Below you’ll find our weekly editorial column from former Congressman George Santos. As the Washington Post boldly proclaims “Democracy Dies in Darkness,” it is our mission in the South Shore Press to hold government accountable and serve as a beacon for thought-provoking journalism that encourages healthy discourse.
When we fulfill that mission, and I believe the South Shore Press does that in our weekly print edition and online at SouthShorePress.com, then our community benefits by engaging in healthy debate without sharp elbows, nasty barbs, or the deep divisions that permeate the political arena.
If you’ve been reading editorial columns from Mr. Santos, you
BY
Last week, Americans were finally treated to the muchanticipated presidential debate between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris. Now many wonder: Was the fix in even before the first questions were asked?
An affidavit signed by an ABC News staffer accused the news division of putting their biased fingers on the scale, tipping the advantage toward Kamala Harris. The ABC News insider accused their own network of leaking a memo to the Harris campaign with generic topics and questions that were eerily similar to the ones moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis actually asked in the debate.
The affidavit also claims ABC News would only fact-check President Trump and not Vice President Harris.
would have noticed that he’s been writing about important issues pertaining to public service, specific bills in Congress, and the 2024 presidential race.
So far he’s touched on media bias during the first presidential debate between President Trump and Kamala Harris (below), Continuing Resolutions (CR’s) in Congress that are blowing big holes in budgets, the importance of government being open and transparent with the people they serve (us), and the digital manipulation of political ads meant to deceive voters.
These are some pretty heavy and critically important issues that have a direct impact on Suffolk County voters, and we are proud to bring them to the forefront of the political season of 2024.
Hedge fund executive and Founder/CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management, Bill Ackman, blasted the alleged bias on "X," formerly known as Twitter.
"If indeed this turns out to be true, which is looking increasingly likely, consider the character of the presidential candidate that would cheat in a debate, allowing her staff to negotiate the questions in advance, the camera angles, the required fact-checking of her opponent, and the lack of factchecking of her own answers," wrote Ackman.
While some viewers tuned in hoping for a substantive exchange of policies, many were left disheartened. For others, the appeal was the spectacle itself— the sharp personal attacks that dominated the evening. The debate seemed to cater more
This brings me to our next update concerning former Congressman Santos. Yours truly and a film crew sat down with him for a lengthy, exclusive, on-camera interview
that explored a ton of relevant topics to him, his self-inflicted downfall, recent guilty plea, his upbringing, and thoughts on the 2024 presidential election.
In my journalism career that dates back to November of 1993, this was bar none one of the most interesting and thought-provoking interviews I’ve ever conducted. I’ve asked tough questions of many heavy hitters in the world of politics: former President George H.W. Bush, his son and also former President George W. Bush, former Vice President Gore, and former First Lady and Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton are just a few of those I’ve had one-on-one interviews with.
My mission when sitting down with George Santos was to avoid “bomb throwing” and engage in a deep, thoughtful discussion with him about his life and what led to him pleading guilty to federal campaign finance-related charges.
to theater than to thoughtful discourse, leaving the serious political observer unsatisfied.
In truth, the entire event could have taken place in an email or a Zoom call. To command a national stage, with millions watching, only to squander it with platitudes and rhetorical barbs felt like a profound disservice to the electorate. As I sat through the debate—not once, but five times in its entirety, for the sake of offering you an informed analysis—I couldn’t shake the feeling that something vital had been lost. The painful monotony of the exchange and the lack of meaningful content strained the very purpose of what a debate should be. Yet, cutting through the noise is essential, and I’ve done just that.
When it came to policy, the debate was as thin as it was
frustrating. Not only were the proposals vague, but the event also lacked any deep exploration of the pressing issues. Even ABC’s moderators—unintentionally or not—seemed to join in what felt like a three-on-one engagement. The bias and lack of professionalism were on full display, leading to
what was less a debate and more an orchestrated spectacle aimed at undermining Trump. It was difficult to escape the sensation of betrayal, particularly from a mainstream media that is meant to serve as a neutral platform for such significant discussions.
Credit: Justin Bondi Productions
Credit: CNN
First Presidential debate between President Trump and Kamala Harris
GEORGE SANTOS
ByDeborahWilliams
Hochul's Pension Sweetners to Cost Suffolk County $20 Million a Year
To cut back on the amount of money public employees in New York get for their taxpayer subsidized pensions, former Governor Andrew Cuomo created a new group, a new "tier," to reduce the fiscal burden on an already bloated state government.
Just a few years later, current Governor Kathy Hochul, the State Senate, and State Assembly all scrapped this cost-saving move.
Now the bill is coming due, and Suffolk County taxpayers will be forced to shell out big bucks because of it.
These changes to the New York State pension benefits will cost Suffolk County about $20 million a year in 2025 and more in the years following. The pension sweeteners will cost localities across the state $900 million a year.
The major change in pension "Tier 6" changed the lifetime benefit calculation from an average of the last five years of salary to the last three years of salary.
This takes two presumably lower earning years out of the average and boosts the pension payout for every retiree.
Former Governor Andrew Cuomo recognized the out-ofcontrol pension costs over a decade ago and introduced pension reform that created Tier 6 to curb what were runaway costs on already overburdened taxpayers.
Governor Kathy Hochul in her re-election efforts in 2022 agreed to roll back pension reforms in a giveaway to the unions and now that bill is coming due. It is a bill that will get bigger every year into the future. It is a gift to the unions that keeps on taking from the taxpayer.
Pension costs have increased tenfold between 2000 and 2010 went from $1 billion to $10 billion in just ten years. The Empire Center's, Ken Girardin, says costs have escalated for a variety of reasons, “Partially because the pensions got sweetened into 2000. Partially because people were living longer. And, partially because they were making very bad pension decisions. They were making unrealistic assumptions about the return of pensions funds would get.”
School districts and local governments will all see their pension costs rise, which would force them to either cut programs or raise taxes. For many regions in the state, government workers are the largest percentage of the workforce.
Suffolk County Comptroller, John M. Kennedy, Jr., agrees about the cost increases and how they will be paid for.
“We have already got the bills for the 2025 pension contribution, and I believe that we have sustained roughly about a 20% increase. I think the exact number was somewhere in the neighborhood of about a 19.6% uptick,” says Kennedy.
“I’m not a policy maker so I can’t say too much about that end of the equation, but I can speak to the numbers because they will hit our
books soon.”
Kennedy added that for Suffolk County the additional costs to the taxpayer for 2025 are going to be between $20-22 million. “It’s a larger increase than we have seen in previous years,” says Kennedy.
Suffolk County will come out with a 2025 budget soon and the County Executive will have to address the additional costs due to the pension increases. “In my opinion, and I don't know this for a fact, but I would think that what the policymakers will attempt to adjust other areas of the operating budget,” Kennedy said.
The Comptroller says it will be difficult to keep going back to the taxpayer for more revenue. Savings will need to be found in other areas or potentially the legislature will have to look at service cuts to make up the difference.
Pension costs in Suffolk County right now are about $221 million so a $20-22 million/year increase in pension costs may not seem like a lot – especially in the context of the entire county budget.
“Our annual operating budget is $4 billion. We're larger with the 26th largest county in the United States when it comes to financial operations. And, by population are larger than 11 states in the United States of America. We're a fairly sizable beast,” says Kennedy.
But, $20-22 million bucks is still real money and it will grow every
year. No matter what percentage of the budget, the taxpayer will bear the burden one way or the other either through higher taxes or reduced services unless savings can be found.
New York State Conservative Party Chairman, Gerry Kassar, points out that looking for savings is not in the genes of New York State Democrat lawmakers, and they are the ones in power.
“Democrats holding public office in New York State, and over the 1215 years, have shown time and time again that savings is not something they are interested in looking at. I won’t just pick on the current crop of Democrats. Over recent history, Democrats have been very quick to look at increased government spending on programs as being something quite acceptable no matter the cost to the taxpayer. This pension deal is just another example of that,” says Kassar.
“I don't think our elected officials are thinking about how they're going pay for all of this. Elected officials have a very, very limited perspective on long-term issues,” added Kassar
Kassar points out that for a long time, until maybe the past 25 years, there was a bargain of sorts between the taxpaying public and government unions – you’re salary may be less than the private sector, but you will have great pension and health care benefits.
Continued on page 10
Gilgo Murders Back in Headlines as Task Force Releases Victim Sketch
ByRobertChartuk
Pushing forward in its aggressive effort to find the killers responsible for the 11 bodies discovered off Ocean Parkway in Babylon, the Gilgo Beach Task Force released a composite sketch of a male victim and asked for the public’s help in identifying him.
Addressing the media at a Brentwood press conference Monday morning, Suffolk District Attorney Raymond Tierney gave details of the grisly killing of “Asian Doe,” whose body was found near
victims charged to architect Rex Heuermann as part of a murder spree that shocked Long Island.
“We are appealing to friends, family, associates who may recognize Asian Doe and help us in our investigation,” Tierney said.
“We want to solve this case and bring closure to his family.” Tierney did not connect Heuermann to the victim but noted that the task force was continuing its analysis of forensic evidence found at the scene.
According to Tierney, Asian Doe was likely of Chinese descent,
and the clues related to his identity were translated into Mandarin and other Asian dialects to appeal to anyone who may have known him. Working with task force members from the New York City Police Department and the State Police, Tierney said the Asian Doe information is being disseminated worldwide, including in five languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin, Thai, and Bahasa.
In addition to the sketch created using the victim’s skeleton, Tierney released the name brands of the woman’s clothing the suspected sex worker was wearing at the time of his death, including a "Chrysantheme" blue, ribbed, short-sleeve shirt with crew neck, a "Rafaella" brand shirt, and a "Bill Blass" pants and bra.
The victim, estimated at between 17 and 23 years old, suffered a “violent death” with blunt force injuries to his head, Tierney said. His remains were found in 2011, along with the bodies of 10 other Gilgo victims, and he was estimated to have been killed in 2006. He was between 5’3” and 5’9” in height. Tattoos or other exterior features were not noted due to the decomposed state of the body.
of Asian Doe with both long and short hair were created by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children as part of the investigation, which Tierney ramped up after his predecessors in the district attorney’s office, Tom Spota and Tim Sini, failed to crack any of the Gilgo cases. Doe is considered to be from Southern Han, one of 56 ethnic areas in China.
In reaching out worldwide for tips, Tierney noted that there are relatively few Asians in the law
enforcement databases. He urged the public to have their genomes registered both to help solve crimes and identify victims. Personal profiles from those who volunteer to enter the databases can’t be used by law enforcement without the owner’s consent,” Tierney said.
“This person had a name; he had a family, friends. Someone knows who he is,” Tierney concluded. Anyone with information can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-220TIPS. A $2,500 reward has been posted.
Sketches
A pension time bomb in NYS will cost Suffolk County taxpayers an additional $20 million next year
District Attorney Tierney releases a description of Asian Doe at a press conference asking for the public’s help in identifying him.
Description of Asian Doe
Credit: Adobe AI
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Fire Chiefs Encourage Homeowners to Clean Chimneys
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
With cooler and ultimately colder temperatures right around the corner, many families will fire up their fireplace to keep the house warm and attempt to cut down on rising energy bills.
Before folks across Suffolk County do that, local firefighters want to alert them to the importance of keeping chimneys clear from debris and soot that built up from the winter before.
Doing so will minimize the risks to your family.
“With the onset of increased indoor time, chimney maintenance becomes a pressing concern to avoid devastating fires. Regular annual inspections and cleaning by a certified sweep are vital to ensure safe operation. Additionally, your sweep may offer tailored guidance based on your specific fireplace or stove usage,” said Hauppauge Fire Department Chief Christopher M. Crean.
First responders stress the importance of not waiting until the Christmas season to make sure their chimneys are safely firing on all cylinders, inside and out.
Enter one of many professionals that provide this service across the South Shore: Chimney Repairs and Cleanings.
Following the conclusion of last year’s holiday rush, a CSIAcertified technician like Pat from
Ronkonkoma was beside himself. He did not realize just how many people of his generation knew virtually nothing about chimney upkeep.
Pat’s ground-floor operation slowly but surely started to flourish as he and his partner began to alert the townsfolk of their simple business proposal.
In laying out their most unique services, Chimney Repairs and
Cleanings have opened many pairs of eyes in the process—not just in quarters 3 and 4 like more namebrand giants of this niche industry but year-round.
Those who have seen professional and certified handymen in action know firsthand what they have in store is more than they could ever have dreamed.
“I had a terrible leak coming into my fireplace and into my living room… My bricks on my chimney were falling apart and overall in bad shape. The guys from Chimney Repairs and Cleaning came and told me I needed a full grind outrepoint and they did a great job,” customer Stephen Yee wrote on Facebook.
Per the company's website, Chimney Repairs and Cleanings are; “...dedicated to providing top chimney repairs and cleaning services to homeowners in the greater New York area.”
By “ensuring chimney safety,”
Pat and Co. also solidify resistance against the threat of fires and
carbon monoxide leaks.
They urge clients to routinely check in with them; not just for the sake of providing them business but because the second one puts off a cleanup until it is more “seasonally appropriate” just may be the second an ultra-preventable hazard turns into something far worse.
For booking of services, call 631.260.7720 or email chimneyrepairsandcleanings@ gmail.com. General tips are accessible at chimneycleaners.com.
As for Suffolk County Fire Companies, first responders strongly recommend having a professional prepare your chimney for the winter months to keep your family and home safe.
“Before lighting a fire, verify it is safe to do so, as home fires peak during winter. The chimney and flue play a vital role in safely channeling dangerous gasses away from the home,” concluded Chief Crean.
Guest Safety Tips: The Importance of Cleaning Your Chimney
ByHauppaugeFire Department
The Hauppauge Fire Department recommends an annual chimney inspection by a reputable chimney sweep organization. Depending on how often you use your fireplace to burn wood, creosote residue will build up in your chimney.
Many factors influence the amount of creosote stuck to the walls of your chimney, such as the volume of airflow into your chimney and the burning of improperly seasoned wood, which encourages such a buildup.
Creosote will also build up in the flue if you have unburned wood in the firebox.
Maintaining your chimney on an annual basis can be critical. Fire not only gives off heat energy, it also produces combustion products, including carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other fumes.
Carbon monoxide is found in these fumes, and the highly toxic gas can buildup indoors. An examination by an experienced
chimney sweep is the only way to learn if your chimney, whether masonry or metal, needs a cleaning.
There are things homeowners can do to better avoid often dangerous chimney fires.
Here are a few steps homeowners can take:
* Do not let ashes gather in the firebox. Clean them out if they are accumulating.
* Be sure to only use seasoned firewood in your fireplace. If you gather it yourself, season it for a year or more before you burn it. If you buy it from a vendor, ensure that the firewood company only offers seasoned wood.
* Ensure the damper is entirely open BEFORE lighting a fire in the firebox.
* Do not burn pressure-treated or painted wood in the fireplace. This will hasten creosote buildup (pressure-treated wood) or potentially create toxic fumes (painted wood) that are dangerous to your family members.
* Put the largest logs on the bottom of the firebox, followed by
smaller logs on top. Why? The fire will burn hotter and produce less smoke. Top that pile with kindling (around one inch) and crushed newspaper to get the fire started properly. This method will retard residue buildup in your chimney.
* Have an annual inspection of your chimney by a professional. Hire an experienced, reliable chimney sweep to mechanically clean your chimney, removing tar and creosote.
Finally, every home and business should be equipped with properly maintained carbon monoxide detectors. If they activate, do not hesitate to contact your local fire department.
The Glaring Bias of the ABC...
Continued from page 2
But amidst the chaos, there were moments that stood out. Vice President Harris performed better than expected, holding her ground and delivering a few sharp retorts aimed at Trump. Yet, her victories, while notable, were overshadowed by Trump's unparalleled command of quickwitted zingers. In the end, this debate won’t be remembered for its robust policy exchanges or intellectual rigor but for its sheer entertainment value.
Perhaps the most unforgettable moment came when Trump, in typical fashion, unleashed an off-the-cuff remark that has since gone viral. His comment, "They are eating the cats, they are eating the dogs, they are eating the pets!"—a reference to alleged reports from Springfield, Ohio, where Haitian asylum seekers were said to be abducting domestic animals for consumption—was as bizarre as it was inflammatory. Regardless of the validity of these claims, the remark was emblematic of a debate that seemed more focused on shock value than on guiding the American public toward a clear electoral choice. Overall, on the "FibOmeter," Vice President Harris delivered
a staggering 17 mistruths or exaggerations throughout the night, without so much as a factcheck from ABC's supposedly impartial moderators. In contrast, President Trump was met with staunch pushback for the four exaggerations he made, with moderators quick to interject with real-time factchecking.
Two of Harris's most glaring misstatements stand out. First, she perpetuated the longdebunked claim that President Trump referred to white nationalists and Nazis as “good people” following the 2017 Charlottesville incident—a narrative fact-checked by multiple outlets, including Snopes and The New York Times. Second, Harris asserted that no U.S. service members are currently deployed in combat zones, an outrageous claim that immediately led to viral responses from activeduty soldiers stationed abroad. Videos of troops calling out her falsehoods quickly circulated on social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and X (formerly Twitter).
Meanwhile, ABC moderator David Muir's dismissal of the situation in Springfield, Ohio,
has drawn intense scrutiny. In the days following the debate, multiple reporters traveled to the town to investigate, with many disturbing accounts of pets being abducted emerging. One particularly chilling video, widely shared on the popular "Libs of TikTok" page, shows police arresting a woman caught in the act of killing and eating a neighbor’s cat. In the video, the woman—who does not appear to speak English—is seen holding the dead animal, its blood covering her hands, and fur clinging to her mouth. Although I reached out to the Springfield police department for comment, I did not receive a response before submitting this article.
In conclusion, this debate wasn’t so much a battle of ideas as it was a stage for performance. Both candidates demonstrated their political prowess, albeit in different ways, but the lack of substantial policy discussion left much to be desired. As we move closer to Election Day, one can only hope that future debates— or any remaining opportunities for public engagement—will offer more to the voters than this empty, though admittedly entertaining, spectacle.
Credit: Adobe AI
Credit: Facebook Firefighters encourage regular chimney sweeps for safety.
The Importance of Cleaning Your Chimney
LOCAL Brookhaven Clerk Launches History Video Series Featuring Davis Meeting House
BySouthShorePressStaff
Brookhaven Town Clerk
Kevin LaValle has announced the launch of his “Talking History with the Town Clerk” video series, starting with a tour of the Davis Meeting House in Coram. The video features insights from Town Historian Barbara Russell, researcher Lynne Scofield, and Interim President Suzanne Johnson from the Town of Brookhaven Davis Town Meeting House Historical Society.
The Davis House, built in the 1750s, was owned by direct male descendants of Foulk Davis who arrived in Southampton in 1642. Local historian Davis Erhardt notes that Elijah Davis (17271802) likely kept it as a tavern-
inn. From the 1790s, for 80 years, it served as the seat of the Town of Brookhaven government. It later became a temperance house and then a private residence by 1890. The Brookhaven Town Board designated it an official town landmark on April 15, 1986. It was declared a New York State landmark in 2000 and a National Landmark in 2001.
Restoration of the Davis House exterior was completed in September 2012. This included roof replacement, exterior restoration, masonry work, engineering services for interior structural timber restoration, reconstruction of a new timberframed front porch, and completion of the exterior facade. Today, it serves as a multiuse community center for local organizations.
The Davis Meeting House is located at 263 Middle Country Road in Coram. Historical tours are held every second Sunday of each month. For more
information or to contact the Davis House, call (631) 804-2256 or visit www.davishousesociety. org. Additional details about historic sites around Brookhaven can be found on the Town website.
Experts Discuss Flood Impacts at Climate
READi Northeast Regional Workshop
On the heels of a northeastern rainstorm that flooded towns on Long Island and claimed at least two lives in Connecticut, teams of scientists, engineers, and representatives of local power and transportation utilities met to discuss the increasing frequency of severe weather and its impacts on crucial infrastructure. The timing for the meeting at New York’s Kennedy International Airport.
The recent storm set the stage for discussions about how power systems and dependent services will respond to a changing climate.
The Climate READi Northeast Regional Workshop was cohosted by the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory. It was the final workshop of four hosted around the country by EPRI as part of its Climate REsilience and ADaptation Initiative (Climate READi). After a first day focused on training sessions with climate data, participants engaged in presentations and conversations about flooding and cloud impacts.
“This workshop is all about the future of the power system in a world affected by climate change,” said Martin Schoonen, Brookhaven Lab’s associate laboratory director for Environment, Biology, Nuclear Science & Nonproliferation. “The power system underpins many systems that support society.”
Schoonen reminded attendees that while superstorms may still be relatively rare in the northeast, heavy rains capable of disrupting services are becoming more frequent.
“Brookhaven’s research in atmospheric and climate science is crucial in understanding the climate system at a fundamental level,” he said.
Morgan Scott, director of Climate READi at EPRI, encouraged networking to strengthen ties and potential collaboration. “These workshops are a great opportunity to focus on topics that are regionally specific,” she said. “Our goal is to bridge the gap between the scientific community and power system practitioners.”
Bernice Rosenzweig from Sarah Lawrence College provided
an overview of how different types of flooding are projected to increase due to warming climates.
Mike Ragona from Con Edison and Eric Willson from MTA discussed past storm impacts, like Superstorm Sandy and future plans for infrastructure resilience.
Ed Kearns from First Street Foundation highlighted connecting climate change to financial risk using highresolution models developed over 30 years. David Parsons from DOE noted challenges while aiming to double national grid capacity with advanced conductors already available commercially.
Schoonen also presented research on clouds' impact on solar panels' energy output and their broader effects on Earth's
energy balance.
Jorge Gonzalez-Cruz from the University at Albany discussed urban heat island effects influencing power demand forecasts into late 2000s under different global warming levels. Bryan Irrgang from LIPA addressed increasing electrical demands due to electric vehicles (EVs).
Session moderator Andrea Staid concluded with questions about peak demand shifts if electrically powered air pumps become primary heating sources.
“While the workshop series is over, the work certainly isn’t,” Morgan Scott concluded. “We are committed to building this community towards resilience in our power systems.”
One-On-One With George...
Continued from page 2
What you’ll see is Mr. Santos being contrite, humble, apologetic, thoughtful, and caring during the multipart series that will first appear on our Twitter page: @SSPNewsroom. He spoke of the pain of communicating with his autistic niece on the possibility of him going to jail. There’s also the deep psychological impact of attending congressional orientation in 2020 (Santos was ahead on election night) for new members, only to be pulled aside and told Governor Cuomo ordered 70,000 absentee ballots to be counted at the height of the COVID crisis and he actually lost. This impacted him deeply. Santos also has an interesting
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answer on the question: Would you ask President Trump for a pardon? Be sure to keep an eye out on our Twitter page @ SSPNewsroom for this multipart series.
No punches were pulled. No questions were given in advance. It is an intriguing and thought provoking interview with a national newsmaker that you will find nowhere else but the South Shore Press.
Agree with him or not, and it’s perfectly understandable and rational if you do not, you’re not going to want to miss this exclusive series, one that shines a bright light and offers new insights on one of the biggest stories to engulf our country this century.
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Town Clerk Kevin LaValle Launches “Talking History with the Town Clerk” Video Series
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ByDeborahWilliams
Suffolk County Jobless Rates Tick Up as New York Continues to Lag Behind Nation in Job Recovery
New York State is lagging behind the rest of the nation in recovering jobs lost during the COVID-19 pandemic. Forced government shutdowns decimated the private sector and many jobs disappeared as businesses could not withstand the long shutdown.
The United States, generally speaking, returned to pre-COVID job levels by 2022 – two years after the March 2020 outbreak. By contrast, New York did not recover until March 2024, two years after the much of the nation.
A study on job recovery done by the Empire Center points out that New York was 39th out of 50 states in pandemic job recovery.
“Among large industrial states, only Illinois ranked lower, with no net job growth during the period. By contrast, job growth came to
10% in Texas and 11% in Florida; even California, whose pandemic restrictions rivaled New York’s, has experienced three times New York’s rate of job growth,” says the study.
According to the New York State Labor Department, in July 2024, private employment in New York was just 0.8 percent above pre-COVID levels. Sluggish job recovery, coupled with a big dent in average New Yorkers pockets due to high inflation, makes for a tough economic story for many families.
Add to that, Suffolk County’s unemployment rate ticked up to 3.90% in August, compared to 3.40% last month. Families in Suffolk County are still suffering from COVID job losses and flawed post-pandemic “economic recovery” schemes coming out of the Biden-Harris White House that fueled record-high inflation rates.
New York’s recovery was also not evenly distributed across the state and some regions fared better – most especially New York City and near suburbs.
“Including the city’s suburban counties in the lower Hudson Valley and Long Island, the downstate region as a whole gained the most jobs. The job count in the remaining 50 counties in New York—comprising upstate as broadly defined—was still below the July 2019 level,” says the Empire Center report.
Empire Center’s EJ McMahon says, “(New York’s) job recovery has also been among the weakest compared to other states.” Texas and Florida outpaced the Empire State and even California, whose pandemic restrictions rivaled New York’s, has experienced three times New York’s rate of job growth.
General economic conditions
Suffolk County Police to Hold Vehicle
ByStefanMychajliw
The Suffolk County Police Department Impound Section will hold an auction on September 21st at the department’s impound facility, located at 100 Old Country Road in Westhampton.
The auction will begin at 9 a.m. and will be held rain or shine.
There will be a preview of vehicles on September 19th and September 20th between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the impound yard.
Vehicles will also be available for preview for one hour prior to the start of the auction on September 21st.
More than 100 lots will be auctioned off including sedans, SUVs and motorcycles. All vehicles will start with a minimum bid of $500 and are sold as-is.
For a full list of vehicles, registration information, and terms and conditions for the auction, visit www.suffolkpd.org and click on Impound Section and Vehicle Auctions.
Here are the specific requirements from the Suffolk County Police Department and what you need to do if you want to bid on and purchase a used vehicle:
2024 AUCTION TERMS AND CONDITIONS: ALL SALES
FINAL – VEHICLES SOLD “AS IS”
– CASH ONLY
Full payment due at time of sale for purchases up to $2000. Purchases over $2000 require payment of $2000 plus 25% of remaining balance as a NON-REFUNDABLE deposit. Example: Sale price $3000. Deposit is the first $2000 + $250 for a total deposit of $2250. Full payment and vehicle removal is required within 1 business week or a $30 per day storage charge is added to the balance owed. Certified Bank Checks in the EXACT AMOUNT
are accepted.
Registration is required in order to bid on vehicles. If you plan to purchase a vehicle under a business name, you must produce a valid NYS Tax ID Card showing your Tax ID # at registration.
All buyers must show a valid government issued license, ID, or passport as identification at time of purchase or your bid will be void. Buyers must be 18 years of age or older. The Auctioneer’s decision is FINAL!
Odometer statements completed are according to NYS DMV rules “to the best of my knowledge, this odometer reading reflects the ACTUAL MILEAGE as SEEN on the odometer”. Vehicles may not be started until the entire auction is over.
The vehicle becomes the responsibility of the buyer at the time of purchase. The purchaser assumes responsibility for any potential liens that may exist. You can check lien status on the NYS DMV website.
Bills of Sale are NONTRANSFERABLE! The purchaser must bring their Bill of sale and their included copy of the public advertisement to a New York State DMV to title the vehicle within 30 Days.
Buyers must provide adequate means of towing vehicle from premises. Ropes & nylon straps are NOT to be used for removal. Auction vehicles are not to be removed until the auction is over. You have 1 week, or storage fees begin!
This is an evidence yard. All guests must stay within the designated boundaries. No alcohol and no smoking on County property. Small children must be supervised. No animals are permitted. PHOTOS PROHIBITED! Rule violators or
and the affordability crisis in New York drive people out. Crime also plays a role.
The overall job recovery in New York is lagging dramatically behind, and New York State Conservative Party Chairman, Jerry Kassar says, “That's largely due to the tax and business environment in New York.”
Kassar says, “A professional job in the New York City area can pay quite a bit but it does get eaten up by a variety of the government cost factors and private sector cost factors because you're paying higher taxes, higher rents right, everything is higher.”
“I think New York State is a good place to get an education and then it’s the place to leave to get a job, an affordable home, and lifestyle. These factors are leading service industry jobs, which are not wellpaying jobs, to be increasingly
Auction
disorderly persons are subject to removal from the property. You must follow proper procedure.
General Information
1. Vehicles with MV907a Salvage Certificates will require a physical inspection to be conducted by DMV prior to their registration & title issuance. DMV inspection fees may apply.
2. Vehicles without MV907a’s are sold on an SCPD Bill of Sale & may be registered at a local DMV office.
3. There will be a $20 fee for replacement sale documents (Bill of Sale &/or Odometer Statements)
Special Note
A Suffolk County Board of Ethics Ruling forbids County employees
dominant in New York State,” says Kassar.
“The jobs lag is due to companies that provide good jobs physically leaving the state. In some cases, individuals who were paying a ‘commuter tax’ by working in New York City can work at home out of Connecticut or New Jersey. These workers who formerly lived in NY, can now have the same job and live in a more affordable place with lower crime.”
Kassar adds, “There may be very little difference in the life of workers, as far as their interaction with their job, but there would be a significant difference as New York State perceives that role because they are really not working in New York State anymore. They are working out of a remote location which has been encouraged since COVID.”
Twelve Bellport High School seniors have earned the prestigious AP Capstone designation on their diplomas.
To earn this academic achievement, the students participated in their school’s AP Capstone program, in which they were required to earn a score of 3 or higher in two courses – AP Seminar and AP Research – and score similarly on four AP exams. Additionally, 16 students earned an AP Seminar and Research Certificate. To earn the certificate, the students were required to earn scores of 3 or higher in both AP Seminar and AP Research.
The district congratulates the following hardworking and dedicated students:
Twelve Bellport High School seniors have earned AP Capstone Diplomas and 16 students earned an AP Seminar and Research Certificate.
LOCAL They Will Never Forget
ByRobertChartuk
They gathered on the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks to make one thing clear: they will never forget those who lost their lives trying to save others.
Attending a special ceremony at the 9/11 Memorial Park in Patchogue, residents remembered those lost and how the nation came together after the terrorist attacks.
“The attacks of 9/11 did not weaken us; they were but a test and only served to unite us as a people,” said Joseph Vanemmerik, commander of VFW Post 2913 in Patchogue. “Today, the smoking rubble of the Twin Towers has been removed, and in its place stands the nation's tallest skyscraper and a memorial that continues to remind the nation of the resilience of its people. The scarred and scorched field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, has been healed by time and nature, and the destroyed halls of the Pentagon have been repaired and rebuilt,” he said of the sites attacked on 9/11.
Also attending the ceremony was Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano, who pointed out that more responders died after the 9/11 attacks from rare cancers and other related diseases than were killed directly by the cowardly terrorists.
“We must honor those who exhibited immense selflessness and bravery in the face of danger,” he said. “September 11, 2001, remains a
day every American will remember for the rest of their lives.”
Senator Dean Murray noted that there are no children currently in school that were born before 2001.
“We have to pass on and share the stories of what happened and who was lost,” he said. “We must pass on the importance of two words: Never forget.”
The ceremony’s keynote speaker was retired Air Force Col. David Lange, who went airborne to protect the nation immediately following the attacks. “It was a surreal experience,” he said of patrolling the skies for 27 days straight, not knowing if another attack would occur. The events led to President George Bush declaring Operation Enduring Freedom, the nation’s stepped-up effort against terrorism that saw the elimination of 9/11 mastermind Osama bin Laden.
Hosting the ceremony was Patchogue Mayor Paul Pontieri, who noted that the 9/11 park overlooking the Great South Bay was born of another tragedy. The village used federal funds in the wake of Hurricane Sandy to build the beautiful memorial.
Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Legislator Dominick Thorne, Brookhaven Councilman Neil Foley, and Jack Krieger, village trustee, were among the residents, veterans groups, and other organizations recognizing the solemn anniversary.
Credit: Robert Chartuk
ByStefanMychajliw
SCPD Participates in Tour de Force 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride
Current and former members of the Suffolk County Police Department recently participated in the Tour de Force 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride through Maryland and Delaware.
The event was a four-day, 280mile ride during which officers, family and friends come from around the country to participate and raise money for families of law enforcement members killed in the line of duty.
Among the riders were Suffolk County Police Department Deputy Inspector Michael Koubek, retired Sergeant Karen Ryan, retired Police
Officers John Gagliano, Jim Parker, and retired Detective Jim Demarco. They
Brookhaven Holds Solemn Ceremony on 9/11
Man on the Street Topic: The Trump-Harris Debate
I don’t think ABC handled it very well. Donald Trump got hardball questions, while Harris got softballs and wasn’t asked to explain anything about her failed record. This country is heading for financial demise under Biden and Harris, and it would be a disaster if she is allowed to continue running our country,” Anthony Frontino, Ridge
Trump should have corrected the misstatements from Harris. Everything she said should have been fact-checked by the moderators. He missed the opportunity to call her out on her lies.”
Steve Micozzi,
It was actually very disturbing since the vice president was able to freely lie without being checked by the moderators. Harris seemed like she knew she wouldn’t be challenged, forcing the other candidate to defend himself rather than talk about the issues.”
Richard Stevens, St. James
She ran across the stage for the handshake, and he seemed surprised. It caught him off guard as if a fan was coming up to him for an autograph. He started off looking shocked from that.”
Kathleen
Trump was beaten down by the moderators. It was the first time I’ve ever seen him tired. He did bounce back, and l believe he won the debate; he’s going to win the election as well.”
Trump was on the defensive the whole time. Harris played to his ego, and he fell for the trap. She kept her composure while he got angry, sometimes a little grumpy. His record speaks for itself about the direction the country should be taking.”
were joined by Patricia Mullen,
wife of late Detective Steve Mullen who died from a 9/11-related illness.
Credit: SCPD
Credit: SCPD
Credit: SCPD
Tour de Force 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride
Tour de Force 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride
Tour de Force 9/11 Memorial Bike Ride
ByRobertChartuk
The presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris
views. Here’s what some Long Islanders
Smithtown
Micozzi, Smithtown
Christine Stevens, St. James
Ginger Pagano, Patchogue
ByStefanMychajliw Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico led a memorial service to honor the nearly 3,000 people who
perished as a result of the 2001 terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York City; the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. and at Shanksville, Pennsylvania.
Credit: Town of Brookhaven
The ceremony, which was held at the 9/11 Memorial Garden at Brookhaven Town Hall, included the ringing of the fire bell by Chief Fire Marshal Chris Mehrman in memory of the first responders who heroically gave their own lives in the line of duty.
The events of September 11, 2001, instantly transformed America and forever changed the world. As terrorists hijacked aircraft, cowardly plunging them into the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and into the ground in a rural field in Pennsylvania, any innocence we once held as a nation was lost.
The certainty of events was there for all of us to see as nearly 3,000 innocent men, women, and children were killed, and more than 6,000 were wounded during the attacks on America. The motive and truth behind the deeds of the terrorists made it clear that America and freedom-loving people everywhere have enemies. Those enemies aren't guided by religious beliefs but by bigotry and intolerance, and they fear the very thing we draw inspiration from—freedom!
Tyrants and cowards and bullies of the world have misjudged the United States of America in the past. They have made a fatal mistake of assessing our strength of purpose and our national resolve. The forces that fed, nurtured, and eventually spawned the terrorist attacks on 9/11 made the same error in judgment. The attacks of 9/11 did not weaken us; they were but a test and only served to unite us as a people.
the smoking rubble of the Twin Towers has been removed, and in its place stands the nation's tallest skyscraper and a memorial that continues to remind the nation of the resilience of its people. The scarred and scorched field in Somerset County, Pennsylvania, has been healed by time and nature, and the destroyed halls of the Pentagon have been repaired and rebuilt.
The memories of the infamous events of that day are just as clear today as they were 23 years ago. And although years and even decades may pass, the memories of 9/11 will stay with us. None of us will forget
SCSD Honors Fallen
ByStefanMychajliw
Sunday, September 15th, 2024, would have been Deputy Gallo's birthday, making the tribute all the more meaningful to all of
day by continuing on with the same determination and sense of spirit exhibited by so many of our fellow citizens that day, including heroic acts, moments of valor, and courage beyond words shown by firefighters, police, and emergency personnel.
We may have been frightened by the terrorist attacks on 9/11, but America didn't surrender or succumb to fear. Our nation drew upon the same values that have carried American ideals from century to century, from one generation to another. Goodness will prevail over the forces of evil because what is life without freedom?
where they were and what they were doing when our world came to a screeching halt.
And because we remember, we will forever and always honor the memory of the men, women, and children who perished that
September 11th changed our perspective and the way we see the rest of the world. It has brought a new and sometimes harsh reality to us all. It has become evident that evil does exist in the world, and unless we are willing to make a stand against the surge of violence and evil aimed at our nation, we will be destroyed by it. Unless we stand strong, wickedness will prevail.
Over the past 23 years, America has continued to live up to its responsibilities to ensure that does not happen. This responsibility has brought with it a fresh reminder that freedom must never be underappreciated; it is never free. We have set an example and have put forth the effort and sacrifice in places like Afghanistan and Iraq to help see to it that people of those countries have the same opportunity to live in freedom and peace that we do.
For generations to come, Americans will look back to 9/11 and remember their responsibilities in preserving liberty and maintaining America's ideals, and in doing so, will do just as we are doing today: honoring the memory and the deeds of September 11th.
As we leave here today, join me in vowing to those here and to the world that we will do more than we did the day before to serve our communities and our nation. Thank you, and may we always stand together as proud Americans.
Brookhaven Animal Shelter to Host Oktoberfest Event on September 28
BySouthShorePressStaff
On September 28, the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center will be featured during Oktoberfest at the Millhouse Inn, located at 284 Mill Road in Yaphank. Doors open at noon. Visitors can meet dogs available for adoption, obtain Matchmaker Forms, get volunteer information, and make donations to support the shelter's animals. Guests will enjoy food, drinks, music, and more.
If unable to attend the Oktoberfest event at the Millhouse Inn, individuals are encouraged to visit the Brookhaven Animal Shelter and Adoption Center at 300 Horseblock Road in Brookhaven. The shelter's hours of operation are Monday through Friday
from 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
For more information, please call 631-451-6950 or
visit www.brookhavenny. gov/animalshelter to fill out a Matchmaker Form and set up a meet-and-greet with an adoptable dog.
Suffolk County Jobless Rates...
Continued from page 6
When fewer people are working "in the office," the trickle-down effect of job loss moves to all the ancillary businesses, such as coffee and lunch spots as well as any other business that thrives in a busy business district.
Nationally, Americans are seeing full-time jobs evaporate and part-time jobs grow.
“All of the net job growth in Aug was part-time employment (+527k), while full-time jobs
plummeted (-438k); we're hemorrhaging higher-paying jobs w/ benefits and replacing them with multiple parttime ones - these higher payroll numbers are a sign of impoverishment, not growth,” says EJ Antoni, Ph.D.
Many people have two or more part-time jobs to make ends meet. Adding to that is that native-born Americans are suffering job loss disproportionally as nonnative-born people become employed at growing rates.
Additionally, “August jobs report shows more pain for native-born Americans, who've lost more than 1.3 million jobs over the last year, while foreignborn workers have gained over 1.2 million jobs - the American worker has been left behind in this ‘recovery,’” Antoni says.
More than half of all jobs created in the past 12 months have been government jobs or government-related jobs in health care and, according to Antoni, are ”not at all sustainable”.
Today,
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Joseph Vanemmerik, Commander, VFW Post 2913, Patchogue
Suffolk County Sheriff's Deputies at First District Court came together to honor their fallen brother, Deputy Sheriff Joseph Gallo, by officially
dedicating the employee squad room in his memory.
Suffolk County.
Deputy
Credit: SCSD
Credit: SCSD
Squad Room Named in Honor of Deputy Sheriff Joseph Gallo
Squad Room Named in Honor of Deputy Sheriff Joseph Gallo
Continued from page 6
Directions
Suffolk County Police to Hold Vehicle Auction...
The SCPD Impound yard is located at 100 Old Country Rd. Westhampton. Go East on Sunrise Hwy. to Exit 61. Make right at traffic light (Eastport-Manor Rd). Proceed ½ mile. Turn left onto Old Country Rd. Proceed approximately 3 miles to Impound Unit. You will see SCPD sign on the left side.
2024 TÉRMINOS Y CONDICIONES DE LA SUBASTA
TODAS LAS VENTAS FINALES – VEHÍCULOS VENDIDOS “TAL CUAL” –SOLO EFECTIVO
Pago completo al momento de la venta para compras de hasta $2000. Las compras superiores a $2000 requieren el pago de $2000 más el 25% del saldo restante como depósito NO REEMBOLSABLE.
Ejemplo: Precio de venta $3000. El depósito son los primeros $2000 + $250 para un depósito total de $2250. Se requiere el pago completo y la retirada del vehículo dentro de 1 semana hábil o se agrega un cargo de almacenamiento de $30 por día al saldo adeudado. Se aceptan cheques bancarios certificados por la CANTIDAD EXACTA.
Es necesario registrarse para poder ofertar por vehículos. Si planea comprar un vehículo con el nombre de una empresa, debe presentar la tarjeta de identificación fiscal del Estado de Nueva York que muestre su número de identificación fiscal en el momento del registro.
Todos los compradores deben mostrar una identificación adecuada al momento de la compra o su oferta será anulada. Los compradores
EDITORIAL
deben tener 18 años o más. ¡La decisión del subastador es FINAL!
Las declaraciones del odómetro completadas están de acuerdo con las reglas del DMV del Estado de Nueva York "hasta donde yo sé, esta lectura del odómetro refleja el MILLAJE REAL como se VE en el odómetro". Los vehículos no podrán ponerse en marcha hasta que finalice toda la subasta.
El vehículo pasa a ser responsabilidad del comprador en el momento de la compra. El comprador asume la responsabilidad de los posibles gravámenes que puedan existir. Puede verificar el estado del gravamen en el sitio web del DMV del Estado de Nueva York.
¡Las facturas de venta son INTRANSFERIBLES! El comprador debe llevar su factura de venta y la copia incluida del AD a un DMV del estado de Nueva York para titular el vehículo dentro de los 30 días.
Los compradores deben proporcionar medios adecuados para remolcar el vehículo desde las instalaciones. NO se deben utilizar cuerdas ni correas de nailon para retirarlo. Los vehículos subastados no se retirarán hasta que finalice la subasta. ¡Tienes 1 semana o comienzan los cargos por almacenamiento!
Éste es un depósito de pruebas. Todos los huéspedes deben permanecer dentro de los límites designados. No se permite consumir alcohol ni fumar en la propiedad del condado. Los niños pequeños deben ser supervisados. No se permiten animales. ¡FOTOS PROHIBIDAS!
Los infractores de las reglas o personas que alteren el orden público están sujetos a expulsión de la propiedad. Debe seguir el
procedimiento adecuado. Información general
1. Los vehículos con Certificados de Salvamento MV907a requerirán una inspección física realizada por el DMV antes de su registro y emisión de título. Es posible que se apliquen tarifas de inspección del DMV.
2. Los vehículos sin MV907a se venden en una factura de venta SCPD y pueden registrarse en una oficina local del DMV.
3. Habrá una tarifa de $20 por el reemplazo de documentos de venta (factura de venta y/o estados de cuenta del odómetro)
Nota especial Una resolución de la Junta de Ética del Condado de Suffolk prohíbe a los empleados del Condado pujar en esta subasta. Esta norma se extiende al cónyuge del empleado y a sus hijos menores de 18 años.
Direcciones
El depósito de SCPD está ubicado en 100 Old Country Rd. Westhampton. Diríjase hacia el este por Sunrise Hwy. hasta la salida 61. Gire a la derecha en el semáforo (Eastport-Manor Rd). Continúe ½ milla. Gire a la izquierda en Old Country Rd. Continúe aproximadamente 3 millas hasta la Unidad Incautada. Verá el letrero SCPD en el lado izquierdo.
Hochul's Pension Sweetners...
Continued from page 3
“That was a bargain people could live with philosophically and financially,” says Kassar, “but then the equation flipped and salaries began to go up, elected officials began to vote themselves and other government employees raises, but the associated health and pension costs didn't go down.”
The bargain that had been made for generations began to slip away. “With pension reforms that made some effort to control costs being repealed, the bargain with the taxpayer is eroded even further, “ added Kassar.
“The Conservative party pushes back on these reform rollbacks, for sure. And, at the same time, we are clearly a group that has a very high opinion of uniform services, but we also know that there's no such thing as a free lunch – there has to be a balance somewhere. A balance between salary and benefits versus costs to the taxpayer have to be included in the discussions.”
According to Ken Girardin from Empire Center, “the share
Bigger Government Spending, Bigger Problems: An Analysis of the Federal Deficit
of private sector employees that have access to any sort of pension is dwindling. It was 20% in 2010 and is down to 15% in 2023.” It is not surprising that taxpayers with no pension might be upset about paying for lucrative pensions for others.
Girardin says that a provision in the latest New York State budget that was not paid much attention will, “also be the most costly: their change to state retirement rules will slam New York taxpayers with more than $4 billion in new debt, and immediately drive up local pension costs, by sweetening the pension benefits of public employees.”
“School districts and local governments would all see their pension costs rise, which would force them to either cut programs or raise taxes. The single most harmed employer is the city of New York,” Girardin added.
How did this happen? In a time when New York State, and local towns and cities across the state, are about to hit the financial
wall and taxpaying families are suffering in a poor economy with high inflation and already crushing taxes, how could Albany add more debt and tax burden to the citizens of New York and Suffolk County?
It happened because of consistent and strong pressure from the public employee unions and Albany politicians giving in to it to the detriment of every taxpayer.
Girardin says, “There is a very real danger that the legislature will continue going along with weakening the 2009 and 2012 pension reforms. The further we get in time past the global financial crisis, the more state lawmakers are forgetting the lessons that, that were learned.”
The fact remains that any rollbacks in pension reforms cost money – a lot of money. With New York losing population in droves, and tax revenue going with those that move, it is well past time that New York takes a hard look at the expense side of its budget.
ByHowardRoark
In fiscal year 2024 the United States will produce a $1.9 trillion federal deficit, an issue that continues to stir debate among economists and policymakers alike. According to economic analyst Nancy Lazar of Piper Sandler, this deficit is primarily driven by entitlement programs and interest payments, which are now significantly wider than trend and are having ripple effects across the economy. The growing gap between federal spending and revenue is not just a matter of fiscal policy but is having a profound impact on the nation’s long-term growth, private investment, and living standards.
The Deficit and Its Causes
One of the major concerns raised in Lazar’s analysis is how deficit spending, particularly on entitlements, is crowding out private investment. Entitlements
like Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, combined with interest payments on existing debt, are making up a substantial portion of the federal budget. This limits the availability of funds for other critical investments, especially capital expenditures (capex) by private businesses.
In the economic framework, this concept of “crowding out” refers to the government’s borrowing needs diverting resources away from private sector investments. When the government borrows more to finance its deficit, it competes with private entities for available capital, driving up interest rates and making it more expensive for businesses to borrow and invest in growth opportunities. This, in turn, places pressure on productivity, potential GDP, and ultimately, living standards.
The Real and Measurable Effects of Capex Crowding Out
Lazar emphasizes that the impact of this crowding out is both real and measurable. Capital expenditure is a critical driver of economic growth, as it contributes to the expansion of productive capacity, technological advancements, and labor productivity. When capital is diverted to cover government deficits rather than being used for private investments in factories, equipment, and innovation, it puts the brakes on the economy’s future potential.
The long-term consequences of reduced capex can be far-reaching. As productivity growth slows down, the economy’s potential to generate higher wages and improve living standards diminishes. This is a key concern for many economists, as declining productivity growth has been a persistent problem in the U.S. over the past few decades.
The Politics of Deficit Spending
In an election year, fiscal policy
often takes center stage. Lazar draws a parallel to James Carville’s famous quip during the 1992 presidential election, “it’s the economy, stupid”, suggesting that the real issue is not the deficit itself but the federal government’s outlays. She argues that mandatory spending, which includes entitlements and interest payments, has been steadily rising as a percentage of GDP, while government receipts, primarily tax revenue, have remained relatively stagnant.
This mismatch creates a cycle in which rising outlays and growing deficits continue to exert pressure on private investment and the broader economy. Ironically, as the economy slows and living standards stagnate, there is often political pressure for even more government spending to alleviate the immediate economic pain, further exacerbating the long-term problems.
Headwinds to Growth and Living Standards
Analysts warn that unless structural reforms are made to curb rising entitlement spending and address the growing debt burden, the U.S. economy will face increasing headwinds to growth and employment. As borrowing continues and the crowding out of private investment intensifies, the potential GDP, and by extension, the living standards of future generations, will be increasingly constrained.
In conclusion, the $1.9 trillion deficit is not just a fiscal number, but a reflection of deeper, structural challenges within the U.S. economy. As government outlays continue to rise and crowd out private investment, the longterm growth potential of the economy is being undermined, threatening both future prosperity and economic stability.
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
New York Special Olympics, Gold's Gym of Smithtown Lift up a Quartet of Weightlifters
Special Olympics New York held an award ceremony for four of its local weightlifters on Sunday, September 8. Janessa Lloyd, Michael Kessler, Scott Panet, and Daniel Fletcher all competed in “State’s” at the Ithaca College-hosted competition earlier this year, as part of “Team American Muscle.”
The ceremony was held at Gold’s Gym in Smithtown. Awards were given out for the following categories: squat, bench press and deadlift. Suffolk County Comptroller John M. Kennedy and Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy were in attendance.
Lloyd received silver medals in the squat, bench press and deadlift categories. Kessler also received silver medals for squat and bench press while garnering a fourth-place ribbon for deadlift. Fletcher received a fourth-place ribbon for squatting and silver for both bench pressing and deadlift.
Panel, the organization’s lone gold winner—for deadlift— also received a bronze medal for his squatting efforts and a silver medal in the bench press category.
Team American Muscle’s athletic representatives and its coaching staff each rode coach buses upstate and stayed in campus dormitories with meals all-included. The lifting
performances—which pitted the local quartet against other athletes across the state— were completed in a single date over Father’s Day weekend thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Fletcher and Panet competed at the national games in past years; assistant coach, Edna Fletcher, Daniel’s mother, detailed in conversation with The South Shore Press how the placing and selection process is actually pretty comparable to known standards.
“In any sport, especially now considering powerlifting, athletes train in that sport during that particular season. They compete in local competitions, and must do so in order to qualify
them for state competition. And from state competitions, once they medal, they (judges) really look at gold.”
“All the athletes are wonderful, they really work their hearts out,” she adds. “If they medal in gold in several of those events, that puts them in contention to go to the National Games… if they get an allotment from particular sports, they can then perform on the world stage.”
The Special Olympics’ international tournament will take place in Italy next year.
Per specialolympics.org, Edna knows about the power of sports—the good of inclusion and bad of exclusion—firsthand as a black, female athlete. For
Bayport-Blue Point High School Students Receive Academic Awards from College Board National Recognition Programs
ByStefanMychajliw
The Bayport-Blue Point School District is pleased to announce three Bayport-Blue Point High School students who have earned academic honors from the College Board National Recognitions Programs.
These programs celebrate high-performing students and showcase their strong academic performance.
To earn this honor, students must have a GPA of 3.3 or higher. They must have also performed outstandingly on the fall 2023 PSAT/NMSQT® or spring PSATTM 10 and score in the top 10% of test takers from their award program in their state.
From
College
They must also earn a three or higher on two or more distinct AP exams. These honors are an opportunity for students to share their strong academic achievements with colleges and scholarship programs that are seeking to recruit diverse talent.
All prospective coaches are subject to background checks and fingerprinting if necessary.
The oldest athlete amongst their current roster is 36, with the youngest powerlifter 19, having started at 16 years old herself. Fourteen-year-old athletes are eligible to lift as well.
After coordinating a resoundingly successful event in collaboration with the Special Olympics’ local chapter earlier this year ahead of the Ithaca Games, Gold’s Gym of Smithtown is proud to announce a second annual such occasion, set for March 30, 2025.
example, she recalls being laughed off the court for requesting more weight-training resources during her amateur basketball-playing days.
Now, she uses her post to help the next generation—both the athletes she is instructing in (1) muscle-building form and (2) comprehension of direction and a judge’s command—to reverse the unfortunate tides of a lessinformed past.
“I live by this motto,” she says, “there is no such thing as disability, rather varying degrees of abilities.”
Edna and her husband, Warren, head coach of the team, complement one another as an instructive duo, and in general, because she brings her athletic pedigree, whereas he primarily sports a theater and engineering background. “In coordinating, and in statistics, he sees things that I don’t see,” Edna said.
Additional coaches for Team American Muscle include Heath Lloyd and Elvia Salia, plus additional volunteers with prior experience coaching outside of the Special Olympics.
“We train our coaches just like we train our athletes,” said Warren, who, as a Special Olympics clinician, must sign off on all assistant coaches’ training. Together, Warren and Edna see to it that all safety measures and codes of conduct are 100% complied with, 100% of the time.
Edna proudly boasts that in all these years coaching, their staff has never trained an athlete who has gotten hurt under their supervision.
Their organization would like to let the greater community know that it is “absolutely and always” on the lookout for more coaches and especially more athletes.
Gold’s Gym general managers Maria Capitano, of Smithtown, and Susan Postel, of Center Moriches, began their partnership with what’s verifiably marketed as “the largest sports organization in the world” at a much earlier date. The Fletcher’s, originally from Deer Park, first called them up some fifteen years ago, seeking a location change.
The duo are happy to have provided Team American Muscle’s Special Olympiansin-training with ample space to regularly practice free of charge from the jump. “We’ve been married ever since,” Edna quipped.
Now, the Fletcher’s do not mind the trek to their beloved Landing Avenue facilities from their East Moriches neighborhood whatsoever; other than son Daniel, the furthest an athlete of theirs helms and travels from is Brentwood. They encourage all qualified Long Islanders and New York statesmen to take advantage of the local Special Olympics resources in their area and at their disposal—even if it’s not with them, though they sure are rooting for it.
“We turn down no one,” Edna iterates, “whatever athletes come to us, we meet that athlete where they are, and then help them progress.”
In March, Gold’s will temporarily shut down their free weight area once more as volunteers under their employ and, if the first annual is any indication, local organizations such as Smithtown High School West’s National Honor Society chapter, turn out to provide any assistance required.
Stay tuned for more community events coordinated by Gold’s Gym of Smithtown by following them on Instagram.
Credit: Special Olympics
“Team American Muscle"
Credit: Bayport-Blue Point School District
left,
Board National Recognition Award recipients Anna F., Lily F. and CJ K.
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
Senator Mattera, Other Leaders Thank Team Rubicon for Taking on Superstorm Aftermath
Shades of Irene and Sandy poured in last month, with 9 inches of rain on August 18 and 19 yielding massive damage to the Greater Long Island area–and even two deaths in Connecticut.
Suffolk County Comptroller John M. Kennedy, Legislator Leslie Kennedy, State Senator Mario R. Mattera, Suffolk County Director of Emergency Preparedness Joseph Trzepizur, Smithtown Councilwoman Lynne C. Nowick, Smithtown Superintendent of Highways Robert Murphy and Active Commissioner of Suffolk County Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services Rudy Sunderman were amongst those elected officials who gathered on Monday, September 9 to thank Team Rubicon for their substantial role in the county cleanup.
“I was extremely happy to join my fellow elected officials to show our appreciation to Team Rubicon for helping families in our region who were impacted by the devastating floods that hit our region in August,” Senator Mario R.
Mattera (St. James) told The South Shore Press. “Through the efforts of their Greyshirt volunteers, they are bringing hope and relief to our region and we can not thank them enough for their help.”
Founded in 2010, the veteranled humanitarian collective was expressly formed to respond to weather-based disasters and crises such as the latest. Their countrywide volunteer presence showed up in a big way for the county’s residents in the aftermath of the less-than-timely, wholly unwelcomed superstorm surge. Not only did its Long Island locals on the ground report in, but Rubicon volunteers coming from as north as Maine did as well.
After President Joe Biden declared a federal state of emergency in Suffolk County, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation initiated a direct request for Team Rubicon’s assistance. The organization wasted no time in getting to work; its operation was originally supposed to only last for one day, but due to the severity of the storm surge, was extended to five days.
“While many wait for the federal and state governments to get aid flowing to those impacted, Team Rubicon is working with Suffolk County officials to bring immediate assistance to our families. Our community was hit hard and Team Rubicon is delivering relief directly to our area and we could not be more thankful,” Mattera added.
Many homeowners from the North to South Shore have seen a return to normalcy after this sudden smash crept up on them weeks ago.
Still, avid hikers of dog-walking community staples like the Stump Pond-adjacent Blydenburgh County Park-cannot help but be reminded of the fallout, the dam breach still very much putting a hitch in their typical trails.
“What we have seen in the last day is an ecological, environmental and economic disaster for parts of northern Suffolk County,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine shared in a press conference at the time of the floods. “We have to take a look at our infrastructure, catalog it, not only to repair the damage that was done, but to plan ahead so
we don’t have a worse disaster in the next storm.”
As covered by The South Shore Press earlier this week, a workshop between scientists, engineers and representatives of local power and transportation utilities was held to facilitate a hyper-relevant discussion about the increasing frequency of severe weather and its impacts on infrastructure.
“The power system underpins many systems that support society,” said Martin Schoonen, Brookhaven Lab’s associate laboratory director for Environment, Biology, Nuclear Science & Nonproliferation.
Homecoming Weekend Kicks off in Center Moriches
ByStefanMychajliw
The Center Moriches school community kicked off homecoming weekend with a series of pep rallies.
The festivities began with a rally at Clayton Huey Elementary School. Varsity athletes from the high school visited while the Clayton Huey band and chorus performed as their peers on the Center Moriches PAL football and cheerleading teams were introduced on the field.
The elementary cheerleaders then performed routines and displayed their Center Moriches
pride.
Center Moriches High School held its pep rally. The fall season athletic teams were each introduced to the crowd while the marching band performed from the stands.
Additionally, the homecoming court was introduced to the high school. Throughout the weekend, each of the fall sports teams played their own homecoming game.
Additionally, Center Moriches High School held its annual bonfire and students marched in a homecoming parade.
Schoonen reminded attendees that while superstorms may still be relatively rare in the northeast, heavy rains capable of disrupting services are becoming more frequent.
“Brookhaven’s research in atmospheric and climate science is crucial in understanding the climate system at a fundamental level,” he added, insisting to attendees and the public at large that though northeast storms may be rare across history, a prospective uptick in these periods of heavy rain is both palpable, and more than capable of total disruption.
Credit: Legislator Leslie Kennedy "Team Rubicon"
William Floyd High School Opens National Honor Society Applications for 2024-25
Friday, October 18, 2024.
Physical copies of applications
BySouthShorePressStaff
The William Floyd High School Honor Society Colonial Chapter Charter #7567 is now accepting applications for the 2024-25 school year.
The National Honor Society (NHS) seeks seniors, juniors, and sophomores who are enthusiastic about their studies, have a desire to serve, promote worthy leadership, and encourage the development of character in themselves and their fellow students.
To meet the NHS scholarship requirement, students must have achieved a cumulative average of 90% (weighted) or higher and not have failed any course. Freshmen will not be considered for membership. The average of 90% or higher must be verified by a guidance counselor; an exact grade point average is not necessary.
Applications can be accessed online via the provided link to review GPA and extracurricular requirements for membership. The deadline for submission is
Bayport-Blue Point High School Announces National
Merit Semifinalist
ByStefanMychajliw
Over 1.3 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 PSAT, which served as an initial screen of program entrants.
George achieved a quite impressive and perfect score of 1520 on
The nationwide pool of semifinalists, representing less than 1% of United States high school seniors, includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state.
George will continue in hopes of becoming a finalist and ultimately, a National Merit Scholarship winner. Finalists will be announced in February 2025.
are also available in the main office and guidance office. Completed applications can be
submitted to Mr. Alfredson in room 206 or Ms. Penney in room 142.
WFHS Announces Pre-Order Availability for 2024-25 Yearbooks
BySouthShorePressStaff
William Floyd High School 2024-25 yearbooks are available for pre-order.
Students can follow the provided link to order a yearbook, book a personalization ad, and more. For any questions, students are advised to see Dr. I. in Room 228 or Mrs. Bloch in Room 260.
William Floyd High School's Business Academy Featured on LI News Radio
BySouthShorePressStaff
William Floyd High School Business Academy chairperson
Ms. Jacqueline Giacalone was recently featured on “Spotlight on LI Schools,” a weekly program on LI News Radio that highlights notable developments in Long Island's schools. During her appearance, Ms. Giacalone discussed the various opportunities available to students through the Business Academy at William Floyd High School, emphasizing how these programs prepare students for post-graduation success.
The program is sponsored by the Nassau-Suffolk School Boards Association (N-SSBA) and hosted by Robert Vecchio, executive director of N-SSBA and former William Floyd Board of Education trustee and president. In their discussion,
Ms. Giacalone and Mr. Vecchio explored the Business Academy’s offerings, which are designed to meet elective requirements while developing essential college- and careerrelated skills.
During the interview, Mr. Vecchio asked Ms. Giacalone for her top advice to parents as their children enter freshman and sophomore years at William Floyd High School.
Ms. Giacalone responded: “Start with Personal Finance - that is the most important class,” noting that many parents wish their children had better financial management skills.
The Personal Finance course covers topics, such as balancing a checkbook, writing checks, savings accounts, insurance, investing, and more.
In addition to Personal Finance, other courses offered
by the William Floyd High School Business Academy include College & Career Prep, Accounting, College Accounting, Business of Music, Business Ownership & Management, College Business Law, College Business Math, Entertainment Marketing, Everyday Law, Fashion Marketing, International Business (English & Spanish), Leadership by Design, Math Applications, The Office (business administration), Real Estate Reality (real estate principles), Social Media Marketing Strategies (social media marketing), Sports Marketing Management (sports marketing), Video Game Design Principles (video game design), Virtual Enterprise Simulation (virtual enterprise simulation), Wall Street Analysis (financial markets analysis), Wealth Management Planning (wealth management strategies), and Web Design Techniques (web design).
College credit is available for numerous courses within the academy, which also offers three graduation pathways: Accounting; Small Business Management; and Microsoft Office Specialist certification. Listeners can tune into this edition of "Spotlight on LI Schools," aired on August 31st on 103.9 FM.
Credit: WFHS
Credit: WFHS
William Floyd High School Business Academy Featured on LI News Radio
Credit: WFHS
Bayport-Blue Point High School senior George Rogers IV on being named a semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program, a prestigious academic honor bestowed on a small percentage of students across the country.
his PSAT.
Credit: Bayport Blue Point School District Counselor Matthew Birdsall (left) pictured with George Rogers IV, semifinalist in the National Merit Scholarship Program, and Bayport-Blue Point High School Principal Jamal Walcott (right).
Smithtown Promise Shared with Students
ByStefanMychajliw
The Smithtown Central School District, under the direction of Superintendent Dr. Mark Secaur, is introducing, The Smithtown Promise.
The new initiative serves as a reminder that each and every one of “our students has dignity, belongs here, has the capacity to
make a positive difference and can excel,” said Secaur.
“The Smithtown Promise outlines four principles and 16 habits for adults and young people to establish and nurture,” he continued. “These principles and habits will be reinforced throughout the school system and will allow us to better create a
culture of dignity for our students.”
The four principles are: Your dignity is a given. You belong here. You are a difference maker, and You were made to excel.
The Smithtown Promise is rooted in research-based practices. It reflects a focus on engaging the community in support of the established vision and values of
the Smithtown Central School District.
One can find the Smithtown Promise on the school website: Smithtown.k12.ny.us
Brookhaven School District Announces Opening Amid Ongoing Weather Monitoring
BySouthShorePressStaff
Brookhaven School District will be open on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. The district will continue to monitor weather conditions and will make a decision regarding Thursday's schedule on Wednesday evening. Officials advise staying weather aware and checking the district's website and social media for school-related updates.
Senior Honors College student Rachel Alexandre has been awarded the Voyager Scholarship, the Obama-Chesky Scholarship for Public Service. Alexandre, who is pursuing a double major in globalization studies and international relations and political science, with a minor in creative writing and literature, is one of only 100 students nationwide selected for the 20242026 cohort.
The Voyager Scholarship, created by President Barack Obama and Brian Chesky, cofounder and CEO of Airbnb, was designed to support future leaders dedicated to public service. It provides recipients with financial aid to alleviate college debt, meaningful travel experiences to expand their horizons, and a network of mentors and leaders to support them. For Alexandre, who is passionate about community service and international travel, the scholarship felt like a perfect fit.
“I found this scholarship through an Instagram ad, and when I learned more, it felt like everything I love — helping communities and traveling — combined,” shared Alexandre.
“I’ve been on two study abroad programs with Stony Brook, and I love traveling. This was a perfect match for me. I really love community service and volunteering, so I got to work on the application right away.”
Alexandre’s passion for helping underserved communities began as a child when community service was emphasized by her family.
Now she plans to use her Voyager journey to focus on equity and resource allocation. Though her destination is still in the planning stages, her commitment to social justice is clear.
“Food insecurity is a problem that happens everywhere, even in developed nations like the U.S.,” Alexandre explained. “It’s not just about where I go; it’s about the impact I can make when I get there.”
Her experience studying abroad has prepared her for this challenge. After her freshman year, she participated in a Stony Brook program in Geneva, Switzerland, engaging with United Nations organizations, including the World Health Organization and the World Trade Organization. She studied in Greece the following year.
Alexandre also holds a student leadership role at Stony Brook’s Center for Civic Justice (CCJ), where she has worked for several semesters. “At CCJ, we focus a lot on voter registration, educating
people about their rights, and fostering community dialogue,” she said.
“Rachel Alexandre has served as an undergraduate coordinator for the CCJ for the past academic year," said Ashley Liegl, assistant director of the CCJ. "She has helped lead our institutionalized voter registration efforts...I truly admire her commitment."
“Rachel Alexandre is an outstanding example of the great potential our Stony Brook students hold for global impact through scholarship and service,” said Interim President Richard L.
McCormick.
In addition to her work at CCJ, she is involved in various other activities, including working as a box office assistant at the Staller Center for the Arts.
While considering postgraduate options, Alexandre knows that her future will involve giving back to the community. “Public service is definitely the path for me,” she said.
The Voyager Scholarship aims to develop leaders passionate about creating positive change. “I still can’t believe it,” Alexandre said upon learning of her selection.
Last Call for Class of 2025 Senior Portraits Scheduled for October
BySouthShorePressStaff
The last call for Senior Portraits to be booked at the high school is scheduled for October 22, 23, and 24. The sessions will take place in the west gym. Any sessions after these dates must be booked directly at the studio in Farmingdale. Students are encouraged to visit schedule.prestigeportraits.com to book their appointments.
Attention members of the future William Floyd High School Class of 2025: it is time to schedule your senior portrait appointment. During July, Prestige Portraits/ Lifetouch will be at William Floyd High School on July 10, July 11, and July 12, as well as August 20, 21, 22, and 23 to take senior portraits for the class of 2025. Families should receive a brochure in the mail containing a unique code used to schedule appointments online at www.prestigeportraits.com.
For those who do not have a code or did not receive the brochure in the mail, they can use an alternative link
school by
for
and state (New York) to schedule an appointment. If students cannot attend any of the listed dates, make-up opportunities will be announced later in the fall.
Credit: Stoney Brook University
Rachel Alexandre
Credit: brookhavenschools.org
Credit: WFHS
Senior Portraits
BySouthShorePressStaff
This past summer, seven William Floyd High School students participated in Stony Brook University’s inaugural “A Taste of the Trades” program. The initiative aimed to provide handson learning experiences in fields such as construction, clean-energy production, and infrastructure development while introducing job opportunities supporting sustainability.
The program's curriculum was divided into three key areas. For two weeks, students focused on solar power and energy storage at Brookhaven National Laboratory, gaining insights into technologies essential for sustainable energy.
Following this, they spent another two weeks at Stony Brook University exploring offshore wind
High School Students Participate in Inaugural Careers Program at Stony Brook University
energy and power grid operations.
This segment concluded with a NYSERDA-led Offshore Wind Open House and Apprenticeship Event, allowing students to network with potential employers.
In the final part of the program, students visited Suffolk County Community College’s Advanced Manufacturing Center. There, they learned advanced manufacturing techniques, including soldering, welding, and CVC machining.
Field trips during this period included visits to Haugland Group’s headquarters and the National Grid Northport Power Plant.
Participants were compensated $16 per hour for their involvement.
At the end of the summer, a graduation ceremony was held at Stony Brook University’s Center of Excellence in Wireless and
Information Technology. Students shared their experiences and received certificates marking their successful completion of the program.
DeMarco Campbell, a junior from William Floyd High School, highlighted his experience: "My favorite part was the hands-on aspects and the opportunity to learn about welding." He expressed an interest in pursuing underwater welding as a future vocation.
William Floyd High School participants included Aiden Burgos, DeMarco Campbell, Malaki Daniels, Ryan Hugo, Anthony McDonald, Jordyn Novotny, and Raymond Ringgold III.
Special acknowledgments were given to partners, including Stony Brook University, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Suffolk
County Community College, Suffolk County Department of Labor Licensing and Consumer Affairs; The Haugland Group LLC; New York Power Authority (NYPA); New York State Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); Orsted; Whymaker; and National Grid Offshore Wind.
Thanks were also extended to Allison Wiegand (Chairperson Career and Technical Education), Robert Felicetta (Assistant Principal), CTE district site coordinator for William Floyd School District, and Steven Rendino (CTE instructor) for their efforts throughout the summer.
Stony Brook University Student Wins Ann Marie Brown Memorial Scholarship
BySouthShorePressStaff
Hamnah Khan, a master of health administration graduate student at Stony Brook University, has been selected as the 2024 Ann Marie Brown Memorial Scholarship recipient. This $2,000 scholarship is awarded annually by the Nassau-Suffolk Hospital Council (NSHC) and its Communications Committee.
Khan earned her bachelor of science degree in health science with a concentration in healthcare management this past spring from Stony
Brook
Her
administration crystalized while serving as an administrative intern for
Ronald McDonald House Charities Hosts Fundraising Run for New Facility
BySouthShorePressStaff
Ronald McDonald House
Charities New York Metro is organizing “Anthony’s Red Shoe Fund Run” on Sunday, October 13, to support its capital campaign for a new $30 million house at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.
Scheduled to open in 2026, the facility will offer a safe and comfortable environment for families of hospitalized children. The 60,000-squarefoot center will provide nocost housing, respite, meals, and hospitality services near the hospital. This will be the
first Ronald McDonald House in Suffolk County and only the second on Long Island.
Check-in and day-of-race registration begins at 9 a.m., with the race starting at 10 a.m. at the Student Activities Center at Stony Brook University. The registration fee includes a T-shirt and access to an afterevent patio party, featuring music and food trucks. Prizes will be awarded in various age group categories and team categories.
Registration for the race can be completed online. For more information, email lisa. muratori@stonybrook.edu.
Northwell Health’s Family Medicine Service Line. She assisted in various operational duties at the health system’s Backstretch Employee Service Team Healthcare Clinic at Belmont Racetrack. To help the administrative team enhance knowledge between team members, Khan established the use of REDCap project dashboards and trained administrators in its use.
Khan has to her credit a long list
of volunteer accomplishments, including coordinator for the Muslim Girls’ Youth Group at the Selden Mosque, serving as a summer camp counselor, and holding several leadership roles with the Muslim Interscholastic Tournament, an educational nonprofit that offers annual, regional and national tournaments for high school students.
The Ann Marie Brown Memorial Scholarship has
been awarded since 1994 and commemorates the late vice president for government and public affairs at the Hospital Council. Brown served in this role from 1983-1993. The scholarship is offered to a college junior, senior, or post-graduate student who is both a resident of Long Island and studies communications/marketing, journalism, or healthcare administration. For more specific information, visit www. nshc.org.
Stony Brook University Commemorates Alumni Lost on September 11
BySouthShorePressStaff
Stony Brook University community members gathered on the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 attacks to remember the alumni who tragically lost their lives on that day. At the Memorial Arch, located near the Humanities Building, the campus came together for reflection, remembrance, and healing.
At exactly 8:46 a.m. — the time the first plane hit the World Trade Center on September 11 — the campus chimes rang 21 times to represent each of the alumni lost that day. Members of the campus community visited the Memorial Arch throughout the day for quiet contemplation and reflection and to place a white rose in the grove of trees
planted to remember and honor the legacies of the fallen alumni.
“Time has not dimmed our memories or eased the pain of loss, and as we join together as a campus community, our shared experiences can offer a tremendous source of strength,” said Stony Brook University Interim President Richard McCormick in a message to the campus community. “In times of hardship, let us remember that our greatest asset is each other.”
The Memorial Arch, a gift from the Stony Brook Alumni Association, stands as a tribute to the 21 fallen Seawolves.
Designed by Milton Glaser in collaboration with Nicholas Fasciano, it is a 12-foot-high, 8-foot-wide structure made of two brass beams connected by brass branches and leaves.
Engraved down the sides of the arch are the names of those who were lost: Joanne Ahladiotis; Jean A. Andrucki; Michael A. Bane; Carlton W. Bartels; William F. Burke Jr.; Michel P. Colbert; Stephen M. Fogel; Steven E. Furman; Richard S. Gabrielle; Kuifai (Raymond) Kwok; Edward J. Mardovich; Rudy Mastrocinque; Michael P. McDonnell; Manika Narula; Christopher M. Panatier; John W. Perry; Lisa J. Raines; Jonathan S. Ryan; Margaret M. (Walier) Seeliger; Peter A. Siracuse; and Walwyn W. Stuart Jr.
These 21 Seawolves were part of the greater tragedy of 9/11, which claimed 2,977 lives. Their memories are honored annually as part of a shared national moment of remembrance.
Ryan Hugo, DeMarco Campbell, Jordyn Novotny, Anthony McDonald, Raymond Ringgold III and Malaki Daniels (not pictured Aiden Burgos); Steven Rendino, CTE instructor; and Judith Brown Clarke, vice president, Stony Brook University.
Credit: WFHS
University.
passion for healthcare
Credit: Stony Brook University Hamnah Khan
ByBethSquire
Stony Brook University has introduced updated "Red Hot" donation bins as part of its longstanding clothing recycling program. These new bins feature enhanced signage and messaging to clarify what can be donated and explain the destination of these donations, aiming to ensure the community understands the impact of their contributions on sustainability and social welfare.
The revamped program includes scannable QR codes on the bins that direct users to the Stony Brook recycling website. "We wanted to make sure it’s clear what’s accepted and what’s not, and where the clothes are going once donated," said Facilities and Services Manager Michael Youdelman, who oversees the recycling program.
Stony Brook University Updates Clothing Recycling Program with New Donation Bins
In partnership with Wearable Collections, a New York City-based waste management company that owns the campus clothing recycling bins and collects donations every two weeks, the program accepts clothing, shoes, and other textiles. This initiative aims to divert waste from landfills while giving preworn clothes a new life for those in need.
"Even if it’s torn, we encourage people to donate it. Clothing and fabric is a commodity, just like paper or metal. It can be repurposed into things like writing paper or even filler," Youdelman explained. He emphasized that clean items in any condition are welcome due to the environmental and social benefits of the program.
According to Wearable Collections' website, about half of the items donated are sold while the
rest are recycled: "What we collect travels to a sorting facility where it is evaluated for its secondary uses. About 50% of collections will be reused as clothing and sold in secondhand markets throughout
the world, providing access to affordable apparel. The rest are upcycled as rags or shredded into fiber products used for purposes like insulation, carpet padding, and mattress stuffing."
The university collects around 10 tons of material annually through this program. Efforts are underway to increase participation by educating more students, faculty, and staff about its benefits.
Plans include expanding the number of bins across campus, particularly on East Campus. "It’s free to use, and it helps keep waste out of landfills," said Youdelman. "We all have clothes we don’t use anymore, and by donating to the bins, we’re helping the environment and helping others while keeping waste out of landfills."
"It’s important for our community members to see that recycling is a core part of our culture here at Stony Brook," Youdelman added. "We embrace our students and staff, and we know that if we do our part, they’ll do theirs and carry the recycling torch forward."
Stony Brook's ASA Launches New Initiatives for Enhanced Student Engagement
BySouthShorePressStaff
Dawn Villacci, director of Engagement and Guest Experience, is on a mission to connect with students and staff at Stony Brook University and enhance their campus experience through the Auxiliary Services Association (ASA). Her goal is clear: to make every interaction with ASA extraordinary.
With the launch of ASA’s new Engagement and Guest Experience department, ASA has transformed how the campus community engages with the services provided on campus. “Through events and focus groups, we actively listen to our guests to tailor our services to their needs. We want the community to be part of the conversation and collaborate with ASA to showcase the talents and contributions that our students, faculty, and staff bring to our campus,” explained Villacci.
ASA’s new initiative for enhancing engagement through interactive events helps gather valuable feedback to better understand the needs and preferences of the campus
community. “Your voice matters,” Villacci emphasized. “We’re here to listen and make it count. Together, we can create unforgettable moments that elevate your campus life experience.”
During Welcome Week, the ASA Engagement office hosted programs including Paint Night, Bingo, Hydroponic Gardening, Commuting Confidently, and Getting to Know the SBU Eats dining program. Many of these programs were hosted in new reservable spaces developed this summer by ASA, such as the comfortable seating area at J-Club at Jasmine in the Charles B. Wang Center and the Lounge at East Side Dining.
Villacci, a graduate of Stony Brook University who completed degrees in 1991 and 2014, believes that creating a platform where everyone can freely share their ideas will continually improve essential services.
One recent program featured a lecture by Stony Brook University alum Heather Wickham ’24 on her living wall project for J-Club. Students participating in this
workshop painted flower pots for spider plants while learning about indoor plants' stress-reducing benefits.
ASA's programs aim to foster a closer connection between students and campus life so that their time at Stony Brook feels like home. The Cooking from Home program pairs students with SBU
Eats chefs to cook authentic family recipes shared with the campus community.
By providing diverse programs, workshops, and events, ASA seeks to foster a sense of belonging by creating an environment where everyone can connect, learn, and thrive in a supportive community.
Upcoming programs include
an Artisan Market for student entrepreneurs, a Shop Red Fashion Show, an Open Mic Night, and an Open House Celebration at the new ASA Hub.
For more information or collaboration opportunities on programming initiatives, contact dawn.villacci@stonybrook.edu.
Stony Brook University Celebrates National Postdoc Appreciation Week
BySouthShorePressStaff
The Graduate School and Office of Postdoctoral Affairs at Stony Brook University are set to celebrate National Postdoc Appreciation Week (NPAW). This annual event aims to recognize the invaluable contributions that postdocs make to the university and the broader research community. The Stony Brook community is invited to participate in a series of events designed to foster connection, promote wellness, and highlight the significant role of postdocs in advancing knowledge and innovation.
Postdoctoral scholars, or “postdocs,” are individuals engaged in a defined period of mentored training following the completion of their terminal degrees. These scholars play a crucial role in the university’s research endeavors, particularly in life and biomedical sciences. Nationwide, there are approximately 72,000 postdocs, with most working in academic
Credit: Stony Brook University
National Postdoc Appreciation Week 2024 at Stony Brook University
research.
In celebrating NPAW 2024, Stony Brook acknowledges and appreciates the dedication and hard work of its postdocs. Their efforts advance the frontiers of knowledge and contribute significantly to the growth and success of Stony Brook University.
The schedule for NPAW 2024 includes various events from
September 16 to September 20:
- Tabling: Engage with fellow postdocs for a chance to win prizes while learning about resources and opportunities at Stony Brook University.
- Postdoc Wellness Workshop –RSVP required.
- Postdoc Appreciation Social – RSVP required: Network and celebrate with peers.
Dawn Villacci, Director of Engagement and Guest Experience, Auxiliary Services Association
ByRobertEmproto
Stony Brook University’s Simons STEM Scholars Program
marked the signing of its second cohort (S2) of students this past May at the Simons Foundation’s Flatiron Institute in New York City. In July, these students participated in a six-week Summer Bridge Program at Stony Brook designed to prepare them for their upcoming academic journey.
The incoming class of 50 scholars was selected from a pool of 1,000 applicants. With an average SAT score of 1410 and an average grade point average of 95, the scholars represent the top 5% of high school students. Executive Director Erwin Cabrera highlighted the significance of this growth for the program.
“We had 29 students in our first class and these 50 students bring us to 79,” he said. “And it’s going to grow from there. We have to make sure we can support them.”
The Summer Bridge program provided students with an introduction to college life at Stony Brook before starting their first year. During the
Simons STEM Scholars Welcomes Second Cohort with Summer Bridge Program
program, they took courses in mathematics and psychology and were introduced to other aspects of university life.
“There were research talks, seminars, leadership pathways, and we did site visits to various research institutions,” said Cabrera. “They worked with an offshore wind company at CEWIT (Center for Excellence, Wireless and Information Technology) and we had faculty from all over campus come speak to our students, from every college and from every discipline. But they also went out and had some fun. And I think that’s really important for Bridge in particular, for them to understand that there is a balance between academics and having fun.”
Cabrera noted that a larger class allowed for more specialized site visits tailored to different majors.
“A larger class meant we could specialize things in a different way,” said Cabrera. “We divided them up by their majors and areas of interest. One group went to Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. One group went to Brookhaven National Laboratory. Another
group went to Stony Brook’s medical center.”
“Summer Bridge is a transformative experience that is indescribable,” said Natasha McCombs, Summer Bridge coordinator and academic advisor.“Fifty voices shined, laughed, and cried, and those same 50 individuals became a cohort.”
“To be challenged is to be changed,” said cohort member Emily Scherl. “That definitely rang true this summer."
“It was genuinely challenging but made me more prepared for college,” added Walter Benitez.
After a successful first year, Cabrera emphasized that each class will have its own unique characteristics.
“Every class has its own dreams, visions, and personalities,” he said. “It’s about adapting year-toyear... The program will evolve with each new cohort.”
Stony Brook Hosts National Water Acoustics Research Bootcamp
ByAngelinaLivigni
Stony Brook Southampton recently hosted a bootcamp where students from across the country collaborated on underwater acoustics research. Participants conducted experiments to transmit, sense, and measure different underwater acoustic signals. Funded by the Office of Naval Research, Dean Andrew Singer of the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences (CEAS) organized the weeklong activity alongside Professor Joseph Warren from the School of Marine and Atmospheric Sciences and Professor Grant Deane from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography.
“The students had a hands-on, experiential learning opportunity that started with work in the laboratory,” said Singer. “They learned to calibrate acoustic hydrophones and transducers, then took this knowledge into underwater testbeds at the Stony Brook Marine Science Station in Southampton. They then designed and fielded underwater acoustic communications experiments at sea, in the Atlantic Ocean, and off the coast of Long Island, aboard two of our research vessels.”
The bootcamp allowed students to engage with underwater acoustic equipment
and collaborate with peers from various universities across the northeastern United States. Attendees came from institutions such as Northeastern, Penn State, the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, MIT, and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution.
Divided into five groups, participants worked on similar experiments but rotated team members daily for a comprehensive experience. While students handled most hands-on tasks, professors provided their expertise.
The objective was to calibrate equipment and measure how well communication signals could be transmitted and detected through ocean waters. The final day involved an excursion into the Atlantic Ocean off Long Island's coast. Two boats were used: one transmitted a communication signal using an underwater speaker while another received it using an array of hydrophones. Students measured how effectively the receiver array detected and decoded the transmitted signal.
The event offered students a unique chance to design and conduct their own experiments rather than analyzing borrowed data. This initiative took over a year to plan.
Yongjie Zhuang, a postdoctoral
“And following in their footsteps," he added,"our second class is also coming in with a multitude of research experiences."
The Simons STEM Scholars Program is funded by the Simons Foundation and Simons
Foundation International following a $56.6 million donation from Jim Simons and his wife Marilyn in 2022 aimed at increasing diversity in STEM fields.
“This program is also about increasing our recognition not only nationally but globally,” said Cabrera.
First Neutrinos Detected at Fermilab Short-Baseline Detector
BySouthShorePressStaff
Scientists working on the Short-Baseline Near Detector (SBND) at Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory have identified the detector’s first neutrino interactions.
Cabrera mentioned that almost 70% of the S1 group were accepted into summer research programs outside Stony Brook at institutions such as Yale, Texas A&M, Carnegie Mellon, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Missouri.
The SBND collaboration has been planning, prototyping, and constructing the detector for nearly a decade. After a few months of carefully turning on each of the detector subsystems, they achieved their long-awaited goal.
researcher at Stony Brook University who helped coordinate the bootcamp remarked: “So many of the new students and grad students probably have worked on underwater acoustic signal processing for some time, like a few years, but they didn’t have the actual hands-on chance to do those experiments... But this bootcamp can give everybody a chance to actually do these experiments.”
Participants faced challenges during their experiments that required quick adaptation. Manan Mittal, a graduate student at Stony Brook University who attended the event said: “If something goes wrong, it’s up to you to fix it... Because if you are out on the water without the professors, then that’s exactly what we would need to do.”
Beyond technical skills, students developed greater enthusiasm for underwater acoustics research. “Part of the goal was to get not only me but also other students excited about underwater acoustics research,” said Mittal. “I’m quite interested in the material now.”
Professor Deane plans another bootcamp in San Diego for West Coast students in upcoming months. Stony Brook University also aims to host this East Coast bootcamp again next year.
“It isn’t every day that a detector sees its first neutrinos,” said David Schmitz, co-spokesperson for the SBND collaboration and associate professor of physics at the University of Chicago. “We’ve all spent years working toward this moment and this first data is a very promising start to our search for new physics.”
SBND completes Fermilab’s Short-Baseline Neutrino (SBN) Program and will play a critical role in solving longstanding mysteries in particle physics. The construction was an international effort involving 250 physicists and engineers from Brazil, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The Standard Model is currently the best theory explaining fundamental particles and forces but remains incomplete. Over the past 30 years, multiple experiments have observed anomalies hinting at a potential new type of neutrino.
Neutrinos are abundant yet difficult to study due to their weak interactions with matter. They come in three types: muon, electron, and tau. These particles can oscillate between these types as they travel.
Previous experiments showed discrepancies in expected versus observed neutrino counts. “That could mean that there's more than the three known neutrino flavors,” explained Fermilab
scientist Anne Schukraft. “Unlike the three known kinds of neutrinos, this new type wouldn’t interact through the weak force.”
Fermilab's Short-Baseline Neutrino Program aims to search for such oscillations using SBND as its near detector and ICARUS as its far detector. A third detector called MicroBooNE also contributed by recording particle collisions until 2021.
The SBN Program's design allows precise measurement comparisons between nearsource and post-oscillation neutrinos without assumptions about initial beam composition. “Understanding anomalies seen by previous experiments has been a major goal in the field for the last 25 years,” said Schmitz.
Beyond searching for new neutrinos alongside ICARUS, SBND offers an extensive physics program due to its proximity to Fermilab’s beamline—seeing 7,000 interactions per day. This data will help future experiments like DUNE better understand complex argon-neutrino interactions.
“We will collect 10 times more data on how neutrinos interact with argon than all previous experiments combined,” said Ornella Palamara, Fermilab scientist and co-spokesperson for SBND.
SBND may also detect other phenomena outside of standard particle models potentially linked to dark matter—a major unsolved question in physics. Lightweight theoretical particles might be produced in Fermilab’s beam providing insight into these dark sector models.
“These neutrino signatures are only the beginning for SBND,” added Palamara. The collaboration will continue operating and analyzing millions of collected interactions over several years.
“Seeing these first neutrinos is just the start,” she concluded.
Cuomo Called to Task on COVID STATE
ByRobertChartuk
It’s personal between Andrew Cuomo and myself. His decision to send COVID patients into nursing homes probably cost my aunt her life and caused untold heartbreak and grief for many others, including a college friend who lost his mother, father, and brother all in the same week when Cuomo brought the virus to their facility.
I covered the pandemic extensively for the South Shore Press and followed this blowhard politician’s every move after the coronavirus hit our shores. Like everyone else in his party, he
refused to even consider that the virus came from the Wuhan lab in China, where they did research on this very pathogen. He subscribed to the debunked theory that COVID passed from an animal to a human, probably from a pangolin at the wet market right next to the lab. Anyone who didn’t believe this and the many other pandemic myths were called "conspiracy theorists" by Cuomo and attacked by his supporters.
At first, Cuomo said he thought President Trump was doing a good job with the pandemic, but soon realized he could put himself in the spotlight instead. He went
before the news cameras daily to show the world how great of a job he was doing. In fact, his COVID leadership saga was supposedly so compelling that he was given a $5.1 million book deal to tell the world about it. That got him into hot water with the New York State Joint Commission on Public Ethics, which fined him for using state personnel to write the book for him when they should have been working for the people.
Trump sent the Navy ship Comfort to New York to isolate the COVID patients from the general public and give them the care they needed. Huge treatment facilities
Congress Cites Cuomo COVID Catastrophe
ByRobertChartuk
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s actions that resulted in the deaths of thousands of New Yorkers were laid bare by a special congressional committee that demanded he apologize to all of the families who lost loved ones during the COVID crisis.
“Mr. Cuomo and his team were involved in the decision to issue New York’s disastrous March 25 Directive, and then, acted repeatedly to downplay the tragic aftermath of their decision,” the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic said in a 48-page report. Its members on both sides of the political aisle denounced the scandal-plagued Democrat for his “lack of empathy and callous remarks related to undercounted mortality rates in nursing homes.”
As the COVID-19 virus began sweeping across the state, Cuomo acquiesced to the request of his largest political donor, the hospital industry, and issued the March 2020 “must-admit” order allowing them to move infected patients to nursing homes. Families not allowed to see their elderly loved ones were horrified when they began dying in great numbers.
“My father went in for rehab after a minor procedure and called us to say, ‘Get me out of here,’” said Tracy Alvino, whose father, Daniel Alvino, soon contracted COVID and died. “He said people were coughing all over the place, ambulances were coming and going. He told us that if we didn’t get him out of there, he was going to die. Governor Cuomo must be held accountable for this,” said Alvino, who traveled from Long Island to witness his appearance before Congress.
Cuomo took to the airwaves daily to garner praise for his “leadership” during the crisis, and when he was finally held to account before Congress, attempted to shift the blame to President Trump. None of what the committee concluded was
mentioned in his book, which earned him a $5.1 million advance and criticism that he used his government staff to write it. He eventually resigned from office after a spate of sexual misconduct allegations.
“After months of inquiry and investigation, we now know irrefutably what New Yorkers have known for years, that Governor Cuomo himself and his most senior aides ordered, directed, and executed this deadly executive order counter to CMS and CDC guidance,” said Committee Member Elise Stefanik, a Republican from Upstate New York. “Our investigation also reveals a bipartisan investigation that the disgraced former governor, and his top aides were caught covering up their culpability and guilt to selfishly save their shredded reputations.”
According to the Select Committee, it was well understood early in the pandemic that COVID-19 did not harm all people equally. “Age and comorbidities were the most important risk factors for predicting hospitalization and death from COVID-19. Accordingly, it was critically important that public health policy prioritize high-risk populations to reduce their risk of infection.”
This fact was known by Cuomo, who was aware of the deaths occurring in the State of Washington—the early epicenter of the virus—as a result of
were set up at the Javits Convention Center and other locations, but Cuomo didn’t use them. Instead, he listened to his donors from the hospital industry, who didn’t make as much on COVID patients and wanted to move them out.
I’ve had the opportunity to discuss the Cuomo catastrophe with Betsy McCaughey, the former lieutenant governor who devoted her life outside of public office to stopping the spread of infectious disease and protecting people in hospitals and care facilities. When COVID hit, McCaughey said she and many experts pleaded with Cuomo not to send infected patients to nursing homes. He ignored them. One reason, she argues, is that the hospital industry was his biggest political donor, and he had a close
COVID-19 in nursing homes, the committee continued. On March 10, 2020, in response to a question on COVID's threat to nursing homes, he stated that coronavirus in nursing homes was a “nightmare” scenario.
“That’s my nightmare, and that’s where you’re going to see the pain and the damage from this virus,” Cuomo said. “Days later, Mr. Cuomo allegedly told Mr. Jared Kushner—who helped lead the early White House response—that for nursing homes, this could be like fire through dry grass.”
Nonetheless, on March 25, 2020, the Cuomo Administration issued a directive entitled “Hospital Discharges and Admissions to Nursing Homes,” giving administrators the green light to send their COVID patients to nursing homes and other care facilities, such as the one where Daniel Alvino died.
Grilled by the committee, Cuomo conceded that he never talked to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) or the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) about the science behind his must-admit order either before or after issuing it, the committee reported.
Battling back, Cuomo issued a statement calling the report “sloppy” and said the investigation, conducted by a Republican-led panel, was “all smoke and mirrors designed to continue to distract from Trump’s failed pandemic leadership.”
relationship with the lobbyists who represented them.
While other elected officials and activists across the state demanded answers, Cuomo fudged the numbers concerning nursing home deaths, which we now know were about 15,000. His reputation as a COVID crusader started to crumble. If he weren’t driven from office by a landslide of sexual misconduct allegations, he probably would still be muddying the extent of his malfeasance.
Finally, the whole truth came out after the disgraced politician was hauled before Congress and grilled about his deadly performance. “Mr. Cuomo and his team were involved in the decision to issue New York’s disastrous March 25 Directive and then acted repeatedly to downplay the tragic aftermath of their decision,” the Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic concluded. He was criticized for his “lack of empathy and callous remarks related to undercounted mortality rates in nursing homes.”
My suspicion is that Andrew Cuomo is circling the embattled carcass of New York Mayor Eric Adams like a vulture, scheming to replace him. I hope the primary voters have had enough of this political lifer and keep him out of public office where he can wreak more misery on the populace.
Center for News Literacy Hosts Election News Event on September 23
BySouthShorePressStaff
As the U.S. election nears, finding reliable news amid a flood of disinformation, misinformation, and halftruths has become increasingly challenging.
Instructors from the School of Communication and Journalism’s Center for News Literacy aim to address this issue in an interactive presentation on Monday, September 23, at 7 p.m. in Humanities 1003.
“We know there are people out there actively spreading inaccurate information and conspiracies in this election. We also know that it’s all too easy for people — even those with the best intentions — to spread inaccurate information
unintentionally,” said Howie Schneider, director of the Center for News Literacy and journalism professor. “There’s nothing more important than helping people build the skills in analyzing what news and information is trustworthy as they prepare to vote for the next leader of the free world.”
The event is free and open to the public. Seating is limited, so attendees are advised to arrive early.
The Center for News Literacy was founded in 2006. In addition to offering a class for Stony Brook students, the center develops and shares grade-school curricula and runs a free online course about news literacy.
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo
Former Gov. Andrew Cuomo is sworn in before his Congressional appearance.
Credit: News Feed
Credit: News Feed
Credit: Stony Brook University
ByDeborahWilliams
NYS Hands Final Ballot Counting Over to Democratic AG Tish James
With the passage of the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act of New York (The Act) in 2022, new election rules were put in place that conflict with the state constitution and remove the long-standing authority of the bipartisan boards of elections to carry out local election decisions.
One of the elements of the Act, called ‘preclearance’ specifically takes the constitutionally required bipartisan board of elections authority out of local hands and puts it squarely at the feet of an elected, partisan, and almost always Democrat, attorney general.
South Shore Press (SSP) talked with Joe Burns, New York State election law expert and partner at Holtzman Vogel about the latest changes in New York’s election law.
SSP: In a nutshell, what will the preclearance part of the Act do?
Burns: The Act was passed in 2022, but the preclearance requirement takes effect in September 22nd. When it goes into effect, certain areas of New York will no longer be able to run their own elections under their own bipartisan decision-making as they always have done.
SSP: Who will be subject to this rule?
Burns: Here's an interesting angle with the preclearance requirement. It doesn't apply to every local government, because you have to meet one of the criteria to be required to be covered under preclearance.
As you might imagine, the areas that are covered tend to be the bigger ones, and maybe more consequential ones for this year's election.
There are hot congressional races in many of the covered counties and the rule goes into effect just about two months before November’s elections.
New York City, its surrounding counties including Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester, Rockland, and Orange. The list also includes some towns, cities, and some school districts that run their own elections for budgets and school board seats.
SSP: Does New York have such a terrible history of running bad elections that making a law appointing an inherently political elected official, such as the attorney general, to watch over things necessary?
Burns: No, that's why this is especially puzzling. New York has a constitutionally required provision that every County Board of Elections be bipartisan in nature. There is one Republican and one Democrat that co-leads every Board of Elections across the state. Each commissioner has the same power.
The New York State Constitution, Article 2, Section 8, guarantees bipartisan control of the Boards of Elections. Both the Democrat and Republican Election Commissioners must agree to any decisions made in a local election. It is a system of checks and balances built right into the state constitution and it works well.
If one party wanted to do something nefarious that made it harder for a voting constituency on the other side to vote, there is no circumstance where the commissioner of the opposing party would agree.
The Democrat could not make a change, making it harder for rural, largely Republican voters to vote and the Republican commissioner could not make a rule change making it harder for minority voters in urban areas to vote.
SSP: If one of the areas subject to preclearance wants to make a change under the new rule, what happens?
Burns: It's going to be interesting that starting in a couple weeks, September 22nd, any, even some very minor, election-voting-related changes are going to have to be given the blessing of either the attorney general's Office or one of four designated courts.
SSP: How would this work?
Burns: Let's say you have a poll site at 123 Huckleberry Lane, but 123 Huckleberry Lane burns down and you've got to move it.
What happens now, and we actually have a pretty good system, the two commissioners talk about it and decide together that they will to move the polling station to 441 Huckleberry Lane.
That common sense approach, that works perfectly well and it protective of voters and their rights, is out the window under the new rules. Under the new rule, the commissioners have to get the approval of the attorney general or go to one of four designated courts to get approval.
SSP: That sounds like the state is ‘fixing’ something that isn’t broken.
Burns: Exactly, right. You have to get both commissioners to sign off on it to begin with. So who's going to be harmed? You're already going to have one from each side agreeing to it.
SSP: So, what extra protection does preclearance really give to voters?
Burns: If anything, what it amounts to is more bureaucracy, more costs, and essentially the attorney general might be managing boards of elections, which are supposed to be by design, under the state constitution, bipartisan.
SSP: It is difficult to understand what the point of this rule is other than taking power away from
where the constitution intended and putting into the hands of an inherently partisan elected official. Were there some cases or some instances where people were trying to move polling sites at the last minute or curtail hours to try to influence votes?
Burns: The short answer is no. New York does not have the history of racism and discrimination that other places do.
SSP: Why do this? What’s the motive? If nothing is broke, what are they supposedly fixing with this preclearance rule?
Burns: There's a lot of stuff that New York gets wrong and a lot of stuff that New York gets right. But I'll tell you one thing that New York gets right is the system of bipartisan control of the election system.
SSP: Getting back to motivation, why go to such lengths to fix something that was never broken? It seems like a blatant power grab to ensure Democrats have control over every aspect of elections.
Burns: Keep in mind that Democrats have been making
moves to ensure there are fewer Republican representatives, or maybe none at all, for a long time. The recent change to force localities to move their elections to even years – presidential years – boosts turnout, and I think the Democratic state legislature believes this is a way to get more Democrats elected to local office in some of the competitive, “purple” counties. I know of no one who was clamoring to have local elections in even years, but the Democrats who lead the state legislature were in a rush to pass that bill.
SSP: The State seems to think that the New York John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act will thwart voter suppression or intimidation and protect minority-voting power.
Burns: We already have a good system. It sometimes can be cumbersome. It sometimes can be inefficient.
But, in terms of making sure that every voter of all political stripes, of all ideologies have faith and trust and confidence in the system, I can't think of a better way to do it than have what we have had for
generations – bipartisan control of elections.
It is not just that they're addressing a problem that doesn't exist, but there's the issue of consolidating power into a partisan elected office, which is against Article II, Section 8 of the state Constitution.
SSP: Since the way the entities covered by preclearance rule was modeled off of the federal preclearance rule that the Supreme Court has since thrown out, isn’t this an issue for New York?
Burns: There might well be some federal arguments that this law violates the US Constitutionthe 14th Amendment.
SSP: Generally speaking, what issues could be at play to make New York’s law also unconstitutional?
Burns: Well, I don’t want to speak with too much authority on that, but there are these triggers that would cause an entity to be subject to preclearance.
And one of these triggers uses race in a manner that I think very, very well might run afoul of the 14th Amendment.
Mechanic Busted for Not Forking Over Sales Tax Revenue
BySouthShorePressStaff
A former Shoreham mechanic now living in South Carolina faces serious jail time for not reporting millions of dollars in sales to the government, resulting in the loss of sales tax revenue to New York State.
Suffolk County District
Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced that Timothy Kjaer, 49, of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, formerly of Shoreham and the former owner of several auto shop businesses, has pleaded guilty to Grand Larceny in the First Degree for failing to report $16 million in
taxable sales. This action resulted in the theft of over $1.3 million in sales tax from New York State.
“For over a decade, this defendant brazenly stole money from New York State by pocketing the sales tax he collected from customers instead of remitting it to the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. In total, this defendant stole over $1.3 million by failing to report more than $16 million in taxable sales,” said District Attorney Tierney.
According to court documents and Kjaer's admissions during his guilty plea allocution, Kjaer failed
to submit dozens of Sales Tax returns and falsified others that
substantially underreported the taxable sales of several businesses he owned in Suffolk County. This happened over a six-month period in 2021.
Kjaer owned multiple businesses that failed to report sales tax revenue:
- Automotive Marine & Styling Center, Inc., and Real Deal Auto Inc., located at 1165 E. Main Street in Riverhead;
- Not Just Tint, Inc., S&T Autoworks 1, Inc., and S&T Auto Centers, Inc., located at 3165 Route 112 in Medford;
- EZ Credit Auto Sales, Inc.,
Shirley Man Pleads Guilty To Attempted Murder
located at 2910 Route 112 in Medford;
- Universal Auto, Inc., located at 1831B Route 112 in Medford;
- Universal Auto Sales & Service, Inc., located at 8B Middle Country Road in Coram.
In total, Kjaer failed to report approximately $16,142,986 in taxable sales leading to the theft of $1,385,605 collected on behalf of New York State. Kjaer admitted that he collected these funds from customers on behalf of New York State but intentionally failed to remit them as required.
Near
Lee Zeldin's Home
BySouthShorePressStaff
Noah Green, 20, of Shirley, has pleaded guilty to Attempted Murder in the Second Degree, Conspiracy in the Second Degree, and other related charges for spraying bullets in front of former United States Congressman Lee Zeldin’s home in October of 2022.
Green was one of 18 defendants indicted in December 2022 following an investigation into violence committed by the criminal street organization "No Fake Love."
“On my first day in office, we established a gang bureau to conduct comprehensive longterm investigations to keep the people of Suffolk County safe from gang violence,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Working with Suffolk County Police detectives and investigators
from my office, our prosecutors prioritize cases like this one. As a result, this case was swiftly solved, and the shooter was held accountable, along with the other gang members involved in a variety of dangerous crimes. This guilty plea with a promised twelve-year sentence should send the message that we will not tolerate gang violence in
Suffolk County.”
Court documents and Green's admissions during his guilty plea allocution revealed that on October 9, 2022, Green left his home with another individual and got into a stolen 2022 Honda CR-V. They encountered three rival gang members walking down the street near Congressman Zeldin’s house.
Green shot at them multiple times from the vehicle, striking two individuals in the chest: both survived.
During the shooting incident, former Congressman Zeldin’s twin daughters were inside the house doing homework. Shockingly, Green boasted about committing the shooting on social media and through electronic communications to alleged fellow gang members.
On October 31, 2022, law enforcement observed Green leaving his residence and entering the stolen Honda CR-V during surveillance operations. Upon approach by law enforcement officers, Green attempted to flee but was apprehended after causing damage to a law enforcement vehicle and being found with a loaded Taurus 9mm pistol with a high-capacity magazine.
Microscopic examination confirmed it was used in the October 9th shooting.
Green pleaded guilty before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S. Senft, Jr., admitting to:
- Three counts of Attempted Murder in the Second Degree (Class B violent felonies)
- Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the
Riverhead Man Sentenced to 22 Years for Fatal
BySouthShorePressStaff
Suffolk County District
Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced today that Gelber Lopez Perez, 20, of Riverhead, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison followed by five years of post-release supervision. The sentencing follows his guilty plea to Manslaughter in the First Degree for the fatal stabbing of Tony Fernando Alvarado Ajcuc, 26, also of Riverhead.
“This defendant took a life in a brazen act of violence that occurred in full view of our community. Violence like this is unacceptable,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Our thoughts remain with the victim’s family, and we hope that this resolution brings them some measure of closure.”
The incident occurred on June 6, 2023, at approximately 3:00 p.m., when Lopez Perez was arguing with a friend in Grangabel Park in Riverhead. When the victim arrived and questioned them about their argument, he and Lopez Perez engaged in a physical altercation. Afterward, the victim left the park on foot and crossed Nugent Drive toward a nearby traffic circle.
Lopez Perez pursued him, knocked him to the ground, and stabbed him while he lay defensively on the ground before fleeing back toward the park. An eyewitness captured a photograph of Lopez Perez running from the scene and provided it to police. The
Second Degree (Class C violent felonies)
- One count of Conspiracy in the Second Degree (a Class B felony)
Green is scheduled for sentencing on October 15th, 2024. He is expected to receive a sentence of 12 years in prison followed by five years of postrelease supervision and is represented by Chad LaVeglia Esq.
Assistant District Attorneys Martha Duffy and Donald Barclay are prosecuting this case as part of their work within the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau. The investigation into "No Fake Love" was conducted by District Attorney Investigator Jean Graf and Detective Michael Yonelunas of the Suffolk County Police Department.
Stabbing
Less than half an hour later, police apprehended Lopez Perez near Court Street and Griffing Avenue. They recovered a knife with blood stains from his waistband.
On June 27, 2024, Lopez Perez pleaded guilty to Manslaughter in the First Degree before Acting Supreme Court Justice Stephen L. Braslow. Judge Braslow subsequently sentenced him on September 10, 2024.
Ian Fitzgerald represented Lopez Perez during this case. Assistant District Attorney Sheetal Shetty from the Homicide Bureau prosecuted it while Suffolk County Police Department Detective Michael Ronca conducted the investigation.
victim was transported to Peconic Bay Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.
Credit: Suffolk County DA Office
Credit: Suffolk County DA Office
Credit: Suffolk County DA Office
Timothy Kjaer
Noah Green Gelber Lopez Perez
Riverhead Man Indicted for Shooting into Hampton Bays Residence
BySouthShorePressStaff
Suffolk County District
Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced the indictment of Lawrence Brown, Jr., 26, of Riverhead, on charges including Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree. The indictment follows a shooting incident in Hampton Bays.
“This arrest is an excellent example of the work that can be achieved when law enforcement agencies work together,” said District Attorney Tierney. “I commend the joint investigation conducted by the Town of Southampton Police Department, Riverhead Police Department, with our East End Drug Task Force along with our Gang Task Force. We look forward to holding this defendant accountable in court.”
Southampton Town Police Chief James Kiernan highlighted the collaborative effort: “The extensive investigation conducted
by the Southampton Town Police Detective Division in partnership with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Gang Task Force resulted in the successful arrest of Lawrence Brown Jr. and the recovery of a 9mm handgun that was allegedly used in a shooting into an occupied residence located in Hampton Bays. The collaborative effort resulted in an illegal handgun being removed from the streets before an innocent person could be injured or killed. Gun violence has no place in Southampton Town and will not be tolerated.”
According to investigators, on July 7, 2024, at approximately 11:40 p.m., Brown allegedly drove from his residence in Riverhead to Hampton Bays and fired five shots into a home where residents were asleep. No injuries were reported.
Residents initially mistook the gunshots for fireworks but discovered bullet holes and reported them to Southampton Town Police. Officers recovered
multiple expended 9mm caliber shell casings from outside the home.
On August 22, 2024, authorities executed a search warrant at Brown’s home and allegedly recovered a 9mm caliber handgun from his bedroom.
Brown was arraigned on September 9, 2024, before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony S.
Senft, Jr., facing charges including two counts of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Second Degree (Class C violent felonies), one count of Reckless Endangerment in the First Degree (a Class D felony), and one count of Criminal Possession of a Firearm (a Class E felony). Justice Senft ordered Brown held on $250,000 cash bail or bond options up to $2.5 million partially secured bond.
Brown is scheduled to return to court on September 24, 2024, facing up to 15 years if convicted on top charges. He is represented by the Legal Aid Society.
Assistant District Attorney Kristen Yeamans is prosecuting this case with investigative support from Detective Donald Metcalf and Special Investigator Daniel Crerend.
Pols Make Passionate Plea to Catch Criminals Desecrating Military Memorial
BySouthShorePressStaff
Brookhaven Town Supervisor
Dan Panico and Councilman Neil Foley have called on taxpayers to help identify three young men accused of vandalizing the Lt. Michael P. Murphy Memorial Park at Lake Ronkonkoma.
The disturbing incident, which involved graffiti and the spray painting of a security camera, occurred on the night of September 2nd after 8:00 pm. The suspects were seen driving a darkcolored sedan of an unknown make and model.
Lt. Michael P. Murphy, a Navy SEAL from Patchogue, was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during a firefight in Afghanistan in 2005. The memorial park dedicated to him was rededicated on January 17th, 2019, with his father Dan Murphy and members of the Brookhaven Town Board leading
the ceremony.
The etched stone monument at the site was donated by Lido Stone of Calverton after the original was destroyed by vandals in July 2018.
Additionally, two surveillance cameras and security lights were installed with assistance from Penn Globe to monitor activities in the park.
Anyone with information regarding this recent act of vandalism is urged to contact Officer Eustache at Suffolk County Police Department’s 4th Precinct Crime Control Section at 631.854.8400.
Suffolk Cardiologist Sentenced for Possessing Child Pornography
BySouthShorePressStaff
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced that cardiologist Frank Pollaro, 55, of Deer Park, was sentenced to 4 to 8 years in prison after pleading guilty to two counts of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child.
“This defendant’s continued possession of child pornography notwithstanding a prior federal conviction for the same demonstrates a disturbing pattern of behavior,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Prison, not probation, is appropriate for consumers of child sexual assault materials. My office also required that he surrender his New York State medical license as a necessary step to protect the public, especially innocent children because, inconceivable, New York State allowed this defendant to continue to practice medicine despite that prior child pornography
Cardiologist Frank Pollaro
conviction.”
According to court documents and the defendant’s admissions during his guilty plea allocution, in September 2023, the Suffolk
County Police Department’s Digital Forensics Unit received notice that Pollaro was uploading images of child pornography to a website. On October 12, 2023, law enforcement
executed a search warrant at Pollaro’s residence and recovered several electronic devices.
Police later found that Pollaro’s laptop contained thousands of images and videos depicting children, some as young as four years old, engaging in sexual acts with adults. Pollaro admitted to possessing those images and videos.
At the time of his arrest, Pollaro was already a registered level one sex offender stemming from a 2016 conviction for possession of child pornography in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York. In that case, Pollaro was sentenced to probation. Despite that conviction, the New York State Health Department’s Bureau of Professional Medical Conduct allowed Pollaro to retain his medical license and continue practicing medicine in New York State.
On July 11, 2024, Pollaro pleaded guilty to two counts of Possessing a Sexual Performance by a Child before Acting Supreme Court Justice Karen M. Wilutis.
On September 9, 2024, Justice Wilutis sentenced Pollaro to 4 to 8 years in prison. Prosecutors also required Pollaro to surrender his New York State medical license as a condition of his plea. He was represented by James Pascarella. This case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kirsten Reilly of the Child Abuse and Domestic Violence Bureau and investigated by Detective Michael Barr and Detective Steven D’Agostino of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Digital Forensics Unit and Detective Janine Musmacker of the Suffolk County Police Department’s Special Victims Section/FBI Child Exploitation Task Force.
They were supposed to visit the International Space Station for five days, but now it looks like they’ll be stuck up there for almost a year as the ship that was supposed to bring them home came back empty. That leaves astronauts Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams stuck in space.
After billions in government money were spent on the failed mission, a private company, Elon Musk’s SpaceX, was tapped for a rescue mission. This is an embarrassment for the Biden administration, which has dropped the ball on former President Donald Trump’s initiative to build a U.S. Space Force, a far-reaching strategy to reassert the nation’s dominance in the realm of rockets, satellites, and discovery.
The failure of leadership in the space race falls on Kamala Harris, who, as vice president, chairs the National Space Council under a law put forth by President Kennedy at the start of the Space Race. What was once an influential body directing America’s space policy has become a rudderless ship.
Under Trump, the council met eight times, keeping deadlines
Americans Stuck in Space
in place, watching the bottom line, and advancing his bold plan to revisit the moon through the Artemis program, Apollo’s sister, and send a team to Mars. Equally important, the Space Force was supposed to keep China in check regarding satellites and weaponizing outer limits for their own purposes.
With Harris at the helm, the council has seen her at a single meeting where she breezed in and out after giving a canned speech.
Her descriptions of space travel to both adults and children have been
BY NANCY BURNER, ESQ.
Yes, the Corporate Transparency Act or CTA is something you should be aware of as you will need to comply with its terms. CTA is a federal law that went into effect on January 1, 2024, requiring most entities, including LLCs, to report “beneficial owners” and individuals who exercise substantial control or decisionmaking authority to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network also known as FinCEN.
The stated goal of this legislation is to combat money laundering and other illegal actions via disclosure of entity ownership to government agencies. Other than a few limited exceptions, all entities must file the appropriate reports or else face the prospect of steep fines and penalties.
The reporting is completed via a secured federal website where all the data is entered and stored. The CTA regulations state that all beneficial owners who either (1) exercise substantial control over the reporting company or (2) own or control at least 25% of the ownership interests in the reporting company through the corporate entity required to report. However, in certain circumstances, trustees, beneficiaries and other individuals who receive financial advantage from a business or entity need be disclosed as well.
For each person that falls under these requirements, there are four items that must be reported. The items to report include individual’s name, date of birth, address, and the official identification number from a driver’s license, passport, or other government ID as specified
ridiculed. And now, after failing to return the astronauts from orbit on NASA’s Calypso space capsule, the Biden-Harris government is forced to turn to Musk and his privately funded Dragon rocket.
“I can't say Kamala Harris made decisions that resulted in the astronauts being stuck, but I can say she didn't make any decisions, and that sure helped result in the astronauts being stuck, and a number of problems that we're facing at NASA and in space in general,” said space expert Gene Autry.
The mission to Mars has been back-burnered as well, Autry said, with the program director giving up and throwing preliminary planning to consultants for $300 million.
“Harris hasn't been there to look at it and say, ‘Okay, why does it cost this much?’ or go to Congress and say we need this much money,” Autry wondered. “She doesn't stand up for space in any case because, frankly, they don't care.”
The Boeing company received a $4.2 billion government contract to develop the Starliner program
to conduct operational missions to the space station. However, delays and technical issues have led to astronomical cost overruns. As of 2022, Boeing revealed it was absorbing $883 million in losses due to problems with Starliner, including numerous helium leaks and problems with the craft's propulsion system.
“There's plenty of food. We've got water. What we don't have enough of necessarily is oxygen,” Autry said in describing the situation aboard the ISS, which four Americans and two Russians are currently inhabiting. “The CO2 levels build up inside the station and there's a scrubber that removes that. And if it gets above 4,000 parts per million, which is about 10 times what we've got here on Earth, it gets really uncomfortable,” Autry explained.
He added that if Musk’s Dragon rescue falls through, “God forbid if we had to, you can ask the Russians for a ride, which usually costs about $90 million a seat.”
Autry has a new book out, “Red Moon Rising,” which claims that “Space Race 2.0 has started, and the winner—America or Communist China—will define the future of humanity.” With Kamala Harris in charge, the outcome may not be so clear.
What Is the Corporate Transparency Act?
in the statute. The identification must not be expired and a copy must be submitted.
All existing entities formed prior to January 1, 2024, have until December 31, 2024, to comply with the reporting requirements. All entities formed as of January 1, 2024,
should complete the reporting within ninety (90) days of receiving actual or public notice of creation or registration. An entity created or registered on or after January 1, 2025, will have thirty (30) calendar days to file after receiving actual or public notice that its creation or
registration is effective.
It is best to contact the professional who assisted with the formation of your entity so that the formation date can be determined. You are not required to have an attorney in order to comply with the reporting requirements. However, given the novelty of these reporting requirements and complexity of the law, having an attorney provide advice in identifying beneficial owners and assist with the initial filings is strongly recommended.
Katerina Grinko, Esq. is a Senior Associate attorney at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. focusing her practice areas on Real Estate. Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. serves clients from New York City to the east end of Long Island with offices located in East Setauket, Westhampton Beach, Manhattan and East Hampton.
Credit: NASA
Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Sunita "Suni" Williams
HISTORY LESSONS
BY RICHARD ACRITELLI
"Recession is when your neighbor loses his job. Depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his." Ronald Reagan, October 1980
When looking at the September 10th presidential debate between former President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, it was easy to identify the distaste that each candidate demonstrated toward each other. Both had aggressive moments over the most hotly contested topics that these candidates either opposed or supported. Since the days of George Washington, there is no surprise over the negative tensions that are being demonstrated through the hotly contested moments of presidential debates.
In 1960, Americans looked at two different figures between Vice President Richard M. Nixon and Senator John F. Kennedy. Newly shown on television, Americans learned about JFK, his political beliefs and the questions about his youth to lead this country. Nixon was not regarded as a warm figure by outgoing President Dwight D. Eisenhower who barely endorsed his former vice president. He reasoned that Nixon was not a “likable” figure and was unsure about his ability and temperament. These competitors used the growth of television within American society to bring the debates into the vast expansion of suburbs that were built in huge numbers after World War II.
There was a changing political face, as Americans had two candidates that were World War II veterans who were significantly younger than Eisenhower. Both men had to contend with the growth of the Cold War at home and abroad, especially through the power of Fidel Castro in Cuba and competition over the Space Race. They had to handle the Civil Rights Movement that repeatedly called for immediate addition of equal rights for African Americans across this nation.
Almost 64 years ago this month, Nixon was ahead in the polls, but the luck was turning downward for the vice president. Nixon had a lack of luck, as he agonized over the flu before the debate, he also injured his bad knee leaving his car. While Nixon suffered from these ailments that also included a fever, JFK for several days prepared for the debate with his aides. As JFK suffered from Addison’s Disease, but between the tan coloring in his face and his sharp ability to speak during this debate, he looked more politically appealing on television, compared to Nixon’s inability to look comfortable. With a gray suit and makeup that wore off from sweating, Nixon’s mother later asked him if he was sick. This was one of the closest elections that was ever witnessed by the American voters and the television played a new role in swaying this political contest.
In 1980, President Jimmy Carter sought reelection against
VETERANS WAY
BY REV. FREDERICK MILLER, PH.D.
There are several reasons why veterans need to join together. Upon leaving the military, veterans can lose the structure and support of the military. This structure and support had met their lower-level physiological and safety needs.
No longer will the military provide food, housing, healthcare, and similar resources. There are no military helpers, drill sergeants, or unit leaders like the ones who were available when one transitioned to a new unit. There is no Department of Defense organization in your hometown to assist you with completing your transition of tasks.
There are fewer peers, supervisors, family members, and colleagues with whom you can relate to during and after transition.
The United States military has the unique ability to define brotherhood (sisterhood) not in words but in actions. Every
Political Debates and Resentment Amongst Presidential Candidates
the emergence of the former Governor of California Ronald Reagan. While both men grew up in small towns and served in the military during and after World War II, these similarities came to an end. As he campaigned, Carter dealt with the terrible growth of stagflation, the Soviet Union invasion of Afghanistan, gasoline shortages, and the fundamentalist Islamic takeover of Iran by the Ayatollah Khomeini. With these heightened problems, Carter had to also contend with the taking of 66 Americans who were paraded for 444 days on television by the Iranian government and student leaders. Reagan pounced on Carter’s numerous problems and believed that America became a second-rate power that was being pushed around.
Across the nation, Reagan continually expressed that Carter highly demonstrated weakness toward the Soviet Union and criticized the preparedness of
the military. Carter stated that if Reagan was elected, he would recklessly push America into another war. While Carter expanded the military budget in 1980, many Americans were concerned about his presidential strength and SALT II was never fully ratified by Congress to limit nuclear weapons. Domestically, as the economy was weak under his term, Carter described encouraging financial signs of enhanced mortgages and business loans. He promised to increase environmental regulations and to protect abortion rights. Reagan viewed these government regulations to protect the environment as hurting economic growth, he promised tax cuts to big business, opposed abortion, and stressed that Carter had not earned the right to gain a second presidential term.
During the first debate on October 28th, 1980, Reagan’s lead diminished, as it reached the margin of error. Americans observed
Reagan as being a positive light toward a new direction and Carter looked gray and defensive. Carter had good ideas, as he advocated for enhanced American efforts to limit its dependency on fuel, but the people lost faith in his ability to win a second term. Reagan focused on economic weakness and stated, “He added the rate of unemployment and the rate of inflation, and it came, at that time, to 12.5% under President Ford. He said that no man with that size misery index has a right to seek reelection to the Presidency. Today, by his own decision, the misery index is in excess of 20%, and I think this must suggest something.”
Carter stressed that he had the understanding to navigate America through these harsh political waters. He expressed that “The American people now are facing, next Tuesday, a lonely decision. Those listening to my voice will have to make a judgment about the future of this country. And I think they ought to remember that one vote can make a lot of difference. If one vote per precinct had changed in 1960, John Kennedy would never have been President of this nation.” The Election of 2024 is about two months away as Trump informed the nation that he would not agree to a second term. Hopefully, he changes his mind, as Americans should be able to watch at least one more of these political contests to learn about the strengths and weaknesses of these candidates.
Veterans Need to Join Together - Part I
day, these men and women are challenged and sometimes put into situations where the camaraderie builds itself, and the men and women are able to build each other up.
It is the call to duty, the ideals, and the shared title of being an American and believing in what that means that truly binds the servicemen and women together, across all five branches. The choices especially in times of conflict and in dangerous situations are sometimes as difficult as life or death. The brotherhood that embraces is instilled in and propagated among the U.S. armed forces. This makes a natural choice between yourself or another.
There is no greater rapport than that shared among the service members. No doubt military camaraderie is something special, ranking as what vets miss the most when they transition to the
civilian world. Though vets move on, they don’t have to lose these relationships and should not be willing to give them up.
Military camaraderie is strongest among veterans who served together. However, it also exists universally between all veterans. Despite any generational differences, when you meet a veteran, there is an instant kinship and common ground. Welcome the connection.
Camaraderie is very important in our fellowship and brotherhood. As such, it needs to be carefully guarded. It is naturally stronger among those in the different veteran organizations. However, it still needs to be guarded and respected. One of the most important acts is discussing your problems with another veteran and speaking with him/her about it. Do not tell anyone else or you may be harming that bond.
If we are brothers, we need to show that when we respect and love our brothers as we did back in the service. True, our lives are not at risk as they might have been in combat, but our reputation is
at risk when we talk out of turn about another brother/sister. So let’s be true brothers and work and live together, helping out fellow comrades every chance we can.
LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT
SUFFOLK COUNTY
HUDSON CITY SAVINGS
BANK, Plaintiff against ABRAHAM L. TURPIN
A/K/A ABRAHAM
TURPIN, et al Defendant(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, NY 10591.
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered December 20, 2019, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on September 30, 2024 at 9:30 AM. Premises known as 105 Carlton Drive East, Shirley, New York 11967. District 0200 Sec 615.00 Block 02.00 Lot
013.000. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $494,834.06 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 609334/2015. Cash will not be accepted at the sale. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District's Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing.
Pamela J. Greene, Esq., Referee File # 2154-000927
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK
FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FREDDIE MAC SEASONED CREDIT RISK TRANSFER TRUST, SERIES 2022-1, Plaintiff, vs.
JEFFREY ALBRECHT A/K/A JEFFREY M. ALBRECHT, if living, and if she/he be dead, any and all persons unknown to plaintiff, claiming, or who may claim to have an interest in, or general or specific lien upon the real property described in this action; such unknown persons being herein generally described and intended to be included in the following designation, namely: the wife, widow, husband, widower, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors, and assignees of such deceased, any and all persons deriving interest in or lien upon, or title to said real property by, through or under them, or either of them, and their respective wives, widows, husbands, widowers, heirs at law, next of kin, descendants, executors, administrators, devisees, legatees, creditors, trustees, committees, lienors and assigns, all of whom and whose names, except as stated, are unknown to plaintiff; BOARD OF MANAGERS OF BRETTON WOODS CONDOMINIUM VIII; UNIFUND CCR LLC; CLERK OF THE SUFFOLK COUNTY TRAFFIC & PARKING VIOLATIONS AGENCY; PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA; JENNA NAB,
"JOHN DOE #2" through "JOHN DOE #12," the last eleven names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the tenants, occupants, persons or corporations, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the premises, described in the complaint,
Defendants.
To the above named Defendants
YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above entitled action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days of the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after service of the same is complete where service is made in any manner other than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service. Your failure to appear or to answer will result in a judgment against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. In the event that a deficiency balance remains from the sale proceeds, a judgment may be entered against you.
NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF
SOUGHT
THE OBJECT of the above caption action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure the sum of $156,000.00 and interest, recorded on September 26, 2013, in Liber M00022400 at Page 199, of the Public Records of SUFFOLK County, New York., covering premises known as 910 SKYLINE DRIVE, CORAM, NY 11727. The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.
SUFFOLK County is designated as the place of trial because the real property affected by this action is located in said county.
NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME
If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be
entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action.
YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK
U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF ABFC 2007WMC1 TRUST ASSET BACKED FUNDING CORPORATION ASSET BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-WMC1, -against-
RENEE SCHIEFERSTEIN A/K/A RENEE CARRICK AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ELEANOR A. SCHIEFERSTEIN, ET AL.
NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Suffolk on September 27, 2023, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF ABFC 2007WMC1 TRUST ASSET
BACKED FUNDING CORPORATION ASSET BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-WMC1 is the Plaintiff and RENEE SCHIEFERSTEIN A/K/A RENEE CARRICK AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ELEANOR A. SCHIEFERSTEIN, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the BROOKHAVEN TOWN HALL, 1 INDEPENDENCE HILL, FARMINGVILLE, NY 11738, on October 4, 2024 at 12:00PM, premises known as 59 BROADWAY, SHIRLEY, NY 11967; and the following tax map identification: 0200-907.0007.00-002.000.
ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 617683/2016. Giuseppe T. Rosini, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.
L16020-9/4/2024,9/11/2024, 9/18/2024&9/25/2024
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF SUFFOLK
DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE ASSETS TRUST 2007-2, MORTGAGE-BACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES SERIES
2007-2, Plaintiff, AGAINST ORLANDO PEREZ, et al. Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale duly entered on January 12, 2023.
I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on October 2, 2024 at 12:00 PM premises known as 30 Beacon Street, Shirley, NY 11967.
Please take notice that this foreclosure auction shall be conducted in compliance with the Foreclosure Auction Rules for Suffolk County and the COVID 19 Health Emergency Rules, including proper use of masks and social distancing.
All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at Shirley in the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York. District 0200 Section 967.00, Block 05.00 and Lot 022.000.
Approximate amount of judgment $370,001.79 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment. Index #619107/2017.
Brooke J. Breen, Esq., Referee, Aldridge Pite, LLPAttorneys for Plaintiff - 40 Marcus Drive, Suite 200, Melville, NY 11747
L16021-9/4/2024,9/11/2024, 9/18/2024&9/25/2024
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF SUFFOLK WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB NOT INDIVIDUALLY, BUT SOLELY AS TRUSTEE FOR RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE
AGGREGATION TRUST, Plaintiff AGAINST PATRICIA A. MUSTO, DENNIS J. MUSTO, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 27, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence
LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES
Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on October 17, 2024 at 1:00PM, premises known as 198 Concord Road, Shirley, NY 11967. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York, District 0200 Section 968.00 Block 02.00 and Lot 024.000. Approximate amount of judgment $267,618.31 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #607953/2023. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the District and SUFFOLK County Auction Plan in effect at this time. Only Bank or Certified check payable to the Referee will be accepted for the downpayment. No third party check or cash will be accepted. Michael T. Clancy, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22000087 82257
Supreme Court County of Suffolk Equity Bank NA, Plaintiff AGAINST
Shauna Janine Rivers, et al, Defendant
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated March 27, 2024 and entered on April 5, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY on October 16, 2024 at 10:30 AM premises known as 155 Dahlia Drive, Mastic
Beach, NY 11951. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the County of Suffolk, State of New York, SECTION:
022.00 fka 979.00, BLOCK: 016.00 fka 06.00, LOT: 039.000, D 0200 fka 209. Approximate amount of judgment is $467,381.21 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 609158/2017. NO CASH will be accepted at foreclosure sale. Bank or certified checks only.
The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the District and Suffolk County Auction Plan in effect at this time.
Ralph T. Gazzillo, Referee
FRENKEL LAMBERT
WEISS WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706
The following Self Storage unit contents containing household and other goods Will be sold for cash by StorQuest Self Storage 393 Smith road Shirley, NY 11967 (631)-729-6945 To satisfy a lien on 10/08/2024 at approx. 12:00pm at www. storagetreasures.com
104 Fayettea Devine 308 Paul Clendenning 361 Susan BeiteR 402 Charles Guerin 453 Felicia Squillace 481 Joseph Corrigan 512 Rhyvah Cantave 530 Richard Shaw 576 Pearl Felder 602 Thomas DiGrazia
623 Matthew Miller 629 Shade Thomas L16029-9/18/2024
LEGAL NOTICE
TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE MASTIC FIRE DISTRICT:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the MASTIC FIRE DISTRICT, Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk, State of New York, on the 16th of September 2024, subject to a permissive referendum as provided for by Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law.
An extract of the resolution is as follows:
The MASTIC FIRE DISTRICT maintains a Capital Reserve Fund designated as the Fund for Equipment under Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law in which account there is sufficient funds to accomplish the purpose hereinafter set forth; namely, the purchase of 1 new Fire District Utility Transport Vehicle and Equipment, and it is proposed to contract for such vehicle and equipment in order to maintain the high standards of performance of the MASTIC FIRE DEPARTMENT in the discharge of its duties in preserving the lives and property of the residents of the community, and said purchase is deemed in the best interests of the residents of the MASTIC FIRE DISTRICT.
This resolution shall not take effect until thirty (30) days unless in the meanwhile a mandatory referendum as provided for in Section 6(g)
of the General Municipal Law is required to be held.
DATED: September 16, 2024
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
MASTIC FIRE DISTRICT TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN
ATTEST:
Rudolph A. Sunderman District Secretary RESOLUTION
PURCHASE OF (1) ONE NEW FIRE DISTRICT UTILTY TRANSPORT VEHICLE AND EQUIPMENT
WHEREAS, the MASTIC FIRE DISTRICT has, by appropriate
Resolution established a certain Capital Reserve Fund designated as the Fund for Equipment established pursuant to Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law,
in an account for deposit of said Equipment Reserve Fund in local banks; and
WHEREAS, it is deemed in the best interests of the residents of the MASTIC FIRE DISTRICT to purchase 1 new Fire District Utility Transport Vehicle and Equipment; and WHEREAS, the maximum cost for such purchase, including incidental fees is estimated to be Ninety Thousand ($90,000.00) Dollars.
IT IS RESOLVED, that pursuant to the laws and regulations applicable and in particular, Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law, that said purchase be completed, and that the cost
and expense for the purchase shall be expended from the Equipment Reserve Fund for 1 new fire district utility transport vehicle and Equipment upon authorization of the Board of Fire Commissioners, at the maximum estimated amount of Ninety Thousand ($90,000.00) Dollars, and THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that this resolution is subject to a permissive referendum as provided for in Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law.
The adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly put to a vote and upon roll call the vote was as follows:
Chairman Rudy Sunderman ) Yes
Commissioner Mike Malone ) Yes
Commissioner Patrick Greene ) Yes
Commissioner Daniel Haase ) Absent
Commissioner Rudy Sunderman Jr. ) Yes
The resolution was thereupon declared duly adopted.
DATED: Mastic, New York
September 16th, 2024
L16030-9/18/2024
LEGAL NOTICE ANNUAL ELECTION OF THE MEDFORD FIRE DISTRICT DECEMBER 10, 2024
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE, that the Annual Election of the Medford Fire District will take place on Tuesday, December 10, 2024; between the hours of 3:00 pm and 9:00 pm at the firehouse located at 171 Oregon Avenue, Medford, New York 11763 for the purpose of electing the following:
One Commissioner for a five (5) year term commencing on January 1, 2025 and ending on December 31, 2029.
The Fire District Board of Elections will meet on November 25, 2024, at 8:00 am at 171 Oregon Avenue, Medford NY to prepare register.
Candidates for District Office of Commissioner shall file a petition signed by at least 25 registered voters of the Medford Fire District. Petitions will be available in the District Office District located at 171 Oregon Avenue, Medford NY 11763 beginning October 1, 2024: and thereafter between the hours of 8:00 am and 3:00 pm. Absentee ballots will not be used in the district election. Said petition must be filed with the Secretary of the Fire District during the normal business hours (8:00 am and 3:30 pm) and must be filed no later than 11:30 am by November 20, 2024.
All residents of the Medford Fire District duly registered with the Suffolk County Board of Elections as of November 18, 2024, shall be eligible to vote.
DATED: September 12, 2024 BY THE ORDER OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS MEDFORD FIRE DISTRICT
ATTESTED: Kathleen Dugan District Secretary L16031-9/18/2024
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BY TOM BARTON
There is an old saying that the house always wins and sometimes in sports betting that feels like every week. But, this past week was especially bad for the public. Sportsbook directors were quoted as calling week 2 in the NFL "a bloodbath for the customers" and "our best week in years."
The public was destroyed this past week, and it was not only beat on straight bets but parlays, teasers, and even survivor pools were wiped out after only two weeks of action. The Ravens, Cowboys, Lions, and Chiefs all failed to cover, and all of them were 6 point or better favorites. The only 6 point underdog who was favorable for the public was Chicago, who pushed in most books.
Now as we enter week #3, we
have to begin asking ourselves some important questions and keep an eye on if the books will move the lines because of their answers. Do we believe in the Saints? New Orleans isn't just 2-0, they are by far the best offense in football right now. The Saints have scored on every possession this season with Derek Carr as their QB. That is 15 possessions and 15 scores. This week they are ... underdogs at home.
The Ravens are 0-2 and just dropped a game where they had a 10-point lead, at home, late in the game to a career backup QB. They are the road favorites.
Then there are the 2-0 Buccaneers, who just went into the house of one of the NFL's Super Bowl hopeful Lions and won with a banged up secondary.
Don't Make the Same Week 2 Mistakes This Week
They return home and are under a TD favorite against a rookie QB and a 0-2 team who failed to score a touchdown last week.
Finally, we get to the biggest question mark team and game on the board this Thursday. The Jets face off against the Patriots. New England has shocked people with how they have played so far. The Pats sit at 1-1, but their loss to Seattle in OT showed their week 1 win wasn't a fluke. That was over a Bengals team that barely lost to Patrick Mahomes and company in Arrowhead. New England's defense looks like they are for real, but can their offense keep running on everyone? The Jets have questions of their own, namely their coaching decisions. The vaunted Jets defense has looked like Swiss cheese at times this season and they have been
run on heavily. Yet, the Jets are a touchdown favorite.
In order for the public to win back some of their week 2 money, we have to get into the heads of the bookmakers
A New Feel to Stony Brook
ByTomBarton
This certainly feels like a new era for the Stony Brook football program, and the wins are ensuring that everyone knows this is a new team.
After winning just two games over the course of the past two seasons, the Seawolves have matched that mark in game two this year. Stony Brook traveled to Fordham to take on the Rams and came away with a hard fought 27-21 victory.
and when things make you say ,"hmmm," more times than not it's for a reason. Be cautious this weekend because we don't want the books celebrating after another bloodbath week.
William Floyd Extend Their Winning Streak
ByTomBarton
Longwood vs. William Floyd has become one of Long Island's best rivalries, so it was fitting that they led off the Suffolk football season facing each other, and it was even more attune to their close battle nature that the opening game was a down-tothe-wire thriller.
William Floyd won the back and forth battle 36-29. Longwood was down midway through the 4th quarter and drove down the field to score. Down by two points, they went for the conversion and the attempt was successful. So, with less than 8 minutes left in the game, the fans were treated to a tie game.
down the field in a methodical way to end the game with the final touchdown. Running back Ja’Quan Thomas ran in his 3rd touchdown of the day, which proved to be the game winner. It was a plunge inside the 5 yard line with under 3 minutes to go.
Williams wasn't the only star though as Rudy Silvera had a clutch interception and returned it for nearly 40 yards. The offense was humming all day amassing over 400 yards of total offense. The dual threat backfield of Ronald Dempster and Brandon Boria combined for 116 yards on the ground while through the air, the Wolves passed for over 300 yards.
Stony Brook tries to keep the new energy rolling next week on the road against Campbell.
The Seawolves are on fire right now and are garnering national attention. With the Wolves down 14-10 late in the 2nd quarter, receiver Dez Williams made a spectacular one-handed grab over the middle of the field. That catch was so eye-popping that ESPN put it among it's plays of the day.
That didn't last long as William Floyd drove 80 yards
Longwood was driving but a late interception sealed the victory, which now pushed Floyd's number to 12 straight wins over their rivals. Head coach Paul Longo, now in his 30th season, will look to continue their quest for back-to-back Suffolk County Championships next week as they will now take on Lindenhurst while Longwood looks to recover against Walt Whitman on Friday night.
The Patriots Win a Back and Forth Battle
ByTomBarton
Ward Melville and Sachem North battled all game, but in the end, the Patriots came away with a hard-fought team win 21-14.
The Patriots got the scoring started when Joe Benedetto scored from inside the 10 yard line to give them a 7-0 first quarter lead.
Benedetto went on to carry the ball 18 times for 101 yards on the day. Ward Melville was up 14-0 before Sachem North punched one in before the half on a passing touchdown.
They went to the air again to tie the game at 14 in the 3rd, but Ward Melville played tight defense in the
second half and Hudson Philbrick put the game away with a late touchdown pass to seal the victory.
Captain Joe Massaro led the defense as he had 9 total tackles, 2 tackles for loss, one sack and one pressure.
Ward Melville will take on Sachem East this Friday night.
Credit: @WilliamFloydSD | X William Floyd Football
Brock Bowers
SPORTS Connetquot With a Statement Win
ByTomBarton
Javon Barnwell was what his school called "a man on a mission" this week in leading Connetquot to a 41-0 shutout victory over Patchogue-Medford.
Barnwell was coming off of a very strong sophomore season, but no one could have expected these sort of numbers in game one of his junior year. Barnwell exceeded all expectations as he ran all over Pat-Med. Barnwell
rushed 21 times for 170 yards and one touchdown. He also had three catches out of the backfield, and as impressive as his day was, it could have been even bigger had it not been for two other scores being called back for penalties.
Barnwell had outstanding blocking up front as his offensive line dominated all game. The big men up front allowed the offense to rack up 500 yards
while only allowing one sack on 32 drop-backs. Jesse Bartick, Saief Alam, Alessandro Sorto, Sonny Kowalevich, and Camryn D’Ambrosio kept the offense behind them clean and upright. That led to Vincent Feraca, in his first varsity start, to throw for 337 yards and 4 TD passes.
Barnwell and Connetquot will now welcome in Sachem North for game #2 this Saturday afternoon.
Longwood Girls off to a Fast Start
ByTomBarton
After dropping their first game of the season, the Longwood girls soccer team has rattled off three wins in a row.
The Lions haven't just won games, they have dominated the competition and their defense is second to none. Longwood beat William Floyd 5-0 after that initial opening day loss, then took on Brentwood and had their second shutout in two games. They finished off PatchogueMedford after that 2-1, allowing a remarkable one goal in the past
three games. Makensi Hansen stopped 7 shots against Patchogue-Medford, which ups her season number to
23 stops. On the offensive side of things, Delaney Israel has been outstanding with 7 points in just four games.
Awards Come in Threes for St. Joe's
ByTomBarton
Make it three for St Joe's.The Golden Eagles had three different players earn Skyline Conference Weekly recognition last week.
Senior women's volleyball player Jackie Wolf led the Golden Eagles with 28 kills averaging 3.50 kills per set with a .333 hitting percentage. Her spectacular week also saw her amass 22 digs averaging 2.75 digs per set with three service aces. She also had a match-high 15 kills while hitting .400 clip with 13 digs and two service aces leading her team in a sweep of John Jay.
Evan Skoblicki also received top honors when he was the top finisher for the Golden Eagles at the Adelphi University Invitational. Skoblicki finished with a time of 28:35.7. The freshman finished third of the Division III runners and 24th overall.
Ducks Draw Their Biggest Crowd
ByTomBarton
The Long Island Ducks have always drawn great crowds but none were bigger than this past weekend.
When the Ducks took on the High Point Rockers on Saturday night, they did so before a pastcapacity crowd of 7,188 at Fairfield Properties Ballpark.
The sellout crowd was the largest attendance of the 2024 season at the Ducks home
ballpark. It was also the seventh past-capacity crowd of the year and the Atlantic League record 713th all-time sellout in franchise history.
The Rockers won the game, but the crowd enthusiasm has never been higher. Long Island was led by two-hit nights from Nick Heath, Yonny Hernandez and Alexis Pantoja. Heath drove in a run while Hernandez and Pantoja both scored and drew a walk.
Casey Runs Wild for 5 TDs
ByTomBarton
Ana Lombardo finished off the trifecta for the Golden Eagles as she was named to the Weekly Honor Roll. Lombardo scored three goals for the soccer team and finished with a team-high six points. She put pressure on the defense all week with seven shots total and four shots on goal.
Shoreham-Wading River got their season off to a dominating start with a 40-12 win over Hampton Bays this weekend.
Shoreham-Wading River dominated from the opening coin flip and never looked back. Their recipe for this game was simple, give the ball to Sean Casey and let him run wild. That's exactly what the young man did. Casey rumbled for 131 yards and 5 total touchdowns. He had not one but two return
touchdowns of more than 70 yards, and if that wasn't enough to fill up the stat sheet Casey also amassed 14 tackles on defense.
Coach Smith talked about Casey in the preseason and mentioned his speed, which was on full display in this game. Coach Smith even made sure to hop on social media to give credit and praise to Casey this week. They will look to keep the running and winning going next week when they face off against John Glenn on Friday night under the lights.
Credit: @SeanCasey25 | X
Sean Casey
Credit: Michael Polak
The Ducks Capacity Crowd
Connetquot's Offensive Line
Credit: @Connetquot_FB | X
Credit: Longwood Central School District | Facebook
Credit: @SJLIAthletics | X
Credit: @SJLIAthletics | X
The Longwood Girls Soccer Team
Jackie Wolf
Evan Skoblicki
SPORTS From Linebacker To Hero
ByTomBarton
This past weekend, Rocky Point High School held their Salute to Service football game. The game was put together and organized by Richard Acritelli and honors not only local veterans but also those who were lost at 9/11. Before the opening ceremony, the local heros, who were all wearing some sort of military clothing, were seen getting reacquainted with each other. Men from different wars, different backgrounds, different branches of the military all had one thing in common and it binds them closer than even some families.
Catching up with Richard beforehand he spoke so highly of the event and what it meant to himself and the community. Acritelli is a longtime educator and coach, as well as being in the military for 9 years. He was called away from his Hicksville teaching job when all of the military was called up after 9/11. He certainly feels the connection, even naming his daughter after one of the fallen on that dreadful day. Acritelli was quick to say how "important it is to acknowledge all of our veterans. Every veteran of today
and tomorrow." He went on to say how vital it is that "this generation understands the sacrifices that the armed forces gave to protect our way of life."
Acritelli then praised the guest of honor that day, Gregory Monz. Monz was not only a veteran but he was a former Rocky Point football player. He explained how Monz "answered the call right away."
The 2005 graduate was an allcounty football player that almost immediately went to battle after
that fateful day.
Speaking with Monz, you could not only feel the passion within each word when he spoke about the veterans, but the humbleness that he brought to the conversation only made him even that much more of a hero. Monz enjoys the small-town feel of Rocky Point, so much so that he now raises his four sons in the very house he grew up in with his wife Kate.
Monz is somewhat of a local hero, but it's not because of his excellent
The Madden Curse Strikes Again
ByTomBarton
The Madden Curse strikes again. Every year, it seems that there are doubters about the "curse" that is surrounded by the John Madden
video game, and every year, those who doubt seem to be reminded that the curse is, in fact, real.
When Christian McCaffrey was tabbed to be the cover of the Madden
Hills East Makes a Statement
ByTomBarton
Junior running back Daniel White led Half Hollow Hills East to a 39-0 win on the road this week.
The new look, and newly named Redhawks, traveled to the defending Suffolk Division II champions North Babylon and came away with an emphatic win. The Redhawks and White put the rest of the county, and the island, on notice with the victory. White
rushed for just under 250 yards and scored four touchdowns in the route.
It wasn't all just White and the stellar offense, as the defense also pitched a shutout and led to the scoring themselves. Logan Soler recovered a fumble and had a strip sack for a touchdown to lead the great defensive effort.
Next up, Coach Marcelin and the Redhawks will take on West Babylon this Saturday.
play on the football field but what he did after that. More than one person told me the tale of him carrying a full ruck sack of rocks in the woods to prepare for his training. His father was a military dad and he wanted to follow in his footsteps to make him proud.
Monz went right into the Marines and became a sniper. He signed up at 17 years old and wanted to immediately go into recon, which entails being on the front lines of the fighting. His recruiter wouldn't even put him down as such because "there is such a high drop rate because it's so competitive." But like everything else in his life, Monz would overcome that. He joined as a rifleman but was able to try out for recon, did very well and went to school. In time, there was a need for a sniper and the tryouts were ultracompetitive, but Monz overcame that once again.
Monz was "one of just four recon Marines to go to sniper school." To understand how difficult that is we got into the talk about percentages. Monz said "less than 1% of the US population are Marines. Less than 1% of Marines are recon Marines.
And at the time I was serving there were less than 50 Marines that held the title of recon and sniper."
As soon as Monz began to say he was proud of his accomplishments, he quickly shifted into the other veterans. World War II heroes gave him inspiration and drove him, but he doesn't believe that he is a hero. Monz quickly pointed out that who he thinks are heroes are the "men from World War II, Vietnam, the Korean War, Persian Gulf and others before me." He went on to say "there are a lot of people who don't get recognition and I think about that a lot."
Monz is a true hero in every sense of the word. As I sat in the stands with my three children, I was surrounded by the veterans. Each one of them a hero and someone to look up to, but I made sure my kids knew the story of Gregory Monz. I told them he was once on this football field and going to the same school you go to, but he made a choice and that choice led him to be a true hero. These are the men that we should be honoring on the field, and thanks to Rocky Point, we were able to do that this weekend.
game this season, a collective groan came over 49 land and the fantasy community alike. Those who know, know. EA itself has publicly come out to deny the existence of the curse, which in itself tells you about how much publicity it has gotten.
This isn't just a silly superstition because math has begun to back up the paranoia. Fourteen of the 24 athletes on the cover of Madden from 2000-2024 have had some sort of injury that derailed their season. Although that number has decreased recently with only 30% of athletes on the cover having been injured over the past decade, the curse has popped out it's ugly head
this season once again.
Christian McCaffrey was the consensus #1 pick in fantasy drafts and garnered the most tickets to be the league's Offensive Player of the Year. He had an injury history, but that hadn't reared its ugly head in a few seasons. All was right with the world for him, until EA sports called. Many of the Madden cursed athletes have been cursed, but Patrick Mahomes and Tom Brady have both been on the cover twice and both avoided a dreaded fate.
It seems that some elite players might avoid the curse, but most times, the player who is struck with
it is coming off of a career year, and many times logged a lot of carries the season prior. So, an injury seems more likely than not. But, I wouldn't want one of my teams players or even my top fantasy pick on that cover, just to be safe.
McCaffrey is now down for what experts are saying will be 4-6 weeks and this "silly superstition" now seems very real. There is a silver lining on the curse though as there haven’t been back-to-back curses since 2011-2012. So whoever is on the cover next season might be okay, but we should always fear the Madden Curse.
A Special Day Ends With a W for Rocky Point
ByTomBarton
Rocky Point held their annual Salute to Service opening football game this weekend against Eastport South Manor and the capacity crowd was treated to a great back and forth defensive football game.
The opening ceremonies honored local veterans and families of those that were lost in the 9/11 attacks. The crowd was adorned in their Salute to Service T-shirts and sitting among the local heros gave the backdrop to the game a feel of something greater than the game itself. At midfield local hero Gregory Monz, an ex-Rocky Point linebacker, and his family were honored, and you could see the Eagles team were moved by emotion as one of their
own was held in such high praise.
The Eagles came away with the victory over the Sharks by a score of 13-12. The crowd was energized and excited to watch the hard-hitting and full on defensive display that was being shown off in the first half. The Sharks drove down the field a few times, but a timely interception by the Eagles
and some key stops kept the game scoreless heading into the half.
As the two teams exchanged scores in the 3rd and 4th quarter, it was Rocky Point who was able to kick the extra point late to seal the opening day win for the Eagles.
The Eagles will now take on East Hampton this weekend.
