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Thursday, October 8, 2026 ~ Volume 138 ~ Issue Number 47 ~ $1.00
Sound Alarm on State’s
Unfunded Mandates By Matt Meduri As Suffolk’s townships prepare their budgets for the end of the year, a major question looms: will the tax caps be pierced, and if so, by what margins? New York State enacted the tax cap in June 2011 under thenGovernor Andrew Cuomo (D). The law capped annual increases in municipal and school district property taxes to 2% or the rate of inflation, whichever is less. The intention was to address the state’s high cost of living and brake check any runaway taxation. The law forced municipalities into stricter budgeting to align with local tax growth with broader economic figures in mind. Continued on page 11
Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) calls for State flexibility on unfunded mandates.
Smithtown Opens Survivors Park in Commack By Matt Meduri Parks and recreation have been one of the top priorities of Smithtown’s government for the better part of a decade now. From the Nesconset Armory to Paul T. Given park near the Bull, Smithtown has seen revitalization in that regard. This Wednesday, however, a new park opened, this time in Commack. Phase I of Survivors Park opened inside Valmont Park at 44 Marie Crescent. The ribbon-cutting was timely as it helped kick off Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The tribute park had been in the planning phase for years under Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park). Continued on page 12
Officials at Phase I of Survivors Park in Commack (Credit - Town of Smithtown)
FULL STORIES ON:
Candidates Vie For Comptroller’s Seat Page 4 & 5
Youth Bureau Seeks Board Members Page 17
Watermill’s History of Community Service Page 25
Credit - Matt Meduri
Town Supervisors
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Messenger Papers Thursday, October 8, 2026
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AUTUMN EVENTS Sayville Farmers Market at the Islip Grange: Every Saturday until November, 9:00a.m. to 2:00p.m.
Seashore Circular (Adult Program): Sunday, October 18, 9:45a.m. to 1:15p.m. at Caumsett State Park.
Port Jefferson Farmers Market: Every Sunday until November, 9:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. Islip Farmers Market at Town Hall: Every Saturday, 7:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. Long Island Fall Festival at Heckscher Park Huntington October 9-12 (Hours vary) Bethel Hobbs Farm Fall Harvest Saturday, October 10th 11am-5pm Let’s Go Camping: Wednesday, October 14, 10:30a.m. to 11:30a.m. at Connetquot River State Park.
Parrot EXPO: Saturday, October 17, VFW Post 433 in Sayville, 9:30a.m. to 5:00p.m. Spooky Lantern Walk (Family Program): Saturday, October 24, 6:30p.m. to 7:30p.m. at Caleb Smith State Park. Pumpkin Carving (Family Program): Sunday, October 25, 10:30a.m to 12:30a.m. at Nissequogue River State Park. 13th Annual Great Jack-O’Lantern Sail: Saturday, October 24, 3:00p.m. to 6:30p.m. at Belmont State Park. Stony Brook Village Scarecrow Competition through November 1
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Town News Thursday, October 8, 2026
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Candidate Spotlight Thursday, October 8, 2026
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Jon Estreich By Matt Meduri Attorney Jon Estreich is making his first play for public office with a large ambition: succeeding the term-limited Comptroller John Kennedy (R-Nesconset). Jon Estreich sat down with The Messenger for this candidate spotlight interview. Q: What is your professional background and how does it equip you for the Comptroller’s seat? A: I’m a former Suffolk County prosecutor; I know my way around a subpoena. I was there for over three years (2021-2024). I was hired by former D.A. Tim Sini (D-Mt. Sinai) and worked under now-D.A. Ray Tierney (R). I worked in Central Islip, on the East End, and then I moved to Appeals. I used to see D.A. Tierney all the time; I’m very eager to work with him if I’m so lucky to be elected. I think he’s done a great job. Before that, I was at the MTA office of Inspector General, so I know my way around auditing a complicated procurement. I was a senior investigative attorney there. There was one particular bid-rigging investigation we had on locomotive engines. By the end of that investigation, I’d like to say I could probably put one of them together. I think that’s what the people of this County need. They need somebody who’s able to tear apart a complicated procurement, figure out if there’s any corruption or pay-toplay, or waste, fraud, and abuse. This is a $4.3 billion budget and if it’s the first $4.3 billion budget without waste, fraud, and abuse, it’ll be the first multi-billion dollar budget in history to be that way. I worked at the MTA during 2019 - the “Summer of Hell” - when all the trains were getting stuck and the track work was going on. We investigated overtime abuse, bid-rigging, all kinds of corruption and waste, for which the MTA is obviously famous. A mile of MTA rail costs many times more what it costs in places where it should be equivalent. During the Pandemic, my wife and I moved out to Laurel in the Town of Southold. I also have 10 years of experience in the Army. As of two weeks ago, I’m a Commander of Headquarters Company in Gaithersburg, Maryland. I have 140 soldiers that I get to take care of; it’s an extraordinary opportunity. In the JAG Corps, I’m a Judge Advocate. In the Army Reserve and JAG Corps, there’s only one command billet under O-6, which is “full bird” Colonel, and I’ve got it. That’s an extraordinary honor. In my 10 years in the JAG Corps, I’ve been to Japan, Germany, and South Korea. I’ve done investigations there, things like soldier suicide, unfortunately, but also simpler things like childcare. The Army provides childcare and I’m tasked with making sure it’s done well. I check to make sure the soldiers have all their sensitive equipment. From the gravest things to the last grave things, I’ve had the opportunity to investigate. I’ve been a law clerk for a federal judge and a State judge. I’ve worked in big law firms, the Governor’s office for a while, including as a liaison to the nonprofit sector. I think that the most vulnerable in our country and their nonprofits deserve to be treated well. Nonprofit money is sometimes too hard to get out the door, especially for the smaller ones who don’t have the people dedicated to cutting through the red tape. We’re watching the opioid settlement money come through, but a nonprofit in Westhampton didn’t apply for renewal because the process was too onerous. I will never overlook those people. I worked under Governor Cuomo from 2013 to 2019 as the nonprofit liaison. We saw two big nonprofits in the City that collapsed. Met Council of Jewish Poverty, which ended up taking Sheldon Silver (D) down, and Ridgewood-Bushwick, which took Vito Lopez (D) down. These were spectacular failures where the vulnerable were left vulnerable. The nonprofits were doing a lot of self-dealing with political angles. We helped put these nonprofits back together. I worked in the crisis unit for two years and those nonprofits are functioning well at this point.
Candidate: Jon Estreich Residence: Dix Hills Occupation: Attorney Office Sought: Suffolk County Comptroller Previous Elected Office: None Party Lines: Democratic Endorsements: CWA, State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli (D-Great Neck Plaza), Congressman Pat Ryan (D-Kingston) Most recently, I had a job in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for two years. I quit that job to take this race. I have a small law firm in Huntington. I do criminal work and a little bit of immigration work as well. I’m an alumnus of Herricks High School, I went to SUNY Albany (‘01), and then to University of Texas School of Law. Q: What are your plans if you’re elected? A: I would look for pay-to-play. I’d look in the usual places: single-source contracts, no-bid contracts, consultant contracts. If you’re going to hide pay-to-play, that’s where you’d hide it. I’d look for no-show jobs, the obvious things that stick out. On the first day, I want to start work on a realtime spending dashboard. The federal government has it - I don’t know how well it works in controlling spending - but at least they have something. I’d like to create something the taxpayer can use to understand where their money is going. I don’t think they have any tools like that at all. I think the County has taken a step back on some transparency stuff over the last few years, certainly since the 2022 cyber hack. I was at the D.A.’s office during that; we had no computers for a month or two. I think some of that transparency stuff has come offline and I think that’s unfortunate. I’d like to start that taxpayer dashboard, even if it’s not perfect, but to get it out as quickly as possible and improve it as the years go on. I was at a Coram Civic Association meeting recently and they were questioning who’s next in line for the sewers. Where do the next 10 go? Where do the next 100 go? How come we don’t know that? Where are the new police cars going? Are they going to the First or Third precincts? I think a spending dashboard could tell people that. I want to restore people’s faith in government. The taxpayers have different interests, and ultimately, it’s their money, but we need to be the cops on the beat. Recently, a contract was renewed where a union who had been doing a great job for twenty-plus years was replaced by non-union laborers who had some kind of connection to Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R). Maybe that’s a problem, maybe it isn’t. The unions say they want to see the documents. The administration says, “take our word for it.” I think you need a Comptroller who will go in there and say, “we shouldn’t have to take your word for it. Show us the documents, we’ll create a report.” Sunshine is the best disinfectant. I don’t have a vendetta; I’m not trying to take anyone down. And if there isn’t any corruption, I’ll scream it from the rafters because I want people to have faith in their government. I’ll be the happiest guy in the world if I don’t find any corruption because it means I can move onto other stuff. If you don’t think one-party government works in Washington, and I assure you, in some ways it doesn’t, then I would also assure you that in Suffolk County, it doesn’t work well either. If Bruce Blakeman (R) says that one-party government doesn’t work in Albany, then vote for me for the same reason here in Suffolk County. My only boss is going to be the Suffolk County taxpayer. There’s no Democratic or
Republican way to do this job. Q: Suffolk is flush with record-high cash reserves and excellent bond ratings. How do you continue that economic stability? A: There’s multiple funds for the County. There are some tax increases; in Huntington, they’re talking about piercing the tax by about 20%. I’m sure they’ll come down, but it’s still an outrage. The County seems to be in good shape, but there are warning signs. The towns are the warning signs, especially towns more beholden to property taxes and not so much to sales taxes. Even the County Legislature said recently they anticipate that we’ll operate a deficit. We should not be complacent. We should be extraordinarily cautious. We may still have the AA- bond rating, but we need to be particularly vigilant in this precarious position. If recent history is any indication, we’re in a tough spot. Q: Economic forecasts are looking grim, with the AI bubble possibly fomenting a depression. What’s your contingency plan for the worst? A: Anyone who’s spending from their reserves at this point has got to be out of their minds. Warning signs are everywhere. I used to go to Trader Joe’s because it was cheap. Now, I go to Lidl. My job as Comptroller wouldn’t be to make policy decisions when the house of cards inevitably comes down in some manner. My job is going to be to create a clear picture to the taxpayer. In Huntington last year, our supervisor said everything was fine, but they’ve spent almost 30% of their reserves in a year. Anyone who was looking under the hood knew that everything wasn’t fine. The job of the Comptroller is to be open and honest with the taxpayer and let them know that things are or aren’t going well. We don’t want to surprise the taxpayers because then they lose faith in government. Q: What is your favorite quote, motto, or work ethic? A: “Government is of, by, and for the people,” which comes from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. I’m tired of the career politicians. It can’t be this detached look at what the government is doing to us. Government is us, as Theodore Roosevelt said. I’m not looking to do this for a career. If I’m doing this 20 years from now, you can call me on it. Q: How do you like to connect with your community and what do you do in your spare time? A: When my son plays soccer, I’m standing on the sidelines shooting the breeze with the other parents. That’s a place where democracy happens. That’s where you meet your neighbors, you see how they’re doing. I think that’s where this country is at its best. I used to be a really, really competitive softball player. I played second base for the D.A.’s team. I watch baseball whenever I can; all the other sports, you can take it or leave it. Most of my time these days is spent with my family. I have four kids all under 7 years old. The Messenger thanks Jon Estreich for his time for this interview.
Candidate Spotlight Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
By Matt Meduri Brookhaven’s Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro has served at various levels of government, but his ambitions this year are perhaps his highest yet. He is seeking to succeed the termlimited County Comptroller John Kennedy (R-Nesconset) in what would be his first county-wide position if elected. Superintendent Losquadro sat down with The Messenger for this candidate spotlight interview. Q: You have an immediate background in roads. How does that make you qualified to oversee County finances? A: People tend to associate the Highway Dept. with just road work, but they forget that running that dept. is administering the program that maintains the third largest road system in New York State. It’s different from the jobs of my counterparts in other towns. This is a much more administrative job in Brookhaven. I have 300 employees between the various divisions, which encompasses roads, stormwater management, engineering, traffic safety, street lighting. I have tremendous amounts of experience in running a very large department, employees, and dealing with a very substantial budget. Another thing people don’t realize is because Brookhaven is so large, Highway accounts for fully one-half of overall Town spending $160M out of $320M. So goes Highway, so goes Brookhaven’s budget. I have to work very closely with the supervisor on the budget to make sure Highway is not adversely affecting the overall credit rating, debt service, bond rating, for the Town. Incidentally, Brookhaven has a AAA bond rating, the highest possible rating we can have. We have a strong, positive outlook from all the ratings agencies on our financial plan. One of the things that has led to that has been my budgeting and forecasting and putting cash reserves in place, which they never had before. When I first came in in 2012, Highway had no cash reserves. That first year came in March, we had a very bad winter, we went over the budget. I realized we needed reserves in place. I like the expression, “you don’t build a church for Easter Sunday, you build it for every Sunday.” We had to build up reserves to get to the point where we could absorb weather fluctuations. We’ve done that successfully. We budget $3.5M annually for snow removal, keeping us within historic averages. This year, we spent $11M, as this was a very bad year for snow removal but that fluctuation did not impact our finances. We had significant reserves; that’s the type of budgeting I have done. I’ve been Highway Superintendent for almost 14 years, but I was elected four times to the County Legislature, where I was the Republican Conference Leader, and 4 years in the State Assembly. Despite being the youngest member of the Legislature at that time, my colleagues elected me to be conference leader, which means I sat on every budget working group and negotiated with the Presiding Officer and the County Executive on those budgets. I’m very familiar with County finances. I worked for StateFarm insurance for 10 years right out of college until I left to become a County Legislator. Working for State Farm, I was senior property claim adjuster and a fraud investigator. I investigated auto fraud, arson, theft, staged accidents. Because of my technical background - my father owned an auto body shop, I grew up fixing cars - I was able to do expert witness testimony in court because not only did I have the insurance knowledge but the technical knowledge which allowed me to be an asset as an expert witness in court. I was involved in the prosecution of numerous individuals for insurance fraud. When brought in for examination under oath, most people would withdraw their claim. I was involved in a very significant case where an auto body shop owner went to jail, as did the owner of one of the vehicles involved. Those types of cases were gratifying because I knew that the work I was doing was not just about that one case, it affected insurance rates for everyone in New York. In insurance, fraud costs everyone. That gets spread over the risk for all ratepayers. It’s the same thing in government, when there’s fraud, it can spread out over the taxpayers. We pave over 200,000 tons of asphalt a year. Brookhaven is enormous, so much so that I have to split my paving contracts into two halves because no one contractor can do both sides. I split my paving contract up and all my contracts up to make sure that we can’t be unbalanced, in compliance with NYS public bidding laws, and getting the best price we can for the public. Hurricane Sandy really exposed the issue of work being handed out left and right to contractors. I came in and one of the first things I found was that the work being handed out was not in compliance with NYS open bidding laws, labor laws, prevailing wage laws, and I had to set out to rebuild the entire structure by which Highway gave
Thursday, October 8, 2026
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Dan Losquadro Candidate: Dan Losquadro Residence: Shoreham Current Position: Brookhaven Highway Superintendent (2013-present) Office Sought: Suffolk County Comptroller Previous Offices: Suffolk County Legislature (2003-2011), New York State Assembly (2011-2013) Party Lines: Republican, Conservative Endorsements: AME, Suffolk Law Enforcement Coalition, Suffolk PBA, CSEA, LIFL out work. We redid all of our work to make sure we were compliant with laws at the time. One of the first meetings I took was with the D.A. to make sure what I wanted to do would put us in compliance. That effort led us to be the successful applicant for the NYS Municipal Consolidation and Efficiencies Grant. About 8 years ago or so, Brookhaven won a statewide grant. We were doing the most and could do the most to bring those costs down. We won that grant, and ever since, we have been offering our services and contracts to other municipalities and small districts. It runs the gamut of other agencies who are able to avail themselves of our enhanced buying power since Brookhaven is so large and saves the taxpayers a great deal of money. Even on the smaller things, like street lights, we changed all 45,000 street lights in town to LEDs and it has saved us millions of dollars and continues to return on our investment just on energy savings alone. Those are the types of innovative things during my tenure here that I bring with my breadth of experience. Q: What would be your top priorities as Comptroller? A: Thankfully, I know County Executive Ed Romaine’s (R) managerial style. It’s not an accident we were able to do this together in Brookhaven and now you see Romaine’s success in the County over a very short period of time. I really look forward to working with Romaine again because he and I have had a great relationship over many years. We served together in the County Legislature, Romaine left the Legislature to run Brookhaven just a few months before I left the Assembly to go to Highway. I think I can help him continue on his path in Suffolk County. The County isn’t yet at AAA bond status, but well on their way and I want to make sure we get there. My goal is to put us on the absolute best financial footing to maximize those ratings and outlook. I want to make sure we are placing investments in the right spots to maximize those returns. Auditing the County’s medical plan and pharmacy benefit management, if we can recover any costs. Any money that I would be saving is all taxpayer money. The County is different in that a lot of the County’s money comes from sales tax, but that is still money that is coming directly out of people’s pockets, whether they’re visiting Suffolk and we want to make Long Island as attractive a place as possible for people to come and choose to spend their vacation dollars. We don’t want to unnecessarily tax people either. Q: Given broader economic conditions, where should the County be spending/investing, and where should the County look to cut back, at least temporarily? A: Hope for the best, plan for the worst. This is why we build those reserves. I plan to eliminate pipeline debt. You look at old bond proceeds: old deposits, projects approved but the grant to pay the local share never came in, planning never happened, public opposition killed the project, etc. I want to look at unexpended bond proceeds and eliminate that pipeline debt. We did that in Brookhaven. There was some consternation, “what’s going to happen to this project?” The project never came to pass, but let’s not sit there and look at it for 10 more years. If the project does get revived, we can always go back out to bond and move it forward, but in the meantime, there’s no sense in having this on our books. Brookhaven is so large we are not that many orders of magnitude away from the County. I have found that being in executive capacity is much more gratifying, because I get to make those decisions for better or for worse, I’m the one who has to say “no” to people. I have to explain myself instead of forming a committee on the legislative. You never want to be the person who says “no.” At Highway, everyone wants their road paved every year, and huge infrastructure projects every year, but it’s a 10-foot-high stack of work that needs to be done
with a 1-foot stack of money. You have to prioritize, triage, tell a lot of people “no,” and explain why the answer is “no.” That is something I’m very well-acquainted with. I want to make sure we have the right person with the right experience to work with Romaine to make sure we can deliver on that 0% tax increase that he wants to deliver this year, and do it while preserving core services. As Mark Twain said, “there are lies, damn lies, and statistics.” Gas prices are high, gas taxes are high, but that’s putting a squeeze on other areas of discretionary revenue, so those areas might come lower. During my time at the County and State, in times of financial difficulty, we have actually seen our local tourism increase. People take “stay-cations” instead of travelling elsewhere. They spend their money locally, especially on the East End. Sales tax revenues increase considerably. During the 23 years I’ve been in office, I’ve been through the good times and bad times. I’ve seen the pendulum swing both ways and bust accordingly. I’m a firm believer in holding to that same budgeting model and forecasting. There were plenty of years where we had such a mild winter that we salted a couple times. I remember one winter we didn’t drop a plow blade. In those years where we barely spent a penny, I got pressure from the Town Board to pave more roads. No, we put that money into a capital reserve for snow removal. Plan for the bad times. And then we go through a winter like the one we just had and those same people say “you were right.” It’s not about the get-richquick schemes; it’s about discipline and long-term planning Q: What’s your favorite quote, motto, or work ethic? A: “Man in the Arena” - Theodore Roosevelt. That brief speech, I think, encapsulates what you need to be an executive, especially in the modern world. It’s amazing how Roosevelt’s words transcend time. Roosevelt understood that to be successful in that type of capacity, you have to believe in what you’re doing. It wasn’t the person who was criticizing, it’s not “the critic who counts.” It’s the man in the arena, the person doing the job. Q: How do you connect with your community and what do you do in your spare time? A: For me, connecting with people is very easy. I’m a very hands-on person; I’m out on jobs every day. Whether I’m looking at drainage problems or paving jobs, I interact with the public on a regular basis in this capacity. It’s been very easy to stay grounded and connected with the public. I enjoy having conversations with people,and inevitably those conversations will evolve from just talking about drainage problems by their house or their road needs to be repaved to other matters. I’m blessed with an amazing wife and two wonderful children. My wife is a teacher, so we usually only get to travel during school breaks, but my son and I are both certified SCUBA divers. On our summer trips, we usually like to travel to some place we can dive. It’s a whole different experience to be able to share that with my son. My son is a competitive fencer, and the high school fencing season will be starting in November. He’s very excited about that. Last year, he had a knee injury and still took third in the County, so he is very much looking to be County champ this year. My daughter is a dancer and a field hockey player. What my kids do gives me such joy to see them successful at something because they understand the value of hard work. It’s so great to be able to see your kids excel in things and I try to instill in them that everything you do is a product of your effort. The one thing no one can take away from you is your work ethic and the effort you put into something. The Messenger thanks Superintendent Losquadro for his time for this interview.
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Editorial Thursday, October 8, 2026
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
The Government Giveth, the Government Taketh More Tax Dollars
This week, Suffolk’s ten town supervisors penned a bipartisan letter to Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Hamburg) urging her and germane State leaders to, essentially, be more realistic when it comes to what the municipalities can afford in the face of brutal, unfunded State mandates. The towns account for varying percentages of the property tax dollar, but on average, it’s pennies on the dollar compared to school districts, for instance, which account for about 70% of the property tax bill. And yet, the towns have the onus of providing essential services while also leveraging those funds as best as they can to not only offer recreation and quality-of-life add-ons, but to be able to settle debate when taxpayers routinely ask, “why exactly am I paying so much in taxes?” The State, run exclusively by Democrats since 2019, has been on a goodie-bag bender. While we think that many of their social programs, safety nets, and ambitious pitches as of late - subsidized childcare, for example - are not ill-intentioned, they’re certainly illconceived when the bigger picture is consulted. It all goes back to the classic adage: a government powerful enough to give you everything you want is powerful enough to take it all away. Fiscal liberals and many in Albany will argue that times are tough and the government needs to step up, when it has been, in fact, the state and federal governments’ fiscal malfeasance run amok for decades all along. In other words, create the problem and present yourself as the solution, Albany ostensibly says. We can’t find a good argument against decent benefits for municipal workers. After all, they do make the towns and vital services run, and there’s no reason a good collective bargaining agreement can’t remain in place, we think. But at the same time, if Albany wants to sweeten the pot to whatever end, they should understand that requiring the towns, who have many locked contracts in these areas, are being squeezed too thin. Either taxes must go exorbitantly, or services must be cut. Even the best-budgeted town will face this problem as long as Albany continues on its
spending rampage, which begs the question, why do the towns face the arbitrary tax caps while the State has free range and the Comptroller seems to have been reduced to a mere suggestion of good economic principles? Comptroller Tom DiNapoli (D-Great Neck Plaza) has done a solid job over the years in calling balls and strikes and lambasting his own party on their reckless spending habits. Albany, however, never wants to be realistic and say, “give it to me straight, doc.” It’s no question that both parties, at least federally, are on a spending binge to retain votes. In the State, we place more of that blame on the Democrats, but there are Republicans who are clearly petrified of rocking the boat in the face of political annihilation. But all we’re seeing is fiscal mismanagement, which increases the cost of living, followed by goodie-bag deals to keep people in New York, which is then followed by more fiscal mismanagement. It’s a brutal cycle and it seems there’s not an adult in the room to be found - obligatory reference to Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick (R-St. James) who has been sounding this alarm for decades. In New York, the Democrats are invariably the party of giveaways. Again, we don’t think their ends are ill-intentioned, but the means are not justifying those ends. The townships shouldn’t be on the hook, not just fiscally, but also reputationally. They will now face the ire of their residents who see massive spikes in property tax bills and rightfully descend on Town Hall to complain. Yet this year’s gubernatorial election might be more of a referendum on Donald Trump than their own qualities of life in New York, as disastrous a president as Trump is right now. Suffolk County once again gets punished for voting against the State machine in the last several elections, while Albany will continue to pin the blame on the federal government. This didn’t begin with Washington, D.C., or Donald Trump, and it certainly won’t end with them either. We’re not endorsing Long Island statehood, for practical and logistical reasons - at least not right now - but we won’t be surprised if that’s a much more salient topic in the coming years.
Look, Kids! Another Epstein-Related ‘Suicide’ This week, another startling episode was released in the Jeffrey Epstein saga. Simon Andriesz, a former Wall Street banker, was found dead this week after blowing the whistle on Epstein’s connections to incumbent Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (R-NY). Andriesz, who himself appeared in the Epstein Files, conferred that Lutnick made much of his money through Ponzi schemes and money laundering. Andriesz said on his social media account that he was intent on releasing more documents, but his apparent suicide conveniently complicated that. Before we discuss further, let’s ask the obvious question: why would a whistleblower claim to have more information and express his intention to release only to kill himself before such revelations could be made? That alone should set off alarm bells for foul play. Lutnick is hardly a saint. He claimed to have broken off contact with Epstein in 2005, but openly perjured himself before Congress last year, as emails from the Department of Justice (DOJ) show he and Epstein kept in contact well into the 2010s. In fact, Lutnick spoke with Epstein just a year before the latter’s own “suicide,” as the official narrative - that hardly anyone with whom we speak - buys. The two spoke about their joint investments in an AI-powered financial platform. Lutnick was also found to have had lunch with Epstein on Epstein’s private island in the Caribbean. Lutnick has said he doesn’t remember much of that trip, which we find immensely difficult to believe. The email that solidifies that chain was one to Epstein from Lutnick’s wife, stating that their children were with them. However, she didn’t identify the children in any other way than by stating their ages. We all know what transpired on that island. It’s unimaginable that someone could be so involved in such heinous acts, but our business is to report the facts and let you, the reader, decide for yourself. Andriesz is hardly the first Epstein-adjacent, apparent suicide of which many are skeptical. Jeffrey Epstein: the man himself was apprehended for the final time in 2019. He purportedly committed suicide at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York, which was closed in 2021 to “severe infrastructure decay” and has remained closed since. We vividly remember the days leading up to the infamous event. In the immediate aftermath of Epstein’s arrest, before his death, we recall a deluge of Internet jokes, social media memes, and passing conversation about how Epstein would “kill himself” because his alleged crimes were just so bad and so many bigwigs in government, finance, etc. were implicated.
We were just as surprised as everyone else when Epstein did, in fact, turn up dead in his cell. The classic tropes were all there: the cameras weren’t working, the guards were none the wiser, and the official narrative came down from the higher-ups and was not to be questioned - or else you’re a “conspiracy theorist.” Jean-Luc Brunel: A French modeling agent who has been accused of recruiting girls for Epstein. He was found hanged in his Paris prison cell in February 2022 while awaiting trial for rape and trafficking charges involving minors. Burnel was ready to cooperate with U.S. prosecutors and provide evidence. It has been reported that Brunel’s lawyer said Brunel had incriminating photographs and was negotiating an immunity deal. DOJ emails reveal that Brunel might have been paid off to clam up when Epstein learned of the talks as far back as 2016. Virginia Giuffre: Perhaps Epstein’s most prominent victim and public accuser, Giuffre’s testimony helped expose the entire network and even forced Prince Andrew’s hand in a multi-million dollar settlement. She died by suicide at 41 years old in Western Australia. While her family asserted she took her own life, her father questions the narrative. This is the only one we can give some real deference to. It’s likely Giuffre already had a massive target on her back to prevent more testimony, and it’s quite likely she was severely mentally troubled from effectively having her life and innocence robbed from her. But it’s still worth questioning, as Giuffre clearly wasn’t scared enough to back down entirely. Mark Middleton: A former Bill Clinton (D-AR) White House aide who had facilitated multiple Epstein visits to the White House was found dead in Arkansas with a shotgun wound to the chest and an extension cord around his neck. Middleton reportedly flew on Epstein’s fabled plane as well. This one’s narrative of suicide is the most absurd to us, based solely on the circumstances of his death. Umar Dzhabrailov: A Russian businessman and politician who was named in the Files. In 2001, he exchanged emails with Ghislaine Maxwell to arrange a Moscow visit for Epstein. He was found dead of a gunshot wound in Moscow. His daughter disputed this. The federal government seems intent on retaining millions of more files than they released, and the mainstream media should be talking about this everyday, but are not. Walks like, quacks like, we say.
Op-Ed Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
By Jack Cutrone
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Long Island Home Prices Are Still Rising. What Does That Mean for Your Next Move?
Read the national housing headlines, and you might expect homebuyers to have an easier time finding something affordable. Sales have slowed, and more homes are available nationally. On Long Island, however, the latest figures show prices continuing to rise. According to OneKey MLS, Suffolk County’s median single-family sale price reached $760,000 in August 2026, up 7% from a year earlier. Nassau County’s median reached $911,000, up 4.7%. For residents hoping to buy their first home, those numbers can feel discouraging. For homeowners considering selling, they may sound promising. But neither group should make a major decision based on a countywide number alone. The median is the middle sale price. It does not mean every home increased in value by the same amount. The mix of properties sold can also influence that figure. What matters most is what is happening among comparable homes in your community and price range. Nationally, the National Association of REALTORS® reported that existing home sales fell 2% from July to August. Available inventory increased to 4.9 months of supply, while the median sale price remained 1.6% above a year earlier. A housing market can have fewer sales and still have rising prices. Buyers may hesitate
because monthly payments stretch their budgets. Sellers may hold out for their asking price. Fewer transactions do not automatically produce lower prices. There are also signs that buyers are gaining some breathing room. OneKey’s August report described its broader New York metropolitan service area as a seller’s market with less urgency and modestly more inventory. That report includes counties beyond Long Island, so its regional figures should not be treated as Suffolk or Nassau statistics. For local buyers, the practical lesson is to examine each home carefully. How long has it been listed? Has the price changed? What repairs will it need? What have similar homes sold for? Those answers are more useful when preparing an offer than a headline declaring that buyers or sellers have the advantage. For homeowners, rising prices should not be mistaken for permission to set any asking price. Buyers still compare properties. They consider taxes, insurance, needed repairs, and the monthly mortgage payment. A home can sit on the market if its price does not make sense alongside other choices. As a Pricing Strategy Advisor, I look at recent comparable sales, current competition, condition, and buyer response when helping sellers develop
a pricing plan. Preparation matters, too. Before spending heavily on renovations, homeowners should consider whether buyers are likely to recognize that expense in the purchase price. Addressing a maintenance issue may be more useful than undertaking a costly project just before listing. Buyers face a different challenge: deciding what they can comfortably afford without relying on predictions. It is understandable to hope for lower mortgage rates or lower home prices. Nobody can promise when either will happen, or whether they will happen together. A home purchase should work with the financing available today. A future refinance may be helpful, but it should not be necessary to make the payment manageable. That budget also needs to include property taxes, insurance, maintenance, and any association fees. Two homes with the same purchase price can have very different ownership costs. For Long Island, affordability is also a community concern. When residents struggle to find housing within their budgets, decisions about staying near family, changing jobs, or establishing a household become harder. We should care about more than whether
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home prices set another record. We should also care about whether people can build a future here. Strong property values matter to homeowners. Access to housing matters to the people hoping to become homeowners. A healthy Long Island needs room for both. One month of sales figures cannot answer those larger questions. It can remind us why clear information and realistic expectations matter. Sellers should prepare and price carefully. Buyers should understand their full costs and compare opportunities without feeling pressured to rush. For anyone selling one home to buy another, both sides of the move belong in the same plan. The sale proceeds, next monthly payment, and timing all matter. Long Island’s latest price figures remain strong. Buyers may also be finding more room to consider their options. Both can be true. The most useful question is what today’s local conditions mean for your home, your budget, and your next move. Jack Cutrone is a Licensed Real Estate Salesperson with Patriot Real Properties, serving Suffolk and Nassau counties. He holds the Military Relocation Professional (MRP) and Pricing Strategy Advisor (PSA) certifications. Learn more at JackCutrone.com.
Albany Says ‘Affordability.’ Long Island Taxpayers Should Ask: ‘Affordable for Whom?’ By Amber Benson There is a question every New York homeowner should be asking right now: If towns are expected to live within a 2% property-tax cap, why did New York State increase its own budget by 7%? New York’s enacted Fiscal Year 2027 budget is approximately $277 billion — 7% higher than the previous year. The Republican delegation sounded the alarm for two months past the April deadline for the budget but were overruled by a socialist party supermajority which included billions in NYC bailouts. Even the State Comptroller, a Democrat, warned that projected spending exceeds projected receipts in each year of the State’s financial plan. Meanwhile, calendar-year local governments are being told that the allowable levy-growth factor for 2027 remains capped at 2% with a calculated inflation of 3.13% as the cherry on top. Think about that: Albany can increase State spending by 7%. Your town is told to manage at 2%, and a majority of these expenses pushing Town budgets higher are Albany mandates, leaving local governments no choice but to pay. That contradiction is why Suffolk County Town Supervisors recently stood together — Republicans and Democrats — and asked Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Hamburg) and State lawmakers for an open discussion about New York’s tax-cap formula, unfunded mandates and the growing pressure being placed on property taxpayers. They were not asking Albany for permission to spend recklessly or to pierce the cap. They were asking Albany to acknowledge reality. Before Your Town Spends a Dollar, Albany Has Spent It A Town Board can decide whether to purchase a new vehicle, renovate a building, or fund a new initiative. It cannot decide whether to make its required pension contribution, it cannot refuse mandated employee-healthcare costs, it cannot disregard court-ordered expenses like the recent LIPA settlement, and it cannot pretend that major regional problems involving energy costs, solid waste or infrastructure do not eventually show up in a municipal budget. These are mandatory costs that must be funded alongside garbage collection, road repair, drainage,
parks, beaches, public safety, and every other essential local service residents expect. Republicans in Albany sounded this alarm repeatedly before, during and after this year’s budget deadline, and as Smithtown Supervisor Edward Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) explained during the press conference, before towns put pen to paper to budget for your trash pickup, your pothole repairs, mowing the ballfields, etc., the mandated expenses have already consumed or exceeded the entire allowable growth under the tax cap. That is the conversation Long Island should be having, not whether local governments should be fiscally responsible - of course they should. The question is whether the Governor and her supermajority can continue imposing costs while pretending those costs do not count when determining what local taxpayers can afford. Albany’s Budget Is Growing Faster Than the Governments It Restricts The FY2027 State Budget was not finalized by the April 1 constitutional deadline. Governor Hochul announced an agreement with the legislature on May 7 and signed the enacted budget on May 28. That budget contains major new spending commitments. Some people may support those priorities; others may oppose them. That debate is healthy, but there should be another debate happening at the same time: who ultimately pays? When Albany expands spending, increases the cost of healthcare, adds benefits, creates mandates, or leaves expensive regional problems unresolved, those costs do not disappear. Eventually, they arrive at the County, the school district, Town, utility bill, and ultimately, at YOUR kitchen table. The Suffolk Supervisors put it simply: residents do not experience government spending based on which level of government created the bill. A dollar added to a local budget because of a State mandate is still a dollar somebody has to pay. Then There Is Energy Long Islanders are already paying some of the highest utility costs in the country, while billions of dollars have been collected from ratepayers to fund the State’s clean-energy agenda. Whatever
your position on those policies, one thing should be non-negotiable: affordability and accountability. If Albany is going to keep adding costs to our electric bills, taxpayers deserve to know exactly where that money is going, what they are getting for it, and whether the money already collected is being used wisely. Then There’s Long Island’s Looming Garbage Problem Four waste-to-energy facilities currently burn our trash and generate electricity, with LIPA buying the power they produce. Those agreements expire in 2027, and if Albany and agencies like the DEC continue to ignore a crisis they helped create, the consequences could be catastrophic. Without a workable plan, more garbage would have to be trucked off Long Island, driving up fuel, disposal, and sanitation costs at every level. This is not a problem that will spare anyone based on ZIP code or income — if these costs spiral, even the East Hampton millionaire will feel it. Albany needs to act now, before Long Island taxpayers are left holding the proverbial trash bag. Stop Looking Only at the Tax-Cap Headline Every year, taxpayers hear the same phrase: “Town pierces tax cap.” It makes for a nice headline. I’m sure it even helps keep the lights on at some media outlets, but it fails to inform taxpayers at a negligent level for the “Free Press”. Governor Hochul should have to answer a simple question: Why is it acceptable for Albany to increase these costs, and then tell towns to fit a 7% increase to the bill inside a 2% tax cap. That’s money out of your pocket. Don’t you want an explanation? If the State mandates the expense, why isn’t the State funding it fairly? Why does Long Island send billions of dollars to Albany and get roughly 39 cents back for every dollar? You cannot hand Towns a stack of bills they did not create, refuse to adequately fund them, and then blame local government when the math does add up. So, stop asking only whether a Town exceeded 2% and start asking who created these costs and hold them accountable.
Albany Should Have to Answer the Same Affordability Question Governor Hochul has repeatedly made affordability a central theme of her administration, and her political campaign. That theme is something we can all get behind if it was genuine, but affordability cannot be measured with a small government rebate check, a press conference, or a catchy slogan. Affordability is not a slogan. It is what families actually pay for; property taxes, electric bills, insurance, housing, transportation, and everything else it costs just to stay here on Long Island. So, ask yourself, how is it fair to force local governments to live within a 2% cap while State spending grows by 7%? If Governor Hochul has a good reason for spending more, let’s hear it, and why shouldn’t the towns forced to collect the bill have a seat at the table before those decisions become your next property-tax increase? And when election time comes, ask another simple question: are the people making these decisions actually making New York more affordable? Remember who fought for you at the State Capital. Leaders like Rob Ortt (R-North Tonawonda), Ed Ra (R-Franklin Square), and our own Senator, Mario Mattera (R-St. James), pleaded to the press to no end that this would happen. They sounded the alarm for months on their social media platforms. But in the end, Socialists operating at a supermajority, with control of the media, let the clock run out on the legislative session only to add even more on top of the original budget tab. Ask yourself, if the definition of insanity is making the same choice over and over and expecting a different outcome. Maybe it’s time to make a change if you’ve voted for the Governor or the Democratic Party all this time? So, this November, take a look at your tax bill. Look at your utility bill. Look at what it costs to live here today compared with a few years ago. Are we getting better results for all this spending — or just bigger bills? The Governor can call these policies “affordable” all day long. The only number that matters is the one coming out of your wallet.
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Small Business Spotlight Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Shopping Local is Better for You
By Diane Caudullo Amazon, once its own phenomenon and currently a true convenience to most people, is, as they say, both a blessing and a curse. You can quite literally order something and have it delivered the same day due to all the new local warehouses stocked with inventory. In our days of instant gratification, if delivery takes more than a day or so, it can be disappointing and it would be even crazier to think you may have to leave the comfort of your couch to buy something nowadays. The selection can be pretty impressive, and the item just shows up at your door with the click of a button; that can be a blessing. But for something seemingly so good, there is usually a downside. We have all probably been there, snuggled on the couch in pajamas, with the throw blanket over us, scrolling…and scrolling…and scrolling. We compare different items, we pick the perfect one, or more often settle for the available one, and “click.” The credit card is charged, already stored in the phone - so we didn’t even have to get up for our wallet - and the order is on the way. It becomes somewhat mindless shopping, which can easily lead to spending way more money than planned, or simply buying more than intended. Many people find themselves with so many boxes on their doorstep smiling away at you, and you can’t even remember what you purchased. More significantly is the damage it does to the community around you. With fewer and fewer people actually going into the physical stores, brick and mortar stores are closing, leaving vacancies that are hard to fill and slowly chipping away at the character of a neighborhood. Fewer stores in the area take the jobs with them. Stores that sell merchandise are often the perfect entry-level jobs for our young people starting and taking their first step into building a work ethic, understanding taxes taken from their paycheck, and budgeting their weekly pay. These jobs are often beneficial to the mom, dad, or retiree who wants to work part-time to bolster their household income. The next benefit lost is that Amazon and even the Walmarts, Targets, and Kohls are not actively involved in your local community groups. They are not the ones continually sponsoring the school play or the local sports teams. They want to sell you something in the instant that you think you want it, and move on; there’s no
real relationship there. They also don’t want you to have the chance to think about it. It can absolutely be, and is encouraged to be, an impulse buy. The timer on the cart says if you order in the next few hours, you can have it by tomorrow. It’s designed to excite, entice, and rush you to click. If you had to make time and drive to a store, you may think twice about how much you really want or need it. On the other side of the coin are the local stores, often owned by a person or family nearby. These are people you may actually know and can speak with, people to call or see face to face if there is a problem, or you want to invite them to sponsor or participate in an event. These are also people who you see patronize stores and restaurants in the area. It’s literally the gift that keeps on giving. Then there are the locally owned stores, hardware, stationery, and the small boutiques; the artisans at the local craft fairs, and many more. If and when possible, start there. Some of the best gifts today aren’t exactly items, but gift certificates to local pizza places, delis, and coffee shops. Consider the play places, the craft places, bowling alleys, and movie theatres; a show at the local live theatres like our favorite Smithtown Performing Arts Center. Maybe even a subscription to an amazing local newspaper. A thoughtful gift that will be appreciated, dare I say, even a little more than the coffee mug or shirt. So remember, for every dollar spent locally, that dollar goes on to be used in other neighboring businesses, over and over, as well as payroll for local people and even contributes to the tax base of your community. As we enter into this extended Holiday season - and honestly, the entire year - shop your local businesses for whatever your needs are first. Encourage others to do the same. The well-being of your neighborhood depends on it.
R E P U B L I C A N
C O N S E R V A T I V E
A RECORD OF
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FOR SUFFOLK COUNTY PRESERVED OUR OPEN SPACES PROTECTED OUR WATERWAYS
HELD THE LINE ON PROPERTY TAXES Early Voting October 24 - November 1
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Keep Suffolk County The Best Place To Call Home.
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This Week Today Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
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Thursday, October 8, 2026
National, State, and Local Temperature Checks By Matt Meduri National Last Wednesday, the world watched as a possible terrorist attack involving a commercial airliner flying from Dubai to Tel Aviv was hijacked. The official story is that FlyDubai flight FZ 1073, with 166 Israeli passengers on board, was hijacked by an Omani copilot who stabbed the captain in the cockpit and attempted to crash the plane. The plane reportedly plunged 14,000 feet in a matter of minutes. Passengers stormed the cockpit, restrained the rogue copilot, and an additional flight crew on board was able to land the plane in Saudi Arabia. The Jerusalem Post reports that some of the passengers credited the Indian pilot, who was stabbed, for opening the cockpit door to let them in. An alternate flight approved by the Israeli Mossad transported the passengers from Saudi Arabia with a new flight staff back to BenGurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Israeli intelligence says that the Omani copilot was a lone actor not under orders from Iran or a terror sponsor. The story, however, has been questioned. Top questions are how the Omani pilot was able to get on board the plane with a weapon, how the United Arab Emirates (UAE) allowed an Omani citizen to fly a plane en route to Israel when the nations had previously agreed this would not occur, and how the plane was not heavily damaged externally or disrupted internally from such a steep dissent. A pilot expressed his doubts over those logistics in an interview with CNN. Furthermore, CNN and The Associated Press report that the Omani pilot had already been fired by Oman Air and flagged by Omani authorities for extremist views. That this pilot had slipped through perhaps the world’s tightest aviation security system to fly a sensitive route to Israel has also posed questions. The UAE has confirmed that the copilot used the cockpit’s own emergency crash axe to assault the Indian pilot, rather than having brought a weapon on board. An Arizona judge has tossed a killer’s tenyear sentence after he said he “loved” an AIgenerated video of the victim forgiving his murderer. The case started last May, when Gabriel Paul Horcasitas, 54, fatally shot Christopher Pelkey, 37, in a road rage incident in Phoenix. Horcasitas was given a 10.5-year sentence after being convicted of manslaughter and endangerment. But last Wednesday, the Arizona Court of Appeals ordered a resentencing. They opined that Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Todd Lang, 63, was “clearly impacted” by the AI-generated video of Pelkey forgiving his murderer. The video was created by Pelkey’s family and appears to have asked the judge for leniency. “To Gabriel Horcasitas, the man who shot me: It is a shame we encountered each other that day in those circumstances,” the artificial version of Pelkey said. “In another life, we probably could have been friends. I
believe in forgiveness.” Lang was ostensibly moved by the fake video according to live courtroom video. “I loved that AI. Thank you for that, and as angry as you are and justifiably angry as the family is, I heard the forgiveness and I know Mr. Horcasitas appreciated it, but so did I,” said Lang. He added that he felt the video was “genuine” and reflective of the “character” he had heard about Pelkey. The Appeals Court argues that Horcasitas was denied due process since the sentencing court relied on that AI video. The Appeals Court also said, however, that the video “crossed the line” and that it does not “reflect actual events.” Rather, they found it presents a “depiction of the victim and his thoughts created from the imaginings of the victim’s sister.” More intrigue arises as a whistleblower on the Jeffrey Epstein scandal was found to have committed suicide after leaking damning information that connects Epstein with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick (R-NY) (pictured left). The Banker reported the death of Simon Andriesz on Friday morning. Andriesz was a former Wall Street executive who worked for a subsidiary of Lutnick’s Cantor Fitzgerald until his termination in 2017. He alleged that he had uncovered undisclosed business ties between Lutnick and Epstein within the Department of Justice’s files. It further undercuts Lutnick’s own claims that he broke all contact with Epstein in 2005. In an interview last year, Lutnick said his thought at the time that Epstein was “gross.” Andriesz himself appeared in the DOJ’s Epstein Files after he conferred with the FBI in 2021 that Lutnick “made his money through Ponzi schemes and money laundering.” Andriesz himself wrote on social media, “the personal consequences of whistleblowing, and the retaliation I say followed, have been devastating for my family and me.” He added that he planned to use the account to “share more of the evidence and the story behind what happened.” Secretary Lutnick has called the claims “categorically false.” Lutnick had already been found to have perjured, as files released last year show he had email communications with Epstein and that he and his wife had lunch with Epstein on his family in 2012. An email surfaced written by Lutnick’s wife, Allison, to Epstein’s assistant. “We are a crowd…2 families each with 4 kids ranging in age from 7-16! 6 boys and 2 girls. I hope that’s okay,” wrote Allison. The Andriesz whistleblowing shows that Lutnick and Epstein spoke in 2018, just a year before Epstein’s apparent suicide. The two reportedly spoke about their investments in Adfin, a United Kingdom-based, AI-powered financial platform. The emails were written after both men had invested in the company. BBC reports that Epstein and Lutnick invested in Adfin shortly after Lutnick visited
the island in 2012. Lutnick and Epstein were neighbors in Manhattan’s Upper East Side before Epstein’s arrest and death. State Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Hamburg) is looking to get ahead of the curve on possible job displacement with the growth of AI. This week, Hochul announced a new expansion of her free community college initiative for native New Yorkers between the ages of 25 and 55. Starting in January, those residents can enroll in a SUNY or CUNY associate degree program in a high-demand field for free, even if they have already completed a college degree in a different area of study. “The initiative will increase access for tens of thousands more adult learners by allowing individuals with existing credentials to pivot careers and gain valuable qualifications in high-growth sectors such as advanced manufacturing without accumulating debt for tuition, fees, books and supplies,” according to a statement from the Governor’s office. “As AI continues to reshape the global economy, I’m taking action to ensure more New Yorkers have the skills they need to succeed,” Governor Hochul said. “By expanding access to free community college, we’re making it even easier for adult learners to pivot into fast-growing, high-demand sectors without taking on a single dollar of tuition debt.” The Governor’s office added that the expansion closely follows federal data showing New York had the fastest-growing economy in the nation for Q2 of 2026. The state’s real GDP grew at an annual rate of 4% between Q1 and Q2, the highest of any state and nearly double the national growth rate of 2.2%. Meanwhile, Hochul on Monday declared a disaster emergency in response to the spread of measles across rural Upstate. The measles outbreak started just weeks ago in Pennsylvania. The State Health Department has tracked 108 cases so far since October 3. The Governor’s office stated that 92 cases since mid-July had occurred in “under-immunized, rural communities” across 18 Upstate counties. Otsego County has been tracked with the most of any county at 20 cases. Seneca County has reported 18, while Steuben County has reported 14. Of New York’s 62 counties, 35 have reported zero cases, including Suffolk. Nassau has reported just 1 case. Just 7 cases have been tracked in New York City’s five boroughs this year, compared to 20 last year. The Associated Press reports the U.S. is in the middle of its worst measles
outbreak since 1991. Nearly 4,000 cases have been reported; Pennsylvania accounts for about one-quarter of overall cases. New York also joined 15 other states in suing the Trump Administration over its changed guidelines on childhood vaccines. While the Center for Disease Control (CDC) stopped recommending seven vaccines for children, the measles vaccine was not one of them. Hochul’s disaster declaration expires on November 4. The order modifies State regulations to allow more healthcare professionals to vaccinate and test for measles. It also suspends the requirement for adults to consent to having their vaccination status included in a State registry. Local NextEra Energy, a Florida-based energy company, has suspended their operations at two Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) facilities in the Town of East Hampton. The move comes after a 2023 fire at the Wainscott facility led to water contamination. The facility has become a flashpoint in the broader debate against BESS facilities on Long Island. NextEra, the world’s largest energy company by market capitalization, is suspending their work at the Montauk facility as well. Both facilities are jointly owned by NextEra and National Grid. “We are very grateful that this agreement has been reached,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) (pictured left). “The 2023 fire at the East Hampton BESS location, and the consequent contamination of the site and surrounding areas, prove that the operations must cease until changes are made that will protect our drinking water.” The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation determined that when the May 2023 fire occurred, it mixed with Novec 1230, a fire suppression fluid, that broke down into PFPrA, a short-chain “forever chemical.” That chemical has been detected in the nearby drinking water. Ingestion of these chemicals can harm the immune system, disrupt hormones, damage the liver, risk fetal growth and child development, and increase cancer risks, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). “We need a remediation plan immediately, one approved by the DEC, so the hard work of cleaning the site can begin,” said Romaine. “The community did not know for years that the 2023 fire had left behind PFPrA. They should not wait any longer for the situation to be addressed.” The County will continue its groundwater testing in the area. The Suffolk County Department of Health can be reached at 631-852-6700.
Theatre & the Arts
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Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 8, 2026
We Hold These Truths To Be Self-Evident: Theatre Three’s
‘Treason’s Trial’ By Cindi Sansone-Braff Credit - Steve Cruz, ShotbyCruz
On October 3, as part of the annual Culper Spy Day events and the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary, Theatre Three in Port Jefferson transported audiences 250 years into the past to explore a remarkable chapter of local history with the world premiere of “Treason’s Trial: A Culper Spy Story.” This well-researched oneact play, written by Douglas J. Quattrock, with music and lyrics co-written by Jeffrey Hoffman and directed by Theatre Three’s Artistic Director Jeffrey Sanzel, unfolds on Long Island in May 1776 during the American Revolution. This deeply divisive period pitted Patriots against Loyalists and turned neighbors, family, and friends into archenemies. Quattrock’s thought-provoking, high-stakes courtroom drama centers on the Brookhaven Committee of Safety as it convenes in a makeshift courtroom in Ebenezer Dayton’s Coram sitting room to prosecute a local merchant, Thomas Fanning, an accused Loyalist. Quattrock is a longtime Theatre Three artist, actor, playwright, composer, and lyricist whose remarkable career includes 833 performances as Bob Cratchit in “A Christmas Carol,” along with roles in “Shenandoah,” “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” “The Producers,” and “Oklahoma!” His deep connection to Theatre Three and to Long Island gives the work an authenticity that goes beyond the historical research. “Treason’s Trial,” made possible by the generous support of the Robert David Lion Gardiner Foundation, administered through the Historical Society of Greater Port Jefferson, was performed twice on a spectacular autumn Saturday afternoon, with free admission for all! This passion project was inspired by Port Jefferson Mayor Lauren Sheprow, who asked Theatre Three to create an original piece about Brookhaven and Port Jefferson’s local history. With help from Mark Sternberg, Historical Consultant, Quattrock’s script adheres to the facts of the events and avoids reducing the story to a simplistic battle between heroes and villains. Fanning is not portrayed as a mustache-twirling villain waiting for the British to arrive; rather, he believes that loyalty to the Crown is
the just and moral course. His Patriot opponents, meanwhile, are equally convinced that resistance is necessary if liberty is meant to anything. The music and lyrics by Quattrock and Hoffman, “C’mon Boys, Rally Round” and “Traitors to the Crown,” add another layer to the production, helping to express emotions that cannot always be contained in courtroom testimony. The combination of spoken drama, music, and historical storytelling kept the audience entertained, enlightened, and engaged throughout. Sanzel also served as a script consultant, and under his astute direction, this courtroom drama builds tension as heated testimony, accusations, and competing loyalties to law and liberty fill the room. The setting gradually grows more claustrophobic as the characters realize their words carry consequences far beyond the hearing itself. Sanzel also instinctively understands that historical drama needs breathing room. This well-conceived production lets the characters’ conflicting personalities emerge slowly, giving the audience moments of humor and humanity amid serious questions of treason, loyalty, and revolution. That kind of deep, intuitive understanding comes naturally to Sanzel, whose long career at Theatre Three has included directing, playwriting, and acting. His directing credits include musicals such as Theatre Three’s current show “Cabaret” and their annual production of “A Christmas Carol,” in which he portrays Ebenezer Scrooge. Notably, he has produced
twenty-six Festivals of One-Act Plays. As a playwright, he has created compelling works including “From the Fires: Voices of the Holocaust,” “1968: Rock the World,” “Fair Enough,” and “Where There’$ a Will.” That breadth of experience shows in “Treason’s Trial,” where Sanzel brings the expertise of a seasoned director, actor, and playwright to every aspect of the production. Much of the show’s overall success stems from the professionalism of its stellar cast. Jason Furnari brought considerable dramatic weight to the role of Thomas Fanning, the Loyalist merchant at the center of the proceedings. Fanning truly believed the men trying him were treasonists, and Furnari delivered an impassioned rendition of “Traitors to the Crown,” conveying that conviction. Bryan Bowie aced the role of George Smith, a sharp-witted attorney serving as the committee’s bailiff. Noah Ryan commanded the stage as Caleb Brewster, the man responsible for arresting Thomas Fanning and who later became a surprise witness. Brewster would go on to become an important courier in the Culper Spy network. David DiMarzo gave a standout performance as Abraham Woodhull, a hot-tempered committee member who stepped down from his judicial seat to confront Thomas as a direct witness. Woodhull would later become associated with George Washington’s Culper Spy Ring as an intelligence operative using the pseudonym “Samual Culper, Sr.” Steve Ayle brings strength and dignity to the role of Humphrey Avery, a pragmatic committee member who
once sat on the diplomatic Committee of Observation alongside Thomas Fanning. Angelo DiBiase delivered a memorable performance as Selah Strong, Chairman of the Brookhaven Committee of Safety, while Kiernan Urso’s charismatic portrayal of Ebenezer Dayton, the cocky committee clerk, provided much-needed comic relief. Linda May as Hannah Hawkins and Christine Boehm as Anna Strong represent women’s perspectives, highlighting their struggles with wartime economic and personal realities. May was outstanding as Hawkins, a simple, practical woman in the community who fearlessly spoke her truth. Boehm was perfectly cast as Strong, a deeply intelligent woman who used deductive reasoning and timelines to corner the accused. Theatre has the remarkable ability to bring history to life, and Sanzel, Quattrock, Hoffman, and this talented ensemble have done exactly that. Rather than simply asking us to remember 1776, they invite us to imagine what it felt like to live on Long Island during that pivotal moment in American history. The entire creative team was top-notch, including period Costume Design by Jason Allyn, Lighting Design by Steven Ulhlein, Sound Design by Chase Faulkner, and Set Design by Randall Parsons. Special mention goes to the musicians: Don Larson on percussion and Hoffman on keyboards. To learn more about Theatre Three’s programs and upcoming shows, visit www.theatrethree.com. Visit The Historical Society of Great Port Jefferson’s website as well to see all it has to offer: https://www. portjeffhistorical.org/. Cindi Sansone-Braff is an award-winning playwright. She holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Connecticut and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. She is the author of “Grant Me a Higher Love,” “Why Good People Can’t Leave Bad Relationships,” and “Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic.” She won the 2026 Press Club of Long Island Media Award in the Narrative Arts category for outstanding journalism.
Suffolk Matters Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 8, 2026
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Town Supervisors Sound Alarm on State’s Unfunded Mandates That was part of a deal, however, to have the State examine their own budgeting and mandates passed down to the municipalities. Such mandates originated in Albany and were passed down the municipalities to foot the bills to varying degrees - hence, “unfunded mandates.” The most notorious such mandates include Medicaid - for which the State leans on the counties fiscally while most other states absorb 100% of the federal costs - public sector pensions and health benefits, and labor contracts and regulations. Supervisors are warning of sharp cost increases. They acknowledge the 2% State tax cap remains in place, but the rate of inflation, as calculated by State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli (D-Great Neck Plaza), is 3.13% for 2027. DiNapoli also reported that the average employer contribution rates for the Employees’ Retirement System increased from 16.5% to 17.6% for 2026-27, while the Police and Fire Retirement System rate increased from 33.7% and 36.5%. The Comptroller identified “investment performance, higher salaries, recent legislatives changes, and retirement patterns” among the factors affecting those rates. All ten of Suffolk’s town supervisors signed a bipartisan letter to Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Hamburg) to start an urgent conversation to help avoid the townships from either piercing their tax caps or cutting vital services. In terms of partisan control, Suffolk’s ten towns are split 5R-5D. Brookhaven, Huntington, Islip, Shelter Island, and Smithtown are governed by Republicans, while Babylon, East Hampton, Riverhead, Southampton, and Southold are controlled by Democrats. Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches) hosted five supervisors at Town Hall in Farmingville on Monday to address the issue. Supervisor Panico heralded an oft-quoted grievance of Suffolk residents: Long Island doesn’t get “it’s fair share” of the tax dollars given to Albany. Panico said that his “experience” and view of the data shows a “city-centric” legislative majority. “The pressures we feel as town supervisors are universal,” said Panico. “When Albany comes up with an idea [that] may very well be meritorious, it may be the right thing to do, but it causes a downward pressure on local municipalities.” The chief example this year is that of the Tier 6 pension reforms, a contentious fiscal topic that delayed the State budget into the late spring. “We [the towns] provide NYSHIP health insurance. We don’t set the cost of that plan,” said Panico, adding that if the State wants to provide such a generous program, they should be more on the hook for it as the higher level of government. Brookhaven has over 3,000 lane miles of road, but receives less funds from the State through their programs than other towns with less miles, Panico said, adding that services and materials are “exponentially more expensive” than they once were. The Supervisor added that with just one month until an election that will feature the governorship and the State Legislature, “affordability is the key to everyone’s campaigns.” “You cannot achieve affordability by making local government more expensive.” Furthermore, Panico said there’s “no plan” for some of the long-term problems the region faces. A chief example is that of the Brookhaven landfill, which now only takes ash from debris burnt at waste-to-energy plants in western Suffolk. He’s been calling for a solid regional waste plan for years that includes carting the waste off the Island via rail. “We are at the point of no return. The landfill is closing in 2028. Has the State contemplated where the ash is going to go?” said Panico. “These are not new issues.” Panico aired further grievances. The town’s budget is due November 20, but the New York State Health Insurance Program (NYSHIP) doesn’t release their cost increases until mid-December. In 2021, when New York legalized recreational marijuana, towns and villages were given the choice to opt into the program to allow dispensaries and/or consumption sites within their jurisdictions to earn tax
revenue on those sales. Those revenues are split 75%-25% between the municipalities and the County, respectively. Brookhaven, Riverhead, and Southampton are the only three towns that have opted into the program, along with just 7 of Suffolk’s 32 incorporated villages. On that front, Panico said the Clerk’s Office has been “inundated” with applications and the State grants licenses to dispensaries that are working with the Town’s zoning regulations, causing more backlog and litigation. On infrastructure, Panico lamented the railroad’s “19th-Century technology” with diesel engines in a “socalled progressive state,” a transformation that requires the participation and at least some level of buy-in from the State. “The State just kind of does what the State wants to do and they pass everything down to us and we shoulder all of that burden.” He added that Brookhaven’s large population and tax levy gives them a “better chance” in the face of economic burdens from the State, but the smaller towns don’t have that same margin for error. Huntington Town Supervisor Ed Smyth (R-Huntington
Bay) (left picture) said succinctly, “no municipality [or] elected official ever wants to raise their taxes and we certainly don’t want to pierce a tax cap.” “However, it is impossible to maintain parks, beaches, roads, and garbage collection, along with other life-saving services, without exceeding the 2% tax cap this year,” said Smyth, adding that he has “publicly predicted” this moment for years. He’s calling for the State to “adjust the arbitrary 2% cap to establish a formula that recognizes reality.” “To stay under the cap, I’m not willing to cut services to our seniors. I’m not willing to defund our public safety department. I’m not willing to cut environmental or open space programs. I’m not willing to cut road safety or garbage collections. There’s not much left [in the budget] after these big items.” The towns also operate on a much smaller chunk of one property tax dollar than meets the eye. For Huntington, just 7% of the property tax bill goes to municipal services. “We should not sacrifice responsible government at the altar of political theater.” Supervisor Smyth said he and the Huntington Town Board have been preparing for these times by leaving dozens of Town positions vacant. Smithtown Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) said that if the Town was to stay within the cap this year, $1.6 million in property taxes would have to be raised, but with the unfunded mandates coming down from Albany and rising costs across the board, those estimates are already “$1.2 million over that number.” “You can easily calculate the impossibility of doing this,” said Wehrheim, adding that while some mandates from Albany might be “well-intentioned,” the bill ends up sent to the local taxpayers. Wehrheim, who took office in 2018, only saw piercing the tax cap as a necessity just last year. He said in previous years, the Town was able to stay under the cap through their budgeting. “Today, that is no longer possible,” said Wehrheim. About 12 cents on the dollar on the property tax bill goes to Smithtown, he added. “Last year, we cut $300,000 in seasonal costs and about $500,000 in full-time costs. Anything below those thresholds, we have to start drastically cutting vital services.” Cutting seasonal positions comes with a reaction, however, as it not only limits recreational options for residents, but can also cut into revenues from assets like golf courses. Islip Town Supervisor Angie Carpenter (R-West Islip) said she and her colleagues are asking for “communication” and “greater flexibility” from the State. Last year, Islip instituted a “strict hiring freeze” in anticipation for this year’s numbers. “We have a garbage contract that came in $6 million more than the previous year,” said Carpenter. “The only way we’re going to survive is to have layoffs, and that is counterproductive. Putting people out of work, what does that do?” “We’re asking for that same level playing field,” said Carpenter. “The Governor is reasonable. I’m very, very hopeful that we can make this change.” Southold Town Supervisor Al Krupski (D-Cutchogue) (middle picture) said municipal business is “nuts and bolts,” and that Suffolk needs a “good partner in State government.” Riverhead Town Supervisor Jerry Halpin (D-Riverhead) (bottom picture) said the issue at hand isn’t relegated to the State; rather, it’s a “home-by-home” issue. He said that each family affected by these finances will still feel the effects 50 to 100 years from now. “All of us talk about people leaving our towns and moving off Long Island year after year,” said Halpin. “This isn’t a next-year problem; this is a ‘now’ issue. Our town [Riverhead] will not be piercing the tax cap this year, but next year is a different year. As the snowball continues to roll down the hill, there’s only so many rabbits we can pull out of the hat.” “If you want to do that which you believe is meritorious, send the money down to the towns,” said Panico. “We are ignored because the clout is inside the five boroughs.”
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Smithtown Matters Thursday, October 8, 2026
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Continued from front cover
Smithtown Opens Survivors Park in Commack
On Wednesday, Wehrheim was joined by breast cancer survivors, the Commack Community Alliance, the Greater Commack Chamber of Commerce, St. Catherine of Siena Hospital, and donors and community members to inaugurate the tribute park, fulfilling a promise made last year. “Last year, we stood here with a vision. Today, we get to see that vision become something real,” said Wehrheim. “Survivors Park will be a living advocate for early detection, but more importantly, it will be a reminder to every mother, daughter, sister, aunt and niece who faces this disease that you will never fight alone. This community will stand beside you through the darkest days and celebrate with you through every victory.” “The new park was designed as both a tribute and a sanctuary — a place where survivors can reflect, families can gather, remember a loved one, and anyone beginning a cancer journey can find a visible reminder that hope exists on the other side of a diagnosis,” according to a Town spokesperson. Women in attendance shared their stories of surviving breast cancer. Gina Morrissey, whose experience helped inspire the vision for Survivors Park, recalled being diagnosed with breast cancer while pregnant with her son. Thirty years later, she’s now a survivor, mother, and grandmother. She said that hope “meant being the chance to watch her son and grandchild grow up.” Doreen Perrino, Director of the Town of Smithtown Senior Citizens Department and a breast cancer survivor, spoke about the shock and uncertainty that follow a diagnosis, but the support of family, friends, and community that also follows. Those who stood beside her during her battle stood beside her to cut the pink ribbon on Survivors Park. Medical professionals from St. Catherine’s discussed the importance of comprehensive breast health, advanced diagnostics, early detection, and multidisciplinary care. Speakers included St. Catherine of Siena Hospital President Christopher Nelson, Chief Nursing Officer Elizabeth “Liz” McNulty, and Dr. Jana Deitch, Chief of Breast Surgery for Catholic Health.
The park’s first phase will serve as a “sanctuary” and a pensive place for survivors and those affected by breast cancer to reflect on their journeys. A pink-ribbon walkway winds through the park, complemented by a Victory Bell. Survivors can put the capstone on their journeys by giving the bell a strong toll. “Much of the physical transformation was led by the Town of Smithtown Parks Department, under Director Joe Arico, with Matt Gorecki serving as project manager. Parks staff coordinated construction, logistics, and the landscaping crew will continue maintaining the grounds yearround,” according to the Town. Supervisor Wehrheim also recognized Andrew Steinmuller and ARS Landscaping for landscape design. Michael and the team at Laser Industries were recognized for the craftsmanship behind the pink awareness-ribbon pavers, while Signarama was recognized for the bronze plaques installed on the park’s boulders. The project was an extraordinary community-wide effort, with support from the Commack Community Alliance, Greater Commack Chamber of Commerce, Commack Rotary Club, Commack Union Free School District, Commack Public Library, Suffolk Y JCC, Kiwanis Club, Knights of Columbus, Commack Community Association, Sons and Daughters of Italy, along with sponsors and donors including Tom and Gina Morrissey, Idea Stream Marketing, SUSA Soccer, Premier Diner, Sunshine Physical Therapy, Raymour & Flanigan, Paula Censori, and Morgan Stanley, as well as numerous local businesses, residents, and civic organizations, according to the Town. Joining the Town for the ribbon cutting were Councilwoman Lynne Nowick, Councilman Tom Lohmann (R-Smithtown), and Town Clerk Thomas D. McCarthy (R-Smithtown) along with representatives from State and County government, including Assemblyman Michael Fitzpatrick’s (R-St. James) office, Suffolk County Clerk Vincent Puleo’s (R-Nesconset) office, and representatives from Suffolk County Legislator Sal Formica’s (R-Commack) office. Survivor’s Park is located inside Valmont Park at 44 Marie Crescent in Commack.
Technology News Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
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Thursday, October 8, 2026
The AI Frontier Is Developing a Caste System By Mollie W. Barnett As advanced AI becomes permissioned, the question is no longer simply who can afford the technology. It is who gets judged qualified to use its strongest capabilities. If you use artificial intelligence today, the arrangement seems straightforward. You open ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or another AI system. You ask a question. The AI responds. But this week, Anthropic, the company behind Claude, expanded a program that adds another factor to that equation: who you are. On October 6, Anthropic announced an expanded Cyber Verification Program for cybersecurity professionals. Cybersecurity is a legitimate special case. The same AI that can help a defender find a vulnerability can help an attacker exploit one. Anthropic is trying to solve a real safety problem. The structure it chose deserves much wider attention. Anthropic now offers three levels of cyber access: Defense Access, Red Team Access, and Specialized Access. Each level has different verification requirements and security controls. Each can include Anthropic’s most capable models, but what those models are permitted to do changes materially depending on the access tier. Defense Access covers defensive work such as incident response, malware analysis, and vulnerability research. Anthropic says qualifying applicants can include company security teams, nonprofits, universities, government bodies, critical-infrastructure operators of any size, smaller security firms, open-source maintainers, and individual researchers with a “track record of reported vulnerabilities.” Red Team Access goes further. In cybersecurity, a red team is an authorized group paid to act like an attacker so weaknesses can be found before criminals find them. This tier is currently available only to organizations. Specialized Access goes further still. It has the fewest cyber blocks and is reserved for a limited set of verified organizations authorized to test high-risk systems such as power grids, telecommunications networks, flight operating systems and interbank transfer infrastructure. Anthropic says those organizations are reviewed in depth in collaboration with the U.S. government. This is not merely a difference in customer service. Anthropic tested Claude Opus 5.5 on 50 attempts at complex offensive cyber scenarios. Without Cyber Verification Program access, every attempt was blocked on the first prompt. Under Defense Access, 46 of the 50 attempts were blocked at some point. Under Red Team Access, none were blocked, and the model successfully completed 34 of 50 attempts — essentially the same completion rate Anthropic reported when safeguards were removed. Same underlying frontier intelligence, very different usable capability. That is the signal. For years, the promise of AI has been democratization. A small company would no longer need the headcount, capital, or institutional infrastructure of a giant corporation to gain serious analytical, research, coding, and operational capacity. A three-person company could begin to punch like a 30-person company. Now, we are seeing the beginnings of another architecture layered on top of that intelligence: qualification, verification, permission, and access. Where is the Ladder? Anthropic explicitly includes smaller security firms and individual researchers in Defense Access. This is not a program that simply says, “big companies in, small companies out.” The devil is in the definitions. “Smaller.” Compared with what? “Vetted.” By whom? “Track record.” How much of one? “Verified.” Against which standard? “Qualifying.” According to whose definition? Those words sound like criteria, but they are not, by themselves, deterministic criteria. They leave room for judgment. Anthropic says an individual researcher may qualify with a “track record of reported vulnerabilities.” But its public announcement does not give a numerical threshold for how much of a track record is enough. Nor does “smaller security firm” tell a new entrepreneur exactly what evidence turns an applicant from not yet qualified into qualified. That is where the distinction between actual authority and institutionally legible authority becomes important. Imagine a cybersecurity professional who spent 15 years inside a major technology company such as Google. Then there is a layoff. She leaves with substantial expertise and starts a three-person cybersecurity company. Yesterday, her expertise sat behind the credentials of a major institution.
Today, the expertise has not disappeared. The institution has. Does the AI provider recognize her authority in the same way? Does her previous work constitute the required track record? What can she prove if much of that work was proprietary? Does her new company qualify as a “smaller security firm”? If she is denied, what precisely must she do to become qualified? Now, compare her with a security professional applying from inside a major bank or technology company with a recognized corporate identity, compliance department, documented controls, lawyers, and an established security organization. The question is not who is more capable. We cannot know that from the company name, but one applicant may be much easier for a verification system to recognize as qualified. The knowledge may be equal; the institutional legibility is not. The requirements imposed after approval can be highly specific. The judgment about whether someone is sufficiently qualified to enter can be considerably more interpretive. That distinction matters because evidence can be factual while acceptance of that evidence remains a governance decision. Someone is deciding what counts. Why Small Businesses Should Care This is where an issue that sounds like obscure cybersecurity policy becomes an economic question. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration’s Office of Advocacy, 99.9% of American businesses are small businesses. They employ 62.3 million people, or 45.9%of private-sector workers, and account for 43.5% of U.S. GDP. The SBA also reports that 82.3% of small businesses have no employees. Think about what that means on Long Island: the independent consultant, the small law practice, the accountant with three employees, the family business, the five-person technology company, the contractor, the marketing firm, a solo professional building a company around expertise rather than headcount. And this is happening at precisely the moment public policy is trying to make that path easier. More than 25 governors — including New York — have signed the National Governors Association’s Governors Compact on Entrepreneurship. The compact calls for states and territories to make entrepreneurship a priority, including one-stop systems for starting and growing businesses, reviews of regulations that impede new companies and reductions in startup costs. There is a striking tension here. Government is trying to lower the institutional barriers to becoming an entrepreneur while access to some of the most powerful AI capabilities is beginning to incorporate terms such as “vetted,” “verified,” “qualifying,” and “track record.” The trend is not confined to cybersecurity. In September, Anthropic introduced a Life Sciences Verification Program giving verified life-sciences teams more permissive access for professional research. The beta launched for teams and institutions; Anthropic says individual Pro and Max access will be expanded over time. Applicants are reviewed for research credentials, security standards, and ethical research oversight. AI access is beginning to include a qualification layer. These businesses and solo professionals do not necessarily possess less knowledge because they have fewer employees. They possess less institutional machinery. At the very moment states are trying to make it easier for individuals to become entrepreneurs, we should be careful that the AI economy does not quietly make institutional affiliation a new form of economic advantage. We do not know how many small businesses Anthropic’s program will reject. Anthropic has not published approval and rejection rates by company size, and it would be wrong to claim that 43.5% of the economy has been excluded. That is not the warning. The warning is that we are beginning to build access systems for economically transformative intelligence without a universally transparent ladder showing the smallest participants in our economy how they earn access to its strongest capabilities, and Anthropic is unlikely to be the last company forced to confront this question. Today, it is cybersecurity, where the safety rationale is unusually strong. Tomorrow similar questions could arise wherever AI systems become powerful enough that providers decide certain capabilities require greater trust, verification, or authorization. Who gets to decide who is qualified to use frontier intelligence at its frontier, and who decided who gets to decide?
From Democratization to Stratification This is how a digital caste system could emerge without anyone ever sitting in a room and deciding to build one - not through a law declaring one class of company superior to another, but through a series of individually reasonable decisions about safety, verification, credentials, institutional trust, authorization, and risk. Institutional status can make verification easier. Easier verification can produce greater recognized authority. Greater authority can produce greater access. Greater access can produce greater capability. Greater capability can produce greater economic opportunity — which creates still more evidence of institutional authority. The loop compounds. Meanwhile, the independent professional or young company can face the reverse loop: less institutional proof, less recognized authority, less access, less capability and therefore fewer opportunities to generate the proof required to move upward. That is why the distinction between risk-based access and class-based access matters. There are good reasons not to hand powerful cyberattack capabilities indiscriminately to anyone with a credit card. But there is an enormous difference between restricting a dangerous capability according to demonstrated risk and allowing institutional status itself to become a proxy for competence. AI Was Supposed to Democratize Leverage. We should be very careful not to build a permission system that reconcentrates it. The answer is not that everyone should receive every AI capability. That would ignore legitimate safety concerns. The better standard is equal opportunity to qualify. If advanced AI capability is going to be gated, qualification criteria should be as public and objective as the risk allows, and small businesses need a seat in that discussion. The SBA Office of Advocacy exists to represent smallbusiness concerns in federal policymaking. NIST helps establish the standards language that shapes responsible AI. Congress and competition regulators can ask whether control over advanced AI is becoming control over an essential competitive input. Professional associations and chambers of commerce can demand that independent firms have a realistic path to qualification. Those are different levers, but they point toward the same principle: democratized AI does not mean everyone gets every capability. It means everyone gets a fair, transparent, and attainable path to qualify for the capabilities they legitimately need. So, as this architecture develops, there are four questions worth asking. What changed? AI capability is no longer determined only by which model you can access or what subscription you can afford. In at least one important frontier domain, usable capability can also depend on a provider’s classification of you. What can’t we control? A private platform’s models, safeguards, classifications, and future access rules. What can we control? Our proof, our professional standards, our owned knowledge, our relationships, our ability to use multiple providers, and our collective voice in the rules that govern market access. How do we keep our hands on the levers? By refusing to confuse access with ownership and by insisting that the road to advanced capability remains visible to people outside the largest institutions. If There Is Going to Be a Gate, There Has to be a Ladder Here are the qualifications, here is how you earn them, here is how a new entrant begins, here is how an independent professional proves competence, here is how you appeal a decision, here is how the same risk standard applies whether your company employs three people or 30,000. Safety and democratization are not opposing ideas. We can design for both, but only if access to intelligence depends on what you can demonstrate, not how much institution you have standing behind you. America spent decades using technology to lower the barriers to entrepreneurship. We should be extremely careful about allowing AI to quietly put them back.
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School Highlights Thursday, October 8, 2026
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Friday Night Lights Shine on Smithtown East Homecoming
Smithtown High School East celebrated homecoming on September 25 with an evening filled with school spirit, community and plenty of excitement, including a special first for the Bulls – the first homecoming game played under the lights at Schroeder Field. The festivities began before kickoff with a pregame carnival held in the high school gymnasium.
Hosted by High School East’s co-curricular clubs, the carnival featured a variety of games, activities and stations organized and run by students. Members of the community were invited to join in the fun, listen to live music and enjoy time together as the school prepared for a night of school spirit and celebrations. As game time approached, the energy moved outside to Schroeder Field, where the Smithtown East Bulls took on the Huntington Blue Devils. Under the Friday night lights, students, families, alumni and community members filled the stands and brought an electric energy to the evening. The homecoming celebration continued during halftime with a performance by the Whisperettes kickline team and the highly anticipated crowning of the 2026 homecoming royalty. This year’s homecoming queen was Isabella Weidtman and Anthony Gazzano was crowned homecoming king. Despite the 40-7 loss to Huntington, Smithtown High School East’s homecoming brought the school community together for a memorable night of celebration and school spirit.
School Highlights Thursday, October 8, 2026
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
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Kings Park High School Celebrates Its AP Capstone Diploma Recipients At Kings Park High School during the 2025-2026 school year, 12 students earned the AP Capstone Diploma, and 3 students earned the AP Seminar and Research Certificate. The AP Capstone Diploma program, and Seminar and Research Certificate helps students develop the critical thinking, research, collaboration, and presentation skills that are crucial for academic success. “We proudly recognize the achievements of students who participated in the AP Capstone, Seminar and Research program, as well as 68 students in total who achieved AP Scholar with Distinction, AP Scholar with Honor, and/or AP Scholar,” said Jennifer Martino, Principal at Kings Park High School. “Our AP Capstone students and teachers displayed exceptional dedication to this impactful, multi-academic-year program where they got to explore their passions through scholarly research. This is a meaningful college readiness program that will serve our students well after high school.” To receive the AP Capstone Diploma, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on four additional AP Exams of their choice. To receive the AP Seminar and Research Certificate, students must earn scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research.
Unlike traditional AP subject exams with a single end-of-year assessment, AP Seminar and AP Research assessments are project based and evaluate skills mastery through group projects, presentations, and individual essays completed throughout the year. Instead of focusing on one specific academic discipline, AP Seminar and AP Research are interdisciplinary: students are encouraged to create research projects based on topics of personal interest. Students are assessed on the critical thinking, research, collaboration, time management, and presentation skills needed to complete their projects. The 12 students awarded the AP Capstone Diploma by earning scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar, AP Research, and on 4 additional AP Exams were: Matthew Acerno, Lauren Ayres, Thomas Bailes, Antonia Block, Luca DeFalco, Advitya Duggal, Julia Montilla, Jack Mullady, Charles Pace, Johncarlo Peduto, Tristan Pinto, and Sophia Spathis. The 3 students awarded the AP Seminar and Research Certificate in the 2025 - 2026 school year by earning scores of 3 or higher in AP Seminar and AP Research were: Daniel Biryukov, Arielle Richardson, and Gwenyth Valdes.
Third Annual Valerie Kratochvil Memorial Scholarship Game
The Smithtown East field hockey team hosted its third annual Valerie Kratochvil Memorial Scholarship game on September 28. Nearly $3,000 was raised with proceeds going toward a field hockey memorial scholarship started in Valerie’s name. She was an avid track runner and a valued member of the Smithtown East High School field hockey and track teams. Her parents, Margaret Kratochvil and Ken Kratochvil, attended the game and received a bouquet of flowers from the team. “Valerie was beautiful inside and out. She was compassionate, caring, intelligent, funny, and loving — the best friend that anyone could ever have,” said Margaret Kratochvil.
Civics 101
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Thursday, October 8, 2026
The Necessary Standard for American Education
The Constitution - Article II, Sections 2, 3, and 4
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
This column will seek to address the long-forgotten concept of civics and how it relates to American government in general, from the federal level to the local level. This column will explore Constitutional rights, the inner workings of government, the electoral process, and the obligations and privileges of citizens.
By Matt Meduri Last week, we continued our in-depth review of the U.S. Constitution with Article II, Section 1. In short, Article II establishes the rules for the Executive Branch, presidential succession and vacancy, the Electoral College, and the oath of office. Sections 2, 3, and 4 define more of the president’s powers. Section 2 Section 2, Clause 1: The president is the commander-in-chief of the Army and Navy of the U.S. when the forces are called into federal service. The president is also the commander-in-chief of the state militias. The president is also the head of the federal executive departments, Cabinet or Cabinet-level agencies, although the word “Cabinet” does not appear anywhere in the Constitution. For example, these include the departments of Defense, Education, the Interior, etc. The president may also ask for a written opinion of the top officers of each of those departments; this is sometimes referred to as the Opinions Clause. Despite only mentioning the Army and Navy, it is universally understood that the president is the commander-in-chief of all branches of the U.S. military. Interesting Note: The Air Force was created in 1947 and the Space Force was created in 2019. The Marine Corps has always been under the Navy Department, while the Coast Guard functions under the Department of Homeland Security in peacetime and under the Navy during wartime. Clause 1 also provides the president his pardon powers. The president can grant “reprieves and pardons against the United States,” except in cases of impeachment. The Supreme Court has ruled throughout the years that these powers are generally sweeping. Interesting Note: Only two presidents, William Henry Harrison and James A. Garfield (R-OH), issued no pardons, although they both served exceptionally short terms due to Harrison’s death from illness and Garfield’s assassination. George Washington issued the fewest pardons of any president at just 16. Of the modern presidents, George H.W. Bush (R-TX) issued the fewest, just 77. The most pardons issued by any president was over 200,000 by Jimmy Carter (D-GA), which applied to Vietnam War draft evaders. After Carter is Andrew Johnson (D-TN), president from 1865-1869, who issued over 7,600 pardons, most of which were for exConfederates. Joe Biden (D-DE) is in third place for most pardons of any president at over 4,200, mostly for non-violent drug offenders. One of the most infamous presidential pardons was that of Gerald Ford (R-MI) for former President Richard Nixon (R-CA). Ford preemptively pardoned Nixon for any of his actions in the Watergate Scandal in 1974, just a month after Nixon resigned. Section 2, Clause 2: The president can make treaties with other nations with two-thirds consent of the Senate. The president can appoint ambassadors, public ministers, Justices of the Supreme Court, and all other “officers” of the U.S. with the consent of the Senate. For inferior officers (lower-level federal officials), Congress can choose to let those officers be
appointed by the president without Senate confirmation, the courts, or the heads of the executive departments (ie. Cabinet secretaries). In other words, the principal officers of the government must be confirmed by the Senate, but the basis for many federal appointments don’t require Senate confirmation. Clause 2 also has a contingency plan for when the Senate is not in session. If the Senate is not in session and a vacancy for a seat that requires Senate confirmation arises, the president may temporarily fill that seat for a term that automatically expires until the Senate reconvenes. These are called recess appointments. That person may then be confirmed by the Senate for a typical appointment. Interesting Note: Barack Obama (D-IL) was the last president to see Section 2, Clause 2 invoked. In January 2012, Obama made four recess appointments during the Senate’s break. Three appointments were made to the National Labor Relations Board and one to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled those appointments unconstitutional in NLRB V. Noel Canning (2014). They opined that a recess shorter than 10 days was, in this case, too short to trigger Clause 2. This ruling prevented recess appointments for the rest of Obama’s presidency, the first and current presidencies of Donald Trump (R-FL), and Biden. Section 3, Clause 1: This clause requires the president to deliver a State of the Union address. The text says the president must do so to “recommend” Congress’ “consideration” on measures he judges as “necessary and expedient. The clause does not require the address to be given once a year, nor does it set a date. It only says “from time to time” the president shall make the address. Interesting Note: The State of the Union was called the Annual Address after the first was delivered on January 8, 1790. These addresses were typically made in December, as the incoming Congress would not be seated until March. In 1801, Thomas Jefferson began the tradition of a written address, as he thought an in-person speech was too monarchical. Woodrow Wilson (D-NJ) revived the spoken delivery in 1913. The 20th Amendment, ratified in 1933, brought significant change to this process. The amendment moved the start of each Congress and presidential inaugurations from March to January. The president’s
speech shifted to reflect that. Since 1934, the address has almost always been made in January or February. Franklin D. Roosevelt (D-NY) popularized the term “State of the Union,” and Lyndon Johnson (D-TX) moved the speech to later in the evening for television’s prime-time slot. The first address of a newly-inaugurated president is not considered a formal “State of the Union” speech; rather, an unofficial address to a joint session of Congress. Clause 1 also requires that on “extraordinary occasions,” the president can convene one or both chambers of Congress for an address. Clause 1 gives the president the power to set an adjournment date for Congress if Congress cannot agree on when to adjourn. This has been considered a few times going back to the fledgling days of the republic, but it remains one of the few presidential authorities to have never been invoked. The president also has the power to receive foreign ambassadors. Clause 1 is also called the Take Care Clause, as it mandates the president to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” This is a key part of establishing the president’s role as the top federal law enforcer. The president also commissions all federal officers after Senate confirmation if applicable. Section 4, Clause 1: The president, vice president, and all civil officers of the federal government shall be removed from office by impeachment for treason, bribery, high crimes and misdemeanors. Only three presidents have been impeached. Andrew Johnson was the first. The House impeached him in 1868 for violating the Tenure of Office Act; the Senate acquitted him by just one vote. Bill Clinton (DAR) was impeached in 1998 for perjury and obstruction of justice related to the Monica Lewinsky Scandal; the Senate acquitted him on both counts. Donald Trump is famously the only president to have been impeached more than once. The first was in 2019 over the Ukrainian phone call scandal, and the second was in 2021 following the January 6 insurrection. While a majority of Senators voted to convict and remove Trump from office in 2021, it fell short of the two-thirds majority (67 votes) required. Richard Nixon was almost certain to face impeachment and removal, conventional historical accounts show, but he resigned before the House took a vote.
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Thursday, October 8, 2026
Smithtown Youth Bureau Seeks Board Members By Matt Meduri The Smithtown Youth Bureau’s mission is multi-faceted. For one, they strive to improve the wellbeing of the community, and for another, doing so by directly involving Smithtown’s youth. The bureau runs programs for all different ages within the Town, at no cost to the community. Annual flagship events include pool parties, the Thanksgiving drive for the Smithtown Emergency Food Pantry, beach clean-ups, and participation in the summer festival days in Smithtown, Kings Park, and Nesconset. Other events throughout the year make up the rest of the bureau’s calendar, such as painting classes at Whisper Woods assisted living facility and a prom for the seniors at Whisper Woods, where kids with the bureau make corsages and boutonnieres for the residents. Programs are geared towards reinforcing citizenship and community service among the younger population. The bureau seeks to tackle the usual suspects
of issues, such as substance abuse and violence, but also the nuts-and-bolts issue of any community or household, such as communication skills, emotional health and management, babysitting and child care classes, and life skills. The bureau regularly works with the school districts to offer services where the school districts are in deficits, such as antibullying programs, leadership initiatives, and life skills lessons. The bureau has a 22-member board of teenagers. They’re seeking five adult members to serve on the board. The bureau meets regularly on the third Thursday of every month. “We’re looking for anyone within the community. The only requirement is an applicant must be a resident of the Town of Smithtown,” Laura Campanelli, Community Relations for the bureau, told The Messenger. Campanelli added that those seeking to learn more about the board and possibly join on as a member are free to attend a meeting or an event to get a feel for
Free Family Event Brings Halloween Fun, Safe Trick-or-Treating Experience to Town Hall Costumes, candy and plenty of Halloween spirit are returning to Town Hall as the Town of Smithtown invites families to save the date for its 3rd Annual Trunk or Treat on Saturday, October 17, from 11:00a.m. to 1:00p.m. in the Town Hall parking lot. “Trunk or Treat has become such a fun tradition for our families, and every year our Town departments somehow find a way to make it bigger and more creative,” said Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park). “What makes it even more special is that so many of our Town employees volunteer their own time to decorate, hand out treats and give our kids an afternoon they’ll remember. That says a lot about the people who work for this Town and how much they care about the community they serve. Get the costumes ready, bring the kids and don’t miss it!” Hosted by the Town of Smithtown Youth Bureau and the Supervisor’s Office, the free community event brings together Town departments, the Youth Advisory Board, local school districts, Smithtown Fire Department, Smithtown Sunrise Rotary Club, Smithtown Performing Arts Center, Smithtown Chamber of Commerce and local businesses for an afternoon of trunk-or-treating, games, music and familyfriendly Halloween fun. “Events like this showcase what makes our community so special—families coming together, local partners pitching in, and everyone working to create a safe, festive space for children. We’re proud to continue this tradition and so thankful to all who make it possible,” said Janine MarcAnthony, Executive Director, Smithtown
Youth Bureau. Often described as “Halloween tailgating,” Trunk or Treat offers families a fun and convenient alternative to traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating. Participating Town departments, organizations and local businesses transform their vehicles into creative Halloween displays, with children invited to make their way from trunk to trunk collecting treats, playing games, and enjoying activities in one central, supervised location. Now in its third year, the event has quickly become a favorite fall tradition in Smithtown, offering parents and children a chance to celebrate Halloween together while connecting with the many organizations, volunteers and local partners that help make the community feel like home. This year’s event will also include an optional toiletry collection to benefit those in need. Residents who would like to participate are encouraged to bring new, unopened items such as shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, mouthwash, allin-one body wash, deodorant, soap, razors and shaving cream. Every donation, large or small, can make a meaningful difference. Admission is free, so mark your calendars, get those costumes ready and join us for an afternoon of Halloween fun at Smithtown Town Hall. For questions, contact the Smithtown Youth Bureau at (631) 360-7595 or email youthbureau@smithtownny.gov. Visit SmithtownNY.gov/215/Youth-Bureau to learn more about this event and additional Youth Bureau programming.
the group. The bureau also holds its annual Altruistic Youth Award ceremony every spring. The purpose is to recognize Smithtown students who display “exemplary character traits and have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to community service and volunteerism,” according to Campanelli. “The ideal applicant is enthusiastic, compassionate, self-motivated, actively involved, has made a tangible impact on the community, and has a genuine commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of others.” One of last year’s notable recipients was Hannah Sack, who was nominated from three different individuals for various works. Sack, a youth board member, was recognized for her involvement in her school and at St. Catherine’s Hospital. “Hannah volunteers on Fridays at the dialysis center and always sits with one man during his treatment. The man’s daughter wrote a letter to us about her,” said Campanelli.
The nomination and selection process is also kept confidential and anonymous by the bureau, so as to prevent any sorts of favoritism in the vote. Sack also received certificates from the County Legislature and the Town of Smithtown for her outstanding community service. “It’s a neat thing to hear what these kids do and who nominates them and why. It’s really heart-warming,” said Campanelli. There is no deadline for those seeking to become a board member to apply. The deadline for the Altruistic Youth Award nominations is January 31. The Smithtown Youth Bureau is funded by the Town of Smithtown, the Suffolk County Youth Bureau, the New York State Office of Children & Family Services, and the New York State Department of Transportation. The Youth Bureau is located at 161 E Main Street in Smithtown in the Horizons building and can be reached at youthbureau@smithtownny.gov or 631-3607595.
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Messenger Perspectives Thursday, October 8, 2026
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
My Only Endorsement By PJ Balzer
I can remember vividly when I was a child going with my mom to vote. The whole process was pretty intriguing to me - the booth, the curtain, and the mysterious choice that was made. I would usually wait outside the booth while she performed her civic duty. The polling place had a nice feeling about it at that time. There were a lot of “old” people we knew, all sharing their homemade cooking and cookies with each other. If I’m remembering correctly, the center where she visited to vote (The Herkimer Center) had a kitchen directly next to the room where people voted. The kitchen was big enough to cook and host a meal for around a hundred people. The inviting smell of food and bakery is a memory attached to my earliest memories of voting. This was back in the 1980s and 1990s, well before neighbors displayed opposing lawn signs and debated each other on social media platforms, back when your neighbors were still “Michael and Jennifer” and not known for their political leaning. I remember asking my mom one time after she exited the booth who she voted for the presidency. Her reply was, “Your vote is a private matter, it’s not polite to ask people who they voted for.” Since that day, I’ve always respected people’s choice and privacy in making it. I’ve also respected the process of choosing and the freedom to do so. Having many friends from other countries, I’ve heard real life stories about heavy-handed kings, dictators, and heartless tyrants, places where there is no ability to choose, no fair process, and not much freedom. I also respect the ability we have to speak up to disagree, as long as it’s done with some type of dignity for the opposition and people involved. People, regardless of who they are or what they believe, should be treated fairly. When it came time for me to register, I felt like “Independent” fit me and my personality best. I’ve personally never liked to be placed in a single category with everyone else. Since I was young, I’ve always been an independent kind of a person. I’ve had to think for myself and search for my own way in this life. I’ve also been forced to ask honest questions and search for the answers. I was convinced that falling completely underneath
(631) 269-6421
a single category for the rest of my life just wasn’t for me. But again, I respect every person in every category and every choice. When I moved back to Long Island from New York City with my wife, my hometown had undergone a lot of obvious changes in the decade I was gone. I was also now a practicing Christian. Several people here kept insinuating that Christians had to fit into this one category politically. There was no other way or choice. Simultaneously, a loud, local voice popped up that started campaigning heavily for a place in power. Like most of the voices do, the person put their bid out under having our specific communities’ best interest in mind. This candidate claimed to be the change we needed, the voice of the working people. They campaigned heavily on understanding the struggle of common, everyday folks who needed a champion to fight for them. This bidding convinced me and drew me in. I felt like we needed a change and someone reasonable to take charge. My own community has an extremely interesting demographic and dynamic, very different than the surrounding areas. I started to help out with their campaigning, delivering lawn signs, and sign-up sheets. I went as far as telling the kids in our youth group and people we were ministering to that I had confidence in this candidate. These were children, teenagers, and people whose trust I had prayerfully fought for and worked hard to gain. They, in turn, trusted that the person I was endorsing had their families’ best interest in mind. Shortly after getting into power, the script slowly but very steadily began to flip. The new person in power felt strongly that there were too many poor people in our community. This especially included and targeted people that had multiple children. The new people in power started banging on the doors of homes that were obviously struggling. They were actively trying to push people out and went as far as attempting to board someone’s house up while they were out running errands. I was made aware that I had been a part of endorsing this. One evening, while giving rides home to the kids from our youth group. The door to one of the kids’ houses flung open as I started to drive away. The young man’s mother slowly limped to my car and said to me, “Your candidate randomly came here today and started to harass us without a valid cause. We really trusted you PJ and I feel like this was a betrayal of our friendship and trust.” Those words cut like a dagger. They were deeply convicting because she was absolutely right. That conversation changed me and realigned my heart and focus. Since that evening, I’ve never endorsed anyone but Jesus, the One who said and showed us how to love our enemies and opponents, to treat others the same way you’d like to personally be treated and seek ways to serve all humans, to love your neighbor, whoever they may or may not be, and to do good to all people and preach His gospel using both words and deeds. When someone trusts you, they will at least listen to what you have to say. Fight to maintain that trust and fight to say and endorse the right things.
AMAC Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Overview - AMAC The Association of Mature American Citizens
Thursday, October 8, 2026
BREAKING: Mamdani Marks Oct. 7 Tragedy With ‘Genocide’ Accusation Against Israel By Elizabeth Troutman Mitchell | AMAC Contributing Writer On the three-year anniversary of Hamas’ massacre of Israeli citizens, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani accused the Israeli government of continuing the suffering of Oct. 7 through “genocide in Gaza.” “This day is profoundly painful for so many New Yorkers. It marks three years since the horrific war crimes of October 7. On that day, Hamas killed more than 1,100 Israelis and abducted 251 others,” Mamdani said on X. “The suffering did not begin nor end that day,” he added. “It instead continued through the Israeli government’s devastating, ongoing genocide in Gaza, in which it has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians—including more than 21,000 children.”
Oct. 7 was the largest massacre of Jews since the Holocaust. Official Israeli figures list the death toll at over 1,200 people murdered. More were captured, including 12 Americans. Mamdani blamed Israel for intensifying the suffering with “every Israeli bomb dropped on ambulances waiting outside hospitals, every drone strike targeting a residential building or journalist, and every shipment of food aid turned away at a border crossing.” “Many New Yorkers are reckoning with this unbearable grief, and we mourn alongside them – all while knowing that our tax dollars fund these war crimes,” he said. “Three years
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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.
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later, we must refuse to accept a world in which occupation and apartheid continue, where war crimes are met with impunity, and our federal government continues its complicity with every arms shipment.” Victoria Coates, vice president of The Heritage Foundation’s Davis Center for National Security and Foreign Policy, said the mayor’s statement is part of a pattern of antisemitism. “This disgusting attempt to draw a moral equivalency between the Hamas terrorist attackers and their Jewish victims three years ago is typical of Mamdani’s inherent antisemitic violence,” she told the Daily Signal. “There’s a reason Jews in New York feel significantly less safe with this bigot as their mayor.”
Why Are Americans So Pessimistic? By Stephen Moore | AMAC Contributing Writer In nearly every way, Americans have more material wealth, better health, better housing, and more of just about everything than ever before. Not just the rich, but nearly everyone. Americans’ standard of living is roughly 50% higher, after inflation, than it was 50 years ago. The median family income is now close to $90,000. That’s an income level higher than that of 90% of families living in the rest of the world. Yet over the past 30 years, nearly every poll has shown that a plurality of Americans think things are “headed in the wrong direction” versus “the right direction.” The latest polling is no different. Americans are glum. Karlyn Bowman, an expert on polling at the American Enterprise Institute, has examined these trends. She finds that there have only been two times in recent decades when voters said the country was headed in the right direction. One of these times was in the mid-1980s during the Reagan economic boom. The other was in the mid-1990s when Bill Clinton was president and the federal budget was balanced for the first time in 30 years. So why are we not appreciating the overall progress of the country economically and financially? It could be social trends, not economic trends. I’ve noted that the decline in marriage, parenthood, and religion has made people more depressed. A record 30 million American males between the ages of 20 and 40 are unmarried. Many of them are not happy with the direction of their own lives. Bowman surmises that pessimism has grown with the size of government. People believe that the trends of government spending may not be sustainable. Patriotism and love of country have fallen, so people don’t feel blessed to be in this country like they used to. One of the other few times when people briefly felt a rush of optimism and patriotism was after the 9/11 attacks. There is also a more recent unhealthy development. That is the complete polarization of our society. President Donald Trump will never get an approval rating higher than 50% because half the country hates him. Republicans felt the same way - and for good reason - when Joe Biden was president. But it’s weird that the richer and wealthier we get, the more people complain. Money isn’t everything, and it can’t buy love or happiness. But it sure beats being poor. And poverty rates just hit their lowest level on record. Isn’t that a sign we’re on the right track.
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By William Goldman Based on the Novel by Stephen King
JAN 14–FEB 28 M
NOV 12–DEC 27 C H I L D R E N’S
SEP 26–OCT 25
T H E A T E R
Frosty NOV 21–DEC 27
Bits & Pieces
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Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 8, 2026
WORD OF THE
Week
Etymology: mid-14c., “having the same parents,” a doublet of german (adj.) but directly from Latin germanus; modern sense of “closely connected, relevant” (c. 1600) derives from use in “Hamlet” Act V, Scene ii, a figurative use of the word in the now-obsolete loosened sense of “closely related, akin” (late 15c.) in reference to things, not persons.
SUDOKU
GERMANE adjective Pronounced: /jur·mayn/ Definition:
relating to a subject in an appropriate way, fitting
Example:
“He has a way of including details not germane to the topic at hand.”
Synonyms: applicable, relevant, pertinent Antonyms: irrelevant, unsuitable, unfitting Sources: Merriam-Webster, Etymonline.com.
See bottom left for the answers (please don’t cheat!)
This Week in History October 8, 1818:
October 12, 1900:
WORD WHEEL S
N
October 11, 1983: “Can’t Slow Down” second studio album by Lionel Richie is released.
Q
U T See how many words you can create. Must have center letter in word and can use letters more than once. 4 letter word minimum.
E A
Padded gloves designed by Jack Broughton are first used in a competitive boxing match between two unnamed English boxers at Aix-laChapelle in France.
Over 30 major nations ratify the Environmental Modification Convention, which prohibits weather warfare that has widespread, long-lasting or severe effects.
October 13, 1943
Italy switches sides and declares war on its former Axis partner, Germany.
October 10, 1957:
A fire at the Windscale nuclear plant in Cumbria, England, becomes the world’s first major nuclear accident.
October 9, 2006: October 14, 1774:
First Continental Congress makes Declaration of Colonial Rights in Philadelphia.
North Korea conducts its first nuclear test with an estimated yield of between 0.4 and 2 kilotons. Source: Onthisday.com.
Bits & Pieces Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 8, 2026
NATIONAL President Trump announced since July 4, more than $4.5B have been invested into Trump Accounts. Tennessee death-row inmate Christa Pike survived a botched execution after receiving two fatal doses. She remains shackled in the hospital with a long road to recovery. President Trump approved the first firing-squad military execution in over 60 years. Trump’s suggestions that Iran could target Los Angeles and San Diego drew sharp criticism. The USS Abraham Lincoln returned from deployment after more than 300 days at sea. Officials are monitoring a potential plague-related death at a Russian laboratory. Saudi Arabia and Yemen are aiming to retake control of the strategic Bab al-Mandab Strait.
STATE Comptroller DiNapoli reports first-half Wall Street profits soared to $46B. A Comptroller’s report found sales revenue is increasing but job growth is stalling. Governor Hochul (D) leads Bruce Blakeman (R) +7 in the latest co/ efficient poll, and +11 in the latest Marist poll. Trump is planning a rally in Syracuse with Blakeman. A $235M upgrade was announced for the Chrysler Building. 64% of New Yorkers support eliminating the State income tax. 67% say they’re not getting good value for their tax dollars.
LOCAL TRITEC broke ground on Phase 2C of Station Yards in Ronkonkoma on Tuesday. Suffolk County is planning a Long Island Italian American Museum. County Executive Romaine announced the first conference on domestic violence focusing on elder abuse. Habitat for Humanity dedicated a home to a Wyandanch family last Thursday. A Port Jefferson Station man was arrested for stealing $78K in SNAP Benefits. William Floyd’s Varsity Tennis team won the division championship, securing their 24th consecutive playoff appearance. A Bay Shore man was sentenced to 22 years for sexually abusing an 8-year-old child.
WORD SEARCH
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Down Ballot
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Thursday, October 8, 2026
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House: Democrats Return to Magic Number By Matt Meduri Since January 2025, our forecast only once showed Democrats on or above the magic number of 218, the number of seats a party must win to gain control of the House. Democrats last soared above that number briefly during the summer when their gerrymander of Virginia was narrowly approved by the voters. The map, however, was struck down. Now, we find Democrats sitting at exactly 218 seats at least tilting in their favor. We’re moving more Toss Ups into their column while also downgrading several Republican seats to more accurately reflect the environment we think is currently developing. This will be our last update until the final week of the campaign. FL-13 (R) - Likely R to Leans R: Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna (R) flipped this Pinellas Peninsula (Tampa Bay) seat red in 2022. It’s respectably right-of-center, but we expect the GOP’s floor to take a hit in Florida this year. Luna probably wins but by an underwhelming margin. FL-22 (Open) - Leans R to Tilts R: This South Florida seat went from Harris +5 to Trump +11 with the redraw. Fundamentals keep the GOP’s prospects alive in this seat, but only barely, especially if Hispanics in this part of the state rebuke Trump wholesale. IA-03 (R) - Toss Up to Tilts D (Flip): This seat takes in the southwestern corner of Iowa and is anchored by Des Moines and Council Bluffs. A “usual suspects” seat, this is the exact type of district we see flipping to either party in a midterm that benefits them. Competitive statewide races don’t help the GOP’s downballot prospects. KY-06 (Open-R) - Likely R to Leans R: We’re seeing Kentucky Republicans begin to panic and remove Trump’s name from their websites. Our “spidey senses” say that if Republicans are nervous of the president’s toxicity in a deepred state, then a less-safe rating is warranted for this Lexington-based seat. A slightly less-red version of this seat almost flipped in 2018, so it makes sense to us that the GOP might underperform. For context, Trump carried Kentucky by 31 points in 2024, the best showing in history for a Republican. Trump’s approval is -12 in the Bluegrass State. MI-01 (R) - Safe R to Likely R: This came out of left field, and while we’re not expecting a serious Democratic push in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, five-term Congressman Jack Bergman (R) is bleeding local Republican support. He reportedly dishonored a political deal that led local GOP committees to pull their support for him and label him a carpetbagger. His 2024 opponent is back for a rematch and has brought in almost $1 million in a district that’s not competitive at any level. This Trump +21 seat also includes Traverse City, one of the only parts of northern Michigan to have trended left in the Trump Era. MI-04 (R) - Leans R to Tilts R: The greater Grand Rapids area was once the backbone of the Michigan GOP. The home of Gerald Ford has taken a leftward lurch in the Trump Era, despite the working-class eastern counties of the state racing to the right. This seat takes in the suburbs of Grand Rapids and the cities of Holland and Kalamazoo. MI-04 is at the top of the list in national Republican spending charts, something that wouldn’t be happening if the RNC wasn’t nervous. We still think fundamentals get eight-term Congressman Bill Huizenga (R) over the finish line, but only barely. We wouldn’t rule out the possibility of a Democratic upset here. MT-01 (Open R) - Leans R to Tilts R: The western third of Montana is home to the state’s ancestral Democratic base: blue-collar, working-class, unionized mining towns made Montana a standout Rocky Mountain state relative to its rubyred neighbors. This Trump +11 is much more competitive on the House level. We wouldn’t rule out a Democratic upset here. NY-04 (D) - Leans D to Likely D: Republicans should probably let go of ousting one-term Congresswoman Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Center). Republicans got a late start in fielding a candidate and the race just doesn’t seem to be coming online. NC-01 (D) - Toss Up to Tilts D: Originally a seat we saw flipping red due to the mid-decade gerrymander in North Carolina, we now see two-term Congressman Don Davis (D) as marginally favored. We think the Tar Heel State’s electorate
is notably Democratic this year, courtesy of the Senate race that has completely fallen apart for the GOP. NC-01, a blackplurality district that takes in the Outer Banks that was Trump +5 in 2024, is known to split their tickets. SC-01 (Open-R) - Likely R to Leans R: This coastal seat that contains Charleston and Myrtle Beach is open due to Congresswoman Nancy Mace’s (R) unsuccessful run for governor. A more competitive version of this seat flipped in 2018 in a major upset, before Mace flipped it back in 2020. The district got slightly redder after the redraw in 2021, but this was only a Trump +13 seat in 2024 - a comfortable but not overwhelming margin. Combined with the Senate race, we’re not ruling out a single-digit finish for the GOP here. TX-15 (Open) - Leans R to Tilts R: If there’s a big shift among Latino voters back to the Democrats, this seat, which runs from San Antonio to the Mexican border, will probably see a reduced Republican baseline. This Trump +17 seat is highly competitive, as per polling and fundraising. We think Democrats gain back many Hispanic voters this cycle, but we don’t see a full restoration of their baseline. That aspect makes the difference in a seat like this. TX-23 (Open-R) - Safe R to Likely R: This sprawling seat runs from El Paso to San Antonio and grabs nearly the entire U.S.-Mexico border. This seat flipped red in 2014 and has remained in Republican hands even in the toughest years for them since then. Three-term Congressman Tony Gonzales (R) faces some of the most brutal allegations of any member of the House this year. He admitted to having an affair with a staffer who later committed suicide via self-immolation. Gonzales suspended his runoff campaign and resigned from the House in April. YouTuber and firearms manufacturer Brandon Herrera (R) will probably take a small scandal penalty for this seat, but he invariably bolsters the GOP’s chances of fending off an upset in this Trump +15 seat that saw no material changes with the mid-decade redraw. But barring a big shift of Latino voters across the Rio Grande Valley, we imagine Herrera underperforms slightly. TX-28 (D) - Tilts D to Leans D: Another South Texas seat, this time from San Antonio to Laredo, eleven-term Congressman Henry Cuellar (D), we think, is in a slightly better position for re-election now. Cuellar is one of the more conservative members of the House and was pardoned by Trump in a bribery case involving the governments of Mexico and Azerbaijan. The Texas redraw took this seat from Trump +7 to Trump +11, but in the latest poll, Cuellar is up +9. Unusually competitive statewide races in Texas this year, coupled with an expected leftward shift of Hispanic voters, we think insulates Cuellar. TX-34 (D) - Toss Up to Tilts D: This seat is situated in the far southeastern corner of Texas, taking in Gulf coasts from McAllen to Corpus Christi. The mid-decade gerrymander saw this seat go from Trump +5 to +11, and while polling and fundraising show a much more competitive race here than in TX-28, we still think fundamentals will benefit five-term Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (D).
VA-01 (R) - Leans R to Tilts R: The Hampton Roads area is part of Virginia’s overall leftward shift, as the region has been trending blue in the Trump Era. In fact, we think it’s perhaps one of the top districts to watch in the country. In 2016, this was a Trump +14 seat; in 2024, it was just Trump +5. Ten-term Congressman Rob Wittman (R) has seen his margins dramatically shrink despite VA-01 not being in the eye of the hurricane in recent cycles. Since 2007, Wittman had never seen a sub-15-point margin until the 2018 midterms. Despite Trump winning VA-01 by just 5 points in 2024, Wittman won by 13. In other words, Wittman is a solid overperformer, but his district is changing. In the 2021 governor’s race, VA-01 went to Glenn Youngkin (R) +18. In 2025, it went to Abigail Spanberger (D) +1. Wittman was only narrowly leading the polls in early September according to Democrat-aligned pollsters - that Wittman was still ahead in partisan polls should be noted. But a public poll just found him trailing his opponent by 4 points. Democrats are seriously contesting this race and we think a Leans R rating is more appropriate. VA-01 will also be the best tea leaf to read in the early hours of the night. If Wittman limps across the finish line, the GOP might be able to save some seats elsewhere. If he goes down, the GOP is in for a rough night. VA-05 (R) - Likely R to Leans R: As an interesting sidenote, this seat’s first-ever election in 1789 saw James Madison defeat James Monroe, the fourth and fifth presidents, respectively. Similar to VA-01, this seat is experiencing broader leftward trends. It takes in a big chunk of rural, central Virginia, but takes in suburban Richmond and the cities of Danville, Charlottesville, and Lynchburg. Reliably Republican, VA-05 does have a decent floor for Democrats, although no Democrat has carried it in any capacity since 2008. Like in VA-01, polls show a narrow race, but one-term Congressman John McGuire (R) remains in the lead. Tom Perriello (D), a Biden-appointed envoy to Sudan, has the lead in fundraising. Here’s the Count We now see Democrats hitting the magic number of 218. They could win all the seats on this map, lose the remaining 9 Toss Ups, and still have the majority - albeit by the slimmest margin in modern history. Of the 9 Toss Ups, 6 belong to the GOP, 3 the Democrats. If we had to pick now, we’d say Democrats sweep all but one. Currently, we see the GOP flipping 9 seats - all from middecade redistricting. We now see the Democrats picking up 15 seats - only 5 of which come from mid-decade redraws. In the last week of October, we’ll put all our cards on the table and see if we can accurately predict who wins the House and by how much.
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Thursday, October 8, 2026
Gubernatorial Map: A Clear Baseline By Matt Meduri Every midterm election features 36 gubernatorial contests. While these races are typically in line with the national environment, the individual political vacuums are at least just a bit ahead of whatever is driving voters to the polls across the country. That said, the abysmal year for the GOP, President Trump’s record-low approval ratings, and perfect storms in certain states position Democrats to perhaps win a majority of the nation’s governorships. There’s no real prize for that, except in the extraordinarily rare case of a contested presidential vote, but Democrats haven’t held that title since 2009. Alabama (Safe R to Likely R): This is a prohibitive shift as Senator Tommy Tuberville (R) vies for the open seat. He faces former Senator Doug Jones (D), who won the crucial 2017 special election and whom Tuberville ousted in 2020. Jones is perhaps the best candidate the party could have found. Tuberville isn’t popular and faces residency questions for his time in Florida. The Republican baseline is likely strong enough to see Tuberville win, but even Republican pollsters find him hovering around the 50% mark. We imagine the undecideds break for him, but it will probably be an underperformance. Alabama hasn’t elected a Democratic governor since 1998. Alaska (Tilts R to Tilts D Flip): This is the first high-profile flip we’re predicting. We started the cycle assuming Republicans would have a tough time holding the Alaska governorship, but as the cycle has taken shape, we see Alaska House Rep. Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins (D) as the slight favorite. He faces three other Republican candidates, with activist and waste management magnate Berndatte Wilson (R) being his closest competitor. Wilson isn’t the worst on-paper candidate, but she represents the MAGA brand in a state where MAGA has not been largely popular. There’s a medium-to-long-term outlook for Democrats’ competitiveness in Alaska. They are invariably helped by the ranked-choice voting system. With three Republicans and one Democrat in this race, we think a “center squeeze” scenario is in play - one where the ballot is exhausted between three similar candidates and one candidate of the other party wins. In this case, that candidate is Kreiss-Tomkins. Coupled with outgoing Governor Mike Dunleavy (R) leaving office as one of the most unpopular governors in the country and Trump’s approval rating sitting at -16, we can see this idiosyncratic, mavericky state flipping blue this year. Democrats haven’t won a governor’s race in Alaska since 1998. California (Likely D to Safe D): We had kept this seat on the edge of the table barring a political vacuum against institutional California Democrats, but Steve Hilton (R), a former U.K. prime minister advisor, is trailing by about 20 points in the polls. That leaves Biden-era HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra (D) as the heir apparent to 2028 hopeful Gavin Newsom (D). We will point out that Becerra is hovering around 50% in some polls, but we don’t think that’s enough to consider a Democratic underperformance here, especially when Trump is sitting at a -46 approval. California hasn’t elected a Republican governor since 2006. Florida (Likely R to Leans R): Florida probably remains with the GOP this year but the baseline is taking a big hit. Congressman Byron Donalds (R) is perhaps the most Trumpadjacent Republican in a state where Trump’s approval is -14. Republicans have serious downballot challenges here, and the South Florida Hispanic vote is enough of an albatross to consider this race somewhat competitive. Democrats haven’t won a governor’s race in Florida since 1994. Iowa (Tilts D to Leans D): We’re upgrading Iowa State Auditor Rob Sand’s (D) chances in the Hawkeye State. Trump’s approval is -19 and Sand is the only statewide Democrat in Iowa. He notably won a razor-thin re-election as State Auditor in 2022, when the GOP won everything else that year by respectable margins. Sand now leads polling averages from 7 to 9 points and his opponent, Zach Lahn (R), has not led a single survey this cycle. Lahn also faces carpetbagging allegations for his time in Wichita, Kansas, which likely won’t help him in Iowa, where retail politics goes
much farther than it does in its neighboring states. Democrats haven’t won a governor’s race in Iowa since 2006. Michigan (Tilts D to Leans D): Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson (D) has 7-9 point leads in the polling averages and has led every survey this cycle and has raised twice as much money as her opponent, while Trump’s approval in the state is -26. Since the 1980s, Michigan has elected their governors on what we call a “two on, two off” basis - two terms of one party followed by two terms of the other. This year, we thought Michigan would be a state where the GOP could recoup some losses based on that tradition, but Benson seems well-poised to break that cycle. It hasn’t been since the 1970s that one party won three consecutive gubernatorial elections in the Wolverine State. Michigan hasn’t elected a Republican governor since 2014. Nevada (Tilts R to Toss Up): Of all the states up this cycle, one would think Nevada would be an easy flip for Democrats. But one-term Governor Joe Lombardo (R), who hails from the population center in Las Vegas, holds narrow leads in most polls. He remains narrowly net-popular, and netpopular governors are historically tough to beat. Lombardo does have to contend with Trump’s -24 approval rating in the Silver State. We’re skeptical enough, and the Toss Up column is more appropriate here, we think. Rhode Island (Likely D to Safe D): The real contest here was the Democratic primary last month, in which one-term Governor Dan McKee (D) was defeated by a landslide. His governorship came down to a bridge in Providence that has been a massive traffic nightmare his entire term. We do think there’s long-term potential for the GOP in Rhode Island, but those prospects will have to be shelved until the next decade. Trump’s approval is -39, and Helena Foulkes (D) has substantial polling leads in a three-way race. Ordinarily, we would give some deference to an Independent candidate who recently led a two-way poll against the Democrat, but these sorts of races have a way of fizzling out at the last minute. Americans love the idea of a third-party candidate, but many can’t bring themselves to vote for one. Rhode Island hasn’t elected a Republican governor since 2006. Texas (Leans R to Tilts R): Governor Greg Abbott (R) is going for an unprecedented fourth term, and while he has always overperformed the rest of the ticket, this year will be his toughest campaign yet. Abbott has very narrow leads in the polling averages, but he’s in a much better position than Ken Paxton (R) is in the concurrent Senate race. Polls that include voters who lean towards a candidate prefer Abbott by a slightly larger margin than they do Texas House Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D), who hails from Austin. We expect a photo finish in the Senate race, but if Paxton is somehow able to hold on, we don’t suspect Abbott loses. And even if James Talarico (D) scores a massive upset in the Senate, Abbott still probably wins, albeit very narrowly.
Trump’s -20 approval rating likely isn’t of aid. Texas hasn’t elected a Democratic governor since 1990. Vermont (Safe R to Likely R): Governor Phil Scott (R) is perhaps the most liberal Republican in the country, but that goes far in this heavily retail politics-oriented state. A staunch anti-Trumper, Scott has regularly been placed as the most popular governor in the country since he was elected in 2016. Despite not being of much assistance to the national GOP, Scott is an electoral powerhouse in the nation’s most liberal state. His last three wins all saw him clinch more than 65% of the vote. In 2024, he took over 73% of the vote in the best Republican performance in a Vermont governor’s race since 1946 while leading the GOP to break Democratic supermajorities in Montpelier. However, Scott hasn’t surpassed 50% in any of the surveys taken this cycle - although Vermont very rarely sees a large swath of polling in any cycle. The latest Braun Research poll found 20% of the electorate undecided; a Trump penalty might be in effect. For context, Trump’s approval rating in Vermont is -51, the third-worst in the nation behind Maryland and Hawaii. We still think Scott wins a sixth term, which would be a state record. Vermont hasn’t elected a Democratic governor since 2014. Wisconsin (Toss Up to Tilts D): The prime battleground these days, Wisconsin seems ready to keep a Democrat running things. Governor Tony Evers (D) declined to seek a third term after flipping this state blue in 2018 and narrowly retaining it in 2022. Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley (D) saved this race for Democrats by beating a firebrand progressive by a razor-thin margin in the primary. Congressman Tom Tiffany (R, WI-07), a House Freedom Caucus member, is taking the penalty for being so closely aligned with Trump, whose approval sits at -19 in Wisconsin. Tiffany, however, has distanced himself from the president as of late, and has called for an end to the Iran War Most polls show Crowley ahead but within the margin of error. The averages have him up 3-4 points and Tiffany hasn’t led a single poll this cycle. Since this race is mostly a statistical tie, there is a path forward for Tiffany, but with the national environment and Crowley’s modest yet consistent leads, it’s enough for us to tilt this seat blue. Here’s the Count Our forecast shows Democrats winning 19 seats; they have 6 seats not on the ballot this year. The GOP comes in with 14 seats; 8 are off the ballot. We see the GOP flipping one state, Kansas, and the Democrats flipping two, Alaska and Iowa. There are three Toss Ups: Georgia, Nevada, and Ohio. We’re the most bullish on Nevada remaining with the GOP, while Ohio is on the edge of the knife. The only target the GOP has is Oregon, while the Democrats can afford to play in some deep-red states.
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Long Island Locavore Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, October 8, 2026
More Than a Seat at the Table: The Watermill’s Recipe for Community By Nancy Val | Long Island Locavore There are places we associate with the milestones of our lives – weddings, anniversaries, coming of age, celebrations where the tables are beautifully set, the glasses sparkle, the flowers are fresh, and someone else has taken care of every last detail. For generations of Long Islanders, the Watermill has been one of those places. Renowned for elegant weddings and special occasions, Watermill Caterers has mastered something that isn’t always easy to achieve: luxury that still feels like home. Behind the polished service, beautifully appointed rooms, and seemingly endless abundance is an oldfashioned philosophy of hospitality. There is always room for one more at the table. For over 30 years, Joe Zangri, partner at Watermill Caterers, has helped lead that effort. And while thousands know the Watermill from weddings and celebrations, some of the work taking place beyond the ballroom may tell its story best. The Watermill has extended its hospitality to organizations and families throughout Long Island, supporting the Cody Center for Autism and Developmental Disabilities at Stony Brook University and is the host venue for Christmas Magic, an event for underprivileged children and their families throughout Suffolk and Nassau counties. It has served as a collection point for Toys for Tots and, together with United Veterans Beacon House, has hosted a pre-Thanksgiving dinner honoring and feeding local Veterans. During COVID, when gathering around tables wasn’t possible, the Watermill found another way to feed its community. Its parking lot became the pickup point for the Smithtown Children’s Foundation’s Farm-toTrunk fundraiser. Instead of guests arriving in gowns and suits, cars pulled through to collect boxes filled with farm-fresh vegetables while supporting the Foundation’s work on behalf of local families experiencing crisis. Even with its doors effectively closed to traditional celebrations, the Watermill found a way to keep the spirit of hospitality alive. That relationship with food, family and community continues to grow. This past summer, the Watermill partnered with the Smithtown Historical Society to help launch its Grow It/Eat It program, an initiative designed to teach children something that has become increasingly easy to lose in our grab-and-go world: an understanding of where food comes from. Children have the opportunity to plant and grow vegetables and then learn how to prepare the food they have harvested. It’s a full-circle lesson in agriculture, cooking, sustainability and community - one that fits particularly well with the Watermill’s tradition of passing culinary knowledge from one generation to the next. I experienced that philosophy firsthand this past May when I walked into the Watermill for what I thought was going to be a pasta-making class. Calling it a “cooking class” turned out to be a bit of an understatement. We were welcomed Nonna-style. Before anyone touched a rolling pin, there was an overflowing cocktail hour with an open bar, sushi, calamari, baked clams, fritto misto,
and enough food to make you wonder how we were possibly going to eat dinner. But this is the Watermill. Of course there was dinner. Guests were seated at beautifully dressed tables with linens, stemware, and fresh flowers as plates of gnocchi alla vodka and pappardelle Bolognese arrived from the kitchen. It was elegant and abundant, yet somehow warm and familiar at the same time. Then Joe Zangri traded the executive office for an apron and became Chef Z. More than 60 guests moved into a beautifully prepared culinary classroom where individual stations were waiting with ingredients, pasta tools and aprons. Under Chef Z’s guidance and with help from the Watermill team, we rolled, shaped, and created our own handmade pappardelle and gnocchi. By the end of the evening, each guest had roughly two pounds of handmade pasta and gnocchi to bring home, along with recipes, tools and memories of an evening that felt less like attending a class and more like being welcomed into a very large Italian family. Naturally, no Italian family gathering ends without dessert. Pastry tables seemed to stretch in every direction alongside magnificent displays of fresh fruit. And the sfogliatelle? Molto bene. The evening captured what the Watermill does particularly well: making something luxurious feel personal. The pasta class is also part of another side of the Watermill. You don’t necessarily need a wedding invitation to walk through its doors. Weekday culinary and lifestyle experiences are giving people an opportunity to enjoy the venue simply for the pleasure of a memorable night out. On Thursday, October 15, from 6:30p.m. to 11:00p.m., the Watermill will change gears again with a Bourbon & Cigar Pig Roast, an evening built around great food, premium cigars and fine bourbon. https://www. watermillcaterers.com/upcoming-events One evening, you’re dusted in flour rolling pappardelle with Chef Z. Another, you’re gathering around a pig roast with bourbon and cigars. Different experiences. Same idea. And perhaps nowhere is that philosophy more evident than when the Watermill opens its doors for a cause. On Tuesday, November 17, the Watermill will host the Smithtown Children’s Foundation Community Table Grand Tasting, bringing together local restaurants, chefs, culinary businesses, sponsors and hundreds of area residents in support of Smithtown families experiencing crisis. https://www. smithtownchildrensfoundation.com/events For a venue whose story is so closely tied to food and hospitality, the name seems especially appropriate: The Community Table. Because when you look closely at the Watermill’s thirty-plus years under Joe Zangri’s leadership, the table keeps appearing. A table set for a bride and groom, a Thanksgiving table for Veterans, a Christmas celebration for children, a classroom table
Created by Nancy Vallarella, who brings farm-fresh recipes and local food knowledge to Long Island through farmers’ markets, demos, and more. For more recipes or to connect: DM @lilocavore495 on Instagram or email lilocavore495@gmail.com
covered in flour and handmade pasta, aplace that supports children to learn that the butternut squash on the plate began with a seed in the soil. And on November 17, tables filled with tastes from some of our area’s culinary businesses, all gathered under one roof to help neighbors who need a hand. Food has a wonderful way of doing that. It nourishes us, certainly, but some of our strongest memories are created not by what was on the plate, but by who was sitting beside us. That brings us back to Chef Z and into our own kitchens. Joe is sharing his recipe that captures the spirit of that pasta-making evening: Ricotta Gnocchi. For my Long Island Locavore contribution, I’m bringing a little autumn harvest to Chef Z’s Italian table with a Butternut Squash Sauce - silky, seasonal, and made for spooning over tender ricotta gnocchi. Two recipes meant to be made with your hands, shared with people you love and eaten around a table. The Watermill may be famous for hosting some of Long Island’s grandest celebrations, but perhaps its greatest luxury is something much simpler. For over 30 years, Joe Zangri and the Watermill team have created a place where people feel taken care of.
Watermill Ricotta Gnocchi à la Chef Z Ingredients: 1/2 cup grated parmigiano 1.5 cup flour 2 eggs 1 cup ricotta Semolina for dusting Directions Make well with flour. Add ricotta, eggs, and grated cheese to the center of the well. Mix together until dough is formed; the dough should be sticky. Dust with semolina. Turn the dough onto a floured surface. Cut into 4-8 pieces and roll into 3/4-to-1-inch-thick rope. Cut the rope into 3/4-inch to 1-inch pieces. Roll each piece over a gnocchi board or the back of a fork for ridges that hold sauce. Cooking Instructions – Boiling Method (most common): Bring a large pot of salted water to a gentle boil. Drop the gnocchi in batches of 10 -15. Cook until they float to the surface; 1-3 minutes per. Pan-fried Method (for crispy exterior): Boil first
25 and follow the steps above and drain well. Heat 2 – 3 Tbs of butter or olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the gnocchi in a single layer and fry for 2 – 3 minutes per side until golden brown. Serving and Storage: Serve gnocchi immediately. Freeze uncooked gnocchi on a parchment-lined baking sheet, then transfer to a bag. Cook directly from frozen, adding 1 -2 extra minutes to the boiling time. Uncooked gnocchi can be kept on a floured, covered baking sheet in the fridge for up to 1 day.
Easy Butternut Squash Pasta Sauce Ingredients: 1 peeled and chopped butternut squash (about 4 cups) 1 small onion, diced (about 1 cup) 4 Tbs butter or olive oil 1 Tbs finely chopped fresh sage kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste freshly grated nutmeg, optional For serving: 1/2 to 1 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Directions: 1. Heat butter or olive oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over moderately high heat, then add chopped sage and cook until fragrant, about 15 seconds. Add cubed squash, diced onion, 2 cups water, 1 teaspoon salt, and pepper to taste. If your squash pieces are not submerged in water, add more water just until they are barely covered. Simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until squash is very tender and water has reduced considerably, about 15 to 20 minutes depending on the size of the squash pieces. 2. While squash mixture simmers, cook pasta in pot of boiling salted water. Reserve a cup of pasta cooking water, then drain pasta in a colander. 3. When squash is knife-tender, it’s done. Turn off the heat. If you have an immersion blender, purée mixture right in pot. If you don’t, transfer mixture to a food processor or blender and purée until smooth. Taste sauce. Add more salt if necessary. Add a grating of fresh nutmeg if you wish. The sauce should be thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. If it is too thin, simmer over low heat until it thickens. If it’s too thick, thin with some of the reserved pasta cooking liquid until it is the right consistency. 4. If you wish, stir in ParmigianoReggiano. 5. Place pasta in a serving bowl. Toss with enough butternut-sage sauce to coat nicely. Add a handful of parmesan cheese. If necessary, add a little bit of the reserved cooking water to thin it out. Shave parmesan and crack pepper over each bowl before serving. 6. If you have extra sauce, store it in the fridge for a later date. The sauce thickens as it sits, so on subsequent uses, it will most likely be necessary to use the reserved cooking liquid to thin out.
Thursday, October 8, 2026
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Notice? LegalLegal Notice? Thursday, October 8, 2026
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We Publish: • LLC, LP or PLLC • Meeting Notices not coming back. This team’s very different. On the flip side We We Publish:LP • LLC, orPublish: PLLC • LLC, LP o We Publish: Formations • LLC, PLLC •or BidsLP and Proposals Formation in Whitman, we went up 2-0; they had another strong, young Formations • School Budgets Formations • Public Hearings • School Bu girl on their team who beat us with two beautiful shots, but we • Name Cha • Name Changes •Budgets and More School Budgets • School • Meeting N were able to come back and win that game in overtime. So, the • Meeting Notices • Bids and P •at Name Changes • Name Changes resilience this team shows is really pretty cool,” said Cavanagh. Contact Linda • Public He • Bids and Proposals Contact Linda at and More The regular season is winding down, and the hunt for playoff Notices • Meeting Notices •(631) Public Hearings • Meeting 265-3500 (631) 265-3500 seeding is creeping into the forefront. For Connetquot, they • Bids and Proposals • Bids and Proposals and More Contact Linda at know they’ll be battle-tested. They’re ready to take on the task or email or email •Hearings Public Hearings • Public (631) 265-3500 and see what they’re truly made of. Con legals@messengerpapers.com legals@messengerpapers.com (63 or email and More and More “We have three games left, but two monumental teams. Two legals@messengerpapers.com legals@messenge perennial powerhouses; these are teams we look to compete Contact LindaNOTICE at with. We want to be on the same level as Sachem East, same PUBLIC (631) 265-3500 level as Ward Melville. Those teams have done it every year Notice or ofemail Formation of for 25 years, if not longer. We try to measure ourselves with legals@messengerpapers.com THE MIDLIFE RESET Contact Lindaatat Contact Linda teams like Northport, North Babylon, Commack, Sachem East, LLC (631) 265-3500 (631) 265-3500 and Ward Melville. So, we’ll know a lot about our season when we play those two teams. We know they’re going to be close or email Notice of formation of or THEemail MIDLIFE RESET LLC. games.” legals@messengerpapers.com legals@messengerpapers.com Articles of Organization filed The mindset going forward into the playoffs is to get what with Secretary of State of they came for: a County title. The wins keep coming, but they New York (SSNY) on matter most when it counts. A strong regular season is a huge 07/14/26. Office location: boost for a team going into playoffs. Suffolk County. SSNY has been designated as agent of “We want to see we’re able to compete, and that’s really the LLC upon whom process what we’re going for. I’m going to be honest with you; we’ve against it may be served. finished the regular season strong before. We’ve won league SSNY shall mail a copy of the championships before. Our goal from the very beginning of process to the LLC: 7 this year was not just to make the playoffs, not just to win a Oldwood Road, St. James, NY 11780. Purpose: any game in the playoffs. We had to change that mindset and say, lawful purpose. ‘We want to win a county title; we want to do something special that’s never been done before.’ So, our goal is to win a county 3614 SBI 11-12-26 championship, and whatever we need to do to get there.”
LEGAL NOTICE •
The T-Birds are dominating on the field this season at Connetquot High School. The girls’ varsity soccer team keeps winning and they don’t look like they’re slowing down with playoffs on the horizon. The Connetquot girls’ varsity soccer team is a member of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and competes in Division I. The girls are led by tenth-year head coach Ryan Cavanagh. He’s joined on the sidelines by assistant coaches Justin Cebollero and Jennifer Monahan. The Thunderbirds won the League title in 2023. As per United Soccer Coaches High School Rankings, Connetquot is ranked 24th nationally. “The girls have been working since late June together. We did a lot of summer workouts, a lot of summer leagues; there’s a lot of new girls on the team this year. A lot of freshmen, a lot of softball, which we don’t normally do,” Coach Cavanagh told The Messenger. “We normally have an upper-class leading team. This year, we have three contributing freshmen, which is very rare for us, and up to five contributing sophomores. That’s why we’re a bit of an unknown coming into the year. I really felt, based on the ability of the younger girls and the outside-club soccer that they play, that we could be dangerous as a team. I could never have predicted this kind of success. The girls just all get along; that’s a huge part of the soccer program.” Connetquot sits atop their division with an 11-0-1 record with three games remaining in the regular season. The T-Birds only “blemish” this season came in game one versus Kings Park, where the two teams tied 1-1. Since then, Connetquot has gone on to win every game, outscoring their opponents 34-7. In doing so, they produced seven shutouts. “I had an old mentor coach telling me years ago that you only need to go there to make two key saves a game, and that could be the difference. Well, Addison speaks to that. She’s made two key saves and all of our big 1-0 wins”, said Cavanagh. Seven shutouts are the product of two things: great goaltending and quality defense. The starting goaltender for Connetquot is junior Addisyn Gentile. She’s started every game so far and has made 49 saves. For 12 games, that’s a decent amount of action coming her way. Opposingly, the saves leader has 130, so it could very well be that Connetquot maintains possession of the ball and/or the defense doesn’t let the ball get near Gentile. “I’m talking about two monumental saves in each game. She might make six, seven saves a game. We just played Sachem North the other day. She made a diving stop with under three minutes going in the game. The entire Sachem bench was already celebrating, and she knocked it out. We all thought it was in, but she extended her left arm and knocked the ball flat on the ground,” said Cavanagh. The Thunderbirds are led in scoring by Leigha Mackin; she’s tied for 13th in Suffolk County with 10g-3a-13pts. The junior midfielder was named to Newsday’s Top-100 girls soccer players prior to the 2026 season. “My attacking players are very skilled players, and they’re able to finish. When you find a goal scorer who’s able to put the ball in the back of the net, that’s a tough thing to do. We have Leigha Mackin, who’s just a finisher by nature. She knows how to find the back of the net. We have Mia Montalto, who’s been hurt, but she does all of our set pieces, all of our kicks, and the ball floats in like a butterfly.
Credit - Skylar Hipp
By Ashley Pavlakis
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County Executive Romaine Declares
27
October 6 - ‘Ducks Day’
Members of the Long Island Ducks organization were joined by Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) on Tuesday at Fairfield Properties Ballpark to celebrate the team’s historic run to the 2026 Atlantic League Championship. Romaine officially declared October 6, 2026, as “Long Island Ducks Day” and presented the Ducks with a proclamation recognizing the team’s record-setting season. Joining Romaine were Ducks President/Chief Business Officer Michael Pfaff, General Manager Sean Smith, Manager Lew Ford, 2026 Atlantic League Championship Series MVP Nick Margevicius and 2026 Atlantic League Mascot of the Year QuackerJack. “I am proud to recognize the entire Ducks organization, including the players, coaches, front office, staff, and the devoted fans whose support helped make this championship season so special,” part of Romaine’s official proclamation reads. “Their collective commitment demonstrates the power of teamwork and what can be accomplished when talented individuals come together with a common purpose. The Ducks have represented Long Island with pride and distinction throughout their championship run.” The Long Island Ducks 2026 accomplishments included the following: • For the sixth consecutive season, the Ducks led all MLB Partner Leagues in total attendance during the regular season (295,002) and led the Atlantic League in average (4,683) attendance per game. Long Island has now welcomed an Atlantic League record 9,783,179 fans through the gates of Fairfield Properties Ballpark since the franchise’s inaugural 2000 season. • The Ducks hosted nine past-capacity crowds in 2026, an increase from the 2025 season, including a crowd of 6,896 on Opening Night to see former Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer’s first start as a Duck, and a season-high 7,157 fans on September 12. Long Island has now welcomed 730 sold out crowds all-time, which is also an Atlantic League record. • Finishing with the Atlantic League’s best record during the regular season at 80-46, marking the fifth time the Ducks have accomplished the feat. The Ducks also posted a winning record for the fourth consecutive season and 11th time in the past 12 seasons dating back to 2014. • Earning their record 10th Division Championship with a three-game sweep of the Hagerstown Flying Boxcars in the North Division Championship Series. Long Island came from behind to win all three games during the series. • Capturing their Fifth Atlantic League Championship with a three-game sweep of the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in the Atlantic League Championship Series. The Ducks are now tied with the York Revolution for the most championships among active league clubs and second-most in league history. In sweeping both postseason series, the Ducks completed a perfect 6-0 playoff run. It was the first time in team history and only the third time in league history that a team accomplished the feat. • Long Island set numerous franchise records in terms of wins and winning percentage. The Ducks .635 overall winning percentage during the regular season was their highest ever in a single season. Additionally, Long Island’s 80 wins overall, 39 road wins and 43 second half victories were their most ever in a 126-game season. The Ducks 41 home victories overall in 2026 were their most ever in a 63-game home schedule. • Eight members of the 2026 Ducks had their contracts transferred to Major League organizations or foreign professional leagues. They included first baseman/DH Juan Yepez (Dorados de Chihuahua), catcher Caleb Roberts (Minnesota Twins), infielders Henry Kusiak (Minnesota Twins) and Nick Roselli (New York Mets), left-handed pitcher Scott Alexander (Kansas City Royals) and right-handed pitchers Trevor Bauer (Diablos Rojos del Mexico), Ramon Santos (Saraperos de Saltillo) and Drew VerHagen (Guerreros de Oaxaca). • Four Ducks alumni played in the Major Leagues in 2026. They included right-handed pitchers Matt Seelinger (2024 Ducks) and Robert Stock (2023 Ducks) with the New York
Mets, right-handed pitcher Tyler Zuber (2024 Ducks) with the Miami Marlins and righthanded pitcher Jose Cuas (2018-19 and 2021 Ducks) with the Kansas City Royals. • Jorge Bonifacio was named the 2026 Team MVP, presented by Delmonte-Smelson Jewelers. Bonifacio put together a historic campaign in his first season with the Ducks, breaking the franchise’s single-season home run and runs batted in records with 30 homers and 108 RBIs. Additionally, Bonifacio was named to the Atlantic League’s Drake All-Defensive Team after committing no errors over 86 games in the outfield. • Three Ducks were selected to the Atlantic League’s Mid-Season All-Star Team, presented by Drake – starting pitcher Trevor Bauer, outfielder Jacob Robson and closer Ramon Santos. • Three Ducks were also chosen for the Atlantic League’s Postseason All-Star Team – outfielder Jorge Bonifacio, shortstop Wilmer Difo and closer Ramon Santos. • The Ducks set new single-season franchise records for home runs and stolen bases. Long Island’s 190 homers eclipsed the previous single-season high of 151, set in 2008 and equaled in 2023, and their 320 steals shattered the previous single-season high of 239 set in 2025. • Wilmer Difo broke the Ducks all-time single-season record for stolen bases with 60. That total surpassed the previous mark of 56, set by Mel Stocker in 2006. Difo also tied the Ducks single-game record for walks with five on June 28 at Staten Island (Erick Almonte, July 5, 2006, vs. Newark). • Trevor Bauer pitched a no-hitter on April 26 in game one of a doubleheader at Lancaster. He became the third Ducks pitcher ever to throw a no-hitter, joining Robert Stock (July 18, 2023, at Southern Maryland) and Rod Henderson (May 25, 2001, vs. Atlantic City). Bauer also broke the franchise single-game record for strikeouts with 15 on May 12 against Gastonia. He was named the Atlantic League’s Pitcher of the Month for April/May. • Anthony Garcia tied a Ducks single-game record with three home runs on September 5 at York. He became just the fourth Duck to accomplish the feat in a single game, joining Ray Navarrete (June 8, 2008, vs. Newark; Dustin Woodcock, July 13, 2022, vs. Lexington; Chance Sisco, June 17, 2023, at York). • Long Island won the fifth installment of the Battle of the Belt rivalry series between the Ducks and Staten Island FerryHawks. In the 24-game season series, the Ducks posted a 16-8 record against their in-state counterparts. This marks the third time the Ducks have won the Battle of the Belt outright. • Four different charitable jersey auctions that celebrated various themes. The team wore special jerseys for the Fourth of July in celebration of America’s 250th birthday, Jewish Heritage Night, World Cup Soccer Night and Breast Cancer Awareness Night. These jerseys were all auctioned off via the LiveSource mobile app, with net proceeds from each auction benefiting the QuackerJack Foundation, the charitable arm of the Ducks, and local charitable organizations or coalitions. • A report completed by Discover Long Island detailed the Ducks $501 million economic impact over the team’s first 25 seasons of play at Fairfield Properties Ballpark. The study noted that each season, the organization contributes approximately $20 million to the local economy. • Ducks ownership was transitioned to REV Entertainment, the official sports and entertainment company of the Texas Rangers, in January. The transition concluded the highly successful tenure of founding owner Frank Boulton, who also founded the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and served as its chairman since 1998. • The Ducks hosted Frank Boulton Appreciation Night on May 2, honoring the team’s founder with a special pregame ceremony. During the festivities, the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball announced it had officially renamed its championship trophy as the Frank Boulton Trophy, which was then fittingly presented to the Ducks in September after the team clinched the Atlantic League Championship.
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Messenger Spotlight
VetFest Returns to
Pal-O-Mine Equestrian
Pal-O-Mine Equestrian announced that it will once again host VetFest at its Islandia farm, 829 Old Nichols Road, on Sunday, October 11, from 10:00a.m. to 2:00p.m. VetFest is a free event exclusively for Veterans, active-duty service members, and their families. Sponsored by the Long Island Veteran Suicide Prevention Coalition, the event will bring more than 40 veterans’ resource organizations to Pal-O-Mine’s 13-acre farm, sharing information on services including housing, health care, employment, mental health and addiction support, education, and financial and legal assistance. Beyond the resource fair, VetFest offers a day of family-friendly fun, with activities including cornhole, farm-themed games, horseshoe painting, musical saddles, a playground, livestock education, and more. “Many Veterans and families who come through our gates are dealing with struggles that aren’t visible to the outside world,” said Pal-O-Mine Founder and CEO Lisa Gatti. “We’ve seen firsthand how spending time with horses can bring a real sense of calm, even if it’s only for a short while. VetFest is about much more than connecting people with services, though that’s a huge part of it. It’s about giving our military community a place where they feel welcomed, valued, and cared for — and knowing Pal-O-Mine will always be in their corner.” Pal-O-Mine is grateful to the Marilyn Lichtman Foundation for their generous support of VetFest, as well as their support for our Women Veterans Retreat, held from October 9 – 11. For more information about VetFest, including sponsorships and requests to table at the event, email Salvina.Barresi@va.gov or mark. murphy8@va.gov. To learn about all of Pal-O-Mine’s equine-assisted therapeutic programs, visit www.pal-o-mine.org. About Pal-O-Mine Equestrian Pal-O-Mine Equestrian began in 1995 as a therapeutic horseback riding program for individuals with disabilities and other vulnerable populations. Our mission is to provide a comprehensive therapeutic equine program to facilitate growth, learning and healing for children and adults with disabilities, survivors of trauma, veterans, first responders, individuals on the autism spectrum and many others. Each week, more than 400 students attend one of the many programs offered at the 13-acre Islandia campus, which is home to 25 specially trained horses, small farm animals and a therapeutic horticulture program that serves as a vocational internship site for people with disabilities. To learn more, visit www.Pal-O-Mine.org.
Thursday, October 8, 2026