From a purely monetary standard our family was dirt poor. My mother, God rest her soul, did the best she could providing for seven children throughout the year, under difficult and dysfunctional circumstances. Life was challenging enough for her making sure we had food and clothing 364 days of the year, let alone be able to afford presents under the tree on Christmas Day.
As a child, you have no clue about the struggle and sacrifice mothers make for their children. Now that I’m a father, I can’t imagine the stress and anxiety she experienced knowing she could never, ever “Keep up With the Joneses” and have a boatload of gifts under the tree for her excited children. Our childhood home was not a syrupy Hallmark or Lifetime movie. It
was what extreme poverty felt and looked like.
I thank God every day for the gift and blessing of that struggle. I have a deep appreciation for my mother, for having food, clothing, and shelter. That incredible gift of having nothing makes me deeply appreciate everything I have today. Thank God our family has lived the arc of the American Dream and that the lives of our children are exponentially better than what I experienced as a child.
At Christmas, our family relied on local Catholic Church food pantries for meals. This happened year-round, not just for the holidays.
We had great dinners at Christmas, but that was never ever an “issue” for us. Our mom usually made a phenomenal turkey with the
SANTOS UNCENSORED
BY GEORGE SANTOS
’Tis the season! While for many it’s the time “to be jolly,” for others, it has been a time of heightened anxiety, thanks to Congress's inability to pass a budget and its reliance on a continuing resolution (CR). This past week was particularly nerve-wracking for millions of federal workers who faced the prospect of furloughs and missed paychecks during the holidays.
At the eleventh hour, the House hastily put together a 1,500-page omnibus-style bill and attempted to pass it off as a CR. What exactly is a continuing resolution, you might ask? A CR is a temporary measure used by Congress to fund the government when a full annual budget has not been passed. It allows federal agencies to continue operating at their current funding levels for a set period, avoiding a government shutdown.
Once the details of the bill were made public, Americans
Feeling Grateful
of our family was never knowing if there would be any cash in her purse to pick up presents, or what agency would provide presents so we had something to open on Christmas Day.
My older siblings remember this Christmas memory vividly. Our mom dragged the kids across the city on a bus to pick up presents at a Toys for Tots event. By the time our huge family arrived, there were no presents left. None. Gone. Zip. Nada.
Can you fathom how my mother felt at that horrific moment? She couldn’t afford gifts for her kids. And the one life jacket she had, a charitable toy drive, was ripped from her person and was left there with her kids and nothing else.
Continued on page 9
Budget Cutting Chainsaws Descend on DC
reacted swiftly. Outrage spread like wildfire, with tens of millions taking to X (formerly Twitter) to express their frustration. One item in particular stood out: a proposed
40% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for members of Congress. Imagine this—Congress has one of the lowest approval ratings among voters, yet its members sought to
reward themselves with a massive pay raise while failing to fulfill their basic duties.
Public backlash was so fierce that Speaker of the House Mike Johnson was forced to pull the bill. In its place, a slimmer, 120-page proposal was introduced—but that, too, failed. Why? This time, Democrats refused to support it, along with about 38 Republicans. Democrats criticized the bill for lacking “pork spending” (excessive funding for pet projects), while Republicans opposed maintaining pandemic-era spending levels.
To give you some context, pandemic-era funding is roughly $1.2 trillion higher than prepandemic levels. This discrepancy has been a sticking point for fiscal conservatives who argue that such spending is no longer justified. During my time in Congress, I consistently voted against CR’s for this very reason. We are no longer in a pandemic, and it is irresponsible
to keep funding the government at inflated levels.
As the saying goes, "third time's the charm," and on the third attempt, Congress managed to pass a smaller, more focused bill that included a debt ceiling suspension extension. This was approved by an overwhelming majority in the House and sent to the Senate. However, the political fallout has placed Speaker Mike Johnson in a precarious position. Thirteen members of Congress have privately indicated they won’t support Johnson for a full term as Speaker, leaving his leadership for the 119th Congress uncertain.
America now faces a pivotal moment. Will we continue as a thriving democracy for another 248 years, or will we falter under the weight of reckless spending and bloated government? To ensure the former, we must urgently rein in our government’s size and expenditures.
Continued on page 5
classic “no-bake Jello cheesecake.” The struggle for the matriarch
Credit: X
Childhood Home of South Shore Press News Director Stefan Mychajliw
Credit: Stefan Mychajliw
ByRobertChartuk
From Coffee to Kinship: Jillian Vigliarolo's QuarterCentury at the Country Cottage
Center Moriches wouldn’t be the same without the diner on Main Street. It’s only been there for a century. And the Country Cottage wouldn’t be the same without Jillian Vigliarolo, who’s come to be like family to the customers she’s been serving for the last 25 years. They call it “Jill’s Place” because she’s the reason they go there. The people know they’ll get a
smile, a good meal, and a chance to reminisce. Her customers had babies, and now they come to the Cottage, where every breakfast and lunch is like a reunion.
Robin Ingram came over from the Carpet King next door. She didn’t order anything; she just wanted to sit and chat. “Jill’s the reason we are here,” Robin says. “She’s fantastic.” There’s George at the counter celebrating his 90th birthday. Jill orders for him. There are cards
and greetings on the wall from her many fans, including a plaque from B&B Tackle’s Chet Wilcox, who got his coffee from the diner every morning for as long as anyone can remember. She drinks her own coffee from a mug that says, “This is what an awesome waitress looks like,” a gift from a fan.
Jill fondly recalls her first customer, Cathy, who recently passed away. “She’s the one who told me to stop smoking about 23 years ago, and l listened,” Jill said. “She probably saved my life.” When she had her children, Kyle and Karly, the counter was loaded with presents from her many well-wishers.
Jill’s a local through and through. Born in Staten Island, she would come out to visit her great grandparents on Seaview Lane when she was a little kid, and now she’s in Holiday Beach. Five generations of her family were in Center Moriches, giving Jill the opportunity to recruit her mother to work alongside her. “I love it here,” she exclaims. I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.”
Jill started at the diner when she
was in junior high school and found the time to go to Suffolk Community College and get a bachelor's degree in business management from Dowling. “The diner was perfect for me. The schedule was flexible, and it was nearby. It allowed me to buy a house and raise a family,” Jill explains, noting that she worked for the previous owners, Pat and Lucy, before the current owner, Jack Schwartz, took over 13 years ago.
her by
“We adore her; she’s got it all,” gushes her co-worker, Amy Weinhauer, who admires Jill’s beautiful penmanship describing the specials she’s dreamed up: Ho Ho Ho Pancakes, Gingerbread Pancakes, and Power God Greek Wraps. In the corner of the big blackboard, Jill has drawn a pair of hearts for all of the love she has for her customers and her friends, who, over the years, have become one and the same.
Christmas Brings Back Memories and Looks Forward
ByDeborahWilliams
Christmas brings back good memories, bittersweet memories, and even evokes tears as I look at pictures of Christmases past. For several years in a row now, our family has suffered devastating losses of loved ones and Christmas has been stained more than a little bit by those losses. Those empty seats at the table and missing spots in the mandatory annual family pictures of each generation are difficult to accept.
Our oldest generation now has missing links. My younger cousins lament that their kids will not experience the wonders of the family farms or know our grandparents and aunts and uncles the way we did.
It’s not hard to let the melancholy feelings take the lead from time to time. At the same time, life marches forward whether you are standing
still or not, and for all the grief, sadness, and loss, we have so many things to celebrate and goodness to embrace.
Eighteen months ago I got married for the first time at age 56 to a wonderful man. I never thought I would get married, but hoped that one day just the right partner for me would come along. And, he did. Here we are as grown-ups figuring out our own Christmas traditions and creating memories with our new family unit. I have in-laws now and Mike’s mom added a stocking with my initials, so I guess I’m "official."
Mike’s family has welcomed me with open arms. There are new babies in his family and young children in mine, and two new babies on the way in the next generation. We now carry the obligation of being family storytellers - keeping the traditions going and sharing family memories.
We can talk about the grandmothers and great-grandmothers and give the photos of people our younger generations never met some context. We can make generational relationships mean something and create important connections to our family's past and help it inform the present and future.
As I inevitably shed a few tears while I put my grandmother’s vintage ornaments on the tree and my dear bonus grandmother’s creepy elves out, I also think about how fortunate I am to have had them all. They shaped all of us and it’s natural to mourn those losses and feel sad and happy at the same time when we think about them
The Full Amount
ByBryanHellmer
The last few weeks have been hard, with the inflation getting worse and the cold weather starting to get to us. So, I wasn’t surprised when my mother called and told me that due to all the troubles in the world, Christmas was going to be pretty lean this year and that she may not be able to send me as much as she usually does. Being the optimist that l am, I said, “Don’t worry, Mom, it’ll be alright. It’s times like this that we all have to cut back.”
I’ll admit it did bother me a great deal for a couple of days; I mean, C’mon, this was my own mother. I come from a large family, and we have been through some tough times in the past, but she always made sure that there was enough to go around. She should realize how much I depended on the full amount. Times are tough for everybody, and if you can’t rely on your mother, there has got to be something really wrong.
I felt a little guilty on Christmas morning when I grabbed the envelope that was lying under
and all the experiences we had. This Christmas and New Year’s I look forward to another year with this new husband of mine. I cherish all of the past and feel so fortunate to have had what we all had. And now, I can also plan ahead and create new memories with the best man I know.
the tree. It had always been there in the past. I should just be happy with what I’ve got. But I still couldn’t believe that my mom would have to cut back this year.
I was so bothered that I couldn’t sit down. I fumbled with the envelope as I ripped off the end. Still not believing that she would let me down. No matter how bad things got, there was no way she would not send the full amount. Not if she knew how much it means to me.
I shook the envelope, and some
pieces of paper fell out. There was a card that looked like my mother made herself to save a few pennies. I quickly bent down and picked up that valuable piece of paper to see if it was true, to see if she had to cut back, and if things were really as bad as she said. When I saw the amount, I smiled. I knew she wouldn’t let me down. I knew she would send me the full amount. She always does. Written across the bottom of the card she had made it read, “ALL My Love, Mom.”
Jill checks out a plaque given to
a loyal customer.
Jill’s blackboard; her penmanship is the envy of all.
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Deborah and Mike at Christmas
Credit: Deborah Williams
The Full Amount for Christmas.
Credit: Chat GPT
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
Legislator Leslie Kennedy Celebrates the Holidays with Greenbelt Conference
The vibes were as high as they were positively jolly on Sunday, Dec. 15th when Legislator Leslie Kennedy dropped by the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference’s annual holiday party. Blydenburgh Historic District hosted the opento-the-public occasion.
While accessible hiking trails have dwindled in post-August superstorm times, the Greenbelt Trail Conference still represents an untouchable green space of which Long Island is incredibly proud. The 1978-established trail encompasses over 200 miles of hiking paths untethered by even the harshest of weathers.
Writes Leslie Kennedy’s office, “the twelfth legislative district is fortunate to be home to Blydenburgh County Park,” which features 4 miles of the mentioned Greenbelt-certified paths.
Other notable trails maintained by this conference include: The Nassau-Suffolk Trail (Cold Spring Harbor to Massapequa); The Long Island Seashore Trail (Smith’s Point to Barrier Islands); The Pine Barrens Trail (Rocky Point to the Hampton Bays; and the fittingly entitled Long Island Greenbelt Trail (Hecksher Park to the Nissequogue River in Smithtown).
Since its inception in 1978, the Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference has given over 7,000 guide hikes; it currently features over 200 guided hikes a year—all of which are free of charge, and funded primarily through membership packages and donations.
The Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference nonprofit collective’s current executing board consists of: David Reisfield (president), Tammy Straus (treasurer), Nancy Manfredonia (founding president),
Carol Murphy, Tom Isles (also pictured above, right of Leg. Kennedy), and Lisa Schary.
“The Long Island Greenbelt Trail Conference is important to me because we’re able to help preserve and facilitate the use of open space on Long Island, while making sure it’s not abused,” said David Reisfield.
Notable volunteers include: Chiara Nuzzo, Office and Outreach Coordinator; and Allen Drost, who gives tours on the historical significant properties.
In keeping with the tradition put forth by quite the noble organization, both Legislator Kennedy’s office and we at The South Shore Press encourage members of the community to remember to do their part in bettering their environment and surroundings—not just in holiday reflection, or as a New Year’s resolution, but as a necessity bigger than any one’s self.
It’s one thing to treat your family like friends from the old neighborhood. But it’s another thing entirely to make your neighborhoods feel anew once again by treating them as courteously as you would your family.
Interested in paying it forward through the conference? Visit www.ligreenbelt.org to learn more information. Getting involved with their efforts today means helping pave the way for a more beautiful tomorrow.
My Favorite Christmas Memory (Disqualifying the Movie I Produced)
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
In October 2022, just before joining the production of Tyler Taormina’s “Christmas Eve in Miller’s Point,” which later cast my grandma Mary Reistetter as the grandma within the film, my grandfather Joe passed away. He was a month away from turning 85.
Due to COVID, our family’s last Christmas all together turned out to be in 2019. My grandpa’s high risk of infection as a longtime sufferer of COPD who required round-theclock oxygen assistance precluded him from partaking in the annual holiday-time gathering.
It was quite surreal to see uncanny memories of Christmases past come to life thanks to the movie magic at play in the aforementioned film, not to mention my grandma’s presence on set—her paintings, her piano light and skirt, and her literal living legend self.
Meanwhile, I felt a dash of my grandpa when Chris Lazzaro’s “Cousin Bruce” had his big monologue at the dinner table, set in a dining room that bore eerie architectural resemblances to my grandma’s real-life home.
During filming, and especially when watching the final product, I am instantly taken back to, hands down, my favorite Christmas memory.
Christmas Eve. 2019. I have one of the worst sinus infections of my life. I sported no congestion. My nose wasn’t running. Yet I felt as if my head would explode at any moment. Akin to a second-to-none hangover following a night of partying in the New Orleans Quarter with unruly vampires who subsequently left me to burn in the scorching sun come the morning time—is how I’d
best describe it, despite not having touched a drop of alcohol the night prior.
I didn’t hold any overmounting concerns with regard to my curiously compromised mainframe. I simply just wanted to die. Do you know what I mean?
This never felt more apparent than when I realized my attempts to escape gripping headsickness would prove futile. I recognized halfway through my first watches of both Michael Mann’s “Thief” and Mike Nichols’s “The Birdcage” that afternoon any visual intake of the film medium would make my cranial insides boil to a violent pulp.
The cell phone screen leaving me in equal languish, I had one last recourse: turn to a podcast.
I queued up an A24 “Actors on Actors” episode wherein “Superbad” co-stars turned longtime chums Jonah Hill and Michael interviewed each other. I listened to them recap how their lives changed overnight during the shoot, and subsequent rollout of that film. My concussiveesque woes did not completely subside, but were sporadically free from my mind as I absorbed the respective origin stories of two major influences on my own creative aspirations. All starting to seem good and dandy until — a light switch “flipped on,” and a misdiagnosed migraine screaming back in with a vengeance. My family was summoning me; we were to be en route to Grandma’s momentarily.
Mind you, Grandma’s, as always, is only about half a mile up the street—it’s where my dad grew up. I spent a large part of my upbringing running away there without breaking a sweat.
However, in this compromised
state, I cannot contemplate any scenario in which I get off this couch to mobilize–which would surely invite further dizziness.
Moreover: I’m barely hanging on while listening to Hill and Cera converse; I can’t fathom interacting with anyone myself at this current juncture, let alone close loved ones I have known my whole life, and usually have no problem whatsoever shooting the breeze with.
Wishing to elect a Fat Amy plea, having a grand ol’ time whilst horizontal-like seeming the much more preferred option, I ultimately relented and let ritualistic commitment win out. It may not have been that much of a conscious decision, but with a whole heap of hindsight, “FOMO” set in—I did not want to take the Reistetter Christmas Eve tradition, and its rostered attendees at the time, for granted.
I didn’t have to dress to the nines, anyway. Up until a certain age, it was encouraged to wear pajamas to these occasions. I don’t remember
what I wore in 2019, but it was not anything overly beyond bedtime attire.
I do remember who I talked to the entire time, though, as is the point of this reflection. Uncharacteristically so, I plopped my behind down on the chair in my grandparents’ den—a proverbial sidecar perpendicularly adjacent to my grandpa’s couch— and did not move for the next 5 hours.
At the time, my grandpa was not yet totally immobile; he was years handi-capable, but by and large made most sense for him to stay promptly put whenever possible. Up until that point, debilitating illness did not deter him from making it to every one of his grandkids’ games. Now and moving forward, vigilantly watching the Dallas Cowboys fumble their playoff chances or give us—he and I were the family outliers, sorry Giant and Jet fan readers—false hope was the extent of his athletic participation.
I grew up fascinated by the stubborn family patriarch’s
insatiable knack for explosively arguing over just about everything, only to dial back the double down when I would be the last one who remained, who had not been driven to bolt from the room. He would turn to me, and break his Clint Eastwood-like scowl, subduing a smirk as he’d ask: “Didn’t they know I was kidding?”
Indulgences upon Nacho Cheese Doritos and Crab Dip, Rice Balls and Shrimp Cocktail dominated the kitchen activity. Concurrently, my grandpa and I unleashed an agreement storm of talking points—a cacophonous clip show of our best conversational highlights from over the years:
The Yankees’ inability to hit for the clutch in the playoffs. How Veterans Day was originally christened Armistice Day. The time he and other parents in the neighborhood thought an alienlike creature crash-landed on the wooded street divider, but when they converged upon the figure it turned out to be an authenticallyscaled E.T. doll. Tom Brady’s wife being a...ah, better to keep some things private, in this day and age. But Grandpa, if I know anything, it’s that you would have loved the Roast of TB12. Mark my words.
Hazed as the “antisocialties” of the family would not sit right any other year, but it didn’t sting one bit in 2019. The rest of my family recalls Grandpa emerging from the den, and standing without assistance to deliver a brief, but high-impact speech about having hosted Christmas for half a century— and the importance of continuing the family tradition of everyone coming together. They naturally reckoned he rested all early evening to pull this off.
Continued on page 5
LI Greenbelt Conference Members, including Founding President Nancy Manfredonia, left of Legislator Leslie Kennedy
Don’t underestimate the wisdoms of the elder statesman at your family’s Christmas dinner. You’ll miss them—and him— when they're gone.
Credit: Tom Lloyd Andrews/Leg. Kennedy’s office
Credit: AI-rendered image courtesy of Grok
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
Party City CEO: ‘The Party Is Over’
R&B and hip-hop sensation
SZA said it best in her song, “Drew Barrymore” — “Why is it so hard to accept the party is over?”
As reported by CNN on Friday, Dec. 20th, CEO Barry Litwin told his corporate employees that same day that the company is “winding down” operations at once.
No warning. No two-week notice. And no severance pay for their staff. Everyone is jobless— effective immediately—just in time for the main event(s) of the holiday season.
“That is without question the most difficult message that I’ve ever had to deliver,” Litwin said over the video conference call. Nearly 40 years of goodwill accrued could not prevent such a great misfortune. It is not completely foreign territory for companies to dish out late December pink slips. But companywide layoffs -- and the dissolution of a company itself -has little to no rivals in the crapdealt hand department.
Founded in 1986 with its headquarters based in New Jersey, the company was facing up to $1 billion in debt, per reports. The largest party supply retailer in the U.S. (and Canada and Mexico) soon-tobe-no-more closed 80 stores
“Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened.” - Dr. Seuss, “Kids Can Fly”
between 2022 and 2024.
Across Long Island exists over 10 Party City locations, including stores in: Patchogue, Centereach, Islip, Commack, North Babylon, Massapequa, Levittown, Woodbury, Carle Place, and Oceanside. One used to exist behind Wendy’s of Rt. 111 in Hauppauge, but has since been taken over by a Party Glitters.
Storewide discounts are redeemable at the Centereach location, which will remain open for the next few months.
In memorializing Party City with “don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened” fervor, I can’t help but also think of yet another song, “Wrapped in My Memory” by Shawn Smith, most memorably used to conclude a devastating season finale of “The Sopranos” that did not cut to black, but intentionally cut away to spare us seeing a fan favorite character getting whacked.
It is not hyperbolic to say this mirrors the feeling of Party Citygoers with little window, if
My Favorite Christmas Memory...
Continued from page 4
Whereas I know and appreciate the full picture. My night was spent seeing him devote persistent, intermittent attention to the special batch of remarks he had written down on paper between our backand-forth’s—not-so-privately rehearsing the words forwards and back so he didn’t miss a beat when it was high time to unveil this surprise. We don’t say “grace”—so this hit like decades’ worth of graces combined.
It would stand to reason that Grandpa was feeling extra sentimental that night, his younger brother having died four months earlier. This perhaps instilled in him this notion that there very well could be no next Christmas for him either, so he ought to
express how he felt about the family before his number was called.
He surely could not have known it at the time, but Grandpa’s decision to make this speech retroactively proved fortuitous; the world shut down four months later, and we didn’t see him for about 6 months after that. No one did other than Grandma. By the time Christmas 2020 rolled around, quarantine was recommended once more. We wouldn’t dare risk exposing Grandpa to something that ran against his impressively carried out late-inlife mission: cheating death at every turn.
Though he technically passed two years, he continues to cheat death because the stories don’t stop. If I could have one more
conversation with him, I would love to hear his thoughts on the movie which I produced, and in which his wife starred. This will never not seem like a bananaland sentence to rattle off, yet it’s an accurate one nonetheless.
If I know him as I know my dad, the two men who molded me most, I bet he too would laugh raucously for the entirety of the movie, only to then turn to me as the end credits rolled to downplay his reaction and say: “...that was cute.”
That was Grandpa.
Thank you for the memories, the example you set, and demonstrating to me the persuasive power of words. Your farewell speech helped carry me through writing your
Budget Cutting Chainsaws...
Continued from page 2
In a surprising turn of events, this holiday season brought a gift of potential reform: the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Led by industry
leaders Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the DOGE aims to reduce government size by 40% by the end of 2027, two years before its planned dissolution. The department’s mission is to streamline
at all, to say goodbye. They did not know what they had until it was rendered gone beyond the point of return.
When you’re a kid, one takes for granted the hallmarks of festivity required to dress a certifiable celebration for the ages.
As this is done for your benefit, the adults, all the while just may be more concerned with who is hosting the Super Bowl or Sunday Night Prestige HBO Series viewing party, who is bringing the onion dip, who is bringing the buffalo chicken dip, must we bring wine, or can we make like George Costanza and bring a 2-liter of Pepsi instead, eh, maybe let’s not and say we did… and so forth.
Kids with a penchant for challenging may even call into question whether or not a gathering can be categorized as a party if there are no balloons abound. For years, these were supplied by way of a place called Party City. Months from now? The balloons will have flown away.
In all likelihood, they will come back again some other day by way of another source, of course. However, this will surely not be the work of an iconic brand that held a monopolous hold over an ultra-specific, yet far from niche industry.
obituary and delivering the prayer service at your funeral, and will surely play a factor in my delivery of Matt’s best man speech next week.
We did not forget your wish: this holiday season brings family states apart back together again, for Christmas and then my brother’s wedding a few days later. It’s a Sundayset affair, so here’s hoping the Cowboys can salvage one to close out the year—and perhaps even sneak into the playoff picture.
Lord knows you and I would be the only ones in the building or felt within the building rooting for that outcome, but what else can we say? We are the family outliers, after all.
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operations, cut waste, and restore fiscal responsibility to Washington. As we celebrate the most magical time of the year, I hope the readers of The South Shore Press, who grace us with
their loyalty and support, have a joyful and restful holiday season. Let us carry this spirit of hope and determination into the New Year as we work together for a brighter future. Merry Christmas!
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ByRobertChartuk
Long Island Hikers Take On Trails
It all started with a few texts to set up a hike between friends. The chain quickly grew, and its author, Tim Cody, had to start a Facebook group to stay in touch with an ever-growing list of people who wanted to hit the trails.
Today, Long Island’s East End Hiking Group has grown to 11,000 members joining together to walk all over the state. On a
drizzly December day with snow in the forecast, 30 members showed up at Terrell River County Park in Center Moriches to celebrate the group’s one-year anniversary. “It’s my favorite place to walk,” said Denise Fehr of Manorville, one of the group's original members. “I don’t like hiking alone, and everyone is so friendly.” One member brought his pooch along.
A newcomer to the trail walkers is Richard Celli. “I
wanted to hike down to see the water,” said the Manorville resident as he headed out with the pack. They walked along the river to Moriches Bay on a trail that opens up to a stunning view of Fire Island. Many of the friends took selfies with the water and its aquaculture farm of oyster pens in the background. They went out over an immense sand spit to a point where the river meets the bay. Weathered tree stumps were here and there along with mats of seaweed and shells. A member said she hoped to see an eagle or a seal.
“It really is beautiful down here,” said another original member, Donna Smith of Miller Place. “The hike takes you through the woods along a trail that ends at the beach. It's great to be out with so many friends.” A fellow strider, Cindy Locrotono, traveled from Southold to be with the group. “It’s just wonderful to be out in the fresh air, very healthy,” she said, thanking Tim Cody for getting everyone together.
Thoughts for the Holiday Season
ByRobertChartuk
To quote a line from the movie, Scrooged: It’s the one night of the year when we all act a little nicer, we smile a little easier, we cheer a little more. For a couple of hours out of the whole year, we are the people that we always hoped we would be.”
Paul Prebish, East Moriches
Now that I’m older and retired and the kids are gone, it seems like just another day. I did get to be Santa; that was fun.”
The group founder has created a 1-10 rating system for hikes to gauge their difficulty. He rated Terrell as an easy, 3-4 mile trek, pretty flat with no hills. The group tackles more challenging terrain with trips to upstate New York and the Brooklyn Bridge. They’re conquering the Paumanok Trail in sections, a 125-mile path from Rocky Point to Montauk, and are about
halfway through. They cover a lot of ground, meeting up to four times a week, and have had groups of over 100 on some of the hikes. After the Terrell Park hike, they all ended up at Waterdrinkers in Manorville to enjoy some cold ones and the sounds of country duo Don and Susan. Check them out on Facebook under Long Island’s East End Hiking Group.
The holidays mean family, catching up with people you haven’t seen in a while. Its about gifts, sharing with others.”
Annemarie
It's the season to take care of others, to be thankful for what we have and share with everyone else.”
Jillian Vigliarolo
We get to celebrate the birth of the Lord and be thankful for all that we have.”
The
holidays are for family, friends, love, downtime, reflecting, reaching out to others, and connecting.”
It’s
a busy time of the year; there’s much to do. There are projects you want to finish by the end of the year and the time is now to get them done.”
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Credit: Robert Chartuk
The members of the Long Island’s East End Hiking Group.
The original members of Long Island’s East End Hiking Group, from left, Donna Smith, Tim Cody, Cindy Locrotono, and Denise Fehr.
Matthew Pearo, Manorville
Monahan, Center Moriches
Beth Prebish, East Moriches
Tova Keblish, Eastport
Agnes Pearo, Manorville
The holidays are upon us and local residents shared what the season means to them with The South Shore Press. Here’s what they had to say.
ByRobertChartuk
Funds Approved to Rebuild Stump Pond Dam
Wiped out by the floods that wracked Long Island last summer, the dam that created Stump Pond in Smithtown will be rebuilt by the county under a $6.6 million emergency appropriation approved by the Suffolk Legislature.
The dam was created in 1798 when Isaac Blydenburgh and his cousins stopped up the headwaters of the Nissequogue River to power a grist mill. The pond’s name derives from the tree stumps protruding through the water on what were previously the riverbanks.
Following a deluge of up to 10 inches of rain on the night of August 18, the dam let loose and acres of water drained into the Long Island Sound. The pond, a key feature of the popular Blydenburgh Park, was reduced to a trickle of stream water, its ancient stumps exposed for the first time in centuries.
“This project represents a critical investment in our parks
and infrastructure,” said County Executive Ed Romaine in requesting the funds, $600,000 of which will go to planning the new levy. “By acting now, we are ensuring our residents’ safety and preserving one of our county’s most cherished natural spaces.”
Sponsoring the bill, which directs money from the county’s Emergency Mitigation Fund, was the legislature’s presiding officer, Kevin McCaffrey, who noted: “Suffolk’s parks are an incredible asset and the legislature takes pride in their preservation and enhancement.”
Not everyone is on board with bottling up the Stump watershed.
John Turner, a naturalist with the Seatuck Environmental Association, argues that the two streams that fed the pond should be left to run freely into the Nissequogue. “From a public user perspective, from a financial perspective, from an environmental and ecological perspective, a free-
flowing system is much more preferable to what the county's proposing to do,” he said. According to Turner, the pond area should be allowed to return to its natural state by allowing native plant and animal species to repopulate it. “This would save the taxpayers $6.6 million and actually provide for a better park,” he said.
The need to hold back water to run the historic grist mill that’s still located at the park is long gone, Turner noted. “The stream can still be used to run the mill if that’s what they want to do, but it hasn’t been operational in years,” he said. Like other structures built during a different time in Long Island’s history, the dam blocks vital fish species, such as eels and alewives, from returning to their native breeding grounds.
The dam that created Mill Pond in Stony Brook was also washed out during the August storm, which Brookhaven officials called “biblical” in scope. Homes along
were destroyed, along with Harbor Road, which was built on top of
101 Years Old WWII Vet from Deer Park Rewarded the French Legion of Honor
missionmargratenplus.org.
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
To those with extensive or even generally satisfactory military knowledge, it is one thing for one’s own country to meritoriously recognize them for their doting service, especially that which took place in the heat of combat. This is standard issue. However, it is another thing entirely when another country recognizes you for your accomplishments.
This is exactly what France did for Long Island’s own Frank Agoglia, 101, of Deer Park, before a stacked cast of fellow military-grade heroes on Friday, Dec. 20th.
The Brooklyn-born World War II Army Private entered service at the young age of 19 in 1943. He
was with the 325th Glider Infantry regiment when he played an instrumental role in the Battle of Normandy the following year.
Though he crash-landed in a field facing the threat of enemy fire, it was Agoglia’s slyness in securing crucial positions that helped provide for a successfully carried out “D-Day” operation on June 6, 1944.
“Frank is the essence of both courage and bravery,” said Fred Sganga, Executive Director of the Stony Brook University-located LI State Veterans Home—where Agoglia has lived for the past year.
Agoglia received two Bronze Star Medals and a Purple Heart for his service decades ago. Humble as ever on his day of recognition,
Agoglia did not demand further symbolic hardware—but deserved it nonetheless, according to representatives of the issuing nation on hand.
“The French government and the French nation will never forget your bravery and the sacrifice of your fallen companions,” said Myriam Gil, Deputy Consul General of France, when rewarding Agoglia with the “French Legion of Honor.”
This medal is the highest honor the French bestows; their way of not understating just how grateful they are for the countries who helped to liberate them from the tyrannical hands of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany.
“We owe you our freedom,” she added, “we will always remember
that.”
“I’m amazed, I sometimes can’t believe that was my dad—that went and fought against evil and saved the world at the time,” daughter Susan Pombano told NewsdayTV.
Back in 2019, Agoglia made news when, after falling in a supermarket while shopping with Susan, he sustained fractures that required him to have hip surgery. After months of rehabilitation, he returned to find his Deer Park home had been retrofitted to fit all of his needs moving forward.
This was made possible in conjunction with the Make it Count Foundation, another Suffolk County-based organization providing noble, no-cost accommodations to Veterans in
need. Make it Count supplied renovations, which included a handicap-accessible bathroom, and installed an easy-access garage door opener where there was not one prior.
In a final salute on Friday, Agoglia thanked all those who spent the day thanking him—and offered a heartfelt “good luck” as all raised a glass to salute the esteemed man of the hour.
To commemorate 80 years having passed since the fated Normandy invasion, The South Shore Press thanks Private Agoglia for his service. We also pass empathic holiday wishes unto both he and his fellow “Greatest Generation” soldiers who are incredibly still around to witness the fruits of their labor all these years later.
In Memory of John J. Fritz
ByRobertChartuk
The fishing pier jutting into Narrow Bay from Smith Point Park is named for John J. Fritz, a tireless advocate for public access to the area’s recreational resources. Before the surf caster, birder, and fisherman passed away in 2008, he tallied 773 bird species on his Life List. He was a champion of the delicate balance between public use and environmental protection, reads a plaque in his honor at the foot of the pier.
His guidance and leadership were invaluable to Suffolk County Parks, and his legacy will be that the Department always continues to enhance the outdoor experience for Suffolk's residents.
Fritz served as chairman of the Suffolk County Board of Trustees of Parks, Recreation, and Conservation and the Sporting Advisory Council.
“In appreciation of his commitment to public service, this pier, constructed largely by John's will and determination is hereby dedicated in his honor,” the tribute reads. Long a dream of the avid fisherman, the pier was open to the public in 2011.
Born in Brooklyn on Dec. 2nd, 1923, Private Frank Agoglia lived most of his adult life in Deer Park before moving into the LI State Veterans Home at Stony Brook University last year.
the path to Stony Brook Harbor
the centuries-old dam. Efforts to rebuild it are also underway.
Water drains through the Stump Pond basin on the way to the Nissequogue River.
Credit: Robert Chartuk
The gazebo at the foot of the John J. Fritz pier at Smith Point Park in Shirley.
Credit: Robert Chartuk
ByRobertChartuk
Manor of St. George Virtual Tour
The Manor of St. George is closed for the season, but that won’t stop The South Shore Press readers from being able to enjoy the colonial estate. The Manor, founded by Col. William Tangier Smith in 1693, holds a significant place in the history of Long Island and the nation. It
had been captured by the British during the American Revolution and won back by Lieutenant Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge during his famous trip along the trail named for him. The last heir to the Colonel, Eugenia A. Smith, made sure the manor will continue to be enjoyed by the people of Brookhaven.
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Colonial Soldier.
The Manor of St. George
Eugenia A. Smith
ByRobertChartuk
LIBBA Recycles Trees to Restore the Beach
The “Keepers of the Beach” will recycle Christmas trees again this year to build up the Fire Island dunes. The repurposed trees catch sand and give nature an assist in fortifying the barrier island that protects the mainland.
The Long Island Beach Buggy Association has run the fortification effort for years between Smith Point Park and Moriches Inlet, with dozens of members turning out to strategically place the discarded trees. The dunes they protect
are constantly threatened by the forces of nature, especially in the areas that were completely washed through by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Thanks to their efforts, along with snow fence installations and beach grass, the Fire Island dunes are getting back in shape.
Rather than putting them out with the trash, residents are asked to drop them off at Smith Point Park after the first of the year. Volunteers will remove tinsel and any leftover ornaments and start moving them down the beach, probably after Super Bowl Sunday as conditions permit,
Sunrise Wind Pier
Crews install a temporary pier to accommodate Sunrise Wind construction equipment on Fire
ByRobertChartuk
To move equipment too heavy for the Smith Point Bridge, workers are building a temporary pier for barges on Fire Island in Shirley as part of the Sunrise Wind turbine project. They’re getting ready to bring a 124-mile cable in from the waters off Montauk
according to LIBBA President Cooky Rondinella. “We expect about 25,000 trees this year. They really do go a long way to build up the dunes,” he said.
The association, first started in 1954, has been conducting its Christmas tree program since the '60s. The work is done in conjunction with the Suffolk Parks Department, which identifies the areas the trees are most needed.
“The trees perform a vital function in helping the beach build itself up naturally,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, who represents the Fire Island area. “Many thanks to the volunteers with LIBBA and to all the residents who make the effort to recycle their trees for such a good cause.”
An ever-changing island of sand that absorbs the brunt of the North Atlantic, the Outer Beach took a beating from Sandy and subsequent coastal storms, particularly the two last January that caused significant flooding in the Mastic Peninsula. To the west of Smith Point, where Sandy cut another inlet through the barrier island, the beach is practically flat with no protective dunes.
“The Christmas trees act like a natural snow fence,” explained LIBBA volunteer Sue Barile when she was putting out the trees last year. Her dad, Carl Bartasek, was one of the organization's original members and helped get the
program off the ground. Stacked about five high, the trees fill in with sand and, in many areas, are completely covered. “We’re creating new dunes,” Barile said. LIBBA is active throughout
Nassau and Suffolk with dune restoration, beach cleanups, and community activities such as food drives and fishing opportunities for veterans and cancer patients, Rondinella noted.
Feeling Grateful...
Continued from page 2
Thankfully, one generous soul saw the Christmas train wreck that just unfolded before him. This gentleman had a deluxe Monopoly game on him. That was it. One board game.
Again, this wasn’t a vivid Christmas memory for me, the baby of the family. It was more profound for my Mom and older siblings.
The lifelong impression I have is how GRATEFUL the whole family was to have one brand-new game. For YEARS we played the hell out of that Monopoly game. It brought joy, and excitement, and knocked down, and dragged out brawls over who was cheating as banker.
to connect the windmills to the mainland. Work is already underway along William Floyd Parkway to accommodate the cable along its 17-mile land route to a switching station in Holtsville. The 925-megawatt green energy effort is expected to provide electricity to 600,000 homes.
The thought never crossed anyone’s mind along the lines of “damn, that’s all we got was one deluxe Monopoly game.” Never. There was nothing but happiness, joy, and gratitude for one stranger’s kindness.
To this day a family gettogether never passes without
mention of that board game.
In later years, our mom would give us all the same exact, practical gift that came in handy during cold winter months: a package of white tube socks.
Every year. The kind of long white socks that NBA players wore in the 1970’s that went right up to their thighs.
I loved the gift. Loved it. Still do.
My mom was glad that she could at least give us something to open every Christmas, even though we knew exactly what it was based on the fact that you can’t tightly gift wrap a plastic bag with socks in it.
Even if our Mom tried to trick us and put the socks in a box and gift wrap them, all of us in unison would say, “yeah, nice try, those are white tube socks.”
I am so grateful for having the most basic and simplest of gifts for Christmas throughout my childhood.
There’s love and gratitude in my heart for my mother, who set
an example for me that parents are far from perfect, but striving for perfection and the best for your kids is critically important. Sometimes even just showing up as a parent is a simple gift we can give our kids that doesn’t cost a dime
This Christmas, let’s focus on the blessings and gifts we have in our lives that don’t cost anything
Let’s take time to reflect on how blessed we are to have spouses, children, jobs, homes, clothes, food, family, or other gifts we value in our respective lives.
If you happen to receive a deluxe Monopoly game or a plastic bag of brand-new tube socks, be just as grateful as if someone handed you the winning Mega Millions ticket.
Trust me, simple gifts like those are far more valuable than what money can buy.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. May you receive presents as meaningful and valuable as those I was given as a kid.
Putting the recycled trees in place.
Volunteers move trees dropped off by residents last year.
A fawn grabs a snack near the recycled Christmas trees used to refortify the Fire Island dunes.
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Island.
ByDeborahWilliams
New York's All-Electric House Law May Be Put On the Back Burner
Governor Kathy Hochul seemingly backtracks in recent comments on the All-Electric House Green New Deal initiative perhaps bending to both reality and the unpopularity and lack of reliability of this expensive initiative.
Different political winds are blowing after the November election and they are not blowing in the direction of laws and regulations creating higher costs for homeowners. Most especially not at a time when housing costs in New York are through the roof and are one of the main reasons New Yorkers give for leaving the state.
New York State Conservative Party Chairman, Jerry Kassar, said, “Once again Governor Hochul has shown that little thought goes into her far-fetched proposals. Instead of dooming New Yorkers to piein-the-sky rhetoric that causes distress and adding to the flight of New Yorkers to other states, Governor Hochul should ground herself in policies that the state citizens can get behind.“
New York enacted the AllElectric Building Act that will go into effect in 2026. The law prohibits the installation of fossil fuel equipment and building systems in new buildings and homes with some exceptions. The prohibition starts in 2026 for new buildings up to 7 stories tall. In 2029, new buildings of all sizes—aside from the exemptions for certain uses listed in the bill— must be built without fossil fuel
STATE
equipment.
Hochul made statements recently indicating she is hearing the pushback from homebuilders and potential homeowners about the difficulty in meeting the law’s implementation deadlines and the added costs.
"We have a moral responsibility to do everything we can to transition to clean renewable energy," Hochul said. "But I also know the pandemic disrupted so much in the supply chain and with manufacturers, whether it's home heating pumps or it's electric vehicles, so I need to be working closely with the legislature and say, 'We are not walking back from our aspirations and our goals, but I have to do it in a way that makes sense.' "
“I’m sure the taxpayers of New York are glad that the governor is finally seeing the light on the disastrous plans to cripple the state’s energy future,” said
Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano.
“The current plan to go all-electric is not feasible, and the experts concluded that it will result in blackouts and put New York at a huge economic disadvantage. The governor would be well advised to consider other energy sources such as the Saudi Arabia-sized supply of clean natural gas right under our feet. The fact that the Progressive Democrats won’t let us touch this vast resource will prove to be the biggest economic mistake of the century.”
There are plenty of exemptions written into the law, but no exemption for you – the potential builder and owner of a new home for your family. This law means no new house can have a gas stove, hot water tank, furnace, dryer, or any other gas or fossil fuels appliance.
Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick (R,C,I-Smithtown) said, “I don't disagree the pandemic disrupted many industries and supply chains
But, I think just as serious an issue is that you can’t force technology before it has matured right. The governor is realizing the problem and I don't think the left side of the legislature understands the reality of the situation.”
When asked about how a delay in the implementation of this law can happen Fitzpatrick said, “I think Governor Hochul needs to pick her fights. But she's going to need to have one or two fights with this legislature to say ‘no we're going to go in a different direction.’”
Fitzpatrick said, “Let the market determine the movement toward cleaner energy. You can't do it at the expense of your economythat's just economic suicide. The Democrats are committed to this climate agenda and we already have people leaving the state for lower taxes and better economics. If they're not careful that trend will accelerate and we're only going to be in a deeper hole because we are because of our progressive tax system we are very dependent on wealthy people we can't afford to lose many more of them.”
Solstice Sunset
on
when
Will Lt. Gov. Delgado Make a Primary Run Against His Boss Gov. Hochul?
ByDeborahWilliams
Governor Kathy Hochul’s poll numbers are low and a recent Siena poll showed 57% of voters would prefer “someone else” appear on the ballot in the next governor’s race. With blood in the water, others are making moves to test their own viability. Hochul may well find herself with a primary from several
other Democrats—maybe even her own Lt. Gov. Anthony Delgado. Normally, most folks don’t know who the Lt. Gov. is – maybe even the Governor forgets once in a while - they take such a back seat attending minor ribbon cuttings and events. But not, Delgado. As reported in the New York Times, a review of Delgado’s schedule before the election shows he was ramping
up his campaign events, and post-election he is busy with TV interviews, and publishing guest opinion pieces.
New York State Conservative Party Chairman, Jerry Kassar said “Hochul should know better than most that Democratic Governors have a history of ignoring their Lt. Governors. Whether Lt. Governor Delgado plans to run for Governor or simply wants to be taken more seriously it is apparent that he has had enough.”
Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick (R,C,I-Smithtown) said “I think they sense blood in the water. Torres was the first out of the box and you have Lawler who looks to be the likely Republican candidate. It's two years away and in politics that’s two or three lifetimes. If I were advising the governor I would say don't try to compete with the far-left.
“She should look at the changes in some of the neighborhoods in New York City, the voting patterns
across the state, and the issues that Trump raised. Priority number one is getting rid of all the criminal migrants. She (Hochul) has to come back to the center. She’s got to have a heart-to-heart with the Left. If she does that I think she's got a better chance, but if she stays where she is I think she could have a tough time in a primary,” Fitzpatrick said.
Hochul will feel pressure with 75% of the vote in a Democrat primary south of the Tappan Zee Bridge that tilts heavily left. At the same time, those neighborhoods also responded to Trump’s messaging on inflation and the law and order. Even much of the left has not been happy with what has been going on with illegal immigration and the economy and that showed in Trump’s gains all across New York.
Fitzpatrick added “I think Governor Hochul has got to get back to basics and just say we're going clean up the city and we’re
going get tough on law and order. The smartest thing she could do is fire Alvin Bragg. She would upset some on the far left, but if they're not careful a guy like Lawler could come in and become the next governor.”
Political winds are shifting and even sworn enemies of President Trump are changing their tune. Gov. Whitmer of Michigan has offered an olive branch to Donald Trump. Other governors are saying ‘We'll work with you’ and Pennsylvania Sen. Fetterman has said he’s willing to work with Trump.
“I think Gov. Hochul could only help herself if she said she would work with the new president to make New York safer and stronger economically,” Fitzpatrick concluded.
The South Shore Press made multiple attempts to have Lt. Gov. Delgado participate in this story and did not hear back from him or his staff.
Credit: Facebook
Lt. Gov Anthony Delgado
All-Electric House Law Getting a Second Look
Credit: Grok AI/X
ByRobertChartuk
The sun dips below the horizon during the winter solstice on December 21, the shortest day of the year. The days will now get longer until the vernal equinox
March 19,
there will be equal days and nights. The weekend brought some snow to the Outer Beach near the Moriches Inlet, where the surf was up and the wind was brisk.
Credit: Robert Chartuk Solstice Sunset
X Kills the Bill
ByDeborahWilliams
In the spirit of Festivus (if you are a Seinfeld fan), one of the first “Feats of Strength” of the incoming Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is a direct hit from Musk via his platform X against the Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government.
“This bill should not pass”, Musk said when the 1547-page, porkfilled bill was introduced. Some say a single 5-word post on X (Twitter) by an unelected person, Elon Musk, tanked the bill and threw Congress into chaos. Others say, “No”, Musk channeled the will of the American people who are tired of business as usual and want their tax dollars spent more wisely. Either way, the original bill is dead and that is a good thing.
President Trump was elected with a mandate and defeating the CR bill was a necessity. The deal collapsed because it was not in the best interest of the American
people. It is not what was voted for and Donald Trump was not going to support it. Full stop!
Musk used X to telegraph the message about the bad CR bill to the American public. Before Mush bought X, which was heavily censored, it is likely this message would have been muted if heard at all. X, now being an open and uncensored platform, changed all of that. Common sense messaging is no longer buried or canceled, and regular moderate and conservative users have a voice.
A CR is a stopgap bill that funds the government instead of Congress passing a budget. Friday, December 20 was the day the government ran out of money and Congress had to do something by midnight.
There was a clean CR bill that funds the essentials that is 15 pages long. And, there is the 1,500-page bill that has pork in it for everyone. Some say this is the price of getting agreement on a bill, but it is you, the taxpayer, who pays that bill.
It's Gettin' Hot in Here!
ByDeborahWilliams
It may be wintertime in New York, but Governor Kathy Hochul is preparing for summer heat in the classroom. A new unfunded mandate for New York’s already struggling school districts goes into effect with the passage of a new law that mandates classroom temperatures.
Governor Hochul signed legislation this week requiring that all school districts develop plans to mitigate extreme heat in classrooms and support services spaces and to establish a maximum allowable temperature to ensure the health and safety of students, faculty, and staff. By setting clear guidelines for extreme heat conditions, the bill will help schools ensure their spaces are conducive to student learning, reduce unnecessary disruptions, and provide for the health and safety of all those in their buildings.
Bob Vecchio, Executive Director, of Nassau Suffolk School Boards Association said, “While we always want to make sure our students and staff are in safe environments to learn this is another statewide decision that should have been decisions made by local boards of education together with their communities.”
"Extreme heat can significantly impact a student's concentration, focus, and ability to learn,” Governor Hochul said. "With this new law, we are continuing to make the health and safety of our kids and educators a top priority and ensuring that every New York student has access to the safe and comfortable learning environment they deserve."
The growing refrain is that Congress should have passed the clean CR and allowed incoming President Trump to handle the rest after the inauguration. The idea that the Biden administration and their Democratic allies want to load the CR with pork for their friends and funders moments before they lose power is anathema to the
“Now that this is a statewide mandate, it is also a brand-new unfunded mandate. In addition, districts that don’t have the resources to invest in buildingwide cooling systems will make decisions about shortening instructional time for students who need it the most. We learned during COVID that remote learning is not optimal, and some districts may be left with no other option to comply with this new mandate,” Vecchio said
Vecchio added, “Since the legislature has passed this law and the Governor has signed it, we call on them to fully fund it without residents having to pay for it through property taxes to cover any part of the cost.”
“At William Floyd, we always strive to keep the late spring and summer temperatures well below
taxpayer. It certainly goes against the very clear mandate the voters gave to President Trump.
Predictably, Swampy Senators, Congressmen, and the bureaucratic state are having heart attacks at the prospect of not being able to spend lavishly on their pet projects. And, the industries that have become fat and happy from nonstop feeding
at the public trough are panicking. Not only are they all about to be exposed by Musk’s DOGE, but many are about to get cut off.
“This chaos would not be happening if we had a real president. We will in 32 days!” said Trump and Vance on X.
Congress has been so derelict in its basic duty to pass the nation’s budget that they have not passed all 12 appropriations bills on time since 1997. In 2006, they passed the budget bills through the regular process, but not on time, and relied heavily on supplemental bills after the fact.
Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy are empowered by President-elect Trump’s mandate to take a good look at how the government spends your tax dollars. DOGE can and will do good things for America and the taxpayer. A government overhaul is long overdue. Musk’s X will continue to help get the message out to the voters.
that threshold. As a result of the capital project that was passed in 2017, we installed air conditioning to the remaining buildings that did not have them (John S. Hobart, Nathaniel Woodhull and William Floyd elementary schools). We believe that it is important for students and staff to be comfortable throughout the school day in order to optimize the educational experience,” said James Montalto, Public Relations Director, William Floyd School District
The law (S3397-A/A9011-A) establishes 88 degrees as the maximum temperature in classrooms and support services spaces and requires a plan for the removal of students and staff from these spaces. Where it is practical for the school district to do so, it also creates a definition of extreme
heat condition days as well as a standard to measure room temperature.
School districts will also be required to take action to relieve heat-related discomfort when
classroom temperatures reach 82 degrees. Such actions can include turning off overhead lights, pulling down shades or blinds, turning on fans, opening classroom doors and windows, turning off electronics, and providing water breaks.
Prodose Inc. to Shut Down Affecting 186 Jobs
Credit: Grok AI/X Prodose Inc. (Spirit Pharmaceuticals) to Close
ByDeborahWilliams
Just in time for Christmas, 186 workers at Prodose, Inc. in Ronkonkoma, NY have been told they will be out of jobs. Prodose Inc., better known as Spirit Pharmaceuticals LLC, will shut down in late February. Prodose is an over-the-counter drug company specializing in privatelabel store brands.
A required WARN notice was filed with the New York State Department of Labor saying 186 workers will be affected which is
the entirety of the workforce. The plant will close February 24, 2025.
Notifications of any layoffs or closures of more than 100 employees trigger the filing of a WARN notice 60 days before the job losses go into effect. While many WARN notices give a reason for the closure, Prodose Inc. listed the reason as “other”.
In previous IDA Tax filings, the company had mentioned that it was considering a move to South Carolina or New Jersey. There is no word yet whether this is where the company plans to move.
New Rules for Hot Classrooms
Credit: Meta AI
Elon Musk takes down a bloated budget bill.
Credit: Grok AI/X
HISTORY LESSONS
BY RICHARD ACRITELLI
“Pardon my French...but where in the hell has this son of a bitch gotten all his strength.”
- General Omar N. Bradley, December 18th, 1944
It was 80 years ago this week that these words were presented by Bradley over the surprise that most American soldiers faced at the start of the Battle of the Bulge. Reeling from terrible losses on the Eastern and Western Front’s, Hitler made a last ditch effort to drive a wedge between the American and British armies. As with the same success in 1940, Hitler sought the division and loss of Allied forces that ran from Bastogne towards Antwerp. Through audacity and speed, Hitler believed that it was possible for his armies to cross the Meuse River with the goal of completely pushing Eisenhower’s forces back in disarray. This battle was a military calamity and success through the strength of the American military to overcome a well coordinated surprise attack.
As the winter months approached Allied forces that operated on a “Broad Front,” there was the incorrect view that the war could possibly be over by Christmas, 1944. Supreme Commander of Allied Expeditionary Forces General Dwight D. Eisenhower observed the pressure of the ground war and the immense day and night time aerial bombing that weakened the German war effort. And it was falsely stated that both the German military and people were on the verge of collapse. At this point, Eisenhower learned about his historic promotion to earn a fifth star as “General of the Army.” Only 5 years before this moment, Eisenhower was a lieutenant colonel who estimated that he might not rise any further in the army. The war on the Western Front seemed to be progressing in the right direction, as Eisenhower was at the wedding for his orderly Mickey McKeogh.
With victory in sight, American forces were tired from the constant fighting, as many of the seasoned veterans were rotated to the rear, and there were few reserves. At the front, there were “green” soldiers who occupied key positions within Eisenhower’s “Broad Front” campaign. Under complete secrecy, the German Wehrmacht assaulted the thinly held American forces who had a limited amount of ammunition and warm weather clothing. After the hard fighting in Holland, elements of the 101st
and 82nd Airborne Divisions were resupplied for equipment at Reims. But as these men were ordered towards the key crossroads town of Bastogne, they were not fully equipped to handle this massive enemy assault. Eisenhower was forced to rely on poorly established communication lines that did not present any warning about this deadly attack on December 16th. To make matters worse, the soldiers on the ground were unable to count on being quickly resupplied, as the weather grew increasingly worse, and it prevented American aircraft from dropping much needed materials to aid the front lines.
Eighty years ago, three enemy armies moved through the Ardennes Forest, as the German Wehrmacht previously used this route during the start of World War I and II . The Americans were completely surprised and were in disarray, as the Germans had a two to one numerical advantage in soldiers. Whereas the war would be over within the next six months, this battle continued to demonstrate that the Germans were far from defeated. With thousands of American soldiers either killed, wounded, or captured, slowly it was learned that Eisenhower had a major military disaster on his hands. When 101st Acting Commander Brigadier General Anthony C. McAuliffe was told by the enemy to surrender Bastogne, he replied “Nuts!” It was feared that Bastogne would fall through an inability to air drop supplies and to reach these American soldiers with reinforcements.
There were three parts to this battle, first, Hitler’s surprise attack, secondly, the reorganization of American forces, and finally the counterattack that was led by the armor brilliance of General George S. Patton. But the Americans had to battle the bone-chilling cold weather, the terrain, trench foot, and pneumonia. The enemy infiltrated American lines with German soldiers who were dressed in captured American uniforms, where they changed road signs, and caused confusion. Rumors were rampant that these disguised enemy soldiers were going to kill Eisenhower, Bradley, and Patton. To counter these threats, Americans challenged each other with difficult questions that focused on the winner of the most recent World Series or cities across our country. Most of the senior command of Wehrmacht did not agree with the bold plans that Hitler expected to achieve.
The American Drive to Win the Battle of the Bulge
These officers did not believe that it was wise to use scarce soldiers and supplies that were desperately needed on the Eastern Front. Not willing to defy the plans of Hitler, the German High Command realized that gains on the Western Front would be short lived, as they were unable to carry out these ambitious plans.
On December 19th, Eisenhower met with his staff in Verdun. He looked at the grim faces around the table and told his subordinates, “The present situation is to be regarded as one of opportunity for us and not of disaster. There will be only cheerful at this conference table.” Eisenhower exclaimed that the “bulge” would not progress any further, the Germans would never reach the Meuse River, and that his armies would go on the offensive. The Germans stuck their necks out, now the American forces would unrelentingly strike at them through the harsh weather conditions. Ordering Patton to carry out this operation, he relied on the aggressiveness of the Third Army commander to make the Germans pay for this attack. Patton was the only leading officer who already had his staff planning for an expected drive against the enemy. Whereas it has been incorrectly believed that Eisenhower and Patton had a poor relationship, both were good friends during the interwar years. At the end of the meeting, Eisenhower told his old friend, “George, every time I get promoted, I get attacked.” Patton colorfully responded, “yes, and every time you get attacked, I bail you out.”
Patton rose to this challenge, as he told his staff to shift the Third
to rapidly move towards Bastogne. Known for his bravado, Patton previously gained results in North Africa, Sicily, and through the open fighting in France after the D-Day attack. He told Bradley, “...the Kraut stuck his head in a meat grinder, and at this time I’ve got hold of the handle.” Looking to gain divine support against the weather, Patton ordered this chaplain to write a prayer that would be read to protect his soldiers and to gain better conditions to oppose the Germans. Once the weather cleared, Patton decorated this chaplain with a bronze star for this productive fighting prayer. As Patton pushed forward, Bradley was disenchanted with Eisenhower, as he was ordered to turn over two of his armies to Montgomery. The bulge fighting separated these forces from the rest of the Americans that were under Bradley’s command, and it was believed that Montgomery was in a better position to lead these soldiers. For the rest of his life, Bradley never forgave this directive that aided Montgomery, at the behest of Bradley’s military strength.
Leading this hard fight against the enemy and weather, Patton seemed to be one step ahead of everyone else, as this was one of his finest moments of his career. He was determined to relieve Bastogne and to prevent the Germans from escaping the onslaught of American forces that were rapidly progressing in their direction. Patton realized that the enemy was in trouble through the interrogation of enemy soldiers who had not eaten in almost five days. Being in constant communication with his army, Patton told one of his corps commanders that his forces
were expected to be attacked by the Germans. Patton colorfully responded, “stop the bastards!” Fighting this battle on Christmas, Patton ordered that his soldiers who suffered from the snow and cold were to receive a hot turkey dinner. Driving from one unit to another, he made sure that these fighting men were given this meal. With the skies beginning to open enough for American fighter planes to operate overhead, Patton was never too far from the fighting, when his own vehicle was strafed by friendly fire.
On December 26th, Lieutenant Colonel Creighton Abrams exploited a weakness in the lines to relieve the beleaguered forces of Bastogne. Even as the Germans still surrounded this town on three sides, Patton’s armor prevented the destruction of the airborne soldiers who held out against greater enemy numbers. Whereas Patton helped Eisenhower turn the face of this battle from a near disaster towards an offensive that halted, pushed back, and prevented the Wehrmacht from carrying out Hitler’s broad plans to reach Antwerp. This deadly battle did not end until January 12th, 1945. Out of the 75,000 casualties, there were 23,000 American soldiers who were taken prisoner, and 19,000 killed. Today at the Eightieth Anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, Americans should be proud of the resolve that our veterans waged during this critical moment that later became one of our best military victories. And our foes should understand the massive abilities of this nation to defend our way of life.
Army
Close-up photo of the Memorial of the 101st Airborne Division in Bastogne Belgium
Credit: Rainier Straetmans | Dreamstime.com
ASK NANCY
BY NANCY BURNER, ESQ.
No, the filing requirements imposed on owners of corporate entities by the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) are suspended, at least temporarily.
The CTA, which took effect on January 1, 2024, mandates entities to report certain information to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The CTA was designed to combat money laundering and other illegal actions. The law requires that individuals file basic information with FinCEN if they exercise substantial control or decisionmaking authority, and other individuals who receive a financial advantage from a business or entity. The items to report for each person includes name, date of birth, address, and the official identification number from a driver’s license,
New Information for Business Owners: Corporate Transparency Act
passport, or other government ID as specified in the statute.
However, on Dec. 3, 2024, in Texas Top Cop Shop v Garland et al., the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas granted a preliminary injunction. A preliminary injunction is an action by the
court during the pendency of a lawsuit that serves to put on hold certain actions while the case is being adjudicated in the courts. This decision has halted the enforcement of the CTA requirements due to concerns about its constitutionality and impact on small businesses.
If you have not yet completed the filing under the CTA, you do not have to at this time. While the court's ruling has put on hold the CTA's enforcement, further court proceedings may reinstate the need to register with FinCEN. Note that if this decision is overturned, entities
that have not filed may need to act quickly to be in compliance with the law.
If you have already filed with FinCEN, there is no need to be concerned and there is no additional action necessary. It is recommended that you remain informed as to the status of the case, the CTA, and its reporting requirements. Should the CTA be upheld, entities will again be required to report changes in beneficial ownership. At least for now, the fear of penalties for noncompliance can be put aside.
Britt Burner, Esq. is a Partner at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. focusing her practice areas on Estate Planning and Elder Law. 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.
BY TARA D’AMATO
Assistant Library Director
Winter Blues With a Book
Now that winter is here, there's more time to cozy up with a good book. Why not join a book club and meet new friends on the process? The library has two monthly book related meetups for adults, check out these two in January:
Thursday, January 16, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Held at Sunsets at Senix Restaurant (50 Senix Ave, Center Moriches, NY) Registration begins Friday, January 3rd. Deciding what to read next? Join us for a discussion about books at Sunsets at Senix Restaurant! There is no assigned reading; chat about what you are currently reading, what you want to read, or your most favorite book of all time. Appetizers will
be provided. Wine and beer will be available for purchase.
Book Discussion of Daisy Jones & the Six
Thursday, January 23, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. Held at our Main Building. Registration begins Thursday, December 26.
Copies of the book will be available for pick up at our Main Branch starting December 26.
Experience the highs and lows of fame, fortune, and forbidden love while discussing the novel, Daisy Jones & the Sixby Taylor Jenkins Reid. Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing the Whisky a GoGo. The sex and drugs are
thrilling, but it’s the rock and roll she loves most. By the time she’s 20, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things. Another band getting noticed is The Six, led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she’s pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road. Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend. The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies.
Happening at the
Children & Parents
Register for programs three easy ways: in person, online at www.communitylibrary.org or contact the Children’s Reference Desk at 631-399-1511 Ext. 2016 for the Moriches Branch or Ext. 1030 for the Mastic Beach Branch or Ext. 2028 for the Main Building.
Crafts-To-Go can be picked up at open library locations. One craft per child, per visit please
CLUBS FOR SCHOOL AGE KIDS
Chess Club
ALL IN-PERSON PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED IN-PERSON ONLY. SUPPLIES WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP.
Monday, January 13
5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Held at our Main Building. Grades 3-5.
BABIES / PRESCHOOL
STEAM Club: Straw Bridge
PROGRAM REGISTRANTS MUST ARRIVE WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF THE START OF EACH PROGRAM OR THEIR RESERVATION WILL BE FORFEITED.
Registration begins one week prior to each session unless otherwise noted.
Explore Everything - Shapes!
Wednesday, January 8
Monday, December 2, 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.
4:15 – 5:00 p.m.
Held at our Moriches Branch.
Held at our Main Building. Grades 1-5.
Ages birth-23 months with an adult.
Zumbini
Tuesday, December 3, 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Held at our Mastic Beach Branch.
LEGO Club
Ages birth-4 years with an adult.
Monday, January 20
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Messy Meetups
Wednesdays, December 4 & 18
Held at our Main Building. Drop-in. No registration required. Grades K-5.
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Held at our Moriches Branch.
Ages 18 months-5 years with an adult.
Baby Games
Monday, December 9
10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
Bookworm Book Club: Amulet. Book One
Held at our Moriches Branch.
Friday, January 31
Monday, December 16
10:30 – 11:15 a.m.
4:30 – 5:00 p.m.
Held at our Main Building. Ages birth-18 months with an adult.
Held at our Mastic Beach Branch. For January we will be reading Amulet Book One, The Stonekeeper by Kazu Kibuishi, pick up the book at the front desk starting January 2. Grades 3-5.
SCHOOL-AGE
Tail-Waggin’ and Readin’ Fun!
Mondays, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Held at our Main Building. Tuesdays, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
Held at our Mastic Beach Branch.
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Held at our Mastic Beach
December 17, 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.
Held at our Main Building.
months-5 years with an adult.
story together and then create a winter Building. Ages birth-18 months
These programs are for the registered children only. Adults and siblings must remain outside of the program space. Registration begins one week prior to each session unless otherwise noted.
Drop-in. No registration required. Grades K-5.
Grades 1-5.
Grades K-5.
FAMILIES
Family Roller Skating Night @ Gr8skates
Thursday, January 30
6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
Registration begins Thursday, January 23.
Join your friends and neighbors at the GR8SKATES roller rink!
Register each family member for free admission and skate rental (only those registered will be able to enter the building). Concessions and arcade games are available for purchase. All skaters must fill out an electronic waiver at arrival or prior on their website. Helmets for young children are optional and are not provided. Register each person separately with their own library card. Limited availability. Registration for this program is by phone or in-person only. Families with at least one child in grade 5 or younger.
LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT: SUFFOLK COUNTY.
FEDERAL HOME
LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FREDDIE MAC SEASONED CREDIT RISK TRANSFER
TRUST, SERIES 2019-2, Pltf. vs. RONALD KOCSI JR, et al, Defts. Index #205792/2022. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered June 27, 2024, I will sell at public auction at Brookhaven Town Hall, One Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY on January 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. premises k/a 464 Carnation Drive, Shirley, NY 11967 a/k/a District 0200, Section 615.00, Block 05.00, Lot 017.00. Approximate amount of judgment is $253,630.60 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale.
STEVEN LOSQUADRO, Referee. MARGOLIN, WEINREB & NIERER, LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 575 Underhill Blvd., Ste. 224, Syosset, NY 11791. #101941
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF THE CHALET SERIES IV TRUST, Plaintiff, vs. JENNIFER WAGNERAUERBECK A/K/A J.D. WAGNER-AUERBECK A/K/A JENNIFER W. AUERBECK A/K/A
JENNIFER WAGNER, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 3, 2023 and an Order Appointing Successor Referee duly entered on April 30, 2024 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on January 7, 2025 at 9:00 a.m., premises known as 24 Golden Gate Drive, Shirley, NY 11967. 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, District 0200, Section 980.30, Block 01.00 and Lot 032.000. Approximate amount of judgment is $260,227.18 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #616260/2021.
John Bennett, Esq., Referee
Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff Firm File No.: 203392-1
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF SUFFOLK Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST Sharon Klune a/k/a Sharon L. Klune; et al., Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 2, 2024 I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Front steps of Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on January 3, 2025 at 11:00AM, premises known as 4 Laurel Crescent a/k/a Laurel Cresent, Manorville, NY 11949. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in Manorville, Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk, State of NY, District 0200 Section 510.00 Block 05.00 Lot 029.031. Approximate amount of judgment $635,637.89 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 207406/2022. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 10th Judicial District. Jacob Turner, Esq., Referee
LOGS Legal Group LLP
Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792
Dated: November 18, 2024
For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832
JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Plaintiff AGAINST Richard Sapienza, a/k/a Richard A. Sapienza; Debra Sapienza, a/k/a Debra A. Sapienza; et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered September 23, 2024 I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Front steps of Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on January 13, 2025 at 1:00PM, premises known as 45 Crestwood Drive, 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, State of NY, District: 0200 Section: 669.00 Block: 01.00 Lot: 003.004. Approximate amount of judgment $550,531.92 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 615251/2023. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 10th Judicial District. John W. Doyle, Esq., Referee LOGS Legal Group LLP Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792 Dated: October 16, 2024 For sale information, please visit Servicelinkauction.com or call (866) 539-4173 83072
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF SUFFOLK U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY
AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST C/O U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff AGAINST MOHAMMAD ALTAF HAIDER AKA MOHAMMAD A. HAIDER, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 3, 2024, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on January 13, 2025 at 9:30AM, premises known as 11 Pinetree Drive, 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 981.80 Block 05.00 Lot 038.000. Approximate amount of judgment $299,483.25 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #606508/2023. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the District and SUFFOLK County Auction Plan in effect at this time. Frank M. Maffei Jr., Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 22003185 83505
WELLS FARGO BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR OPTION ONE MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2007-CP I, ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-CP l, Plaintiff,
Against
PAUL WAGNER A/K/A PAUL J. WAGNER; Et al, Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 03/22/2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction,
at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738, on 1/9/2025 at 11:00AM , premises known as 43 Adobe Drive, Shirley, New York 11967, And Described As Follows:
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.
District 0200 Section 967.00
Block 03.00 Lot 040.000
The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $202,980.94 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 615765/2019
Erin M. McTiernan, Esq., Referee.
MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 MIDLAND AVENUE, SUITE 205, PORT CHESTER, NY 10573
REFEREE'S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF SUFFOLK THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWALT, INC. ALTERNATIVE LOAN TRUST 2005-86 CB, Plaintiff - againstREMBERTO R. DELGADO BLANCO, AS EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF ROSANNA MEDINA A/K/A ROSANNA MEDINA-BLANCO, et al
Defendant(s).
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on October 18, 2024. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on the 15th day of January, 2025 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being near the Village of Marlchea, in the Town of Brookhaven,
in the County of Suffolk and State of New York.
Premises known as 34A Midland Avenue, Mastic, NY 11950.
Approximate amount of lien $290,579.40 plus interest and costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Index No. 029672/2009. William F. Andes, Jr., Esq., Referee.
McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC
Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, NY 10170 Tel. 347/286-7409
For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www. Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832
Dated: November 6, 2024
During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. Auction Locations are subject to change.
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT SUFFOLK COUNTY MID-ISLAND MORTGAGE CORP., Plaintiff against MUHAMMET OZEN, et al
Defendant(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Stern & Eisenberg, P.C., 20 Commerce Drive, Suite 230, Cranford, NJ 07016 and 1131 Route 55, Suite 1, Lagrangeville, NY 12540. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered August 21, 2023, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill,
LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES
Farmingville, NY 11738 on January 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM. Premises known as 1 Ellen Ct, Lake Grove, NY 11755. District 0208 Sec 008.00 Block 11.00 Lot 029.000. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Lake Grove, Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $412,399.72 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 605329/2016. For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.
During the COVID-19 health emergency, Bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of the sale including but not limited to wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Should a bidder fail to comply, the Referee may refuse to accept any bid, cancel the closing and hold the bidder in default. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale.
Steven P. Bertolino, Esq., Referee File # NY202200000067-1
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK
DITECH FINANCIAL LLC, -against-
MARLENE DIAZ, 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 October 31, 2016, wherein
DITECH FINANCIAL LLC is the Plaintiff and MARLENE DIAZ, 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 January 16, 2025 at 12:30PM, premises known as 731 OLD MEDFORD AVE, MEDFORD, NY 11763; and the following tax map identification: 0200-837.0003.00-039.000.
ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, 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.: 002170/2013. Michael T. Clancy, Esq. - Referee. The Referee does not accept cash and only accepts bank checks or certified checks made payable to Michael T. Clancy, as 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.
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK
HSBC BANK USA, N.A., AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF THE RENAISSANCE HOME EQUITY LOAN ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-1, -against-
LJ EQUITIES II LLC F/K/A 166 FROWEIN LLC, 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 23, 2024, wherein HSBC BANK USA, N.A., AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF THE RENAISSANCE HOME EQUITY LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-1 is the Plaintiff and LJ EQUITIES II LLC F/K/A 166 FROWEIN LLC, 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 January 22, 2025 at 1:00PM, premises known as 24 SPAR DRIVE, MASTIC BEACH, NY 11951; and the following tax map identification: 0200-975.00-11.00-015.000 F/K/A 0200-975.00-05.00015.000 F/K/A 0209013.00-05.00-015.000.
ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT MASTIC IN THE TOWNSHIP OF BROOKHAVEN, COUNTY OF SUFFOLK AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 610904/2020. Elyse Nicole Grasso, 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.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: The following Self Storage unit contents containing
household and other goods will be sold for cash by StorQuest Self Storage 2021 Lakeland Avenue , Ronkonkoma NY 11779 (631) 954-2026 to satisfy a lien on 01/08/2025 at approx. 12PM at www. storagetreasures.com: Lisa Ellison - 1053, Dominick Germano 1177, Harry Belsha 2137, Jeanette Jennings -3029
L16130-12/25/2024
NOTICE OF SALE
Supreme Court County of Suffolk
U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for Banc of America Funding Corporation 2007-3, Plaintiff
AGAINST
Michael Devito, Stacey Devito, People of the State of New York, et al, Defendant
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated July 15, 2019 and entered on August 5, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY on January 28, 2025 at 9:30 AM premises known as 461 Avondale Drive, Shirley, NY 11967-1201. 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: 616.00, BLOCK: 04.00, LOT: 007.000, Dist 0200. Approximate amount of judgment is $518,916.58 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 063052/2013.
The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the District and Suffolk County Auction Plan in effect at this time.
For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www. Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.
7-Eleven, Inc., 3200 Hackberry Road, Irving, TX 75063, has made application to the Brookhaven Town Board acting as the Planning Board for approval of a site plan with variance(s) for Proposed demolition of existing 7-Eleven convenience store and proposed new motor vehicle fueling station and accessory convenience store with associated site improvements, with variance(s). This proposal is known as 7-Eleven at Shirley, located at 1481 William Floyd Parkway, S/W/C William Floyd Parkway (CR 46) and Moriches Middle Island Road, and E/S Revilo Avenue, Shirley, Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York and described as follows:
NORTH: Moriches Middle Island Road;
WEST: Revilo Avenue;
SOUTH: Now or Formerly Franklin Johnson Inc;
EAST: William Floyd Parkway (CR 46).
Notice is hereby given that the Brookhaven Town Board acting as the Planning Board will hold a public hearing in the Town Hall 2nd floor auditorium, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, New York on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 3:00 P.M., when adjacent property owners and/or others interested in any way in the proposal may appear before the Board to be heard.
A more detailed diagram of the subject property shall be made available virtually at https://www. brookhavenny.gov/1159/ Meetings
At said public hearing, any persons interested shall be given the opportunity to be heard. Anyone interested in submitting written comments to the Board may also do so via email at emccallion@brookhavenny. gov.
DATED: December 12, 2024
Daniel J. Panico, Supervisor L16132-12/25/2024
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Saleema Property Inc, 109 Garden Drive, Albertson, New York 11507, has made application to the Brookhaven Town Board acting as the Planning Board for approval of a site plan for a two-story 18,195 sf catering hall with associated parking and site improvements, requiring variances for land development standards, amount of parking and parking in the front yard setback. This proposal is known as 1406 Montauk Highway at Mastic (also known as Javed Malik Catering Hall), located at the southwest corner of Montauk Highway and Cumberland Street, Mastic, Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York and described as follows:
NORTH: MONTAUK HIGHWAY;
WEST: Now or Formerly BROOKHAMPTON OFFICES INC, Now or Formerly COUNTY OF SUFFOLK;
SOUTH: CARLTON AVENUE, Now or Formerly COUNTY OF SUFFOLK
EAST: CUMBERLAND STREET
Notice is hereby given that the Brookhaven Town Board acting as the Planning Board will hold a public hearing in the Town Hall 2nd floor auditorium, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, New York on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 3:00 P.M., when adjacent property owners and/or others interested in any way in the proposal may appear before the Board to be heard.
A more detailed diagram of the subject property shall be made available virtually at https://www. brookhavenny.gov/1159/ Meetings
At said public hearing, any persons interested shall be
given the opportunity to be heard. Anyone interested in submitting written comments to the Board may also do so via email at emccallion@brookhavenny. gov.
DATED: December 12, 2024
Daniel J. Panico, Supervisor L16133-12/25/2024
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Evergreen Farm Estates Incorpated, 438 The Green, Shirley, New York, has made application to the Brookhaven Town Board acting as the Planning Board for approval of a subdivision with cluster treatment for a 10 lot subdivision on a 12.6 acre parcels. This proposal is known as Evergreen Farm Estates @ East Moriches, located at the southwest corner of Evergreen Avenue and Woodlawn Avenue, East Moriches, Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York and described as follows:
NORTH: Right of Way known as Woodlawn Avenue
WEST: Land Now or Formerly Louis & Susan Drake, Land now or formerly Kevin & Brittaney Bennet,
SOUTH: Land now or formerly Donald Kaufman & Taffy Dahl Land nor or formerly John H. Andren Jr. Revocable Trust
EAST: Right of Way known as Evergreen Avenue
Notice is hereby given that the Brookhaven Town Board acting as the Planning Board will hold a public hearing in the Town Hall 2nd floor auditorium, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, New York on Thursday, January 9, 2025 at 3:00 P.M. Adjacent property owners and/or others interested in any way in the proposal may appear before the Board to be heard.
A more detailed diagram of the subject property shall be made available virtually at https://www. brookhavenny.gov/1159/ Meetings
At said public hearing, any persons interested shall be given the opportunity to be heard. Anyone interested in submitting written comments to the Board may also do so via email at emccallion@brookhavenny. gov.
DATED: December 12, 2024
Daniel J. Panico, Supervisor
L16134-12/25/2024
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, vs. RONALD VOEGELE A/K/A RONALD E. VOEGELE, ET AL., Defendant(s).
Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on March 11, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on January 23, 2025 at 9:00 a.m., premises known as 121 Hagerman Avenue, East Patchogue, NY 11772. 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, District 0200, Section 979.70, Block 05.00 and Lot 004.000. Approximate amount of judgment is $350,497.03 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #615544/2022.
Brian Egan, Esq., Referee
Greenspoon Marder, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2200, New York, NY 10105, Attorneys for Plaintiff
NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION SUBJECT TO PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the
Middle Island Fire District, in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, at a meeting thereof, held on the 5th day of December, 2024, duly adopted, subject to permissive referendum, a Resolution, an abstract of which is as follows: For the purchase of Turn Out Gear not to exceed $75,000.00 from the Fire Apparatus Equipment Reserve Fund (FAE).
Dated: Middle Island, New York
December 6, 2024
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OF THE MIDDLE ISLAND FIRE DISTRICT IN THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK
Chrissy Rosenfeld, District Secretary
L16136-12/25/2024
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF SUFFOLK
CMG MORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff, Against
COREY LEMAY AKA
COREY M. LEMAY, et al,
Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 10/23/2017, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738, on 1/29/2025 at 10:00AM , premises known as 30 Balsam Drive, Medford, New York 11763, And Described As Follows:
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.
District 0200 Section 870.00 Block 03.00 Lot 030.002 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $318,054.88 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of
Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 604459/2015
Thomas Joseph Demayo, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 MIDLAND AVENUE, SUITE 205, PORT CHESTER, NY 10573
Notice of Public Sale: 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 1/14/2025 at approx. 12:00pm at www. storagetreasures.com
L17 Melqwan Riggins 018 Darian Strick 085 Virdina L Wilson
122 Nina Moore
123 David Damore
330 Kevin Harrell
460 Carrie Neckles
558 Lakae Staton
L16138-12/25/2024
NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION CENTER MORICHES FIRE DISTRICT, IN THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK
JANUARY 28, 2025
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special Election of the qualified voters of the Center Moriches Fire District (hereinafter called the “Fire District”), in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, will be held at the firehouse located at 301 Main Street, Center Moriches, New York, in said Fire District, on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. The polls shall open at 5:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) and shall remain open until 9:00 o’clock P.M. (Prevailing Time) or as much longer as may be necessary to enable the voters then present to cast their votes.
NOTICE IS HEREBY FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to the resolution adopted by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Fire District on
December 9, 2024, the following Proposition will be submitted to the qualified voters of the Fire District for approval or disapproval:
PROPOSITION
SHALL the bond resolution of Center Moriches Fire District, in the Town of Brookhaven, New York, entitled: “BOND RESOLUTION OF THE CENTER MORICHES FIRE DISTRICT (“FIRE DISTRICT”), IN THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK, ADOPTED DECEMBER 9, 2024, AUTHORIZING THE CONSTRUCTION OF AN ADDITION, ALTERATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO THE EXISTING FIREHOUSE OF THE FIRE DISTRICT LOCATED AT 301 MAIN STREET, CENTER MORICHES, AS FURTHER DESCRIBED IN A PLAN PREPARED FOR THE FIRE DISTRICT BY MARTIN F. SENDLEWSKI, A.I.A. ARCHITECT-PLANNER, RIVERHEAD, NEW YORK, INCLUDING THE PURCHASE OF ORIGINAL FURNISHINGS, EQUIPMENT, MACHINERY OR APPARATUS AND ANY ANCILLARY OR RELATED SITE, DEMOLITION AND OTHER WORK REQUIRED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH (“PROJECT”); STATING THE ESTIMATED MAXIMUM, COST THEREOF IS NOT TO EXCEED $4,500,000, INCLUDING PRELIMINARY COSTS AND COSTS INCIDENTAL THERETO AND TO THE FINANCING THEREOF; APPROPRIATING SAID AMOUNT FOR SUCH PURPOSE, INCLUDING THE EXPENDITURE OF $600,000 AVAILABLE FROM THE FIRE DISTRICT’S EXISTING CAPITAL RESERVE FUND TO PAY A PART OF SAID APPROPRIATION; AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS OF THE FIRE DISTRICT IN THE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF NOT TO EXCEED $3,900,000 TO FINANCE THE BALANCE OF SAID APPROPRIATION; AND PROVIDING FOR THE
LEVY OF TAXES TO BE COLLECTED TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF AND INTEREST ON SAID BONDS,” BE APPROVED?
All residents of the Fire District who were duly registered to vote with the Suffolk County Board of Elections on or before January 6, 2025, shall be eligible to vote at said Special Election.
The Election Inspectors shall meet at the firehouse located at 301 Main Street, Center Moriches, New York, in said Fire District, on January 6, 2025 at 7:00 o’clock P.M. to commence preparation of the register of those persons eligible to vote in such Special Election. In accordance with said Section 175-a of the Town Law, only those persons registered with the Board of Elections of the County on or before January 6, 2025 will be entitled to vote at such Special Election. BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS
DATED: December 9, 2024 Michael Schlosberg FIRE DISTRICT SECRETARY L16139-12/25/2024
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THE BETTOR ANGLE TM
BY TOM BARTON
This holiday season most people think of Christmas trees, Jesus, lights, ornaments, Santa, snowmen and the like, but for sports bettors we see the holiday season as a great time to make some money. Not only is the schedule stacked for basketball and hockey, but the NFL is in full gear and it's Bowl mania time as well.
The problem is that bookmakers know this and they also know that for many fans tis' the season to sit around inside on the couch and bet on games. Which also means that the public will be betting heavily and betting on what the public loves, Overs and favorites.
This week don't let the allure of points steer you away from a trend that has been a cash cow for a while now. That is the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills playing low scoring games.
The Jets and Bills have a long and storied history, but much of that history is littered with ugly games and slow paced defensive scores. That shouldn't come as much of a surprise as both teams play outdoors in cold weather cities, but even when the weather has cooperated these teams bring defense first.
Earlier this season, with no weather issues, the two teams played to a total of 43. Last season both games landed on a final of 38 points scored. In fact we can keep going back and what you'll see is that each of the past 6 games they have faced off have been 43 points or under and coming into the year it was a high of 38 points in the past 5 games.
Let's dig in even further and we can see that only once in the past 10 games, or since 2018, have these two teams combined
Bookmakers Give Us a Present UNDER the Tree
for more than 44 points. The look ahead total line for this game is 50 points.
Another angle to keep an eye on is the Chiefs, and Andy Reid, in December. Andy Reid does resemble Mr. Claus so maybe that is why he has dominated the month to such a high percentage. And no, I won't be making any Patrick Mahomes looking like Rudolph the RedNosed Reindeer jokes, and I will stay away from any Travis Kelce is the Grinch references. But, the Chiefs do own the holiday season.
Kansas City, since Patrick Mahomes took over as their starting quarterback in 2018, are an incredible 21-6 in the month of December and although three of their six losses in December came last season. They will be taking on the Steelers in Pittsburgh on Christmas Day. I
have previously written about Mike Tomlin's dominance at home as an underdog, so this could turn into trend vs.
SPORTS Eastport-South Manor Best Athletes Honored
ByTomBarton
The Eastport-South Manor Jr.-Sr. High School studentathletes were honored this week for their season's achievements.
Seven different varsity teams qualified for Section XI postseason games, and they delivered three league championship teams and three county finalist teams. Two teams were named county champions, one team secured a Long Island championship, and one team went all the way to win the state title.
Individually five athletes received All-State designations, four coaches acquired the designation of Coach of the Year, and every varsity team was designated as a New York State Public High School Athletic Association scholar-athlete team.
In all, there were 142 students who received the designation of scholar-athlete. Below is a list of the athletes and their awards and sport.
Girls Varsity Soccer –Scholar-Athlete Team, Section XI Playoff Qualifier (1 st Seed), League VI Champions, and AA County Finalist
Coach Rebecca Thorn –League VI Coach of the Year
Layla Bloxon – All-County
Gianna Da Cunha – AllLeague
Gracie DiPalo – All-County
Maeve Gayer – All-County
ByTomBarton
This week at the Section XI first ever photo shoot/media day for Suffolk County's major football honorees I was able to sit down with star running back Ja'quan Thomas.
Thomas is a 6'2" 215 pound dynamic runner for William Floyd. Thomas was among Long Island's best players and took home awards showing his dominance in Suffolk County. What separates Thomas from the field is that he is only a junior and it's scary for other teams that there might be another level to his game.
He alluded to that when we spoke about his off season routine. Especially at the running back position and taking that many hits I asked him how much time he would take to recover and just have some down time. He answered "None really. I went right back to the weight room, and I'm working at it everyday."
Lily Gravina – All-League
Ella Russo – All-County
Jenna Vormittag – All-League
Boys Varsity Soccer –Scholar-Athlete Team
Garrett Bollinger – AllAcademic
David Coxic – All-League
Justin Everoski – AllConference
Aidan Slovensky – All-League
Girls Volleyball – ScholarAthlete Team
Rebecca Benson – All-League
Madyson DesLauriers – AllLeague
Madalena Hiotis – All-League
Boys Volleyball – ScholarAthlete Team, Playoff Qualifier (1 st Seed), Division Champions, Section XI Class AA Champions, Long Island Champions, NYSPHSAA Division II State Champions
Coach William Kropp –Newsday Coach of the Year
Ralph Betner – All-County and All-State Tournament
Tyler Bottcher – All-County and All-State Tournament
Brennen Brandow – JV Coach of the Year
Jack Cain – All-County
Logan DeLumen – All-County
Ayden DesLauriers – AllCounty, Newsday Player of the Year, State Tournament MVP
Andrew Dragos – All-County
Mason Gatchalian – AllDivision
Andrew Santangelo – AllDivision
James Talamini – All-Division Honorable Mention
Girls Field Hockey –Scholar-Athlete Team and Section XI Playoff Qualifier (5 th Seed)
Victoria Gambino – Unsung Hero
Madison Heaney – AllClassification
Caitlin Masera - AllTournament
Katelynn Murtha – Honorable Mention All-County and AllCounty
Taylor Murtha – All-County
Molly McGuire – AllClassification
Natalie Psaltis – All-County
Alexa Quiery – AllTournament
Thomas rushed for over 100 yards in every game this season and had an unreal 37 touchdowns. Thomas was just named the “High School Football Offensive Player of the Year” by the New York Jets and Gatorade. Earlier this off season
he was also named a co-recipient of the Joe Cipp Award for Suffolk County’s best running back, named All-Long Island First Team and was the Division I MVP.
Elaina Garcia – All-County
Emma Graham – AllClassification
Taryn Kirwan – Academic All-County
Sadie Scott - All-County
Girls Tennis – Scholar Athlete Team and Division Qualifiers
Coach Mya Tribble – Division IV Coach of the Year
Ava Didonna – All-Conference
Kate Valenti – AllClassification
Girls Cross-Country –Scholar-Athlete Team
Grace DeMeo – All-Division
Sara Mikula - All-League/ County
Mya Quinn – All-League/ County
Boys Cross-Country –Scholar-Athlete Team, Division Champions and Section XI Class AA Champions
Coach Brian Methven – Coach of the Year (Class B)
Justin Albanese – All-League, All-County and All-State
Gavin Calvo - All-League
Christian Capolino – AllLeague and All-County
Nick Pugliese – All-League
Paul Zorn – All-League and All-County
Gameday Cheer – ScholarAthlete Team and County Finalist
Isabella Mazzochi – AllConference and All-County
Charlotte Rozycki – AllConference
Carolina Sallustio – AllConference
Makena Wood – All-League and All-Conference
Pasha Wray – All-Conference
Boys Golf – Scholar-Athlete Team
Football – Scholar-Athlete Team and Playoff Qualifier (8th Seed)
Nolan Douglas – All-Division 2nd team
Max Ferraro - All-County
Stevey Pacella Gordon – AllDivision 1st team
Joe Green – All-Division 2nd Team
Joey Hershey – All-Division 1st Team
Cole Klein – All-Division 2nd Team
Tommy Powers – All-Division 1st Team
That type of commitment to excellence has shown on the field throughout his career. This season he is ranked 27th nationally for yards with 2,608. He also averaged 8.8 yards per carry, 217 yards per game and he has a nose for the end zone unlike anyone I have watched.
That nose for the goal line was on full display in a game against Sachem East in November when he scored 6 touchdowns in one game. That sort of production would make even Al Bundy jealous. When we discussed that game I sort of knew what the answer would be, but when Ja'quan expanded on his response that is when you could see the true greatness that lies beneath in this young athlete.
I asked him what was his favorite personal game of the year and he quickly said it was the six touchdown game, but he expanded on the answer and said "I really wanted the record, that is seven, so I was a little disappointed I wasn't able to get that." That sounds like someone who believes there is
more to do, despite his outstanding season.
In a room full of accomplished athletes Ja'quan stood out. A quiet and unassuming, polite young man, yet through the conversation you could see the determination and commitment to getting better. In fact when I asked him of his goals for next year he immediately stated team goals and then followed that by telling me there were no personal numbers he wanted to achieve, just wants to "better himself" everyday and every game.
Looking beyond his senior year Thomas "wants to play at the highest level". Now, he did not specifically say what level that was but if his path continues upwards many who have watched him play and met the man can see that the highest levels could mean we watch Ja'quan play on Sundays. For now it's a remarkable season for a remarkable athlete but an even better person. And the best part about it all is we get to see what the next steps are in his game next season.
One-on-One With Ja'quan
Eastport-South Manor Student- Athletes Who Received AllCounty and All-State Designations for the Fall Sports Season
Credit: Jessica Novins
Ja'quan Thomas
Credit: Tom Barton
SPORTS Suffolk's All-Americans
ByTomBarton
The United Soccer Coaches announced the association’s 2024 High School Boys and Girls All-
names. Maddie Costello, from Ward Melville, Ryan Levy, from Half Hallow Hills West, and Michael Mannino, from Walt Whitman were among the honorees.
Costello led Ward Melville to its third straight state title this season and earned girls soccer Player of the Year. She has known nothing but winning on the pitch as Ward Melville went undefeated the last three seasons
with a 56-0-7 record and they have won 63 straight games to set a new Long Island record.
Levy broke Half Hollow Hills West's all-time soccer scoring record that has been held since 1997. He shattered the 58 point record with 64 points this season. He also scored a Long Island-best 41 points this year.
In all there were 142 High School All-Americans chosen
by the association. 79 boys and 63 girls throughout the country took home this prestigious honor.
Players on this year’s United Soccer Coaches High School All-America Teams will be recognized for their accomplishments at the United Soccer Coaches All-America Ceremony on Saturday, Jan 11, 2025, at the McCormick Convention Center in Chicago.
The Wildcats Fill Their Trophy Case
ByTomBarton
The Shoreham-Wading River school district recently honored their student-athletes who made this season so special.
America Teams for the Fall 2024. Long Island, and specifically Suffolk county, were well represented with three players
Lyons Makes the List with Longevity
ByTomBarton
The Long Island Ducks have announced the 7th player for their 25th anniversary team.
Former shortstop Dan Lyons has been chosen to join the ceremonial team.
Lyons was a Duck for eight seasons from 2011-18. Lyons' longevity spoke volumes of his mark on the Ducks franchise. He played in more games than any other player in franchise history and has played in the fifth-most games in Atlantic League history with 888 total games played.
Lyons hit .258 with 40 home runs, 353 RBIs, 423 runs, 755 hits, 138 doubles, 34 triples and a .331 on-base percentage during his time with the Ducks. He was also a mainstay
in the playoffs playing in 52 postseason games. In the postseason he batted .249 with 42 hits, 14 RBIs, 27 runs, 10 doubles and 21 walks.
With the Ducks he went to the playoffs seven times and led them to six division championships and backto-back Atlantic League championships in 2012 and 2013. He was named the Championship Series MVP in 2012 following his seriesclinching walk-off bunt single in the ninth inning of the decisive Game Five vs. Lancaster.
Lyons was a tremendous fielder as well and in 2015 he became the inaugural winner of the Atlantic League’s Rawlings Gold Glove Defensive Player of the Year award.
Athletic Director Eric Bramoff at the Board of Education meeting commended the athletes on their excellent years. Below is a list of students to be honored.
For Varsity Cheer Isabelle Roth received an All-Academic nod while Grace Tufano took home All-Class.
In Boys Varsity CrossCountry David Formisano, Brady Kitchen, Spencer Lee and Patrick Shea all made the AllLeague team. Patrick Shea was an All-Academic member and James Cook, David Formisano, Brady Kitchen, Spencer Lee and Patrick Shea were chosen to the All-Conference team.
Girls Varsity Cross-Country saw Ellie Connell win the MVP. Caroline D’Andrea was named the Most Improved player and Anna Minetti was handed the Coaches Award.
For Varsity Field Hockey
Mary Kilkenny earned the coveted Unsung Hero award.
Kaitlynn Monaghan and Marisa Cacciola took home AllCounty Honorable Mentions. Jocelyn Kavanaugh was named All-Classification. Kaitlynn Monaghan also addef to her trophy case an All-Academic honor. Madison Herr was named to the All-State team. Ali Detleff, Mackenzie Greene and Alexa Guinther were
Student-Athletes
recognized as All-Tournament winners and Maggie Anderson was an All-Division player.
On the gridiron for Varsity Football Mike Casey, Sean Casey, Lucas Diamond, Noah Gregorek, Mike Huebner, Mike Iberger, Sal Meli and Keegan Sellner were all named to the All-Division team.
In Boys Varsity Golf Brody Constantine and Troy Dietz made All-League and AllConference and Colten Sisler proved to be the Most Improved player.
For Boys Varsity Soccer
Matthew Thomsen and Terence Winters grabbed AllLeague nods. Ryan Saville was an All-Academic and Zachary Makarewicz, Patrick Morano and Tyler Nowaski were named All-Conference.
Girls Varsity Soccer saw Ella Nowaski, Johana Ochsenfeld and Shealyn Varbero make AllLeague. Mia Mangano took
home the prestigious Suffolk County MVP award. Olivia Pesso doubled up her awards with a NYS Sportsmanship Award and was named the Suffolk County Player of the Year.
In Varsity Swimming Emily Herr was the MVP and joined the All-Academic team as well as the All-Long Island and AllState teams.
For Girls Varsity Tennis Charlotte Erb, Brooke Farley, Chloe Jaeger and Hannah Rafuse all made All-League. Emily Martinez and Mia Wentz were AllConference players. Hannah Rafuse received the Coaches Association Sportsmanship Award and Christina Pagnozzi was a Division IV Singles Finalist.
Lastly for Girls Varsity Volleyball Brooke Rand and Alexandra Sulz were both AllLeague members.
Credit: Shoreham-Wading River Central School District | Facebook SWR
Credit: Michael Polak
Dan Lyons
Maddie Costello, Ryan Levy, Michael Mannino
Credit: Section XI - Suffolk County Athletics | Facebook
SPORTS Coaches Passing Touches the Community
ByTomBarton
With heavy hearts and a lot more than just basketball on their minds the Longwood Lions won this week 66-57 in a game where the game itself was secondary.
This was the first game back after the tragic passing of their assistant Coach Darrell Sumpter. Emotions ran high as the William Floyd Colonials boys’ varsity basketball team honored “Coach D’s” memory.
The William Floyd school community packed the gym to show their love and respect for Coach D. Members of the Sumpter family attended and were seated right behind the William Floyd bench to show their love and support for the beloved basketball program that meant so much to Darrell.
Before the game began the public address announcer read Coach D’s bio, followed by a moment of silence in his honor. They put coach's picture up on
the scoreboard and the man who meant so much to these kids was shown looking down on them, still being such a part of their lives.
After paying tribute the Colonials showed some true grit as they put up a late second-half surge to get them a lead they would never relinquish. The Colonials had their lead cut to one basket late in the game but Jawuan Smith hit a jumper and Adam Gulsen followed with a three-pointer to go back up by eight points and seal the win.
The Colonials are now 5-1 to begin the young season and a perfect 3-0 record in League I play.
Jermaine King had a teamhigh 33 points while shooting for a school record eight threepointers, while Jawuan Smith recorded a double-double with 12 points, a team-high 11 rebounds, five steals and two assists.
With the win aside all thoughts were still on coach D
as Will Slinkosky Head Coach for William Floyd boys’ varsity basketball team has said of Coach Darrell “he was more than just an assistant coach, he was a brother, a mentor, a father figure. He was our rock on the coaching staff, someone we could lean on in difficult times. Someone who brought light to dark, stressful times during our season. He was a pillar of the community, putting countless volunteer hours in the gym to
Cosh Earns CAA Coach of the Year
ByTomBarton
When you turn around a program the way that Billy Cosh turned around Stony Brook football it comes as no surprise to see him win the 2024 FCS Coach of the Year by the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA).
Cosh has completely changed the culture and outlook of the Seawolves as he takes home this well earned award. In his first season as the new Wolves head coach he not only led the team to their first winning season since 2018, but also watched his team be ranked in the national polls.
Cosh and the Hawks were picked to finish last in the CAA
preseason poll following an 0-10 season in 2023. Stony Brook went on to put up 8 wins this season and 5 in conference play.
Cosh joins current William & Mary head coach Mike London as the only FCS coaches to earn AFCA National Coach of the Year honors in their first season as a head coach. He is the ninth different coach from CAA Football to win the award and the second in a row following UAlbany’s Greg Gattuso in 2023.
Shawn Heilbron, the Director of Athletics at Stony Brook University, wrote of Cosh, "Big time honor for an outstanding coach and teammate. The sky is the limit for Coach Cosh who
absolutely reignited Stony Brook Football. Under his leadership we're going to kick things up a notch in 2025 ... and I can't wait to see how far we can take this."
give our community a place to play. He meant so much to his family, our program and his community. We will be playing this season for him, and we know he is looking down on us extremely proud of how our entire community is coming together, how our players are fighting through adversity and still giving it their all and how his family is being so strong despite his tragic death. We will truly miss our Father of Floyd.”
This honor now is the third Coach of the Year award for Cosh this season. Previously, he was named the 2024 CAA Coach of the Year and the 2024 AFCA
His daughter, Dejiah Sumpter, said that "he made the world go round for a lot of people". That was evident this week with the outpouring of support from his team and community showing the love they had for coach D. There is a GoFundMe page in Coach D's honor. You can contribute at https://www. gofundme.com/f/honoringcoach-d
Regional Coach of the Year. Cosh is the second-youngest coach in Division I football.
The Next Christmas Will Be the Best
ByTomBarton
When I was tasked to write about my best Christmas memories my mind was flooded with nostalgia. Like many I reached back to a simpler time when I was a kid and the Christmas magic my parents created for me.
Getting that perfect G.I. Joe that I had been wanting or puppy puddles, maybe it was the year I got my first John Madden football game or my perfect Mitchell & Ness jersey. Forget the toys it could simply be my mind remembering white Christmases and the soft snow falling. Running out to play after mom wrapped me up good could harken some great memories of Christmases past.
But, I am cheating this year because I am not talking about a Christmas past but rather what will happen this year. This year's Christmas will be the best ever and a memory that will stick in my head until I die. You see, my family is now complete. After having our third baby this year we get to see Christmas through his
bright blue eyes. Baby's first Christmas is always special but we also get the amazing bonus of watching my son and daughter experience the joy that only December 25th can bring.
Watching them rip open the gifts as we sit on the couch has become something that no present can top. My daughter was so excited this year to give Santa her list and we visited two St. Nick's. That innocence
is a core memory that makes life worth living. My son barely asked for any gifts but he is as excited to watch my youngest experience a Christmas that you can see him growing up, yet keeping a little boy in him. It's rare that you get three kids that will experience the magic of Christmas through the lens that will take place this year. So, for that I'll take this upcoming year as taking the crown of my best Christmas.
