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Trotta & Dems Form Alliance for Supervisor’s Race
By Matt Meduri
The Smithtown Supervisor race is on for November. Incumbent Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) is running for a third term. In June, he won the Republican Primary for the Supervisor’s seat against term-limited Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga). The campaign was built on Wehrheim’s defense of investments across the Town and reviving the downtowns and Trotta’s challenges of development.
Wehrheim was set to face Rosemary Griffin (D-Kings Park) in the general election, who earned her party’s nomination without a primary.
Continued on page 10
Suffolk County Goes Purple
By Matt Meduri
The modern era has brought a scourge of designer drugs and networks that proliferate them at break-neck speeds, signalling leaders and officials to encourage an all-hands-ondeck approach to help stem overdoses.
“We know that drug addiction is a disease. We have to begin to treat it like a disease. And we’ve got to look not only for prevention and education, but also treatment. People can’t overcome their addiction with appropriate treatment, and it’s very, very difficult,” said County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) last week at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge. Romaine added that drug abuse not only harms the immediate victims, but can leave a lifelong impact on families and communities.
Continued on page 4
Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga) (Credit - Matt Meduri)
Carole Trottere speaks of stigmas of opioid addiction (Credit - Matt Meduri)
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
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
DELIVERY PERSONNEL
PJ Balzer Joe Cuminale
Madison Warren
OFFICE
RECEIVABLE Kim Revere
PROOFREADER
Hauppauge School District Upgrades Athletic Fields with 2023 Bond
By Ashley Pavlakis
The joyous feeling of hearing that your school was next on the list to receive a playground upgrade was always the best. For the Hauppauge School District, it was almost like Christmas day with the upgrades they were able to conduct to both the middle and high school athletic fields.
The Eagles had a 2023 bond which they are now putting to use by performing upgrades to the facilities. The approved bond was for $58.2 million. BBS Landscape & Site Design Group outlined a master plan containing all the upgrades and the phases in which they’ll take place. The new construction is taking place in four phases; those most pertinent to athletics are phases one and two. Sports lighting and ADA accessibility upgrades took place throughout
Phase One of the 2023 bond saw upgrades come to the track & field facilities, the multipurpose courts, and the practice fields. At the high school, they extended and provided improvements to the long jump/pole vault runways. They relocated both the shot put and discus events. They reconstructed the tennis courts, now holding 10 courts on the grounds that can be used for both tennis and pickleball. The school also added a synthetic turf practice field adjacent to the tennis courts for teams to practice on.
At the middle school, they upgraded the tennis courts and turned them into three multipurpose courts that can be used for basketball, volleyball, and handball. New perimeter fencing, new surfacing with paint, and the required
sports equipment were installed. Additionally, they made improvements to the track & field facility by installing new perimeter fencing and upgrading the surface.
Phase Two of the 2023 bond provided upgrades to the softball and baseball fields at both schools. In the high school, the softball field received a makeover in which the backstops were replaced, the two dugouts are now enclosed, perimeter fence and netting upgrades, and the addition of two turf batting cages. Fans also got an upgrade to the spectator seating in both the infield and outfield. The baseball field received similar upgrades in terms of replacing the backstop, two enclosed dugouts, two batting cages, perimeter fencing and netting, and spectator seating. Aside from that, they also had their field reconstructed, and the irrigation and drainage systems were upgraded. A new scoreboard was installed as well. On the football field, a new multipurpose scoreboard was installed to accommodate all sports that take place on the turf and the immediate surrounding areas.
The middle school softball and baseball fields received the same upgrades as their older sibling. Teams swinging a bat this spring are in for a treat.
Phase Four doesn’t include much but might be of interest to hockey players. There will be a dek hockey rink installed at the high school alongside the parking lot closest to the football field. The rink will be 175’x75’. There is an outdoor dek hockey rink at the Nesconset Library, as well as at Maple Park, and now there will be one at Hauppauge high school.
Plenty of construction took place on Lincoln Avenue in 2025 with more to come. Hauppauge high school and middle schools received significant upgrades that will help to improve the quality of play, and functionality of the school.
Continued from front cover
Suffolk Matters
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Suffolk Unites for National Recovery Month
“If we see someone falling into the web of addiction, it’s on us to do something, to have programs available so people don’t fall,” said Romaine.
He shared that the Medical Examiner’s Office reported that four children died of overdoses last year, mainly from being exposed to the toxic substances by their guardians. A notable case was that of fourteenmonth-old Joseph Adonis, a Holbrook child who, last year, died of drug intoxication from a mixture of heroin, cocaine, and fentanyl. Drugs and paraphernalia were found throughout the home and easily accessible in the bedroom in which the toddler was found unresponsive.
“I think of a life that could have turned out so much differently and so much more positively for that person, for their family, for the community,” said Romaine. (pictured right) “But instead of cursing the darkness, we’ve got to light some candles and give people hope.”
New drugs continue to infiltrate the national borders, including a new Chinese-engineered drug that is more powerful than fentanyl and is resistant to Narcan.
“This isn’t just the recognition of our loss and grieving, it’s also the unifying and making sure that history is not prologue,” said Steve Chassman (pictured right), Executive Director of the Long Island Council of Alcohol and Drug Dependency (LICADD). “Yes, overdoses are down nationally and statewide, but now is not the time to take our foot off the gas.”
Chassman added that “four hundred is too many”, referencing the annual Suffolk casualties to overdoses. He also thanked the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) and first responders for teaching about drug awareness throughout all levels of education and encouraging healthy coping strategies.
“We continue to have the scourge of fatalities due to opioid overdoses. It’s still an issue here in Suffolk County,” said Suffolk County Health Commissioner Dr. Gregson Pigott (pictured above) “Recently, we updated our behavioral health
resource guide to make it more user-friendly and web-based. In the last five years, treatment has been more easily accessible, in particular medication-assisted treatment. You can go to a treatment center and not just get a prescription, but community-based centers that are offering methadone, another excellent way to prevent overdose fatalities.”
Dr. Jeff Reynolds, PhD, CEO (pictured left) of the Family and Children’s Association based in Garden City said the opioid epidemic is “by no means a new crisis.”
“We’re probably in phase four or five of the crisis, but last year marked the first time in modern history where we could actually talk about turning the tide on the number of fatal overdoses,” said Reynolds. “That’s great news for those families who won’t have to go to funerals to bury their kids and won’t have to go through holidays having lost a loved one. It’s bad news because we’re still losing more than a person a day in Suffolk County. Until that number is zero, we can’t stop.”
Romaine also mentioned that a Suffolk County Medical Examiner’s Office is also in the works.
Dr. Hall (pictured below) also spoke of Narcan distribution and training, which the SCPD has been heading across street fairs and farmers’ markets this summer.
Reynolds recommended that as the new school year begins, advocacy should begin in the homes. He also spoke of expanding access to treatment on demand, not “two weeks down the line, not sixty miles from home.” Support for those recovering and reducing harm by keeping people alive long enough to enter a rehabilitation facility are also themes that non-profits are heeding.
Dr. Odette Hall, Suffolk County Chief Medical Examiner, said that drug overdose deaths overall are trending downward in Suffolk and nationally.
“Unfortunately, drug overdose deaths still represent about 25% of our total deaths,” said Hall, adding that the Medical Examiner’s Office continues to investigate the causes of those deaths and meet the families in their “acute moments of grief.”
“While the numbers are down, we’d like to see them continue to go down and we’d like to see some of that grief decrease,” said Hall. “This is the number-one killer of people aged 18 to 45 in this country right now.”
The stigma, however, remains the “biggest enemy.” Carole Trottere, an advocate who works with law enforcement on Narcan training and distribution, lost her only son, Alex, 30, to fentanyl poisoning in 2018.
“I’ve heard some horrible things come out of peoples’ mouths and I would like to eradicate that,” said Trottere. “‘I don’t need that because my kids are good’; ‘I don’t have any drug addicts in my house’; and ‘why don’t they just let these people die?’”
Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset) (pictured left), Chair of the Health Committee and a nurse for other thirty years, said the strategy consists of “education, training, and treatment.”
“Help is available; we have other thirty agencies that we work with. Call your Legislator if you need something; call the County Executive’s office if you need referrals and we will help you,” said Kennedy. “We have the Opioid Task Force. We have a reduction in the number of deaths because of everyone who is out working with people who are suffering.”
Kennedy and Romaine were joined by Suffolk County Legislators Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville), Rebecca Sanin (D-Huntington Station), Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport), Steve Flotteron (R-Brightwaters), and Jason Richberg (D-West Babylon).
By Julia Katz
New Clean Water Technology Pitched to Suffolk County Legislature
The Suffolk County Legislature’s Environment, Parks, and Agriculture (EPA) Committee was recently introduced to a technology that could transform how Long Island addresses its water quality challenges, focusing on the use of naturally occurring microbes to reduce pollutants in both wastewater systems and local waterways.
The August 25 presentation was delivered by environmental attorney and biologist Frank Piccininni and Marshall Brown. More than a decade ago, Brown co-founded Save The Great South Bay after recognizing that Suffolk County’s estimated 560,000 cesspools and septic tanks were a serious impediment to the bay.
In their search for solutions, they partnered with Empire Organic, a company using beneficial bacteria to digest sludge. As Brown told the legislators, “Seeing is believing,” recalling a pilot project in Pennsylvania where sludge volumes dropped by 25% in just 45 days, and by 50% after 180 days. Similar applications could replace costly dredging projects on Long Island. For example, at Sands Point Preserve, a pond once buried under muck cleared dramatically within 90 days of treatment, revealing its bottom for the first time in decades.
The key to this new technology is strains of Bacillus, a bacterium commonly found in soil, water, and even the human gut. It has long been known that these microbes break down organic matter. However, it was only three and a half years ago that Empire Organic developed a way to cultivate Bacillus on-site, at a scale that makes the process cost-effective.
“By reintroducing these microbes into our surface waters, we can stabilize oxygen levels, suppress harmful algal blooms, and restore ecological balance,” Piccininni said, emphasizing that the bacteria are nonpathogenic, fully sequenced, and already used in probiotics.
Piccininni cited economic benefits as part of his argument. The traditional dredging of a pond in Southampton was estimated to cost $4 billion, while microbial treatment could cost $370,000. At wastewater facilities in Pennsylvania, Texas, and Florida, the technology has already been successful in reducing total solids by 63%, cutting fats and oils by 95%, and lowering energy costs by 37%.
“It doesn’t require heavy equipment, and it works with nature instead of against it,” Brown said.
The legislators reacted with a mix of enthusiasm and caution. Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset) praised the proposal, calling it refreshing to see established science applied to a local environmental challenge. Still, she worried about the sheer volume of sludge the technology is designed to digest and raised the possibility of excess bacteria spilling into the ocean.
In response, Piccininni and Brown explained that Bacillus bacteria already belong in aquatic ecosystems. They are self-limiting, they said, and pose no ecological threat. Toxicology screenings even showed no impact on key indicator species.
“This may be excellent for our fish population,” Kennedy remarked after learning that the microbes could actually strengthen ecological balance rather than disrupt it.
Legislator Catherine Stark (R-Riverhead) raised practical questions regarding scale, questioning how the technology could be practical in large bodies of water, such as Lake Ronkonkoma.
Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) shifted the conversation toward cost, noting that current upgrades to replace cesspools with advanced septic systems typically cost $20,000 to $30,000 per home, a price tag that is difficult to imagine across Suffolk County’s hundreds of thousands of households. Brown and Piccininni countered that their system would be significantly more affordable and could be installed quickly by local plumbers. This could make it a practical alternative to the more disruptive upgrades now on the table.
Skepticism was voiced most strongly by Legislator Nick Caracappa (C-Selden), who questioned the safety of introducing microbes into Suffolk’s aquifer system. He warned, “There are good forms and bad forms of Bacillus,” using anthrax as an example. “We need clarity on exactly what species you’re using.”
Brown responded that the strains are the same ones found in dietary supplements and fully vetted by the Department of Environmental Conservation but noted that proprietary restrictions limit how much detail can be shared publicly. Legislator Ann Welker (D-Southampton) urged the presenters to focus first on small-scale pilot projects.
“We need scalable, replicable results before expanding into larger ecosystems,” said Welker, suggesting golf course ponds as potential test sites. Piccininni agreed but noted that many Long Island ponds are already impaired under the Clean Water Act and urgently need solutions.
As Chair of the EPA Committee, Legislator Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) described the proposal as promising, though not a cure-all.
“Obviously, this isn’t the magic bullet, but this is part of a system that we are trying to create here,” Piccirillo told The Messenger. For him, the bigger picture involves wastewater treatment on multiple fronts—retrofitting septic systems, addressing storm drains, and keeping pollution from reaching the bays in the first place. Representing South Shore communities, Piccirillo pointed to recurring beach closures in Sayville and Bayport after rainstorms as an example of why stormwater solutions are urgently needed.
Piccirillo also emphasized the importance of measurable results, asking for before-and-after oxygen data from pilot projects.
“That’s a big problem on Long Island,” he said, referring to low oxygen levels tied to fish kills and algal blooms. At the same time, he raised concerns about Suffolk’s aquifer, questioning how large-scale sewer expansion might impact the county’s already strained freshwater reserves. In his view, microbial treatments could have a “bright” future as an alternative, particularly when weighed against the high costs of sewering and septic replacement.
“Instead of spending millions of dollars on systems that may or may not work, something that is proven and tested and went through the rigors of the DEC, I’d like to see that move forward,” said Piccirillo.
Despite the questions, the overall tone of the meeting was one of cautious optimism. The EPA Committee seemed eager to see more testing and pilot projects. At the same time, Brown and Piccininni remained committed to their belief in their prototype and technology’s ability to deliver measurable improvements at a fraction of current costs.
“Government alone won’t save us,” Piccininni reminded the committee. “We all have to participate, residents, civic groups, and Legislators. But if we work together, I believe we can turn this around in our lifetime.”
The Moloney Family
When Development Isn’t ‘Scary’ and When It’s Sorely Needed
“Development” is often a word that stokes a lot of fear, uncertainty, and disdain. We haven’t seen communities become divided over much else, and if there’s anything to stoke distrust of local elected officials, it’s development overall.
But development doesn’t have to be scary, nor does it imply that elected officials have the communities’ worst interest in mind.
Moreover, Suffolk County finds itself at a significant turning point. Net migration has given New York State the fastest declining population in the country over the last couple years, affordability has created a “brain drain” that makes leaving Long Island behind a more attractive alternative than sticking it out, and many wish for the characters of communities to remain forever unaltered, for better or for worse.
We understand the want to be the last house on the block and we understand that development must be done in a way that preserves communities’ characters. But at the same time, Suffolk is going through growing pains that the rest of the country is experiencing.
The current era has brought everyone and everything online - to a chronic point. E-commerce, while it has its strong suits, is proving to be an interminable and unquenchable force against small business. Before Amazon and the other titans of the industry, it was shopping malls. Before the malls, it was the big box stores. Mom and pop shops have unfortunately long been on the chopping block, and with every aspect of life being run on a tight budget nowadays, who can afford to even spend outside of necessity?
It’s why our downtowns have become ghost towns in some parts of the county, but development is also why some of them are roaring back to life to varying degrees.
Bay Shore and Patchogue have made impressive metamorphoses, going from blighted downtowns to thriving main streets. In St. James, sewers and collaborative efforts have turned a sleepy main street into a quaint, walkable downtown that retains the hamlet’s historic and rural feel. Kings Park and Smithtown are on the precipices of their own overhauls, while the County and State continue to fund projects across the county.
Mastic Beach is no exception, with the ambitious Neighborhood Road
Revitalization Area seeking to take one of the most problematic and crimeridden parts of Suffolk into a beachy downtown that aims to breathe new life into the Tri-Hamlet Peninsula.
What we’ve seen in Mastic Beach differs from what we’ve seen elsewhere: most of the community is largely in favor of it.
Sure, there are those who oppose it, but on mostly reasonable grounds. They cite current crime statistics, lack of a police substation, and consternation over possible invocations of eminent domain as problems that should be solved first. However, even those critiques are often accompanied by an open-mindedness to the initiative. Traffic remains the biggest common denominator amongst those who largely oppose the project.
Even so, it’s a respectful conversation that’s not wrought with mudslinging and elbow throwing. It’s refreshing to see a community not only so on board with an overhaul plan, but also one that can hash out the points of disagreement.
Being the last house on the block is a feeling we’d all wish to have, but it’s simply not realistic when the world is changing faster than our downtowns can keep up with it. If we don’t risk any development, we take the much larger risk of letting our communities further hollow out to the point that we’re based on online commerce alone and our downtowns continue to be boarded up and offering only low-level commercial storefronts, such as smoke shops and dollar stores.
The housing stock must also be treated from a more fiscally conservative supply-and-demand outlook. First-time homebuyer programs sound good and might be successful with a very modest approach, but it ultimately breeds more inflation and doesn’t solve the primary issue: supply. It’s not about bringing new people onto Long Island; it’s about opening pathways to retain population.
While development can be a touchy subject and not everyone will always be happy, we recommend taking notes from the people of Mastic Beach, who can embrace an ambitious plan for their beloved hamlet to take a complete 180 while also voicing reasonable concerns in a realistic way.
Skip the Vitriol, Listen to Your Local Leaders
So many people are tuned out to politics entirely because of just how divisive and nasty the arena has been for about fifteen to twenty years now, with tensions having arguably reached their fever pitch in 2020. Such tension is still clearly palpable.
But it doesn’t have to be that way, especially in what might be the last local election year we’ll see in Suffolk County - as long as the Court of Appeals upholds the decision that New York State’s even-year election law is constitutional and does not violate the home rule of charter counties, such as Suffolk.
So this year, we urge you to hear out your local elected officials and candidates for office. You’ll find a much less heated debate, in most cases, on local, kitchen table issues than you will contentious arguments on hotbuttons issues that have become so nationalized that it’s hard to find where the average voter fits in.
This week, we covered a debate for Suffolk County Legislature’s Thirteenth District that pits Sal Formica (R-Commack) against Shala Pascucci (D-Kings Park). While the candidates differed on certain issues, it was a respectful, calm, and organized debate. The candidates also agreed on some principles, a breath of fresh air from what we’ve seen on the national stage as of late.
Both candidates also made sure to not sugar-coat reality and overpromise to prospective voters. Neither admitted to having a “magic wand” that can automatically lower taxes and make the roadways less congested, but both committed to views that can help taxpayers get the biggest bang for their buck.
We’ve said many times before that your local elected officials are responsible for the vast majority of decisions that affect your immediate life. These are also people who have lived in the communities they
represent for all or most of their lives. We find it unlikely that they’d be willing to sell their hometowns down the river.
These are also officials you can have a conversation with or visit at their office. While high-ranking elected officials are often difficult to reach or not constantly visible, your local elected officials often are - at least, they should be.
If there’s any concern you feel should be known, call the offices of your Town Council representative, your Suffolk County Legislator, your Town Supervisor, or the County Executive. The quality-of-life issues that dominate local discourse can be brought to them in earnest and you’ll probably receive a substantive response.
It’s also refreshing to see that the most spirited debates aren’t about the hot-button campaign issues of the presidential election, but relate to development, sewers, roadways, and local ordinances - all topics that affect an average person’s daily life more than what unfolds on Capitol Hill.
We encourage our readers to cherish this local election year, as it might be our last one devoid of presidential and midterm national environments. The oxygen in the room is rich for them this year, so be sure to pack out meet-the-candidates nights and debates. You’ll find a less hostile environment and one in which immediately pressing issues are addressed.
Politics doesn’t have to be cutthroat. We find that the fast-paced environment of today almost necessitates a fantasy sports-like feel to the political arena that only encourages the bomb-throwers and dissuades the layman.
Local elections are the oasis in the desert of political consternation. Cash in on it while you can before the State is given the green light to do away with them for good.
Op-Ed
Why Libraries Are More Than Just Books
By Joseph Furnari
I’ve proudly served as a Trustee for the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library since 2019, but my love for libraries started long before that.
As a child, I have fond memories of walking with my mother to the library when our family had just one car. We attended programs, played games, rented movies (yes, that was a thing!), and of course, borrowed books. At the time, I had no idea those simple moments would shape me into who I am today and inspire my desire to serve as a trustee.
Now in this role, I see firsthand the long-term planning, innovative ideas, and trends that make libraries such powerful forces for change. Libraries are our last bastion of democracy—they push boundaries, sometimes make us uncomfortable, but always remain open to EVERYONE. Whether rich or poor, young or old, the library has something for you. And if your library doesn’t have it, chances are, they can get it. Libraries are truly the great equalizer.
Of course, libraries still house books but thanks to apps like Libby and Hoopla, you don’t even need to step inside to access them. And while that’s convenient, it also misses the bigger picture: libraries today are so much more than books.
You can get discounted tickets to parks like Adventureland or the Long Island Aquarium, museum passes, and even seasonal spots like
Harbes Farm. Libraries lend laptops, WiFi hotspots for travel, and provide access to streaming apps. More than that, many libraries are becoming true community centers featuring theaters, music halls, and even coffee shops.
And that’s just the beginning. These services, programs, and resources exist because of thoughtful planning, funding, and hard work all so the community can benefit. The best part? You already pay for it with your taxes, so why not use it?
All it takes is a visit to your local library. Ask a reference librarian, explore what’s available, and I guarantee your life will change for the better.
Because at the end of the day, the library is for everyone. All you have to do is walk in and let your imagination soar.
Discover. Learn. Belong.
Joseph Furnari has served as the Clerk of the Mastic-MorichesShirley Community Library since 2019. He has lived in the Tri-Hamlet area for more of his life and is a graduate of the William Floyd School District.
Let AI Redraw District Lines
By Steve Levy | Long Island Life & Politics
In Texas, we see Democratic state legislators flying the coop as Republicans try to manipulate the redistricting process to maximize Republican strength.
Meanwhile, in New York, Republicans are complaining that the Democrat-controlled Legislature is trying to maximize redistricting to their advantage.
It’s the same old story where both sides of the aisle play games on redistricting to benefit themselves. It’s why reformers have been pushing for decades to get the process out of the hands of self-interested elected officials whose only goal is to protect their incumbency.
When I was county executive, I passed a landmark bill to take the role of redrawing the lines away from the elected officials and placing it instead with an independent panel. It was passed with great fanfare with the governor coming to Suffolk County to lend support as I signed the legislation.
But, lo and behold, several years later, when it was about to kick in, the Democrat-controlled legislature abolished the reform and went back to the old system of having the Legislature control the process. This was done, of course, because, at the time, the Democrats were in control.
It’s wrong for either party to manipulate this process.
It’s true that the Republicans in Texas are throwing a new fly into the ointment by opting to implement the 10-year redistricting process — which usually coincides with the disclosure of the new census — five years earlier than normal. They’re doing this to try to get as many as five new seats for the GOP prior to the 2026 midterms.
Now, governors from California to New York and elsewhere are warning that they will do the same to maximize seats for Democrats before the next census.
But the Democrats don’t have clean hands here, either.
We need independence, but some complain that even when you appoint good government groups and retired judges to do it, politics will still come into play.
Ironically, it was in New York, where a voter-approved 2014 referendum to establish such independence was sought to be circumvented by the Democrats. When the independent panel indeed established a more independent drawing of the lines, the Democrats immediately sought to ignore it and drew their own partisan lines. The GOP brought suit upholding the independent lines which led to Republicans picking up four crucial seats in New York in 2022, handing the House of Representatives back to the GOP.
The Democratic majority even had the audacity to revamp the state’s highest court, the Court of Appeals, by forcing out the moderate Democratic Chief Justice, and putting in place a far leftist jurist who supports their gerrymandering.
Unfortunately, even well-intentioned attempts of reform can often fail to produce the desired results. Take California, which in 2008 passed a referendum supported by thenGovernor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) to create an independent commission to draw the lines.
If its goal was to create fair districts that would create a better bipartisan balance, it was a failure. At the time of the referendum’s passage, there were 34 Democrats and 19 Republicans from the state’s congressional caucus. By 2012, the number grew to 39 Democrats and only 14 Republicans, and in 2025 there were a mere nine Republican seats left throughout the state.
While much of this can be attributed to changing demographics and political issues of the day, some of it might be attributable to the biases of even those appointees who are claimed to be non-partisan.
So, here is a solution. Why not have the lines redrawn by using artificial intelligence? Just log in that we want the fairest redistricting possible to create as balanced a district as possible from the perspective of demographics and political party registration. That would take the politics out of the system and make our races more competitive. And best of all, it would ultimately make our elected officials more reactive to the center rather than the extremes on both sides of the political spectrum.
Of course, the outcome of AI is only as good as what the input is. Care must be given to ensure that a balanced group of nonpartisan technocrats prepare the algorithms, as opposed to party hacks. To maximize the potential for delivering the fairest lines possible, take a grouping of five potential maps spit out by the computer and throw them into a lottery barrel and pick a winning plan randomly, as it was once tried in North Carolina before partisan lawsuits marred the process.
There’s no foolproof solution, but AI may present the best of all the options available.
Steve Levy is President of Common Sense Strategies, a political consulting firm. He served as Suffolk County Executive, a Suffolk County Legislator, a NYS Assemblyman, and host of “The Steve Levy Radio Show.” He is the author of “Solutions to America’s Problems” and “Bias in the Media.” www.SteveLevy.info, Twitter @ SteveLevyNY, steve@commonsensestrategies.com.
This op-ed originally appeared in Long Island Life & Politics. For more from LILP, visit them online at lilifepolitics.com.
By Madison Warren
Community Spotlight
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Aldi Opens in Lake Ronkonkoma
Lake Ronkonkoma welcomed the opening of ALDI on Ronkonkoma Avenue in the Kohl’s Plaza, replacing the long-vacant King Kullen storefront. After months of anticipation, its doors are finally open. The Kohl’s Plaza shopping center has been undergoing a facelift, and the arrival of ALDI’s fourteenth Suffolk County store is just what both the plaza and local shoppers needed.
Sitting on a 21,000-squarefoot location, the supermarket is expected to be a success and anchor the revitalized shopping center.
The grand opening on August 28 included a ribbon-cutting ceremony and plenty of promotional excitement. Giveaways included reusable shopping totes, a “Golden Ticket” worth up to $100 in store credit for the first 100 shoppers, and multiple chances to win additional ALDI gift cards.
The crowd reflected the anticipation that had been building for weeks, with residents lining up early in the morning alongside members of the Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce to welcome what many consider a new town staple.
Ed McNamara, President of the Ronkonkoma Chamber of Commerce, spoke at the ribbon cutting and highlighted the importance of the moment. “This store was vacant for six years, and we cannot tell you how happy we
are,” McNamara said. “The whole community of Lake Ronkonkoma is experiencing a rebirth, a renaissance.”
ALDI has built its reputation on a model that emphasizes affordability and efficiency. Shoppers will find a wide range of products, from fresh produce and meats to household essentials, pet supplies, and weekly “ALDI Finds” — limited-time seasonal items and home goods that change every week. The company keeps prices low by focusing heavily on private-label products, which make up more than 90% of what’s on the shelves, while also offering organic, gluten-free, and specialty options to meet modern consumer demand.
The Ronkonkoma location also brings jobs and renewed economic activity to the area, further boosting the community. For many residents, the opening signals not just a convenient new grocery option, but also continued investment in Lake Ronkonkoma’s future.
Shoppers can find the new store at 147 Ronkonkoma Avenue in the Kohl’s Plaza. It is open daily from 9:00a.m. to 8:00p.m., with customer inquiries available at (855) 955-2534.
As ALDI puts it, “great quality should come with everyday low prices” — a promise the company says it will continue to deliver to Lake Ronkonkoma and beyond.
Photo Credit: Matt Meduri
This Week Today
Thursday, September 4, 2025
National, State, and Local Temperature Checks
By Matt Meduri
National
The 2026 Senate map just received another shakeup and the GOP another open seat to defend.
Last Friday, sources obtained that Senator Joni Ernst (R-IA) will not seek re-election to a third term. Ernst has represented Iowa in the Senate since 2015, flipping a blue seat red in 2014, becoming the first Republican to win Iowa’s Class 2 Senate seat since 1978. Ernst was part of the red wave that year that saw Republicans recapture the upper chamber for the first time since 2004 and was one of nine states flipped that cycle.
Iowa was once a swing state that Republicans had lost consistently on the presidential level; it backed every Democrat from 1988 to 2012, except 2004. Donald Trump’s (R-FL) 2016 win saw Iowa turn sharply to the right; it more or less rested at the margin in 2020. In 2024, it moved even more to the right, with Trump’s thirteen-point margin the largest for any candidate in the Hawkeye State since 1972.
The state has become more fundamentally Republican in recent years. In 2022, Republicans won every seat in Iowa’s congressional delegation - U.S. House and U.S. Senate - for the first time since the 1940s, but Democrats can still win with the right candidate and environment.
The open seat is a liability for Republicans who are already poised to retain their Senate majority; they currently have a 53-seat majority. The open seat in North Carolina combined with a heavyweight Democratic challenger already challenges the GOP’s ability to grow their majority. The GOP will look to flip Michigan and/or Georgia to add to their majority, while Democrats face a tough map in terms of netting four seats to gain the majority themselves.
However, Ernst staying in the race might have been a liability in and of itself. Ernst’s approval rating sat at 39% in June with 47% disapproving, according to Public Policy Polling. Only 38% of respondents said they would re-elect her, as opposed to 52% who would opt for someone else. In a hypothetical matchup, Ernst only edged a generic Democrat by two points. The poll surveyed 566 Iowa voters and has a margin of error of +/- 4.1%.
An internal poll of the race released just last week had State Senator Zach Wahls (D) leading Ernst by a 45%-43% margin.
Ernst’s largest blunder, perhaps, came earlier this year, when responding to a constituent’s concerns about Medicaid cuts in the Big Beautiful Bill at a May town hall, she sarcastically quipped, “Well, we all are going to die.”
Republicans’ hopes in Iowa were also startled by a special election win by Democrats that broke the GOP’s supermajority in the State Senate.
In last Tuesday’s special election for the Sioux City-based First Senate District, Catelin Dray (D) defeated Christopher Prosch (D) by just under ten points. The same district had elected a Republican by a nearly identical margin in 2022. The vacancy was created by the passing of Rocky DeWitt (R).
The win is another notch on Democrats’ belt in special election performances since January and denies Republicans a complete stronghold on Des Moines.
Meanwhile, Democrats landed a top recruit in their hopes to put a red state Senate seat on the competitive table next year.
Former Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) has thrown his hat into the ring to return to the upper chamber. The Ohio election next year is a special election to fill the remaining two years on now-Vice President J.D. Vance’s (R-OH) term. Ohio Lieutenant Governor Jon
Husted (R) was appointed to the Senate seat upon Vance’s resignation to assume the vice presidency.
Only in November was Brown denied a fourth term by Bernie Moreno (R-OH). Brown was a more moderate Democrat in the Senate and appealed to Ohio’s quintessential working-class electorate. However, Ohio has shifted from a must-win swing state to a reliably Republican one. Trump flipped Ohio in 2016, and in 2020, Ohio backed the loser of the general election for the first time since 1960. Trump’s eleven-point margin last year was the largest for any presidential candidate in the Buckeye State since 1988. Brown only lost to Moreno last year by about three points - but the level of crossover support needed to hold that seat with Trump on the ballot would need to have been historic.
This time, Husted provides no shortage of name recognition, having spent his life in Ohio politics since his time in the State House began in 2001. Speaker of the Ohio House, Husted later went on to the State Senate, was elected Secretary of State of Ohio from 2011 to 2019, and Lieutenant Governor from 2019 to January of this year.
Fundamentals might not be on any Democrats’ side in Ohio, even a well-known Ohioan like Brown. On the other hand, the national environment might just be conducive enough for Brown to return to the Senate, should he generate the same level of crossover support he did in 2024.
If Brown were to be sent back to the Senate, it would represent an extremely rare feat in American politics. Since 1913, only ten Senators who were defeated for re-election came back the next cycle to take the other seat. All but one had served six or fewer years in the Senate at the time of their defeat; Brown served three full six-year terms.
Only two Senators have pulled off this electoral maneuver since the 1950s. Slade Gorton (R-WA) lost in 1986, only to have Washington state send him back to the Senate in 1988. He won two more terms thereafter. Ohio is home to the other instance, wherein Howard Metzenbaum (D-OH) was appointed to the seat in 1974, lost the primary to future Senator John Glenn (D-OH), and resigned the seat before the new Congress was seated. In 1976, Metzenbaum ousted then-Senator Robert Taft, Jr. (R) - grandson of President William Howard Taft.
Brown has some leverage in this race, but history and fundamentals might prove that to be too difficult for him to overcome. A lateAugust Emerson College poll found Husted up six points over Brown - 50%-44%. 7% of voters were undecided.
The nationwide redistricting arms race has reached new heights as Governor Greg Abbott (R-TX) signed into law the proposed gerrymander that will likely help Republicans net three to five seats in next year’s midterm elections. Motions have already been filed against the map and plaintiffs are seeking federal courts to intervene with a preliminary injunction.
Meanwhile, Governor Mike Kehoe (R-MO) has called a special session of the Missouri Legislature to meet on Wednesday in hopes of redrawing the state’s congressional map to net another Republican seat, this time by cracking the Kansas City-based MO05. The proposed map would take the currently compact urban district and stretch it out to the center of the state to include Jefferson City. The map would also shore
up MO-02 for the GOP, a suburban St. Louis seat. Republicans currently possess a 6R-2D congressional delegation from the Show-Me State.
In Utah, a federal judge has ruled the state’s map unconstitutional, as the GOPdominated Utah Legislature violated Proposition 4 in making it. Proposition 4 was narrowly passed by voters in 2018 to create an independent redistricting commission. The Legislature overrode it with a bill that would make the commission’s maps suggestions to the Legislature, but does not direct the Legislature to accept those suggestions.
The result was a 4-0 Republican lockout and the shoring up of the Salt Lake Citybased UT-04, which went from a swing seat of the 2010s to a solidly red seat today. Any proposal to give Salt Lake City a more compact district would likely result in a pickup for the Democrats. They last won UT-04 in 2018, but the GOP flipped it back in 2020.
State
Congressman Jerry Nadler (D, NY-12) has decided to retire and not seek re-election in 2026.
Nadler has long been an icon in the Democratic Party, beginning his service in the House since 1992. He served as Chair of the powerful House Judiciary Committee from 2019 to 2023 and as its Ranking Member from 2017 to 2019 and again from 2023 to 2025.
A lifelong Brooklyn native, Nadler has been the dean of New York’s congressional delegation and is known for his liberal voting record throughout his thirty-plus years on Capitol Hill.
NY-12 is a safe Democratic seat, containing the Upper West Side, the Upper East Side, and all of Midtown Manhattan. It is the most Democratic district in the state and the smallest congressional district by area in the nation. In 2024, then-Vice President Kamala Harris (D-CA) received 81% of the vote to Donald Trump’s (R-FL) 17% in this district, all but guaranteeing NY-12 will remain blue territory come next year.
Republicans last won this seat in 1958.
Local
On Tuesday, the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office held a swearing-in ceremony for sixtythree new Correction Officer Recruits at the Yaphank Correctional Facility.
The recruits will begin a seventeen-week training program that consists of directsupervision instruction, de-escalation techniques, report writing, defensive tactics, firearms, and more.
The recruits are set to graduate this summer and will join more than 840 Suffolk County Correction Officers. The class consists of forty-five males and eighteen females, seven of whom have prior law enforcement experience with the NYPD and NYSDOC.
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Smithtown Matters
September 4, 2025
Trotta and Dems Form Alliance for Supervisor’s Race
However, Griffin suspended her campaign in July. Since her name cannot be removed from the ballot, she will still appear as a candidate in the general, but that still leaves a Wehrheim nominally unopposed.
But the Smithtown Democratic Committee has approached a familiar face to stage a write-in campaignLegislator Trotta himself.
“We’re promoting a write-in candidacy for Mr. Trotta,” Smithtown Democratic Committee Chair Phyllis Hart told The Messenger. “Rosemary Griffin withdrew in July for personal reasons. She did not tell me the reason why.”
Hart says that the write-in campaign was the logical step to fill the void about two weeks after Griffin dropped out.
“His [Trotta’s] platform aligns with us. He is enthusiastic about it. We’re all in agreement,” said Hart.
Hart says that the Democrats and Trotta align on issues like development and creating a first-time homebuyer program to assist in downpayments. Suffolk County already has a similar program. She says that if the IDA and other development-funding agencies have enough funds to set up such a program. Suffolk County already leverages such a program to first-time homebuyers.
Smithtown Republican Committee Chair Bill Ellis told The Messenger that the policy is not a “conservative” one,
as Hart says, but one typical of the Democratic platform.
“When you have too many dollars chasing too few goods, it leads to inflation,” said Ellis (pictured right)
“The truly conservative perspective is to not hand out money and ‘free’ goods - which are never truly free.
Supervisor Wehrheim has been the true conservative all along in terms of increasing the housing supply to cool prices and open up single-family homes that the younger generations can get into.”
Ellis also took issue with Trotta’s past of “abandonment of Republican values” and even going so far as to meet with members of the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) to discuss police reform. Ellis’ chagrin is rooted in a 2021 article’s portrayal of Trotta and his fraternization with DSAs.
A 2021 New York Times op-ed penned by Farah Stockman wrote that the phrase “defund the police” makes Trotta’s “skin crawl”, and that when it comes to race, “he sounds like he’s stuck in the 1980s.”
Yet, Stockman described Trotta as a “cranky” Legislator who “might be the unlikeliest voice for police reform in America”, given his history challenging the police unions. Stockman documented Trotta’s watching of a Legislature livestream, pointing out his fellow Legislators who, according to him, received funds from the police unions to help each one get elected.
“I’m not a huge Trump fan...’
“He’s behaved more like a Democrat than a Republican... It’s appropriate he forms an alliance with them.”
- Bill Ellis,
Smithtown Republican Committee Chair
to
met with Trotta
his Smithtown office. He advised to them to drop the word “socialist” from their name and recommended they “avoid the phrase ‘defund the police.’”
“‘You should say what I say: We would love to pay them $500,000 a year, but we just can’t afford it,’” reads a quote from Trotta in Stockman’s op-ed.
“He’s behaved more like a Democrat than a Republican,” said Ellis. “It’s appropriate he forms an alliance with them.” Ellis also takes issue with Trotta’s recent admission that he’s not a “Trump fan” on a Facebook livestream.
It’s Hart’s hope that Trotta would endorse the Democratic slate for Town Council, consisting of Jesse Phillips (D) and former Smithtown Central School District Board President Michael Catalanotto (D), to give the candidates an edge in solidly-Republican Smithtown against incumbents Lynne Nowick (R-St. James) and Thomas J.
“We’re promoting a write-in candidacy for Mr. Trotta... His platform aligns with us. He is enthusiastic about it. We’re all in agreement.”
- Phyllis Hart, Smithtown Democratic Committee Chair
McCarthy (R-Nissequogue).
The Messenger discussed the campaign shake-up with Legislator Trotta.
“I can’t confirm that anyone is writing me in. It would be a miracle if I won a write-in campaign,” said Trotta. “I am not actively campaigning on that. I am not spending a dollar. If people want to write me in, God bless them.”
Trotta, however, says he is not endorsing anyone, at least not yet.
“I’ll watch and see what the candidates say,” said Trotta, hinting he might just back a Democrat for Town Council. “I’m going to personally vote for the people looking out for the suburban lifestyle in Smithtown. Democratic or Republican, it doesn’t matter, as long as we’re looking to preserve the lifestyle.”
Members of the Democratic Socialists of America, according
Stockman,
in
DiNapoli: State Faces $34.3 Billion Cumulative Budget Gap Through FY2029
The state’s Financial Plan shows a growing structural budget deficit with a cumulative threeyear budget gap of $34.3 billion, as forecasted by the Division of the Budget (DOB). When accounting for recent federal actions, the gaps as a share of spending reach levels not seen since the Global Financial Crisis of 2009, according to State Comptroller Thomas P. DiNapoli’s (D-Great Neck Plaza) report on the State Fiscal Year (SFY) 2026 Enacted Budget and First Quarterly Financial Plans.
The $34.3 billion gap is up $7 billion since the January release of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Executive Budget Financial Plan, and is attributable to downward revisions to the economic forecast and projected revenues, as well as increases in projected spending.
“The Financial Plan paints a challenging picture for the state that will only grow more problematic with the incoming federal cuts from the reconciliation bill signed by the President,” DiNapoli said. “This is likely just the beginning; the relationship between the federal government and the states is being restructured, and state governments will be facing drastic reductions in federal aid that could force difficult decisions about state revenue and spending priorities. There is an urgent need to formulate a fiscal response to the federal reconciliation bill and support New York’s safety net.”
Growing Budget Gaps and Structural Imbalance
According to DOB’s FY 2026 Financial Plan, All Funds disbursements are projected to total $254.4 billion in SFY 2026, compared to $249.2 billion in All Funds receipts. State Operating Funds (SOF) disbursements are projected to grow by $12.4 billion (9.3%) and General Fund disbursements by $16.8 billion (15.5%) in SFY 2026. SOF spending growth is estimated to be 13.9% over the Financial Plan period, outpacing projected SOF revenue growth of 4.6%.
Higher spending growth in school aid and Medicaid has driven overall spending growth. In addition to being the largest areas of spending, they have also grown the fastest. Between SFY 2016 and SFY 2026, SOF spending is projected to grow 55%; DOH and Other Agency Medicaid spending is projected to grow nearly 120% and School Aid 58.7%.
On an All Funds basis, DOB projects Medicaid spending will total almost $112.2 billion in SFY 2026, which would represent 44.1% of projected All Funds disbursements for the year. When spending on the Essential Plan is included — estimated to be $13.7 billion in SFY 2026 — these two healthcare programs are projected to comprise almost 50% of All Funds disbursements.
Economics and Revenue
The economic forecast published with the Financial Plan was revised downwards from the projections made with the Consensus Forecast report on March 1. Job gains both nationally and statewide slowed through May. Average monthly employment growth in New York was 4,600 jobs,
down from 19,100 for the same period last year. For the current fiscal year, DOB is projecting a weaker New York economy with both wage and personal income growth forecasted to decelerate from their previous fiscal year levels.
Federal receipts are projected to decline by $2.6 billion in SFY 2026 largely due to waning federal pandemic relief funds. Spending reductions recently enacted for federal fiscal year (FFY) 2025 and currently being negotiated for FFY 2026 in Congress are not included in DOB’s projections. Based on DOB’s estimates, the Financial Plan is projected to become more reliant on tax revenues; by SFY 2029, tax collections are projected to account for nearly half of total revenues. Of the state’s individual tax sources, over 50% come from the Personal Income Tax.
Impact of Federal Actions
The Enacted Budget Financial Plan was released prior to the enactment of federal budget legislation signed by the President on July 4. The federal bill implements deep cuts to federal funding and changes to eligibility for safety net programs, which will have major impacts on the Financial Plan and on New Yorkers, particularly on healthcare and nutritional assistance.
In the First Quarter Update to the Financial Plan, released in July, the Executive estimates $3 to $5 billion in costs to state and local governments as a result of the federal bill. The update indicates the federal budget law will have a $750 million state impact in SFY 2026 and impacts ranging between $3 billion and $3.4 billion in subsequent years on the Financial Plan, but did not adjust estimates of receipts, disbursements and budget gaps for these estimates.
Analysis by the Office of the State Comptroller based on information currently available indicates the early impacts of spending provisions of the federal budget bill will result in lost federal receipts between $27 and $29.6 billion over the Financial Plan period. Besides increasing the number of New Yorkers who are uninsured or suffering from food insecurity, the state will also contend with changes made to terminate funding for climate, clean energy, and resiliency programs, many of which were approved under the Inflation Reduction Act. These changes will slow the transition to clean
energy and make it more costly for consumers and small businesses.
Reserve Funds
The Financial Plan indicates that the state’s principal reserve levels will decrease by $7.5 billion (34.7%) to $14.1 billion in SFY 2026 and remain at that level throughout the Financial Plan period, with the only change being shifts from the informal “economic uncertainties” reserve into the Rainy Day Reserve Fund. No increases in principal reserves are planned for the Financial Plan period. If continued deposits are made as currently projected in the Financial Plan, the statutory rainy day reserve funds would total $11.6 billion by SFY 2029 – approximately 7% of SOF spending.
Debt Burden
New York’s use of debt to finance its essential capital needs is appropriate, but its overreliance on bonds, in particular backdoor borrowing through public authorities, has led to one of the highest debt burdens in the nation. Total state-supported debt outstanding is projected to grow over 70% during the next five years, from $55.9 to $95.1 billion. As a result, the state is projected to near its debt limit, with room under the state’s debt cap projected to decline to just $503 million by SFY 2030. Approaching the debt cap would mean that future projects might have to be delayed and it will be more difficult for the state to both keep existing infrastructure in a state of good repair and make infrastructure investments to move the state forward.
Uncertainty and Upcoming Challenges
The Executive has continually informed New Yorkers about the impacts the federal reconciliation bill will have on state finances. It is necessary for the Executive to be similarly transparent in its proposed approach to addressing cuts, by articulating the strategy or criteria for how the state will shape its response to these changes.
DiNapoli’s report identified criteria that should be taken into account, including:
• The potential for implementing efficiencies by streamlining operations and improving internal controls;
• Finding savings across all state operations and local assistance programs, and balancing savings with minimizing disruptions to the most essential services;
• Analyzing performance, service and economic data to assess which programs – both those that provide services and those that provide tax credits – are most effective and identifying those which are duplicative, ineffective or cost-inefficient; and
• Keeping tax rates competitive at a time when New Yorkers are facing growing affordability challenges.
DiNapoli said it is essential during all of this work, and while dealing with the financial fallout of federal changes, to not lose sight of the people and the institutions that support our communities and are being impacted through federal cuts.
Photo credit - Office of NYS Comptroller
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Smithtown Matters
Thursday, September 4, 2025
Sal Formica, Shala Pascucci Face Off in SC
By Matt Meduri
The race for the Thirteenth District of the Suffolk County Legislature (LD-13) is afoot and the two candidates vying for the open seat met on Tuesday at Fairfield in St. James for a debate.
The district is currently occupied by Suffolk County Legislator Rob Trotta (R-Fort Salonga), who is termlimited. Trotta lost the June Republican Primary for Town Supervisor and is now running as a write-in candidate in an alliance with the Smithtown Democratic Committee.
The LD-13 race comes down to political newcomer Sal Formica (R-Commack) and Kings Park Board of Education Trustee Shala Pascucci (D-Kings Park), whose term expires June 2028.
Formica defeated Frank Black (R-Smithtown) in the June Primary by a decisive margin, while Pascucci faced no primary.
LD-13 comprises the northern half of Smithtown. Within Smithtown, the district encompasses St. James, Head of the Harbor, Nissequogue, Kings Park, San Remo, Fort Salonga, and parts of Smithtown hamlet and Commack. Within the Town of Huntington, the district contains parts of Commack.
Candidates were given three minutes each for opening and closing statements. Responses were kept to two minutes, rebuttals at one. Questions came from the moderation desk and the audience of a few dozen Fairfield residents. The debate was moderated by Fairfield at St. James Civic Association President Dan Ryan and Board Member Al Frazia.
Opening Statements
A coin toss determined who would kick off the debate, with Pascucci taking the first opening statement.
Pascucci introduced herself as a mother of two and present also was her husband, a detective sergeant in the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD).
“I have a master’s degree in social work, where I worked as a team leader and a program director. I’ve overseen budgets, staff of dozens of social workers, case workers, our workshops, and team teaching,” said Pasucci. “Along the way, I realized I had a passion for working with kids, so I switched gears and became a high school and middle school English teacher.”
Pascucci said that when she started her family, she spent more time at home, prompting her to start her own web design business. She started an advocacy education group and was then approached to run for Kings Park School Board. She was recently re-elected to a second term. She shared an anecdote of when her and her husband first moved to Smithtown from Queens, remarking on the “forest” of trees that surrounded their property.
“That’s why people from Queens move to Long Island, for the open space, but that open space is slowly eroding,” said Pascucci. “That’s one of the reasons why I’m running. Our communities are taking on more development than they can sustain. It’s not that I’m against development; I’m just for smart development, and I know that I’m not the only one that feels this way.”
Pascucci said she’s been holding “office hours” with prospective constituents at local establishments within the district to gauge their thoughts.
“It’s not about red versus blue or me versus you. It’s about me and you versus a problem,” said Pasucci. “There’s three things I’ve learned along the way and it’s the cornerstone of my campaign: listen to people, treat them with respect, and get things done.”
Sal Formica then delivered his opening statement. A thirty-six-year resident of Commack, Formica got his start in the banking industry, where he spent a decade rising through the ranks of Chase Manhattan Bank. His true dream, however, was to be a police officer. In 1990, he joined the NYPD and eventually became a second-grade detective. His precinct contained the United Nations and Formica was assigned to the Elite Emergency Services Unit, tasked with guarding high-profile dignitaries and even several U.S. presidents.
Formica shared a story of his then-young child who started choking. The fire department rescued his son and the next day, Formica says, the Commack F.D. was at his house with an application to join as a volunteer. Formica has since served thirty-two years in the Commack F.D., even serving as Chief. After his career in law enforcement, Formica opened Sal’s Ristorante, which was regarded as one of the best Italian restaurants in Smithtown. He owned and operated it as chef-owner for thirteen years.
“Politics has always been something that I’ve wanted to get into, not to be a politician, because I, quite frankly, don’t like politicians. I want to be an elected official who works for the constituents in my district,” said Formica. “It doesn’t matter to me whether you’re Republican, Democrat, what your affiliation is. You’re all taxpayers and we have to work for each and every one of you.”
Formica said that public safety, infrastructure, and open space preservation are the key aspects of his campaign. He hailed the current County administration’s prerogative in overhauling downtowns with sewers, including Kings Park and Smithtown’s Main Street.
Infrastructure
One resident asked about property taxes and potholes.
“County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) has put forth the biggest capital budget improvement for our roadways, and he’s been doing that all without piercing the tax cap,” said Formica. “I don’t think any party has the answer to how we make taxes go away or pay less in taxes. That would be basically a politician lying to you. My goal is to get you the most bang for your buck and stabilize what we’re paying for.”
Formica added that decreasing enrollment in the schools makes for consternation, as cost per pupil continues to increase with 70% of a property tax bill going to the local school district.
“If you have less of an enrollment, there should be no reason why your school tax is going up,” said Formica. “We have to look at each area
and department to figure out how to maximize the tax revenue the County gets.”
Pasucci countered by saying that the schools “have nothing to do” with infrastructure, although she agreed with Formica that neither of them could promise ways to lower taxes.
“It doesn’t mean that I couldn’t find ways to make things more efficient and streamlined, which goes to helping lower taxes,” said Pascucci. “If the potholes were getting fixed, they’d be fixed, but they’re not, and the Town wants to keep developing. We’re developing on potholes that aren’t fixed. Why don’t we fix infrastructure first and then stop development? People are tripping outside the potholes in front of their own homes, but as a Legislator, I can support the Town.”
Political Vitriol
One question pertained to political vitriol and that such division has “never been higher.”
Pascucci said that as a school board member, she doesn’t know the affiliations of who she speaks with, but that she simply “talks to everyone.”
“I have just as many Republicans coming to me as Democrats,” said Pascucci of her “office hours.”
“You can’t get things done or listen to people but treat them disrespectfully; that’s not what this is about,” said Pasucci, adding her friend, a “MAGA, Trump-supporting Republican”, told her that Pascucci would be “so ‘f-ing’ good” as a Legislator.
Formica agreed with Pascucci’s sentiments, adding that much of the vitriol stems from the scene in Washington, but more or less subsides at the local level.
“Here in Suffolk, we don’t have as big of a gap as you folks may think. I think we’re watching too much media about what’s happening in Washington,” said Formica. “Suffolk County doesn’t subscribe to that method of thinking.”
Formica said that although the Legislature is divided 12R-6D, Executive Romaine works across the aisle and is a “unifier.”
“I want to be a piece in that puzzle,” said Formica. Another question regarded gun violence, particularly a recent shooting in Minneapolis. The candidates were asked how they would work to protect the schools.
Formica said that he worked as a security guard for ten years in the Commack School District. Many of the security guards are active or retired police officers, corrections officers, or firemen.
“I’m not saying we need to sit with guns displayed on site, but omnipresence and being prepared before it happens is how you stop those shootings,” said Formica. “We live in a world today, whether you like it or not, that you should have some form of armed guards inside the schools.”
Pascucci agreed, but posed the question of where kids are getting access to such high-capacity weapons.
“How come these assault rifles aren’t outlawed? I’m not against guns full-stop, but we need background checks,” said Pascucci. “What have we done to change anything? It’s become so commonplace that they’re not even news stories anymore.”
She added that mental health is a large part of the issue.
Development
Much of the current campaign climate in Smithtown revolves around development. One resident raised the concern of Flowerfield being sold to a developer who, according to the resident, intends to build “assisted living facilities, a hotel, and an office building.” He asked how the rural roads - State Route 25A and Mill Pond Roadwould be maintained.
Formica said that, to his latest knowledge, the proposal is “dead in the water.”
Smithtown Matters
Legislative District 13 Debate in St. James
“I don’t deal in what-ifs or hypotheticals. I can only tell you that as of today, the project is dead in the water,” said Formica. “What’s tomorrow to bring? I don’t know. I have to respect the process.”
Pascucci disagreed, stating that the property was under contract and is being fought and that the property “probably looks like it’s going to get sold.”
“I’m not against development but it has to be smart and fit the character of the Town and roads,” said Pascucci, adding she read a 200-page impact review study for a proposal in Kings Park. She called the impact review study “inadequate.”
“I don’t talk in what-ifs because I like to anticipate the problems head of time. If you can anticipate, then you can plan,” said Pasucci.
Outmigration and Housing
A moderator posed the question of how the candidates would help stem the “brain drain” off Long Island, which contributes to the exodus that saw New York lost 2.4% of its residents between 2020 and 2023, with young adults “twice as likely” to leave than other age groups.
“It’s creating housing that our young people can afford,” said Pascucci, who criticized the Tanzi project in Kings Park as “luxury apartments.”
“We can build townhouses entry-level apartments but not on open spaces like Flowerfield or Bull Run Farm. We want to build them on abandoned spaces or maybe above other properties,” said Pascucci. “We need to utilize and reuse the space that we already have and make it affordable. It also has to be sustainable on resources.”
Formica agreed with Pascucci’s sentiments about affordable housing, especially for the younger population. He added that the Smithtown Council has a master plan in place when it comes to apartments.
“Some might not be so affordable, but these are folks who are building them on their private properties that they own,” said Formica. “The problem is that those apartments are not for some folks. At some point, I might not want to be a homeowner anymore, but I’m not moving into an ‘affordable’ house above a storefront. That’s just not my idea of enjoying my golden years.”
Formica said he’d be looking at something like Fairfield, but such developments shouldn’t change the “landscape of the community.”
“We do want to build up places that are not on the tax rolls at the moment, and that’s what is happening in Smithtown right now. There are two 55-and-older communities in Commack. The first one, 99 units, sold out immediately. Those folks then pass down their homes to their kids or sell it to another young couple who’s up-andcoming. We have to figure out a comfortable balance of catering to our young, our seniors, and our people who are right smack in the middle and have their kids already in school.”
Formica mentioned the Tanzi property, saying that it’s not under the Legislature’s jurisdiction, but he “commends” Tanzi for offering 10% of the stock to first responders at discounted rate.
Pascucci countered Formica’s point that not everyone will be living above “vape shops”, but that it’s “just an option.”
“It’s thinking outside the box and we don’t want to take up open space,” said Pascucci, adding that the Tanzi property’s discount still doesn’t make the luxury units affordable. She called for “smart housing”, tax abatements for starting renters/homeowners, and incentives for developers to build affordable housing.
Another resident raised the question of diverging prices and wages.
“It’s an ongoing problem, but the way to address it is with supply and demand,” said Formica. “A home doesn’t last on the market for more than five days and you see
what these homes are selling for. As long as there’s buyers and we don’t increase the supply, it’s going to be crazy out there. You can’t fix that people are bidding $50,000 over asking price, not when supply is so low.”
Pasucci agreed with the supply and demand model, adding that increasing the housing stock should be done in a way that doesn’t exacerbate infrastructure and services.
“There’s no magic wand that can drive down market prices tomorrow. What we can do is to look at abandoned properties,” said Pascucci, adding a conversation she had with Legislator Steve Englebright (D-Setauket) that consisted on mixed-use zoning for residential units on top of commercial space.
Another resident proposed that vacant commercial lots surrendered to Amazon could be transitioned to increase the housing stock.
“We should reuse before building, but it’s not just saying that if a shop is closed it could be made into a development,” said Pascucci. “I don’t know if the community can withstand the congestion and traffic that a development will bring. It’s something to explore, but we should not develop right away.”
Formica called it a “two-headed monster. While Amazon is killing mom-and-pop businesses, the other end of the equation is where those dollars would otherwise be spent.
“Assuming that services, traffic, and infrastructure are aligned [on converting vacant commercial to a residential development], those dollars are not being spent locally. COVID also taught us that you don’t really need spaces to make money.”
Pascucci added that “red tape” precludes some from starting small businesses and that it should be made easier for businesses to come into Suffolk and thrive.
Formica countered that red tape isn’t the problem, but that many entry-level jobs are not meant to be careers.
“It’s a broken system,” said Formica, in that small businesses often cannot support workers with living wages, especially in hyper-expensive Suffolk.
The Stump Pond Dam and Harbor Road
A question was raised about whether or not the dam at Stump Pond in Blydenburgh Park should be reconstructed or let nature take its course.
Pascucci said she would have to weigh the consequences of either choice.
“I suspect that rebuilding the dam would be a smart thing to do, but again, I would need to research more fully and talk to people in the community to get a full picture,” said Pasucci.
Formica said that while “everyone loves wildlife,” the dam was “obviously there for a reason.”
“We have to investigate the pluses and minuses. It’s not as simple as saying that we’re in favor or not. I suspect that the pros are leaning towards rebuilding it,” said Formica.
Regarding Harbor Road, which was washed out along with the Mill Pond Dam last August, an ownership dispute continues to harangue the reconstruction.
“They’re waiting to go with the work, but nobody wants to take ownership of the road,” said Formica. “When I get into the Legislature, if it hasn’t been solved by then, I’m going to sit with the County Clerk. We have very good records. I can’t believe for the life of me, in the year we live in today, that nobody knows who owns that road.”
Pasucci echoed Formica’s comments, pledging to “dig and dig and dig”, because there “has to be records.”
“Someone needs to take ownership, whether that’s the Town, the County, or the State,” said Pasucci.
Hobbies
The final question of the debate was a break from the norm. The candidates were asked what they like to do in their spare time.
Pascucci mentioned soccer and softball, as well as photography, drawing, and designing websites. Her Fridays, however, are spent with a women’s sports league. She remarked on the advanced age of some of these players, but that their athletic prowess was nothing short of impressive.
“I can only hope to be playing like them when I’m in my 80s,” said Pascucci. “It’s my Friday salvation.”
Formica said that sports are a passion of his, but cooking is his biggest passion. When he opened his restaurant fifteen years ago, he took some cuisine from his grandparents’ native Sicily and Naples.
“I now cook not only for my family but my friends. We like to open a bottle of red wine and put a little Frank Sinatra on. That’s what keeps me going,” said Formica.
Closing Statements
Formica said he’s an “open book” and that he’s been a “community guy” his entire life.
“From day one when I stepped into Commack, I’ve always given back to the community - whether it was volunteering in little league, being in the fire service, the police department, or doubling down and going into hospitality to serve the community,” said Formica. “I’ve been solving problems for thirty-six years since I moved into Smithtown as a Commack resident.”
Pasucci said she enjoyed hearing questions and concerns from the residents, as that’s what “being a public servant is all about.”
“For me, it’s always three things: listen to people, treat them with respect, and get things done,” said Pascucci. “I’ve created a website, smithtowndevelopment.com., a place where you can look up all the development that’s happening around Smithtown. All the information is there. Our communities shouldn’t be an afterthought. It’s you and me working together; it’s not me versus you.”
Election Day is Tuesday,
Civics 101
The Necessary Standard for American Education
Senate Standing Committees: Part VI
By Matt Meduri
We’re continuing our look at the standingpermanent - committees of the United States Senate. We’ve reviewed fourteen so far and we’ll look at more this week.
Rules and Administration
This committee is responsible for the rules of the U.S. Senate, a topic we’ll discuss in-depth in this column at a later date. It’s also responsible for administration of congressional buildings, credentials and qualifications of members of the Senate, and contested elections. Since the Senate has a tradition of open, practically unfettered debate, this committee is less powerful than its House counterpart.
The committee was created in 1867 as a select committee, becoming a standing body in 1874. In 1947, it took over the functions of the now-dissolved committees: Committee to Audit and Control the Contingent Expenses of the Senate; Committee on Education and Labor (some jurisdictions were transferred to the HELP Committee); the Committee on Enrolled Bills; and the Committee on Privileges and Elections.
In lieu of subcommittees, the jurisdictions of the atlarge body are stipulated in Rule XXV of the U.S. Senate. Those jurisdictions consist of administration of the Senate office buildings and the Senate wing of the Capitol; assignment of office space; Senate rules and regulations; floor and gallery rules; corrupt practices; federal elections; nominations to fill a vacancy in the Vice Presidency; the Government Printing Office; congressional meetings and attendance; expenditures out of the Senate contingent fund; presidential succession; purchasing of books and manuscripts and the construction of monuments to the memories of individuals; art, statuary, and pictures in the Capitol and Senate Office Buildings; services to the Senate, including the Senate restaurant; the Library of Congress; the Smithsonian Institution; and the Botanic Gardens.
The Rules and Administration Committee is also tasked with crafting a continuing study of organization and operation of the Senate with the purpose of making improvement recommendations and strengthening Congress. Simplifying operations and improving relationships with other branches of the federal government are key components.
The committee is divided 9R-8D. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) serves as Chair and Alex Padilla (D-CA) serves as Ranking Member.
Small Business and Entrepreneurship
This committee has oversight of the Small Business Administration (SBA). Created in 1940 as a special committee, it became a select committee in 1950 and a standing committee in 1981. Its name was the Committee on Small Business until 2001, when Senator John Kerry (D-MA) changed its name to its current one.
In the 1950s, the committee’s jurisdiction was expanded to include the power of issuing subpoenas and the ability to convene during sessions, recesses, and adjourned periods of the Senate, abilities similar to other committees. In the mid-1970s, the committee’s oversight grew again to include all legislation relating to the SBA.
Today, the committee presides over matters that apply to small businesses that are not already under the jurisdiction of a separate committee. The committee is tasked with researching the state of American small businesses and recommending legislation to the full Congress for the benefit of small businesses. The committee also reviews nominations for positions within the SBA, namely the Administrator, the Chief Council for Advocacy, and the Inspector General.
The committee has no subcommittees. It is divided 10R-9D. Joni Ernst (R-IA) serves as Chair and Ed Markey (D-MA) serves as Ranking Member.
Veterans’ Affairs
This committee was created in 1970 to create a body exclusively investigating and specializing on Veterans’ affairs. From 1947 to 1970, Veterans’ benefits and compensation issues were handled by the Finance Committee, while education, medical care, readjustment, and rehabilitation were handled by the Committee on Labor and Public Welfare.
The government’s prerogative on Veterans’ Affairs for Veterans and their families had been mostly financial. Veterans of the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, the Mexican War, the Civil War, and the SpanishAmerican War were all under this committee’s jurisdiction as far as compensation was concerned.
World War I saw the federal government’s response to Veterans’ Affairs change, as war risk insurance changed the Senate’s jurisdiction over Veterans’ benefits. The Senate Finance Committee typically handled this from 1917 until 1946. The Finance Committee’s Servicemen’s Readjustment Act of 1944, the G.I. Bill of Rights expanded the umbrella of benefits to unemployment assistance, education, housing and business loan guarantees, vocational training, and medical and pension benefits. According to the committee’s website, this bill is believed by experts to have been one of the most “important elements in the expansion of the middle class following World War II.”
The committee’s website says that five current Senators are Veterans: Jim Banks (R-IN), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Tim Sheehy (R-MT). The committee is composed of nineteen members.
The committee is divided 10R-9D, with two Independents caucusing with the Democrats. Jerry Moran (R-KS) serves as Chair and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) serves as Ranking Member.
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.
Senator Markey (D-MA) serves as Ranking Member of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee (Credit - Matt Meduri)
Senator Sullivan (R-AK) serves on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee (Credit - Matt Meduri)
Senator Moran (R-KS) serves as Chair of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee (Credit - Matt Meduri)
Senator Padilla (D-CA) serves as Ranking Member of the Rules and Admin. Committee (Credit - Matt Meduri)
Senator Sanders (I-VT) serves on the Veterans’ Affairs Committee (Credit - Matt Meduri)
State Begins $44.7M Renovation Project on Rte. 347
By Hank Russell | Long Island Life & Politics
The next phase in the modernization of Nesconset Highway (State Route 347) has begun. Work is underway — several months ahead of schedule — on a project to upgrade and reconstruct a one-mile stretch of the roadway from Hallock Road to County Route 97 (Nicolls Road) in the Town of Brookhaven, which the governor’s office said will ease congestion, enhance safety and improve mobility for motorists, pedestrians and mass transit riders.
This $44.7 million modernization effort constitutes the seventh phase of the State Route 347 Reconstruction Project, which is transforming this twelve-mile roadway between Veterans Memorial Highway (State Route 454) and Main Street/North Country Road (State Route 25A) into a multimodal boulevard.
“New York is moving full speed ahead with infrastructure investments that will connect communities in every corner of this state and improve the travel experience for everyone who uses our transportation network,”
Governor Kathy Hochul (D) said. “We are reimagining the State Route 347 corridor to better accommodate the evolving needs of Long Islanders and make it easier and safer for motorists, pedestrians and mass transit riders to travel along this important roadway.”
New York State Department of Transportation Commissioner Marie Therese Dominguez added, “Investing in transportation infrastructure creates jobs and bolsters the regional economy while building a sustainable, multimodal transportation network that benefits all Long Islanders.”
Building on the success of six earlier phases of the project, work on the new phase will create a consistent third travel lane, reducing bottlenecks that exist today as the roadway goes from three to two lanes at several locations. In addition, the project will include the installation of a raised stone median featuring indigenous Long Island plants.
their friends and family. This next stretch of Route 347 modernization will be complemented by the construction of a bridge over Nicolls Road in the coming years, further improving traffic flow for all who live and work in the district.”
Construction of this project phase is expected to create over 580 jobs, with major work expected to be completed in 2027.
Labor and business groups also applauded the project.
“This next phase of the Route 347 reconstruction marks another major step forward for Long Island to ease traffic, improve safety, and create good-paying jobs in our communities,” Long Island Contractors Association Executive Director Marc Herbst said.
Long Island Federation of Labor President John Durso said, “In order to compete in a constantly evolving economy, we must consistently invest in our infrastructure, communities, and the working people who make it all possible. This investment expands capacity on a still developing artery in our region’s transportation infrastructure integral to our success in the future.”
“The early launch of Phase 7 of the Empire State Route 347 Reconstruction Project is a strong sign of New York’s commitment to improving infrastructure, safety, and accessibility. Investments like this not only ease congestion and enhance mobility for all types of commuters but also contribute to long-term economic growth and quality of life in the region,” Matthew Aracich, president of the NassauSuffolk Building and Construction Trades Council, added. “Reducing traffic is more than reducing travel time, it reduces the levels of emissions from vehicles. I look forward to seeing more skilled trades working on the project as we continue transforming this important roadway which is several months ahead of schedule!”
To improve the flow of traffic during peak commuting hours, enhanced traffic signals with pedestrian countdown timers will be installed and the speed limit will be lowered to 45 mph. Traffic signal masts and signposts will be green to blend in with the surrounding landscape.
Local elected officials said this will address the traffic problems plaguing the roadway.
“This project addresses some of the worst traffic in Suffolk County. When it’s finished, it will dramatically improve the quality of life for the community. Thank you to the state for this investment in Suffolk County,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) said.
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R-Center Moriches) said, “So much of New York’s aged and aging infrastructure needs a significant upgrade. The reconstruction work on NYS Route 347, from Smithtown to Brookhaven, has helped modernize the roadway for motorists and pedestrians alike.”
Additionally, bus stops will be set back from the roadway in designated pull-off areas to avoid obstructing vehicle traffic. To protect Suffolk County Transit users from inclement weather and enhance their safety, bus stops will have shelters featuring solar-powered lighting.
The Parks-To-Port Greenway, a shared-use path adjacent to the roadway’s eastbound travel lanes, will be extended for alternative travel by multi-modal users. The new section of the path will include bicycle racks and shaded rest areas.
“Local community members have shared appreciation for the boulevard aesthetic and usability for pedestrians and cyclists in the areas where these improvements have been completed, and we look forward to these infrastructural amenities expanding further into the district,”
Assemblymember Rebecca Kassay (D-Port Jefferson) added. “With the roadway changes that help to keep cars moving at peak use times, local commuters can spend less time stuck in traffic and more quality time with
The governor’s office said that the State Route 347 Reconstruction Project is reimagining this vital corridor lined with restaurants, shopping centers, hotels and parks to meet the needs of Long Islanders traveling by all modes of transportation. The State has invested $250 million to rehabilitate and modernize the roadway with enhancements such as new travel lanes, traffic signals and crosswalks.
Hochul announced in March that the construction of a bridge carrying State Route 347 over Nicolls Road will now begin in 2028, six years earlier than originally planned. This accelerated timeline is part of New York State’s historic $34.3 billion capital plan. Following the bridge construction, the project will include the reconstruction of State Route 347 from Mark Tree Road to Old Town Road, and then from Old Town Road to State Route 25A.
“When I passed the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law through Congress, it was to upgrade our local infrastructure, boost jobs and the economy, and make vital improvements in our downtowns — and that’s exactly what this work will do,” U.S. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-Park Slope) said. “These funds will go to good use on State Route 347, AKA the Smithtown Bypass, and create a safer conduit for our communities while creating good paying jobs in the process.”
“The reimagined State Route 347 corridor will reduce congestion and help ensure that Long Islanders can travel safely and efficiently. Investments like these connect our communities and keep families safe,” U.S Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-Albany).
State Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) called the project “a much-needed investment in our region” that will “help ease congestion, enhance safety and improve mobility for area motorists and pedestrians. This project is win-win for the region and an important upgrade to help make this thoroughfare a welcoming gateway to the community and Stony Brook University.”
This article originally appeared in Long Island Life & Politics. For more from LILP, visit them online at lilifepolitics.com.
Route 347 and New Moriches Road in Lake Grove (Credit - Matt Meduri)
16 Local History
Thursday, September 4, 2025
‘HoHoFaLa’ School District? It Almost Happened!
By Ellyn Okvist, B.Sc.
Beginning in the early 1800s, close to 245 years ago, the villages of Farmingville, Holbrook, Holtsville, and Lake Ronkonkoma began establishing schools to educate the children living in the areas. At the same time, Holbrook comprised the three townships of Brookhaven, Smithtown and Islip. The first Holbrook school, built in 1860, was on Patchogue Road, a small 32-foot by 24-foot structure built at the cost of $200.00.
The students sat at wooden benches as they learned lessons taught by Ruth Farmer, who earned $3.75 per week. The school was moved to a new building in 1905 on Furrows Road. Once again, the students were moved to Union Avenue in 1924. The Holbrook area schools, known as Brookhaven School District No. 25 were absorbed by the Sachem Central School District. The Union Avenue school building later became the administration office for the Sachem School District.
In 1817, Farmingville was known as the Bald Hills District No. 13. Holtsville was known as Waverly School District No. 40 until 1869 when it was changed to Holtsville District No. 35. The two districts grew and remained separate until they were consolidated in 1928 at the newly built Waverly Avenue School.
The oldest school, the Lake Ronkonkoma schoolhouse, was built in 1800; In 1859 the school was moved to Hawkins Avenue and in 1913 the school was moved into the newly built two-story building on Hawkins Avenue and School Street. In 1946, the Lake Ronkonkoma school was burned and for two years, the students attended classes at the Holbrook school. Gatelot Avenue School was built in 1948.
As the many schools progressed, the one problem was there was no high school. Secondary grades had to travel to Sayville, Bayport, or Port Jefferson for their higher education. Walter Dunham, George Martinson, and Richard Stratton, respective principals of the three villages, set in stone what would become the largest suburban school district and the sixth largest statewide.
The twenty-fifth anniversary of the centralization of the Sachem School District took place in 1980, and with a concerted effort to preserve history with a massive determination, which included residents, staff members, and administration. The history of our own was right in our backyards and was underscored with a revitalized press to educate the public.
The controversy as to what to name the school district became important at the time of the twenty-fifth anniversary. Many members of the community would have accepted the “HoHoFaLa” the name that was proposed for the soon to be centralized school district. There was a push for the “HoHoFaLa” District over the name Sachem. It may have slipped through, but Sachem is an Indian word, and the mere sound of it seemed to command respect.
“HoHoFaLa” combined the first two letters of each of the towns that were included in the
district. Holtsville, Holbrook, Farmingville, and Lake Ronkonkoma provided a laugh or two at the time, but it could have been the official name for the Sachem Central School District.
In 1955, when the Sachem School District first centralized, it was obvious that it had to have a name. Calling such a district what kind of sounds like a Christmas song was confusing and inappropriate. John Pedisich, a member of the school board advisory committee suggested “Sachem.” Pedisich felt that a newly formed school district should have a grander, more significant name. His research found a map of Lake Ronkonkoma from the 1700s. On the map the lake was called “Sachem Pond.” This was common ground for numerous Indian tribes. Sachem is the local Indian word for “Chief.”
Pedisich explained that the wisest of men of the tribes, the chiefs, would meet here to share their wisdom and experiences with each other. These pow-wows would result in the exchange of ideas and information which served to better the entire Indian community. Pedisich felt that Sachem would be an appropriate name for the new school district which was to bring together local school districts for the convenience and betterment of the community. In 1955, the school board made Sachem the official name of the new district. Since then, Indian names have been given to new schools in the district, which gives the district a quaint, historical flavor.
As the new schools were being built, Sachem would seek Indian names for four of its elementary schools, and contests for the students in the elementary schools. I remember writing my ballot with my name choice, and ceremoniously placing it in the ballot box that was located in our lunchroom. Most of the time, Mr. Walter Dunham would be behind the box and recognize each student as we voted. The overall feeling was that we were actually taking part in the district’s growth.
September 12, 1967, welcomed Merrimac to Broadway Avenue. Two more schools were opened that month, previously named Chippewa and Wenonah. The three schools joined Sachem High, Hiawatha, Nokomis, and Sagamore. The board did vote to rename Gatelot Avenue, Grundy Avenue, Lynwood Avenue, and Waverly Avenue so all would bear Indian names. At some point the renamed plans were cancelled for these schools. Sagamore holds the meaning “lesser chief” and became the natural choice for the new junior high school constructed.
Nokomis came about to honor Mrs. Mary Bedell, a long-time board member from Holbrook. Mrs. Bedell had many grandchildren attending the district, so the name of a famous grandmother who raised and taught Hiawatha seemed a perfect honor. Hiawatha was a great Indian chief and teacher of the Iroquois nation, so it seemed to be a perfect name since the school had been built from the same architectural plans and, therefore, bore a family resemblance to Nokomis.
Wenonah was the mother of Hiawatha and Chippewa is the name of the large Indian tribe still in existence.
The Sachem youth were asked to submit names neatly on composition paper by Thanksgiving. Suggestions were offered by the board, such as using two or three syllables Indian names, but not beginning with “S” as two already had “S” as the lead. Alongside the name submitted, the students were asked to write the meaning of the name and why it might be appropriate.
A modest award was given to the winners, as promised by Mr. Walter Dunham.
Farmingville School, 1896 “Santa’s Airline” Union Avenue School, 1929
Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.
Thursday, September 4, 2025
79th Annual Shinnecock Pow-Wow
By Joe Cuminale
When Labor Day Weekend arrives here on Long Island, to me, it means it’s time for the Annual Shinnecock Pow-Wow Native American Gathering of Nations at The Shinnecock Reservation.
This year’s seventy-ninth Annual Gathering was certainly no disappointment. For me, my family, and friends, it has been a tradition for more than twenty years. I was able to have a friend accompany me for her first trip to a Pow-Wow and she had a wonderful experience. We got to see and meet the Aztec Dance group that operates out of New Jersey and
are keeping generations of dance and stories alive and well. Then, the moment that I personally love the most, took place – the Grand Entry of all the dancers, with the children of all ages up to the Tribal Elders from all nations participating. Various tribal drum groups and singers each performed different songs during the Grand Entry and for all the different dance competitions that took place during the weekend.
For many years, this event was one of my mom’s favorite Long Island events and many of the people who remember meeting her over the years always share their stories with me. Mom has been gone almost eight years now, but her spirit lives on around the grounds of the Shinnecock Reservation. I feel her spirit there every time I visit. The photos that accompany this article are of the Aztec Dance Team and of Grand Entry.
I am already looking forward to next year’s eightieth Annual Gathering of Nations. Thank you to the Elders of the Shinnecock Nation for allowing me to take a few photographs during the Grand Entry Ceremony and for all the history lessons they have shared with me over the years.
WORD OF THE Week
Etymology: late 16th century: from late Latin recapitulat- ‘gone through heading by heading’, from re- ‘again’ + capitulum ‘chapter’ (diminutive of caput ‘head’).
RECAPITULATE
verb
Pronounced: /ree·kuh·pi·chuh·layt/
Definition: summarize and state again the main points of; repeat (an evolutionary or other process) during development and growth.
Example: “Since the bill failed in the previous session, legislators intended to recapitulate their argument.”
Synonyms: outline, consolidate, reprise
Antonyms: extend, prolong, supplement
Source: Oxford Languages
See how many words you can create. Must have center letter in word and can use letters more than once. 4 letter word minimum.
See bottom of page for the answers (please don’t cheat!)
September 6, 1901:
U.S. President William McKinley (R-OH) is shot and assassinated by anarchist Leon Czolgosz, while visiting the Pan-American Exposition in New York.
September 5, 2017: Hurricane Irma becomes the most powerful hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic Basin region with winds of 185mph.
September 9, 1993: Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization exchange letters of mutual recognition.
September 4, 1888:
George Eastman patents the first roll-film camera and registers the brand name “Kodak.”
September 10, 1776: George Washington asks for a spy; Nathan Hale volunteers. (reconstructed
1996:
Rapper Tupac Shakur is shot multiple times in a drive-by shooting in Las Vegas and dies six days later.
September 8, 1504: Michelangelo’s statue of David is unveiled in Florence.
Statue of Nathan Hale by Bela Lyon Pratt
By PJ Balzer
The Reminder Along the Roadside
Most people may miss it, others may simply choose not to see it. Some may want it removed already, while the rest just remain indifferent to it all.
I can assure you that there is one person that sees this roadside memorial each time she passes here though - this young man’s mother.
I can remember the day like it was last weekend because the traffic on Mastic Road wouldn’t move at all. Strangely enough, my wife and I were on our way to volunteer at a youth group that evening when this entire neighborhood became a literal parking lot. There is often traffic on this specific road at this specific hour, but not anything like that day. People were putting their cars in park and walking up to the scene to find out what had happened. There were people, sirens, and screams coming from every direction.
On that early spring evening, there were apparently two groups of young men, one on foot and the others in a car passing by. Words were exchanged, one teenager exited the car and was fatally stabbed by another. He fell to the ground in this very same spot and never got up, another young life lost while he hadn’t even really started to live it yet. He was 17 and the other who stabbed him was 19.
In that same place that he laid now stands a cross, a few old candles, deflated balloons, and a Lynvets youth football helmet worn by this athletic young man. A few feet away to the left stands a sweatshirt which appears to be blood stained along with a hat. I can only guess that this was the clothing he was wearing that day. A tangible and raw reminder that a young person with his whole future ahead of him lost his life right at this spot.
His mother used to be seen here often decorating her son’s memorial for the changing seasons and holidays. I’ve seen birthday balloons, Christmas ornaments, Valentine’s Day hearts, and many tears decorate this spot. Over the years, I’ve seen her standing here less and less often. I have no idea why, but having a mother myself who lost a son tragically at a very young age, I can tell you that grief is different for everyone and some things that brought comfort early on now bring heartbreak. Every time I think of his mom, I find myself being inwardly prompted to pray for her.
But a negative can become a positive, especially in God’s kingdom and in His ways which are certainly different from ours. I pass this roadside memorial on my way to attend a graduation, a home visit to check up on a young person, or to sit in the stands and cheer on a local athlete. Every church outreach event, prayer meeting, box of diapers being dropped off, or times that my wife and I take out a family of children to a local establishment to eat together. This roadside reminder will catch my eye, and my heart too, helping to remind me why we are doing this.
Young people need real love, not only to hear the phrase. They long for time, attention, and care more than anything else in the world. They need guidance; they need to know that someone is rooting for them even when they mess up and feel ashamed of themselves. They need someone that doesn’t just offer thoughts and prayers, but someone that purposely gets up earlier than usual to spend time praying for them. They need someone that shows up time and time again, especially when it’s inconvenient to do so.
While my community tragically lost a promising young man and young life that day, we can here, now, and today be the change we’d like to see in our community and ultimately our world. These little reminders along the way can motivate us to not wait for other people to do the work that each one of us were called to do.
I’ve learned along the journey that some important person in some grandeur office somewhere isn’t coming to make every day changes in my community. God has called me to do that.
I believe He’s calling you to do the same.
Photo credit - Freepik
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High School Football Hits The Turf for Pre-Season Training
By Ashley Pavlakis
American football is back on the docket at the high school level. Teams returned to the field over the last two weeks to get ready for the 2025-26 New York State Public High School Athletic Association NYSPHSAA season.
The National Football Association hosted their second annual Suffolk County Preview Show to get fans ready for the upcoming season. Greg Sarra of Newsday Sports sat down with a few teams around the league to discuss what lies ahead.
A nice balance on a team is achieved through a good mix of young and veteran players. You want players with experience because they’ve done it before. However, with high school only lasting four years, the only way to gain experience is to play.
“I actually find it easier, because then there are better mentors above me. [Kurts, Vasquez] they taught me how to be a better leader. It was just a really good environment,” said Ward Melville junior quarterback Hudson Philbrick, on being a younger player on the team.
Quarterbacks are an integral component of a football team. A solid QB is just one part of having success on the field. Connecting passes and driving the ball through the offense is the way to the end zone.
“This is the first time I’ve ever had a returning starting quarterback. This will be my 11th season, and I’ve always had a senior quarterback. To be able to have a quarterback that I can have for multiple seasons, and help him [Philbrick] in the process and get him to grow into what he’s going to become is huge for our program,” said Ward Melville Head Coach Chris Boltrek.
Turnover is inevitable. Every team goes through a phase where some classes are bigger than others, and they lose a good chunk of players to graduation. The key is how you overcome it and build a new team with incoming players.
“We graduated all 11 [players] that started on our defense last year that
started in our Suffolk County Championship game. There are definitely some positions that we have to fill. Over the past week and a half, it’s been exciting to see a lot of the kids that were on the team last year that were at the championship, understanding that they have to step up, run around, and that they have big shoes to fill. They’re out there to prove it and kind of show where their legacy is,” said Miller Place Head Coach Adam St. Nicholas.
The quarterback is the most protected player on the field. Sometimes the defense isn’t tight, and an opposing player squeaks through for a sack. Ideally, the quarterback needs the time and space to get the ball off and make a play. When a team has a strong defense, that makes all the difference.
“It’s just the same thing, it’s trusting my guys to make plays. They were great for me last year; I expect the same thing this year. The line does a great job, they come to practice, and they work hard. Hopefully, this year we can add that element,” said Miller Place Quarterback Shane Kiernan.
Pre-season training concluded and teams are ready to get going. Varsity football kicks off this week with teams across Long Island hitting the field for the 2025-26 season in search of a NYSPHSAA championship.
2025 Delmonte-Smelson Team MVP Voting Underway
The Long Island Ducks and DelmonteSmelson Jewelers have teamed up to present the 2025 Long Island Ducks MVP Award. Fans can vote once per day from now through Saturday, September 13, for the Ducks player they believe should be this year’s Most Valuable Player.
Fans wishing to cast their ballot may do so by visiting LIDucks.com/mvpvoting and selecting the player they feel is most deserving. The player with the most fan votes will receive a commemorative gift from Delmonte-Smelson Jewelers prior to the Ducks regular season finale on Sunday, September 14, against the York Revolution.
The following are this year’s nominees, listed alphabetically by last name (stats through September 2):
Starting Pitcher David Griffin
Griffin has put together a strong season in his second year with the Ducks, spending time as both a starter and a reliever. In 19 games (15 starts), the righthander is 6-2 with a 3.78 ERA. He ranks second on the team in both innings pitched (85.2) and strikeouts (82) while conceding just 23 walks. Additionally, opponents are batting just .258 against him. The Massachusetts native turned in his best start on July 4th in Hagerstown, tossing seven innings of no-hit, shutout baseball while striking out nine batters in a 9-1 win.
Starting Pitcher Juan Hillman
Hillman has been in the starting rotation since the beginning of the season and has been a steady presence on the mound. The southpaw leads the team in wins (9), games started (22), innings pitched (118.0) and strikeouts (95). His 4.81 ERA ranks seventh in the Atlantic League, while his innings total is good for fifth. He is the only Duck to toss a complete game this season, doing so in a
4-1 win vs. York on August 13. The Florida native has totaled eight quality starts in 2025.
Outfielder River Town
Town has been a vital part of the Ducks offense all season long. He leads all Ducks players and ranks third in the Atlantic League with a .429 on-base percentage while sitting fourth in the league in batting (.323) and hits (126) and fifth in triples (6). The first-year Duck leads the Flock in walks (62) while ranking second in slugging percentage (.515), OPS (.944), RBIs (62), runs (79) and doubles (27) and third in stolen bases (30). Defensively, the Louisiana native has committed just three errors in 75 games in the outfield, posting a .980 fielding percentage and five assists.
Infielder Troy Viola
Viola has demonstrated durability and versatility in 2025. The third baseman leads the Ducks and ranks second in the Atlantic League with 110 games played despite having the third-most hit by pitches in the league (14). He also leads the Flock and ranks third in the league with 32 doubles. The first-year Duck is the team leader in home runs (16), RBIs (77) and second behind Town in hits (114) while batting .276 with an .820 OPS. Defensively, the California native has made numerous sparkling plays at third base, accruing a .960 fielding percentage.
The Long Island Ducks are in their 25th Anniversary season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip. They are the all-time leader in wins and attendance in Atlantic League history, have led all MLB Partner Leagues in total attendance for four consecutive seasons, and have sold out a record 720 games all-time. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).
