Smithtown Messenger Archive Apr. 24, 2025 by The Messenger Papers, Inc.

Tierney, Officials Call for Stronger State Drug Laws

By Matt Meduri

As Albany’s Executive Budget negotiations drag on, several officials and families find themselves in an eerily similar position year after year.

Indeed, District Attorney Ray Tierney (R), officials from varying levels of government, and, most importantly, the families and friends of those who have been killed at the hands of impaired drivers, make their case yet again to the State Legislature to include road safety and criminal justice provisions into this year’s budget.

“On average, in Suffolk County, there’s 150 fatalities a year due to road accidents. A lot of that comes from distracted or drugged driving,” said County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches). “Recent statistics say that a third of the accidents that occur as a result of a drunk or distracted driver.”

“When did the State lose its way?” asked Romaine of the lack of examination of the laws the Legislature passes.

Continued on page 4

Smithtown CSD Board Candidates Write to The Messenger

Three seats are open on the Smithtown Central School District’s (CSD) Board of Education (BoE) for the Tuesday, May 20, election.

The seats currently held by Michael Catalanotto and Michael Saidens are termlimited. John Savoretti, who was elected in 2021, resigned earlier this year. An effective special election will coincide to fill the one year remaining on his term.

Two teams of three are running in the nonpartisan race to fill the open seats.

The board is currently composed of Catalanotto, who serves as Board President, Saidens, Matthew Gribbin (term expiring in 2026), Kevin Craine (2026), Emily Cianci (2027), and Dana Fritch (2027).

Fritch and Cianci ran in last year’s election that ousted 2021-elected Stacy Ann Murphy and Karen Wontrobski-Ricciardi, who served as Board President and Vice President, respectively. They, along with the retention of Savoretti and election of

By Matt Meduri

Craine in 2023, flipped control of the board to representatives not endorsed by the teacher’s unions.

Wontrobski-Ricciardi is staging a political comeback in the district, while retired police officer Mike Simonelli is taking another run at public office after running on the Conservative line against Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) in 2021. The slate also brings newcomer Al Carfora.

The opposing slate of three includes Bernadette Ackerman, Theresa Donohue, and Brandon Solomon.

All six candidates submitted letters to the editor for this week’s edition of The Messenger. We’ll be watching these races and look forward to sitting down with the candidates in the coming weeks before the election.

Continued on page 12

Tierney calls for stricter drug and driving laws from Albany (Credit - Matt Meduri)

PUBLISHER

Madison

Meet the Smithtown Animal Kai!

Meet the Smithtown Animal Shelter’s Pet of the Week:

Meet the Smithtown Animal Shelter’s Pet of the Week, the world’s most original looking pup, adorable Kai!

Kai is a three-year-old, playful little boy. While we are not positive, this oneof-a-kind, handsome and distinctivelooking gentleman’s features are believed to stem from a combination of poodle/bully mix and possible plushie toy.

Kai has a playful, fun-loving, puppylike mentality and is very eager to please. He arrived at the shelter lacking proper training and socialization. However, now he enjoys playing with his four-legged buddies, and his humans at the shelter. Kai has really come out of his shell. He would thrive in a home that will teach him how to “doggo” and give him the memories he was once denied as a puppy. This incredibly sweet boy is a diamond in the ruff, who will bring a lifetime of joy, adventure, and companionship to one lucky family’s heart and home. Kai would do best in a home with older children and is likely to get along with cats and other dogs. Interested

adopters are welcome to schedule a time to get acquainted with this very special boy.

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

For more information regarding our rescue animals available for adoption visit: TownofSmithtownAnimalShelter.com

Foster Opportunity

If you have no other pets or young children at home, and are looking for a way to serve your community, please consider signing up to be a foster. Foster parents provide temporary care for cats, kittens, and dogs in their own homes. Some animals need as little as two weeks of care, while others may need care for extended periods of time. Download the Foster Application at: https://www.smithtownny.gov/ DocumentCenter/View/4325/FosterApplication

Thinking About Adoption

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

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

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

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The Smithtown Messenger is a community newspaper serving Smithtown, Kings Park, St. James, Nesconset, Hauppauge, Commack, and Stony Brook

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 Credit

Tierney, Officials Call for Stronger State Drug Laws

“I can tell you exactly when the State lost its way: 2019,” said Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue), a staunch advocate for these changes and author of Nick’s Law, which would increase penalties for those who knowingly flee hit-and-run accidents. “That’s when we had Bail Reform, Discovery Reform, and all these pieces of legislation rammed into the budget.”

“If 150 people a year died in plane crashes or got shot on the streets in Suffolk County, it would be an outrage,” said Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey (R-Lindenhurst).

“If you have a distracted driver who’s speeding and you have a number of charges - say six speeding charges in a year - you can install in the car a device that will prevent that driver from traveling faster than five miles per hour above the limit,” said Tierney. “There are other states that have taken the initiative to make their roads safer. Every year, we [Suffolk] have led the state for the last twenty-three years [in road fatalities].”

Tierney mentioned that the dangers on roadways have prompted County government to add nine more patrol officers to the highway patrol unit, with more likely inbound for the summer months.

“It’s getting old, having to constantly come up here and advocate change when no one is coming,” said Tierney of the annual requests often made to Albany that go seemingly unnoticed. “We have the most registered drivers in the state. We have the most miles of highway; we have the most deaths. That means we have the most to lose and the most gain when we can actually have fundamental change.”

New York is one of four states in which law enforcement personnel must consult a list of known substances when making a roadside impairment stop. If the suspected drug is not on the list, an arrest cannot be made if identification is the only hurdle. That’s why Tierney and several Suffolk families are imploring the State to make these needed changes.

“That is a ridiculous law; that was a law that was enacted back in the time when our drugs only grew out of the ground,” said Tierney. “You have marijuana, heroin, and cocaine. Now, we have designer drugs created in a lab. Every day, a new drug comes out, and law enforcement can’t possibly keep up, right?”

Tierney and company call for a law that would allow for a driver to be charged if the driver is determined to be impaired. He insists he and other advocates are “not trying to increase penalties”, but “just trying to improve” the law, while also treating drunk driving similarly to drugged driving.

“If you drive while impaired by drugs, or if you drive while impaired by alcohol, there should be no difference, and we want our law to reflect that common sense,” said Tierney, dismissing claims of detractors who say that he and his fellow advocates are “trying to criminalize all sorts of activity.” He affirms that despite “obsession” from the cannabis lobby, his and law enforcement’s problems do not lie with marijuana usage and sale themselves.

changing a flat tire on the side of the southbound lanes of the Sagtikos Parkway, just south of Exit S1E. She was opening the trunk when her vehicle was rear-ended by Kevin Rosasdaqui, 25, of Brooklyn. Her legs were amputated in the crash. Rosasdaqui was about three times above the legal alcohol limit.

“I’m here by the grace of God because there was a cop who was able to save my life, but that can’t be said for a lot of people,” said Vanderveer.

Tim and Andrea Carpenter, of Lake Grove, spoke of their son, Timothy, who at 21 was killed by a known fentanyl addict on Middle Country Road in Centereach just over two years ago. Christopher Guzman, 40, had passed out behind the wheel, hitting another car before the fatal blow with the Carpenters. Timothy died on impact, while his uncle, Stacey, suffers from permanent disabilities from the accident.

“This is a nightmare that we will never wake up from,” said Andrea Carpenter. “While we were mourning our only child and planning his funeral, Christopher Guzman was out on a ridiculously low bail. He was supposed to be in rehab, but he continued using drugs until he finally OD’d for good with nobody there to save him with NARCAN this time.” Guzman had been stopped prior to the fatal crash and was a known “career” fentanyl addict, in Carpenter’s words.

“I hold his family equally responsible for Timothy’s death because they all knew what he was. They knew he was driving around impaired and that he was a menace,” said Carpenter.

It’s been almost seven years since the horrific drunk driving incident that rattled a Boy Scout Troop and left Andrew McMorris, 12, dead, yet his mother, Alisa, says it still feels like they’re “standing still.”

Tierney also debunked another “myth” of detractors in that prescription drugs will be in the catalog of impairing substances. He says that the law already provides for a driver to be charged if driving while impaired by a prescription drug and that the presence of the drug, legal or not, when determining an impairment case is effectively irrelevant in terms of public safety.

The D.A. railed against New York’s “Bail Reform” laws, which makes driving while drunk a non-bail eligible offense.

“We significantly increased the size of our highway unit. We are going to be increasing it again for the 100 deadliest days of the year,” said SCPD Commissioner Kevin Catalina, who made the promise when taking the oath of office in February. “But they need help. They need the assistance of Albany to change the laws.”

Catalina is also asking for strengthened legislation when charging drivers who are distracted while operating a vehicle.

“The penalties for distracted driving have to be stricter. We can’t have people convicted three or four times in getting a $500 fine. It should be equivalent to driving while impaired,” said Catalina. “You pick up your phone while you’re driving and you hurt somebody, that’s not an accident; you made a choice.”

Officials were joined by victims and families of victims of impaired driving, with survivor Daycnee Vanderveer speaking of her ability to join the fight for stronger laws. In 2022, Vanderveer, a single mother, was

“These are not accidents; they’re choices. They’re 100% preventable,” said McMorris. “Time moves on and we’re just the headline for a week or so. But for us grievers, time has no real meaning since the heartache remains and our lives attempt to grow around that emptiness.”

McMorris says she promised her son on his deathbed that she would “do everything she could to never let this happen to anyone else.”

“The Drugged Driving Bill is a good, honest change that is needed to save lives. This offers the drivers the best science available with roadside screening, toxicology, trained observations because impaired is impaired,” said McMorris.

Senator Murray (pictured above left photo) saw the onslaught of bad bills stem from mixing legislation in with budgetary matters, with some representatives using the budgets as “cover”, so as to essentially hold the budget and operation of the State government hostage to push through poor legislation.

Murray also mentioned a quote of Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Williamsbridge) regarding retail theft, saying that he didn’t believe that “punishment is a deterrent for breaking the law.”

Assemblyman Michael Durso (R-Massapequa Park) (pictured middle left photo) says a common theme of this year’s budgeting session: “You made the problems in the budget. Let’s fix them in the budget.”

“There’s no reason not to get these bills done,” said Durso, adding that there has been a recent uptick in tow truck drivers being killed on the sides of the roads due to distracted drivers.

Durso says that he is working on a bill that would revoke one’s driver’s license if they are convicted of a DWI.

“Why is that not a deterrent? I have a motorcycle license; if I get pulled over for driving my motorcycle while impaired, I lose my driver’s license,” said Durso.

As a freshman legislator, Assemblywoman Rebecca Kassay (D-Port Jefferson) (pictured left photo) says she is reaching out to colleagues across the County to ensure she is fighting for “common sense legislation.”

“This should not be a partisan issue,” said Kassay. “I’m diving right in to understanding how we move these pieces of legislation forward because they should have moved forward already and every day is too long to not have them moving forward.”

By Matt Meduri

Assemblyman Doug Smith Blasts Albany for Budget Delay Impacting Schools

Assemblyman Doug Smith (R-Holbrook), Ranking Member of the Assembly Education Committee and a former high school math teacher, sharply criticized Albany’s failure to pass a state budget, now over three weeks past its April 1 deadline. The delay, which missed a critical April 22 cutoff for school districts to receive finalized State Aid numbers, has left districts across New York scrambling to prepare budgets for public votes on May 20.

Smith, a parent and vocal advocate for education, described the delay as a “betrayal” of students, educators, and communities.

“Albany’s lack of urgency is unacceptable,” Smith said in a statement. “School districts from Long Island to Western New York are being forced to guess their State Aid because the Governor and legislative leaders can’t deliver. As a former math teacher, I know how vital stable funding is for our classrooms. This isn’t just incompetence—it’s a failure of leadership that hurts our kids.”

The state budget determines Foundation Aid and other funding streams that make up roughly 32% of school district revenues statewide. Without clarity on these numbers, districts face tough choices, potentially cutting programs, laying off staff, or raising property taxes to balance budgets. The delay exacerbates challenges for school boards, which must finalize budgets for voter approval by May 20. Last year’s budget, finalized nineteen days late, caused similar disruptions, a pattern Smith called “unconscionable.”

Speaking from his experience in education, Smith highlighted the real-world impact of the delay.

“School boards are up against hard deadlines. Every day without a budget means less time to plan for teacher salaries, classroom resources, or special education services. Rural, suburban, and urban districts are all suffering because Albany can’t get its act together.”

Smith demanded immediate action from Governor Kathy Hochul (D), Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Williamsbridge), and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins (D-Yonkers) to finalize the budget.

“Our children’s education isn’t a bargaining chip,” he said. “It’s time for Albany to stop the excuses and deliver a budget that supports our schools. New York’s students, teachers, and taxpayers deserve better.”

As Ranking Member of the Assembly Education Committee, Smith has consistently fought for equitable school funding, opposing cuts to Foundation Aid and advocating for suburban and rural districts. He vowed to continue pressing for accountability, stating, “I won’t stand by while Albany’s dysfunction shortchanges our schools. Our kids deserve a government that works for them.”

The ongoing budget impasse has drawn criticism from educators and local officials, who warn that further delays could disrupt planning for the upcoming school year. With the May 20 deadline looming, pressure is mounting for Albany to act swiftly to provide school districts with the certainty they need.

Assemblyman Doug Smith (R-Holbrook) has represented the Fifth District in the New York State Assembly since 2018. The Fifth District is split between the Towns of Brookhaven and Islip, containing the communities of Lake Grove and parts of Bohemia, Centereach, Farmingville, Holbrook, Holtsville, Islandia, Lake Ronkonkoma, North Patchogue, Ronkonkoma, and Selden.

Assemblyman Smith serves as Ranking Member of the Education Committee and serves on the committees on Aging; Energy; and Higher Education, and serves on the Commission of the Future of the Long Island Power Authority.

The Fifth District office is located at 4155 Veterans Memorial Highway, Suite 9, in Ronkonkoma and can be reached at 631-585-0230.

CreditOffice of

Assemblyman Doug Smith

When Did Our State Lose Its Way?

This was the soberingly realistic question asked by Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) at last week’s presser, as officials gathered with victims and families of victims of distracted or impaired driving.

The assembly is always a noble one, although we wish a different set of circumstances lent themselves to such bipartisanship. Officials read out their wish list of legislative changes that they implore the State Legislature to include in their final one-house budgets, as well as Governor Kathy Hochul (D) in her Executive Budget. Victims and victims’ families gave heart-rending speeches of the unspeakable horrors that turned their lives into nightmares in the blink of an eye.

Last week’s panel included Daycnee Vanderveer, a single mother who lost both her legs while changing a flat tire on the side of a highway when a driver three times above the legal alcohol limit rear-ended her vehicle, with her in the middle.

Two years after Timothy Carpenter’s, 21, death, his parents, Tim and Andrea, remain steadfast in advocating for laws that could have prevented their only child’s death in Centereach, when a known fentanyl addict passed out behind the wheel. It left the young college boy dead and his uncle permanently disabled. The driver, as is often the case unfortunately, made it out of the accident relatively unscathed, but later overdosed when NARCAN could not be administered.

Alisa McMorris spoke of her son Andrew, 12, who was killed when a drunk driver careened through his Boy Scout troop.

But what makes last week’s press conference - featured on the cover of this week’s edition of The Messenger - all the more infuriating is that we’ve seen this same event for the last several consecutive years, yet Albany refuses to listen.

What Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R), Executive Romaine, Suffolk’s local and State-level elected officials, and the victims and the families

are requesting are reasonable laws that many other states have on their books.

Chief among them is updating the laws around substances and impaired driving. New York continues to operate off an outdated list that only includes naturally-occuring drugs, such as marijuana, cocaine, and heroin, and not the endless cavalcade of synthetic designer drugs that are being introduced faster to the streets than officials can act and legislate in response.

It’s interesting how New York State could have been so complicit in arguably the most lax-in-thenation bail laws - in which several people charged last week with operating a nationwide drug ring out of Suffolk could not be held on bail - as well as the eye-opening border crises that unarguably contribute to more hard drugs on the streets.

If New York wanted to have its humanitarian cake and eat it too, the least they could have done was afford our public safety officials more tools to take impaired drivers off the roads, even if the intoxicating substance in question cannot be identified against an archaic list. This lack of balance makes us think some in the Legislature are pathological in their beliefs or simply do not act in good faith.

It’s also frustrating to witness the top prosecutor for the largest suburban county in the nation make the same requests year after year, hat-in-hand, only for those requests to go seemingly unheard. D.A. Tierney is clearly a capable, credible professional. Why Albany won’t at least take his word for what it’s worth is astounding to us.

Moreover, what unnecessarily adds to the fray are the activists who vehemently fight Tierney and company along the way. He mentioned the cannabis lobby and those concerned with how the laws would play out regarding prescription drugs.

We can understand the prescription drug question, and Tierney was quick to flatten the “myth” that he and others lobbying for change would include these to the “list” of drugs. In fact, the list already contains prescription drugs.

But our problem is with the cannabis industry, namely those who think that the actions of those who desire change would infringe upon the right to buy and use marijuana. The efficacy of using marijuana can be debated, but Tierney has made it clear that he’s not coming for the stash of the guy at home on a weekend. He’s more interested in ensuring police can arrest obviously impaired drivers, despite New York’s probable cause laws and the nascent stages of roadside toxicology testing for cannabis. Reliable roadside marijuana toxicology tests do not exist as those for measuring alcohol intoxication do.

Herein lies a classic “knee-jerk” of New York. A group wants stricter laws to make worthy arrests of those driving high on marijuana. The first and immediate reaction is to insinuate it’s a move against marijuana at large.

Smith Haven Mall

Retraction

April 10, 2025, Smithtown

Messenger

In our article covering the swearingin of the new board of Celebrate St. James and the plans for the Calderone Theatre, we stated an initiative of the non-profit is to raise $1 million to purchase the theatre back from the Town of Smithtown. The non-profit is not looking to raise money to purchase the building back. They are looking to raise money to renovate and overhaul the property for the purpose of being a community cultural and arts center.

Dear Editor,

I am totally against the idea of flying this flag, as a Veteran who served as a medic in the Air Force during the Korean War and for twenty years in Nassau Hospital, then went to seminary and was ordained as a minister; as an ordinated minister, serving in the American Legion as Chair of the Suffolk and District 10 PTSD committees working with Veterans since 2012. We have trained over 100 Veterans on how to help their fellow Veterans and helped train fifty clergy on how to work with Veterans on these problems.

To better understand the problem, we need to first look at suicide, as to why and how they occur. As the article, “County Legislature Debates Flying of SAR Flag, Consults with Veterans”, The Messenger, 4-17-2025, correctly states, the Veterans Affairs did not track Veteran suicides until 2005. This is due to the fact that prior to the Vietnam War, the suicide rate of military and Veterans was about the same as that of the civilian population. Prior wars were fought mostly on battlefields where the enemy was hundreds of yards away. The Vietnam War was different, in that it was more a guerilla-type war where the enemy was very close by and often in civilian clothes.

In addition, the military personnel did not know why they were there, and our civilian population was against the war. Thus, when they came home, they were spit on and called baby-killers. Then, we had the Afghanistan War, where the enemy was not only dressed in civilian clothes, but now included women and children with explosives attached to their bodies. After about twenty years of war, we unconditionally surrendered, causing the suicides to rise to about forty per day both in the military and Veteran populations. Thus, many more personnel developed PTSD and Moral Injury that led to the high increase in number of suicides. That number is not twenty-two per day, which is the number reported to the VA, but is closer to forty per day

Debate on Flying the SAR Flag Support RecruitNY: Strong Communities Start With Volunteer Firefighters

By Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

New York’s volunteer firefighters have long demonstrated an unwavering commitment to protecting our communities. Whether responding to a fire, natural disaster or public health emergency, they bravely face these challenging situations with courage and sacrifice. In New York, over 90% of fire departments are registered as volunteer, highlighting the crucial role they play in the state’s emergency response system.

Firehouses throughout New York will soon participate in RecruitNY, a statewide initiative designed to boost recruitment and retention for volunteer firefighters. Launched by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) in 2011 to address declining membership, the program has helped fire departments recruit thousands of new members over the years.

On the weekend of April 26-27, hundreds of fire departments will open their doors to the public, offering a firsthand look at what it means to be a volunteer firefighter. Visitors can tour the stations, try on gear, watch live demonstrations and get answers to any questions on becoming a member. If you’ve ever considered serving your community, this could be a great opportunity to learn more. Even if you are unsure about joining, I encourage everyone to stop by their local fire department to show appreciation to our dedicated first responders.

It’s important to note that no prior experience is required to become a volunteer firefighter—whether on the front lines or assisting behind the scenes, there are plenty of ways to make a meaningful contribution.

The Assembly Minority Conference has always stood with our volunteer firefighters, and we will continue to advocate for the resources and support they need and deserve. Our Conference has introduced the following pieces of legislation:

• A.4414 (Bologna) – Permits volunteer firefighters to attend mandatory training under 19 NYCRR 426 without risk of employer penalties; establishes tax incentives for employers who hire volunteer firefighters;

• A.1064 (Angelino) – Provides a state income tax credit of up to $2,500 for volunteer firefighters and volunteer ambulance corps members in good

as many of those Veterans reported as dying from an overdose of drugs –which are suicides.

A Veteran or military person suffering from PTSD or Moral Injury often suffers with guilt and shame that keep them away from seeking professional help. Instead, they isolate themselves, self-treat with alcohol or drugs, which only strengthen guilt and shame, so they can take the final step. Having helped Veterans with PTSD and Moral Injury for the past twelve years, and actually helping prevent eleven suicides, I am afraid the flag may have the wrong message.

“Honor the fallen”, as is written on the SAR flag, may actually help those considering suicide that it is right thing to do. Instead, we need to tell them why it is absolutely the wrong thing to do, how it hurts the family and friends left behind alive. It is important to tell them their shame and guilt can be eliminated, with a little help. The Veteran organizations using the buddy system can be a great help and will keep your problem between you and the Veteran helping you. The clergy can also be a great help and will also keep it confidential; however, some are not sure how to help, but can help find the ones who can help you.

So please, let’s spend our time helping those Veterans and saving lives, by helping them know that they can be helped. Instead of the flag, let’s put out signs where the Veterans should go to for the help they need. Veteran organizations, if you can help our Veterans, please put out a sign saying so, or where else they can go for help.

Sincerely yours,

Frederick Miller, Ph.D.

Shirley

standing for a minimum of five years;

• A.2068 (Manktelow) – Authorizes excused leave for civil service employees who are members of volunteer fire departments or volunteer EMS/rescue squads during declared states of emergency at the federal, state or municipal level;

• A.4720 (Bologna) – Establishes a mileage reimbursement tax credit for active volunteer firefighters and ambulance workers who use personal vehicles for emergency response duties; and

• A.3576 (Miller) – Allocates a portion of the public safety communications surcharge to support volunteer fire department initiatives and creates the New York State Volunteer Fire Department Auxiliary Fund.

I am proud to share that many fire departments throughout Oswego, Cayuga and Jefferson counties in my district will be participating in RecruitNY. A full list across the entire state can be found here.

Volunteer firefighters are often our neighbors, friends or coworkers. They have shown an unparalleled commitment to protecting New Yorkers and saving lives in times of crisis. In the coming weeks, let us show our deepest support for the volunteers who selflessly offer their time and energy to protect our communities. Whether by visiting a local firehouse during RecruitNY or simply saying thank you, every gesture of support reminds them that their service does not go unnoticed.

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

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

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Suffolk Hosts U.S. Army of Oath of Enlistment

By Matt Meduri

Last Thursday, at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge, Suffolk County played a pivotal role in hosting the Oath of Enlistment for several U.S. Army recruits, the first time the County has ever had the privilege.

Captain Logan McNally, Company Commander for the Suffolk County Army Recruiting Company, issued opening remarks.

“Today, we recognize those who have made the decision to join the United States Army and protect our nation. We are here as a family, a family of soldiers, soon-to-be soldiers, family members, military community organizations, and even past and future soldier families that are here in attendance,” said McNally. “We are here to show why Suffolk truly leads the way in supporting our men and women in uniform and their families.”

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) (pictured right) wished the recruits well as they embark upon their new journey.

“We exist as a nation only because of people like yourself. This nation doesn’t exist unless people volunteer,” said Romaine. “For the last at least forty years, this country has had a volunteer army, which means it depends on recruits.”

Romaine said that Captain McNally informed him that Suffolk is leading the way in number of recruits.

“For those of you who call Suffolk home, we want you to come home after your service is done,” said Romaine, adding great aspects of the service. “Number one, it changes your attitude about life. It gets you ready to come to the real world and do a good job afterwards. You learn a lot of skills, but you learn a lot about yourself in the military.”

Romaine offered to the young cadets that the County’s Veteran Services Agency, run by Marcelle Leis, will be waiting for them with answers, information, and resources when they return.

Suffolk County Legislator Nick Caracappa (C-Selden) (pictured above), Chair of the Veterans Committee, also gave remarks before the official oaths were issued. He mentioned that when he received the call about Suffolk hosting the

oath ceremony, he didn’t hesitate.

“This is a no-brainer for us; our County has always supported our Veterans a great deal,” said Caracappa. “You will embark on a journey that begins today here, a journey that you will learn to honor and respect. A journey where you will be educated, where you will learn physical fitness, learn how to work as a team, learn how to defend yourself, protect your fellow soldier. And if called upon, you will stand, defend, and protect our freedoms.”

Lieutenant Colonel John Rhodes (pictured above) said that Suffolk County has gone from one of the most difficult areas for recruitment to one of the strongest.

“All the support they [the recruits] have in this community are from their elected officials, their friends, their families, their schools, their friends who tell them you’re doing a good thing,” said Rhodes. “The market potential [for recruiting] is wrong because it doesn’t count for spirit and patriotism, and that’s why this county is breaking all-time records for new enlistments.”

Brigadier General Daniel Hershkowitz (pictured above left) served as the event’s keynote speaker. Hailing from North Massapequa, Hershkowitz feels right at home on Long Island, mentioning that bagels, pizza, and other staples are just incomparable to anywhere else he’s lived or served.

“Whatever your reason for joining, thank you for having the courage to walk into a recruiter’s office, have a conversation with that recruiter, and at the end of that conversation, hopefully you went home, you talked it over with your loved ones, and you made a conscious decision to be part of a team that represents something bigger than yourself,” said Hershkowitz.

Family and friends gathered for photos after the formal oaths were issued. Almost forty young cadets ranged in age from 17 to 42, with eight going into the Army Reserves.

The Suffolk County Recruiting Company has five centers; Bay Shore, Patchogue, Smithtown, Riverhead, and Selden. Their company headquarters is located in Ronkonkoma.

National, State, and Local Temperature Checks

By Matt Meduri

National

The world awoke Monday morning, just a day after Easter, to a significant passing, that of Pope Francis.

Francis served as the leader of the Catholic Church and sovereign of Vatican City from 2013 until his death on Monday.

Francis, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, has often been known as “pope of firsts”. He was the first pope from Latin America - he was born in Argentina, the first from the Jesuit Order (the Society of Jesus), the first from the Americas, the first from the Southern Hemisphere, and the first born or raised outside of Europe since Pope Gregory III, who was born in Syria and whose papacy ranged from February 731 to November 741.

Francis was ordained as a Catholic priest in 1969 and from 1973 to 1979, he was the Jesuit principal superior in Argentina. He came the archbishop of Buenos Aires in 1998 and was made a cardinal in 2001 by Pope John Paul II.

He was elected pope by the papal conclave after the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI in 2013. He chose Francis as his papal name in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi, making him the first Pope to take the name.

Francis was noted for his work in increasing the worldwide clout and respect of the church, teaching acceptance, love, tolerance, and even bucking the church’s more culturally conservative values. He believed that the Catholic Church should be more sympathetic to cultural and ethnic minorities, bless same-sex relationships - albeit devoid of liturgical context - and was a critic of certain forms of economics and capitalism. He was also an ardent advocate for climate change and committed the Catholic Church to a worldwide abolition of positive views on the death penalty, which he viewed as inadmissible.

He also signed the Vatican’s first treaty with Palestine and condemned Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

Francis had been in declining health for several weeks prior to his passing, making his final public appearance on Easter Sunday.

In U.S. news, Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (I-CA) (pictured above) is moving closer to fulfilling a key campaign promise to “Make America Healthy Again” by announcing a phase-out of petroleum-based food dyes in the American food supply. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary said on Tuesday that the agency would take steps to eliminate the use of synthetic dyes by the end of 2026.

Kennedy has said that while the federal agencies and the food manufacturers “don’t have an agreement”, they do “have an understanding.”

Kennedy and company have said they will establish a timeline and standards for the industry to switch to natural alternatives. They will also be proactive in revoking authorization for dyes not in production within the coming weeks and they will also take actions to remove remaining dyes from shelves.

“Today, the FDA is asking food companies to substitute petrochemical dyes with natural ingredients for American children as they already do in Europe and Canada,” said Makary. “For the last fifty years, we have been running one of the largest uncontrolled scientific experiments in the world on our nation’s children without their consent.”

The FDA currently allows for thirty-six color additives, which include eight synthetic dyes. The agency already announced in January that Red 3, used in candies, cakes,

and some medications, would be banned by 2027, due to its link to cancer in laboratory rats.

Food manufacturers in Europe and Canada are required to carry warning labels. Several states, including California and West Virginia, have already passed laws against using synthetic food colorings. West Virginia’s state law to prohibit red, blue, yellow, and green artificial dyes from school meals will take effect on August 1. A larger ban will cover all foods sold in the Mountain State starting January 1, 2028.

Some manufacturers have already climbed aboard the initiative. The International Dairy Foods Association has said its members would do away with artificial colors in milk, cheese, and yogurt products sold in the U.S., primarily its school meal programs, by July 2026.

On the other hand, the International Association of Color Manufacturers said that reformulating foodstuffs in less than two years would “ignore scientific evidence and underestimates the complexity of food production.” They added the process could be neither “simple” nor “immediate”, with supply disruptions likely to hit shelves.

On the electoral level, Democrats scored two strong recruits to help bolster their already-long-shot prospects at retaking the U.S. Senate in 2026.

In Michigan, the open seat presents one of Democrats’ greatest problems for the next cycle. Having won every Senate race in the Wolverine State since 1994, Democrats are hoping Congresswoman Haley Stevens (D, MI-11) can present an edge to the field.

Stevens flipped a suburban Detroit seat in 2018, holding it in 2020 before it was redrawn to become a safely blue seat in 2022 and 2024. Should Stevens win, she’d follow the path of Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), who flipped a Lansing-based seat in 2018, defending a seat that remained competitive until she was narrowly elected to the Senate in 2024.

Meanwhile, Democrats scored perhaps one of the best recruits in Governor Andy Beshear (D-KY) to run for Mitch McConnell’s (R-KY) open seat.

McConnell has represented Kentucky in the Senate since 1985, and amid health concerns and a changing power dynamic on Capitol Hill, he decided to retire rather than pursue an eighth term.

Democrats spent nearly $100 million on an effort to oust him in 2020, only for him to win in a landslide. Now, with the open seat scenario, Democrats are hoping to capitalize on anti-Trump sentiments next year, and Kentucky provides one of the most moderateconservative Democrats in the nation.

Narrowly ousting an unpopular Republican in 2019, Beshear held re-election over a worthy opponent in 2023. He is term-limited in 2027, making his run for Senate all the more natural.

Popular governors of the party opposite their state’s typical lean have a historically difficult time winning Senate elections, which, especially as of now, are more adherent to their presidential voting preferences. Larry Hogan (R-MD) suffered the same fate in Maryland in 2024, as did Phil Bredesen (D-TN) in 2018, and Linda Lingle (R-HI) in Hawaii in 2012.

Finally, Republicans held a special State House election in Connecticut on Tuesday night, but Democrats can add another overperformance to their 2025 scorecard.

Jason Perillo (R) resigned after winning a State Senate special election in February. He held Connecticut’s 113th House District for seventeen years, winning most recently by a 64%-36% margin.

Amy Romano (R) held the seat over Mike Duncan (D),

but by a five-point margin.

Democrats have a large 102-seat majority of Connecticut’s 151-member lower chamber. Republicans control 48 seats; one seat is vacant.

State

A Siena College poll has found Governor Kathy Hochul (D) (pictured bottom) doing something that’s rare in their polls: improving her numbers.

Hochul’s job approval rating now takes a net-positive, albeit still a plurality, at 48%-45%, up from the underwater 46%-48% position she was in last month. Her favorability rating has also improved, standing at 44%-43%, up from 40%-50% in March.

However, a majority of voters still prefer someone else to serve as governor, with 39% of voters eager to reelect her. 48% want “someone else”, which is a modest improvement from the 34%-56% gap observed last month.

Hochul’s slight improvements seem to stem from her budget proposals, including a smartphone ban in schools during instructional hours, criminalizing wearing masks to commit crimes, and amending Discovery Reform. All three initiatives enjoy mostly the same levels of support from Republicans, Democrats, and Independents, varying between 41% to 70%.

This is Hochul’s first positive approval rating since January 2024.

President Donald Trump (R-FL) also experiences little movement in his numbers from last month. His favorability is up 40%-55% from 39%-57%, while his job approval rating rests at 42%-56%, little changed from 42%-55% in March.

New Yorkers remain split on his plans to make the federal government more efficient (48%-49%), as well as his initiatives on reducing the cost of living and enhancing the country’s reputation internationally (52%-55%).

Senator Chuck Schumer (D) has also tracked his lowest favorability ratings in twenty years of Siena College polls, with a 39%-49% rating, down from 45%-41% in February. The poll was conducted April 14-16 among 802 registered New York voters through a combination of landline and cell phones, text-to-web, and online panels.

Local

Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) recently hosted a telephone town hall that drew thousands of constituents.

According to his office, 10,281 residents joined the NY02 telephone town hall.

“The fight right now is front and center…Now we have the numbers, and any extension of the $10,000 cap will not fly...We’re going to have [SALT relief] in the [reconciliation] bill, and it’s gonna be something that I think you all can be very proud of, because if it’s not something I can be proud of, I’m not going to vote for it,” said Garbarino in a statement.

On potential cuts to Social Security, Garbarino said, “Social Security, under the budget reconciliation process, is not permitted to be touched. There is a lot of bad information out there, saying that the reconciliation bill will affect Social Security benefits and such. We are not legally allowed to touch it under this process, so that information that you’re getting out there, that this might be changed under reconciliation, is false.”

Dueling Protests Outside Garbarino’s Office

By Cait Crudden

Hundreds of progressive activists gathered outside Congressman Andrew Garbarino’s (R-Bayport) district office on Oak Street in Patchogue over the holiday weekend, as part of a coordinated national demonstration labeled the “50501 campaign,” which staged simultaneous protests across all fifty states.

Billed as part of the “Stop Trump, Speak Up” movement, the protest targeted President Donald Trump (R-FL) and Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.) Senior Advisor to the President Elon Musk, and aimed criticism at Republican lawmakers who organizers claim are aligned with them.

While promoted as a peaceful protest, the event quickly drew controversy and tension as a group of Trump supporters, exercising their own First Amendment rights, arrived to push back against what they viewed as a partisan attack on conservative voices and governance.

The protest in Patchogue was one of many driven by progressive organizers and left-wing advocacy groups that have increasingly sought to paint Trump-era policies, and now Musk’s leadership of D.O.G.E., as threats to democracy, a narrative that many conservatives reject as exaggerated and politically motivated.

Protesters voiced opposition to a wide array of issues, from federal deregulation to digital privacy concerns, but many on the ground offered vague or generalized accusations. Critics argue that these demonstrations are more about generating political momentum heading into the midterm election cycle than engaging in substantive debate.

Congressman Garbarino continues to serve residents of Suffolk County and hosted a recent telephone town hall with thousands of constituents and reaffirmed his commitment to delivering practical results for the district, rather than engaging with protestors in what his supporters describe as political theater.

Despite this, protest organizers took aim at Garbarino, accusing him of not being vocal enough in opposing former President Trump and Musk. However, Garbarino consistently emphasizes the importance of focusing on local issues such as infrastructure, Veterans’ services, and economic development, a position many voters in his district support.

The counter-protest by Trump supporters added a striking visual contrast to the demonstration. Waving American flags and campaign signs, they voiced support for Trump’s legacy of economic growth, border security, and regulatory reform, principles that have remained popular among conservative constituents across Long Island.

Some critics of the protest questioned the motives of the “50501 campaign,” calling it a coordinated media spectacle designed to distract from the challenges, including rising inflation, energy instability, and concerns over free speech on digital platforms

Observers also noted the increasingly aggressive tone of some activist movements, which they believe undermine civil discourse and vilify anyone who holds opposing political views. Calls for elected officials to “speak up” are often interpreted as demands to fall in line with a specific political ideology, rather than genuine invitations for bipartisan conversation.

As the event ended, the protesters vow to continue their efforts in the coming months. However, for many residents, the demonstration raised more questions than answers about what these groups ultimately seek to achieve, and whether their tactics are unifying or polarizing the communities they claim to represent.

For Congressman Garbarino and his supporters, the message was clear: stay focused on delivering tangible results for NY-02, not on chasing headlines created by national activist groups.

LaLota Urges GOP to Prioritize Compassion, Responsibility in Medicaid Reform

By Cait Crudden

As Congressional Republicans weigh potential reforms to Medicaid, Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) is leading a group of House Republicans in a direct message to party leadership: protect vulnerable Americans and safeguard vital healthcare coverage.

LaLota joined a coalition of Republican lawmakers in signing a letter addressed to House Speaker Mike Johnson (R, LA-04), Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R, LA-01), Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R, MN-06), and Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R, KY-02). The message is clear: while reforms are necessary to improve the program’s efficiency and sustainability, they must not come at the expense of those who rely on Medicaid the most.

The letter, authored by GOP members from districts with high rates of Medicaid enrollment, reaffirms strong support for the healthcare safety-net program and warns against any legislation that would reduce coverage for vulnerable populations. Among those highlighted in the letter are children, pregnant women, seniors, and individuals living with disabilities, groups that, according to the lawmakers, would be disproportionately affected by sweeping budget cuts or inflexible policy changes.

The signatories expressed concern that Medicaid cuts could have far-reaching consequences not just for individual beneficiaries, but also for hospitals and

community health providers, particularly in rural and underserved areas where Medicaid reimbursements play a critical role in keeping facilities operational.

Congressman LaLota and his colleagues emphasized that reforms must be “responsible and compassionate,” and that safeguarding care for those in need should remain a priority. At the same time, the lawmakers endorsed a series of proposed reforms aimed at improving accountability within the system. These include implementing work requirements for ablebodied adults without dependents, limiting eligibility to legal U.S. residents, and increasing the frequency of eligibility checks from once a year to every six months.

These changes, they argue, would help reduce fraud, increase transparency, and ensure that resources are given to the individuals the program was designed to help, without jeopardizing access to care for society’s most vulnerable.

Congressman LaLota’s position reflects a growing sentiment among moderate and pragmatically minded Republicans who view Medicaid not just as a line item in the federal budget, but as a lifeline for millions of Americans, particularly in states like New York. In many Long Island communities, Medicaid supports children with special needs, elderly individuals in nursing homes, and families struggling with the high cost of living.

The letter also strikes a tone of political realism, acknowledging the significant role Medicaid plays in district economies. Many hospitals and clinics rely heavily on Medicaid reimbursements to remain financially viable. Any reduction in coverage or funding could destabilize local healthcare networks, lead to layoffs, and restrict access to essential services, a risk lawmakers say the country cannot afford to take.

While internal GOP discussions on Medicaid reform continue, LaLota’s message appears to set a marker for what a sizable block of Republican members would and would not support. With a narrowly divided House and key appropriations battles looming, such positions could significantly shape the legislative process moving forward.

For now, LaLota and his fellow signatories hope their letter serves as a reminder that healthcare policy must be guided by both fiscal responsibility and compassion. They argue that it is possible and necessary to protect the integrity of Medicaid while pursuing reforms that promote efficiency, reduce misuse, and preserve the program for generations to come.

As debate over entitlement spending intensifies in Washington, Congressman LaLota’s stance may represent a middle path: one that balances conservative principles with the practical needs of constituents and communities across the country.

Spanning

Conveniently

Smithtown CSD Board Candidates Write to The Messenger

Karen Wontrobski-Ricciardi

Dear Editor,

If you pass by any building in the Smithtown School District, you’ll notice a large banner with the heading “The Smithtown Promise.” Take a moment to read the five bullet points listed underneath. While they reflect admirable goals, it’s surprising that none of them directly mention education. In fact, the district’s lack of emphasis on academic achievement has become increasingly evident.

According to data available on the NYSED website, since the 2018–2019 school year, proficiency scores in elementarylevel ELA, math, and science have declined. Similarly, Regents exam scores in Algebra I, Algebra II, Earth Science, Chemistry, Biology, and Physics have also seen a downward trend. Even more concerning, the number of students scoring at the lowest level—Level 1—has risen.

We are also witnessing fewer students gaining admission to top-tier universities, a reflection of a broader academic decline. For families seeking a strong, well-rounded curriculum in math, science, and English, Smithtown is no longer delivering the education they expect.

Ideological frameworks like DEI and CRT are not just abstract concepts—they have become central to the district’s focus, shifting attention away from academic fundamentals. While fostering inclusivity and equity is important, it cannot come at the expense of educational excellence.

We owe it to our students to provide them with a rigorous academic foundation that prepares them not just for college or careers, but for whatever path they choose in life. It’s time to realign our priorities and refocus on what matters most: education.

Sincerely,

Karen Wontrobski-Ricciardi

St. James

Dear Editor,

Al Carfora

At the April 23 Smithtown Central School District Board of Education meeting, one thing was crystal clear: we need real change.

As someone who works in construction and estimating, I was shocked at the board’s lack of knowledge on major issues like the central air proposal and suspected mold in our schools. Not one board member has expertise in buildings or trades—yet this is where a huge part of our budget goes.

They’re talking about a climate study to justify AC, but that sounds more like political theater than practical decision-making. Meanwhile, when asked about potential mold, the superintendent claimed there was “no mold”—yet no surface samples were taken from HVAC registers, just air samples taken under poor conditions. As any pro knows, that’s not how you get accurate results.

Where is the certified hygienist report? Why the lack of transparency? Why mock concerned parents instead of providing proof?

And after a forty-minute filibuster about how “great” the schools are doing, not one board member asked a single follow-up. That’s not leadership—that’s a rubber stamp.

We need accountability, expertise, and transparency. It’s time for new leadership. Our kids deserve better.

Vote Riccardi-Carfora-Simonelli for Smithtown Central School District Board of Education, May 20.

Sincerely, Al Carfora Smithtown

Dear Editor,

Mike Simonelli

The issue of accountability in local government is important to me as a retired Suffolk County Police Officer, veteran and - when it comes to education - as a parent.

In the past year alone, Albany has made numerous attempts to curtail local control and cut foundation aid for the Smithtown Central School District. While districts fought against Hochul’s incursions into local control, our board remained quiet.

While senior administrators and elected board members fought to protect our students from cuts to foundation aid, the Smithtown Central School District was silent.

We have Cold Spring Harbor, Mt. Sinai, Port Jefferson, Three Village, Bayport-Blue Point, and a host of other districts to thank for leading the charge against changes to Foundation Aid from New York State—not our own elected members, not our administrators.

Board members certainly don’t set state policy, but they can advocate for it. When our board fails to speak up or does so timidly, it sends a message to Albany that the nearly 8,000 students and their families are okay with fewer resources.

I ask the community. Are you okay with cuts to education from Albany that would raise your property taxes? Are you okay with your school being regionalized? I am not. We deserve a board in Smithtown that can say so.

I will fight incursions and cuts from Albany. Vote for a ticket accountable to the students and families of Smithtown.

Sincerely,

Michael Simonelli

St. James

Continued on page 17

How Albany’s Budget Games Leave Suffolk County Holding the Bag

By Raheem Soto

In government, delays have costs—and in New York, the bill often lands on someone else’s desk. As Albany continues to stall on a final state budget this year, Suffolk County is again left waiting to see how much it will receive, what it must cut, and what projects it will be forced to delay.

Initially due on April 1, the state budget is now weeks overdue. With a proposed total of $233 billion, the 2025 spending plan contains everything from education funding to housing policy, and nearly all of it is still tied up in political negotiations behind closed doors. This lack of clarity for Suffolk County—home to over 1.5 million residents—is more than frustrating. It’s a fiscal liability.

Consider the facts. Under Governor Kathy Hochul’s (D) proposed budget, thirty-four Suffolk school districts face State Aid reductions. One district, Three Village, is staring at a cut of nearly $9 million. And yet, the same County that may be asked to tighten its belt is one of the state’s largest revenue generators. According to the New York State Comptroller’s Office, Suffolk County contributes over $8.5 billion in personal income tax revenue to Albany’s coffers. That’s more than many upstate regions combined.

Local school officials are now forced to plan budgets for voter approval in May—without knowing how much state support they’ll actually receive. This isn’t just poor planning; it’s planning made impossible.

At the County level, the situation is no better. Suffolk’s adopted 2025 budget shows a $46 million shortfall in sales tax revenue and a 21% jump in mandated pension obligations. Long-term projections show a general fund deficit approaching $552 million by 2028.

County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) (pictured right) has proposed a $1 billion infrastructure plan to expand the sewer system—a project intended to address environmental concerns and future housing growth. However, projects of this scale require reliable backing from the State, and when that backing is wrapped in Albany’s indecision, local governments are left juggling risk instead of managing progress.

Some may argue that the State has larger concerns—and it does. But the issues holding up the budget are not simply fiscal. They are political. Hochul’s administration is seeking changes to criminal justice laws, specifically around the 2019 Discovery Reforms. The new proposal would reduce the burden on prosecutors by scaling back the timeline and scope of required evidence disclosure. Critics argue this undermines due process. Supporters say it corrects a reform that went too far.

Then there’s education funding itself. Disagreements over the Foundation Aid formula—how the state allocates money to school districts—have halted consensus. Some lawmakers want to revise the formula to reflect updated needs. Others insist on preserving the “hold harmless” clause, ensuring districts never receive less aid than the previous year. What began as a matter of arithmetic has turned into a tug-of-war of interests.

Housing has emerged as another sticking point. Hochul’s support for “Good Cause Eviction” legislation would limit a landlord’s ability to evict tenants without court justification has divided lawmakers. Tenant advocates support it. Property owners, especially on Long Island, warn that it will discourage investment and limit new housing supply.

And through it all, most of these policy debates are being negotiated not through public committee hearings or open-floor votes—but behind closed doors by a small circle of State leaders.

The result? Rank-and-file legislators are sidelined, and local governments are left to adjust to outcomes they didn’t help shape.

What’s at stake isn’t just Suffolk’s next budget cycle— it’s the principle of fiscal governance. When a county that contributes heavily to the state’s revenues is left in the dark and potentially shortchanged, it raises a deeper question: is this about needs or priorities?

Suffolk is not asking for a favor. It’s asking for fairness—and some measure of predictability. Local governments can manage setbacks. What they can’t manage is being kept out of the loop. At the same time, their obligations continue to rise, and their funding remains uncertain.

In the private sector, delayed decisions come with opportunity costs. In government, they come with real-world consequences: fewer services, higher taxes, and delayed development.

If Albany’s current budget strategy has a lesson, it’s this: the longer the State takes to decide, the more local taxpayers are left to clean up the mess.

Autism Acceptance at Dogwood Elementary

Starting on April 1, Dogwood Elementary School celebrated Autism Acceptance Week. Children have been learning about autism and seeking ways to make school even more inclusive. Mrs. Nielsen’s students wrote and shared about the different things that make them special.

Mrs. Braun and Mrs. Diemer’s class learned about autism acceptance. After listening to a story, students brainstormed ways they can be kind and include others and worked on this project together.

On April 2, students were encouraged to wear red, gold, rainbow, or blue to show support and acceptance of individuals with autism.

One characteristic of autism is to show an incredibly focused passion for topics of interest. On April 3, students shared their passions and interests.

On April 4, students dressed in cozy pajamas in recognition of the fact that individuals with autism often have a variety of sensory sensitivities.

Kings Park HS 2024-2025

Valedictorian and Salutatorian

Kings Park High School proudly announces the Class of 2025 Valedictorian, Kyle Wozniak. With a weighted GPA of 105.91, Kyle is truly an exceptional scholar whose achievements in academics, leadership, and service have made a lasting impact on our school community. He is the recipient of the prestigious Rensselaer Medal, awarded to an outstanding math and science student, and has been named History Student of the Year, Math Student of the Year, and Science Student of the Year across multiple grade levels for his consistent academic excellence.

A dedicated leader, he has served as President of the Trivia Club, Treasurer of both the Model United Nations and Spanish Honor Society, Officer of Membership and Admissions for the National Honor Society, and Secretary of the Math Club. He is also the Founder of Kings Park’s Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society. As a Boy Scout, he earned the rank of Eagle Scout after leading a community service project and holding numerous leadership positions including Junior Assistant Scoutmaster.

His commitment to public speaking and civic engagement is evident through his contributions to Model United Nations, and his love for athletics and school spirit is reflected in his participation in Varsity Track and Field. Currently working as a Mathnasium tutor, he shares his passion for mathematics with younger students. As the Class of 2025 Valedictorian,

Kyle is a role model whose character, intellect, and service reflect the highest ideals of Kings Park High School.

Kings Park High School is proud to recognize the Class of 2025 Salutatorian, Quinn Samson. With a weighted GPA of 105.89 Quinn is an extraordinary scholar whose intellectual curiosity, scientific achievement, and deep commitment to service have defined her high school journey.

A National Merit Commended Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction, she has earned accolades across disciplines, including the University of Rochester Bausch + Lomb Honorary Science Award, the English Student of the Year Award, and multiple K Awards in track and field for academic excellence in both weighted and unweighted GPAs. Her passion for research is evident in her award-winning presentations at the Long Island Science Congress, where she explored groundbreaking topics such as “Lysis of Escherichia coli by Ultraviolet-C Radiation” and “An Evaluation of the Sensitivity and Adaptation of Soil Microbial Growth to pH Modification.”

As a research intern at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratories, she studies the role of G-proteins in T cell inhibition within pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. She further enriched her scientific experience as a clinical intern at Stanford University’s Anesthesiology Summer Institute, where she developed a digital

health solution for patients with Crohn’s disease. A passionate leader and advocate, she serves as treasurer of the National Spanish Honor Society, peer tutor for Mu Alpha Theta, and volunteer social media coordinator for New Hour for Women and Children LI, where she amplifies the voices of formerly incarcerated women. Additionally, Quinn is on track to earn the New York State Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish. Quinn truly exemplifies the values of academic excellence, leadership, and service that define Kings Park’s legacy.

Bretton Woods’ Forensic Club Is on the Case

Students in Ms. Capone’s forensics club at Bretton Woods Elementary in the Hauppauge School District worked on solving a mystery, “The Case of the Jinxed Jersey.”

In this fictional case, the detectives must figure out what happened to a famous football player’s lucky jersey when it goes missing from his hotel’s safe.

The students used their background knowledge in science and their skills in deductive logic and reasoning to figure out who may have been responsible for the missing football jersey. They engaged in acting as crime scene technicians, testing a variety of powdery substances similar to the one left at the crime scene. In the end, the students were able to piece together all the clues and find the offender.

Hauppauge H.S. Promotes Financial Literacy Fun with Financial Fridays

In celebration of Financial Literacy Month, Hauppauge High School partnered with Jovia Credit Union to bring a fun and educational experience to students through “Financial Fridays.”

During lunch periods throughout April, Jovia representatives hosted their version of “Jeopardy” designed to promote financial literacy. Students tested their knowledge on topics like budgeting, saving, credit, and financial fraud. Those who answered questions correctly won prizes such as tote bags, highlighters, shaker bottles and gift cards, and walked away with valuable knowledge.

Sachem North Raises $5K for St. Baldrick’s Foundation, Bringing Six-Year Total to Over $50K

Sachem High School North recently hosted its annual St. Baldrick’s event, raising approximately $5,000 for childhood cancer research. With this year’s contribution, the event’s total fundraising over the past six years has now exceeded $50,000, a remarkable achievement that reflects the dedication and spirit of the school community.

This year’s event was marked by high energy, with the senior class taking home the coveted title of the most spirited. Their enthusiasm helped fuel a day filled with fun and meaningful activities, including silly competitions and interactive audience participation, designed to bring students together for a great cause.

The inspiration for the event came from cancer survivor Dominick Strebel, who was a student at Sachem North back in 2018 and is now a student teacher in social studies.

The Interact Club, which organizes the fundraiser, spends months planning every detail to ensure the day is both fun and impactful. This year, students participated in shaving and shenanigans, a series of lighthearted

competitions that help raise awareness while creating lasting memories. The event also saw a wonderful performance by the school’s orchestra ensemble, which played an Irish song to celebrate the occasion. One of the highlights was Principal Mr. Nolan’s decision to shave his head in support of the cause. Additionally, the school’s talented cosmetology students and teachers were on hand to manage the head shaving, a service they have provided each year with dedication.

Though there was no specific guest of honor battling cancer this year, the event recognized all children fighting the disease, continuing its tradition of raising awareness and showing solidarity with those in need.

St. Baldrick’s at Sachem High School North is more than just a fundraiser –it is a chance for students to come together, laugh and make a difference. The Interact Club looks forward to continuing this tradition of community, fun and support for childhood cancer research.

Civics 101

The Necessary Standard for American Education

The Eighteenth and Twenty-First Amendments

By Matt Meduri

Introduced at a particularly unique and tumultuous time in American history, the Eighteenth Amendment is responsible for having banned the manufacture, sale, and transportation of alcohol in the United States. It’s also the only constitutional amendment to have been effectively repealed.

Eighteenth AmendmentHistory and Origin

“After one year from the ratification of this article the manufacture, sale, or transportation of intoxicating liquors within, the importation thereof into, or the exportation thereof from the United States and all territory subject to the jurisdiction thereof for beverage purposes is hereby prohibited.

“The Congress and the several States shall have concurrent power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.

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.

“This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by the legislatures of the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.”

The Eighteenth Amendment was the result of the decadeslong temperance movement, which sought to curb the consumption of alcohol, and thereby, the large influence it had on public life, politics, and crime, all amidst a rapidly-growing nation off the heels of the Industrial Revolution.

The Anti-Saloon League (ASL) began in 1906 in Saratoga, New York, as a campaign to ban the sale of alcohol in the state. Their campaign included elements that Prohibition, as the movement at-large would later be called, would curb poverty and social problems, such as violence and immoral sexual behavior, as well as create happier families, reduce workplace accidents, and give way to new forms of sociability.

Churches were also highly influential in garnering support for Prohibition, with the Women’s Christian Temperance Union affecting some 6,000 congregations across the country. Others, such as reformer Carrie Nation, would become known for vandalizing saloons.

By 1916, twenty-three of the forty-eight states at the time had already passed laws against saloons, and some even went further as to ban the manufacture of alcohol outright.

Eighteenth Amendment - Ratification

By August 1, 1917, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution containing the language for an amendment to be sent to the states. In a 65-20 vote, thirty-six Democrats voted in favor, twelve against, while twenty-nine Republicans voted in favor, eight in opposition. By December of that year, the U.S. House of Representatives passed its revised resolution. In a 282-128 vote, Democrats supported 141-64, and Republicans supported 137-62.

What made the Eighteenth Amendment unique is that it was the first amendment to impose a deadline date. If the minimum number of states did not ratify before the deadline, the amendment would be tabled.

Mississippi became the first state to ratify on January 7, 1918, followed by Virginia, Kentucky, North Dakota, and South Carolina. Nebraska was the tipping-point state for ratification, coming in as the thirty-sixth state to do so on January 16, 1919. New York would be forty-third to ratify just two weeks later. Connecticut and Rhode Island are the only two states to have rejected the amendment.

The better clarify the language in the amendment, Congress passed the Volstead Act, otherwise known as the National Prohibition Act, in October 1919. President Woodrow Wilson (DNJ) vetoed the bill, but the House immediately overrode his veto, with the Senate doing the same the following day. The Volstead Act set the starting date for nationwide Prohibition for January 17, 1920, which was the earliest date permissible by the Eighteenth Amendment.

The Volstead Act

The legislation was the product of Wayne Bidwell Wheeler, the leader of the Anti-Saloon League. It was supported by

Congressman Andrew Volsted (R, MN-07), Chair of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, and later the namesake of the legislation.

The Volstead Act defined how alcohol’s production and distribution would be banned. It contained three main sections.

The first section handled the previously enacted Prohibition during and after World War I. Not only did the time serve as an opportunity for reformers to get their measures passed, including Prohibition, but some suspicions of foreigners remained, as many saloons were operated by immigrants. Additionally, drinking was akin to being pro-Greman at the time, as many breweries at the time had German names.

Furthermore, the War Time Prohibition Act was less about the consumption of alcohol and more about prohibiting its usage to conserve grains. Title II of the Volstead Act defined “intoxicating beverages” as those with an alcohol content equal to or great than 0.5%.

The second section outlined how to enforce Prohibition pursuant to the Eighteenth Amendment. This included fines and jail sentences for the manufacture, sale, and movement of alcohol. It also enumerated search and seizure and enforcement powers.

However, the Volstead Act did not ban the consumption of alcohol. Citizens were allowed to possess alcohol if they were obtained before Prohibition and if drinks were customarily in the homes for occasions or company, as long as proof of purchase accompanied the beverages. Alcohol used for medicinal purposes also remained legal under the act. Physicians were allowed to prescribe one pint of spirits every ten days. Clergy could also apply for permits to provide alcohol for sacramental practices.

The third section of the Volstead Act dealt with alcohol for industrial purposes only.

The large-scale ban on manufacturing gave way to at-home winemakers, as the grapes from vineyards often could not withstand long journeys to markets where sale and manufacture were still legal.

Perhaps the largest byproduct of Prohibition, however, was the proliferation of organized crime. Major gangsters, like Chicago’s Al Capone, and Omaha’s Tom Dennison became robber barons of the drink and law enforcement’s powers were somewhat neutered by the breadth and affluence of these gangs. Speakeasies, illicit alcohol establishments, began popping up, and many “bootleggers” became sympathetic to the gangs. Even the upper echelons of society were partaking, with a Michigan State Police raid on the Detroit establishment Deutsches Haus incriminated the mayor, the sheriff, and the local congressman.

Twenty-First Amendment - Origin and Ratification

“The eighteenth article of amendment to the Constitution of the United States is hereby repealed.

“The transportation or importation into any State, Territory, or possession of the United States for delivery or use therein of

intoxicating liquors, in violation of the laws thereof, is hereby prohibited.

“This article shall be inoperative unless it shall have been ratified as an amendment to the Constitution by conventions in the several States, as provided in the Constitution, within seven years from the date of the submission hereof to the States by the Congress.”

Due to a lack of societal acceptance, the sheer logistical project of enforcement, and the rise of powerful criminal organizations made Prohibition an experiment worth ending. On February 20, 1933, almost fifteen years after the Eighteenth Amendment was ratified, the Twenty-First Amendment was ratified. It remains the only amendment that specifically repeals a prior amendment.

What also makes this amendment unique is that it is the only one to have been passed via state ratifying convention. Article V of the Constitution permits the House and Senate, when they deem necessary, to call a convention for the purpose of dealing with a specific issue, allowing Congress to effectively bypass certain levels of state sovereignty. The method calls a convention of state legislatures to deliberate and vote on the proposed amendment as written, rather than giving it to the states legislatures. Ratifying conventions also elect delegates by a popular vote for the issue, rather than going through the regularly-elected state legislatures. The convention method requires the same three-fourths majority to approve, as it does in the typical legislative method.

Michigan first voted to ratify on April 10, 1933, followed by Wisconsin, Rhode Island, Wyoming, and New Jersey. Utah was the tipping-point state, ratifying in December that year. Maine and Montana subsequently ratified. South Carolina rejected the measure unanimously at its convention, while North Carolina rejected the convention altogether.

Dry and Wet Counties Today

Even though there isn’t much federal oversight of how alcohol is manufactured, sold, and moved as there once was, states can still afford their counties and municipalities to enforce their own alcohol laws.

Thirty-three states have laws that allow localities to prohibit the sale, consumption, and possession of liquor. New York is one of these states that are “wet” by default, but have provisions for localities to exercise a local option by public referendum to go dry and to what extent. Most states defer the matter to public referenda, but some allow municipalities to enforce laws stricter than those of the state overall.

Seventeen states prohibit “dry” counties overall. In states like Arizona, Illinois, Iowa, and Maryland prevent localities from enforcing alcohol laws greater than those of the state. As a result, no “dry” communities can be formed in these states. States like Hawaii only allow local control of alcohol in terms of licensing of manufacture and sale.

While Missouri law prohibits municipalities from going “dry”, incorporated cities can by public referendum, although none have done so.

States like Montana that have Native American reservations cannot enforce liquor laws on said lands, as reservations are entirely under the purview of the federal government.

In New York, eight towns are completely “dry” and thirtynine are partially “dry”. Dry towns include Caneadea (Allegany County), Lapeer (Cortland County), and Berkshire (Tioga County). Several towns do not allow off-premises consumption, while others bar on-premises consumption, except in year-round hotels.

There are twenty-two partially “dry” counties in New York that have varying specific rules for special on-premises consumption. The Town of Wilmington (Essex County) is a “dry” county, except for on-premises consumption at race tracks and outdoor athletic fields and stadiums where admission fees are charged.

Only two states - Kansas and Tennessee - are “dry” by default and localities must pass by referenda their ability to sell alcohol subject to state laws.

Alcohol control in the U.S. (Red = Dry, Blue = Wet, Yellow = Mixed)

Smithtown Matters

Smithtown CSD Board

Candidates Write to The Messenger

Dear Editor,

I’ve proudly called Nesconset home for the past 22 years. Currently, I serve as the Vice President of Marketing for a global software company, bringing over 30 years of experience in strategic communications and fiscal oversight. Throughout my career, I’ve led largescale initiatives for Fortune 500 companies, always with a strong focus on accountability and clarity.

Community involvement has always been important to me. I served as PTA President at Tackan Elementary, spent years as a class mom, and founded the “Nesconset, Smithtown, St. James Freecycle” Facebook group, which now connects over 12,000 neighbors through simple acts of kindness. As the mother of three Smithtown graduates, I’ve seen firsthand what our schools need to support students, staff, and families. If elected, I will prioritize academic achievement, school safety, staff support, and responsible budgeting to ensure long-term educational excellence and community trust.

Sincerely,

Bernadette Ackerman Nesconset

Theresa Donohue

I am a lifelong resident of St. James and have spent the past 23 years serving in public educationas a classroom teacher, building administrator, district leader, and central office executive. I hold professional certifications in both Building and District Administration and a Master’s degree in Liberal Studies, which have given me a comprehensive understanding of how to support students and staff at every level of the educational system.

In addition to my work in schools, I’m deeply committed to our community. I’m an active member of the Smithtown East Football Touchdown Club, a longtime leader with Boy Scout Troop 7, and a former EMT-D with the St. James Fire Department. I’m running for the Board of Education to ensure all students reach their full academic potential, to strengthen communication between schools and families, to advocate for safe and modern facilities, and to safeguard our community’s financial resources through thoughtful and responsible planning.

Sincerely,

Theresa Donohue

St. James

Dear Editor,

Brandon Solomon

For the past 13 years, Smithtown has been home to my wife, our twin daughters, and me. My wife is a proud Smithtown educator, and our daughters attend Smithtown schools. As a project manager in the real estate and construction industry, I oversee large-scale residential and commercial projects and manage multimillion-dollar budgets—some exceeding $70 million.

I’m also an engaged member of the school community. I regularly attend Board of Education meetings, serve as a PTA council delegate, participate on site-based teams, and volunteer as a class parent. I’m running for the Board to create future-ready learning environments, strengthen the partnership between schools and families, support academic excellence for all students, and ensure that every decision is made with fiscal responsibility and long-term community impact in mind.

Sincerely, Brandon Solomon

Smithtown

Bernadette Ackerman

Feds: State Risks Losing Road Funding Due to Congestion Pricing

By Hank Russell | Long Island Life and Politics

The Trump administration is giving Governor Kathy Hochul (D) until May 21 to end the congestion pricing plan or else the state will no longer receive federal funding for non-safety road projects.

As previously reported in Long Island Life & Politics, President Donald Trump (R-FL) told Hochul that she initially had until March 21 to end the Central Business District Tolling Program (also known as the congestion pricing program). But, Hochul said she will dig in her heels and has no intention of shutting it down.

The Trump administration later changed its mind and extended the deadline by another 30 days. But now, Hochul has until next month to stop the cordon pricing program.

“I write to warn you that the State of New York risks serious consequences if it continues to fail to comply with Federal law, and to direct New York to show cause why the Federal Highway Administration … should not impose appropriate measures to ensure compliance,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy wrote in an April 21 letter to Hochul.

Duffy reiterated to Hochul that the program “imposes a disproportionate financial hardship on low and medium-income hardworking American drivers for the benefit of high-income drivers.” He added that motorists already pay for the roads through the gas tax and those who have to pay to drive below 60th Street in Manhattan “are now being forced to pay again while receiving no new highway benefits in return.”

their legal options, citing the legal issues Duffy raised in the letter.

“In the meantime, cameras are staying on, and New Yorkers continue to benefit from the first-in-the-nation congestion pricing program – with less traffic, cleaner air, safer streets and a stronger regional economy,” Lieber said in a statement.”

Long Island Life & Politics reached out to Hochul’s office. The governor responded in a statement, “I received the letter from USDOT extending their congestion pricing threats once again. I repeat: congestion pricing is legal — and it’s working. Traffic is down, business is up and the cameras are staying on.”

LILP also reached out to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA). Janno Lieber, the agency’s chair and CEO, said they are exploring

‘Light

By Cait Crudden

The MTA told Newsweek that the congestion pricing program, under the current tolling system, is expected to raise $500 million by the end of the year. Had the toll been set to $15 as initially proposed, that amount would have been $700 million.

This article originally appeared in Long Island Life and Politics. For more from LILP, visit them online at lilifepolitics.com.

It Up Red’ Campaign Illuminates NY’s Volunteer Firefighter Shortage

A new statewide campaign is literally lighting up New York to raise awareness about a critical issue facing communities from Long Island to the Adirondacks: the growing shortage of volunteer firefighters.

The initiative, called “Light It Up Red,” is a collaboration between the Firefighters Association of the State of New York (FASNY) and the longstanding RecruitNY program. The goal is simple but urgent, to inspire residents across the state to consider joining their local fire departments and to highlight the vital role volunteer firefighters play in keeping communities safe.

As part of the campaign, FASNY is encouraging residents to light their homes and businesses red, the symbolic color of fire service during the week of April 21 through April 27. Municipal leaders are also being asked to join the effort by illuminating government buildings, town halls, landmarks, and bridges in red light to show solidarity and support for local fire departments.

New York State relies heavily on volunteer fire departments, especially in rural and suburban areas. Many of the state’s fire departments are volunteer based. However, over the past two decades, these departments have seen a steady decline in membership. FASNY reports that the number of active volunteer firefighters has dropped significantly, straining emergency response systems and increasing the burden on current volunteers.

The campaign runs alongside RecruitNY, an annual statewide initiative held every April where fire departments open their doors to the public. Through open houses, equipment demonstrations, and meet-and-greets, these events allow residents to learn what it means to be a volunteer firefighter and how they can contribute.

“Light It Up Red” adds a fresh layer to that effort, aiming to spark curiosity and start conversations. Seeing local landmarks lit in red serves as a reminder that volunteers are urgently needed and that fire departments welcome people of all backgrounds, ages, and skill sets.

Joining a fire department doesn’t necessarily mean running into burning buildings. Many departments need volunteers for support roles such as administrative work, fundraising, logistics, public education, and emergency medical services. The message from FASNY and RecruitNY is clear: there’s a place for everyone.

Participating is as simple as changing a porch light bulb or placing a red floodlight in a storefront window, but organizers hope the impact will be far-reaching. Beyond recruitment, the campaign aims to build stronger connections between fire departments and their communities, encouraging residents to not only volunteer but also donate, advocate, and educate others about the challenges volunteer departments face.

Local officials across the state have already begun responding. In towns and cities from Buffalo to Brookhaven, red lights are going up on firehouses, town halls, and historical landmarks. School districts and civic organizations have also pledged support, using their networks to spread the word and drive turnout to local RecruitNY events.

As the red glow spreads across New York, the message is simple: volunteer firefighters are essential, and they need help. To learn more about how to get involved or find a local fire department’s RecruitNY open house, residents can visit www.recruitny.org or contact their town’s fire officials. When it comes to protecting our communities, it’s not just about lighting it up, it’s about stepping up.

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, April 24, 2025

California Put Illegal Aliens on Medicaid – Now Every American Will Pay for It

By Matt Lamb | Contributor for AMAC

In an extraordinary act of financial mismanagement, California Governor Gavin Newsom, a prospective 2028 presidential candidate, is taking out $6.2 billion in loans from the state’s general fund to meet a Medicaid funding shortfall – a direct consequence of his decision to add 1.6 million illegal aliens to the program.

While “borrowing” money might cover the gap in the short run, the true problem is that overloading welfare with millions of illegal aliens is financially unsustainable. Even worse, federal taxpayers are now on the hook for California’s farleft excess thanks to a Biden-approved scheme that lets the state take in billions of extra dollars from the federal government to fund Medicaid expansion.

The problems began in 2022 when Newsom and the state legislature celebrated becoming “the first state in the nation to provide universal access to affordable health coverage for lower-income individuals by providing coverage for Californians ages 26 to 49, regardless of immigration status.” This followed a 2019 decision to expand the taxpayer-funded health insurance plan to all residents 26 years old and younger, even illegals.

“California is tackling the cost of health care head on,” Newsom said in 2022. “Doubling down on our actions to reduce costs for middle-class families and expand access to important services, this proposal is a transformative step towards strengthening the health care system for all Californians. Everyone is healthier when everyone has access to quality, affordable care.”

The changes officially took effect in 2024. Just over a year later, they have led to an enormous, entirely predictable financial headache for the state. Unsurprisingly, providing free healthcare led to more people taking advantage of it. The state originally predicted “an estimated 764,000 undocumented immigrants” would enroll. However, the actual figure has been more than double that – and is growing by the day.

There are now “roughly 1.6 million immigrants without legal status,” enrolled in Medi-Cal, the state’s Medicaid program, according to Cal Matters. This has caused a surge in costs above even what many critics of the program predicted, and Newsom now must keep going back to taxpayers to make up the difference. He first asked for a $3.4 billion loan last month, followed by another $2.8 billion in April.

The cost of the loans is almost exactly the same as the price tag for providing health insurance to 1.6 million illegal aliens as part of the state’s $157 billion annual Medi-Cal budget, according to California Healthline.

Additionally, describing the funding requests as “loans” seems dubious at best – the Medi-Cal program will never truly “pay” those funds back into the state’s general fund. It’s a bailout, plain and simple – even as the state’s current debt stands at $273 billion. The $6.2 billion transfer merely keeps the program afloat temporarily until the next inevitable funding shortfall arises.

Republican leaders argue the expansion should be scaled back to put the program on stronger financial footing. “We must stop new enrollments of illegal immigrants and rein in this unsustainable program before it collapses entirely,” California Republican state Senate Minority Leader Brian Jones said.

“Democrats and the governor are picking priorities, and they’re prioritizing people that have come into our country illegally over people who immigrated here legally, people that are citizens,” Jones added.

Republican Assembly Minority Leader James Gallagher has similarly criticized Newsom’s mismanagement. “What has been the biggest driver of cost to the medical system?” Gallagher asked in March. “It’s been adding illegal immigrants to those rolls.” With a Democrat supermajority in the California state legislature, however, Golden State Republicans can do little besides look on in disgust.

But Republicans at the national level might be able to do something to stop the rest of the country from funding California’s handouts for illegal aliens – namely ending a Biden-era program that effectively allows California Democrats to

launder federal tax dollars for unrestricted Medicaid expansion

As the Paragon Health Institute, a conservative think tank, explained in a blog post last month, in 2023 the Biden Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved California’s plan to massively expand its tax on insurers. (Thanks to a regulatory loophole, states are allowed to tax Medicaid insurers to help pay for Medicaid.)

Under California law, the state must pay Medicaid providers the same amount as the taxes it collects. In this case, California’s increased provider tax was expected to raise about $16.7 billion in additional revenue – all of which would be paid back to providers at no cost to the state.

But the federal government pays a 60 percent match on all Medicaid funds. This means that California can now take in an extra $9.5 billion per year – all of which is paid for by taxpayers nationwide. Those funds then go toward programs like Medicaid for illegal aliens.

Overview - AMAC -

The Association of Mature American Citizens

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

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

In other words, it’s a shell game designed to hide the fact that federal taxpayers are footing the bill for illegal aliens to receive government healthcare.

Even more concerningly, as Paragon has noted, other states such as New York may now be looking to follow suit. Taxpayers in conservative strongholds could soon be forced to pay for liberal Medicaid-for-all schemes in the bluest states in the country.

California notably has sky-high taxes and by far the largest economy in the nation – if the state were its own country, it would have the 5th largest economy in the world. Yet still, it can’t pay for left-wing priorities without raiding the pockets of American taxpayers nationwide.

That should be a warning sign to the rest of the country – and an incentive for Republicans in Washington D.C. to end the ability of blue states to game the system and send Medicaid costs ever-higher.

WHERE BROADWAY MEETS MAIN STREET

WORD OF THE Week

Etymology: mid 16th century: from Latin magnanimus (from magnus ‘great’ + animus ‘soul’) + -ous.

MAGNANIMOUS

adjective

Pronounced: /mag·na·nuh·muhs/ Definition: generous or forgiving, especially toward a rival or less powerful person. Example: “He remained steadfastly humble in victory and magnanimous in defeat.”

Synonyms: generous, altruistic, merciful Antonyms: ignoble, vicious, selfish

Source: Oxford Languages

SUDOKU

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

April 30, 1859: Charles Dickens’ “A Tale of Two Cities” is first published in literary periodical “All the Year Round” (weekly installments until Nov. 26)

April 27, 1810: Ludwig van Beethoven composes his famous piano piece “Für Elise.”

the first solar battery made from silicon. It has about 6% efficiency.

Finding a Friend on the Road of Discouragement

By PJ Balzer

These weren’t two well-known people. They weren’t part of the hyper-spiritual inner circle.

One of them was named Cleopas and the other remains nameless to us until this very day.

The Bible never mentioned that person’s name, while Cleopas is only mentioned once in the entire Bible. But Jesus loved them and cared immensely about how downcast they were feeling. Despite them not having a big name or being a spiritual giant, a faith-filled mover and shaker, He cares for the lowly, unseen and nameless as well.

As they were journeying away from Jerusalem, walking on the lonely road to Emmaus, the two persons were recorded walking and talking together, talking specifically about what everyone else in the region was talking about: the main and current event that just took place, the execution and burial of Jesus. They had also recently heard that He was resurrected from the dead and was walking around town. They were too disappointed to believe it for themselves though.

The Bible insinuates that they reasoned with one another while sounding really discouraged. They initially thought and definitely had hoped that things would have worked out differently. They most likely witnessed many of His miracles and wonders. They saw His power on visible display and the way He was able to answer prayer. They probably figured, “This is it; it’s only up from here. We will never want, suffer, or experience loss ever again. God is here, walking amongst us, to eliminate all oppression, depression, tragedy, and everything else we’ve had to suffer through.”

But suddenly, the One that they had hoped in was also taken captive and taken away. Everything they had hoped for and possibly planned for was in a dark tomb. They found themselves walking the lonely road of discouragement, the road that each one of us has or will walk at different points in life.

A person who they thought was a stranger walked up behind them. He asked them what they were talking about and sounded so discouraged over, as if He didn’t already know.

But He’s a gentle friend that’s willing to walk and talk with us. He’s willing to entertain our heartbreak and our loss of faith. He’s known to meet an individual along the journey while we’re at the depths of our discouragement. He walks and keeps walking, because He knows that healing a heart is an ongoing process and not a one-time event.

Their eyes were opened as they realized it was Jesus walking up behind them. Furthermore, He was also willing to continue until sundown on the lonely road with these two seemingly unknown people He answered their honest and transparent questions. He encouraged them; He explained what had happened according to His divine purposes that they couldn’t initially understand. The resurrected Christ didn’t harshly condemn them; He encouraged their hearts as they shared a meal together. His presence and voice helped them to continue on the journey.

When I was much younger, someone older told me, “As life goes on, you’ll find out who their true friends are when you’re at the very bottom. You’ll have dozens of friends when everything seems to be going well, when you’re fun to hang out with and have money to throw around. But wait to see who is sitting next to your hospital bed, who stands with you as you’re on the unemployment line, who comes to visit you regularly if you’re ever incarcerated, who is still looking to be your friend when you’re feeling lost and in a deep depression, when you’re broke, have nothing to offer in return, and find yourself in need. You’ll unfortunately be able to count your friends on only one hand then.”

While he wasn’t totally wrong, I can also say that those times have revealed a friend I’ve found that has been willing to walk every step of every lonely road with me. Jesus has been there at the very top and the very bottom too, situations that I thought would pummel me have ended up working out for a greater purpose that I couldn’t see at the time. There’s been healing, provision, encouragement, and a heart change along the narrow way. He’s been a friend I’ve found along the road of discouragement.

Lord,

I pray for everyone today who opened this newspaper to this very page who has been discouraged, those who have been feeling alone, friendless, confused, hopeless, and swimming in the depths of depression. I pray that you would touch their minds and hearts with a hope that only you can provide. I pray for your comfort to surround them and for your word to encourage their hearts. Thank you, God, for being a friend that’s nearer to us then even our own breath. We look to you today for help, hope and a personal resurrection of our own hearts.

In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

22 County News

A Milestone Year for the Navy SEAL LT Michael P. Murphy Run Around the Lake -

The team behind the Navy SEAL LT Michael P. Murphy Run Around the Lake proudly invites the community to take part in a milestone event: the 2025 Run Around the Lake, commemorating the Twentieth anniversary of LT Michael P. Murphy’s heroic sacrifice during Operation Red Wings in Afghanistan.

Saturday, June 28, 2025

This annual event honors the legacy of Ronkonkoma native and Medal of Honor recipient Navy SEAL LT Michael P. Murphy. Whether you’re a seasoned runner or just looking to support a meaningful cause, there’s something for everyone:

• A relaxed, untimed Fun Run

• The signature 4-Mile Run

• A timed Half Marathon (three scenic laps around Lake Ronkonkoma) Register now: https://events.elitefeats.com/25murph

Sponsored by the Ronkonkoma Rotary and Northwell Health, the Run Around the Lake is more than a race—it’s a powerful tribute to Murph’s selflessness, courage, and enduring legacy.

That legacy lives on through the LT Michael P. Murphy Navy SEAL Museum in Sayville, NY. Proceeds from the event help support and expand this state-ofthe-art facility, ensuring that future generations can learn from and honor the sacrifices of our nation’s warriors.

Funds also benefit the LT Michael P. Murphy Memorial Scholarship Foundation, which provides scholarships to students who embody Murph’s values: honor, courage, and commitment—empowering them to pursue dreams once thought out of reach.

This year’s event holds deeper meaning as it falls exactly twenty years to the day since LT Michael P. Murphy and eighteen fellow service members gave their lives during Operation Red Wings.

In June 2005, during a harrowing mission in Afghanistan, Murphy and his SEAL team were ambushed and heavily outnumbered. Wounded and pinned down, with no signal to call for help, LT Murphy knowingly exposed himself to enemy fire to transmit a distress call. Amid a hail of bullets, his final words before hanging up were simply, “Thank you.”

Join us this June 28 in honoring LT Michael P. Murphy and all of our nation’s fallen heroes.

About the Race

The original Run Around the Lake began in 1980 with just 35 runners on a certified 4-mile course. In 2011, Dan Murphy—father of LT Michael P. Murphy— approached the Ronkonkoma Rotary with a vision: to turn the race into a living tribute to his son and the heroes of Operation Red Wings. We were honored to accept.

In 2012, the event was officially renamed the Navy SEAL LT Michael P. Murphy Run Around the Lake. That year, nearly 900 runners participated. Since then, the event has grown tremendously, with over 3,600 participants in 2024 and the addition of a certified Half Marathon.

Learn more, donate, register, or become a sponsor at: www.runaroundthelake.com

A Closer Look at Suffolk County’s Sales Tax Extension and the Road Ahead

By Raheem Soto

There are few things more permanent in government than a “temporary” tax. Suffolk County’s 1% sales tax increase, first introduced in 2001 as a short-term revenue measure, is once again up for renewal— this time through Senate Bill S7420.

The bill, currently under review in the Senate Investigations and Government Operations Committee, proposes extending the county’s authority to collect this additional tax through November 30, 2027. And so, a temporary measure becomes routine. Again.

To be fair, the tax itself isn’t new, nor is the need for funding basic services. Local governments, unlike Washington, can’t run endless deficits. They need balanced budgets. In that context, extending an existing sales tax is the path of least resistance. It keeps the cash flowing to law enforcement, emergency services, and general operations—without raising property taxes or making deeper structural reforms.

choice: patch the hole, don’t fix the roof.

The stated goal of this extension, as outlined in the bill, is to maintain support for “public safety” and the county’s general fund. That’s a wide net. How those funds are prioritized within that framework is left to local discretion. If the past is any indication, the money will be used— efficiently or not—and few will ask questions unless a crisis forces the issue.

Of course, there’s no immediate harm in keeping the tax as-is. The rate isn’t going up. Services aren’t being slashed. But what’s missing is a serious public discussion about alternatives: are there efficiencies to be found elsewhere? Can outdated programs be reformed? Is there a plan to wean off the extra 1%—or is permanent extension just the plan?

It’s easy to approve a policy that’s already in place. It feels familiar, even safe. But familiarity can breed complacency. And policies, no matter how routine, deserve scrutiny—especially when they involve the automatic transfer of wealth from the private sector to government coffers.

But the more important question isn’t about whether the money is needed. It’s whether the underlying spending has been examined with the same level of urgency.

Sales taxes are broad-based and easy to collect. They also hit lower-income families harder, as a larger share of their income goes to taxable purchases. For over two decades, Suffolk County has leaned on this tool. The 1% add-on may not seem like much in the moment, but over time it reflects a deeper policy

As the bill moves forward, Suffolk County residents might do well to ask: What’s the long-term plan? Is this just another extension—or the new normal?

For those wanting to see the numbers and the law for themselves, the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance provides public updates.

But beyond the fine print lies the broader principle: taxes are never just about revenue. They’re also about responsibility—and whether government is using its share as wisely as you’re expected to spend yours.

By Raheem Soto

Four Fatal Crashes, 36 Hours

Suffolk County’s roads turned deadly over the weekend, with four lives lost and others injured in a series of separate traffic incidents. What these events have in common is not just tragic timing—but a reminder of what happens when ordinary decisions carry extraordinary consequences.

The first occurred Saturday evening in Lindenhurst, where 53-year-old Jose Batresmendez of Copiague was struck by a motorcycle while crossing North Strong Avenue. The motorcyclist didn’t stop. Police say the driver fled the scene. Batresmendez was seriously injured and taken to Good Samaritan Hospital. The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are asking the public for help identifying the rider.

Just a few hours later, 69-year-old Carlos Villafane of Mastic Beach was hit and killed on Sunrise Highway in Blue Point. According to police, he was standing in the center eastbound lane near Waverly Avenue when a Ford Mustang, attempting to avoid several pedestrians, struck him. The driver remained on the scene. Villafane died where he stood. The vehicle was impounded for a routine safety check.

That same night, a multi-vehicle crash in Massapequa claimed another life. Police say 19-year-old Brian Romero Guy August of Medford was driving a Bentley SUV and tried to turn right from a left-turn lane on Sunrise Highway near Unqua Road. The result was a chain-reaction collision involving a threewheeled motorcycle, a second vehicle, and a utility pole.

facing charges that include vehicular manslaughter, assault, and driving while intoxicated.

And by Sunday morning, the toll climbed again. Twenty-six-year-old Airton

The motorcyclist, 48-year-old Willie Singleton of Bay Shore, died at the hospital. His 47-year-old passenger was seriously injured. August is now

unsafe turns, and,

Local History

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Lake Ronkonkoma Homemakers Unit 38

By Ellyn Okvist, B.Sc.

After the Lake Ronkonkoma Equal Rights Suffrage Club was victorious with the 19th Amendment, the continuity of the women in Lake Ronkonkoma followed in 1941 with the formation of the Lake Ronkonkoma Home Bureau Unit Organization.

“Mrs. Vera Brush of the County Home Bureau will conduct a meeting next Monday at the local Legion post rooms, preparatory to forming a Lake Ronkonkoma Unit of the Home Bureau. A minimum of 20 members is necessary, and those desiring to join are asked to get in touch with Mrs. George Pearsall of Church Street.” - The Mid-Island Mail February 12, 1941.

The newly formed group made the twenty-member quota with twenty-nine original members. Mrs. George Pearsall was chairman; Mrs. Frank Dehe, vice chairman; Mrs. Ivar (Elsie) Okvist, secretary and treasurer; and Mrs. Eric (Billie) Okvist corresponding secretary. Members all signed in using their husband’s first names. Their meetings were held at Burke’s Bus Terminal on Union Avenue but were gradually disbanded and reorganized in 1947 with a new increased membership.

1952 showed fifty-six members, and 1953 was sixty-six members. Their meetings were held at St. Mary’s Parish Hall on Pond Road, and the classes were welcome and much needed by the women. Included were fur coat remodeling, cotton dresses, glove making, lamp wiring, caning, hat remodeling, remodeling upholstered furniture, slipcovers, and card making. The Silver Tea each year had a display of such articles. Sandwiches and cookies were served, and an auction was held of handmade articles which became the highlight of the afternoon.

Mrs. Ivar (Elsie) Okvist, who at the time was chairman, began a cancer drive in the area. Mrs. Nellie Olsen volunteered her services to drive a patient to Bay Shore for treatment. A cake sale was held in Conklin’s Pharmacy for the Palsy Project. Card Parties and Chinese Raffles were held using Stanley Brush gifts that were won from their parties. Day Trips to New York City were common, to see the Arthur Godfrey Show, Kate Smith, International Flower Show, The Robe, etc., and sometimes just to shop! Get-togethers were held at Duffield’s Beach on the Lake. Dues were $2.10. The first Christmas Party was held at Club 38 on Pond Road with Nellie Olsen playing Santa, which she continued to do for many years.

The Seventh Anniversary of the Club was held in 1954 at a wonderful party, and at the same time, the Home Bureau was officially changed to Extension Service Unit. From 1954-1955 there were eighty members. They were now teaching basketry, simple carpentry, refinishing wooden salad bowls, gardening, winter

corsages, and hooked rugs. Card and games parties seemed to be successful fundraisers. They continued their bus trips to the city, silver teas, and covered dish luncheons. Mrs. Fred Meagher was in her second term in office.

In 1960, Yarlow’s Variety Store offered a 10% discount to all Unit members. However, there was a lull in raising money. The Unit held a trip to the Blue Point Laundry, where 50 cents was paid per member to the unit of eighty-nine members. In 1961, the legality of card parties was discouraged, as the Department of Agriculture frowned upon it. Covered luncheon dinners, Dark Horse, and social card parties were deemed acceptable.

The Unit once again changed its name to Nesconset-Lake Ronkonkoma in 1962, and they were now meeting at the Nesconset Armory. Fund raisers included Tupperware sales, Chinese Auctions, and in 1964, a trip to the World’s Fair. In 1967, dues were increased to $2.50, and classes were added such as lawn culture, rose culture, bread making, meat classes, pattern alterations, and weight control. There was also more freedom for courses to be taught, and crafts had become more acceptable.

Unfortunately, records from 1968 through the late 1980s are missing. The Holy Cross Lutheran Church became the meeting site in 1988, and prices were changed. The grab bag was raised to $2.00 per gift; in 1990 it was raised to $3.00 to prevent members from receiving “junk”, finally reaching $5.00. In 1989, the Unit moved into the Islip Senior Citizen Center and was renamed Lake Ronkonkoma Homemakers.

The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Unit was held in 1991 at the Christmas Dinner. Three of the “Original Members” attended- Nellie Olsen, Elsie Okvist, and Sunny Birch.

The Unit remained at the Islip center until 2008 when they moved to the Lake Ronkonkoma Fire House Building on Hawkins Avenue. Popular crafts are card making, anything that can be sewn, crocheted, painted, or glued. The Unit gives to the Rodden Home residents, soup kitchens, food pantries, and outreach to local churches and miscellaneous charities, and holds various social functions during the year. New people are always eager to pitch in and help or to teach crafts.

Today, the membership is seventy-five, and the dues are $26.00. The monthly food collection is given to local church pantries. School supplies are collected in September and given to local schools that are in need. Toys are collected in December for the Lighthouse Mission, and many community service projects that the members fully participate in are recognized.

Eighty-four years strong this year, and they still have their Chinese auction every year, which is their main fund raiser. This Friday, April 25, 2025, at 10:00a.m. is the Annual Spring Auction, held at the Lake Ronkonkoma Firehouse. Join them for a lot of fun and adventure to see what they are all about!

Christmas toy donation

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

A2A Is Here. Move Smart or Get Moved Past

By Mollie Barnett

The second wave of AI has arrived. Not with more headlines—but with more autonomy.

It’s called A2A: Agent-to-Agent communication. And while it may not sound as flashy as chatbots or virtual assistants, it’s the biggest shift yet in how AI will work inside your business.

Here’s the short version: A2A enables AI systems to talk to each other. Not just once. Continuously. In real time. Across your entire organization.

What does that look like in practice?

An AI system monitoring your inventory detects low stock. It alerts another agent managing marketing, which pauses ads. A third AI updates your cash flow projection. Then your customer service system preps messaging about availability—before you even know there’s an issue.

No prompts. No waiting. No human input.

This isn’t hypothetical. These systems are already being tested across industries. And they’re moving faster than most business owners realize.

The Shift from Tools to Teammates

Most companies spent the last year learning how to use AI tools. They asked questions, generated content, maybe automated some tasks.

That’s the first wave: AI as a highly capable assistant. You give the prompt. It gives you output.

A2A is the second wave: AI as a fully autonomous operator. It doesn’t wait for your instructions—it collaborates with other AI agents to take action on your behalf.

That shift—from tool to teammate—is massive. Because once AI systems start coordinating without you, the conversation changes from “What can AI do?” to “What is AI deciding?”

And if you’re not in control of those decisions, you’re not in control of your business.

Why This Matters for Mid-Sized Firms

Large enterprises have teams to test, govern, and fine-tune AI systems. Startups have the flexibility to experiment and pivot.

Mid-sized companies live in the tension between ambition and resources. They’re big enough to need scale, but often too lean to absorb missteps. And they’re the ones most at risk of diving into A2A without the safety nets in place.

Right now, many of these firms are just getting comfortable with AI basics. But A2A isn’t waiting for them to catch up. It’s already arriving—built into SaaS platforms, offered by vendors, marketed as plug-and-play solutions.

What looks like an upgrade may be a handoff: You’re not just speeding up processes— you’re ceding parts of them to autonomous agents.

Without oversight, that’s not innovation. That’s risk.

Where to Start: Five Smart Moves

The good news? You don’t have to pause. You have to proceed with clarity.

The companies navigating A2A well are doing five things:

1. They start small. They run A2A pilots in one department or use case. Supply chain. Finance. Customer support. Then they measure results before scaling.

2. They map decision chains. Who triggers what? What’s the threshold for action? Who’s accountable if it goes wrong?

3. They invest in AI fluency across teams. This isn’t just IT’s job. Everyone—from ops to marketing—needs to understand what AI is doing in their lane

4. They demand visibility. Every AI interaction must be traceable. If something goes wrong, they know which agent triggered it—and why.

5. They tie AI performance to business metrics. Time saved. Errors reduced. Customer satisfaction improved. No vanity dashboards—just real impact. It’s not about avoiding AI. It’s about owning it.

What Comes Next

A2A will keep accelerating. Open-source projects are building plug-and-play frameworks. Tech platforms are integrating multi-agent orchestration by default. What feels cutting-edge now will be standard in 18 months.

That means your competitors will be faster. More efficient. More adaptive.

But the advantage won’t go to whoever adopts A2A first. It will go to those who adopt it well.

Those who align it with strategy. Who will govern effectively. Who trust it—because they understand it.

The Bottom Line

This is not just another AI upgrade. It’s a turning point in how decisions are made inside organizations. The companies that build their systems—and their strategies—for autonomy will lead the market. Those that don’t will be led by it.

Mollie Barnett, a Microsoft-certified Generative AI expert and Forbes Communications Council member, brings twenty years of marketing leadership to AI transformation. She specializes in helping SMBs implement practical AI solutions for business, training, and integration, and provides strategic guidance on AI ethics, security and compliance.

26 Theater & The Arts

Thursday, April 24, 2025

Theatre Three’s

‘Wait Until Dark’ is a Spine-Chilling Thriller

By Cindi Sansone-Braff

Christine Boehm’s emotionally driven direction was apparent from the moment the house lights dimmed, and the cat-andmouse onstage action began. The tight-knit ensemble brought the compelling characters in “Wait Until Dark” to life, while the highstakes plot, with well-timed twists and turns and a few well-placed red herrings, kept the audience on the edge of their seats right up to the blockbuster ending.

“Wait Until Dark” is a suspense-filled 1966 Broadway drama by the English playwright Frederick Knott, a master of cunning plot devices. Lee Remick starred in that production and was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play for her captivating portrayal of Susy Hendrix. Knott’s version took place in the 1960s; however, Theatre Three’s masterful production features Jeffrey Hatcher’s gripping 2013 adaptation, set in 1944.

This two-act play revolves around Susan Hendrix, a recently married woman who lost her vision in a car accident 18 months before the play’s action begins. Susan is still navigating a sightless world when three con men, anxious to find a mysterious music-playing doll, wangle their way into her life. Trapped in her basement apartment, she draws on her newly acquired intuitive skills and amplified senses to outwit the criminals.

When it comes to “Wait Until Dark,” most people think of the 1967 movie starring Alan Arkin,

The unholy trinity of con men is the evil engine that drives this play forward. Scott Joseph Butler’s intense facial expressions and body language sent chills up my spine with his spot-on depiction of Harry Roat, Jr., the psychopathic criminal mastermind determined to fight to the death to get what he wants.

David DiMarzo gave a standout performance as Mike Talman, a smoothoperating petty crook who manipulates Susan by pretending to be a Marine Lieutenant who served in Italy with her husband. Susan and Mike’s relationship is complicated. DiMarzo effectively communicates the inner conflict he feels about deceiving Susan with the exacting delivery of his lines and through his nuanced facial expressions.

Weston, Julie Herrod, and Audrey Hepburn. Hepburn received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her stellar performance as Susy Hendrix.

In Theatre Three’s production, Jessica Mae Murphy was perfectly cast as Susan Hendrix. She fully possesses the brains, beauty, and talent to step into the shoes of the iconic Audrey Hepburn while making this demanding role uniquely her own. Murphy delivered a believable and likable portrayal of Susan, a strong-willed, determined, visually impaired woman striving to live her best life.

Eric J. Hughes was outstanding as Sam Hendrix, Susan’s photographer husband, who has PTSD. The electrifying onstage chemistry between Murphy and Hughes was one of the show’s high points.

Adriana Mia Como gave a memorable performance as Gloria, Susan’s mischievous young neighbor. Como played this complicated, troubled, intelligent tween with the right blend of sometimes spoiled, often sassy, but mostly childlike vulnerability.

Richard O’Sullivan shines as the bogus Police Sergeant Carlino, a bearish man in a heavy overcoat who is Roat’s half-witted henchman. When Sgt. Carlino isn’t scaring the hell out of the audience, his onstage antics provide some much-needed comedic relief.

Randall Parsons’s realistic Greenwich Village brownstone basement apartment, Indigo Shea’s awe-inspiring lighting design, metaphorically juxtaposing darkness and light, Tim Haggerty’s fightor-flight-triggering sound design, and Ronald Green III’s period costumes contributed greatly to this production’s overall success. A special shoutout goes to Heather Legnosky, Fight Choreographer, for her perfectly timed, visually exciting, and realistic-looking fight sequences.

Theatre Three’s terrifyingly terrific production of “Wait Until Dark” proves why this theatrical gem continues to fascinate audiences. If you’re stumped about what to give the moms in your life for Mother’s Day, gift them with tickets to this tensionfilled thriller, which runs through May 11, 2025. To purchase tickets, please call the box office at 631-928-9100 or visit www. theatrethree.com.

Content Warning: This show contains adult situations and may not be appropriate for all audiences.

Cindi Sansone-Braff is an awardwinning playwright. She has a BFA in Theatre from UCONN and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. She is the author of “Grant Me a Higher Love,” “Why Good People Can’t Leave Bad Relationships,” and “Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic.” Her full-length Music Drama, “Beethoven, The Man, The Myth, The Music,” is published by Next Stage Press. www.Grantmeahigherlove.com.

Richard Crenna, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Jack

Photos courtesy of Jeff Bellante

Duck Season! Ducks Host ‘Fan Day’ for 25th Anniversary Season

By Matt Meduri

Long Island’s very own professional baseball team has been waiting in the dugouts for a special season - their twenty-fifth in play, live from Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip.

Last year’s season was originally intended to be their big milestone, but the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, making this year all the more significant.

Of particular celebratory note, the team will be wearing special twenty-fifth anniversary jerseys all season long, which will be auctioned off after the season with proceeds benefiting the QuackerJack Foundation, the ball club’s charitable arm.

All parties have been all-in on the Ducks’ commemorative season, with the Town of Islip having been faithful partners on several initiatives, and Suffolk County pitching in some funds for renovations.

Renovations include an all-new turf field, with a massive Ducks logo emblazoned just beneath home plate. The pitching mound was also fully replaced, with new bullpens and padded outfield walls.

The Ducks are particularly excited for this coming weekend, with Opening Day slated for Friday, April 25gates open at 5:35p.m. for a 6:35p.m. game against the Lancaster Stormers - and a Family Fun Day on Sunday, April 27, with gates opening at 12:35p.m. The Family Fun Day will allow families and children to experience the allnew ballpark for themselves, as well as interact with the team.

Weekly promos continue to run, with Thirsty Thursdays making a return, and one lucky fan will have the chance every Saturday to win 40,000 Breeze Airway points, valid for two tickets on Breeze Airways which flies out of Islip MacArthur Airport (ISP).

runs in the middle of play. O’Connor threw out 44% of runners in his career, with 49% last year.

Regarding pitching staff, Ford and company are optimistic on “limiting three-base runners and making the other team work instead of giving away the ball.”

“I feel like this is a path God put out in front of me. This is a very high-level place to play baseball, to get back into affiliate [baseball], to get back into the big leagues and prove that I’m healthy,” said Ducks infielder Seth Beer (#28) (pictured left), referencing an injury-plagued career that he’s been eager to overcome, adding his praise for the team and organization.

“These are the types of guys who come in every day ready to play; they work hard, they play hard,” said Ford.

“This is what we expect from the Ducks and these are the types of guys who are going to further their careers.”

“We’ve been consistent,” said Atlantic League of Professional Baseball CEO and Ducks founder Frank Boulton. “We’ve had great fans throughout the twenty-five years here on Long Island. But I don’t think that just happens. That happens because the entire organization works all year long. We don’t just put the ‘baseball today’ sign out. It happens because we’re here 365 days, working to make sure that we fulfill our mission of affordable family entertainment.”

The Heroes of the Game program returns, wherein Veterans and active-duty military personnel are honored at each game.

“It’s been such a pleasure to have out so many Veterans and we’ll continue that this year with the partnership with [Suffolk County Executive] Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) and the Suffolk County Veterans Agency,” said Ducks Communications Vice President Michael Polak at the ballpark last weekend.

Polak and the Ducks are also glad to have Chris King and David Weiss back in the broadcasting booth for another season. The duo make up the longest-running broadcast crew in the Atlantic League and are about to begin their twenty-fifth season together.

Ducks starting pitcher John Gant (#35) invoked a similar feeling to his teammate.

“This game of baseball is real special,” said Gant. “I feel like God has brought me here specifically.”

“New York is split 50-50. We have New York Yankees fans and we have New York Mets fans. But the entire Island is Long Island Ducks fans,” Ducks pitcher Nick Tropeano (#41) told The Messenger. The West Islip native reflects fondly on his time of visiting the ballpark as a child, only to pitch from the mound today.

Foremost, the organization remains committed to their creed of local, affordable family fun. Parking will remain free throughout the season.

“We’re very excited about the roster we’ve put together this year,” said Ducks Manager Lew Ford (pictured right). “Last year, our team stole 190 bases and we’re looking to build off that this year. We looked for players that can run, play defense, but also have some power in the middle of the lineup. It’s very balanced on the roster side.”

Ford says catcher Justin O’Connor (#11) is of particular interest, owing to the need of a good catcher who can stop

“It’s kind of full-circle,” said Tropeano. “I came here when they first opened, I was twelve years old watching these guys play, and now I’m on the field.”

The Ducks went on to soundly defeat the California Dogecoin in a spring training match, in which the Ducks denied the Dogecoin a single run throughout the game, save for two in the seventh inning.

The flock hit the baselines running at the start of the game, racking up six runs in the bottom of the first inning, courtesy of River Town (#14), Justin O’Connor (#11), and Troy Viola (#24). Chris Roller (#9) earned the flock a tenth run in the fifth inning, while Zach Plesac (#17) (pictured left) pitched three scoreless innings, striking out four and giving up one hit. Juan Hillman (#36), Tim Melville (#51), and Mark Washington (#33) also produced scoreless innings.

The Ducks defeated the Dogecoin 14-2 in their first public game of the season. All eyes now look to a not only strong but commemorative season going forward.

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. 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).