Smithtown Messenger Archive Sept. 11, 2025

Gilgo Beach and the Price of Truth: Justice Meets Forensics on L.I.

By Raheem Soto

For more than a decade, the Gilgo Beach murders have haunted Long Island. A lonely stretch of dunes and scrub pine became a cemetery for women discarded as if their lives held no more weight than driftwood washed ashore. The case, mired in false leads and bureaucratic inertia, became a symbol of delay and neglect. For many, it stood as a damning question: did the system care enough about the victims to ever deliver justice?

Now, with a suspect in custody and the courts preparing for trial, Suffolk County finds itself at a crossroads between justice delayed and justice delivered.

Continued on page 4

New Bridge at Blydenburgh County Park: In Memory of Michael Charcon

By Madison Warren

A new bridge now connects hikers at Blydenburgh County Park, thanks to the efforts of Boy Scout Troop 125. The Eagle Scout project, led by member Jake Shabronsky, was officially dedicated this past weekend in memory of the troop’s late scout leader, Mr. Charcon.

The bridge not only improves accessibility along the park’s hiking trails but also stands as a lasting tribute to Mr. Charcon’s impact on the scouting community.

Back in 2022, when Michael Charcon passed away, Boy Scout Troop 125 was left shaken by the loss of a man who had been so impactful and influential in their lives. Many of the scouts remained in the program as long as they did because of Mr. Charcon’s guidance. He taught them countless life lessons and helped create memories they will carry with them forever.

Continued on page 10

D.A. Tierney in Riverhead (Credit - Matt Meduri)

Thursday, September 11, 2025

FALL EVENTS

Port Jefferson

Summer Farmers Market at Harborfront Park

Every Saturday and Sunday, May 18-November 28 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Islip Farmers Market at Town Hall

Every Sunday June 7 - November 22 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM

Grooves on the Green in Ronkonkoma

Every other Wednesday until September 24 5:00 PM to 7:30 PM

Goatman’s Haunted House Museum in Manorville

Every Saturday and Sunday until November, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

11th Annual Port Jefferson Dragon Boat Race Festival

September 13, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM

Fireworks Spectacular and LI Ducks Game

September 13, Gates open at 5:35pm

County Fair at Setauket Village Greer

September 13, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Long Island’s Latino Conservation Day at Sunken Meadow State Park

September 13, 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Car Show at Brookhaven Town Hall

September 14, 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Dog ‘Dragon’ Costume Contest at Harborfront

September 13, 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM

San Gennaro Feast at Lenny Bruno Farms

September 20, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Wading River-Shoreham Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival

September 28, 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Comedy Night at the Seaport Diner

September 28, 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM

PUBLISHER

Raheem Soto

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Matt Meduri

STAFF REPORTERS

Cait Crudden

ART PRODUCTION

MANAGER

Sergio A. Fabbri

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Colin Herr

CONTRIBUTORS

PJ Balzer

Ashley Pavlakis

Madison Warren

OFFICE MANAGER & ACCOUNTS

RECEIVABLE

Kim Revere

PROOFREADER

Giavanna Rudilosso

SOCIAL MEDIA

Madison Warren

Tim Walz

DELIVERY PERSONNEL

PJ Balzer

Joe Cuminale

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Around Town

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Smithtown Historical Society’s 70th Anniversary Celebration

The Smithtown Historical Society is proud to announce a once-in-ageneration celebration marking 70 years of preserving history, hospitality, and community spirit. On Saturday, September 20, 2025, the doors of the iconic Epenetus Smith Tavern will open to the public for a milestone event blending the richness of Smithtown’s past with the vibrancy of its present.

From 10:30a.m. to 2:00p.m., guests will step inside a building that has stood since 1740, immersing themselves in a day filled with history, inspiration, and unforgettable experiences. This exclusive event will feature wine tastings, culinary demonstrations, and designer holiday vignettes, making it a unique celebration of local talent and tradition.

An Event Unlike Any Other

This special day promises to be a feast for the senses, with something for everyone:

USPS No. 499-220

Official Newspaper for County of Suffolk, S.C. Department of Consumer Affairs, Village of Head of the Harbor, Village of Nissequogue, Inc., Village of the Branch, Hauppauge, Kings Park, Commack, Smithtown School District. Published every Thursday by: Messenger Papers, Inc. 558 Portion Road, Suite B Ronkonkoma, NY 11779

Email: editor@messengerpapers.com www.messengerpapers.com

• Sip & Savor – Wine tastings led by Tom Gilberti and “Sam the Sommelier” from The Wine Guy, showcasing the FEW & TAAL tasting methods. Plus Vintner extraordinaire, Rex Farr of Farrm Wine, Long Island’s only Demetercertified biodynamic and 100% organic vineyard will be storytelling and lending a taste of Farrm’s finest.

• Entertain Like a Pro – Live holiday entertaining demonstration by Myra Naseem, Smithtown’s very own Culinary Goddess, with tips, techniques, and hacks to make hosting easier and more spectacular than ever.

• Holiday Inspiration – Be among the first to view designer-created holiday vignettes, carefully curated by local interior designers. These stunning displays will remain on view through December, transforming the Tavern into a winter wonderland.

• Celebrate Community – Connect with friends and neighbors while honoring seven decades of Smithtown Historical Society’s work preserving and sharing local heritage.

Schedule of Events

•10:40 a.m. – Welcome & brief history of the Smithtown Historical Society and the Epenetus Smith Tavern

•11:00 – 11:30a.m. – Wine Tasting Tips with The Wine Guy team

•12:00 – 12:30p.m. – Biodynamic Winemaking with Rex Farr of Farrm Wine

•1:00 – 1:30p.m. – Holiday Entertaining Inspiration with Myra Naseem of Elegant Eating

A Day to Remember

“This is so much more than an event,” said event coordinator, Nancy Vallarella. “It’s a celebration of Smithtown’s past, present, and future. Guests will experience the warmth of community while enjoying incredible food, wine, and design talent — all while standing in one of our town’s most historic buildings.”

The Epenetus Smith Tavern will be the centerpiece of the celebration, filled with festive decor, seasonal bites, and curated wine tastings. Guests will leave inspired, with memories that carry the spirit of Smithtown’s history forward.

Event Details

•Date: Saturday, September 20, 2025

•Time: 10:30a.m. – 2:00p.m.

•Location: Epenetus Smith Tavern, Smithtown Historical Society Grounds, 211 E Main Street, Smithtown,

•Tickets: Limited seating availability. Act Now.

•Purchase Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/70th-anniversary-ofthe-smithtown-historical-society-tickets-1661070860659?aff=ebdssbdests earch

•QR Code

About the Smithtown Historical Society

For 70 years, the Smithtown Historical Society has been dedicated to preserving and sharing the rich history of Smithtown and its surrounding communities. Through events, programs, and education, the Society continues to connect generations with their shared heritage, creating a deeper appreciation for local culture and tradition.

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

Entered as a second class matter at the Post Office of Smithtown, NY, under act of December 28, 1879. Periodicals postage paid out of Smithtown, NY. This newspaper will not be liable for errors appearing in any advertisement beyond the cost of the space occupied by the error.

The opinions expressed in byline articles, letters and columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of Messenger Papers, Inc, its publishers or editors. Pictures submitted for publication remain property of the publisher.

Postmaster: Send address changes to Smithtown Messenger, P.O. Box 925, Smithtown, NY 11787

Suffolk Matters

September 11,

Gilgo Beach and the Price of Truth: Justice Meets Forensics on Long Island

The Man on Trial

At the center is Rex Heuermann, a 61-yearold Manhattan architect accused of murdering seven women whose remains were found along Ocean Parkway between 1993 and 2011. He has pleaded not guilty. His fate will be determined in court. But the trial is bigger than one man. It is a referendum on how law, science, and society respond when the vulnerable fall prey to the violent.

The DNA Revolution

The true breakthrough is not only in the charges but in the science. Suffolk County Judge Timothy Mazzei has allowed prosecutors to use cutting-edge forensic methods—whole genome sequencing and nuclear DNA analysis—on decades-old, rootless hair fragments.

It is the first time such techniques have been admitted in a New York courtroom. Traditional DNA testing requires intact roots; these samples had none. Without this technology, the case might have remained forever obscured, as hazy as the fog rolling off the Atlantic.

Prosecutors say the science now links Heuermann to six of the seven victims. Defense attorneys object, pointing to licensing disputes and jurisdictional technicalities. A hearing on September 23 will decide how much of this evidence survives. But the implications reach far beyond Suffolk: if accepted, New York could join the ranks of states where advanced DNA is legitimate courtroom proof, a precedent that may unlock hundreds of cold cases nationwide.

A Grisly Discovery at Jones Beach

Even as the courts weigh science, the ground itself continues to yield grim reminders. This month, workers near the East Bathhouse at Jones Beach unearthed a cache buried beneath two feet of sand: purses, rayon skirts, torn shirts, and a glove stained with blood.

The symbolism was stark. Jones Beach, built by Robert Moses as a shrine to leisure, now revealed artifacts of violence. Detectives noted burlap fencing near the site—eerily similar to the burlap sacks that once shrouded the victims along Ocean Parkway.

Whether these items tie directly to Heuermann or not, they deepen the case’s shadow and remind Long Islanders that the scope of this tragedy may stretch well beyond Gilgo Beach.

Who the Victims Were

Too often, the women lost to Gilgo are reduced to labels: “the Gilgo Four,” “sex workers,” “missing women.” But each had a name, a family, a life.

• Melissa Barthelemy, 24, disappeared in 2009.

• Megan Waterman, 22, vanished in 2010.

• Amber Costello, 27, went missing that same year.

• Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, last seen in 2007.

• Jessica Taylor, 20, murdered in 2003.

• Valerie Mack, 24, disappeared in 2000, identified years later.

• Karen Vergata, 34, missing since 1996, identified in 2023.

Their lives were cut short, their dignity often diminished by the circumstances of their disappearance. But their humanity—not the evidence bags or trial transcripts— must remain the anchor of this story. Without it, justice becomes sterile, stripped of the very reason it matters.

There are two trials unfolding. One asks: did Rex Heuermann commit these crimes, and can the state prove it? The other asks: can our system adapt to new science while upholding fairness?

Fingerprinting was once controversial. Blood typing was once untested. Today, they are routine. Whole genome sequencing may soon join them.

But there is a deeper reckoning. For years, the Gilgo case languished in part because the victims were poor, vulnerable, and stigmatized. Only when prestige science entered the scene did the system accelerate. That fact should unsettle us all. When violence touches the powerful, armies mobilize. When it touches the powerless, the response too often withers until evidence becomes impossible to ignore.

What Comes Next

On September 23, Judge Mazzei will rule on the defense challenges and decide whether the seven charges will be tried together. The trial itself may not begin until 2026, by which time the very technology in question may already be standard.

But the larger verdict cannot wait. Gilgo Beach is more than a crime scene. It is a mirror. It reflects a culture that too easily discounts the worth of the marginalized, and a bureaucracy that hesitates when urgency is most needed.

For too long, the facts were ignored. Now, science has dragged them into the light. Whether truth can prevail—and justice can follow—will test not only the courts, but the conscience of Long Island itself.

The Broader Lesson

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Photo by Matt Meduri

Melissa Cann, sister of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, speaks of her sister.

Photo by Matt Meduri

Unanimous Vote for Suffolk Working Waterfronts Program

Suffolk County Legislator Catherine Stark (R-Riverhead), of the First District, and her colleagues on the Suffolk County Legislature’s voted unanimously at the last General Meeting for creation of the Working Waterfronts Program.

This historic resolution (I.R.1520) establishes Chapter 26 of the Suffolk County Code to establish a framework to acquire conservation easements on working waterfront properties and help forever preserve Suffolk’s commercial fishing and waterfront heritage.

“I have long championed the preservation of farmland and open space in Suffolk County,” said Legislator Stark. “Now, Chapter 26 will give the county an invaluable tool to preserve and protect our important aquaculture and marine industries. With over 800 properties identified by a recent County study, this measure will benefit everyone from Greenport and Fishers Island all the way to Babylon and Huntington.”

She praised her colleagues who unanimously supported the measure at the legislature’s General Meeting today, Wednesday, September 3, 2025, in Hauppauge.

“For more than a year, I have worked with representatives from various environmental and aquaculture entities, as well as members of the Executive’s office, to clarify the critical details – the “fine print” if you will -- to ensure this program’s effectiveness and to encompass the many organizations and individuals in the aquaculture industry,” said Stark. “Long Island has had a long and proud marine history, and the overwhelming support for this effort demonstrates that my legislative colleagues and the County Executive are committed to protecting and preserving our working waterfronts for future generations.”

As one example of the strong support received from stakeholders in the maritime business, the Long Island Commercial Fishing Association (LICFA) said the resolution “represents a long-overdue commitment to safeguarding the essential infrastructure that sustains Suffolk County’s historic and economically vital commercial fishing industry.”

In a letter of support prior to its passage, LICFA Executive Director Bonnie Brady wrote: “The passage of this resolution would signal Suffolk County’s understanding that commercial fishing is not an expendable relic of the past but a living, productive, and necessary part of Long Island’s present and future trajectory. It’s not just about boats and nets, it’s about food security, local jobs, commercial fishing heritage, and economic diversity.”

When signed as promised by County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches), the law will establish a Working Waterfront Committee, composed of representatives from each township, the County Executive, the County Legislature, and the maritime

sector. The chosen committee members must have some connection to aquaculture, fishing, marine industry, or related field to sit on the panel. This committee will oversee program administration, review applications from the waterfront property owners, conduct site visits, and advise on easement acquisitions and permitting. The county’s Department of Economic Development and Planning will assist the committee before recommendations are given to the legislature for approval.

The working waterfronts program will follow a process to identify and approve properties similar to the rigorous process already used by Suffolk’s successful Farmland Committee in its vigorous farmland preservation activities.

Working Waterfront Program

Introductory Resolution No. 1520-2025: This Legislature hereby finds and determines that, to implement the County’s policy of conserving, preserving, and protecting its environmental assets, natural and man-made resources, open spaces, agricultural and waterfront lands, and areas of historical or ecological significance, a process must be established to acquire waterfront conservation easements that support food supply, recreational access, coastal values, and sustainable economic growth.

Suffolk County is home to 2,949 maritime-related businesses employing approximately 38,419 people—6.1% of the County’s economy (NOAA, 2021). The commercial fishing and shellfish industries are heritage sectors offering economic and cultural value. According to NOAA, in 2023, New York State fisheries landed over 17 million pounds of fish valued at more than $28 million.

Legislator Catherine Stark (R-Riverhead) has represented the First District in the Suffolk County Legislature since 2023. The First District includes parts of Eastport and Manorville in Brookhaven Town, the hamlets of Eastport, Northampton, Remsenburg, Speonk, and Riverside, and parts of Flanders and Westhampton in Southampton Town, as well as the entire Townships of Riverhead, Southold, and Shelter Island.

Legislator Stark is the Vice Chair of the Public Works, Transportation, and Energy Committee and serves on the Committees on Economic Development, Planning, and Housing; Environment, Parks, and Agriculture; and Veterans.

The First District office is located at 423 Griffing Avenue, Suite 2, in Riverhead and can be reached at 631-852-3200.

Suffolk Hosts First ‘Missing & Unidentified Persons Day’ to Aid Families and Investigators

By Raheem Soto

On Saturday, September 6, 2025, the Brentwood Fire Department Headquarters became more than a civic space. It became a place of remembrance, resolve, and renewed hope as Suffolk County officials convened the county’s first Missing & Unidentified Persons Day.

The event, organized by District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) in partnership with the Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office and the Suffolk County Police Department, brought together law enforcement, forensic experts, family advocates. .

A Fusion of Science and Compassion

The day opened with keynote remarks from family advocates who shared their personal experiences of loss, uncertainty, and perseverance. Their stories framed the human cost of unsolved disappearances—reminding attendees that each case represents a loved one still missing from the dinner table, the classroom, or the community.

Forensic specialists delivered presentations on the latest techniques in identification, from advancements in DNA analysis to cutting-edge methods of facial reconstruction. These sessions were designed not just to inform, but also to demonstrate how evolving science can reopen cases once considered unsolvable.

Bridging Agencies, Building Trust

One of the central themes of the event was collaboration. Panel discussions featured representatives from law enforcement, forensic biology, and victim services, emphasizing the need for inter-agency communication in solving cold cases. Officials underscored how cooperation among county, state, and federal partners accelerates investigations that might otherwise stall in bureaucratic silos.

The event also featured a resource fair that included grief counselors, advocacy groups, and victim service providers. Families had the opportunity to connect with professionals offering both emotional support and practical assistance, underscoring the event’s holistic approach to justice.

DNA Collection for Families

In a powerful step forward, relatives of missing persons were offered the chance to provide voluntary DNA samples via buccal swabs. These samples will be catalogued and compared with unidentified remains currently held by the Suffolk County Medical Examiner. Officials stressed that participation was voluntary, private, and potentially life-changing for families still waiting for answers.

The initiative reflects a broader national trend of using family DNA databases to match long-unidentified remains with missing individuals. For Suffolk County, where numerous cases remain unresolved, the collection effort may prove to be one of the event’s most enduring legacies.

A Community Effort

Tables set up across the Brentwood Fire Department Headquarters created the atmosphere of a community fair—but with a solemn undertone. Alongside public safety demonstrations such as Operation Safe Child and the Medical Identification Card Program, advocacy organizations distributed informational materials, and counselors offered quiet spaces for conversation and comfort.

District Attorney Tierney called the event a “critical step in closing the gap between families and investigators,” noting that solving these cases requires both scientific rigor and community trust.

Looking Ahead

While the day was structured around education and resources, its larger purpose was hope: hope that science can provide answers, hope that collaboration can break through old barriers, and hope that families who have waited for years—or decades—may finally learn the fate of their loved ones.

For Suffolk County, Missing & Unidentified Persons Day may well become an annual fixture, blending the technical with the human, the investigative with the supportive. On a September morning in Brentwood, that combination offered a measure of solace to families still searching, and a renewed sense of urgency to those tasked with bringing the missing home.

State’s Latest Mascot Is Laughably Insulting

Governor Kathy Hochul’s (D) school cell phone ban initiative was one of the better features of this year’s otherwise bloated Executive Budget. Bipartisanly supported, The Messenger also feels it’s a good initiative to curb distractions, increase classroom participation and attention span, and help kids withdraw from the constant dopamine hits of social media.

But the State couldn’t help but get in its own way by unveiling a mascot to help bring the point home. Enter Frankie Focus.

Frankie Focus is a large, neon green Muppetlooking creature with big glasses and a toothy grin. Gothamist reported that the State’s job application for those looking to climb into the ridiculous suit says, “Frankie Focus embodies the energy of a 14-16 yearold boy. He’s fun, silly, a little chaotic, but his heart’s always in the right place. He hates seeing someone on their phone.”

Hochul’s rollout of the unnecessary mascot was nothing short of cringe-worthy, but given that the

People Need to Step In

The chilling murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarusla is unfortunately yet another episode in the overall saga of rampant crime, repeat offenders, and a porous justice system that seems as effective as it is involved - it’s not.

The security camera footage shows the twenty-three-year-old Charlotte, North Carolina, resident taking her seat on the subway while looking at her phone, unaware that her life expectancy went from several decades to just several seconds.

Behind her, Decarlos Brown, Jr., 34, a repeat offender with a criminal history dating back to 2011, takes out a knife and stabs Zaruska multiple times in the neck. He walks away and paces around the train before walking up the car out of sight. Zaruska places her face in her hands shortly before falling over in her seat to the floor. Blood begins spilling out onto the floor of the car.

All of this occurs while fellow passengers are nonchalantly on their phones, even observing the murder.

But none of them jumped in to stop the attack or render aid immediately.

cellphone ban is more aimed at middle-school and high-school kids, it seems odd that the discount Sesame Street character is in the mix. To us, the character is insulting to the intelligence of teenagers who are likely already rebellious in a natural way.

What teenager is going to be convinced by Frankie Focus? Hochul’s initiative was already well-received. Why take the extra step in trying to be “relatable” and jovial and just coming off as condescending and downright annoying?

Why not try to level with teenagers on a realistic level about the importance of educational success, rather than shove a puppet in their face and chastise them by saying he “hates seeing someone on their phone?”

New York State seems fixated on not knowing to quit while they’re ahead. We have no hate for Frankie Focus himself - he seems like a very nice mascot - but he’s completely misplaced and unnecessary for the serious issue that is success in the classroom.

With how fatal stab wounds to the neck tend to be, it’s a question if Zaruska could have been saved with immediate attention. However, the overall point is that reactions were beleaguered and the public seems completely unmotivated to swarm an attacker and at least stop him from leaving.

Passengers did eventually tend to Zaruska, but clearly not in time.

While the backwards laws, progressive legislators and district attorneys, and judges who coddle criminals - all of whom should be held accountable for their dereliction of duty - all wreak havoc on the at-large quality of life in the United States, there’s one element to this that can be changed: public apathy.

What happened to the crowd who would swarm an attacker and beat him senseless if he tried to kill someone? What happened to the public who would tear off their own shirt to stop the victim’s bleeding? What happened to the citizenry that cared enough to drop what they were doing to intervene?

No doubt we have a judicial problem, but we have a much bigger problem: a public who doesn’t seem to care.

From the Publisher’s Desk: September 11 - Memory, Meaning, and Resolve

Every September, the calendar asks us to pause. For some dates, that pause is fleeting. But September 11 will always demand more. It is not just another page to turn. For Long Island—and especially here in Suffolk County—it is a reminder of loved ones we lost, neighbors who never came home, and first responders who ran toward danger when others fled.

On that morning in 2001, many Suffolk families sent someone off to work in the city, expecting to see them at dinner. For too many, that reunion never came. We know the names on our memorials are not distant—they are our neighbors, parishioners, Little League coaches, and classmates. The steel beams standing outside the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge, the names engraved at the Nesconset 9/11 Responders Remembered Park, the memorial gardens in Huntington, Islip, and Patchogue—all are daily reminders that Suffolk’s loss was personal.

It would be easy, 24 years later, to let the memories fade. A generation has now grown up who did not see the towers fall or smell the smoke that drifted across the Sound. For them, 9/11 risks being just another chapter in a history book. That is why we, who remember, must keep telling the story. Not just what happened, but what it meant—and still means.

Here in Suffolk, resilience was never abstract. It looked like Bellport firefighters signing up the very next week after losing mentors and friends. It looked like families in Smithtown and Huntington who turned grief into scholarships so students could pursue the dreams their loved ones never got to finish. It looked like communities across Brookhaven and Islip raising money to build permanent memorials so names would not be forgotten.

In the weeks after 9/11, American flags hung from porches on every block. People held doors for one another, spoke to strangers, and set aside small disagreements because we all knew we were part of something bigger. That unity did not last forever, but it showed us what we are capable of.

Today, our challenges may feel smaller by comparison—budget fights, school board debates, town policies that divide neighbors. But the truth is the same: unity and resilience are choices. If we could stand together after losing so much, then surely we can find ways to stand together now.

The temptation, especially as time passes, is to make September 11 only about ceremonies—vigils, speeches, moments of silence. Those are important. They remind us. But remembrance without responsibility is incomplete. What honors the fallen is how we live today: with seriousness, with gratitude, and with the resolve to protect and strengthen the community they were part of.

For Suffolk County, September 11 is both a scar and a standard. The scar reminds us of the loss we carry. The standard reminds us of the strength we found. Our task is to remember both—and to measure ourselves against them, not just once a year but in the everyday work of being a community.

This week, as we gather again at places like the Dennison Building or Nesconset Park, let us do more than recall the past. Let us commit ourselves to the same courage, unity, and resolve that carried us through then—and can carry us through now.

Sincerely, Raheem Soto

Publisher, Messenger Papers

Photo Credit: Office of Governor Hochul

By Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is responsible for supporting New York’s energy goals. Recently, the agency released a draft energy plan that looks ahead to 2040, but its public hearing schedule leaves out key regions of the state impacting millions of New Yorkers. With this plan impacting every single New Yorker, the New York State Assembly Minority Conference wants to give all our constituents a chance to voice the valid concerns they may have. In order to do so, we initiated a statewide media tour spearheaded by Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R-Corning), the ranking Minority Conference member on the Energy Committee, along with our colleagues in the Senate Minority Conference.

Earlier this week, Republican legislators joined together in Buffalo and Rochester to speak out against Democratic policies that will further burden families and communities already struggling with unsustainable tax and utility bills. We are calling for an extension of the public comment period for an additional 90 days, giving New Yorkers ample time to review the energy policies being advanced, ensuring everyone is on the same page going forward.

The response at our first two events was significant. Our Conference has called for greater accountability of the governor’s energy plan—dictated by the disastrous Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA)—since it was pitched to the public. We are now seeing more and more residents come to terms with the realities of this plan. People are frustrated with the lack of financial accountability coming from proponents of the state’s energy plan, and their concerns have only been exacerbated by the absence of clear answers about how much more our rates will go up and how reliable the grid will be without dramatic changes to the plan.

NYSERDA Public Comment Schedule Ignores Needs of Too Many New Yorkers A Step in the Right Direction

By Brianne Wakefield

Many are unaware of an injustice that has been happening in our state since 2019.

Did you know that if you did not like one or even all of the fifteen different vaccines on schedule for children and chose to skip it, that your child would not be able to attend school? Being leery or skeptical of any of them would mean you need to homeschool or move out of state.

In 2019, New York State ripped away the religious exemptions for schools (both public and private) and 26,000 kids were affected. I and many thousands of others have put up a good fight to restore and bring awareness to this, but we are still left with this burden. Parents who are skeptical about vaccine ingredients, whether due to concerns about autism, the use of fetal cell lines, mercury derivatives, or animal blood products, are left without options. Others worry about the long-term safety of vaccines, including potential effects on fertility, cancer risk, or genetic mutations, risks that, to this day, have not been part of standard pre-approval vaccine testing. The bottom line is that whatever the reason someone would feel uncomfortable giving their child a vaccine, it should be understood and accepted by school districts.

I bring this all up to talk about current news. There is a dedicated team working closely with D.C to help restore our religious exemptions in all states. The team consists of Rita Palma, Cait Corrigan, Mary Holland, Sujata Gibson, Michael Kane and John Gilmore. As of now there are only six states that do not have this right: New York, California, Connecticut, Maine, Mississippi and Virginia.

With the current administration showing renewed interest in protecting religious freedoms and promoting medical transparency, we have a better chance now than ever before to reverse these unfair policies. There was just a current court case this past Tuesday that was held at the Federal District Court in Central Islip, where people in support of religious exemptions and medical exemptions came out in the hundreds. In this case a young girl, Sarah Doe, 16, was fighting to be readmitted into the Oceanside School District after being denied her medical exemption. Six different physicians actually confirmed that the one dose of Hep B vaccine that she was missing, could do serious physical harm. Sarah

Making matters worse, NYSERDA’s public comment hearing schedule ignores major swaths of the state, and that means many New Yorkers will not be afforded a chance to publicly express to the administration how financially damaging these changes are. Giving residents a chance to show up in person to discuss their concerns is the least NYSERDA can do ahead of any potential hikes.

Sadly, there are no hearings scheduled for the Southern Tier, North Country, or anywhere in Central New York. This is unacceptable, and it seems like the state’s energy officials are content to ignore the very real concerns about these hikes rather than face them head on. There will be seven hearings in the coming month. The Assembly Minority Conference will continue to press for greater transparency—our members will be there to make sure the voices of New Yorkers are represented. We are calling on NYSERDA to do right by our Upstate communities and give them a chance to be heard. Until they do, we will continue to give frustrated New Yorkers an avenue to express their concerns about these changes, as we have seen so many do this week.

If you have any questions or comments on this or any other state issue, or if you would like to be added to my mailing list or receive my newsletter, please contact my office. My office can be reached by mail at 19 Canalview Mall, Fulton, NY 13069 and by email at barclay@nyassembly.gov. You may also find me, Assembly Minority Leader Will Barclay, on Facebook or X at @WillBarclay. Assemblyman Will Barclay (R-Pulaski) is the Assembly Minority Leader and has represented the 120th Assembly District since 2003. The 120th District contains most of Oswego County and parts of Cayuga and Jefferson counties.

had previously suffered multiple adverse reactions and multiple hospitalizations from the vaccine. The Oceanside School District would not accept Sarah Doe’s medical exemption despite multiple types of doctors confirming it was dangerous.

Sarah was represented by excellent attorneys Sujata Gibson and Chad Davenport, who were provided by the Children’s Health Defense. I am happy to report that justice prevailed and Sarah won her case! No longer can schools triumph over a practicing physicians’ recommendation!

It was a beautiful day of victory, and I was very blessed to be a part of the huge crowd that was there in support. Before the court hearing even started, we all prayed in the courtroom and God surely heard our prayers and justice was served. There is still a lot of work to be done here in New York, but we must acknowledge this great victory as a step in the right direction. It gave us all a silver lining of hope to what full restoration of all our rights will hopefully be here in New York.

County News

Thursday, September 11, 2025

First Life Saved Under Thorne’s EpiPen Bill

By Matt Meduri

In 2022, Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue) sponsored a bill that was unanimously passed by the Legislature to allocate Epinephrine auto-injectors (EpiPens) to Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) vehicles.

Thorne’s bill, called “Gio’s Law”, just went on the books last year, with full implementation occurring just weeks ago, and has already proven to be a lifesaving initiative.

Greg Kronred, 72, of Dix Hills, was working on Sunday in Wyandanch and was stung by a bee. He suddenly felt dizzy and managed to get inside the building and call his son, Kevin, who called 911. The police officers who arrived administered the EpiPen to Kronred’s leg, saving his life.

“What’s the value of a life?” asked Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) (pictured left). “Priceless.”

Romaine said that while the initiative cost about $25,000 - “not a huge amount” in the overall operating budget - it was “well worth” the investment for such a valuable tool.

The law is named for Giovanni Cipriano, a fourteen-year-old Lynbrook boy who passed away after experiencing an anaphylactic attack. Senator Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue) (pictured below right) and Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R-Medford) helped carry the bill in Albany to clarify that Nassau and Suffolk first responders were permitted to carry the devices.

“With the addition of our new police commissioner and our county executive, we implemented this law, and I’m so very thankful for them pushing for this,” said Legislator Thorne, joined by Legislators Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters), Nick Caracappa (C-Selden), Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon), and Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport). “I made Georgina a promise that I would not let this go. To the rest of the State, pay attention to Suffolk County and do the same so we can all save lives.”

Giovanni’s mother, Georgina Cornago, thanked Legislator Thorne for “keeping his promise” to her that he would solve the problem.

“Allergic reactions can happen anywhere and at any time,” said Cornago. “This is the kind of forward thinking and action we need to see everywhere. I’m sure Giovanni is looking down right now saying, ‘thank you.’”

Senator Murray (pictured right) said that the bill’s passage through Albany was promulgated not just through bipartisanship, but by cooperation between legislators as far apart on the political spectrum as possible. The bill was carried by Senator Julia Salazar (D-Bushwick). As far as their differences, Murray said, “none of that mattered.”

“This is what happens when

government actually works the way it’s supposed to,” said Murray. “This is how it’s supposed to work. We hear about all the dysfunction, the partisanship and all of that, but when common sense, doing the right thing, and working together at all levels of government, regardless of party, it works out great.”

Kronred said that if the officers weren’t there with an EpiPen, he wouldn’t have survived.

“They did a fantastic job. If they weren’t there doing their job, I wouldn’t be here today. I couldn’t ask for anything more,” said Kronred.

The police body cam footage from the incident was played, showing officers’ quick use of the EpiPen to save Kronred’s life. The officers were commended with proclamations for their work.

“They say timing is everything, and in this case, timing saved a life,” said SCPD Deputy Commissioner Belinda AlvarezGroneman. “Twenty-five of our patrol cars were equipped with these lifesaving EpiPens on Thursday, and just a few days later, we were reminded of the critical need for these devices. Make no mistake, had this EpiPen not been at our disposal, the outcome could have been deadly. ”

One of the responding officers was Sara Feldman, a rookie who just completed her graduation in July. She told CBS News that the EpiPens had been stocked in her cruiser just two days before the incident in Wyandanch. Other responding officers included Ryan Belanger and Brandon Casco. The three were honored after the press conference at Hauppuage’s H. Lee Dennison Building on Tuesday afternoon.

State Legislators continue to lobby for an expanded version of the bill that would unlock $25 million in funding to proliferate EpiPens to police cruisers.

Congressman Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) and Congresswoman Laura Gillen (D-Rockville Centre) have introduced a bipartisan federal version of “Gio’s Law”, which would establish a national grant program under the Department of Justice to provide access and training to police officers on the use of these life-saving tools.

“This is a prime example of the result when you fund your police department,” said Suffolk County Police Benevolent Association (PBA) President Lou Civello (pictured above right). “What sets the Suffolk County Police Department apart is that these are not just police professionals; they’re also EMTs. More often than not, police are the first ones on the scene when someone is in medical distress.”

Civello said that the response is multi-faceted, wherein a department can have “all the training in the world”, but can fall short of saving lives without the proper tools.

This Week Today

Thursday, September 11, 2025

National, State, and Local Temperature Checks

By Matt Meduri

National

Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder of Turning Point USA (pictured right), has been pronounced dead after being shot during an appearance at Utah Valley University. He was speaking with students during a question-and-answer session when a gunman fired, striking him near the neck. Police locked down the campus and quickly arrested a suspect. The FBI is assisting in the investigation. CNN has reported that an elderly man taken into custody is not the suspect. The shooter remains at large.

Kirk’s death is not just the end of a young life but the silencing of a voice that had shaped much of the conservative youth movement in America. At 18, he launched Turning Point USA from a garage and built it into one of the largest campus organizations in the country. He hosted a nationally syndicated radio show, advised Republican leaders, and was a frequent guest on television. For his supporters, Kirk embodied energy and conviction; for his critics, he was polarizing. But none of that justifies violence.

Reactions poured in within hours from Republicans and Democrats alike, including Senators Mike Lee (R-UT) and Bernie Sanders (I-VT), former Vice President Kamala Harris (D-CA), Governor Tim Walz (D-MN), and countless involved in political media.

President Donald Trump (R-FL) confirmed Kirk’s death on Truth Social, calling Kirk “legendary.”

The real question is what his death says about the climate of free speech. When words can cost a life, debate becomes a battlefield. Charlie Kirk often said he wanted young people to speak boldly. His death is a chilling reminder of how costly boldness has become.

The dust settles after the Texas gerrymander came online last week. Entrenched incumbent Congressman Lloyd Doggett (D, TX-37) has chosen to retire ahead of the 2026 midterms rather than face a primary against Congressman Greg Casar (D, TX-35), who is seen as a rising star in the party.

The decision avoids what could have been a costly and dirty primary, as the new congressional map configured the San Antonio and Austin districts in such a way that would have required Doggett and Casar to compete.

Meanwhile, the campaign begins for California’s Proposition 50, which would approve a Democratic gerrymander of the state’s congressional maps to serve as a counterweight to Texas. Multiple polls, however, show an unclear barometer on whether California voters would approve the measure this autumn.

An August poll by the University of California, Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies found that 48% of likely voters are in favor of the ballot measure, with 32% opposed, and 20%

undecided, if the election were held that day. This poll specified that the map would be temporary and that the Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC), approved by voters in 2008, would pick up the process again for regularlyscheduled redistricting after the 2030 Census.

The poll also found that 69% of Democrats support it, while 72% of Republicans oppose it. Of voters with no party preference, 44% showed support, 30% opposition, and 26% indecision.

The online poll samples 4,950 registered California voters.

However, the Politico/Citrin Center poll found that only 36 % of residents support returning map-making duties to the California Legislature. The state’s IRC also clocks in with a 64% approval rating among those surveyed. 72% of Independents are in favor of keeping the current map, while 66% of Republicans and 61% of Democrats agreed. Opposition to the gerrymander also scores high among all age demographics as well, the poll finds.

The poll was conducted of 1,445 registered voters and has a margin of error of +/-3.7%.

Meanwhile, the midterms on the Senate side continue to receive shakeups, as a long-shot flip for an Independent endangers another GOP-held seat.

Raheem Soto contributed to this section.

State

The five-way race for New York City Mayor just became a four-way race with the suspension of Jim Walden (D-Brooklyn Heights) from the race.

Walden served as Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York from 1993 to 2002. Afterwards, he entered private practice as a corporate defense attorney for cases involving white-collar crime.

Walden has notably filed lawsuits against former Governor Andrew Cuomo (D-Sutton Place), the New York City Department of Education, and the New York City Housing Authority. He has represented many clients pro bono, including Democratic and Republican petitioners requesting the delayed state and congressional primaries in 2022.

Governor Phil Murphy (D-NJ) has also praised Walden for his legal prowess.

Walden announced his candidacy for mayor in October 2024 as an Independent. Walden had been a registered Independent since leaving the Democratic Party in 2006. Walden had initially sought the Republican nomination, but ceased when the Trump Administration ordered the dismissal of charges against

incumbent NYC Mayor Eric Adams (D-Brooklyn).

Walden had offered a proposal that he, Adams, Curtis Sliwa (R-Upper East Side), and Cuomo respect the results of an independent September poll and that the candidates found to be the weakest in the race drop out and unite around the runner-up to defeat the self-described socialist Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani (D-Astoria).

In a July poll, half of New York City respondents reported that they did not know enough about Walden to vote for him, with 40% not considering backing him. Some polls have shown Walden garnering just 3% of the vote.

Last Tuesday, Walden dropped out of the race, continuing his proposition to unite behind one candidate to defeat Mamdani.

“For months I have been steadfast in my view that, unless there is a one-on-one race in November, a Trojan Horse will take control of City Hall. I cannot spend more public money in the futile hope I am the one called to battle,” Walden said in a statement. “For those still trailing in the polls by month’s end, I implore each to consider how history will judge them if they allow vanity or stubborn ambition to usher in Mr. Mamdani.”

Walden added that Mamdani is a “Trojan Horse taking over City Hall.” He urged the field to find momentum against him.

The New York Post has reported that White House officials have said that Adams’s position could be crafted to his liking and that Adams’ team is enthusiastic. However, Adams told reporters at a press conference that he intends to win re-election and finish the job as mayor.

Adams spokesperson Todd Shapiro has denied that Adams was offered a position in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Local

The shorefront of Indian Island County Park has received the Best Restored Shore Award for 2025.

The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association’s (ASBPA) awarded the Riverhead park the distinction for its success to improve its ecology, culture, and community benefits. Improvements consist of protecting a Native American burial site, stabilizing eroding shoreline and bluffs, restoring native tidal marshes, increasing the stock of native plantings to improve ecological functions, and maintaining public access and recreational amenities at the park.

Walden received over $2 million in matching funds, making him the first Independent candidate in NYC history to do so. He will have to hand those funds back with only over $1 million in cash on hand.

While Walden was only registering a few percentage points in support per poll, that slim basket of votes could be enough to decide the election in a close race. The four-way race now rests on Adams - the incumbent with low approval ratings who did not seek his party’s nomination - Cuomo - the disgraced former governor who was upset by Mamdani in the Democratic Party and pivoted to an Independent campaign - and Sliwa - the founder of the Guardian Angels who is vying to be the Big Apple’s first Republican mayor in over a decade.

Rumors now circulate of a job for Adams in President Donald Trump’s (RFL) administration in hopes the race can become clearer to allow either Cuomo or Sliwa to defeat Mamdani.

“Having represented this area for many years, I know firsthand how important this project is for the protection of our coastline and habitat,” said Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) (pictured left) in a statement. “This project combined pressing ecological and hydrological needs with the cultural sensitivities of the indigenous Native American population.”

The press release reads, “This project demonstrates how coastal resilience, habitat restoration, and heritage preservation can be successfully integrated into a replicable model, led by public agencies in collaboration with state and federal regulators, tribal representatives, and private partners. With an established framework for longterm stewardship, ongoing monitoring, and future contingency planning, its achievements stem from thoughtful design, inclusive planning, and a dedicated commitment to adaptive management.”

Suffolk County Legislator Catherine Stark (R-Riverhead) added, “Congratulations to everyone who worked together to make this project a reality. I remain deeply committed to pursuing shoreline restoration in the First District to protect our homes, livelihoods, and the recreational spaces we all cherish.”

D&B Engineers and Architects are credited with design of the project, with construction credited to Gavin Bros./ Madhue Contracting, JV.

Continued from front cover

New Bridge at Blydenburgh County Park: In Memory of Michael Charcon

Troop members and families shared stories and memories of the amazing person Mr. Charcon was, reflecting on the lasting mark he left on everyone who knew him.

One troop member shared how, on scout trips, he often felt very homesick, and Mr. Charcon became the support system he needed on days when he wanted to quit and go home. With Mr. Charcon’s constant reassurance, the scout eventually learned to enjoy and even love being away on trips.

He reflected, “I consider Mr. Charcon to be one of, if not the most influential people in my scouting career.”

Since then, Jake Shabronsky knew he wanted to do something special with his troop to honor the legacy of

their former leader. One day, while walking through Blydenburgh Park with his mom, grandmother, and family dog, he noticed that the bridge they were about to cross was rickety and potentially unsafe. After giving it some thought, Jake decided to embark on a project, which he later dedicated to someone near and dear to his heart.

Jake said, “Now I stand here three and a half years later [since Mr. Charcon passed away] with all of you to dedicate this bridge to Mr. Charcon for the love and the dedication he gave to the troop and community. For me, once a shy and unconfident little boy who has now grown into the young man I am now, he built that bridge for me. He helped me grow into the

confident person that I am today and to build a real bridge dedicated to him. This bridge is truly a reflection of what Mr. Charcon did for me and my people.”

Emotions ran high as friends and family reflected on cherished memories with Mr. Charcon, honoring him as a devoted nurse, loving father and husband, dedicated leader, role model, and true inspiration— just a few of the many qualities that made him so remarkable.

Now standing at 51 feet long and 4 feet wide, the beautiful rebuilt bridge is ready for hikers to enjoy. More than just a crossing, it will serve as a lasting reminder of Michael Charcon’s legacy—his guidance, kindness, and the profound impact he left on Troop 125 and the community.

Smithtown Recognizes IT Security Coordinator

John Gonzales for Commitment to Community

During the August 12 Town Board meeting, the Town of Smithtown continued a new tradition aimed at celebrating employees whose work exemplifies service above self. This month’s honoree was John Gonzales, Technology Security Coordinator in the Department of Public Safety, whose innovative efforts have saved taxpayers money, strengthened public safety, and enhanced quality of life for residents.

“John’s ingenuity has saved the taxpayers millions—from developing the Town of Smithtown’s mobile app at no cost, to installing live-streaming systems in our parks that connect families, support local athletic leagues, businesses, and put Smithtown on the map for major sporting events,” said Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park). “His work creating our state-of-the-art security camera network has saved lives, helped first responders act quickly in emergencies, and kept our community safer than ever before.”

The recognition is part of a recently launched initiative, introduced in June, where the Town Board begins each meeting by highlighting an employee whose dedication, talent, and character have made a lasting impact on the community. The program reflects Smithtown’s commitment to honoring not only

operational excellence, but also compassion, integrity, and leadership in public service. During the ceremony, Gonzales was commended for his contributions that extend well beyond his official role.

John Gonzales was celebrated for the remarkable impact his talents have made across the community.

Time and again, his achievements have reached far beyond the boundaries of his official role—powered not by obligation, but by an unwavering passion for his hometown and the people who call it home. His creativity, drive, and generosity of spirit have left an imprint that will benefit Smithtown for years to come.

During the ceremony, Gonzales was joined by Public Safety Director Tom Lohmann and colleagues from his department. He received a Certificate of Excellence from the Town Board, presented as a token of appreciation for his innovation, service, and civic responsibility.

This recognition follows the program’s first honoree, Joseph Marchese, whose simple act of kindness during a dangerous summer heat wave earned him distinction as the inaugural recipient. Together, their stories highlight the values of empathy, initiative, and dedication that keep Smithtown thriving.

As this tradition continues to grow, the Town of Smithtown remains committed to recognizing the extraordinary individuals whose everyday dedication strengthens our community. These honorees embody the very best of public service—consistently going beyond the call of duty and redefining what it means to serve with integrity, compassion, and excellence.

Photo Credit: Madison Warren

Suffolk’s Roadway Crisis: Lives at Risk on Every Commute

By Raheem Soto

The Messenger has spent months reporting on the surge in vehicular-related crime across Suffolk County. From late-night drag races on residential streets in Islip, to repeat drunk drivers in Brookhaven, to heartbreaking hit-and-runs in Smithtown, one fact has become clear: the dangers on our roads are not isolated events — they are part of a growing, troubling pattern.

Last week’s court advisory from District Attorney Ray Tierney’s (R) office made the crisis undeniable. Out of dozens of cases before Suffolk judges, eleven defendants face charges tied directly to vehicles. These aren’t minor tickets or careless lane changes. They are life-and-death offenses:

• Aggravated DWI with a child in the car

• Vehicular manslaughter

• Illegal speed contests

• Fleeing the scene of fatal accidents

Each charge on that list is a tragedy waiting to be told in human terms. Each case represents a neighbor whose safety was stolen, a family that will never feel whole, or a driver who made the reckless choice to put others in danger.

Beyond the Docket: Faces Behind the Numbers

Readers of this paper will remember our coverage of a young mother killed on Sunrise Highway by a drunk driver with multiple prior arrests. They will remember the outcry from parents in Islip after teens posted videos of drag races tearing through their neighborhoods. And they will recall the Smithtown grandfather who never came home

after being struck by a driver who fled the scene.

Those stories are not separate from the latest court docket — they are part of the same picture. When eleven new vehicular cases appear in just one week, it’s not a coincidence. It’s a reflection of what families across Suffolk already know: every trip to school, every commute home from work, carries risks that go far beyond potholes and traffic jams.

The Cost of Complacency

We often talk about the dangers of drunk driving or reckless speeding as if they are abstract problems.

But ask the children waiting at a bus stop when a car blows past at double the speed limit. Ask the mother who buckles her toddler into a car seat, praying that the driver swerving behind her isn’t impaired. Ask the first responders who arrive at a scene where twisted metal and flashing lights are the only evidence left of what started as an ordinary day.

Complacency is costly. Treating DWI arrests as routine means forgetting that each arrest represents a crash that could have happened but didn’t — this time. Treating a vehicular manslaughter charge as just another case number erases the human life it represents.

Accountability and Prevention

The laws already exist. New York’s vehicle and traffic statutes are not lacking. The question is whether enforcement, sentencing, and community standards are strong enough to keep pace with reality. When repeat offenders appear again and again in the docket, the

message is clear: the deterrent isn’t working. If drag racing events are advertised openly on social media, and residents fear driving down their own streets at night, then enforcement isn’t keeping up with the problem. If leaving the scene of a fatal accident is met with leniency, then accountability is being eroded where it matters most.

A Community Reckoning

The Messenger has covered this issue consistently because it cannot be treated as background noise. It is a crisis that affects every family, every commuter, every pedestrian.

The eleven vehicular cases on this week’s court list are not just statistics — they are warnings. If we do not demand stronger action, if we do not insist that public safety on our roads is a top priority, then next week’s list will look the same. And the week after. And the week after that.

A Final Word to Our Readers

Society reveals its priorities not by what it promises, but by what it tolerates. Suffolk County has tolerated too much behind the wheel. That must change.

This newspaper will continue to cover every crash, every reckless driver, every court case that reflects this crisis. But it is up to us, as a community, to demand better. Our children deserve safer bus stops. Our seniors deserve safer crosswalks. And every driver deserves the confidence that a trip to the grocery store won’t end in tragedy.

The court docket is a mirror. The reflection is unsettling. But it is not too late to change what we see.

‘March to the Sea’ Brings Memorial to Jones Beach

By Matt Meduri

ThethemeforthemonthofSeptember is substance abuse and mental health disorders and, more importantly, breaking the stigma around the reality faced by many.

The March to the Sea is a new, annual memorial meant to serve as a powerful reminder of those lost to addiction and overdose, especially by placing faces to the display in lieu of statistics. Family and friends mourning loved ones craft tombstoneswiththedepartedsimagesand place them at Jones Beach Field 5 on Fire Island.

Even the heavy rain and cold weather could not keep dozens away from the beach on Sunday afternoon, however, for thesecondannualdisplay.

“This is not only about coming together and gathering with families who have had their kids stolen from them from the evil that is addiction, but also to offer a healing component,” Lori Carbonaro, one of the event’s organizers told The Messenger. Carbonaro, of Selden, lost her son Nicholas eleven years ago at the age of twenty-two. Nicholas was “prescribed into his addiction”, according to Lori, highlighting another unsuspecting angle from which substance abuse disorders might emerge. She says that doctors of yesteryear were told “bold-faced lies” about the addictive nature of some painkillers.

“We couldn’t hold the doctors accountable then, but we can now, because we know more now,” said Carbonaro.

Carbonaro has been an active advocate for those

seeking treatment but also in tackling the problem at large. She has been involved for about a decade, starting with the Trail of Truth in Binghamton, followed by barnstorming Washington to rally for the cause. Seeing such action elsewhere, she resolved to bring it to Long Island.

In addition to complex problems, such as housing, Carbonaro reiterated basic tenets of the ideology required to solve the epidemic.

“Treat people with respect; be a human being,” said Carbonaro. “Have medically-assisted treatment (MAT) on demand.”

Carole Trottere, one of the organizers of the event, also helms the Purple Rock Project and has been barnstorming Suffolk with Narcan training and supplies,

from tables at Alive After Five to setting up free Narcan stations along various main street businesses.

“What’s more Long Island than the lighthouse and the beach?” Trottere told The Messenger when asked of the memorial’s location on Jones Beach. “We made it the ‘March to the Sea’ because every Long Islander can relate to the beach. Last year, we had many people passing by and we were able to educate and create awareness.”

Trottere, of Old Field, lost her son Alex to a fentanyl overdose in 2018. She speaks regularly of the indifference from some members of the public on the issue. Some have said that they are “good parents” - implying a slim-to-none chance that their child(ren) could fall victim to substance abuse, or that those suffering should just “be left to die.”

“It doesn’t surprise me, but it saddens me that people have such hate in their hearts and negativity about people with a legitimate health issue,” said Trottere. “I think a lot of the stigma and negativity comes from fear. It’s fear-based when people are nasty, and they think it won’t happen to their child because they’re a ‘wonderful parent.’”

Even so, Trottere and Carbonaro preach compassion.

“We never look down on anyone; everyone grieves differently,” said Trottere. “The art installation at Jones Beach might not be for everyone, but for some people, it resonates. When the statistics say that four hundred people [in Suffolk] died of overdoses last year, that means nothing. It’s the faces [on the tombstones] and the families who are affected that matter.”

Photo: Matt Meduri

Back to School

The Messenger Goes Back to School

Since Suffolk’s kids return to school this week for a brand-new year, we thought it would be appropriate to compile some advice, anecdotes, and observations from our staff.

Starting a new year always has that distinct type of anticipation. New supplies, fresh notebooks, crisp folders, and the blank canvas that is the unlimited potential for creativity and discovery.

MATT

The one thing I remember being told growing up was just how fast time flies. I remember thinking that that was an exaggeration at best or intentionally misleading at worst. To a child, a year seems like an eternity, especially when the same routine, same classrooms, same teachers, and same materials all make each day just blend into the next. Graduation seemed like a light at the end of the tunnel that would just never get any closer.

Until it did, and time began racing away at an all-too-uncomfortable pace.

Now, the high school days are far in the rearview mirror, while the elementary school days feel like a different lifetime - did it even happen?

It’s hard to process the value of time as a child, especially when you’re hit with a monotonous routine every day, only to do practically whatever you want with the rest of your time, all while the world continues, your parents work to support themselves and you, and history continues to be made.

But if there’s one piece of advice I can give to those starting a new year: live in the moment.

It might seem ridiculous to try to cherish moments in elementary school, especially when some kids are discovering the world at different paces than each other. In the same way, the high school years can be brutal. Even if you get along with everyone, it’s still a difficult time as you transition into adulthood.

But there’s one thing you can’t do anything about: school is your entire life for the first fifteen years or so, give or take.

I’ve been out of school for some time now, and I’m nowhere I thought I’d be when I was a senior in high school - for the better. I certainly don’t wish to go back to school, but the memories there are likely to stay with me my entire life. Yes, you have to study, participate, shuffle from class to class, and do homework.

But you can also make it as entertaining for yourself as possible. My friends and I would create characters out of thin air to pass the time and laugh, we would bet Wendy’s coupons in a solid game of BlackJack, and we would find the humor wherever we could.

You can’t make time go faster and you can’t do anything about your situation. But you can slow down and see some trees along the way.

Because before you know it, you’ll be in the real world, which is invariably better - albeit more stressful - than school will ever be.

Learn the most valuable skill in school: value time while you have it, because it starts to race away the second you graduate.

Matt Meduri Editor-in-Chief

Our Savior New American

School

However, with it comes that uncertainty and even ambivalence in some cases about the year ahead.

A year isn’t a long time in the grand scheme of things, but a lot can happen in a year, often more than we think.

RAHEEM

September always feels like a fresh start. Hallways come alive, backpacks are packed, and families adjust to new routines. On behalf of The Messenger, I want to wish all of Suffolk’s students, teachers, and parents a wonderful year ahead.

As a homeschool dad, I know education doesn’t always look the same for every family. Some kids step onto the school bus each morning, while others gather around the kitchen table. Both paths take patience, dedication, and love. What matters most is that our children know we’re cheering them on as they grow in knowledge and character.

To the students—embrace the opportunities in front of you. To the parents—whether in public schools, private schools, or homeschool settings— your hard work makes all the difference.

Here’s to a year filled with learning, friendships, and new beginnings. Welcome back, Suffolk— we’re proud of you.

Raheem Soto Publisher Home School Dad

MADISON

Welcome back to a new school year! I have to admit that this was a time that I dreaded the most growing up. Now, I’d trade places in a heartbeat. If there’s one thing I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older, it’s this: don’t take these moments for granted.

The things you’re learning may feel pointless now — and maybe one day you’ll still think so — but the memories you’re making in school will last a lifetime. Give everything you have to what you’re doing: studying, homework, sports, friendships. My grandpa once told me during my senior year, “The time you are in right now will be some of the best times of your life.” Now, years later, I see he was right. The problems you face in school may feel huge, but in the grand scheme of things, they’re small stepping stones. That doesn’t mean they don’t matter — they do — but you have your whole life ahead of you to figure things out. In time, everything will fall into place exactly as it’s meant to.

Enjoy this school year, no matter what grade you’re entering. Listen to your teachers and parents, make new friends, do your homework, be nice to all your classmates, and don’t be afraid to try that sport or activity you’ve always wanted to — because now is the time to do it. You’ll never regret giving your best, and your future self will thank you for it.

Madison Warren Reporter and Social Media St. John the Baptist

Greetings and many blessings to everyone as you start a brand-new school year! I grew up in the Mastic Beach, Mastic, and Shirley community. I graduated from William Floyd High School in 1999 and went on to graduate from Hofstra University in 2005. Looking back in hindsight, if I was able to give my younger self some advice, it would be this.

Take school seriously, work diligently at it, and take advantage of programs and opportunities your specific school offers. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, even if you don’t think they’re important ones. Stay after for extra help and learn as much as possible from your teachers and counselors. That’s what they are there and are paid for. I was personally a B student and content with doing so. I was much more concerned with being cool than I was with trying harder. If I could do it again, I would have aimed much higher. Will you take my advice and aim higher for me?

Be kind intentionally to people who others are mean to. I was a kid who loved the lunchroom, hallways, gym and recess. But for the kids who aren’t popular and an easy target to pick on, these spaces in school are a nightmare. They leave kids open for bullying, name-calling, and ridicule. I’m sorry to say that I was a part of igniting many of those fires towards kids that were weaker and defenseless. Over the years, God has changed my heart radically and now has caused me to speak up and stand next to people who are an easy source of prey for the strong. Will you join me this school year in being mindful of others feelings, expressing kindness in action, and being a friend to one person that doesn’t have any?

A simple ball can take you places you’ve only dreamed of. I’ve witnessed kids use a sports ball to change their entire life’s trajectory, help their family out of generational poverty, and motivate many kids coming up behind them. Athletes, take your practices, workouts, off-season training, and games seriously. Spend your time wisely and cut away the dead leaves that are stopping you from fully flourishing into your full potential. I played basketball from elementary school right through the eleventh grade. I was a part of a Suffolk County championship team and had potential for a great senior year on a team that was set for a deep playoff run. Yet, I didn’t like something the coach said towards me going into my senior year and I quit a sport I loved. Instead of working harder and letting my work ethic, game, and character speak for me. Will you pick up where I put the ball down and carve out a promising future for yourself?

I pray that you each have a great school year. May it be safe, successful, fruitful and memorable.

PJ Balzer Writer, Sports,

and Deliveries

William Floyd High School, 1999

Hauppauge Kicks Off 2025-26 School Year with Superintendent’s Conference Day

On August 27, the Hauppauge School District gathered for Superintendent’s Conference Day, a meaningful kickoff to the new school year led by Superintendent Dr. Donald Murphy.

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Technology Dr. Tim McCarthy welcomed staff back, expressing gratitude to all departments, including buildings and grounds, maintenance and security, for their dedication during the summer and the past year.

Remarks followed from Hauppauge Middle School Principal and HAAP President Christine O’Connor, as well as Joanne Seale, President of the HTA/HTAA.

Deputy Superintendent for Personnel and Administration Joseph Tasman took time to recognize new hires, tenure recipients and staff members who achieved perfect attendance in the 2024-25 school year. A touching video montage was shared, showcasing new staff being surprised with their job offers by familiar faces from within the district, highlighting Hauppauge’s close-knit community.

Superintendent Dr. Murphy then took the stage, blending heartfelt messages,

Time Capsule Found at Smithtown High School West

While preparing Smithtown High School West for the upcoming school year, athletic trainers discovered a time capsule that Smithtown Central School District students had put together from the years 19731992.

The instructions were to open the time capsule in 2017, but it was not found until this summer.

Smithtown High School West Principal, William Holl, opened the time capsule to see what’s inside. Some of the contents included a yearbook from 1973, homecoming banners from the 1990s, track and field times from the 1970s, class ring designs, and a lunch menu from 1992.

“It was wonderful taking a blast through time here at West,” Principal Holl exclaimed.

humor and inspiration. After walking staff through important expectations for the year, Dr. Murphy focused on the power of caring for students, connection and mindfulness, reminding staff that, “these are the good ol’ days.”

For the rest of the day, teachers took part in professional development sessions, met with their departments and got their classrooms ready for the year ahead. With everything in place, Hauppauge is energized and ready to make this another great school year.

Smithtown Central School District Students Return to School

The hallways are buzzing again in the Smithtown Central School District as the 2025-26 school year began on September 2. Doors opened at the district’s 12 schools and students walked in with their fresh sneakers and new school supplies.

For some, it was their first day at a new school. For high school seniors, it was their last “first day” of high school.

Kindergartners will have many people to look up to as they become acclimated to school life, including the elder statesmen of the elementary school – fifth graders. Harper Seidenstein, who is starting her final year at Lockhart Elementary School, said it is important to be good role models for the younger students. She is looking to take on a leadership role this year as a member of student council.

“I’m sad that summer’s over, but I’m excited that it’s the first day of school,” Harper said, summarizing the bittersweet back-to-school feelings felt by many on a day that felt like summer was in full swing.

SCSD administration was at several schools Tuesday morning, ensuring that students had a great transition back to school.

The Necessary Standard for American Education

How Dueling Gerrymanders Can Affect an Election

By Matt Meduri

With the fundamentals of the House map now changed considerably after the Texas GOP passed their gerrymander, the question now remains if Democrats will be able to draw their way back to a virtual stalemate in the battle for the lower chamber next year. While Texas’ map must now face judicial scrutiny, it is the active map for the 2026 midterms in the Lone Star State.

California is, as of now, the most potent potential counterweight to the Texas redraw. However, the fate of that map rests on a ballot measure to be approved or rejected by Golden State voters this November. Polls currently indicate an unclear picture of whether or not Californians will approve it, meaning the floor of support for both parties hangs in the balance of that crucial referendum.

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.

For the sake of what we know now and what could come online soon, we’ll look at how these maps affect the political calculus of the 2026 midterms.

Where the Majority Currently Stands

With no vacancies considered, the GOP has 220 seats in the House to the Democrats’ 215. A quorum of 218 seats is required for a party to seal a majority, meaning the GOP can only afford to lose a net two seats to hang onto their majority - a razor-thin margin of error.

We’ll put on our prognostication hats for this column, although we note that this is a preliminary forecast more than a year out from the midterms.

We currently identify four seats that seem ripe for Democrats to flip, three with incumbents we would describe as slight underdogs and one open seat. Democrats, we believe, are currently poised to flip the Harrisburg-based PA-10, the Davenport-based IA-01, and the suburban Denver-based CO-08 - all seats with incumbent Republicans. Democrats also seem poised to flip the Omaha-based NE-02, currently represented by Congressman Don Bacon (R), who is not running for re-election. Bacon survived the blue wave of 2018 and the 2020 and 2024 elections in which Democratic presidential candidates won the district and its sole electoral vote.

That estimate gives Democrats a net gain of four seats. Before the Texas redraw, we didn’t see any seats in which Republicans were poised to flip. If the Texas map remained as it was and no other seats changed party hands, the Democrats would recapture the House with a slim 219-seat majority.

With the Texas redraw, however, we estimate that the GOP should be hard favorites to flip the Dallas-Fort Worth-based TX32, the Houston-based TX-09, and the Austin-San Antonio-based TX-35. They’re also decently favored to flip the McAllen-based TX-34, currently held by a more conservative Democrat who could thread the needle and survive the midterms. The Laredobased TX-28 becomes more competitive than ever but remains Democrats’ best hope at retaining a Texas seat after the aggressive gerrymander was approved.

For the sake of the argument, we’ll assume that the Democrats flip the four aforementioned seats, none of which - at the moment - have been affected by mid-decade redistricting and currently don’t seem that they will be. We’ll also assume that Republicans flip all five Texas seats redrawn to be more favorable to them.

That gives the GOP a net gain of one seat. If nothing else changes, the GOP would grow their majority by one seat, resulting in a 221R-214D House.

The presidential party has lost House seats in thirty-eight of the last forty-one midterm elections. Only two exceptions stand out: 1998, when Democrats gained House seats in the wake of Republicans’ impeachment efforts of President Bill Clinton (DAR), and 2002, when President George W. Bush (R-TX) had historically high approval ratings in the wake of the September 11 Attacks.

In other words, Republicans defying the “midterm curse” would be nothing short of historic but owed demonstrably to the Texas redraw.

Map 1 (above) shows our aforementioned scenario in which the Democrats pick up four seats and the GOP picks up five from Texas, allowing the GOP to retain their majority. This is if no other seats change party hands and if the California redraw is not approved by voters.

Highlighted seats on the maps indicate flips for the respective parties.

What If the California Redraw Passes?

If California voters approve the redraw, it means that the raised floor the GOP has from Texas virtually disappears.

The California map is as aggressive as the Texas redraw, with three Republicans drawn into districts that would have backed former Vice President Kamala Harris (D-CA). Incumbent Democrats in swing districts also get a boost, virtually taking their districts off the table next autumn.

For the sake of the argument, we’ll estimate that the Democrats flip four seats in California if the map is approved: CA-01, CA-03, CA-41, and CA-48. CA-01 is based in northeastern California and would go from a Trump +25 district to a Harris +12 district, a massive shift that makes for a near-untenable re-election bid for incumbent Congressman Doug LaMalfa (R). CA-03 is currently based around Lake Tahoe and stretches down to San Bernardino County, with Congressman Kevin Kiley (R) having won two competitive races thus far. That district would become much more compact around the deep-blue Tahoe and Sacramento areas - going from Trump +13 to Harris +10.

The Riverside-based CA-41, which was already a competitive seat that could very well flip in its current iteration, would become a more urban Los Angeles-based seat, going from a Trump +6 district to a Harris +14 one. Finally, the San Diego-based CA-48, represented by entrenched incumbent Congressman Darrell Issa (R), would go from a Trump +15 district to a Harris +3 one.

It’s conceivable that Issa hangs on, as he is an institution in Southern California, just as it’s entirely conceivable that Democrats retain TX-28. The Central Valley-based CA-22 becomes slightly less of a Trump-won seat, but Congressman David Valadao (R) has won in much more unfavorable circumstances. We’ll give him the benefit of the doubt for our argument this week.

four seats across Colorado, Iowa, Nebraska, and Pennsylvania, while they net four from the California redraw. That is mirrored by a gain of five seats by the GOP in Texas. Again, this assumes both parties run the table in gerrymandered seats. The hypothetical end result is a net gain of three for the Democrats, giving Republicans the absolute bare-minimum majority of 218. In this case, Democrats would need to pick off one more seat in order to flip control of the chamber, and there are plenty of options available.

This shows that the California redraw is a pathway for Democrats to restore their floor ahead of the midterms, and if they can flip CA-22, they would find that fourth seat needed to flip the chamber to themselves.

What About Gerrymandering in Other States?

This is where Republicans have the upper hand. They’re already working on a redraw in Missouri, which would give them one more seat. Indiana and South Carolina are rumored to have redraws in the works; each of those states would net the GOP one seat. Ohio already had redistricting on the schedule, wherein Republicans could draw an aggressive gerrymander to knock out two or even three Democratic seats, while Utah’s map must be redrawn on a court order. The conventional wisdom, as of now, is that Salt Lake City might be contained in a heavily blue district, effectively giving the Democrats another seat without much leg work.

Republicans have more options to pad their runtime if California gerrymanders. But where do Democrats go?

There are talks of Maryland axing the red MD-01, the sole Republican-held seat in the Old Line State, as well as rumors of Washington state carving up the Spokane-based WA-05, but the party has contended both seats would be uphill battles in the eyes of the courts. Maryland Democrats tried to make MD-01 much bluer in 2021, but the map was overturned.

Other than that, it’s difficult to see where Democrats could further gerrymander their way into a majority.

Map 2 (below) shows how our estimates play out. Democrats flip

Map 3 (above) puts all of these moving parts into play, with the GOP netting the Gary-based IN-01, the Kansas Citybased MO-05, the Columbia-based SC-06, the Cincinnatibased OH-01, the Toledo-based OH-09, and the Akronbased OH-13. It also shows Democrats netting a hypothetical SLC-based UT-04, as well WA-05 and MD01 if those state legislatures were able to cook up more seats.

The end result is a 220R-215D House - exactly where the current quorum lies with vacancies not considered.

Disclaimer

This is a preliminary forecast and the national environment likely isn’t near what it will be next summer. There are plenty more seats that both parties could flip, but this shows what the current environment is more or less indicating.

Let There Be Light: Smithtown High School East Installs Athletic Field Lights

Smithtown High School East athletes will now shine under the limelight since the athletic field lights have recently been installed and are operating.

The new lighting will allow fall teams to practice and host evening home games for the first time.

Smithtown Central School District

Smithtown

Pet of the Week, Martha!

Director of Athletics, Jason Lambert, said he is currently in discussions with Section XI, other school districts and officials with hopes of scheduling night games for the school’s fall teams schedules.

The lighting addition is part of the Capital Reserve Proposition voters approved in 2024.

Meet Martha – a stunning dilute torti with a personality as unique as her beauty. At just under a year old, Martha has already shown incredible resilience. When her family fell on hard times, this lovely little lady was sadly left behind to fend for herself. But Martha hasn’t let her past dull her sparkle– she’s affectionate, outgoing, and full of charm.

Much like a sour patch kid, Martha is a perfect blend of sweet and sassy, and that’s exactly what makes her irresistible! With her soft tortoiseshell coloring, expressive eyes, and lovable spirit, Martha is ready to capture the heart of her forever family.

She’s the kind of kitty who will keep you smiling with her playful antics and melt your heart with her snuggly side.

Martha would thrive in a calm, quiet home with loving people who will respect her boundaries and appreciate her spirited personality. She would do well with older children, calm dogs, or possibly another cat.

To inquire or to meet your potential soulmate, call the Smithtown Animal Shelter at 631360-7575.

FOSTER OPPORTUNITY OR THINKING ABOUT ADOPTION

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

16 Local History

Thursday, September 11, 2025

Home Is Where the Heart Is

By Ellyn Okvist, B.Sc.

Maude Ewing Adams Kiskadden (November 11, 1872 –July 17, 1953), known professionally as Maude Adams, was an American actress and stage designer. She performed on stage from infancy until her retirement at age 60.

Maude Adams starred in over twenty-five plays on Broadway between 1888 and 1916. Her most famous role was “Peter” in J.M Barrie’s “Peter Pan” in 1905 at age 33. Adams’ personality appealed to a large audience which helped her become the most successful and highest-paid performer of her day, with a yearly income of more than $1 million during her peak.

Maude Adams’ secondary interest to the stage was that in her homes, of which she had three. New York was a narrow four-story brownstone English-basement house, a stone’s throw east of Bryant Park. The few visitors who had visited the house at 11 East 41st Street describe it as an “oasis of scholastic peace amid the roar of the busy metropolis.”

The furniture was scant and simple, but every piece smacked of romance, as she was an ardent collector of antiques and possessed some valuable specimens from her travels in Egypt. The prevailing color was dark green, her favorite tint, and this color and the old woods noticed in the reception room, appear again in the central hall, where a French sedan chair forms the telephone booth.

of Ronkonkoma, but the railroad regulations forbade this beneficence, but she asked permission to lay out some flower beds to add to its attractiveness. This pleasure was granted to her. A special train carried the star on her quest for rest. Sandy Garth, who she had gradually extended from an eighty-acre tract to one of two hundred acres, with the large groves of walnut trees. It has been estimated that they would be so valuable when they reached their maturity in about thirty years. Even if all Miss Adams’ other holdings were swept away, and were she to leave the stage, she could live palatially upon the profits yielded by her exceedingly profitable walnut groves.

Later in life, Adams took long sabbaticals in Catholic

The library, another small square room, whose four sides were lined from floor to ceiling with rare old books. Complete sets of all the English classics, and English and French plays of every period and the English philosophers, and her favorite author Herbert Spencer were in her possession. Opening from the library was the actress’ private suite. Under one roof were most of the souvenirs of her travels. The library was her favorite and contained the oldest play manuscript in the world, which she brought on her tour of the Holy Lands. Sixty books, chiefly in papyrus, she brought from her journeyings in Egypt and on the Sahara Desert, and keeps on locked shelves in her bookroom. Rare books and first editions were Maude Adams’ only form of extravagance.

Sandy Garth, home built by the Smith brothers in 1718, is referred to as her farm. She sought quaint, Elizabethan effects. Her farmhouse at Lake Ronkonkoma had a lower floor comparable to one which the heroes of Scotland would have entertained their kingly visitors. This simple room has four fireplaces. The upper floor of the half-brick, half-stone structure is given over to large, airy, sunny bed chambers. On the farm, Miss Adams kept her dogs. A halfdozen handsome ones tumble about the visitors in rollicking welcome. Near the house was a lake where Miss Adams took a morning swim. She kept a half-dozen horses and rode a great deal while at home. She set out a grove of walnut trees, declaring that it was every landholder’s duty to contribute to the arboreal beauty of the landscape, and she planted the trees with full knowledge that she would probably not live to see the maturity of their full-grown splendor.

She offered to donate a new station house to the village

convents, and in 1922 she donated her estates in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York, to the Sisters of the Cenacle for use as a novitiate and retreat house.

Her favorite home was the “picturesque cottage” in the Catskills where she enjoyed the exhilaration of mountain air. One must be aware that Maude Adams’ dream house was in the historic Catskills, which she had custom-built in 1903. It was once home to the beloved stage actress who turned it into a gathering ground for art lovers and creative minds, taking advantage of the home’s proximity to the famed artist and writers’ retreat, Onteora Club. Adams named it “Caddam Hill” after a house in James Matthew Barrie’s The Little Minister, her first collaboration with the playwright. The elaborate craftsmanship of the entire home was understandable, as Adams’ personality called for perfection.

Caddam Hill is currently nestled on a 31-acre Catskills property and is a luxury retreat with a distinctly French, rustic feel, unlike anything we’ve seen recently — and it’s now up for grabs for $3,450,000. Adams purchased the entire estate of 150 acres. She loved the Catskills dearly. Her home on Caddam Hill located in Tannersville is still a majestic and beautiful escape emanating the feeling of seclusion.

Adams left Sandy Garth for long periods of time, always returning to her custom-built Caddam Hill. I strongly suggest you look into her Caddam Hill, which can be found on any computer hit of “Maude AdamsHouse for Sale Tannersville.” You will be shown the magnificent photos of this breathtaking home and property, and it will take your breath away. At this point, it will be much easier to follow her life in the Catskills as it was the crown jewel.

Miss Adams shared her life (1872-1953) with Louise Boynton (1868-1951), who was her secretary and lifelong partner since 1905. She retired in 1918 after a severe bout of influenza.

Her interests changed over the years, and one of the highlights of her life was in 1921, when Schaffer

Library at Union College granted its first degree to a woman, an honorary degree for “her splendid histrionic abilities” and “her work done in the development of lighting effects for motion pictures.”

During the 1920s, she worked with General Electric to patent and improve more powerful stage lighting (U.S. patent 1,884,957, U.S. patent 1,963,949, U.S. patent 2,006,820) and with the Eastman Company, to develop color photography. It has been suggested that her motivation for her association with these technology companies was that she wished to appear in a color film version of Peter Pan, and this would have required better lighting and techniques for color photography. Her electric lights ultimately became the industry standard in Hollywood with the advent of sound in motion pictures in the late 1920s. After 13 years away from the stage, she returned to acting, appearing occasionally in regional productions of Shakespeare plays, including as Portia in The Merchant of Venice in Ohio, in 1931, and as Maria in Twelfth Night in 1934 in Maine. She died at the age of 80 in her Caddam Hill and was laid to rest in the Sisters of the Cenacle Convent Cemetery in Lake Ronkonkoma, New York.

American actress Maude Adams in some of her many portrayals.

Schaffer Library at Union College 1921 Honorary Degree

The Broken Ladder: How Leadership Failures and Job Loss Threaten AI’s Promise

By Mollie Barnett

The $40 Billion Leadership Gap

The ladder to AI success is broken—and workers are slipping off the rungs.

MIT’s latest research delivers a sobering verdict: despite $30–40 billion in enterprise AI spending, 95% of projects fail to deliver measurable results. At the same time, employees are watching automation roll out in a piecemeal fashion, often with layoffs attached.

The culprit isn’t the technology—it’s leadership.

While individual employees are using personal AI tools to boost productivity, formal company programs collapse. The result is a “shadow AI economy” thriving outside of management oversight. The tools work. Leadership doesn’t. And when leaders fumble adoption, workers pay the price.

The Divide Widens

The 5% of companies that do succeed aren’t just performing better— they’re transforming markets. Firms that weave AI into daily decision-making are reporting productivity gains above 20%. With those advantages, they’re now poised to acquire competitors left stuck in endless pilot projects.

That competitive edge often comes with workforce reshuffling. Companies chasing quick efficiency wins tend to replace people outright. Companies taking the slower, systematic approach tend to retrain and reposition staff, turning AI into a tool for empowerment rather than elimination.

Failures Across the Ladder

MIT’s study of 300 deployments highlights leadership breakdown at every level:

• Executives approve big budgets but rarely define what success looks like.

• Middle managers lack the authority or technical literacy to redesign workflows.

• Implementation teams are told to “make it work” with outdated systems and little training.

The result is predictable: flashy pilots that fizzle, vendor tools that provide only marginal gains, and frustrated teams stuck trying to retrofit new tools onto old processes. And when projects fail, the easiest “fix” too often is cutting jobs rather than fixing leadership.

Employees working independently with consumer AI apps succeed because they own the process end-to-end. They choose use cases, integrate them into their workflows, and adjust as they go. Inside formal organizations, that autonomy disappears—and adoption collapses.

The irony? Workers are proving AI can boost performance. It’s leadership failure that turns AI into a job threat instead of a job enhancer.

The Case for Systematic Development

Here’s where the path forward comes into focus. The organizations that succeed don’t chase “AI in a box.” They build discipline.

They move from small pilots to enterprise-wide rollouts systematically—validating each step, measuring outcomes, and capturing lessons. Over time, this creates institutional knowledge that makes each new deployment more sophisticated than the last.

Done right, this approach strengthens—not shrinks—the workforce. Done wrong, it accelerates what experts call “cognitive work displacement,” where jobs vanish without building lasting value.

Why This Matters on Long Island

Local companies face the same challenge. Many are experimenting with AI—adding it to customer service platforms, marketing campaigns, or logistics systems. But unless those efforts are paired with systematic development, they risk becoming just another costly pilot project—or worse, a round of job cuts with little to show for it.

The companies that will thrive here are the ones that treat AI adoption as organizational transformation: redesigning workflows, investing in training, and setting clear performance metrics. That’s how businesses protect both productivity and people.

The Survival Imperative

AI is no longer a futuristic add-on. It’s a test of leadership.

For Long Island businesses, the lesson is urgent: success will come not from buying tools, but from building the systems to make those tools matter. That means treating workers as partners in transformation, not casualties of it.

The technology is ready. The question is whether leadership is.

MOLLIE BARNETT is an AI Advisor for Business and Strategic Growth Architect on Long Island. Her team offers Secure AI, AI options, AI planning, integration, and education.

The Missed Lesson of the Shadow Economy

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, September 11, 2025

In New York City, It’s Class Warfare. If You Own Anything, Mamdani Wants to Take It.

By Betsy McCaughey | AMAC Outside Contributor

“Tenants are a majority, it’s time we had a mayor who acted like it,” says Zohran Mamdani, the frontrunner in the New York City mayoral race.

When Mamdani says it, believe him. If he wins, tenants will be favored, and homeowners will be in his crosshairs.

They already are. Mamdani is vowing to fully enforce Local Law 97, a law that clobbers condo and co-op owners with costly mandates to reduce their buildings’ carbon emissions at their own expense.

If Mamdani wins, middle- and working-class people who saved and bought a co-op or condo in a high-rise complex will be facing huge cost increases. More than a million New Yorkers – cops, teachers, accountants, retirees – own the 832,000 units impacted by Local Law 97, and many will suddenly be faced with budget-breaking costs.

The law was passed by the New York City Council in 2019, but it sets a 2030 deadline to reduce carbon emissions by 40%, meaning buildings have to start the costly construction process now to convert from oil-burner heating and gas stoves to electric heat and stoves in the name of climate improvement.

Owners at Queensview, Inc., a complex of 14 buildings in Long Island City built in 1950, are told the conversion will cost them $62 million, which will boost their monthly maintenance by $1,155 for a one-bedroom apartment. That’s about double. Owners who can’t afford the increase may be forced to sell – at fire-sale prices since their neighbors will be struggling with the same cost hikes.

Mamdani vows to rigorously enforce this lunatic law, expressly opposing what he calls “loopholes,” like selling owners renewable energy credits or offering time extensions to comply. His website mentions assistance “for middle-income homeowners,” but he’s never followed up with any specifics.

Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa opposes Local Law 97, posting on X on June 7 that the law is “forcing longtime New Yorkers out of their apartments they’ve lived in for decades. The cost is just too high. Especially in a housing crisis …”

Candidate Andrew Cuomo has said he’s open to modifying the law. Of course, that would require the City Council going along – a big maybe. An alternative is for the next mayor to slow-walk enforcement. Unless it’s Mamdani.

Here’s the biggest outrage. Local Law 97 takes a million or more modest New York homeowners to the cleaners to pay the tab for a scheme that offers no demonstrable benefit to the city’s air quality or the health of its residents. Zero.

City Council members should have examined the facts before mandating these high-rise buildings to convert from oil-burning heat to electrical heat. It’s an example of legislative malpractice. Left-wing climate ideologues are happy to spend other people’s money without asking if the scheme makes sense.

A report from New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine and School of Global Public Health, published in Frontiers, shows how scientifically farcical Local Law 97 is. The two authors, both climate activists, caution that the benefits of the law “may only materialize in future generations – and only if similarly ambitious policies are embraced worldwide.”

The authors add that there’s “scant literature” demonstrating any health benefits from Local Law 97.

Here’s the kicker. Although the co-ops and

condos are being forced to convert from fossil fuel heating to electrical heat, these buildings will then be buying their electricity from suppliers who still generate it using fossil fuels. The NYU scientists conclude “building electrification is unlikely to yield net benefit without a transition to renewable energy sources” citywide, something the city has not done.

Message to the condo and co-op owners: You are getting shafted. The climate ideologues pushing Local Law 97 didn’t bother to get the facts.

Mamdani is vowing to actualize “the vision of Local Law 97.” The condo and co-op owners facing financial stress and even the loss of their homes because of the law should go

Overview - AMACThe Association of Mature American Citizens

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to the polls this November and vote for anybody but Mamdani. They should also vote against any City Council members who supported the law.

These co-op and condo owners likely number more than 1 million voters. The issue is who will turn out: these homeowners or the 1.7 million tenants Mamdani is promising rent freezes. Middle-income co-op owners slamming Local Law 97 can turn this election, predicts Democratic strategist Hank Sheinkopf.

Protecting the Earth against climate damage and preparing New York City for climate changes are worthy goals. But Mamdani and the extremists’ push to enforce Local Law 97 ignores the facts and treats New York City homeowners with utter disrespect.

20 Bits & Pieces

WORD OF THE Week

Etymology: mid 17th century (in the sense ‘bend (the knee’)): from ecclesiastical Latin genuflectere, from Latin genu ‘knee’ + flectere ‘to bend’.

GENUFLECT

verb

Pronounced: /jeh·nyoo·flekt/

Definition: lower one’s body briefly by bending one knee to the ground, typically in worship or as a sign of respect.

Example: “The mourners genuflected as a sign of respect to the fallen.”

Synonyms: kneel, stoop, bow

Antonyms: stand, disrespect, disobey

Source: Oxford Languages

WORD WHEEL

F S U E C R

See how many words you can create. Must have center letter in word and can use letters more than once. 4 letter word minimum.

September 11, 2025

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

September 16, 1920:

The “Wall Street bombing” occurs at 12:01 pm when a horse-drawn wagon explodes on Wall Street, New York, killing 38 and injuring 143.

September 14, 1956: IBM introduces the RAMAC 305, the first commercial computer with a hard drive with magnetic disk storage, weighs over a ton.

First use of tanks in warfare, Britain’s Mark I “Little Willies” at the Battle of FlersCourcelette, part of the Battle of the Somme.

September 11, 1916:

First true self-service supermarket, Clarence Saunders’ “Piggly Wiggly,” opens in Memphis, Tennessee.

September 12, 1940:

Four teens follow their dog down a hole near Lascaux, France, and discover 17,000-year-old drawings now known as the Lascaux Cave Paintings.

September 17, 1683:

Dutch scientist Antonie van Leeuwenhoek is the first to report the existence of bacteria.

Remnants of the damage from the 1920 bombing are still visible on 23 Wall Street.

Fall Sports Preview

It’s Friday Night and the Lights are On

By PJ Balzer

I wait all year for this, as do many high school sports enthusiasts all over the county and the island.

The Friday night lights are on for the first time this school year and two teams will be battling it out for the “W” right underneath them. The concession stands are open, the long sleeve jackets are out, and both bleachers are filling up. Let the long-awaited high school sports season kick off.

I’m writing this as I sit in Patchogue-Medford Raiders’ High School stadium. The boys’ Brentwood varsity soccer team is warming up on the visitor’s side and the Pat-Med Raiders are hosting tonight. Last year, these two teams had a war right on this very field and the fans joined in the momentum. Brentwood ended up coming out on top of that match and ultimately clenching their fourth straight League One title on this turf. If you think the Raiders don’t want redemption tonight, you’re sleeping on a team that has upset top tier teams before.

The Patchogue-Medford soccer team has been gaining both clout and reverence under Coach Tim Trava. Coach Trava is a Pat-Med graduate and a hall of fame athlete in his home town. Yet, lining up against Brentwood is never an easy task.

“Brentwood is Brentwood”; high school soccer fans know exactly what that means. They are loaded with speed, talent, maturity as a unit, and a fast touch approach to the game that’s hard to keep in pace with.

Brentwood scored two dazzling goals in the first half and another two in the second, on one a corner kick to a head ball connection, leaving the raiders with an empty scoreboard and one in the loss column.

Looking forward, Friday night football is going right into fifth gear this week. There are three games locally that certainly won’t disappoint as we kick off the Fall football season in Suffolk County.

In Division 1 we are starting off the opening week in what looks like a potential playoff schedule.

Ward Melville will be hosting Longwood at 7:00p.m., as the 2 seed in the division hosts the 3. Both teams always line up a tough squad and both had good seasons last year. Ward Melville returns their quarterback Hudson Philbrick who has a strong arm and can find the end zone with ease. Look out for their returning running back Joey Benedetto to muscle the ball up the field and give the Patriots the yards they’ll need this season.

Longwood lost their top tier running back Madison Murrell as he transferred to LuHi for his senior season. But if you honestly believe that Longwood doesn’t have talent on deck ready to step up and gain the Lions the yards they’ll need, you’re highly mistaken. The Lions also have one of the best, proven, and tried defensive backs in the county, Kaden Reid. He’ll undoubtedly give us a highlight film season; expect him to start off this Friday night.

Not far away will be another Friday night cooker as Sachem North at the 4 seed hosts the heavy weight 1 seed, the William Floyd Colonials. Floyd is coming off two consecutive county titles and is returning a running back that the entire county is zoomed in on. Ja’Quan Thomas was named the New York State Gatorade Player of the Year. Ja’Quan put together an amazing season in which he rushed for 2,594 yards and 37 touchdowns. Floyd’s line in Matthew Benjamin, Jeru Hall, Jayden Johnson, and captain Joseph Melecio has also stepped up in the office season to prove themselves ready to push around whoever stands in their way.

Sachem North always brings a work ethic and tough team that will stand up to the best without backing down. North returns an ultra athletic wide receiver Henry Sarro that does damage to the opposing defense every time his hands get stuck to the football. Jon Giraulo will lead Sachem on the defensive side of the ball. Expect some big stops from him as he faces off with Floyd under the lights this Friday.

Two south shore teams with rich football tradition and success behind them will face off also at 6:00p.m. this Friday evening. The Bellport Clippers will head west to visit the East Islip Redmen. East Islip knocked Bellport out of the playoffs last season in round one on the very same field. Expect Bellport to show up on a revenge tour, but East Islip to be as tough a team as they are each season. Bellport has a familiar last name heading their offense in Braydon Cipp. He can both throw and run the ball and will have to be successful at both to oust East Islip. The Redmen graduated their core last year but have some solid kids on the line and will look for underclassmen to step into roles this year.

CreditManny Estrada, Brentwood UFSD

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September 22, 12:30 PM to 2:30 PM

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Dominick Marchitto: A Dual-Sport Athlete for Sachem East

By Ashley Pavlakis

The Sachem East Arrows have returned to the field this fall for the 2025 varsity soccer season. Amongst those donning an Arrows jersey is senior Dominick Marchitto (pictured right)

The Arrows are members of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association and compete in League II. Sachem East is led by head coach Matthew Stallone, a Sachem alum who began coaching for his alma mater in 1998. Stallone enters his twenty-seventh season at the helm of the Arrows.

What do we love? Multi-sport athletes. Why? It showcases an athlete’s athletic abilities when they participate in a variety of sports, especially when the two sports are different from one another.

For Senior Dominick Marchitto he actively plays both soccer and lacrosse but also dabbles in football and track. The senior has played soccer at the varsity level for two years and lacrosse for four years.

On the soccer field, he plays in the center back position. The center back is similar to a quarterback in football. They’re a defensive stalwart who aims to stop the opposing team from scoring by occupying a position in front of the net. They’re the last line of defense before the ball makes it to the goalkeeper. Marchitto is known for his speed, versatility, and intelligent awareness of what’s happening on the field. A good quality that’s hard to find in athletes is to be a full-length player. Aside from playing defense, Marchitto has offensive capabilities that allow him to make plays and move the ball up the field. His name will show up on the scoresheet here and there, a reward for his efforts.

Wielding a lacrosse stick, Marchitto takes his place as a midfielder for the Arrows in the springtime. Similar to soccer, his midfield position allows him to be an offensive defenseman. Two-way players are a threat to opposing teams, serving as an advantage at both ends of the field. On his college recruiting profile, Marchitto describes himself as a self-determined player who is confident at any position on the field.

As mentioned earlier, he dabbles in the sport of football as a kicker for the Arrows. It’s quite common to see competitive high school soccer players make an appearance on the American football field as a kicker for the team. The art of kicking the ball is something they’re already good at; now they just have to do it for distance and kick a field goal.

Easy enough, right?

A common dominator between the sports? Speed. Marchitto is able to build and work at his speed when competing in track and field. He competes in multiple events: the 55-meter, 200-meter, 300-meeters, and the 4x400 relay. The first three are for speed rather than distance.

Dominick Marchitto has been nominated for Youth Athlete of the Year. The Holtsville native is currently in the quarterfinal round of the voting, which ends in ten days. The winner will be featured in Sports Illustrated in addition to winning a grand prize of $25k.

The multi-sport athlete will be on the field a lot this season for Sachem East. Whether you find him playing soccer or lacrosse, you can be sure to find him giving 100% dedication to the sport he’s playing.

NFL Roundup: New York Edition

By Ashley Pavlakis

Pre-season is always different; the play either translates to the games that actually matter, or it doesn’t.

The New York Jets, Giants, and Bills played this weekend in week one of NFL football and came away with one out of three wins.

Let’s start with the winner. “Da Bills” took the ‘W’ over the Baltimore Ravens in dramatic fashion, mounting a comeback to win the game 41-40. Josh Allen, the Bills’ veteran starting quarterback, has proven why he’s so good at his job yet again. The QB threw for 394 yards, completing 33 of 46 passes, and making it to the endzone twice for two touchdowns. The Bills scored seven touchdowns, and kicker Matt Prater went threefor-three in field goal attempts. A fourth quarter comeback commenced as they were down 34-19. Scoring four touchdowns and a field goal while limiting the Ravens to one TD earned them the victory.

“It took everybody out there, just proud of our team for staying in it. No one on the sideline blinked,” said Bills quarterback Josh Allen in a postgame press conference.

The New York Giants were away in Washington for their Sunday matchup with the Commanders. Having gone undefeated during pre-season, I think fans expected things to go a little differently. Unfortunately for New York, they struggled to find the endzone, losing 21-6. Longtime NFL veteran quarterback Russell Wilson didn’t have his best day, completing only 17 of his 37 passes and throwing for only 168 yards. The six points scored for the Big Blue came off two field goals made by kicker Graham Gano.

“Credit to Washington, they played a good game. I thought there were times we did good things, but obviously not enough. Offensively, six points is tough to win a game. I didn’t feel like we got into much of a rhythm,” said head coach Brian Daboll in a postgame press conference.

The Jets had the pleasure of opening their season at home in front of 83,000 fans at MetLife Stadium versus the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ironically enough, the Jets faced their former QB in Aaron Rodgers. He put on a better outing than he did as a Jet, scoring four touchdowns and completing 22 out of 30 of his passes while throwing for 244 yards.

The Jets put up a fight ,though, only losing by two points in a 3432 loss to the Steelers. New York started rookie quarterback Justin Fields in week one. The Ohio State graduate had a decent outing, scoring one touchdown and completing 16 of his 22 passes for 218 yards.

“As a team, I thought we were keeping each other in the fight,” said Jets head coach Aaron Glenn in a postgame press conference.

Everybody knows playing for a professional New York sports team isn’t easy. We get a glimmer of hope, only to have it yanked out from under us, only to repeat the cycle over and over again. But alas, football is football, and there are 18 weeks in a season for a reason. Week one proved to be a test and served as a way to get the jitters out. Next week, the Bills take on the Jets at MetLife on Sunday, while the Giants head to Dallas for their second straight road game, a rivalry matchup with the Cowboys.

WE WILL NEVER FORGET.