our great county,” said Congressman LaLota. “That oath doesn’t go away when somebody’s not in uniform and they’re having fun on the water themselves. The personification of that sacrifice right here, Officer Parmenter, displayed that sacrifice when he put his own safety at risk to ensure that one of our fellow citizens was protected at his time of need.”

LaLota remarked on Parmenter’s previous service in the Coast Guard, making him “ready for this incident.”

“The folks who are recruiting individuals into our Suffolk Police Department are doing the right thing by ensuring folks who have worn a military uniform have the opportunity to continue their service by weathering the Suffolk County PD uniform,” said LaLota.”

LaLota (pictured above) presented Parmenter with a folded American flag that has previously flown over the U.S. Capitol, a token of Congress’ recognition of someone who “goes above and beyond the call of duty by sacrificing themselves to ensure the safety of our public and our community.”

Senator Murray (pictured above left), of whom Orsinger is a constituent, also spoke in recognition of Parmenter.

“He [Parmenter] got up at 1:00a.m. to start his fishing trip. It was a long, long day already when that call came in,” said Murray. “But he didn’t hesitate. He sprung right into action like it was second-nature, because it is like second-nature to our officers.”

Officer Parmenter was also honored by the Suffolk County Legislature at their last general meeting at the end of July.

The Messenger thanks Officer Parmenter for his selfless act of bravery and for embodying the core values that every member of the SCPD should strive to attain.