Romaine Delivers 2025 State of the County Address
By Matt Meduri
Pursuant to the Suffolk County Charter, the County Executive must deliver a State of the County Address in front of the Suffolk County Legislature to update the Legislators on progress made and progress to be made.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) delivered the 2025 State of the County Address at 2:00 in Riverhead on Tuesday afternoon.
Romaine, a former County Legislator himself who served two stints on the horseshoe, one in the 1980s and one in the mid-2000s, reflected fondly on his time there.
“When you’re a legislator, you’re the only voice the communities you represent have in government,” Romaine said to the horseshoe. “Yes, there’s a county executive, but you’re their voice, and I always want to listen to all eighteen.”
After fifteen months serving in Suffolk’s top post, Romaine feels confident and “blessed” in the partnership the Legislature has provided him, each other, and Suffolk residents.
“In the fifteen months here, how many vetoes have I issued of your resolutions?” Romaine asked. “None, because you are all doing a great job in representing your communities and forming a partnership with me,” he added, lamenting the lack of such partnership in Albany and Washington.
“The state of the county is good,” said Romaine to applause.
Continued on page 4
Celebrate St. James’ Board Sworn In Big Plans for Calderone Theatre
By Matt Meduri
The hamlet of St. James is known for its quaint, small-town, main street-oriented personality, complemented by local businesses and regular pedestrian patronage that compose the backbone of a classic downtown.
But a somewhat unsuspecting detail of the hamlet lies in its history and de facto origin as a modern community.
While the Hamptons are seen as the getaway of many in New York City, at the turn of the century, St. James was a Hamptons-esque enclave of New York’s then-bustling vaudeville scene. Many thespians, such as Mae West, Fanny Brice, and Lillian Russell, summered in St. James to escape the city life and near-constant touring, but they also constructed several theatres to keep the art alive in their off-time.
The Calderone Theatre on Second Street is a product of the vaudeville heyday. Reminiscent also of New York’s numerical, grid-like infrastructure, St. James is laid out in a similar fashion, demonstrating the New York City state of mind at the time.
The Calderone Theatre had its run as a playhouse and later a movie theatre. But as vaudeville mostly died - with television being the box in which it was buried - the future of the theatre remained in question for decades.
Continued on page 12
The Board of Celebrate St. James, Councilwoman Nowick (far right), and County Clerk Puleo (far left) (Credit - Matt Meduri)
Executive Romaine delivers the 2025 State of the County Address in Riverhead on Tuesday (Credit - Matt Meduri)
PUBLISHER
Diane Caudullo
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
Matt Meduri
STAFF
Cait Crudden
Raheem Soto
ART
Sergio A. Fabbri
GRAPHIC
Colin Herr
CONTRIBUTORS
PJ Balzer
Ashley Pavlakis
Madison Warren OFFICE
Giavanna Rudilosso SOCIAL
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Around Town
April 10, 2025
Legislator Kennedy Joins HYO for Inaugural Opening Day Parade
By Cait Crudden
The Hauppauge Youth Organization (HYO) kicked off its 2025 season in grand fashion this past Saturday with its first-ever Opening Day Parade, an exciting new tradition that brought the entire community together in celebration of youth sports, teamwork, and local pride.
Under sunny skies and crisp spring air, hundreds of residents lined the streets to watch the procession led by the Hauppauge Fire Department, whose trucks blared their horns and flashed their lights as they led the way from St. Thomas More Church to the HYO Sports Complex. Following closely behind were dozens of youth teams, proudly marching in their uniforms while carrying vibrant banners representing their teams and divisions.
Adding to the day’s excitement was the attendance of several local dignitaries, including Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset) and Suffolk County Comptroller John Kennedy (R-Nesconset) both of whom delivered spirited remarks at the ceremony following the parade.
“Thank you to all the moms and dads that make the future generation of team players. Team sports are vital to a strong community, and I am proud to be representing a district with so many selfless volunteers who give their time and energy to make sure this organization is the best that it can be,” said Legislator Kennedy.
Kings Park Heritage Museum ‘Hawaiian/ Polynesian Night’ Returns
The Leo P. Ostebo Kings Park Heritage Museum continues its “Cultural Night” programming with a demonstration of Hawaiian/Polynesian culture on Friday, April 25 at 7:00p.m. at the Museum’s auditorium.
The featured performers at “Hawaiian/Polynesian Night” are Ohana Mokuloa & Friends.
You will experience the “spirit of aloha” by sharing in the beauty of Polynesian culture. Through live performance, music and interactive learning, the evening will take you on an unforgettable journey around the islands of Polynesia!
Admission to “Hawaiian/Polynesian Night” is free, but donations are always gladly accepted. The Museum will also be open for free tours beginning at 6:00p.m.
The Leo P. Ostebo Kings Park Heritage Museum is located at 101 Church Street in Kings Park. Please join us for an evening of fun!
The Museum has been working to educate and enlighten students and the community about the long and storied history of Kings Park and its residents for over 25 years. It was founded by KPHS English/History teacher Leo P. Ostebo along with dedicated members of the community, the school district, and students and is the only school/community managed museum in the United States. The museum has received many awards that attest to its commitment to the community, and we are thankful to all the volunteers and donors who have kept it going. Please plan a visit soon or see our website: KPHeritageMuseum.net
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The event marked a milestone for HYO, an organization that has long been a staple in the Hauppauge community, promoting teamwork, sportsmanship, and healthy living for young athletes. This year’s decision to launch the season with a parade was met with enthusiastic support from both participants and spectators, injecting a new level of excitement into what has already been a beloved tradition.
Comptroller Kennedy, a longtime supporter of local youth initiatives, also addressed the crowd before stepping onto the field to throw the ceremonial first pitch of the season.
The Hauppauge Youth Organization, which offers baseball, softball, soccer, and other sports throughout the year, is operated entirely by unpaid volunteers—many of them parents from the Hauppauge area. Their tireless efforts, from organizing schedules to maintaining fields, are the backbone of HYO’s continued success.
Following the speeches and first pitch, teams took to the fields for their first games of the season, cheered on by families, friends, and community members who stuck around to enjoy the festivities.
With the season officially underway, HYO is poised for another successful year, guided by the dedication of its volunteers and the boundless enthusiasm of its young athletes.
The Smithtown Messenger is a community newspaper serving Smithtown, Kings Park, St. James, Nesconset, Hauppauge, Commack, and Stony Brook
Entered as a second class matter at the Post Office of Smithtown, NY, under act of December 28, 1879. Periodicals postage paid out of Smithtown, NY. This newspaper will not be liable for errors appearing in any advertisement beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error. The opinions expressed in byline articles, letters and columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of Messenger Papers, Inc, its publishers or editors. Pictures submitted for publication remain property of the publisher.
Postmaster: Send address changes to Smithtown Messenger, P.O. Box 925, Smithtown, NY 11787
Continued from front cover
State of the County
Romaine Delivers 2025 State of the County Address
By Matt Meduri
Finances
Romaine’s speech was slightly structured around a quote often attributed to St. Jerome, “Good, better, best. Never let it rest, until your good is better and your better is best.”
“Finances are good, but never let it rest until good is better and better is best,” said Romaine. “I want to come back with even better news next year.”
“Do we face [financial] challenges? Undoubtedly. Is the economic condition a little bit uncertain these days? No question about it,” said Romaine. “But I’ve been there before and I’ve watched this happen, and we get through it all.” He substantiated this with his time in the Legislature during the 1980s, which saw a major stock market regression, and his second tour of duty on the horseshoe during the Great Recession. He was also faced with the COVID-19 Pandemic during his time as Brookhaven Town Supervisor.
“We’ve had four bond rating upgrades this year; we’ve done sound budgeting,” said Romaine, reiterating a pledge he made when he became Brookhaven Town Supervisor in 2012 that he has transferred to his role as County Executive: “No matter how tough times get, we will never pierce the tax cap.”
“Last year, eight of the ten towns in Suffolk pierced their tax caps - Smithtown and Huntington did not - and Suffolk County did not, and we will not pierce the tax cap as long as I’m county executive.”
Romaine added that it remains to be seen what kind of bond upgrades the County might receive this year, but he pledged to remain steadfast in that endeavor and to pay down some of the County’s debt. The Romaine Administration is also saddled with lawsuits left unsettled by his predecessor Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon) that Romaine intends to settle.
Cybersecurity
Romaine remains adamant that the 2022 cybers hack that crippled Suffolk County services and cost $27 million in recovery efforts should have never happened, owing to his time in Brookhaven, during which the Town obtained cybersecurity insurance.
“The previous administration, before they left, spent about $27 million, much of it still unaccounted for and we’re still looking to claw back some spendings that should have never take place,” said Romaine, adding that the “belt and suspenders” for the County’s cybersecurity has been substantiated by a partnership with the Department of Homeland Security and the Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency.
Public Works
One of Romaine’s top concerns has been that of infrastructure, renovating roadways, and increasing usage and connectivity of public transport.
“It’s been neglected for too long. Many of our buildings are not in great shape. I don’t even want to mention our historic buildings; they’re even worse,” said Romaine.
A big project has been that of remediating County Route 39 in Tuckahoe, perhaps the most notorious bottleneck in Suffolk. Romaine also mentioned work on the Smith Point drawbridge and the Ponquogue Bridge in Hampton Bays.
Of neglecting infrastructure, Romaine said, “We can get away with it for a while, but who’s going to pay the price? The price is our future.”
Unsurprisingly, sewers continue to be a dominant point of conversation in Suffolk, with Romaine not relenting in his vision to invest nearly $1 billion in sewers before his term expires in 2028.
“We’re working on sewers now in Kings Park, Smithtown, Oakdale, South Huntington, and Mastic Beach,” said Romaine. He also mentioned a pending sewer study for the Heartland Town Square project on the site of the former Pilgrim State Hospital in Brentwood and the nearby industrial park. A wastewater study for Montauk is also in the works.
Regarding State funds, namely the $4.2 billion found in the Environmental Bond Act, Romaine proposes a “challenge” to Governor Kathy Hochul (D).
“For every dollar we invest as a county, invest in Suffolk from the Environmental Bond Act. I’ll direct all that money to sewers,” said Romaine.
He also posed another challenge to Suffolk’s state and federal representatives to source funding for remediating contaminated water.
“Believe it or not, a lot of people are still on well water. Those wells are coming up contaminated,” said Romaine. “Imagine having to drink that water, bathe your child in that water, or put [baby] formula in that water.”
“We need a funding source and the County will work with the State and federal government to address contaminated water. It shouldn’t be based on income, it should be based on health results from water quality,” said Romaine. “Not only sewers, but let’s invest in all water infrastructure. I want to make that challenge to the State; that can also be an Environmental Bond expenditure.”
Romaine also renewed calls for LIPA and PSE&G-LI to bury their lines to increase storm resilience and safety, but also to improve their substations.
“Their substations are not adequate,” said Romaine, reflecting on his time as Supervisor when his plan to shutter the landfill would have culminated in solar panels across the dormant site.
“The substations couldn’t handle it [then]. Now that I’m county executive, I’ve talked about ‘Solar Up Suffolk’, and have been trying to encourage solar use,” said
Romaine. He proposed an idea he’s had since he began his tenure, to install solar panels on flat-top roofs, especially those of buildings in industrial parks and public parking stalls, the latter of which are often found at County and State buildings.
“We’re working with the IDA and others to come up with an incentive program to encourage industrial buildings, schools and other public buildings that can structurally afford it to put solar on their rooftops,” said Romaine. “But the substations are inadequate. LIPA, spend the money, invest in substations.”
Parks and Recreation
Romaine spoke of neglect of the County’s parks, delivering news of new accessible playgrounds at Meschutt Beach County Park in Hampton Bays and Gardiner County Park in West Bay Shore. Vehicle access to Moriches Inlet from Smith Point is also in the works, as is a new pavilion at Cupsogue Beach located at the far eastern end of Fire Island within the the Town of Brookhaven.
As Supervisor, Romaine had offered the previous County administration to buy the park and repair the pavilion after it was destroyed in a fire. He did not receive a response.
However, Romaine did tease that Smith Point will be the site of the first AllSuffolk Oyster Festival in the third week of August.
Funding sources for historic homes are also in the works, with the County possessing over one hundred historic homes and buildings.
“Most of them are in a state of neglect; we are going to see that end,” said Romaine.
Of open space preservation, Romaine firmly declared, “I’m going to support every open space development that comes forward.”
County Services
Romaine is happy to report that the County has made tremendous strides in their public services and assistance programs. The Department of Social Service (DSS) has made perhaps the greatest rebound, wherein Suffolk ranked as one of the worst counties for processing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to now ranking as the best in the state.
“We got new leadership [in DSS after District Attorney Ray Tierney’s (R) grand jury report. We had an immediate change in Social Services commissioners, and I think [current DSS Commissioner] Dr. [John] Imhof is doing a fantastic job,” said Romaine. “The state has reported that Suffolk County has made substantial improvements in all areas and in many categories, we’re at 100% compliance.”
“Remember, good, better, best. I want us to be the best,” said Romaine.
Romaine, however, laments the lack of State action on certain laws, such as bail reform, discovery laws, and child protective laws. Suffolk implemented a blind removal policy for Child Protective Services (CPS) last fall, but Romaine awaits the State Legislature’s actions to implement further reform.
Indeed, Romaine stands with Tierney in opposing “dangerous” bills from Albany that would kneecap public safety efforts. He cited the Elder Parole Bill, which would provide parole eligibility for inmates fifty-five years or older. He also cited the Fair and Timely Parole Act, which would refocus the parole system on rehabilitative accomplishments over continued criminal punishment. He also stands with Tierney in calling for discovery reform changes, which would allow police officers to conduct roadside arrests when a driver is visibly under the impairment of a substance. Current laws require police officers to be able to identify the intoxicating substance to perform an arrest.
Romaine and company are also currently exploring a possible farm-to-school program, in which school districts - there are sixty-nine school districts in Suffolk County - could purchase farm products for school lunches.
“We can have more nutritious lunches and we can support our farmers; there’s a synergy there that has to be worked on,” said Romaine.
The County Legislature, preceding Romaine’s address, unanimously approved the police contract, in which significant pay raises for Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) officers were successfully negotiated.
“The one thing I want to do is provide a fair contract and make sure that we can retain and recruit people to County service,” said Romaine. “We’ve added 220 police officers, but we have a lot of police officers retiring in the future. After two years, that will probably net out at ninety-five officers.”
Detectives and administrators have been added as well, along with a permanent task force to combat illegal street racing and takeovers. Such an incident almost cost SCPD officer Brendon Gallagher his life in January. Romaine says that more patrol officers will be added to the highways, especially during the summer months. Nine units have already been added for highway patrol.
Finally, Romaine says that funds need to be directed to various County agencies to combat the opioid crisis, namely to the Medical Examiner’s office that buried 400 overdose victims and received no funds. The County’s Probation, Sheriff, and Health departments received no funding from the previous administration.
“Together, we are Suffolk. Let’s solve the problems that confront us, let’s do what needs to be done,” said Romaine in closing, parting with the Spanish saying, “Vaya con Dios”, translated, “May you go with God.”
Tierney Secures $13M Win for Suffolk Law Enforcement in Major Comeback
By Raheem Soto
Let’s be honest: it rarely happens overnight when government offices lose public trust. It’s usually the result of years of neglect, bad decisions, and officials who believed they could get away with it. That’s exactly what happened in Suffolk County — and why the restoration of $13 million in federal law enforcement funds this week is a win worth talking about.
District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) didn’t create the mess, but he has been cleaning it up ever since taking office.
In 2020, the U.S. Department of Justice and Treasury Department suspended Suffolk County’s access to the Equitable Sharing Programs — federal funds that law enforcement agencies use for everything from major prosecutions to gang takedowns. The reason? A federal investigation into allegations that former District Attorneys Timothy Sini (D) and Thomas Spota (D-Mt. Sinai) misused forfeiture funds, including accusations of financial mismanagement and shady spending practices.
That suspension left local law enforcement agencies cut off from millions— not because of anything they did wrong, but because the people at the top broke trust. For four long years, Suffolk County’s ability to fight crime was kneecapped by a cloud of past corruption.
Fast-forward to 2025. Tierney, with support from Congressmen Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) and Nick LaLota (R-Amityville), worked directly with the Department of Justice to rebuild credibility. In February, the DOJ officially closed the investigation and greenlit Suffolk’s reentry into the program. That means the $13 million in federal funds are finally flowing again—and just in time.
According to Tierney’s office, the money will go straight into high-stakes public safety efforts: prosecuting the Gilgo Beach serial killings and cracking down on fentanyl, human trafficking, gang violence, and illegal firearms. These aren’t theoretical threats — they’re very real problems hurting Suffolk families every day.
This isn’t just a funding story. It’s a story about consequences — and correction. For years, politicians treated asset forfeiture like a piggy bank. Under Tierney’s leadership, those resources are back under responsible management. And unlike his predecessors, he seems more interested in results than headlines.
Of course, questions remain. Will the money be spent efficiently? Will it make a dent in the fentanyl crisis or reduce violent crime? That depends on whether Suffolk’s institutions learned from their mistakes — and whether the public keeps holding them accountable.
What’s clear is that this turnaround took leadership. It took someone willing to deal with federal bureaucracies, clean house, and make the case that Suffolk deserved a second chance. That work doesn’t make the front page every day, but it’s the kind of leadership that keeps our communities safe.
SCPD to Increase Police Presence on Highways
By Matt Meduri
Law enforcement and elected officials alike continue to create solutions for the classic problem of illegal street racing as well as the relatively new problem of street takeovers. The latter are coordinated efforts, often by New York Cityor Upstate-based crews that take their souped up cars to the quieter streets of Suffolk for stunts and drag races.
In October, Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) sponsored a bill to crack down on these events. The County Legislature followed suit in December. The bills were crafted in response to a roadshow that impeded an ambulance responding to an emergency.
Similar scenarios see parking lots blockaded by the crews to perform stunts in the lots, impeding business and regular traffic flow as well as posing a significant danger to other motorists.
Street racing in general has produced too many close calls for comfort, with one victim being officer Brendon Gallagher, who was critically injured after pursuing a speeding driver who was under the influence. Gallagher miraculously survived, but a long road of recovery remains.
In response to these acts, and pursuant to County Executive Ed Romaine’s (R-Center Moriches) public safety pledges in Tuesday’s State of the County Address, the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) is ramping up their presence on highways.
“We had one of our officers assaulted in a street takeover and then we almost had an officer killed, Officer Brendon Gallagher, by a reckless driver,” said Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President Lou Civello. “All too often when police officers are hurt, the sentiment is, ‘well, that’s part of the job’, and nothing changes. Nothing could be further from the truth from what is happening here in Suffolk County.”
Civello calls the initiatives to curb these hazards a “master class in effective government.”
“We’ve added a street takeover team laser-focused on this issue. We’ve had our Legislature work on legislation to strengthen our ability to take these cars,” said Catalina. “We’ve had our District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) aggressively prosecute these cases.”
Highway patrol officers will have increased presence, especially through the warmer months, on the Long Island Expressway, Sunrise Highway, among other high-traffic routes.
“It’s always going to be a problem, we just have to stay ahead of them,” said SCPD Commissioner Kevin Catalina. “We do that through using intelligence sources, social media, and confidential informants. We have a variety of ways of staying ahead of them. And with that team that specifically focuses on that aspect of law enforcement.”
Catalina also gave a brief update on Brendon Gallagher’s condition.
“His spirits are good, but it’s going to be a long recovery for Brendon,” said Catalina. “And that’s one of the reasons that we’re out here doing what we’re doing. We don’t want to see anyone else get hurt. Brendon got hurt by a lunatic on the road driving 120 miles per hour. Nobody should have to deal with that and it’s our goal moving forward to make sure nobody does.”
County Executive Romaine offered advice to other drivers, not only in the conventional wisdom of road safety, but also to safeguard themselves against aggressive drivers.
“Please, pay attention to the road and don’t be distracted or disoriented. Be considerate, understand what you learned in driver’s ed,” said Romaine. “Keep your eyes on the road, and don’t take them off, because even one or two seconds reaching for something or checking your phone is going to be enough to possibly create a serious accident.”
Albany Booted Middle Schoolers for Being Recognized— And That Says Everything
Last week in Albany, something happened that should make every New Yorker shake their head.
A group of middle schoolers from Gouverneur in St. Lawrence County made the long trip to the State Capitol for what was supposed to be a memorable civic lesson. Instead, they got a front-row seat to the kind of petty politics that gives the government a bad name.
The students—wearing matching “Stay Positive” shirts—quietly sat in the Assembly chamber, listening to lawmakers debate childcare policy. That’s when Republican Assemblyman Mike Durso (R-Massapequa Park) did what any decent public servant might do: he gave them a polite shout-out, calling them “future leaders.”
What happened next? The Democratic leadership ordered them out.
That’s right. A group of wellbehaved middle school students was escorted from the chamber simply because they were acknowledged by a “wrong” political party member.
Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R-Medford) didn’t hold back in his response. In a public statement, he called it “abhorrent Albany behavior.” He added, “These students were treated like political pawns instead of the honored guests they were. This is shameful behavior from Albany’s leadership and provides a bad lesson for students interested in civic engagement.”
And he’s absolutely right.
This wasn’t a protest. No one was holding up signs or chanting. These kids weren’t lobbying for or against anything. They were there to observe—and maybe come away inspired. Instead, they left with the message that if the wrong person acknowledges
your presence, you’ll be kicked to the curb.
That’s not democracy. That’s dysfunction.
Even Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) later admitted the students are “welcome back anytime.” That’s nice, but it’s too little, too late. The damage was already done. These kids saw exactly how partisan and childish Albany can be when it’s more focused on political turf wars than basic decency.
Let’s be clear: lawmakers recognizing students in the chamber isn’t new or controversial. It’s a long-standing tradition in both parties. These students didn’t break the rules—Albany did.
What’s worse, this was likely these students’ first exposure to how state government works. What should’ve been an exciting educational experience turned into a warning sign: Don’t cross the wrong people in power.
That’s the opposite of what civic education should be.
If New York’s leaders want to inspire the next generation, they need to act like role models—regardless of what party someone belongs to. And if they can’t even manage that when middle schoolers are watching, what hope do we have?
Kicking kids out of the chamber because they were politely recognized by a Republican isn’t leadership. It’s insecurity.
Next time a group of students walks through those Capitol doors, they shouldn’t be treated like political landmines. They should be welcomed — and reminded that the chamber belongs to them, too.
The State of the County: Better
County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) delivered his 2025 State of the County Address in Riverhead on Tuesday, with the message that the state of the county is good.
But more than just that, Romaine also brings a humble reality to the table, by invoking a quote that he has in office, one often attributed to St. Jerome, “Good, better, best. Never let it rest until your good is better and your better is best.”
Not only is this a realistic way of observing problems of government - and Romaine will be the first to say that most problems of government are fiduciary - but it’s a realistic way of attaining any objective.
Indeed, the state of the County is much better than it was under Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon). While Romaine had big shoes to fill in terms of the mandate the position requires, especially during a much-needed revitalization of Suffolk among a tense political climate, Bellone didn’t exactly leave much to be desired, in our opinion.
But we won’t criticize Bellone and the past when we’re looking towards the future, especially one that Romaine and company are setting out to make Suffolk’s best.
Romaine appropriately challenges Albany to pony up some of the $4.2 billion in Environmental Bond Act (EBA) money to pay for sewer and wastewater infrastructure upgrades, as well as clean water remediation in general. Frankly, it’s a sin that officials have to beg for those funds to be dispersed, especially when those EBA funds are earmarked specifically for the purpose that Suffolk electeds, of both parties, overwhelmingly believe is necessary.
To this, Romaine has also provided Suffolk residents the advantage in this challenge, by stating from the beginning that all appropriations from the EBA will go to sewers and water quality remediation in Suffolk. Romaine has stated his intentions clearly, and as righteous as they are, why won’t Albany listen? Officials have been begging the State Legislature cap-in-hand ever since the EBA was established. Is it a ploy to make Suffolk electeds - now mostly Republicans - seem ineffective to harm the GOP’s largest basket of votes in the state? Or is it just bureaucracy and red tape
as usual? The question isn’t of much consequence - at least we hope. The funds are needed to bring Suffolk fully into the Twenty-First Century. We give Romaine an A+ on keeping on that issue.
Another issue in which Romaine has been persistent: asking LIPA and PSE&G-LI to bury their wires.
The hanging amalgams of wires and cables that “adorn” streets in downtowns like Kings Park are not only an eyesore, they’re hazardous. Residents rightfully complain, but the poles belong to the utility companies and the wires belong to the carriers. The towns look ineffective in being unable to deal with property that isn’t theirs. Make no mistake, burying the wires is an expensive process, but if the utility providers can’t or won’t make the change, then the progress stalls. Good on Romaine for keeping the issue alive.
We also find his idea for a farm-to-school initiative excellent, not only to direct revenue to local farms, but to substantiate healthy lunches for school children. We see this as a clear proposal that could likely be implemented fairly easily, relatively speaking.
We’ll even put our own idea forward on the subject: the creation of a program between school districts and local farmers for high schoolers to earn credits by working as farmhands. It could help keep local farming alive, bolster Suffolk’s self-sustainability efforts, and possibly introduce the trade to the next generation. The year-round curriculum is complemented with the year-round agricultural and husbandry schedules, from harvest to the following spring.
Romaine is clear in his message: the state of the county is good, but it certainly can be much better, and we have a long way to go until it’s at its best.
But for now, we have a determined leader in Romaine and we expect the Legislature will remain steadfast partners in government. Clear initiatives, forward thinking, and self-sustainability are clearly tenets of Romaine’s administrative objectives.
Good, better, best. We might not be the best just yet, but Suffolk is clearly in better hands overall.
Andrew Cuomo: Bullying His Way Back into Power
By Tracey Alvino
In New York, true justice is often elusive. When it comes to holding elected officials accountable, it sometimes feels as if there’s a two-tier legal system divided by political party. A stark contrast can be seen in the treatment of President Donald Trump (R-FL) versus that of former Governor Andrew Cuomo (D), whose recent behavior suggests he’s bullying his way back into power.
While our Attorney General seemed focused on investigating Trump with the goal of finding a crime, the case against him ultimately resulted in civil penalties. In contrast, Cuomo—who caused the deaths of over 15,000 innocent nursing home residents, falsified health data to cover up his actions, and profited $5.1 million off a book written using taxpayer resources—has faced no real consequences. Despite his track record, Cuomo is still free, attempting to claw his way back into political relevance.
This is a stark example of how corrupt politicians often evade accountability if there’s a “D” next to their name—an unfortunate display of what some might call Democrat privilege. Cuomo’s nursing home directive caused thousands of preventable deaths, including that of my own father. Yet, he remains unpunished.
The sheer scale of preventable deaths alone should disqualify Cuomo from office. But his actions have caused far more harm to New York than just that. Consider his pro-criminal laws—bail reform, changes to discovery law, Raise the Age, Less is More, the HALT Act, and the repeal of 50-a—policies that have weakened our police force. He even endorsed the “Defund the Police” movement.
Then there’s the anti-small landlord legislation, congestion pricing, the explosion of illegal pot shops, sexual harassment allegations, retaliation against whistleblowers, and the cover-up of deaths in group homes for the disabled. Cuomo used taxpayer dollars and state staff to write a book that earned him millions, while $60 million of taxpayer money was spent on his legal defense, which later turned into hundreds of thousands of dollars fundraised for his mayoral campaign.
As for his “endorsements”, Cuomo is using his lawyers to threaten people into supporting him. He’s also targeted media outlets, silencing outspoken voices. I know this firsthand—individuals who’ve been threatened have shared their stories with me. Assemblyman Ron Kim (D-Flushing), who initially rose to prominence by standing with grieving nursing home families, has now changed his stance—thanks to these very threats. Politics, it seems, is all about securing extra funding for your district and maintaining your seat, no matter the cost.
Media figures who once criticized Cuomo are now socializing with him, silenced by pressure from their bosses. The shift from outspoken criticism to soft endorsement is nothing short of sickening and inauthentic.
When politicians flip from denouncing Andrew Cuomo to supporting him, they embody everything that frustrates the public about modern politics. Likewise, when media outlets once critical of Cuomo now grow silent, it’s clear they are under threat, either from Cuomo’s camp or the risk of losing their jobs.
In the end, Andrew Cuomo hasn’t changed. He’s still the same ruthless, powerhungry figure he’s always been, bullying his way back into power. The voters of New York City have the power to stop him—don’t give him the opportunity to make a return. He hasn’t earned a second chance, and no one deserves one after taking the lives of nursing home residents. Cuomo’s past actions are unforgivable, and New Yorkers shouldn’t let him rewrite his story at the expense of the people he’s failed.
Tracey Alvino serves as the Director of Voices for Seniors.
Response to Carlson Op-Ed
By Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta
Toby Carlson’s op-ed asserting that I have only recently voiced concerns regarding the Tanzi project simply illustrates that he is either ill-informed or more likely, has chosen to forget what transpired in the years prior to Tanzi filing for his Queens-like development.
Carlson conveniently omitted the fact that I actively participated in trying to have the project incorporate adjacent parcels to expand its area to more than twice the size of what is now proposed. I endeavored to convince the owners of Art Stone and Memorials to consider either selling to Tanzi or partnering with him for the benefit of the property owners and our community. Unfortunately, a deal was not struck between the parties.
Ultimately, I was shocked to see that Tanzi went ahead and proposed erecting fortysix apartments with underground parking on less than half an acre in the parking lot of a drug store. Nowhere in Suffolk County is there an underground parking structure, except in the Village of Patchogue.
Moreover, I cannot think of any location in Suffolk County that has first floor apartments in the parking lot of a shopping center, nonetheless a shopping center who was previously awarded a variance which reduced the number of required parking spaces by eighty. Sounds a lot like Queens, doesn’t it?
My objections to the Tanzi project are in no way a “scare tactic” as Carlson would have people believe. The fact is that issuing significant variances and permitting highdensity housing projects on undersized parcels sets a terrible precedent that could carry over throughout the entire Town of Smithtown. While we unquestionably need to revitalize our downtowns, we must do so responsibly. People live in Smithtown for its suburban lifestyle, many moved from Queens and Brooklyn to escape congested streets and crowded schools. I attended numerous meetings regarding the plans for our town’s future and virtually no one was in favor of this type of high-density housing. Vision Long Island Master Plan consultant, Eric Alexander, even stated at a Town Board meeting that he interviewed over 600 residents and business owners who wanted “lower density housing.”
I formally requested via letter to the Town Board and Board of Zoning Appeals that an additional hearing be held to give members of our community the opportunity to weigh in on the proposed Tanzi project as many residents were not given an adequate opportunity to do so. The lone hearing held on Tanzi’s zoning variance applications took place three hours after the start of the scheduled meeting, causing many residents to leave, depriving them of the opportunity to have their voices heard and questions answered. Not one Town official even responded to my request for an additional forum. It was then that I decided to run for Town Supervisor.
Carlson is right about one thing; our residents aren’t stupid. They know that I have been fighting on their behalf and for all Suffolk taxpayers for more than eleven years. They are familiar with Carlson’s reputation, his true agenda and how hollow his words often ring, and they know that when he starts an op-ed with the phrase “This isn’t an attack” that is exactly what it is intended to be.
Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) has represented the Thirteenth District in the Suffolk County Legislature since 2014. The Thirteenth District includes Fort Salonga, Head of the Harbor, Kings Park, Nissequogue, San Remo, St. James, and parts of Commack and Smithtown hamlet within Smithtown Township, and parts of Commack within Huntington Township.
Legislator Trotta serves as the Chair of the Ways and Means Committee, Vice Chair of the Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Medical Services and Preparedness Committee, and serves on the Committees on Budget and Finance and Seniors and Human Service.
The Thirteenth District office is located at 59 Landing Avenue, Suite 1, in Smithtown and can be reached at 631-854-3900.
Make Combating Human Trafficking a Top Priority
By Assemblyman Keith Brown
I joined my colleagues in the Assembly Minority Conference to unveil the 2025 New York State Assembly Minority Conference Human Trafficking Task Force Report. This Task Force, led by Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay (R-Pulaski) and co-chairs Assemblyman Brian Maher (R-Walden) and Assemblywoman Mary Beth Walsh (R-Ballston), aims to address supportive housing issues, improve victims’ services, strengthen criminal laws to hold traffickers accountable and increase training and awareness for professionals, students and the public.
In 2024, the Task Force spoke with nearly 200 individuals, including trafficking survivors, law enforcement, prosecutors, social workers, educators and other anti-trafficking advocates. Their input allowed the task force to develop an informative report and numerous recommendations for new proposals in the state Legislature.
Unveiling the 2025 New York State Assembly Minority Conference Human Trafficking Task Force Report is a great step forward to help combat human trafficking statewide. I was very proud to see one of my proposals, A.4244, featured in the task force report. A.4244 would allow individuals to be remanded into custody for drug treatment where there is a substantial risk of continued substance abuse and the likelihood of causing serious harm to themselves.
The rise of social media and internet use among young people has greatly increased
the risk of younger individuals being groomed or taken advantage of online, creating more opportunities for sex trafficking. The rise of online dating apps has greatly increased the risk of app users potentially meeting up with a stranger who could take advantage of them. In this day and age, we must be vigilant, raise awareness of human trafficking and hold traffickers accountable to keep New Yorkers safe.
Assemblyman Keith Brown (R-Northport) has represented the Twelfth District in the New York State Assembly since 2021. Within the Town of Huntington, the Twelfth District includes Asharoken, Centerport, East Northport, Eaton’s Neck, Halesite, Huntington Bay, Lloyd Harbor, Northport, Wincoma, and parts of Cold Spring Harbor, Commack, Dix Hills, Elwood, Fort Salonga, Greenlawn, and Huntington hamlet. Within the Town of Babylon, the district includes most of Deer Park. Within the Town of Islip, the district contains parts of Brentwood, Baywood, Edgewood, North Bay Shore, and Pine Aire. Assemblyman Brown serves on the committees on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse; Environmental Conservation; Housing; and Judiciary.
The Twelfth District office is located at 6080 Jericho Turnpike, Suite 310, in Commack and can be reached at 631-261-4151.
8 Congressional News
Garbarino, LaLota Applaud Reinstatement of Dr. John Howard as WTCHP Administrator
By Cait Crudden
In a significant development for 9/11 survivors and first responders, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), in consultation with the White House, has reversed its controversial decision to remove Dr. John Howard as Administrator of the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP). The reinstatement of Dr. Howard was met with strong approval from several New York lawmakers who had worked behind the scenes to push for the reversal.
Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport), who took the lead on this issue, was joined by Representatives Mike Lawler (R, NY-17), Nick LaLota (R-Amityville), and Nicole Malliotakis (R, NY11) in expressing their appreciation to the Trump Administration for its rapid response. The group released a joint statement praising the decision and highlighting the importance of Dr. Howard’s leadership in managing the WTCHP.
“We appreciate the Trump Administration’s shared commitment to caring for our 9/11 responders and survivors. The firing of Dr. Howard and the subsequent impact on the World Trade Center Health Program was an unfortunate mistake, and we are deeply grateful for HHS’ swift action to reinstate him as Administrator of this critical program. The Administration’s continued support of the program is encouraging, and we look forward to working together to address any remaining issues,” the lawmakers said in a joint statement released Friday.
Earlier in the week, it was reported that Dr. Howard had been dismissed as part of a broader effort by HHS to “reorganize and optimize” leadership within the department. However, the decision sparked immediate concern from advocates,
medical professionals, and members of Congress, who feared that Dr. Howard’s removal could destabilize a program that serves as a lifeline for thousands of 9/11 survivors and first responders suffering from chronic health conditions.
Congressman Garbarino, who represents many of the first responders living on Long Island, acted swiftly, arranging an urgent meeting with the White House on Wednesday to stress the critical role Dr. Howard plays in managing the complex needs of the WTCHP’s patient population.
The World Trade Center Health Program, created by the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, provides medical monitoring and treatment to over 120,000 responders and survivors suffering from 9/11-related illnesses, including respiratory diseases, cancer, and mental health conditions.
Earlier this year, the WTCHP also faced proposed staffing cuts and reductions in critical grant funding. Those decisions were likewise reversed after Members of Congress, including Garbarino, Lawler, LaLota, and Malliotakis, raised the alarm and engaged directly with White House officials.
Dr. Howard, who has led the WTCHP since its inception, is widely respected for his expertise and compassion. His reinstatement marks a major victory for advocates, lawmakers, and most importantly the heroes of 9/11 who continue to rely on the program for care. With this decision, lawmakers and advocates alike are calling for renewed focus and long-term support to ensure the WTCHP remains strong for decades to come.
National, State, and Local Temperature Checks
By Matt Meduri
National
The tariff wars of 2025 continue, as President Donald Trump (R-FL) made mostly good on his campaign promises to propose “reciprocal” trade with nations whom he and many others believe have not held up their ends of their respective bargains.
Some analysts also believe Trump is deliberately trying to cause confusion in the markets to cool inflation, coming as close as possible to a recession without actually crossing that line.
Trump has also publicly flirted with the idea of supplementing U.S. federal income taxes with tariffs, a characteristic of an economic model from the turn of the century. His high-stakes trading game seems to be part in parcel of that vision.
The markets tanked last week as Trump signed the new set of tariffs, confirming months of speculation from the campaign trail that ultimately took some observers and investors off guard. He proclaimed April 2 as “Liberation Day”, on which the U.S. would no longer be subject to unfair trading relationships that have killed incentives for American manufacturing over the years. The order imposes a minimum 10% tariff on all U.S. imports effective April 5.
However, Trump walked back the proposal of waging a full-scale trade war by suspending tariffs set to take effect April 9 for ninety days. The order would have imposed tariffs of 11% to 50% on fifty-seven countries. However, the 10% minimum remains in effect and the ninety-day suspension does not apply to China.
In just April alone, the U.S. trade-weighted average tariff rose from 2% to 24%, the highest level in over a century. Trump rose tariffs on Chinese imports to an effective 125% level after April 9. He also imposed a 25% tariff on most goods manufactured in Canada and Mexico. He altered the deal by granting indefinite exemptions for goods compliant with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement (USMCA).
The tariffs on Mexico and Canada were more for the purpose of retaliation, as the view of the president is that neither country sufficiently addressed immigration and drug problems that deluged over the U.S.’ northern and southern borders.
The trade war with China, an ongoing saga, reached a fever pitch as investor confidence continues to decline and the global market takes a plunge. While Trump has walked back some tariff proposals, China has not been spared.
Chinese goods now face a minimum tariff of 125%. The move would significantly overhaul global markets as the world’s two largest trading partners begin to abrogate ties. Trump is also setting a baseline tariff of at least 10% on almost all U.S. imports. Last year, the baseline tariffs generated $3.2 billion in revenue.
Beijing has responded with their own adamant trade stances, with agricultural exports from the U.S. likely to face consequences, as American farmers rely on trade with China.
Trump asserts that the mounting pressure will force Chinese President Xi Jinping to negotiate, while analysts believe that China might intentionally be letting Trump to overplay his hand.
The trade war with China started shortly into Trump’s second term. The $582 billion trading partnership - as of last year - found itself with a doubled duty on Chinese goods, from 10% to 20% in March. The rate was increased to 54% last week, with a 34% penalty for China’s unfair trading practices.
China retaliated with a 34% duty of their own, on American goods, to which Trump responded with a 50% hike on Chinese goods.
The 125% increase is the latest move made by Trump in retaliation to China’s retaliation, making this entire trade war appear as a game of “chicken”, with the winner being whomever can pay their opponent’s steepest tariffs.
Meanwhile, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY), a Trump ally but notable maverick, disagrees with the practice of such trade wars, with added fears that tit-for-tat tariffs will result in an unstable political climate in U.S. ally Taiwan. The island nation has feared increasing Chinese encroachment over
the last several years and has been a major talking point of U.S. foreign policy.
State
Another development occurs in the New York City 2025 mayoral race, with an inkling effectively predicted by The Messenger coming to fruition in Mayor Eric Adams’ (D) reelection bid as an Independent.
Adams has tracked consistently low approval ratings since he assumed the mayoralty in 2022. A Quinnipiac poll from last month showed him with an all-time low of 20% approval, with 67% disapproving of his job performance, and 13% not offering an opinion.
In late summer 2024, Adams became the first New York mayor to face criminal charges while in office. The charges amount to allegations of bribery, fraud, and corruption, namely with the Turkish government. The indictments were essentially the nail in the coffin of his re-election campaign that was already languishing due to low approval numbers.
Since Adams is no longer seeking the Democratic nomination, it makes the field somewhat easier for former Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) to clear in an attempt at his own political comeback. Adams only registered at 8% of the vote in the latest primary poll, with Cuomo taking the lion’s share of the voters’ current intentions.
Despite Adams’ onslaught of resignation calls, he appears determined to stage a legitimate Independent campaign for mayor, calling his ballot line the “Safe Streets, Affordable City” line. He remains a registered member of the Democratic Party.
“Those are the issues that are important to New Yorkers,” Adams said of his third-party name. “They want a safe city. They want an affordable city. And I want them to know that is what I produced for them.”
Meanwhile, the Republican primary is less clear, with Guardian Angel and 2021 nominee Curtis Sliwa (R) making another run for the city’s top job. Darren Aquino (R), a nonprofit worker and 2020 Florida congressional candidate, and David Rem, a sanitation worker, remain the only declared candidates in the GOP primary.
New York City Councilman Joe Borelli (R-Staten Island) and businessman and radio host John Catsimatidis (R) have publicly expressed interest.
The 2025 mayoral race in the Big Apple is expected to have massive political ramifications across New York. The state took the hardest rightward shift in the 2024 election, compared to its 2020 results, and New York City overall
has shifted thirty points to the right compared to the 2016 presidential results. A weak Cuomo win or a Republican upset would then likely further endanger Governor Kathy Hochul’s re-election prospects in 2026.
As of Wednesday evening, Adams had reopened Rikers Island Prison to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), fulfilling a large demand from the Trump Administration and “Border Czar” Tom Homan.
The cooperation with the Trump Administration on immigration displays ideological rifts within the Democratic electorate, while also demonstrating the possibility that Adams might be more at home as an Independent.
Local
Suffolk County has announced the opening of applications for the 2025 Green Key Parking Permit Program with local libraries, otherwise known as Green Key PPP.
The program is part of the County’s three-pronged approach to engage residents in physical activity, increase access to public green spaces, and educate residents on improving their overall health.
In efforts to reach those goals, the County health and County parks officials are collaborating with the Suffolk Cooperative Library System to offer residents a one-time Green Key parking permit through their local libraries.
The pilot program offers twenty-five parking permits for $125. Library patrons will then be able to purchase a onetime parking permit for $5. The pass allows them to visit one of Suffolk’s ten County parks on a date of their choice.
“In Suffolk County, we are blessed with an extensive network of beautiful parks where residents and visitors can engage in myriad activities,” said County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches). “We are inviting residents to take advantage of this offer to experience one of our Suffolk County parks one time for a generously discounted fee.”
The County also hopes that the pilot program for the one-time keys will incentive residents to purchase a Parks Green Key Card, allowing card holders access to all County parks along with reduced activities fees.
“Libraries are all about connecting people to resources that benefit them. We look forward to partnering with Suffolk County to assist local residents with exercising their minds at our County’s amazing libraries and their bodies are our County’s beautiful parks,” said Suffolk Cooperative Library System Director Kevin Verbesey.
By Raheem Soto
New York’s Home Care Shake-Up Senator Demands Feds Step In
It’s not every day that New York politicians agree on something. But when it comes to the state’s catastrophic overhaul of its home care system, even long-time observers are calling this mess next level.
The CDPAP disaster—New York’s so-called “reform” of the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program— has quickly become one of the recent most chaotic and confusing government shake-ups. As stories pour in about technical failures, missing paychecks, and families left in the dark, Republican lawmakers are demanding that Washington step in and clean up the mess.
For nearly 250,000 elderly and disabled New Yorkers, CDPAP is not just a line item in a budget—it’s a lifeline. The program lets patients hire their own caregivers, often family members, to help them with day-to-day needs. It’s flexible and trusted; for many, it’s the only way they can live safely and independently at home.
But in a rushed attempt to “streamline” the $9 billion program, Governor Hochul’s (D) administration scrapped a network of nearly 700 local fiscal intermediaries—the folks who handle payroll, paperwork, and support— and replaced them with a single out-of-state contractor: Public Partnerships, LLC.
What could possibly go wrong?
Plenty, it turns out.
Since the transition began, caregivers and patients across the state have reported everything from long call wait times and glitchy software to outright misinformation. In some cases, caregivers say they haven’t been paid for weeks. Others are struggling to navigate enrollment, which is confusing at best and impossible at worst.
The original transition deadline was April 1, and tens of thousands of families still haven’t registered. The Governor extended the deadline by 30 days. But to families already in panic mode, that’s just kicking the can down the road.
According to the Senate Republicans, Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James) (pictured above) among them, who released a blistering letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services last week, the situation is beyond the state’s ability to fix. They’re calling on HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (I-CA) to launch a full investigation into the “slipshod” rollout and examine how this rushed change could impact vulnerable New Yorkers.
And make no mistake: this isn’t just a political talking point.
From the Southern Tier to South Brooklyn, families who depend on CDPAP are facing real consequences. Some have lost their caregivers. Others are terrified they might lose services altogether because they missed a technical step or never received the proper forms. The fear is real—and it’s spreading fast.
Republican senators didn’t hold back in their response. They described the situation as “a disaster from the start” and said the risks of the transition far outweigh
any promised benefits. They also questioned why the state handed a no-bid monopoly to a single vendor— one with no local roots and little accountability.
Meanwhile, reports estimate that over 40,000 patients are being pushed into licensed home care agencies simply because of backlogs, glitches, or confusion. That means less freedom, less control, and often—less care.
This isn’t just a case of bureaucratic bumbling. For families caught in the middle, this is about survival. CDPAP allows New Yorkers with disabilities and chronic illnesses to stay in their homes, avoid institutionalization, and maintain some control over their daily lives. It keeps grandparents with their grandchildren, lets disabled adults hire siblings or spouses, and gives families peace of mind.
The rollout has been so poorly managed that lawmakers are now pushing legislation to delay the entire process by 90 days. That’s the bare minimum, they say. But more than just a delay, many call for the state to scrap the plan entirely and return to a regional model that prioritizes flexibility and local control.
Even Democrats in some districts reportedly feel the heat from angry constituents, though few have spoken up publicly. For now, the Senate GOP is leading the charge— and speaking out for the home care users who feel ignored and abandoned.
Critics of the transition say it’s just another example of top-down governance gone wrong. Instead of asking patients and providers what works, Albany underwent a massive overhaul with little transparency and oversight. Now, there is little hope of success.
To make matters worse, the Department of Health has reportedly been scrambling behind the scenes, even asking state employees to volunteer for support roles as the transition spirals out of control. Millions in taxpayer dollars have already been handed to PPL, but the out-of-state vendor is now under fire.
So where does it go from here?
If the Trump Administration’s Health Department answers the Senate’s call, we may finally get some answers—and hopefully, some accountability. But unless swift action is taken, families will continue to suffer the most.
The Governor’s team insists the transition will work in the long run. But for families trying to care for a disabled child or an aging parent today, “in the long run” doesn’t cut it, and they’re tired of Albany pretending that this chaotic rollout is anything but a disaster in real-time.
The bottom line is that CDPAP isn’t just a government program but a human safety net. When the state pulls that net away without a plan, people fall through the cracks. And in this case, the cracks are gaping.
Unanimous: Bontempi’s Bill to Protect Animals from Abusers Passes
By Matt Meduri
The issue of animal abuse is often seen as onesided, usually in the form of capturing and prosecuting those who abuse animals.
But what happens to the animals afterward, and what prevents a convicted abuser from coming into possession of another animal?
A bill proposed by Suffolk County Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport) (pictured right) answers those questions. And the full Legislature, seeking solutions, passed the bill unanimously.
The local law amends the Suffolk County Code to establish a misdemeanor penalty for individuals on the convicted animal abuser registry who are found to be owning animals in violation of existing Code Section 229-28(F).
It continues the work of the horseshoe from 2010, when the Legislature created the animal abuse registry, at the time one of the first of its kind in the U.S. The law states that any Suffolk resident aged eighteen years or older who is convicted of animal abuse is required to register their name, address, and photo with
the registry. The registry is maintained by the Suffolk County Police on their website.
Individuals are required to remain on the registry for ten years and prohibited from owning animals during the period.
However, the Suffolk County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SCPA) approached Bontempi requesting this amendment, demonstrating a loophole in existing code. The code did not impose penalties for those on the registry who were found in possession of animals.
Now, the ramification is a Class A misdemeanor, with appropriate penalties to follow if convicted.
“We often hear about cases of animal abuse in the news, and it’s sickening to witness,” said Bontempi in a statement. “Animals cannot advocate for themselves, so our elected officials must speak up on their behalf. In Suffolk County, we will not tolerate the abuse or neglect of animals. By closing this loophole, we will ensure that those who disregard the law face consequences.”
County Legislature Debates Flying of SAR Flags, Consults with Veterans
By Matt Meduri
A bill has circulated the Suffolk County Legislature that, if passed, would require the Veterans’ Suicide Awareness and Remembrance (SAR) Flag flown wherever a Prison of War-Missing in Action (POW-MIA) Flag is flown.
The legislation is sponsored by Legislator Chad Lennon (C-Rocky Point), currently serving in his first term, Vice Chair of the Veterans Committee, and a Marine Corps Veteran and current Reservist. The legislative intent finds that military personnel and Veterans are twice as likely to die by suicide compared to their civilian counterparts each year. That factor, coupled with the persistent stigmas of mental health and seeking treatment, as well as the tangible symbol of such a delicate subject presented by flying the SAR flag, are arguments for the bill’s passage.
The bill has been co-sponsored by Legislators Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), Catherine Stark (R-Riverhead), and Ann Welker (D-Southampton).
Tuesday’s General Meeting in Riverhead saw the unanimous tabling of the bill, with many legislators vocalizing their support for the initiative. However, Lennon and others feel more time is required to galvanize significant support or opposition to the bill among Veterans, who, even at Tuesday morning’s public portion, remain divided on the flag being flown.
Lennon said ahead of Tuesday’s table vote that with all correspondence considered, he believes net support for the initiative to be about “threeto-one in favor”.
“How many Veterans were taking their own lives in the 1960s? We don’t know,” said Lennon. “How many in the 1970s, the 1980s, 1990s, and the 2000s? We don’t know because the Department of Veterans Affairs did not track this until 2005, and they realized we have more Veterans taking their own lives than dying in combat. That is outrageous.”
Lennon says that the creation of a national bill of flying the POWMIA flag took forty years, from the 1970s to the 2000s.
“Are we going to wait forty years to do something different? It has been twenty years, and this [suicide] number has not changed,” said Lennon.
has been normalized and talked about in public, and that is very dangerous for our Veterans,” said Sanin. “Just putting this bill forward has already made a difference, and I know you’ll continue making a difference for Veterans.”
Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue) (pictured right) also agrees with the purpose of the SAR flag.
“Many people have spoken about not putting that image [SAR flag] out there. When you’re going to clear up something like suicide of our Veterans, you don’t hide it. You put a glaring spotlight on it. You let other Veterans know that …feelings are normal and there are others who feel it,” said Thorne. “I strongly support it.”
Since taking office last January, one of Lennon’s top priorities has been cementing the problem of Veterans’ suicide and mental health into minds throughout Suffolk County. Last April, his bill recognizing September 22 as “Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day” was unanimously passed, with the date of 22 referencing the twenty-two Veterans’ lives lost on average to suicide. Lennon has also made a career as a military and Veterans’ attorney.
“This is a war because people are dying. People are taking their own lives,” said Lennon.
Legislator Rebecca Sanin (D-Huntington Station) (pictured top) the bill’s objective and praised Lennon’s “leadership”.
“This issue has not been something that
continue to battle the cancer they developed due to Agent Orange? Where is their flag? Or many brave men and women who came home without their limbs or without their sight or the ability to ever walk again, where’s their flag?”
Caracappa says that “none of them are asking for their own flag”, and that the American flag flies highest for a reason.
“Our American flag encompasses each and every aspect of serving. Those lost in battle and those lost in the battles of service-related illnesses are honored under the stars and stripes of our American flag,” said Caracappa.
Caracappa is also calling for compromise, with some notable Veterans’ post commanders not entirely decided on the fate of this bill.
Legislator Kennedy shared a story from when she was eleven years old, recounting how “horrible” the stigma was around PTSD and suicide at the time. Since the “movie” that “keeps going on in their [Veterans’] heads”, in Kennedy’s father’s words to her then, has not ceased in decades, she supports the bill.
“[The SAR flag] belongs under the American flag, in my opinion,” said Kennedy.
Legislator Welker, a daughter of a Korean and WWII Veteran, argued that the SAR flag “emphasizes the importance of breaking the stigma of mental health and suicide and the importance of seeking treatment.”
Legislator Nick Caracappa (C-Selden), (pictured below left) Chair of the Veterans Committee, agrees with the overall purpose of the flag, but questions if the importance of the issue will be watered down with yet another flag.
“This is indeed a Veterans’ issue and should go back to them. Pitting Veterans against Veterans is a clear indication that this bill, as it’s written, is simply wrong,” said Caracappa. “Lastly, this bill would lock the county into a forever contract with the sole manufacturer’s flag. I’d rather see this county utilize those resources to order a media campaign for all suicide awareness for all residents, including SAR and all Suffolk County Veterans’ agencies who specialize in mental health services.”
The bill continues to be debated at the horseshoe.
“Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is real and must be made aware of, treated, eradicated, or drastically lowered,” said Caracappa. “What about all those Vietnam veterans who came home with health issues related to Agent Orange, and they
“How many Veterans were taking their own lives in the 1960s? We don’t know.
How many in the 1970s, the 1980s, 1990s, and the 2000s? We don’t know because the Department of Veterans Affairs did not track this until 2005, and they realized we have more Veterans taking their own lives than dying in combat. That is outrageous.”
Legislator Chad Lennon
Last April, his bill that recognized September 22 as “Veterans Suicide Awareness and Remembrance Day” was unanimously passed, with the date of 22 referencing the twenty-two Veterans’ lives lost on average to suicide.
Credit - Matt Meduri
Celebrate St. James’ Board Sworn In Renovations Abound for Calderone Theatre
Purchased in the 1980s by Natalie Weinstein, a long project began in not only renovating the theatre, notably with self-sustaining “green” initiatives, but also reinvigorating the interest in community theater and local history in general.
Weinstein recently toured The Messenger through the renovations that recently took place in the theater, rearranging the ground level to more appropriately feature a gift shop, lobby, and gallery of local arts and history. Upstairs, much of the work revolves around showcasing the original architecture of the building, including the original tin roofs that adorn the theatre with colors of light pink and seafoam green.
Moreover, perhaps the most ambitious goal is to raze a wall to reveal the former stage and rows of seats, with hopes of the Calderone Theatre once again entertaining St. James and beyond.
Weinstein successfully lobbied for $1 million in grant money from the administration of former County Executive Steve Bellone (D-West Babylon). In November 2023, the Town of Smithtown received the JumpSmart grants, with the Town having received $900,000 in December. The other $100,000 went to the elevator at the theatre.
The disbursement received by the Town allowed the Town to buy the building from Weinstein, charging Celebrate St. James just one dollar per year to rent. Weinstein also praised Smithtown Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) for his commitment to preserving local culture as well.
On Tuesday night, Celebrate St. James, seated their new board, with Weinstein reprising her role as president. The changes not only hope to keep the community organization strong, but to also act as a formal jumping point to raise $1 million for the reconstruction and repurchase of the building.
Celebrate St. James finds it home in the Calderone Theatre, now known as the St. James Cultural Arts Center.
“The building had to be sold,” Weinstein said, describing the problematic logistics of yesteryear. “What would become of it? A medical center? An office building? Apartments? Or a community cultural arts center with a small theater and outdoor plaza?”
Indeed, that is the goal of Celebrate St. James for the theater going forward.
“If we raise $1 million, we will buy the building [back from the Town of Smithtown] and turn it into a theater with acting and art classes, singing, dancing, classrooms, meeting rooms, a recording studio, classic movies, and much more,” said Weinstein.
Celebrate St. James is looking for donations of any kid and is even looking to court corporate sponsors to help put on the show.
Councilwoman Lynne Nowick (R-St. James), a lifelong St. James resident, honored the new Celebrate St. James board, with predetermined candy bar picks corresponding to each person’s role. A notable example is the honor of Jack Ader, founding member and Executive Vice President, who was gifted with a Crunch bar for his ability to preside over the organization and handle urgent matters “in a crunch.”
“I want to thank all of you also because none of this would happen without Celebrate St. James and all of you,” said Nowick. “It’s wonderful for me as well, because I love this town.”
The board consists of Weinstein as President, Ader as Vice President, Tami Vitebski as VP of Digital Strategy and Community Engagement, Daniella DiTomasso Grenier as VP of Social Media and Marketing, Dr. Maria Benetos as VP of Membership, Lee Cirillo as Recording Secretary, Susan Meyer as Corresponding Secretary, and Dorothea McLaughlin as Treasurer.
County Clerk Vincent Puleo (R-Nesconset), another Smithtonian with deep St. James roots, also attended the ceremony in support of the initiative.
“On behalf of my office and the 1.5 million people of Suffolk County, we want to congratulate you for the ongoing efforts to keep history here in St. James,” said Puleo. “Thank you for your perseverance and for all your hard work here. I know that you’re going to make this very successful.”
Desserts were provided by Gargiulo’s Bakery, of St. James, and Dirty Cheesecake, of Smithtown. Musical stylings were provided by Lou Mazzaferro.
Hauppauge Baseball: Hungry for More in 2025
By Ashley Pavlakis
The varsity Eagles baseball team of Hauppauge is back on the diamond, ready for another spring season of baseball. The Eagles began the season earlier this month with a three-game series versus League V rival East Hampton.
The Eagles are members of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and compete in League V. The baseball team has won their fair share of titles over the years, notably from the swimming team. The Eagles are ten-time League champions, three-time County champions, and onetime Long Island champions. Most notably, their County championship title was the first since 2000.
The boys are led by head coach Josh Gutes. The skipper is an alum of Hauppauge, graduating in 2000. He has been coaching varsity since 2014. Gutes notched his 100th career win at the helm in 2022. Gutes is joined by assistant coach Chris Diesso, Brett Boller, and Nick Fanti. Uniquely, they’re all Hauppauge graduates.
“It’s a Dream come true, just being back on the other side of it and helping to fulfill some other kids hopes and dreams and give them the best possible baseball experience that I had over 20 years ago is a pretty awesome feeling,” Gutes told The Messenger
The squad got off to a slow start this season versus East Hampton, losing the three-game series. They’re looking to get back into the swing of things, coming off Suffolk County and Long Island titles last season.
The bats caught fire in their Tuesday game versus Harborfields, plating 13 runs to secure the victory and a 1-3-0 record in 2025.
“We’ll be fine, we had a lot of new people in our lineup. We are battling a team illness that we haven’t had our full team ready to go yet. It wasn’t an ideal start, but we’re in good shape, we’re very talented, and by the end of the year, we know we’ll be just fine,” said Gutes.
Baseball is a sport where a team
puts nine players on the diamond and each player has a role in their designated position. The Eagles currently have a diamond in the rough in senior and catcher Michael Oliveto. The catcher was named Axcess Baseball Pre-Season Player of the Year prior to the season. Oliveto is set to graduate this spring and will head to an esteemed Ivy League school at Yale University.
“We have great leadership at the top, we have some threeand four-year players that are returning for us. Michael Oliveto, Cole Wood, Ian Rivera, and Tucker Brown are either three- or four-year starters for us. They bring great stability. We have a lot of incoming talent, freshmen and sophomores that are on our team. It’s a mix of great experience and talented newcomers, we’re still jelling but we’ll be ready to go when toward the end of the season,” said Gutes.
Building upon Coach Gutes’ optimism, the Hauppauge Junior Varsity Eagles shut out East Hampton JV 6-0 in their season opener, behind a strong pitching performance from Logan McKee and a big day at the plate from Guiseppe Calabrese. McKee delivered a dominant outing, striking out nine while allowing just one hit and zero runs, and two walks over five innings. The Eagles backed him up with error-free defense, and Luke Vazquez came in to close out the game and secure the save.
Offensively, (pictured below) Calabrese led the way, collecting three hits including a triple, double and single and 3 RBIs while also stealing a base. Hauppauge was aggressive on the basepaths with nine total steals and showed patience at the plate, drawing nine walks in the game.
Reflecting on his years as coach, Gutes says that winning championships at any level is always a lifelong memory, winning multiple in one season is even better.
“It was incredible, some of the best sports moments of my life. It was the first Suffolk County championship in twenty-four years, first Long Island Championship in school history,” said Gutes. “It was the most successful baseball season (22-5-0) in the history of Hauppauge High School. To be a part of it was just incredible, with amazing memories that we still talk about with former and current players. It’s something we’ll remember forever.”
Photos credit: Hauppauge freshman Kavish Kumar
Continued from front cover
Photo Credit - Matt Meduri
Southpaw Logan McKee delivered for Hauppauge JV
Hauppauge Eagles - 2024 Champions
By Raheem Soto
Senator Palumbo: Make Animal Abusers, Not Shelters, Pay
When law enforcement busts up a dogfighting ring or rescues animals from filthy, overcrowded homes, a collective sigh of relief is warranted. But for the shelters that take those animals in, the relief is short-lived — and replaced quickly by crushing financial burdens.
That’s why New York State Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) (pictured right at podium) is stepping in with a commonsense solution that aims to relieve the pressure on local shelters and place some responsibility where it belongs—with the people who commit the crimes.
Palumbo recently introduced S.6733, a bill that would create the Animal Offense Assistance Fund. The fund would be fueled by a small $5 surcharge on court convictions tied to criminal cases. Those dollars would go straight to shelters housing abused or neglected animals as evidence during legal proceedings.
“Animal shelters across the state provide care, treatment, and lodgings for abused and neglected animals for months, and even years, and should not have to foot the bill for the deplorable actions of others,” Palumbo said in a public statement. “The Animal Offense Assistance Fund will provide a consistent funding stream, similar to the Crime Victims Fund, to keep our shelters solvent.”
In an interview with Palumbo, the thinking behind the bill becomes even more apparent.
“The genesis of this was meeting with the animal shelter, animal rescue folks who had a lot of concern about costs they incur because of law enforcement activity,” Palumbo told The Messenger. “When the ASPCA or the district attorney’s office calls them about something like a dogfighting ring… the police make arrests, they seize the animals — sometimes they seize them as evidence of a crime.”
The problem? Unlike a weapon or drug stash that can be tossed into an evidence locker, these “pieces of evidence” are living, breathing beings. The animals require food, warmth, veterinary care, and staff attention — often for months or years while the court cases drag on.
“These abused animals aren’t something you can throw in a closet,” Palumbo stated. “They’re living, breathing things, and something has to be done with them.”
The scope of the problem is staggering. In a recent case in Albany County, 102 animals were found living in horrifying conditions at what was supposed to be an animal rescue. Mohawk Hudson Humane Society took in 98 of them. In just the first month, the organization racked up over $303,000 in care costs. Legal fees added another $23,550. And the court only awarded $10,000 to help.
That kind of math doesn’t work — and it’s not rare.
A 2024 report from the New York State Animal Protection Federation found that in 47 cruelty cases, shelters absorbed more than $4.4 million in costs. They recovered just 18% of that through restitution. That means shelters are often forced to dip into already tight budgets or, worse, turn animals away because they can’t afford to help.
Palumbo says it’s gotten so bad that some rescues now have to tell law enforcement they only have room for four or five, even when two dozen animals need placement.
The Animal Offense Assistance Fund would mirror the Crime Victims Fund — a proven and effective system that helps cover out-of-pocket costs for human victims of crimes. The surcharge-based fund has worked for years without controversy.
According to Palumbo, the animal fund would operate under similar oversight.
“Just like the Crime Victims Fund, it will go through the Commissioner of Agriculture and Markets and the Comptroller’s Office. It’s essentially a voucher,” said Palumbo. “Shelters can apply for a reimbursement after the fact, showing that these costs came directly from a law enforcement seizure or criminal case.”
This isn’t a blank check, he emphasized. Shelters must prove that the animals were part of a criminal investigation and that the costs were necessary.
“We’ll see the volume and the amounts,” he said. “But even if the need exceeds what the fund can pay out, it’s something. It’s a lifeline.”
The logic is crystal clear: taxpayers shouldn’t be left holding the bag for criminals’ messes. And shelters — many of which rely on donations and
volunteers — certainly shouldn’t go broke cleaning up after abusers.
This bill doesn’t create a massive new government bureaucracy, dip into the general fund, or raise anyone’s taxes. It simply adds a modest fee to existing court costs – costs paid by offenders, not law-abiding citizens.
It’s a solution that respects law enforcement, helps the most vulnerable, and protects small community organizations from financial collapse.
Let’s face it: people love their pets. These shelters are not just saving animals, they’re finding them homes, oftentimes with Veterans, seniors, and families. When a shelter closes, everyone loses.
The bill is currently under review in the state Senate’s Agriculture Committee. Animal advocates, including the New York State Animal Protection Federation, are pushing hard for it. Support is growing, especially among lawmakers who see the clear value in easing the burden on local nonprofits.
“This fund is necessary for the long-term health and sustainability of our animal shelters that provide countless families with their ‘furever’ friends,” Palumbo said.
New York’s animal shelters are on the front lines of fighting cruelty. They didn’t ask to be part of the criminal justice system, but they’re dragged into it every time a dog is chained in a basement, or a cat is rescued from a hoarder. They’re doing the right thing. This bill helps the rest of us do right by them.
It’s simple, smart, and long overdue.
Photo Credit - Matt Meduri
Smithtown H.S. East Cancer Survivor Gives Back to Cancer Patients
Smithtown High School East senior, Matthew Gandarillas, recently walked into the Stony Brook Cancer Center and donated more than $1,000 worth of gift cards and toys for children suffering from cancer. Matthew, who is a part of the National Math and Spanish honor societies as well as a member of the varsity soccer team, spearheaded a pediatric cancer drive on his own, because it is an issue very close to him and his family. Matthew is a cancer survivor himself.
When Matthew was just eight months old his mother, Teresa Gandarillas, felt a lump on his side that turned out to be a malignant tumor on his liver. After undergoing weekly chemotherapy, plus a seven-hour surgery to remove half of his liver and entire gallbladder, Matthew was eventually declared cancer-free at the age of five.
“It took a little bit of time, but I was able to succeed in the end,” Matthew stated.
Matthew recently organized a pediatric cancer donation drive to provide toys and funding to help soothe children suffering from cancer.
“I thought about this because I want to give back to the community and doctors and I want to support the kids who are going through the same thing I was going through. To tell them to keep fighting.”
Kings Park Celebrates Leadership of Trustees Hanley and Pascucci
Kings Park Central School District is proud to recognize the exceptional leadership and dedication of School Board Trustees Pat Hanley and Shala Pascucci. Their tireless commitment to serving students, educators, and the community has made a lasting impact on Kings Park. Mr. Hanley and Mrs. Pascucci were recognized for their school board service earlier this month at SCOPE Educational Service’s Twenty-Fourth Annual School District Awards Dinner.
Throughout their tenure, Trustees Hanley and Pascucci have championed initiatives that prioritize student achievement, opportunities, and innovation. Their collaborative spirit and unwavering dedication have strengthened partnerships with families, staff, and community stakeholders.
“We are incredibly grateful for the leadership and governance that Trustees Pat Hanley and Shala Pascucci have provided,” said Dr. Eagen, Superintendent of Kings Park Central School District. “Their vision and commitment have guided our district towards continued growth and excellence.”
Under their leadership, the district has expanded sports, extracurricular, and cocurricular activities and opportunities for our students, improved student outcomes, improved community engagement, and settled multi-year and sustainable employee contracts with all three of our bargaining units.
Mr. Hanley and Mrs. Pascucci have both expressed their humble gratitude for the opportunity to serve the Kings Park Community and emphasized their commitment to supporting the success of each and every student.
Hauppauge Chamber Choir Shines at New York City Cathedral
The Hauppauge High School chamber choir delivered a magnificent performance at the renowned Cathedral of Saint John the Divine in New York City, one of the world’s largest and most historic cathedrals. With a history spanning over 125 years, the cathedral provided a stunning and acoustically-perfect setting for the choir’s performance.
Following their performance, the talented students worked with renowned conductor Bryan Zaros. The choir’s performance in such an iconic space was a moment they will cherish for years to come.
Around the World at Smithtown Elementary
Smithtown Elementary School took off on a whirlwind trip round the world recently, as students enjoyed a week’s worth of International Week presentations.
“We were so grateful to our parent volunteers who came in and presented different countries around the world to our students,” said Principal Kakalos. “It was also great having our Pay It Forward Club ask trivia questions about world geography on the announcements each morning!”
As part of this educational and fun celebration of cultures,
physical education students played international games, such as a tic-tac-toe relay race with origins from Egypt. In music, students learned the “Hello” song which taught them how to say “hello” in several languages. Art and library were also in on the fun with books from around the world and self-portraits. The SITE Based team shared a “family crest” project where students and their families could complete a banner with flags from their native countries, traditions, foods and landmarks.
The Necessary Standard for American Education
2024 Election Autopsy: Part VIII - The West
By Matt Meduri
Our final in-depth look at the 2024 presidential election culminates with the West. Over this mini-series within the Civics 101 column, we’ve looked at the county-level swings from 2020, showcasing that, while, in our opinion, the election itself was not a landslide for Donald Trump (R-FL), the under-the-hood results offer 2024 as a watershed election, one in which voting patterns and behaviors change significantly.
This also deviates from the “how it works” aspect of civics and attempts to explain the “why” behind such patterns and behaviors, the other end of the full civic engagement process.
Nevada and Arizona
The only swing states in the West this past election were Arizona and Nevada. Arizona was once a rock-solid Republican state, voting Democratic only once since 1948, the 1996 reelection of Bill Clinton (D-AR) - who carried the state without Maricopa County (Phoenix).
Now, Phoenix is seen as tantamount to a statewide victory in Arizona and holds the keys to the GOP’s control of the state legislature. The rapidly-diversifying Phoenix-Metro Area is one of the fastest-growing in the nation. Despite losing this county in 2020, Trump won Maricopa back by four points. While a comfortable win given the circumstances, the 2024 election continues the trend of Maricopa voting to the left of Arizona as a whole, a sign that the state will likely continue to be hotly contested going forward.
Trump received more than 1.77 million votes, the most votes ever received by any candidate in Arizona’s history. His gains were mostly promulgated by low-propensity suburban Republicans returning the polls and large gains among Latino voters. Trump created double-digit swings in Yuma County - one of the counties hit particularly hard by the immigration crisisSanta Cruz County - a deep-blue county that he still lost - and majority-Native American Apache County - another Democratic stronghold that went to Harris.
Arizona went to Trump by 5.5%, a major shift from Joe Biden’s (D-DE) razor-thin 2020 margin, and a result that greatly surpassed those predicted by polls. Arizona represents Trump’s best margin of the seven swing states this cycle and Trump’s best performance in a state won by Biden four years prior.
Nevada, on the other hand, surprised some pundits, as its support of Trump marked the first time the Silver State has backed the GOP in a presidential race since 2004. It’s also one of the few states where Republicans are regularly overestimated by polling, as evidenced by Trump’s 2016 loss in the state, despite some aggregates placing him in the lead. Subsequent statewide elections have demonstrated this anomaly.
Nevertheless, Trump took Nevada by about three points, representing a five-point net shift from Biden’s two-point win in 2020. It’s the only state to back Trump in his third election that did not do so in the prior two.
The flip in Nevada also marks an interesting, yet obscure, point in American history: when referenced with the 2016 election map, 2024 marks the first time that two presidential election maps differed based on one state. Nebraska’s Second Congressional District is lumped in by proxy, as it backed Trump in 2016 but Harris in 2024, but history is much more comparable to statewide results.
Trump’s 751,205 votes is the most received by any candidate in Nevada history, aided particularly by Latino and Filipino voters. What makes this significant is that Trump carried neither Washoe County (Reno), nor Clark County (Las Vegas), the two Democratic-leaning counties in the state. Election Day numbers had Trump leading in Washoe, but as the final votes came in, it narrowly went to Harris. Regardless, Trump’s performance in Las Vegas is the best for a Republican since 1988, possibly marking an inflection point in the state’s politics, one in which Washoe and Clark counties become Democratic voter “heat sinks” for party registrants in Nevada. Republicans, on the other hand, have figured out at least one method of winning the state handily without either of those
Nevada’s support of Trump also makes it the longest active bellwether state in the country, having voted for the popular vote-winner in the last six elections. Nevada, despite being a blue-leaning swing state, is one of just four states that swung rightward in all three of Trump’s runs.
Democratic Strongholds
Democrats continued their since-1988 streaks in carrying Oregon and Washington state, along with their since-1992 streak of winning California. Washington represented the smallest shift in the entire country, less than 1%, making it the sixth-most Democratic state in the election. In fact, Washington voted further to the left than New York.
Clallam County ended its forty-year bellwether streak, voting for the first losing candidate since 1976. While there were no major shifts on the county level for either candidate in both Washington and Oregon, the bulk of Harris’ shifts in the former were contained in the Puget Sound counties, once territory considered swing counties that are not overwhelmingly blue, but prove to be consistently so.
Of note, 2024 marks the first time since 1956 that Washington voted to the left of (more Democratic than) New York and Rhode Island. Washington, along with Oregon and Hawaii, make up the three states where Trump saw an overall decrease in total votes received compared to 2020.
At the beginning of the century, Oregon was a swing state decided by a razor-thin margin for Al Gore (D-TN). Now, it’s an obdurately blue state with the large pendulum swings not seen here as in other deep-blue territory. While she significantly underperformed in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois, among other states, Harris only moderately underperformed Biden’s 2020 numbers in Oregon. The progressive machine in Portland, despite the rollbacks of legalized hard drugs and the toppling of Multnomah County’s uber-progressive district attorney Mike Schmidt, the state remains a high-floor-low-ceiling state for the GOP. Trump flipped Marion County, one he won in 2016 but lost in 2020.
Oregon’s leftward swings were concentrated in all but one of the state’s seven coastal counties. Coos County, in the southwestern corner of the state, a working-class county that was once reliably blue turf that has been shifting rapidly to the right, especially in the Trump Era. However, this is one of the parts of the country that saw that growth stunted, as it drifted
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.
narrowly back to the left, but not in an overwhelming fashion.
California, however, demonstrates a remarkable four-year shift. In a state decided in 2016 and 2020 by about thirty points, Harris won by twenty points, the worst performance for a Democrat in the Golden State since 2004.
Trump flipped ten counties, most of which represented some of the largest swings in the nation. Such counties include San Joaquin (Stockton), San Bernardino, Fresno, Imperial, and Riverside. Imperial County’s 80% Hispanic population turned heads when Trump became the first Republican to win there since 1988.
Trump’s strength in California was undoubtedly due to his strength with Hispanic voters in the state. Of the eleven Hispanicmajority counties in California, Trump won nine of them.
Trump also made substantial gains in Los Angeles, earning 30% of the vote due to big shifts within Hispanic and Asian neighborhoods.
Even though Trump lost the state handily, his performance is argued to have helped wipe progressive local candidates out of contention, while also defeating a flurry of progressive ballot measures.
Overall, California and the Pacific Northwest look to remain staunchly Democratic going forward.
Non-Contiguous Neighbors
Alaska, despite having not backed a Democrat since 1964, came relatively close to doing so in 2020, backing Trump by just over ten points when Republicans of yesteryear easily eclipsed twenty-point margins. The more libertarian and intrinsically Independent nature of the state make for a pendulum whose swings can surprise even the most seasoned political analysts. Alaska swung back to Trump this time, but remained at a relatively low double-digit win for him. Alaska’s remoteness and paltry three electoral votes make for an unlikely scenario in which Democrats heavily compete there at the national level, but letting the local parties and candidates do the work for them could pay attractive dividends down the road. If anything, keep Alaska on the radar heading into the next decade.
The largest borough-level swings in Alaska - the Last Frontier utilizes boroughs similarly to how most states use countiescame from the most rural parts of the state. Some were substantiated by large swings among the Native Alaskan population. Harris improved Democratic margins in the Panhandle, from scenic destination towns like Juneau, Sitka, Skagway, and Ketchikan. This is the population base of the state, and as it grows, might likely pull Alaska into more competitive territory.
However, it’s worth noting that many of Alaska’s boroughs are sparsely populated, meaning a shift of just a few hundred or even a few dozen votes can sometimes overstate shifts, percentage-wise.
Trump’s better-than-2020 numbers were seen as needed to help flip the sole House seat from Alaska. Mary Peltola (D) had flipped it in a 2022 special election upset, but narrowly lost her bid for a second full term to Nick Begich III (R, AK-AL). While Alaska itself is not fully on the competitive radar, its last few cycles of competitive House races make it valuable in other political spheres.
Finally, Hawaii, surprisingly, represents one of the largest rightward shifts in the nation. For the first time since 2004, the Republican received more than 35% of the statewide vote and the Democrat failed to surpass 60% of the vote in all of the state’s counties. Each county swung to the right by at least five points - a decent shift for such a deep-blue area - adding to Hawaii’s uniqueness in being one of four states to have shifted rightward in all three of Trump’s runs.
Trump’s better-than-expected performance in Hawaii is believed to be due to its relatively moderate political natureHawaii is, among blue states, uniquely ambivalent of progressive politics - its high cost of living, and his outright win of Filipino voters in the state. As the only majority-Asian state, the national rightward swing of Asian voters unsurprisingly included Hawaii. However, these demographic shifts would need to be compounded over years and years to make Hawaii an effectively competitive state, something that, at the current juncture, seems unlikely.
Horizons to Host Free Event Focused on Raising Awareness of Mental Health and Substance Abuse
The Town of Smithtown Horizons Counseling and Education Center, in partnership with the Smithtown Opioid and Addiction Task Force and sponsored by the Smithtown Rotary Club, will host Pay it Forward Wellness Day on May 17, 2025, from 11:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. at the Smithtown Historical Society. This community event aims to raise awareness about mental health and substance abuse. Local mental health and addiction agencies will be present with resources to provide information and support. The event is open to all, and no registration is required.
“Mental health and addiction are challenges that many in our community face, but no one has to navigate them alone. The Smithtown Opioid and Addiction Task Force is dedicated to providing support, resources, and hope for those in need,” said Madlyn Makboulian, Director of Horizons Counseling and Education Center. “Join us at our upcoming wellness event, where we’ll come together to raise awareness, offer guidance, and promote healing. Whether you’re seeking help for yourself, a loved one, or simply want to learn more, this event reminds you that recovery is possible, and support is always available.
The Pay it Forward Wellness Event will feature games, food trucks, face painting, live music, and more. Horizons resource tables will be filled with information about recovery services, the outpatient program, and substance misuse prevention education. Additionally, Horizons staff will provide Narcan training. Narcan training kits will be provided for free. If you are interested in Narcan training, please register in advance at HTTPS://TINYURL.COM/ Y7B832J6. Smithtown Public Safety will hold a Medicine Take Back Collection to encourage residents to dispose of unused medications safely.
The Town of Smithtown Horizons Counseling and Education Center is an OASAS-licensed not-for-profit agency funded to provide adolescent and adult treatment, prevention, and education services for drug and alcoholrelated problems. Services include assessments, counseling groups, individual sessions, and specialized treatment and prevention programming. Additionally, Horizons offers services for parents, significant others, and other family members of individuals struggling with addiction.
In addition to providing adult services, Horizons specializes in treatment, education, and prevention services to address the specific needs of adolescents and young adults within the community and surrounding area.
Smithtown Rotary Club is part of a worldwide network of volunteers united by a belief in Service Above Self. One of the ideas behind Rotary is that Rotarians bring experience, skills, and networking from their work careers and apply them to humanitarian causes.
The Smithtown Opioid and Addiction Task Force was recently formed and focuses on reducing stigma associated with addiction and mental health by fostering open discussions, creating a supportive environment, offering supportive resources to get help for oneself or a loved one, and promoting understanding of these critical issues.
Any questions, please contact Horizons Counseling & Education Center at (631) 360-7578, via email at mmakboulian@smithtownNY.gov
The Smithtown Historical Society is Located at 239 East Main Street in Smithtown.
Jake’s 58 Takes Proactive Stance on Problem Gambling with Self-Exclusion Program
By Matt Meduri
Everything in moderation.
Jake’s 58 Hotel and Casino as well as Suffolk Off-Track Betting (OTB) recently recognized such a concept, as well as the broader one of problem gambling, from the lobby of Jake’s 58 in Islandia to close out March.
One of March’s themes is Problem Gambling Awareness Month, courtesy of the New York State Legislature, and although the month has passed, Jake’s 58 still adheres to identifying and helping problem gamblers throughout the year.
“Suffolk OTB and Jake’s 58 are committed to fostering an environment of responsible gaming and addressing problem gambling head on, ensuring that patrons play responsibly and those who may need help have the resources they need,” said Jake’s 58 and
Suffolk OTB CEO Phil Boyle (pictured below)
Boyle described the casino’s plan for helping patrons who come face-to-face with problem gambling, with the first step being training.
“Every single person who works in this casino and interacts with folks on the floor gets annual training on how to see and help individuals that may have a problem gambling,” said Boyle. “A lot of these people come day after day. They know the people that work here, the people that work here know our customers, and [the staff] know when there may be an issue.”
Boyle says that annual training consists of gently confronting a suspected problem gambler and offering resources on the spot. Conversely, patrons are also
able to approach casino staff in search of resources.
“There is a robust self-exclusion program here in the casino. Any patron who feels there’s an issue can go to one of our workers on the floor at the cage and say, ‘I’d like to talk to someone about self-exclusion,’” said Boyle, adding that the guest would subsequently be led to a private room with full confidentiality for consultation with a supervisor on entering the self-exclusion program.
The self-exclusion program is one into which guests voluntarily enter. Under the program, the patron will be barred from entering the premises of Jake’s 58. As the facial recognition technology at Jake’s security checkpoint demonstrates, the self-exclusion program can be, and is, rapidly expanded to other gambling forums across the country.
problem over the course of time,” said Dr. Jeff Reynolds, President and CEO of the Family and Children’s Association (FCA). “We know that generally in the general population we’re talking about 1% to 2% of folks will have a serious problem gambling issue and another 4% to 6% will have a moderate problem or some of the signs developing that can potentially lead to an issue.”
Reynolds (pictured left) also raised the issue of ubiquitous gambling, such as mobile sports betting, which makes it much more difficult for problem gamblers to either be confronted or confront themselves on the addiction.
“They [guests] can decide whether they want to be excluded for one year, three years, five years, or for a lifetime. Once their name has been added to the self-exclusion list, the request and the information submitted will be shared with the New York State Division of the Lottery,” said Boyle. “The guest is then excluded from all gaming facilities in New York State.”
Jake’s 58 is one of only two casinos in the state to have facial recognition capabilities. Boyle said that the security team at Jake’s is downloading a 5,000name list so as to exclude those who have put themselves on the list but hail from a different party of the state.
“Even if someone who self-excluded walks in and gambles all day, their name is going to come up when they try to cash their voucher,” said Boyle.
Once a guest’s selfexclusion period has expired, they can choose to have their name removed from the list if they believe their problem gambling to be under control, or can choose to remain on the list until the next period ends.
Boyle shared that since Jake’s 58 opened in 2017, 996 patrons have requested to be placed on the list. In 2024, the casino saw 271 patrons self-exclude; 569 patrons are currently on the list. For the 2025 calendar year, almost 90 patrons have opted for the gambling-control strategy.
“Here in New York, about $2 billion were brought in last year for sports betting alone. It’s something that I don’t think is going to go away and it’s going to continue to increase over time,” said Reynolds, adding that the “average” problem gambler racks up anywhere between $40,000 and $70,000 in debt, with debts ranging in the six-figures not terribly uncommon.
“Whether they’re older, younger, that means that there are other obligations that they can’t meet. It means that they’re defaulting on their rent payments, they’re defaulting on their mortgage payments, in some cases turning to criminal activity, stealing from their employer and doing other things in order to finance their habit,” said Reynolds, also sharing that gambling has multiple correlations, such as alcohol use, depression, anxiety, and suicide rates, the last of which, Reynolds, says are “fifteen to twenty times higher” than those of the average individual.
Nicole Vasselman, Vice President and Chief Program Officer for FCA, said that the nonprofit, with locations in Hicksville and Hempstead, offers mental health and addiction treatment, with staff trained to treat cooccurring disorders.
For March 2025’s Problem Gambling Awareness Month, Boyle shared that the final part of their plan was to partner with several organizations.
“The vast majority of folks who walk through these doors are not folks that have a problem, but there’s a small percentage who do or who will develop a
“We recognize most people are going to gamble and engage in gambling activity without encountering a problem, but for those, the disorder does not discriminate,” said Pam Brenner-Davis, Regional Lead for the New York City Council of Problem Gambling (pictured above). “Gambling problem is not a financial problem alone. It has an impact on people’s mental and physical well-being, and impacts communities as a whole. So, for those that encounter a problem, all of us here today are committed to making sure that access to support and services are straightforward and confidential.”
Jake’s 58 Hotel & Casino is located at 3635 Express Drive North in Islandia and can be reached at 631-232-3000.
Photo Credit - Matt Meduri
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Democrats’ AOC Nightmare is Coming True
By Shane Harris | AMAC
As if Democrats don’t already have enough problems, progressive firebrand Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC) is leading Chuck Schumer in a hypothetical New York Senate primary – and is generating more buzz about a 2028 presidential bid.
According to new survey results from the liberal polling firm Data for Progress, AOC thumped the Senate Minority Leader 55 percent to 36 percent among a group of 770 likely Empire State voters when asked who their preferred candidate would be for Senate in three years. While progressives have long fantasized about elevating an original member of the “Squad” to the Senate, the Data for Progress poll is the most concrete evidence to date that such a feat might be possible.
Whether AOC would actually challenge Schumer remains an open question. But it’s no secret that there is no love lost between the two, particularly after Schumer allowed passage of a Republican-led spending bill last month – something AOC and other progressives vehemently opposed. But Schumer, who would be seeking a sixth term in 2028, has proven himself a masterful political tactician. He has deep, long-standing relationships with all the major power brokers in New York politics and business. The idea that he would lose to anyone by double digits in a primary isn’t impossible, but it is highly unlikely.
Nonetheless, the Data for Progress survey reveals that AOC’s clout has expanded beyond MSNBC and TikTok into serious discussions about who the future leaders of the Democrat Party might be. In the void left by Kamala Harris’s defeat last November, AOC has an opportunity for advancement.
That opportunity may be even bigger than the U.S. Senate. As The New York Times reported last month, many within the party see AOC as the heir apparent to Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders – and presumably his presidential ambitions as well.
At 83, Sanders is almost certainly not running for president again. 20 “progressive Democrats” who spoke with the Times said AOC is the clear leader to take up Sanders’ mantle.
Sanders himself seems to view AOC as protégé of sorts. The pair are currently in the midst of a “Fighting Oligarchy” tour that is difficult to see as anything other than a passing-the-torch moment within the progressive movement. Sanders and AOC have routinely drawn tens of thousands of cheering supporters, something few other figures in the Democrat Party can currently manage.
But Kamala Harris proved last year that rally crowds aren’t indicative of electability. As independent journalist Matt Taibbi put it in an article for his Substack “Racket News,” the idea of running AOC for president in 2028 is “an instant entrant in the Hall of Fame of Bad Ideas, on par with a Hitler bobblehead day promotion or training orangutans to pack flatware. This will not end well.”
Ever since she burst onto the scene in 2018, AOC has been a thorn in the side of Democrat leadership and a major liability for the party’s brand. She is immensely popular with the party’s left-wing base but deeply unpopular with everyone outside of that group. She epitomizes why the leadership in both parties is secretly terrified of the primary process: candidates like AOC who win primaries by appealing to a majority of the primary electorate (which is itself a small portion of the general population) cannot win a general election.
It was for this reason that the Democrat establishment conspired against Bernie Sanders in 2016 and 2020. As unfair as Sanders’ treatment was, Democrat Party leadership was probably correct that he would have lost to Trump. (Although their chosen candidate in 2016, Hillary Clinton, lost to Trump anyway.)
But 2028 will not be 2016 or 2020. The Democrat Party’s reputation is in shambles, with a record-low 29 percent favorability. The prevailing sentiment among rank-and-file Democrats is that the party establishment is not doing enough to oppose the Trump administration – opening a lane for an outsider like AOC.
Democrat Party loyalists are justified in feeling betrayed and lied to by the party. For four years, party apparatchiks and media talking heads insisted that Joe Biden was mentally competent and
completely fit to serve as president. When that fraud was exposed on national television during the first presidential debate, the propaganda machine immediately turned on Biden and pivoted to recasting Kamala Harris from hapless vice president to the female Barack Obama. Then she lost in embarrassing fashion to Trump – something Democrat leadership assured their voters could not, would not, must not happen.
It thus stands to reason that AOC could have a real shot at the nomination in 2028. For voters looking to stick it to party bosses, AOC is an attractive choice in a primary.
So far, all of this sounds strikingly similar to Donald Trump’s stunning capture of the GOP nomination in 2016. Like AOC, Trump was an anti-establishment pick who harnessed the seething resentment of Republican voters who were tired of being ignored, manipulated, and lied to.
But there is one crucial difference. Trump’s platform welded together the best aspects of traditional conservative principles with modern populist nationalism and a sprinkle of old-school Democrat protections for workers. Trump forged a new agenda for the Republican Party that has broad appeal, which is exactly why he saw historic gains
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with Black voters, Hispanic voters, young voters, and so many other traditionally Democrat demographics last year.
AOC’s platform, on the other hand, is a toxic brand of Europeanstyle socialism and cultural Marxism that has no appeal beyond a small, noisy cohort of progressive partisans. But with the Democrat Party fractured and rudderless, those voters may be able to carry AOC to the nomination.
If AOC does mount a legitimate bid for higher office, it won’t just be a referendum on Chuck Schumer, Joe Biden, or even the Democrat establishment. It will be a clear sign of just how far left the party has shifted and how much it has failed its traditional voter base.
AOC may fire up TikTok and campus town halls, but it remains to be seen whether she can win over the people who actually show up in November — the working-class voters in Scranton, not just the activists in Brooklyn. While intra-party squabbles make for great headlines, they don’t often win elections.
WHERE BROADWAY MEETS MAIN STREET
LEGAL NOTICE
The resolution, a summary of which is published herewith, has been adopted on November 26,2024 and the validity of the obligations authorized by such resolution may be hereafter contested only if such obligations were authorized for an object or purpose for which the County of Suffolk, New York, is not authorized to expend money or if the provisions of law which should have been complied with as of the date of publication of this Notice were not substantially complied with, and an action, suit or proceeding contesting such validity is commenced within twenty days after the publication of this Notice, or such obligations were authorized in violation of the provisions of the constitution.
BY ORDER OF THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK
DATED: November 26,2024 Guy Calla Smithtown, New York Clerk of the Legislature
The resolution is entitled:
BOND RESOLUTION NO. 957 - 2024 BOND RESOLUTION OF THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, NEW YORK, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $1,000,000 BONDS TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL FINANCING FOR THE COST OF IMPROVEMENTS TO SUFFOLK COUNTY SEWER DISTRICT NO. 4 – GALLERIA (CP 8104.311)
The specific object or purpose for which the bonds are authorized is improvements to Suffolk County Sewer District No. 4 – Galleria, at an estimated maximum cost of $1,200,000.
The amount of obligations authorized to be issued is $1,000,000, in addition to the $200,000 in obligations heretofore authorized.
The period of probable usefulness of the bonds is forty (40) years.
A complete copy of the Bond Resolution summarized above shall be available for public inspection during normal business hours at the office of the Clerk of the Legislature, W.H. Rogers Legislature Building, 725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Smithtown, New York.
9617 S 04-10-25
WORD OF THE Week
Etymology: Latin, literally ‘to this’.
Synonyms: impromptu, extemporaneous, improvised
LEGAL NOTICE
The resolution, a summary of which is published herewith, has been adopted on November 26,2024 and the validity of the obligations authorized by such resolution may be hereafter contested only if such obligations were authorized for an object or purpose for which the County of Suffolk, New York, is not authorized to expend money or if the provisions of law which should have been complied with as of the date of publication of this Notice were not substantially complied with, and an action, suit or proceeding contesting such validity is commenced within twenty days after the publication of this Notice, or such obligations were authorized in violation of the provisions of the constitution.
BY ORDER OF THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK DATED: November 26,2024 Guy Calla Smithtown, New York Clerk of the Legislature
The resolution is entitled:
BOND RESOLUTION NO. 983 - 2024 BOND RESOLUTION OF THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, NEW YORK, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $80,000 BONDS TO FINANCE ENERGY CONSERVATION IMPROVEMENTS AT VARIOUS COUNTY FACILITIES (CP 1664.123)
The class of objects or purposes for which the bonds are authorized to be issued is energy conservation improvements at various County facilities, at the estimated maximum cost of $80,000.
The amount of obligations authorized to be issued is $80,000. The period of probable usefulness of the bonds is ten (10) years.
A complete copy of the Bond Resolution summarized above shall be available for public inspection during normal business hours at the office of the Clerk of the Legislature, W.H. Rogers Legislature Building, 725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Smithtown, New York.
9618 S 04-10-25
AD HOC
adverb
Pronounced: /add·hock/
Definition: when necessary or needed
Example: “Instead of submitting columns on a routine schedule, the provider opted to write them on an ad hoc basis.”
Antonyms: planned, routine, expected
Source: Oxford Languages
LEGAL NOTICE
The resolution, a summary of which is published herewith, has been adopted on November 26,2024 and the validity of the obligations authorized by such resolution may be hereafter contested only if such obligations were authorized for an object or purpose for which the County of Suffolk, New York, is not authorized to expend money or if the provisions of law which should have been complied with as of the date of publication of this Notice were not substantially complied with, and an action, suit or proceeding contesting such validity is commenced within twenty days after the publication of this Notice, or such obligations were authorized in violation of the provisions of the constitution.
BY ORDER OF THE COUNTY LEGISLATURE OF THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK
DATED: November 26,2024 Guy Calla Smithtown, New York Clerk of the Legislature
The resolution is entitled:
BOND RESOLUTION NO. 999 - 2024 BOND RESOLUTION OF THE COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, NEW YORK, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF $1,250,000 BONDS TO FINANCE THE RECONSTRUCTION OF CULVERTS (CP 5371.326 & .327)
The class of objects or purposes for which the bonds are authorized to be issued is the reconstruction of culverts located throughout the County, at the estimated maximum cost is $1,250.000.
The amount of obligations authorized to be issued is $1,250,000.
The period of probable usefulness of the bonds is forty (40) years.
A complete copy of the Bond Resolution summarized above shall be available for public inspection during normal business hours at the office of the Clerk of the Legislature, W.H. Rogers Legislature Building, 725 Veterans Memorial Highway, Smithtown, New York.
9619 S 04-10-25
SUDOKU
See right for the answers (please don’t cheat!)
By PJ Balzer
Who is This Man of Great Controversy?
Many people who have walked this globe have done so with much controversy surrounding them. Controversy has been a major part of human history, both for good and bad, right up until this very moment.
I personally don’t believe that any one person has had as much and such long standing controversy surrounding Him as Jesus Christ. Whether you’re someone who believes in Him, doesn’t, or is totally indifferent, you most likely wouldn’t deny that Jesus has been a controversial figure, both when His feet walked the earth and even now, a few thousand years later.
As a matter of fact, the book that He has inspired human hands to write has been banned or heavily restricted in fifty-two countries, some of which it is outright illegal to own a Bible and is punishable with prison or even death. It’s not at all uncommon to have one person who proclaims that reading the Bible has changed their heart and life while another publicly mocks the book as a well written fairy tale, even at the same family dinner table.
Nevertheless, just a few short months ago, billions of people around the globe stopped everything for a day to celebrate His birth. His birth is even celebrated, a little more under the radar of course, in places where to read about His life is illegal.
We don’t have a great amount of information surrounding his childhood, teenage, or early adult years. Many would say that He spent it being trained in the common trade of carpentry, while also being trained in His divine classroom. Behind the scenes, living a somewhat common and hidden life until about thirty years of age.
At thirty, He put down the hammer and nails to walk the dusty roads of the Middle East. The time for His mission and main reason for living was finally here. His cousin, John the Baptist, began announcing publicly that the One for whom humanity had been longing and waiting to see for many centuries was finally here, the Messiah, the Son of God, the answer to our entire existence and our hearts many questions. The only One that could atone completely for our inherent sinful pull and could cleanse a human heart. John started telling people that He was about to appear publicly, proclaim who He was, and show us a new way to live.
Jesus showed up suddenly and began teaching in the most public places to the most common folks. It wasn’t the ultra-devout His main focus was on; it was societies unseen. He stopped on the roadside for blind beggars, the crippled, and those with visible and incurable diseases. His teachings often included Him performing miracles of healing of the body, healing of the mind, and people being set free from many years of demonic oppression.
He spends much of His time healing the desperately sick and helping the desperately poor. Touching people who were considered untouchables and giving outcasted individuals their life and dignity back. He begins talking about tearing down the highly exalted religious temple and its long-standing traditions. While He starts teaching that the new temple God is interested in is the individual human heart, at one point, He goes into the temple and angrily flips over a business table that was profiting heavily off of people in the name of “religion”. By this time, His name and existence is totally surrounded by controversy.
There was a powerful and seemingly prosperous system of religion already established in the land at the time. It was top-heavy and power-hungry. The common folks were purposely kept at the bottom of the totem pole while the chief priests, pharisees, elders, and scribes were kept at the top. They were heavily tied in with Rome, by far the most dominant nation in the land that did whatever it wanted to.
Jesus started to gain a following which was seemingly threatening to those already in power. Some of the most unlikely of people started traveling with Him. Fisherman, tax collectors, thieves, prostitutes, and others who were known as public sinners He called to leave behind their lives to journey with Him. He never used or condoned violence. He spoke of blessing your enemy, turning the other cheek, and not holding debts or grudges over another’s head. These teachings were so radical and unheard of that He stirred up crowds everywhere He went. His teachings began to become more direct and narrower. While He was often tender towards the broken and humble, He was harsh with the oppressive and hypocritical. He began saying that He is the only way to heaven and only One that could offer forgiveness of sin. Some said He was a complete lunatic while others began to listen more intently. He also began to tell His closest followers and inner circle that He’d be put to death soon.
Jesus began to openly challenge the systems of power, and His teaching seemingly turned everything upside down. The final straw that broke the camel’s
back was when He said He was the incarnate and everlasting God. The One who created all things and had come down to rescue His own creation to save us from ourselves.
As this man of controversy rode into Jerusalem on a borrowed donkey, the crowds gathered to see Him. Many loved Him while their neighbors hated Him. Some waved palm branches and called Him their King. Others were looking forward to seeing Him die.
The chief priests in charge finally had enough and began to conspire against Him behind closed doors. They bribed one of His closest friends to betray Him and give up His where abouts in exchange for a bag full of silver coins. The charges that they had were ultimately false charges, but charges, nonetheless. The religious leaders finally had a way to arrest Him as they hoped to be able to put Him to death, to get Him out of sight and mind for good, or so they thought.
Later one evening, He’s arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane with the help of Judas, one of His former and seemingly most devoted followers. As he’s led away in shackles and defenseless, He’s simultaneously punched, kicked, spit on, and having His beard ripped out by His arresters. He’s led into a room full of the religious hierarchy where He undergoes a mock trial that they had already determined the outcome of. The onlookers and accusers make false accusations with the intent of bringing Him before Rome guilty and condemned to die.
Jesus, this man of great controversy, stands there alone, innocent, disheveled and silent.
To be continued next week...
NFL Draft Scouting Report: NY Native, Rudy Silvera
By Ashley Pavlakis
The 2025 National Football League Draft is set to take place this month at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Almost every young boy dreams of hearing his name get called at the draft. Going pro is the goal and Rudy Silvera is no different. The Brooklyn native has his sights set on a career in the big leagues.
Silvera, a defensive back (DB), grew up in Brooklyn and played football at Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village. The high school is fairly known for producing professional athletes such as Lamar Odom, Sue Bird, and Tina Charles, just to name a few. Silvera looks to add his name to the list.
The DB spent his collegiate career on Long Island, spending three years at Long Island University playing for the Sharks before playing his final year at Stony Brook University repping the Seawolves.
“I think he liked it; he took the opportunities that were in front of him, and I believe that LIU gave him a nice opportunity and he wanted to build his career up, so he transferred to Stony Brook. He loves it. His family lives in Brooklyn so they’re just a 40–50-minute drive away. He always mentioned that it was nice to stay close to home,” said Bobby Piazza, Silvera’s Agent.
As a defensive back, Silvera’s game is less on the stat sheet and more so his work on each play. The position, also
Photo Credit - Stony Brook University Athletics Department
referred to as the secondary, is played on the defensive end of the ball and is set farthest from the line of scrimmage. The DB’s sole purpose is to prevent the other team’s receivers from catching the ball and gaining yardage.
Long Island and the five Boroughs have produced a handful of professional football players. Most notably, Buccaneers offensive tackle Donovan Smith, who hails from Hempstead, and Lindenhurst native Jeremy Ruckert, a tight end for the Jets.
“What NFL teams will get when they draft him: he plays with a chip on his shoulder, he doesn’t take anything lightly. He would always travel with the best receiver that he could face. Whatever team that they were playing, whichever best receiver that they thought was going to stand out, he was always covering them,” said Piazza.
The goal is to make it to the NFL, the highest level of football competition in the world. Silvera has his sights set on getting drafted and signing with a team.
“At the moment, no we’re not. We believe he’s actually going to do this. We know that he has talent, because when I was speaking to the Giants, they were very impressed with him. It’s harder because he went to a smaller named school. He’s truly a hidden gem, I would say,” said Piazza.
Silvera attended a locals day with the New York Giants where he got to meet with the coaches and essentially show them what he could do on the field.
“I can’t tell you enough, he actually called me right after, thrilled, even exhilarated about how he played. He felt like he stuck out and thrived with his play and the level of competition he was competing. He impressed the coaches; he told me that one of the coaches said, ‘You’re making this look easy, 24!’ He was pulled aside by one of the scouts, saying that the head coach really likes what he’s seeing,” said Piazza.
New York or nowhere, right? Growing up in New York shapes and molds a person into something special.
“Being from New York and always playing locally honestly means everything, I think there’s a certain attitude instilled into you as a young kid coming up in a place like this, and along with that comes the many obstacles and factors that cause you to be overlooked in this sport but it has been nothing but fuel, motivation and chip I keep for me to keep pushing and giving it everything I got each and every day!” Silvera told The Messenger. “I’m truly grateful for every second of this journey it has developed and taught me as a young man passed measures I would have never known otherwise.”
The Importance of Estate Planning
By Kimberly Mosscrop, Esq.
Whether you’re just starting your career, entering retirement, or somewhere in between, it is important to have a plan to ensure your assets are handled according to your wishes when you are unable to handle your own affairs, or after you are gone.
What is Estate Planning?
Estate planning is the process of making a plan in advance, naming trusted individuals –referred to as agents - to handle our affairs if we cannot while we still have the capacity to do so, and directing where our assets go when we pass away. It typically includes creating documents such as wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. These documents will direct how your estate will be distributed, how decisions will be made on your behalf, and who will be responsible for carrying out these wishes.
Estate planning is important for everyone, regardless of health, wealth, or age. Estate planning ensures that your financial and personal matters are in order, that your agents know your medical and financial wishes during your lifetime and eases the transfer of your assets to your beneficiaries upon your passing.
Why Estate Planning Matters
1. Control Over Your Assets
A comprehensive estate plan directs who will receive our assets and in what proportions when we pass away. It also directs who will handle our assets and how those assets will be handled while we are still alive but unable to do so ourselves.
2. Minimize Estate Taxes and Probate Costs
after by someone you trust. Your estate plan can also specify the age at which you believe your children are ready to inherit from your estate. This doesn’t have to follow the default age of 18.
4. Healthcare and Financial Decisions
Without planning, your estate may be subject to a lengthy probate proceeding. Probate is the legal process through which your will is offered to the Court and validated. This process can take months or even years, during which time your heirs may face financial strain. In addition, without proper planning one’s estate may be subject to estate taxes. However, by incorporating strategies such as gifting, establishing trusts, or utilizing tax exemptions, an estate plan can reduce, if not eliminate, the tax burden while streamlining the transfer of assets.
3. Protecting Minor Children
If you have children under the age of 18, one of the most important aspects of estate planning is naming a guardian. A will can designate an individual who you have selected to care for your children in the event of your untimely passing, ensuring that they are looked
Estate planning directs what happens if you become incapacitated due to illness or injury. Documents like powers of attorney and healthcare directives (also known as health care proxies and living wills) allow you to designate someone to make financial and medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so yourself.
5. Avoid Family Conflict
These documents will avoid confusion or conflict among family members. Your agents will be designated, in writing, as to who makes which important decisions, whether they are medical or financial.
Family conflict is often caused when one has not left clear instructions regarding the distribution of assets. These assets may be those with a high monetary value or with sentimental value only. Either way, your estate plan can break down the distribution of these assets, again avoiding conflict between your loved ones.
Conclusion
Estate planning is for anyone who wants to ensure that their wishes are followed during their lifetimes and their loved ones are cared for after they are gone. A comprehensive estate plan can protect your assets, minimize taxes, and provide for your loved ones. Start
Kimberly Mosscrop, Esq. primarily practices in the areas of Elder Law, Estate Planning and Medicaid planning at Futterman Lanza, LLP. Kimberly Mosscrop assists families in preparing for any eventuality using asset protection, will preparation, revocable and irrevocable trusts, Powers of Attorney, Health Care Proxies and Living Wills. Futterman Lanza, LLP is an elder law and estate planning law firm with staffed offices in Smithtown, Bay Shore, Melville and Garden City, New York. Kim primarily works in the Smithtown office. The firm’s holistic approach anticipates and provides solutions in the ever-changing landscape. You can learn more about Kimberly and
Local History
Legacy Trees in Lake Ronkonkoma
By Ellyn Okvist, B.Sc.
Have you ever watched a tree from a distance, and observed the splendid balance it has with surrounding nature?
Each time you return, you may change your distance or perhaps try sitting under it. The ground may be a bit bumpy, but it’s really not that bad. The slight rustle it makes with the wind will entice you to close your eyes for a few moments and take a well-deserved rest. Listen to the commotion it will make when danger or inclement weather is approaching. To see that no harm comes to us is a wonder within itself.
How far can your imagination wander, how calm can you feel, and realize this is the tree’s meaning, its importance? When the tree represents the very life we live, it becomes priceless. A tree can represent our past, through magnificent and timeless memories. It’s when the tree is not given the respect it deserves and what it stands for is when there is a terrible hole in our hearts.
The trees take care of us, why can’t we take care of them?
We had five legacy trees in town, and two remain. It is no surprise that Lake Ronkonkoma chose trees to enter a legacy. We have Native American roots and the knowledge for living things to continue our dreams. The chart will fill in most questions, but as you can see, the representation and significance of the trees are huge, such deep roots in Lake Ronkonkoma that cannot be compared to any other aspect.
The World War II Memorial Tree (shown as #1) was 99 years old, stood tall and proud for the majority of those years at the corner of Hawkins Avenue and Portion Road. It was the single most meaningful tree, Pacific Spruce, and perhaps the most vulnerable, honoring David Girardet, USN Aviator who was lost at sea in his Grumman Hellcat. David was a friend, a son, and a brave young man who put his life on the line defending his country. His mother, Lulu Newton Girardet, declared the tree as the WWII Monument in town. On November 11, 2022, we took the mangled dying tree down with the honor and respect it deserved on Veteran’s Day.
We will never recover from its absence. However, a WWII veteran made the remark, “we shall take the tree down with respect and plant a little tiny one in its memory.” Although many species of the Pacific Spruce are around, it was a shock for the arborist and scientist we had to evaluate the tree. It should never have really been growing here, as the climate is not ideal for the tree.
The extremely rare Weeping Beech Tree (#2) is located at Metzner Road and Lake Shore Road. This tree is a cultivar of the deciduous European beech. The specimen tree was planted for the First Arbor Day in the U.S. in 1898. The Metzner Family, who owned the property in that area, wanted to honor the First Arbor Day with a legacy for the future. It is a gift that it is still alive and still bringing joy to those who pass it. Every Weeping Beech Tree has been propagated by grafting, then many distributed widely, making it an extremely rare specimen and may live to 150-200 years. Welcome to year 153 at your location!
We now come to the Grand event that took place in 1820 to celebrate the 200th Anniversary of the Pilgrims Landing on Plymouth Rock. The Newton Family, owners
of the lake shore from the 1750s, ordered five Purple European Beech Trees from Scandinavia, and they were shipped in time to be planted for the 200th anniversary. As some may know, one of the trees turned out to be a Copper Red Beech tree (shown as #4), and with notice it, was planted as #2 in succession. During the 1960’s, building began to boom, and two of the Purple Beech trees were taken down for “progress”. Of the three remaining, the first located just east of 7-11 has recently died (shown as #3). The Copper Beech tree of Virginia Schutte had begun to rot. The Indian Princess carving did bring us some bonus years, but time caught up with it. Appropriate Native American practices are being followed as we retire the tree. The last Purple Beech (#5) is thriving and continues to live and represent the people of Lake Ronkonkoma who hold value for its community. The owners of the property wish to hold their privacy. The European Beech tree can live for up to 600 years. The trees selected by our community were all rare, specific to other parts of the world. The odds of a long life in Lake Ronkonkoma were against them, yet they did last and may continue to last for perhaps another lifetime. Be attentive to nature and the universe as a whole.
Work has been continuing to plant a World War II tree that will continue the honor of that war and all the Veterans, KIA, and people in the community. It will not replace the original; rather, begin a new tradition and pick up the dignity, Christmas caroling, and devotion we have missed.
As for the European Beech, we do have a silver lining, as there are two juvenile trees growing - an offshoot of both the Beech #3 and the Beech #4.
TREES
BY JOYCE KILMER, WRITTEN IN AUGUST 1913
I THINK THAT I SHALL NEVER SEE A POEM LOVELY AS A TREE. A TREE WHOSE HUNGRY MOUTH IS PREST AGAINST THE EARTH’S SWEET FLOWING BREAST; A TREE THAT LOOKS AT GOD ALL DAY, AND LIFTS HER LEAFY ARMS TO PRAY;
A TREE THAT MAY IN SUMMER WEAR A NEST OF ROBINS IN HER HAIR; UPON WHOSE BOSOM SNOW HAS LAIN; WHO INTIMATELY LIVES WITH RAIN. POEMS ARE MADE BY FOOLS LIKE ME, BUT ONLY GOD CAN MAKE A TREE.
Tree #1 Pacific Spruce, WWII Memorial Tree
Tree #2 Weeping Beech Tree
Tree #3 Purple European Beech
Tree #4 Copper Red European Beech
Tree Chart
When Tasting the Rainbow, We Get Our Dose of Poison
By Sergio A. Fabbri
We love seeing colors. The brighter the better. Colors affect our emotions and trigger feelings in our inner core. But when these colors become actual destroyers of the cells in this core, we must open our eyes and become aware of just what these colors’ biochemical effects do to our body.
Colors are added to things we consume in an artificial way to brighten, give vibrancy, and attractiveness. These are made from chemical compounds and are called synthetic dyes. They are present in the foods we consume, prescriptions, cosmetics and more.
Natural Dyes vs. Synthetic Dyes
Natural dyes are colorants that are derived from plants, animals, fruits, insects, minerals, and other biological sources. They were initially popular in our history, but eventually synthetic dyes were favored due to their ease of use and color variability.
Synthetic dyes are made from chemical compounds such as mercury, lead, chromium, copper, sodium chloride, toluene, or benzene.
Some Synthetic Dyes (of the Many) & How They Affect Us
The seven most widely used synthetic food dyes — Blue 1, Blue 2, Green 3, Red 3, Red 40, Yellow 5, and Yellow 6 — can cause or exacerbate neurobehavioral problems in children.
Blue No. 1 (Brilliant Blue) - Potential side effects include allergic reactions (skin rashes, hives, or nasal congestion), and some studies suggest possible links to hyperactivity, irritability, ADHD symptoms in children, fertility issues in adults, and cancer. Found in products like Gatorade, Hawaiian Punch Berry Blue, and more.
Blue No. 2 (Indigo Carmine) – This synthetic dye and a petroleum product gives side effects that lead to scarring the central nervous system in high doses, an increase in brain tumors, and cancer. Found in Skittles, M&Ms, and more.
HISTORICAL NOTE:
The first synthetic dye, mauveine (a purple hue below) was accidentally created by William Henry Perkin in 1856. He initially called it “Tyrian purple,” referencing the ancient, expensive purple dye derived from sea snails.
Erythrosine - Erythrosine is a water-soluble xanthene class of dye. It is widely used as colorant in foods, drugs and cosmetics. Highly toxic, it causes various types of allergies, thyroid activities, carcinogenicity, DNA damage, neurotoxicity and xenoestrogen nature in the human body. Found in Peeps, Hostess Ding Dongs, Betty Crocker Fruit by the Foot, Dubble Bubble chewing gum, Entenmann’s Little Bites, Vigo Saffron Yellow Rice, PediaSure Grow & Gain Kids’ Ready-to-Drink strawberry shake, Dole Fruit Packs, Brach’s Candy Corn, Jelly Belly candy, Trolli Sour Crunchy Crawlers, Archer Farms Hand Decorated Sugar Cookies, Betty Crocker Loaded Potato Casserole, Blue Bunny Chocolate Donut Ice Cream, Brach’s Star Brites, Dippin’ Dots Cotton Candy, Duncan Hines Deliciously Moist Cake Mix, Yoo-hoo Strawberry Drink, and Pop Tarts Frosted Confetti Cake Bites.
Red Dye No. 3 - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration banned red dye No. 3 in January, effective for food on January 15, 2027, and for drugs on January 18, 2028. Note that it was recognized in 1990 by the FDA as a thyroid carcinogen in animals and is banned in cosmetics and externally applied drugs. However, the FDA still permits Red 3 in ingested drugs and foods, with about 200,000 pounds of the dye being used annually. It is used in maraschino cherries, sausage casings, oral drugs, baked goods, and candies.
Note: Azo dyes are synthetic organic dyes that are not easily biodegradable and are considered lethal.
Citrus Red No. 2 – An azo dye that is approved to be used to color the skins of Florida oranges. Studies have shown to cause bladder cancer in mice, increased tumors, and degeneration of the liver.
Orange B – An azo dye that is approved by the FDA for use only in frankfurter and sausage casings. Poorly absorbed in rats. The color is reduced in the gut to form naphthionic acid.
Red No. 40 (Allura Red AC - e 129) - The most-widely used dye, may accelerate the appearance of immune system tumors in mice. This synthetic food colorant is toxic, carcinogenic and is a contributor to health problems when consumed often. Causing hypersensitivity (allergylike) reactions in a small number of consumers and might trigger hyperactivity in children. Considering the safety questions and its non-essentiality, Red 40 should be excluded from foods unless and until new tests clearly demonstrate its safety.
Yellow No. 5 (Tartrazine) – Sometimes causing severe hypersensitivity reactions in adults and a hyperactivity trigger and other behavioral effects in children. Posing some risks, while serving no nutritional or safety purpose, Yellow 5 should not be allowed in foods. Also known as Tartrazine, it is used in numerous bakery goods, beverages, dessert powders, candies, cereals, gelatin desserts, pet food, and many other foods, as well as pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
Yellow No. 6 (Sunset Yellow) – Causing adrenal tumors in animals, though that is disputed by industry and the FDA. It may be contaminated with cancer-causing
chemicals and occasionally causes severe hypersensitivity reactions. Yellow 6 adds an unnecessary risk to the food supply. It can be found in some hot sauces.
Green No. 3 (Fast Green) - Synthetic dye approved for use in food, drugs, personal care products, and cosmetics except for in the area of the eye. Found in candies like gummies, beverages, dessert powders, ice cream, sorbet, Jell-O and other foods, as well as ingested drugs, lipsticks, and externally applied cosmetics.
Question: The British government advised companies to stop using most food dyes by the end of 2009, and the European Union required a warning notice on most dye-containing foods after July 20, 2010. Why in 2025 is the U.S. not doing the same?
More detailed information can be found in Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risks by Sarah Kobylewski, Ph.D. Candidate Molecular Toxicology Program and Michael F. Jacobson, Ph.D. Executive Director Center for Science in the Public Interest www.cspinet.org
Repeating Our Mistakes
In 2011, 4-MEI (4-Methylimidazole) the caramel color that gave soda its distinctive hue was removed from Coca-Cola drinks to avoid a cancer warning. Red Dye 40 can be found in many drinks such as: Gatorade, Kool-Aid, Hi-C, Red Mountain Dew, Minute Maid Orange Soda, and Fanta.
PepsiCo launched Crystal Pepsi in December of 1992 with a huge marketing campaign and to great success, capturing a 1% soft drink market share worth US$474 million in its first year. Coca-Cola launched Tab Clear as a deliberate “kamikaze” copy to sabotage Crystal Pepsi. During the same year that Crystal Pepsi was released, several other manufacturers also released colorless versions of their existing products, such as colorless Palmolive dish soap, colorless Softsoap liquid soap, and colorless Rembrandt mouthwash. Even the Miller Brewing Company released a colorless beer, called Miller Clear, in Richmond, Minneapolis, and Austin the following year.
By late 1993, Crystal Pepsi was discontinued, and the final batches were delivered to retailers during the first few months of 1994.
Why Are American Companies Not Putting Americans First?
Kellogg’s, the American multinational food manufacturing company founded in the early 1900’s, which produces many products (Cheez-It, Eggo, Pop-Tarts, Pringles, Rice Krispies, Rxbar) and cereals like Froot Loops, use artificial food dyes for their vibrant colors, including Red Dye No. 40, Yellow Dye No. 5, Yellow Dye No. 6, and Blue Dye No. 1, though Kellogg’s has stated they are working to remove artificial colors and ingredients in their U.S. cereals. So as our children consume and intake these toxic additives into their growing bodies, Kellogg’s sells the same cereal colored with fruit juice concentrates to Canada. This outrage has heirs to Kellogg’s, such as Victoria Kellogg, the great-great-greatgranddaughter of W.K. Kellogg, the founder of Kellogg’s, advocating a petition to drop artificial food dyes from their American cereals.
It’s Up to Us
Awareness is the key. Reading the product label of the foods that we bring home is the answer to filtering out these poisons from being on our family table. There are alternatives to our favorite foods that contain natural dyes and if we purchase these products INSTEAD, the companies who add harmful dyes will be made aware through our purchasing demand. If we care, they will care. They want to sell and we want to remain “in the pink” (in a state of good health).
NATURAL FOOD COLORING ALTERNATIVES FOR EASTER EGGS
26 Theater & The Arts
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, April 10, 2025
‘Waitress’ at the John W. Engeman Theater
By Liam Lennon
The Tony-nominated musical Waitress is one of the brightest gems to come out of modern Broadway and now the John W. Engeman Theater in Northport is cooking up a special show that you need to experience!
A cast so talented that you would think you actually were fortunate enough to be seeing a Broadway production, that’s one of key differences with the Engeman theater. They actually cast performers who have actually appeared on Broadway including multiple in their production of Waitress
The show is adapted from the cult classic movie of the same name released back in 2007. The original movie was written as well as directed by Adrienne Shelly who unfortunately was killed before the movie even premiered. Adrienne’s film inspired and impacted many people including the famous pop star, Sara Bareilles who was the composer and lyricist behind the musical’s plethora of songs. Some are catchy with humorous or romantic lyrics while others will bring you to tears with their relatable but deep-cutting lyrics. Bareilles’ mastery of music is key to why this show has become so beloved as is Shelly’s original and relatable story faithfully adapted in the show’s book by Jessie Nelson.
The musical originally debuted in 2015 before making it to the Broadway stage in 2016. Waitress stars Chessa Metz as Jenna Hunterson, a waitress with a talent for baking, unfortunately trapped in an abusive marriage she rushed into in her youth. Even with a support system of her fellow waitresses and friends, Jenna has all but given up hope of anything more until one careless night with her husband leads to her becoming pregnant. Even though Jenna doesn’t quite take to motherhood at first, she begins to desire more for herself and her baby. Though things become more dire as she lets her own desire for her new obstetrician, Jim Pomatter, lead to an affair that you’ll strangely root for, despite their respective marriages. With the encouragement of others, she decides to enter a pie making contest hoping to make use of the prize money to escape her current life and husband.
Jenna is the best kind of protagonist, someone who’s messy and complicated, but has a heart of gold and you can’t help but root for her. The show itself even articulates this
point with her show stopping solo To Be Mine” that also has Jenna reflecting on how over the years she lost herself and her own identity in the woes of her miserable marriage. The iconic ballad is performed perfectly by Chessa Metz which is no surprise considering Metz has previously been a star in recently concluded Broadway show Chessa is also a gifted actor and able to embody every bit of Jenna’s character to perfection including her warmth, stubbornness, humor and her vulnerability. While Jenna is certainly the main star, the rest of the cast also shine greatly and makes Waitress even sweeter. Jack Cahill-Lemme plays Dr. Pomatter, Jenna’s awkward and neurotic love interest who forms a genuine connection with Jenna beyond their mutual lust and his love for her pies. Their chemistry is explosive both in more subtle scenes as well as passionate scenes like the song “Bad Idea” where we see the start of their affair with frisky choreography that make it a standout song. Cahill himself is another Broadway performer currently an understudy for Moulin Rouge!
Other standout characters include another waitress, Dawn played by Kaléa Leverette, one of Jenna’s best friends and her own love interest, Ogie. Dawn is a shy, awkward girl who’s struggling with breaking out of her comfort zone and opening her heart to a romantic
connection.
Dawn’s solo “When He Sees is an excellent blend of comedic and seriousness that does so well as we see the genuine feeling of anxiety Dawn has with imagining her possible romantic future, as well as numerous hilarious lines as Dawn worries about him being color blind after thinking he could be a psychopath. Ogie is played by Matthew Dengler, is just as eccentric as Dawn, including having the same interest in Revolutionary War that ultimately allows Dawn to give him a chance. Sometimes, exclusive comic relief characters are irritating, yet Ogie constantly got a laugh out of the audience and even when he didn’t, all his comedy felt natural thanks to Dengler’s talent and precise comedic delivery. Ogie seems to be one of the show’s biggest crowd pleasers too as more laughter could be heard than at any other point of the show, as well as the best comedic song in the show “Never Getting Rid of Me”, where Ogie tries to convince Dawn that he’ll never leave her after showing up during her work shift at the diner.
While Waitress tackles serious themes like abuse, and an unplanned pregnancy, it does so in a respectful and ultimately triumphant way. Jenna among other characters learn that ultimately they shouldn’t just settle for good enough but to actually pursue what makes them rally which Is a message everyone should take to heart. Waitress is playing through April 27th and it’s a highly recommended experience. If interested in tickets or for more information visit their website at https://www. engemantheater.com/waitress or call 631-261-2900.
Photo Credit - John W. Engeman Theater
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Long Island Ducks
Heroes of the Game Returns For 2025 Season
The Long Island Ducks, in partnership with Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches), Legislator Nick Caracappa (C-Selden) and the Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency, announced the return of the Heroes of the Game program for the 2025 season to honor local veterans and active-duty personnel.
Up to two “Heroes of the Game” will be selected during all home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark. Each will be honored with an in-game tribute for their selfless and courageous service. In addition, each hero will receive ten complimentary tickets to the game for their friends and family.
“The Ducks are pleased to be able to continue this terrific program,” said Long Island Ducks President/Chief Business Officer Michael Pfaff. “The feedback we received from fans, veterans, sponsors and the community has been tremendously positive, and we’re looking forward to another great season saluting those we owe so much to.”
“This program gives our residents of all ages the chance to recognize our local heroes who made countless sacrifices for our country in a family-friendly environment,” said Romaine. “With Suffolk County being home to the largest veteran population in New York State, we honored more than 100 veterans last season, and we look forward to publicly recognizing even more in 2025.”
“Suffolk County’s partnership with the Long Island Ducks in honoring our local veterans is the absolute best salute to service in the game. With over
100,000 veterans calling Suffolk County home, what better way to celebrate America’s Greatest Heroes than paying tribute to them during Americas Greatest Pastime,” said Legislator Nick Caracappa. “As a community, we come together as one to show our Love of Country and our Love of the Game. Thank you to all those who have served and are currently serving. God Bless our Veterans, our Troops and God Bless the United States of America.”
Since 2015, the Long Island Ducks and Suffolk County Government have proudly honored nearly 1,000 local veterans and military personnel. Suffolk County is home to nearly 100,000 veterans, the largest amount in New York State.
Veterans and active-duty personnel can register to be recognized as one of the “Heroes of the Game” at suffolkcountyny.gov/heroes, by contacting HeroesGame@suffolkcountyny.gov, calling 631-853-VETS or by clicking here.
The Ducks open the 2025 regular season on Friday, April 25, against the Lancaster Stormers. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m.
The Long Island Ducks are entering their 25th Anniversary season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip, N.Y. They are the all-time leader in wins and attendance in Atlantic League history, have led all MLB Partner Leagues in total attendance for four consecutive seasons, and have sold out a record 713 games all-time. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).
