The South Shore Press 1/29/25

From the

NEWSROOM Democracy Dies in Darkness

BY STEFAN MYCHAJLIW

There is a sad and rather long history of dictators, despots, and bad actors weaponizing police to silence critics, destroy democracy, and squash dissent.

This perilous punishment of political abuse was perfected by Adolf Hitler in the 1930s according to the Holocaust Encyclopedia hosted by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. It describes how Hitler’s extreme censorship “included control of newspapers, magazines, books, art, theater, music, movies, and radio.”

The crackdown on free speech was so severe that police arrested people who were accused of cracking jokes about the German government.

If you’re of the thought process that this was 90 years ago, and this type of government abusing law enforcement to bully, harass, and intimidate people for expressing

opinions doesn't happen today, you are sadly mistaken.

It’s happened around the world, and even here in New York State.

In England law enforcement and police pushed a public service campaign titled “Think Before You Post,” a chilling reminder that police will come to your door and question you, or arrest you, depending on what you post or share on social media platforms.

The British government is following through on that threat.

The Crown Prosecution Service in England, the actual government, ironically warned people on a Twitter post: “Remind those close to you to share responsibly or face the consequences.”

Or face the consequences. It is believed that at least 30 people faced those consequences by being placed under arrest in England, with 17

SANTOS UNCENSORED

BY GEORGE SANTOS

Tensions between the United States and Colombia escalated dramatically on Sunday when President Trump announced retaliatory measures against Colombian President Gustavo Petro after the latter refused to allow two U.S. military flights carrying deported Colombian citizens to land on Colombian soil. The passengers aboard the planes were reportedly undocumented immigrants with criminal records, aligning with Trump’s commitment to deport illegal criminal aliens as a priority of his immigration policy.

In his statement, President Trump expressed strong disapproval of Petro’s decision, calling it a threat to U.S. national security and public safety. He stated:

"I was just informed that two repatriation flights from the United

States, with a large number of Illegal Criminals, were not allowed to land in Colombia. This order was given by Colombia's Socialist President Gustavo Petro, who is already very unpopular amongst his people. Petro's denial of these flights has jeopardized the National Security and Public Safety of the United States, so I have directed my Administration to immediately take the following urgent and decisive retaliatory measures:

- Emergency 25% tariffs on all goods coming into the United States. In one week, the 25% tariffs will be raised to 50%.

- A Travel Ban and immediate Visa Revocations on the Colombian Government Officials, and all Allies and Supporters.

- Visa Sanctions on all Party Members, Family Members, and

of them charged with crimes after posting about riots that took place in their respective communities.

All hell broke loose after someone went on a stabbing spree at what is described as a Taylor Swift dance class, where a madman bludgeoned three young girls, all aged nine and under. Angry neighbors posted their outrage on social media, riots ensued, and police arrested those who shared information on public platforms.

If you think this is limited to our freedom of speech hating redcoats on the other side of the pond, think again.

It’s happening right here and now in New York State.

North Tonawanda Mayor Austin Tylec, leader of a city in Niagara County about 15 miles north of Buffalo, just ordered officers from his police department to question and harass a citizen he believed

was responsible for posting on a Facebook page that regularly takes aim at the mayor.

Cops went to this person’s workplace and questioned him at his employer’s place of business, all

because the mayor didn’t appreciate the Facebook page and wanted to get to the bottom of who was posting. Clearly, the intent was to weaponize police to scare and silence critics.

Trump Strength Forces Colombia to Blink

Supporters of the Colombian Government.

- Enhanced Customs and Border Protection Inspections of all Colombian Nationals and Cargo on national security grounds.

the Criminals they forced into the United States!"

The paragraph is already strong, but here’s a revised version with slight adjustments for grammar and clarity:

- IEEPA Treasury, Banking and Financial Sanctions to be fully imposed.

These measures are just the beginning. We will not allow the Colombian Government to violate its legal obligations with regard to the acceptance and return of

The sweeping measures were described as the first step in holding Colombia accountable for its refusal to comply with international deportation agreements. Less than an hour after the announcement, Petro reversed his decision, stating that he would make the Colombian presidential plane available to return the nationals to Colombia in a dignified and humane manner, thereby avoiding the full imposition of the outlined sanctions. This rapid turnaround was widely regarded as a diplomatic victory for Trump, showcasing his characteristic hardline approach.

Credit: Grok | X

Photo Illustration

Photo Illustration

Credit: Grok | X

ByMichaelJ.Reistetter

The Virtue of Research: Local Indian Nation Chief Weighs in on Sunrise Wind Impact

Sunrise Wind efforts are on track to be completed by 2026, courtesy of the company Ørsted.

Chief Harry Wallace of the Forge River-located Unkechaug Indian Nation advises the windmill-inclined to do all of the research—and not just some.

In an interview with The South Shore Press, the Chief told the outlet that wind energyweary statistics—like the N.O.A.A’s (National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration) report that 60 percent of whale deaths were the result of wind energy efforts—are more thoroughly founded.

Environmentally cautious organizations in lockstep with the Chief’s viewpoints have been “fighting very diligently” to spread the word: when a windmill is introduced into an ecosystem, it poses as much harm to offshore lands as it harms onshore, Wallace says.

He adds that sea mammals, such as whales, are inherently at the most risk of danger, but that birds and humans do not skate by unscathed in the slightest.

As recently reported in the wake of President Trump’s first-week back jitters with regard to windmills, turbine blades cannot be easily broken down. The large-scaled leftover fragments of which, therefore, become liable to turn up where they should not, to the health and sustainability detriment of whatever should encounter them in the wild.

It has also been reported that multiple advanced tech companies are nearing the finish line, hopeful they will bring products to the marketplace with designs on reversing turbines’ fatal “lack of recyclability” flaw.

Even cautious optimists beg to differ. They have seen this film before.

In all likelihood, someone as tried and traveled as the Chief would want nothing more than to see locally erected wind energy efforts benefit all and hurt nil. Where Sunrise Wind is concerned, he simply cannot ignore the tea leaves of history.

As detailed in energysavingslab.com’s "wind energy impact on water supply" study, Wind power can reduce

greenhouse gas emissions and address climate change.

Should the environment, or a specific ecosystem ever falter, so too would society and the inhabitants, those who proudly “go green” reckon. Hence, if a developer were to take the real step necessary to mitigate the obvious negatives of saying “yes” to windmill heaven, wind energy irregulars would do more than “hang up and listen.” They would come to play ball, for a change. Some people just want to help the world learn.

“We want to make sure that all the necessary things are done in order to protect life as it exists on this planet,” said Wallace.

Wallace says he has been resisting Sunrise Wind specifically “from the outset” of its announcement.

“It’s easier to research those places [major companies, like Ørsted]” at first, Wallace understands. He posits that discovering mass means to protect the environment can also be Googled, and in bulk, no less

Ergo: it is also his belief there

is no excuse to settle for defeat when the stakes are as great as they can be grave, should a true noble ever decide to sit out a hotbutton battle.

“Information is massive. It is sometimes overwhelming. But you need to keep fighting—not maintaining [or tolerating]—the struggle.”

As reported, Sunrise Wind’s cable will run from Smith Point on through to Forge River—

Wind Energy May Not Be Worthy of the Bluster

ByDeborahWilliams

America is in an energy crisis.

One of the first things President Trump did when he reentered the White House was to declare a national energy emergency to pave the way for America to use the resources we have under our feet.

The Biden administration halted drilling and building pipelines that, coupled with the failed economic policy of the misnamed "Inflation Reduction Act," caused prices to rise on everything that families need.

Rising fuel and utility costs have increased the cost of production and delivery for everything from food to everyday goods. If fuel and utility prices are high, it costs more to raise livestock, grow crops, and make and move goods around the country. Reliable and affordable energy is the backbone of any economy.

In the midst of all of this, the Biden administration and Governor Hochul here in New York were, and are, pushing for increasing reliance on electric power when the infrastructure and grid capacity just aren’t there. This is not just an economic wet blanket but a serious safety issue for those who live in cold climates and need safe and reliable energy for heating and cooking.

Former Texas State Representative, Jason Isaac, Founder and CEO of the American Energy Institute gave The South Shore Press his perspective on wind energy and where it fits in America’s energy portfolio.

Much of the high cost of electricity is self-inflicted by regulatory efforts from the government.

Isaac said, “It's absolutely appalling that New York, the Northeastern United States, and California jockey back and forth for which region can have the highest electricity cost.”

As New York officials push all-electric on homeowners, businesses, and drivers across the state, advocates for clean drinking water and the environmental health of New York’s waterways are speaking out about the dangers and risks associated with wind turbines.

“We have gone so far backward with this climate alarmism that now we're destroying millions of acres of land to build Chinesemade wind and solar farms that are just subsidy farms, as opposed to small nuclear footprint or natural gas or coal that take up fractions of the amount of land that solar farms do.

“It's hypocrisy at its absolute worst and it's incredibly

detrimental to the habitat. We should see the cost of electricity decreasing right now because natural gas is so inexpensive. But it continues to go up everywhere.”

Isaac says that “wasn't the case seven or eight years ago. The cost for electricity was decreasing significantly. And then utility companies were forced to invest in things that don't work. I say ‘invest,’ although it sounds like a kind of a positive word-they were forced to spend money on things like wind and solar.”

Many people look at a wind turbine and romanticize it as if

they were old-fashioned windmills running from the current of the stream below. It’s the opposite. Wind turbines are not producing the clean energy that people assume.

“There's nothing clean about them. They're an environmental disaster,” says Isaac.” “I saw the five coastal turbines off of Block Island, Rhode Island that were installed within the last decade. All five of them were leaking oil and lube down the mast into the ocean.

“You would think fish and wildlife would be all over that, shutting them down, putting

maybe too close for comfort for the Chief and his native brethren to be anything but skeptical.

However, he provided important clarification in closing.

“We’re not opposed to development, per se,” Unkechaug’s chief for 28 of the past 30 years stated. “We are opposed to unrestricted, uninhibited and unreasonable… endangering” at all costs.

booms all around them to clean up the oil that they're leaking into the ocean,” but that is not happening says Isaac. The myth of clean wind is alive and well despite its obvious dangers.

Let’s not forget what happened in Block Island when the highvoltage power lines came up off of the seafloor.

Isaac says, “They had to close the beach one summer because people were floating in tubes around the island with high-voltage power lines right below their feet.

"When low-density energy forms such as wind and solar are the focus, there is necessarily a lot of expense and effort to bring the energy to the customer.

“You've got to build it out in the middle of nowhere where people are not, and then you have to use high-voltage power lines to bring it into where people are. We should just be building electric generation that's natural gas, coal, or nuclear, close to where the people are. It's much more affordable. It's much more reliable. And it is a lot cleaner.” says Isaac.

And, it is what people want. It remains to be seen if New York State will listen to the people. With Governor Hochul pushing a $75 billion fossil fuel tax that will be paid for by the customer, it seems they are not listening yet.

What lies beneath, and above the surface: a stark reminder that windmills are a danger to all sea mammals.

Offshore wind turbines leak oil and create serious environmental issues.

Credit: AI-Rendered Image Courtesy of Grok

Credit: Grok AI/Twitter

ByRobertChartuk

Hurdles Ahead for Long Island Green Energy

They are planning to build 84 wind turbines three times taller than the Statue of Liberty. A 123mile ocean cable will connect them to the mainland and then run 17 miles to a switching station. They’ve designed a new operations center and a training facility and have commissioned a 262-foot-long ship to service the windmills. They’re even paying $140 million to the town and county for allowing the cable to come ashore at Smith Point.

All of this, and Long Island ratepayers will only see their monthly bills go up $2.09.

That’s the number the proponents of the Sunrise Wind green energy project are sticking to, even in the face of inflation, supply chain problems, and executive orders against the industry signed by a president who believes windmills are environmentally hazardous and too expensive.

Currently under construction by the Denmark-based Ørsted, the total estimated cost of Sunrise Wind remains shrouded in mystery. Neither the company nor NYSERDA, the state agency championing the project, will say how much it will cost, though they do boast of a $700 million economic benefit to those building, operating, and servicing the 924-megawatt system.

The offshore wind industry was on thin ice even before President Trump hit pause on offshore new wind leases

and permits. He ordered an assessment of the economic costs associated with the intermittent generation of electricity and the effect of subsidies on the viability of green energy. Ørsted had been reporting problems with its wind portfolio, posting a $1.7 billion impairment charge in the fourth quarter due to delays and cost overruns on Sunrise Wind and other U.S. projects. This was on top of a $4 billion loss the company reported in October 2023.

They’ve extended the completion date of the East End turbine array another year to 2027, citing "considerably increased project costs," including high bids for foundations to support the 968-foot-high turbines, which will have blade diameters stretching the length of two football fields. The windmills will dwarf the Statue of Liberty which reaches up only 305 feet.

Gov. Kathy Hochul threw Ørsted a lifeline last year, rebidding the project to allow the company to charge more for its electricity than initially planned. Rather than a savings for the highly touted renewable power project, rates will go up, albeit the couple of dollars per month promised by the state, keeping Long Island among the regions with the highest rates in the nation. Suffolk County residents are currently forced to pay 26 cents per kWh on average, with monthly electric bills of about $282—32% above the national average. By comparison,

Louisiana has the lowest rate in the U.S. at approximately 11.23 cents per kWh, while Hawaii has the highest at 40 cents.

"We must be prepared to meet the challenge of the federal government walking back commitments to offshore wind, a key energy source, in our transition to renewables,” Gov. Hochul stated in her budget address. “Changes at the federal level will create new challenges for the state and for programs New Yorkers care about.”

To turn a profit on Sunrise Wind, the largest turbine project in America, Ørsted has only three sources to pull from: the ratepayers, federal tax credits, or bailouts from the state. With Trump’s position on the industry, New Yorkers could be left holding the bag in more ways than one if the governor decides to subsidize the project. “It is too soon to determine what impact, if any, federal actions might have on

New York reaching its ambitious renewable energy targets,” the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority said in a statement, reiterating that “the average bill impact for residential customers over the life of the Sunrise Wind project was projected to be approximately two percent or about $2.09 per month.”

To many, New York’s high energy costs are a shame since the state sits on a Saudi Arabia-sized supply of natural gas that could be used to generate electricity in an environmentally safe way. Just on the other side of the border in Pennsylvania, natural gas extraction is permitted, leading to a much lower energy cost of 17.49 cents per kWh for its residents. Rethinking the state’s energy policies is a constant battle between Republicans, who believe the safe utilization of natural gas would substantially raise the standard of living of

its citizens, and the Democrats, who want to eliminate fossil fuels altogether. Through their Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, they mandated a reliance on the intermittent power sources of wind and solar energy stored in massive battery depots backed up by new nuclear plants, a strategy that landed flat with the environmentalists the green energy movement is meant to satisfy.

Ørsted is a publicly traded, forprofit company. Its shares fell as much as 17% after Trump’s executive orders and its stock lost about 80% in value since its peak in 2021. The company is majority-owned by the Danish government and has developed numerous offshore wind farms globally, including Hornsea 1 and 2 in the North Sea, the world’s largest wind farm. Ironically, Denmark claims control over Greenland, the world’s largest island, which the president wants to take over.

While the Danish company has yet to install the giant turbines slated for 30 miles off Montauk Point, it is moving along with the installation of the cable to feed the offshore power into the grid. Conduit work is proceeding up William Floyd Parkway, and the company has built a temporary dock at the Shirley Marina to facilitate the movement of equipment to Fire Island. Barges will be used since the machinery is too heavy for the Smith Point Bridge.

Hold Your Horses, Folks: What Trump's Wind Energy Halt Means for Sunrise Wind

ByMichaelJ.Reistetter

The Trump administration’s monkey wrench of a “thwack” thrown dead-smack into the heart of wind energy comes after his predecessor Joe Biden gave a blind greenlight to many things green from the Northeast to Idaho, and everywhere beneath and in between.

President Trump himself signed the temporarily binding executive order as he reclaimed office on Monday, Jan. 20th. The order pauses offshore wind lease sales in federal waters and the issuance of related approvals, permits and loans.

The 45th, and now 47th US commander-in-chief instead vows to increase drilling for oil and gas as an alternative, putting a massive thorn in renewable energy’s pleas for more chances at making headway.

During his confirmation, incoming interior secretary Doug Burgum stated that proven successes in the offshore wind lease department will continue

in a grandfathered-in-by-law capacity, so to speak, but that mass assessment of additional projects within this realm is in order.

As stated in the temporary order to be expanded upon at a later date, this review will consider the environmental impact of wind projects on wildlife and the economic costs that a reliance on intermittently spawned electricity entails. The effect of subsidies on the viability of the wind industry will also be subject to critical consideration.

Wind Power provides about 10.1% of the electricity generated in the U.S., according to cleanpower. org.

Whereas the Biden administration sought to redeem offshore wind in bulk as a climate change solution, Trump seeks to boost production of fossil fuels such as oil, natural gas and coal. His concerns here primarily lie with the U.S. having the lowest-cost energy far before the end of his final term.

Per reports, The New York State

Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA)—tasked to oversee all offshore wind contracts—said it was "carefully reviewing" the Trump order. It’s “too soon” to determine if New York projects will be impacted, so says NYSERDA.

On the local front, the company Ørsted said on Tuesday its landbased cable intended for Sunrise Wind in Brookhaven Town is still a go—but with some expected complications.

Another large impairment charge is imminent, to the tune of $1.7 billion, due to delays and overages at play with regard to Sunrise Wind and other projects.

As their website reads, Ørsted is “a clean energy company whose renewable wind, solar, battery, and hydrogen projects create jobs, support communities, and conserve nature.”

The Ørsted-financed Sunrise Wind has mid-2027 circled in their calendars, should the turbines evade further federal interference.

This puts the completion of the project a full year behind its previously announced schedule.

In a statement announcing the “very disappointing” delays to the

Point and Suffolk County

efforts, Ørsted CEO

assured that the company remains “committed to the US market in the long term…” Nipper continued, confirming they (he and Ørsted) are “working diligently and in close collaboration with our suppliers to manage the remaining risks impacting the construction of Sunrise Wind."

Smith

Park-involved

Mads Nipper

Trumpers to windmills: "You're fired!"

Credit: AI-rendered image courtesy of Grok

The Sunrise Wind turbines will dwarf the Statue of Liberty in size.

Credit: Grok

ByRobertChartuk

It was a perfect source of energy—clean, renewable, safe, and so abundant it would be “too cheap to meter.” Sadly, Long Island eventually learned the truth about nuclear power and is still paying the price for the Shoreham atomic plant, a monstrosity that never produced a watt of usable energy and eventually cost $23.5 billion. It is a cautionary tale salient today as the state rushes headlong into a “Green New Deal” that depends on two intermittent sources, wind and solar—both needing controversial battery storage facilities—and, incredibly, nuclear power.

South Shore Press reporter Robert Chartuk was on the ground covering the Shoreham debacle and shares some memories from the early 1980s when opposition to the plant peaked and the state stepped in to shut it down.

The leak at Pennsylvania’s Three Mile Island reactor in 1979 energized the opposition, and they came out in force to protest the nuclear plant in their own backyard. They picketed the Long Island Lighting Company and the county legislature, which began to heed their warnings that the island could not be safely evacuated if something went wrong. Taking up their cause was Greg Blass, a dynamic lawmaker from eastern Suffolk who was straight out of central casting for the role of nuclear antagonist. Soon, all but one of the 18 legislators were on board, including County Executive Peter Fox Cohalan, who would live up to his middle name later in the saga. The lone holdout was Lou Howard, who argued for the necessity of a largescale power plant for a growing population and blanched at the thought of throwing away the hundreds of millions invested in the project so far.

LILCO, the despised utility, pushed on, led by its chairman, William “The Cat” Catacosinos. Headlines roared when the diesel generators needed to run the plant in case of an emergency broke down. Deputy County Executive Frank Jones called them “Snap, Crackle, and Pop.” The incident steeled the opposition and moved Cohalan to deny county participation in the evacuation plan the utility needed for an operating permit from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission. The Cat said no worries; he would run his own plan and set out to show how hundreds of thousands of people could get off an island with only one way out.

Cautionary Tale of Long Island's Last Big Power Project

Credit: Robert Chartuk

The abandoned Shoreham nuclear plant stands as a cautionary tale against large-scale power projects.

Without Suffolk's participation, LILCO’s evacuation drill was a farce, elevating the issue to the state’s biggest wig, Gov. Mario Cuomo, who announced himself in opposition. President Ronald Reagan still believed in the allure of nuclear energy and sent emissaries from Washington to lobby the local powers that be. It would be to no avail, as Blass and his majority in the legislature kept the issue in the spotlight.

Growing up on Long Island, I knew people who worked at the massive plant. Stories were commonplace of crews tearing out previous work only to build it again, some of it done maliciously while some on the orders of the regulatory commission, which mandated numerous design changes in the wake of Three Mile Island. The plant turned into a cash cow for the construction trades and the unions and took 19 years to complete. What started out as a $75 million project turned into a $6 billion black hole. Tax dollars collected from LILCO ratepayers in Nassau, Suffolk, and the Rockaway Peninsula, which it also served, flowed into Suffolk, Brookhaven Town, and the Shoreham-Wading River School District, the behemoth plant’s host. My home team of Center Moriches played soccer and baseball against ShorehamWading River, and we couldn’t help but notice they always had new uniforms, the best fields, and, what we thought was ridiculous, oxygen on the sidelines to give their players a boost. We beat them anyway.

At some point during the fiasco, The Cat announced that if the county didn’t want him to open the plant, he would stop paying taxes. The conundrum led to a meeting called by Supervisor Henrietta Acampora in the basement of the old Brookhaven Town Hall in Patchogue. It seemed that some of the legislators were balking at joining a town

was a Friday, deadline day, and my final stories were done by early afternoon, including the Cohalan opposition piece. I had a foot out the door on my way to a nice weekend before starting that Monday with the senator when the phone rang.

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lawsuit to force the utility to pony up the tax money. “Henny,” as she was affectionately known, was a tough customer, having served in the Navy and got into a screaming match with Legislator Joe Rizzo, the intensity of which haunts me to this day.

Dave Wilmott was the publisher of the newspaper I worked for at the time, Suffolk Life, and he was an ardent Shoreham foe. He wrote many an editorial against the false promises of "Nu-Clear" energy and dispatched me to cover every aspect of the controversy. I worked alongside reporter Peter Scully, an environmentalist who went on to serve in high-level government positions. Despite widespread opposition and a belief that the end was near for a plant opposed by the governor, county executive, the legislature (except for Lou Howard), Suffolk’s 10 towns, and a vast majority of its populace, The Cat went ahead and loaded the plant with nuclear fuel and fired that mother up. This was a monumental moment in Shoreham’s history as the embattled utility chairman proved it could actually work, but in doing so, contaminated the plant’s innards adding millions of dollars to the decommissioning costs.

Word leaked out that County Executive Cohalan might be softening his Shoreham stance and Dave Wilmott sent me to go see him. During a meeting in his office with Frank Jones, coiner of the famous “Snap, Crackle, and Pop” derision, Cohalan assured me up and down that he wasn’t wavering one bit and remained steadfast in his opposition to the plant. As it turned out, this would be one of the last stories I would write for Suffolk Life. After four years of journalism, I was offered a job by State Senator Ken LaValle, an official who, among many, I sourced for my coverage of the Shoreham mess. My last day at the paper

It was the county executive’s office informing us that Peter “The Fox” Cohalan had changed his mind and was now in favor of Shoreham. That pretty much wrecked my long weekend, and I stayed at the keyboard reporting on that seismic betrayal until midnight. Wilmott was incensed, running a front cover illustration of The Fox with a long Pinocchio nose. Cohalan would go on to become a county judge and pushed for naming the court complex in Central Islip after his dad.

Shortly after coming on board with Senator LaValle, I was summoned along with his entire staff to Albany for an important announcement. He would be sponsoring the creation of the Long Island Power Authority, a new public entity that would take over LILCO and shutter the nuclear plant for good. After writing about it from one side of the coin, I wrote about it from another: officially announcing this pivotal turning point in the Shoreham battle. The deal was consummated by Gov. Cuomo, who ensured that the stockholders of the Long Island Lighting Company would be made whole. Instead of just the local ratepayers, the entire state would now be on the hook for the Shoreham albatross. Somewhere in the reams of paperwork required for a deal of this magnitude was a little item that the teams of bureaucrats seemed to overlook: William “The Cat” Catacosinos walked away with a tidy Golden Parachute, a gift from the people of New York to the tune of $42 million, while his officers pocketed $25 million more.

The ratepayers are still shelling out for the Nu-Clear plant that would provide energy too cheap to meter. Reports last year revealed that more than $300 million is still owed, bringing the total cost of this sorry chapter in Long Island’s energy history to $23.5 billion. This was the reason I was so astounded to hear Gov. Kathy Hochul announce that nuclear power will play a key role in the state’s energy future as a backup to the solar and wind projects currently in the works. These include Sunrise Wind, a Long Island project now in the crosshairs of President Trump’s anti-wind executive orders.

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ByDeborahWilliams

Opposition Grows to Offshore Lake Erie Wind Turbines

Even before President Donald Trump took back the White House and signed an executive order stopping offshore wind energy projects, people around the country, and in New York State have been working against wind turbines in their lakes, oceans, and on land.

Governor Kathy Hochul and the Democrat-led officials launched a statewide Green New Deal initiative to make 70% of New York’s energy green by 2030. One proposal would see close to 50 turbines spread out across the shoreline in Erie County from Lackawanna to Dunkirk and a bill was introduced in 2023 that

Man

would establish a wind turbine pilot project in Lake Erie.

Advocates in Buffalo have joined those in Long Island opposing offshore wind projects citing environmental hazards to both Lake Erie and the Atlantic Ocean. Advocates are not opposed to wind energy, but do have concerns about pollutants. New York’s far-left elected officials are so devoted to the Green New Deal concept that they are not paying adequate attention to important concerns ranging from dredging up pollutants in the lake to oil dripping into the water from the turbine gearbox.

Residents of Western New York formed an organization called Citizens Against Wind Turbines in Lake Erie (CAWTILE) to keep the pressure up against turbines in the lake. CAWTILE was formed about 15 years ago when the first projects were proposed. CAWTILE has a diverse group Facebook of 6,000 members and continues its growth.

Patty Meckes from CAWTILE says the main reason they oppose wind turbines in Lake Erie are related to “preserving and protecting Lake Erie and our drinking water.”

“First of all, when they would have to put those wind turbines out in the water and they would

on the Street: Wind Energy

ByRobertChartuk

Windmills are very expensive when you consider the amount of energy they produce. The ratepayers won’t be able to afford it. They are spending a fortune building these things, and that money will come right out of our pockets.”

John O’Rourke, Center Moriches

Windmills went out with Hansel and Gretel. While the technology has improved, their ability to provide energy at a reasonable cost was disproven years ago. The Sunrise Wind turbines require a 123-mile cable across the ocean. They are massive and are experiencing cost overruns. The company building them is taking billions in losses. You can’t tell me this is an effective way to meet our energy needs.”

Frank DeNatale, Shirley

be going anywhere from two to 10 miles out. They would have to dredge from the shoreline to the transmission lines disrupting the heavy metal toxins that have been settled in the lake for years,” Meckes says.

Councilman Joe Golombek submitted a resolution to the Buffalo Common Council opposing wind turbines in Lake Erie. If the resolution passes, Buffalo will be one of the last major cities along the Lake Erie shoreline to support

You can’t convince me that wind energy is cost-effective. They expect the ratepayers to pay for construction and also give them a profit. Yet, they don’t tell us how much they are spending and how much our rates will go up.”

Gerry Sapanaro, Center Moriches

No matter how much the politicians want windmills, they’re not a good idea. The construction costs are just way too high, and that doesn’t even take into account maintenance and disposal costs. These things are so huge and environmentally hazardous that we are facing massive bills in the future just to get rid of them.”

William Graham, Bay Shore

a region-wide ban. Over 90% of towns in Erie and Chautauqua counties have passed resolutions opposing offshore turbines. The Southtowns's Walleye Association is also onboard.

Golombek told The South Shore Press in an interview that he is not opposed to wind energy, but doesn’t want it to be done at the expense of polluting the water for fish, birds, and plants or the drinking water of Buffalo, Erie County, and beyond.

These gigantic turbines out in the ocean are not a good idea when you start to see the impact on sea life. There have been a lot of whale deaths in the areas where they are going up, and they are hazardous to birds. Given the environmental problems and the high cost, they’re not worth it.”

Wind turbines are very high maintenance, and, quite frankly, l don’t think they could survive a hurricane. We’re hearing about whales dying, birds getting killed, costs going up, plus they are ugly. There are concerns about massive disposal costs and the materials being hazardous. It's no wonder President Trump is against them.”

Credit: Grok AI/Twitter

Credit: Dave Adrian, CAWTILE Lake Turbines

Western New York cities and towns that have passed a resolution supporting a ban on Lake Erie wind turbines.

Savannah Votino, Sayville

Edward Denton, Center Moriches

With President Trump taking aim at the wind energy industry in his first days back in office, The South Shore Press Man on the Street asked residents what they thought about it. Continued on page 7

ByRobertChartuk

Dark Future for New York Energy

Back in the 1990s, the Germans gave us the word “Fahrvergnügen,” meaning driving pleasure, as a way to sell Volkswagens. Now they’re introducing a new word, “Dunkelflaute,” or dark doldrums, to describe the blackouts they’re experiencing when there’s not enough wind to turn their turbines and cloudy weather shuts down their solar production.

Hitching their energy future to the green train, the Germans boasted of using renewables to generate 55% of their electricity. Rates shot up 10 times what they were paying. But that wasn’t even the half of their problems. Rolling blackouts disrupted their energy grid, and their economy was battered.

This is what many fear will happen in New York, as it has already happened in California and Texas, when Mother Nature doesn’t cooperate. “New York’s green energy plans are sinking like the Titanic,” said Senator Mario Mattera, the ranking Republican on the state’s Energy and Telecommunications Committee. “Wind and solar are not going to cut it. Everyone knows this, yet the Democrats keep leading us toward this disaster.”

Senator Dean Murray agrees. “There is not enough infrastructure in place, no backup plan, and the taxpayers certainly can’t afford it. We’re seeing the disasters in other countries, even here in the United States, when you try to switch over to allelectric too fast. The way they are

going, it’s not going to work.”

The state’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, passed by the Democrats in 2019, mandates the elimination of fossil fuels. “New Yorkers are starting to wake up to the fact that they’re taking away their barbecues and gas heating systems,” noted Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano. “They are also going to find out that the Green New Deal will cause their rates to soar. And without planning for backup energy sources, they’ll see blackouts and an economic collapse that will make the Great Depression look like the glory days.”

Adding fuel to the fire, Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed the Climate Change Superfund Act, which accuses oil companies of polluting the Earth. Hochul is squeezing them for $75 billion to fund green energy projects, penalties that the consumers will ultimately pay through higher prices.

“Thankfully, President Trump is the adult in the room when it comes to energy policy,” Assemblyman DeStefano stated, referring to the executive orders he signed that declared a national energy emergency. The president is looking to lift the nation’s economy by tapping its abundant supply of oil and gas.

He’s looking to make the country self-sufficient when it comes to power and extricate the U.S. from foreign energy entanglements. He’s also icing wind turbine leases and permits until it can be shown that they are an economical and dependable source of energy.

“A big problem with wind and solar is the humongous battery facilities needed to store the energy,” Senator Mattera said. “Nobody wants these in their backyard. With the state putting all their eggs in the green energy basket, we could be in big trouble.” Mattera is pushing for the use of carbon scrubbers as an alternative to shutting down the fossil fuel industry. “If their concern is greenhouse gases and global warming, why not just address the problem in the easiest and most economical way?” Mattera wondered. “The technology is so well advanced that you can remove almost all the carbon from generating facilities, waste-to-energy plants, factories, homes, hospitals, etc. The solution is simple and much less expensive, and they don’t have to put us through all this grief.”

Opposition Grows to Offshore...

Continued from page 6

“And with our westerly winds, that would flow right down into our water intakes. Eleven million people get their drinking water from Lake Erie,” Meckes added.

“Once I looked at all of this, I said, ‘This is not a good thing for the region,’” said Golombek. “I just think it sends a clear message to the powers that be that there are legitimate concerns that cross party lines.” Golombek and CAWTILE both stressed that clean water is not a political issue – it is an “everyone” issue.

Meanwhile, a study by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) said that wind turbines should not be located in the Great Lakes anytime soon due to high costs and questions about their environmental effects.

Even though the NYSERDA report recommends against offshore turbines for now, that could change. The radical Green

Western

York

New Deal movement is strong and vocal and they will keep pushing. CAWTILE wants to work toward a permanent ban.

Meckes said, “We have to be ever vigilant. We can't assume these agencies aren't going grant a permit so we can’t stop paying

attention. We need to stay on this for as long as the turbine companies do.”

A resolution recently passed in Chautauqua County and is waiting for a vote in the Erie County Legislature and Buffalo Common Council.

reliance on nuclear energy.” The Indian Nation joined with 153 other groups in a letter to Gov. Hochul urging her to forget her nuclear idea.

The shift in weather forced Germany to burn more fossil fuels, fire up coal power stations, and import energy from other countries to meet its electricity demand shortfall. Data from EPEX SPOT showed prices for power jumping above €900 per megawatt hour, the highest level recorded in 18 years.

“New York has passed virtually completely on the rest of the nation’s conversion to super efficient, very clean, and virtually emissions-free gas turbines designed and partially supplied by General Electric in Schenectady, N.Y.,” noted energy expert David Walsh, who pointed out that the wind and solar equipment the state is relying on comes from Europe and China.

Walsh stressed that the green facilities are inoperable 58% of the time, as shown by Dunkelflaute, and must be backed up with other sources. “By shutting down the Indian Point nuclear plant and passing on recent technology, New York has chosen to remain dependent on older, far more polluting technology to remain its centerpiece,” Walsh explained.

Gov. Hochul turned heads at an energy summit in Syracuse last year when she said the state will depend on new nuclear plants to make up the difference. The strategy elicited an immediate freakout from environmentalists.

“No one wants people to suffer the horrible, immediate toxicities of a nuclear accident,” said Dr. Kathleen Nolan, president of Physicians for Social Responsibility–New York. “And no one wants the tragic longterm cancer and disease burden that invariably attends the construction, operations, and waste disposal of nuclear power generation. The only way such activities go forward is through ignorance or willful disregard of the known, real, and present dangers found throughout the life cycle of generating power through nuclear reactions.”

Dr. Nolan stressed that the nation cannot properly handle the toxic nuclear waste already generated in New York, and “we cannot possibly justify creating more waste and releasing it into nearby communities, especially communities like the Onondaga Nation and other Indigenous Peoples that have wisely opposed

The problem isn’t just affecting Germany, as all of Western Europe is experiencing low wind levels. In the United Kingdom, data shows the country generated 5.9% of its electricity from wind during the Dunkelflaute, compared to an average of 31.8% over the past year.

Similar to the U.S. grid, Germany’s is interconnected with Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, and Norway—all suffering from the same Dunkeflaute. This has started a bidding war for energy, causing prices to skyrocket, a situation made even worse by Russia shutting off its energy spigots in response to economic sanctions imposed over their attack on Ukraine.

Last year, an ice storm in Texas crippled the state’s solar and wind facilities, causing widespread disruptions. In California, a state with an even more aggressive green energy policy than New York, an August 2020 heat wave caused a major blackout, its first non-wildfire outage in nearly 20 years. In late August and September of 2022, a severe heat wave led regulators to request consumers to voluntarily reduce power usage over 10 days. Just this month, a fire at a battery storage facility in Moss Landing caused even more energy heartache for the state.

“Our dangerous obsession with wind energy is coming to bite us where it hurts—right in the wallet,” said Richard Tice, energy spokesman for the Reform UK party in Britain. “Prices are soaring as we get hit by another mega Dunkelflaute of no wind. We are more exposed than ever to the goodwill of others to keep the lights on and pensioners warm. We must change course urgently.”

It’s also a political battle in the states, with the Democrats digging in their heels on the Green New Deal and the Republicans, led by President Trump, trying to take the country in a different energy direction. “For the sake of our future, I hope the Republicans win,” Assemblyman DeStefano concluded.

Credit: Chat GPT

The future is dark for New York energy.

Credit: Dave Adrian, CAWTILE

New

cities and towns that have passed a resolution supporting a ban on Lake Erie wind turbines.

ByMichaelJ.Reistetter

Officer Up: SSP Speaks to Stony Brook Hospital's Dr. Voss after Injured Hero Cop's Release

Three weeks ago, Officer Brendon Gallagher was fighting to stay alive at Stony Brook University Hospital.

On the night of Sunday, Jan. 6th, a mustang-driver who had skated on many priors taunted the highway patrolmen into a chaotic Long Island Expressway chase.

This culminated in the perpetrator side-striking Gallagher, who lost control of his vehicle, which off-roaded, and flipped over.

As Gallagher lay comatose and in critical condition hours after being emergency-airlifted to Long Island's premier medical center, charged-

2022, he was stabbed in Medford while on the job. Upon recovery, he opted for Highway Patrol, as opposed to desk duty detail.

This came as no surprise whatsoever to those who know Gallagher most. After all, before joining the Suffolk County Police force, he was a decorated Veteran who served in the U.S. Army National Guard for 10 years, highlighted by a tour in Afghanistan (2016-2017).

When someone such as this answers the call, you best believe it is going to take a whole lot more than these ill-advised efforts for Brendon Gallagher to hang it up without a fight.

up local leaders gathered outside the Emergency Room entrance in the blistering cold. It was a bleakas-can-be morning where the sun refused to shine for seemingly obvious reasons.

They took turns demanding the negligent sector of policymakers in Albany do a better job; or, better yet, to simply do their jobs.

By month’s end, the culprit appears slated to reap what he

The same local legislators who joined in solidarity a few weeks back returned to convene at the same post, all down an outer layer at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 27th thanks to the absence of snowfall and the highly anticipated presence of the near-fallen.

After a reprisal - emphatically placing the ball in the greater state government's bail reform-reticent court - local leaders could next

has sown for a change, although seasoned skeptics will believe it when they see it.

But this is not a story about the villain. This a story about the hero.

Gallagher—for the second time in three years—left Stony Brook Hospital in better shape than when he was admitted. In December of

(“Voss”) by his side.

An uproarious applause ignited the area with perfectly wrought glee. It was as if Gallagher were this week's "Saturday Night Live" bursting onto the mainstage to perform their monologue, if this week's host had knocked on death's door at the top of the month and

his parents, sister and girlfriend, Dr. Voss confirmed to the packed turnout that “miraculous” headway had already been made with regard to the medical status of his locally high-profile patient. Voss said that at one point, Brendon was so weak, "he couldn’t even bring his hand to his mouth."

lived to tell the tale some 22 days later.

Also in tow: Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine. Along with his fellow revered lawmen across the county and Long Island in general, Romaine ensured that upon greeting the daylight once more, Officer Gallagher would meet far more than a mere ordinary welcome.

As of Monday, Gallagher reenters a world he has proven to uphold his commitment to serve and protect time and time again.

All those in attendance for this most sublime occasion would concur: a bagpipe serenade has never sounded sweeter. The celebratory context especially rendered this so, compared to the grave alternative that Gallagher narrowly avoided, and the community at large repelled against in their prayers for weeks on end.

redeem a more positive outlook, and even muster a grin or two this go-around; for Officer Gallagher was discharged by midday.

Rays of light beamed down upon Gallagher as he was wheeled out of the hospital and through the exit doors, his family and trusted trauma specialist Dr. James A. Vosswinkel

“Today is a good day," said Suffolk Police Benevolent Association President Lou Civello. "We are profoundly grateful that Brendon’s life has been spared. And that’s due in no small part to Dr. Voss [and his staff]."

Before retrieving Gallagher for his transport back home to

On Officer Gallagher's lingering nerve damage, Dr. Voss told The South Shore Press between on-thescene interviews with 1010 Wins and ABC7 Eyewitness News that he hopes no other surgeries will be required. However, he indicates there is a likelihood that repairs will be imminent, given the particulars.

“The concern is how damaged his abdomen was,” Dr. Voss revealed to The South Shore Press.

“Unfortunately, there’s this thing [with lacerations] when it comes to your abdomen… it’s not a clean cut.

There’s a chance we’re going to have to reconstruct his abdominal wall.”

Voss views the outcome of additional operations with relative aplomb, should they be deemed necessary. He is confident in his team and the determination of a patient he, in a perfect world, probably wishes he did not know as well as he does now, having treated Gallagher for his 2022 injuries as well.

“He’s a young healthy guy, obviously we’ll get him through this," Voss continued. "But as you can imagine, from the disability perspective, it’s a very severe injury. So we’re praying that everything stays together.”

Civello called Brendon’s courage “a stark contrast to the lack of conviction" of Albany's leaders.

“This is a tragedy that could have been prevented if we had common sense laws in this state,” he said. “We ask of the governor, and the State Senate, and the Assembly to reform these laws. Our police officers should not be put in danger unnecessarily."

Adds Civello: "...[we should be able to] take these cars, to take back our roads, to take back our rails, and to make them safe again.”

The South Shore Press sends the Gallagher family its thoughts and prayers, and wishes Officer Gallagher a speedy recovery.

Brendon Gallagher conveyed his appreciation in a brief statement to the crowd outside Stony Brook University Hospital: “I just want to thank everyone for their support.”

No, thank you, Officer.

Credit: Charles Clampett

Credit: Charles Clampett

Credit: Charles Clampett

Credit: Charles Clampett

Credit: Charles Clampett

Credit: Mike Reistetter

ByRobertChartuk

Crime Analysis Center: A Decisive Tool for Law Enforcement

A Suffolk police officer is in pursuit of a man involved in an armed robbery. The suspect accelerates, and the officer is told to back away over public safety concerns. His sergeant is confident in giving the order, knowing they have the intel necessary to arrest him later.

The story was told at the unveiling of the police department’s newly expanded Crime Analysis Center in Yaphank, where the armed suspect was tracked over a network of cameras. They knew what he was driving and what direction he was heading, vital information that was relayed to officers who would make the arrest under safer circumstances.

“With the powerful tools at the fingertips of the team of analysts and law enforcement professionals here at the Yaphank center, there is a simple message we want to put out there,” said County Executive Ed Romaine. “If you commit a crime in Suffolk, you will be caught.”

Considered the “Crown Jewel” of the 11 analysis centers throughout New York, the Suffolk Police headquarters unit handled a quarter of the 130,000 law enforcement requests for assistance statewide. The center was tripled in size and its staff doubled thanks to $1 million in funding provided through the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services. There’s room for 45 crime fighters working with cutting-edge computing and communications systems in front of a 24-foot-wide, 4.5-foot-high video wall that’s state of the art. A photo of a stolen vehicle pops up, picked up by plate readers and cameras. Police are dispatched to intercept it.

The tech-rich facility is staffed with crime analysts and law enforcement personnel from a number of agencies, including the Suffolk Police, District Attorney, Sheriff, Probation Department, and Child Protective Services. They coordinate with the Nassau County, New York City, and New York State Police departments, as well as the Air National Guard,

state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision, and the New York/New Jersey High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area program.

The close coordination between agencies is credited with helping reduce shooting incidents on Long Island to 44, the fewest on record since 2006. Meanwhile, preliminary data shows a 7% reduction in reported crime compared to the same nine-month period in 2023, police officials reported.

“Public safety is my number one priority—and this expansion enables law enforcement to share intelligence, analysis, and support to identify hotspots and crime patterns that help them work smarter,” said Governor Kathy Hochul. “The intelligence-sharing and coordination facilitated by these centers allows law enforcement agencies across the state to focus resources where they are needed most, maximizing our ability to keep New Yorkers safe.”

“We are grateful that the governor has dedicated the resources necessary to create this powerful crime-fighting office here in Suffolk,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano. “Crime analysts and the high-tech tools at their disposal are taking a huge bite out of crime.”

“Data sharing between multiple agencies all in one room creates a formidable crime-fighting platform. We’re glad to have it here at police headquarters,” said Senator Dean Murray.

New York Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado added: “Crime analysts play a critical role in supporting law enforcement investigations. At our Crime

The Governor's Bloated Budget

ByAssemblymanJoseph DeStefano

Anyone hoping that the governor will cut spending and give the taxpayers a break will be sorely disappointed by her $252 billion spending plan, a bloated budget that’s $19 billion more than last year.

Think about that: $19 billion is 19,000 millions—what makes Kathy Hochul think the taxpayers can afford this? But it gets worse. As is their custom, her Democrat colleagues in the legislature will lard up the budget even further, helping themselves to money that doesn’t do anything to improve our lives.

Adding insult to injury, the governor wants to give back a measly $300 to taxpayers in the form of a check and then do it again when she runs for reelection next year to buy votes.

The scheme will cost millions just to process the checks, a colossal waste that shows what the one-party system in Albany thinks of the hardworking men and women they squeeze like blood from a stone. Instead of these pittances, how about cutting spending and taxes and fees that make our state the most expensive in the nation?

Have we had enough yet? Plenty of people have. They’re voting with their feet and are bailing out of the Vampire State in record numbers—the most of any state, in fact. Those of us left to pick up the tab should not give up exposing this tax-and-spend political class. Everyone needs to wake up to what’s going on here. The Democrats are spending us into oblivion, and we have to rage against them.

And it’s going to get worse. Their green energy plan will

Analysis Centers, these professionals work with local, state, and federal law enforcement personnel who share their knowledge and expertise and leverage technology to access information and data that results in a more targeted, strategic approach to solving and deterring crime.”

The Suffolk, Nassau, and Hempstead Town police departments are among the 28 other law enforcement agencies in 21 counties that received nearly $36 million through the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative to reduce shootings and save lives, state officials noted. The three Long Island agencies collectively reported double-digit declines in the shooting metrics.

cost us a fortune and cripple the economic growth needed to come even close to covering the out-of-control spending. They want to take away your gas heating systems, barbecues, and stoves, make you buy expensive

electric cars, and wipe out our schools and fire departments by making them switch to extremely expensive electric buses and fire trucks.

This all sounds like some sort of twisted joke, but it’s not. Our

Crime-fighting funding from the state has reached record levels, including $18 million for the Crime Analysis Center Network, $21 million for the SNUG Street Outreach Program, and $20 million for Project RISE, initiatives that provide funding and support to local law enforcement and community partners working to address the causes and consequences of gun violence and other crime.

“As host to one of the largest intelligence centers in the state, we further our commitment to public safety through the implementation of advanced technology and allocation of necessary resources for our local law enforcement agencies to effectively investigate and deter crime,” County Executive Romaine concluded.

once great state is going down the drain because the left-wing Progressives think they can get away with anything.

Florida, which has more people, spends half on government than New York, and they don’t have an income tax. While pensioners and middleclass earners are heading south, the Democrats plan to replace them with low-skilled illegal immigrants, a political class they can buy off with our money. We can’t let this go on.

Fortunately, the people still have a voice and they have the power to change things. Please stay on top of these issues. Don’t bury your head in the sand, thinking it will all go away. New Yorkers deserve a safe and affordable place to live and raise a family, a seemingly outdated concept the Democrats are hellbent on destroying.

Credit: Office of Assemblyman DeStefano Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano

Credit: Robert Chartuk

Credit: Robert Chartuk

County Executive Ed Romaine at the Crime Analysis Data Center with representatives of the law enforcement agencies staffing the facility.

Visitors to the Crime Analysis Data Center.

ByRobertChartuk

DA Puts Victim Sketches Online to Generate Cold Case Tips

Having tracked down a suspect in one of Long Island’s most notorious cold cases, Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney is looking to the public to help crack a few more. He’s set up a website with artist sketches of unidentified murder victims going back nearly 50 years.

"Sometimes it's helpful to receive information from the public based on new information in an investigation,” Tierney said on Facebook, which he’s also using to distribute the sketches. "That's what these cases represent. Some additional information on the cases where we think, if we provide that to the public, we could move the case even further along."

In breaking open the Gilgo case, Tierney had assistance from the various law enforcement agencies, as well as the dogged pursuit of tips offered by the public.

Tierney’s newly created Cold Case Unit has released renderings and sketches drawn from forensic examinations and DNA testing. They provide eerily graphic pictures of what the victims looked like when they were killed. A Suffolk Police artist working with the FBI and outside experts created the images, representing cases from 1978 to 2012. They are part of a task force Tierney formed to run down more than 300 cold cases dating back to 1965. The effort has been fueled by $1 million in grants from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The police artist, Danielle Gruttadaurio, took advantage of a process known as DNA phenotyping to predict what the victims may have looked like. Clues guiding the sketches are drawn from genetic information and the artist’s skill. One of only a handful of police artists dedicated to a single department nationwide, the 15-

year veteran also creates images of suspects.

The federal grant stems from a commitment to solve the cold cases using the enhanced forensic capabilities and Internet reach not available when the crimes were first committed. “Your tip, no matter how small, could be the key to bringing justice for victims and closure to their families,” Tierney said in his public appeal at www. SuffolkCountyDA.org. Anyone with information is urged to call Crimestoppers at 1-800-220-TIPS.

The cold cases involve:

Manorville John Doe

On February 17, 2012, an individual was walking his dog on North Street in Manorville (approximately 3/4 miles west of Wading River Road) when the two discovered human remains sticking out of the ground. The remains were wrapped in a bed sheet, which was duct taped at several points. Forensic anthropologists determined that the remains were consistent with a male between 30 and 50 years of age with a stature of approximately 5’8” tall. Skeletal degradation suggested an extended postmortem interval of at least five years (death occurring during or prior to 2007).

Democracy Dies in...

Continued from page 2

In this case, we don’t even know if the person targeted and questioned by cops was even posting on social media about the mayor. That’s irrelevant. freedom of speech was so important to our Founding Fathers that they included its protection in an amendment to the Constitution: the first one.

The North Tonawanda taxpayer is now considering legal action against the mayor and North Tonawanda. Its council is in the beginning phases of a full-blown investigation. Good. That’s a potential start to fight back hard against tyrannical governments who despise the free market of ideas and will stop at nothing to shut down dissent.

Dix Hills John Doe

On March 9, 2000, the unidentified homicide victim was found in a wooded area off the Northern State Parkway, east of Wolf Hill Road in Huntington. The victim was found wearing a khakicolored, short-sleeved, V-neck shirt with black trim, a T-shirt with a New Jersey emblem, blue jeans, and a blue bathing suit. He is believed to be a white male, between 25 and 45 years old, and approximately 5'8" to 6'0" tall. It was determined the victim had poor dental hygiene and was missing several teeth.

Park

top portion of a human skull. Law enforcement responded to the scene and ultimately dug up the sand around the skull, which led to the discovery of a set of human skeletal remains. A belt was tightly bound around the neck area of the decedent, whose cause of death was determined to be strangulation. The victim is believed to be a female, approximately 18-22 years old at the time of her death, which probably occurred in 1975 or prior.

Sayville Jane Doe

On March 8, 1992, the body of a young, unidentified female in her 20s was discovered in a trash dumpster behind a metal works shop at 175 Greeley Avenue in Sayville. The victim, weighing no more than 100 pounds, was found nude and without any personal effects. The cause of death was found to be ligature strangulation. It has been determined that she is of Brazilian and/or Portuguese descent.

Dix Hills Jane Doe

prior to April 1997, and more likely before 1993). She is estimated to be of Bosnian, Croatian, and/or Yugoslavian descent.

Asian Doe

If you have strong opinions one way or the other on content within The South Shore Press, do not hesitate to put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, and let us know how you feel. Send us an email with your editorial to News@SouthShorePress.com.

Let’s hear it, especially if you disagree with what you read online at SouthShorePress. com or on our Facebook (@ TheSouthShorePress) or Twitter (@SSPNewsroom) pages.

Our corner of the world cherishes free speech and your right to express yourself.

We’ll gladly post and share your comments. We won’t call the cops on you, that’s for sure.

Folks, the only way to combat bad ideas or thoughts is to come up with better ones and have the ability to debate and discuss our beliefs in an open, honest, and transparent manner.

On April 2, 1978, an individual was walking his dog at Heckscher State Park, approximately 150 feet from the water line, on a beach closed to bathers for several years. During this walk, the dog began scratching at loose sand, exposing what appeared to be the

On April 30, 1998, skeletal remains were recovered along the Vanderbilt Parkway in Dix Hills. Consisting of a skull, hands, and some vertebrae, the remains were located inside a black plastic bag. It was concluded that the victim was a female, likely between 20 to 40 years old and approximately 5'8" tall. It is believed the victim was murdered at least one year, and more likely more than five years, before being discovered (death occurring

Trump Strength Forces...

Continued from page 2

The impact of this confrontation extended beyond Colombia. Leaders across Latin America, including those in Mexico, Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia, took note of the incident, reportedly reassessing their positions on cooperation with the U.S. amid fears of similar repercussions. The incident has underscored growing tensions between the U.S. and left-leaning governments in the region, which have become increasingly vocal in challenging U.S. policies.

As the administration, led by Border Czar Tom Homan, intensifies its efforts to enforce

immigration laws, this episode signals what may become a series of high-stakes confrontations with nations resistant to U.S. deportation policies. A highranking member of Congress commented on the situation on background, saying, "This is just the beginning. Wait until we pass sweeping reforms to the broken immigration system in the House of Representatives."

As the son of legal immigrants, I support President Trump’s commitment to enforcing immigration laws—provided it is conducted in a humane manner. While it is important to uphold

On April 4, 2011, skeletal remains were recovered off Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach. Victim description: Biological male of Asian descent—likely Southern China (Han Chinese South)— approximately 17 to 23 years old at the time of death. The victim is between 5'3" and 5'9" tall. Death was estimated to have occurred at least five years prior to April 4, 2011. Clothing recovered from the victim includes: a "Chrysanthemum" blueribbed, short-sleeve shirt with crew neck, "Rafaella" brand shirt, "Bill Blass" pants, and a bra.

the law, I believe it is equally critical to ensure compassion is exercised, particularly when dealing with families or individuals whose only offense is being undocumented. Actions such as separating children from their parents or employing overly aggressive tactics can undermine the moral foundation of such policies. It is conservative to value both justice and compassion, and I am not hesitant to advocate for this balance.

I stand by President Trump as he continues pushing hard to “Make America Great Again.”

Heckscher State

Jane Doe

Credit: Suffolk Police Manorville John Doe

Credit: New York State Police Dix Hills John Doe

Credit: Suffolk District Attorney Dix Hills Jane Doe

Credit: Suffolk District Attorney Sayville Jane Doe

Credit: Suffolk District Attorney Asian Doe

Credit: Suffolk Police Heckscher State Park Jane Doe

ByDeborahWilliams

William Floyd School District Innovates in Teaching Civics and Government

William Floyd School District (WFSD) is a statewide leader in teaching government and civics from sixth through high school. Whether it is teaching the basics of how government works, the art of compromise, getting along with people with a different POV, or learning about media bias–WFSD is getting it done.

The South Shore Press spoke to Louis Zederbaum, District Chairman of the Social Studies Department, about how WFSD approaches engaging students in civics, critical thinking, and community awareness/ involvement.

SSP: Talk a little bit about how times have changed with the Internet being such a force for young people. How is WFSD approaching civics and government in the social media age?

Zederbaum: We were a pilot school in New York State's recent civic readiness field test, which was put in place after the pandemic. Students need to understand the need for civic engagement. Everything became so test-centered and book-centered that they forgot

about the idea of being engaged citizens and being a part of the community in person—with their own voice.

SSP: What is the Seal of Civic Readiness?

Zederbaum: Students earn the Seal of Civic Readiness by participating in a community-based project. They look around at their community for something that might need changing and create a civic action plan. They find out who their local committee leaders are, maybe they go to a town board

meeting, or do a letter campaign to bring attention to their issue.

Whether it's a nagging pothole or a needed stop sign–they have initiated some changes.

SSP: Are the students surprised when the adults listen to their concerns?

Zederbaum: The kids don't realize how much of a voice they have. As seniors, they are the new voters, and their voice matters. If they know who their elected officials are, if they know the

process to enact their change, they learn they can get these things done.

Even before we had the Seal of Civic Readiness, across the street from us at the Aquatic Center there's a skate park that is there because kids lobbied on their own and went to the town to get that park built. I tell the kids you can get change-you can get things that you feel that the community needs, but you have to put your voices out there. You need to know how to go through the steps. You can't just stand on the sidelines and yell about something. Do something about it.

SSP: How many students in WFSD participate in this program?

Zederbaum: Our first pilot had over 400 students earn the Seal. It's throughout the entire state now, but Floyd was one of two schools on Long Island to pilot it before everybody else. Pretty consistently we've had well over 350 since that pilot every year gain the Seal.

SSP: What kind of feedback do you get from the students?

Zederbaum: When they look at politics or government they see it polarized the same as adults do. Most of their information comes from TikTok and other social

media. Most of these kids are nonconfrontational. They're very happy to put their headphones in and you know go about on their way. They don't want to be thrust into the middle of political debates.

But, some kids are really passionate. They want to you know improve this and that. They want to put a crosswalk someplace or they want to make sure that there's a rehab center. Some kids really take that ball and look to be community leaders who will make the changes for the future.

With our Participation in Government class, the teachers lead them on whom they need to contact for a letter campaign or on how to make their own TikTok and try to get it to Panico or some other elected official.

In the end, Zederbaum said, “We're hoping by the time that they leave us at WFSD that we've turned them into informed citizens who care about their community. That's the endgame here. Sometimes the test doesn't matter. It's about them being able to be productive people–making our society a better place and I'm hoping that we're doing that.”

William Floyd Students Learn About How Government Works

ByDeborahWilliams

The recent presidential election was hot and heavy with controversy, angst, and in the end either elation or misery for many. It was an especially divisive election that strained friendships and families.

It’s a different story over at the William Floyd School District (WFSD) where the students are learning a different way of being. They are learning that government and governance are different things than politics. They are learning that you can disagree with another person and still like them. And, more

importantly, they are learning that you can engage in respectful discourse and even learn a little from someone you think is “wrongheaded.”

The students are learning that outside of politics, the government affects so many things like school budgets, parks, potholes, and even what can be in your dish soap.

The South Shore Press spoke to both a student, a senior at William Floyd High School, Olivia Phillips, and Louis Zederbaum, Chairman of the Social Studies Department for the district, about how the District goes about teaching,

thinking about and involvement in community processes and how they want to be involved. Our in-depth interview with Louis Zederbaum appears in a separate article.

Zederbaum explained that there was a big step up in the programming around this topic when WFSD was one of two schools in Long Island to be in the pilot program for the state’s Seal of Civic Readiness.

Olivia Phillips is engaged in just about everything from being the Girl Scout cookieselling champion when she was a Brownie to now, where she is Governor of NYS Youth and Government and President of WFHS Student Government.

When asked what she would tell a younger student about how to get involved Phillips said, “First of all, once you hit middle school and high school, definitely join any club you can.”

Phillips said that she and the other students learn that “in personal relationships and certainly in government, that even though you might feel strongly that you're right on an issue, the truth of the matter is that almost always there's somebody that feels equally strongly on the other side” and you have to learn how to listen and see other points of view

and not just think that the other person is bad.

“I think a lot of people are scared to have some conversations because they don't want to say their opinion and make someone else mad or make someone else angry. But, you know, different opinions are great. This country was built on different opinions. You have to just talk to the other side to see what they're about,” said Phillips.

Phillips offered, “At the end of the day, college applications are great but joining things is what gets you involved and learning. And, even join something that doesn’t immediately interest you to expand your horizons.

Initially, I joined the government club because my history teacher

gave me extra credit if I went to the first meeting. It turned out I really liked it.

“I would also say take a step out of your comfort zone because once you do take that step, you'll realize that you can take another step and another step. You'll realize that you can grow very quickly when you continue to challenge yourself and make yourself uncomfortable.”

Phillips concluded, “You'll eventually get comfortable in that space and then you can move on to really become the best version of yourself. Even though high school is only four years, I've definitely grown exponentially from when I was in ninth grade.”

Credit: Grok AI/Twitter Students learn about Civic Readiness.

Credit: William Floyd School District

Credit: William Floyd School District

Olivia Phillips (center), as Youth in Government Governor, with other students at the 2024 Youth in Government Conference in the NYS Legislature Chambers

Olivia Pustelni (L) and Olivia Phillips (R) from William Floyd High School

ByDeborahWilliams

Suffolk County Fireman Relate to California Wildfires

A few months ago, The South Shore Press (SSP) covered the Suffolk County volunteer firefighters who traveled to help with wildfires in New Jersey. With wildfires still raging in California, causing catastrophic devastation, we checked back in to get the perspective on those wildfires from the firefighters right here in Suffolk County.

SSP spoke with Bill Biondi, Commissioner of the Mastic Beach Fire Department, about preparedness, forest management, physical demands, and family concerns for their loved ones as they are out there fighting the fire.

SSP: When you first started seeing fires in California, as a fireman, what were your thoughts?

Biondi: The sad part is that people knew there was a big danger. Even Donald Trump said a while back, "You need to clean up your act and do some basic forestry maintenance."

If you neglect to clean things you’re going to have a problem. The number of trees that are damaged from the bugs and standing dead is huge. They dry out and it's a perfect place to start a fire.

SSP: How are things handled here?

Biondi: One of the biggest things in the early 80s and 90s we used to have the Town of Brookhaven come in and open up fire trails for us. There was no other way you were getting in there to protect yourself or to protect the homes.

The Town did maintenance on bulldozing trees and opening up fire trails to where we're able to get pumpers in it without really no trouble at all.

SSP: I saw where California was not keeping up with fire trials.

Biondi: You got guys with million-dollar fire trucks and they can't get in there. Now you’ve got the forestry guys that are being dropped off and they're hoofing it. That adds to the fatigue of the firefighter and it takes away from actual firefighting time when you've got to walk and lug all your equipment.

That's time you are not fighting the fire. When you're way in the woods and you don't have a truck, you basically have a chainsaw and rakes. You’re setting backfires and hopefully, the backfire will burn up to where the fire is and it won't progress anymore. The problem

with that is with a hundredmile-an-hour winds there's no stopping it.

Even the best efforts can't fight back against the wildfires we had out in West Hampton a while back. Everybody thought we were going to stop it at the Sunrise Highway.

We were one of seven trucks that were waiting for the fire to get to where we were. The chief says we're going to wet the area down and we're going to stop it. When the smoke settled I turned around and saw the fire had already jumped across all the lanes of the Sunrise Highway.

SSP: What do you think are the most important things a city or town can do to prepare?

Biondi: Make sure your hydrants are properly working. Make sure your reservoirs are full. Look at California-they've diverted how many gallons of water?

SSP: How do volunteer fire companies communicate with municipalities or the state?

Biondi: If we have a situation, we'll approach the Town or the County. We had a situation two weeks ago where a fire was set off by homeless people living in the woods. We had to get six departments in there.

We communicate with the Town and tell them if the fire trails need to be cleaned out. Between the Town of Brookhaven and Suffolk County -they're right there for us. It's got nothing to do with politics. Democrat or Republican, once we requested something they jumped right on it.

SSP: Tell us about firefighting on a personal level.

Biondi: I'm watching the fires in California like everybody else. As you watch, you see these guys are dropped so far in that the only way you can see them is through drone videos. It’s scary.

equipment for hours. Even if you can get a truck in the hoses only reach so far. You're not going into the woods or up and down the mountains-at least not in Long Island.

SSP: How does that play out in the minds of firefighters and their families?

Biondi: People are worried about getting hurt, worried about colleagues dying. We have an app called Pulse Point and every time a call goes out it’s all over Facebook. There are a lot of people concerned about us.

It’s a lot of wear and tear on the body. Most of the time you're walking you carry your

Our conversation concluded with Biondi telling a story that illustrates how frightening being a firefighter is for loved ones. Back in 2003, he was chief of the department and he and his

wife went out to dinner. When coming back “We got activated with a structure fire. I had to go and we pulled up away from the scene, but in perfect view of the fire.”

Biondi went out back and his wife stayed in the car and “All of a sudden it blows up. My wife comes out of the car screaming ‘where's my husband’ and I happen to be in the back of the house doing a survey of the house. I came out and I could hear screaming with all the commotion. Everybody's running.”

After that, “She said, that's enough. You're a freaking idiot. I didn't realize that your job was this bad.” Biondi said that’s when he became a Fire Commissioner.

Ice Rescue Team Saves Man in Bellport

ByRobertChartuk

When the call came through of a man who had fallen through the ice in Bellport, the South Country Ambulance Special Operations Unit sprung into action. They were quickly on the scene and made the rescue.

Ambulance Chief Gregory C. Miglino, Jr., picks up the action:

“Our first unit arrived in three minutes and was advised that there was a subject in the water approximately 1,000 feet out from the beach. Our Special Operations unit with ice rescue equipment arrived on scene and deployed our assets and personnel out to the victim in the water. Within 10 minutes of being dispatched, the victim, a 65-year-old male, was retrieved from the water by our team and a civilian that had come to his aid.”

According to Chief Miglino, the man was transferred to shore using specialized equipment and “brute strength.” Once the victim arrived at the shoreline, he was loaded into a special Stokes Basket and brought onto land, where he was quickly transferred to the ambulance for further evaluation, treatment, and transport to

Long Island Community Hospital for hypothermia.

The South Country Ambulance Ice Rescue Team includes Chief Gregory and Assistant Chief of Operations Brian Gilligan, who pulled the man from the icy water, and Lieutenant Wayne Caldicott. The Special Operations Team is led by Captain Neil Thomas, and Lt. Rob Lepre.

Miglino noted that the rescue team collaborated with fire departments from Bellport, Hagerman, Brookhaven, Mastic Beach, in addition to the Mastic Beach Ambulance, Suffolk County Police, and Bellport Village Code Enforcement.

“This should be a reminder to everyone that all ice is not safe, even during this cold stretch,” the chief said. “It only takes a few minutes in this cold water for hypothermia to set in and a person to go down. Please practice common sense and Ice Safety when venturing out.”

South Country Ambulance Special Operations Unit and local emergency services involved with the Bellport ice rescue.

Rescuers off Bellport’s Mother’s Beach save a man who had fallen through the ice.

Credit: South Country Ambulance

Credit: South Country Ambulance

Suffolk County Perspective on California Wildfires

Credit: Grok AI/X

Emergency Officials Convene to Support Volunteers

ByRobertChartuk

Fire officials from across Long Island met over the weekend to formulate a legislative agenda to support the state’s volunteer emergency workers. They’ll lobby Albany on a slate of recommendations to keep the volunteer rate up and assist those who serve.

“The governor and the legislative leaders would be well advised to act on these proposals since without the volunteers, fire services would become a huge added burden on the taxpayers,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano. A four-decade volunteer himself, the assemblyman was part of the Annual Legislative Outreach Program of the New York State Fire Service Alliance.

Among their concerns are increased volunteer training, suicide prevention programs for first responders, and incentives such as tax breaks for firefighters and ambulance workers. They note that the state income tax credit for emergency services men and women has been stagnant at $200 since 2006, a limit that should be increased to reflect their value.

The alliance is also seeking

legislation to help prevent fire deaths by providing a sales tax exemption on home life safety products and extending the ability of local departments to recover costs for ambulance services.

They’re calling for code updates to address residential sprinklers and ensure the responsible sale and use of lithium-ion batteries. Another topic is training for emergencies at green energy battery storage facilities.

“We have to support our volunteers to keep them active in their prospective districts,” said Bill Theis, chairman of the NassauSuffolk Fire District's Legislative Committee, who pointed out that without them, paid fire departments in New York would cost over $5 billion in salaries alone.

“They're doing this because they want to serve their communities.

The state should support them in every possible way.”

According to Theis, Fire Service Alliance members will discuss their priorities with Gov. Kathy Hochul at a meeting in March. The group is made up of a number of local and statewide organizations, including the Association of Fire Districts of the State of New York, Firemen's

Association of the State of New York, New York State Association of Fire Chiefs, Volunteer Fire Police

Association of the State of New York, County Fire Coordinators’ Association of the State of New

York, and the New York State Fire Marshals and Inspectors Association.

Former Scout Reunited with Bugle a Half-Century Later

BySouthShorePressStaff

Back a half-century ago, Boy Scout Troop 414 in Center Moriches acquired a bugle and needed someone to play it. South Shore Press reporter Bob Chartuk was a trumpeter in the junior high school band at the time and stepped up to fill the role.

“I learned most of the common tunes by ear—Reveille, Taps, Charge,” Chartuk remembered. “It was fun playing at the jamborees and campouts. They even let me wake up the scouts at Camp Yawgoog one summer in Rhode Island.” With the instrument, he was able to earn the Music and Bugling merit badges and proudly wore the Bugler patch on his uniform.

Turn the calendar forward 50 years and Chartuk is attending the Troop’s Eagle Scout Court of Honor at the VFW on Main Street, not far from where he grew up and still lives. He casually asks Scoutmaster Patrick Keller if they still have the long-ago instrument. “As a matter of fact, we do have an old bugle,” he said. “Wouldn’t it be something if it were the same one?” Chartuk replied.

He made plans to attend the group’s next meeting and after chatting with the scouts awhile about his memories of being in the Troop, was presented with the bugle. “I knew right away it was the same one,” Chartuk said,

recognizing its silver mouthpiece.

“I found a better mouthpiece than the one that came with it at the Swap Shop and switched it out. It was still with the old bugle.”

Though the years had converted its shiny brass veneer into a dull patina, it still had character, and seeing it floated its original player back to the days of his youth. He reminisced with the Troop about camping at Yawgoog, earning the easy merit badges such as Leatherworking and Basket Weaving. He also earned some of the hard ones at the camp, Swimming and Marksmanship, and achieved the Mile Swim. He talked about Polar Bear campouts where scouts can earn a badge if they stay overnight in below freezing temperatures. He looked fondly back at camping in the Manorville Woods, Cathedral Pines, and the Bailie Beach lodge overlooking the sound in

Mattituck. “They had a huge pot for spaghetti and one of the scouts put in a few packs of noodles before the water was boiling,” Chartuk recalled. “Dinner was a big clump of dough with sauce on it.”

He posed with the Troop for a picture, and they called for him to play. “It’s been so long, a halfcentury since I’ve played,” the former scout warned them, “but I’ll give it a shot.” He still had the knack, banging out a bustedup version of Reveille. “Just like riding a bike,” he said, “you never forget.”

Two Troop 414 members are trumpet players in the school band, Cameron Eten and Andrew Werler, both from Chartuk’s hometown. “It's easy; no keys to press,” he noted, encouraging them to follow in his bugling footsteps.

Cue: Good Times Roll Montage — Hochul Proposes TaxIncentive Sweeteners for NY Film and TV Productions

ByMichaelJ.Reistetter

On Tuesday, Jan. 21st, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced tax-incentive sweeteners for New York film and TV productions. This comes after the Empire State raised its credit from 25% to 30% in 2023.

A $100 million pool proposed for independent films—the first $500,000 covering the salaries for actors, directors, writers and producers—also resonates for “below-the-line” crewmembers who maintain consistent work and career momentum when their benefactors do.

Moreover, in an industry overwrought with "hit or miss" and "what have you done for me lately?" sensibilities, the Rolodex ever rotates.

COVID times proved high art of visual proportions is needed now

more than ever. Work stoppages begetting picketing begetting work promises in 2023 put indie film under the microscope in ways comparable to minor league baseball when their entire 2020 season was torpedoed.

Suddenly, it was not just “inside baseball”—but common knowledge that talented performers far along from the fame they seek can fall exploited when dysregulation runs rampant.

Resolutions in this realm are not permanent, because the industry is an evolving one. In indie, for example, the fight against AI crossing the ethical threshold past the point of no return at the big studio level means those consciously swimming in traditional waters will seek more on-location shoots and fewer green-screen projections.

The Motion Picture Association

opportunities for local workers; and (3) involve and support local businesses.

help New York productions: (1) maintain high quality; (2) provide high-paying union and non-job

Getting back down to basics on the creative level to subsequently endure the test of time has proven a cost-effective model for the

most influential breakthroughs to reject tentpole fever. For them, any movie feels good when greatness is encouraged, not stifled. It’s how the late David Lynch was able to come back in short order with 1986’s “Blue Velvet” excellence ($6 million) after the 1984 “Dune” debacle ($40 million).

Hochul’s decision to lift the New York film scene—not just indie, and not just NYC—also means aspiring filmmakers no longer have to rely solely on traveling hundreds of miles away to haul equipment for one-off "day-player" gigs where they would bring home at least $250 for 12 hours (maximum) before overtime and gas mileage reimbursement.

The proposal confirms the middle-budget moving picture isn’t as dead as people thought superhero franchises and prestige TV dramas had rendered it.

The Members of the New York State Fire Service Alliance

Credit: Alice Painter

(MPA), which represents the seven major studios, backs Hochul, calling the governor “a champion for New York State’s creative community." They laud the tax credit's intent to

Production card seen at the end of “The Sunny Side Up Show” (2007-2017)

Credit: PBS Kids

South Shore Press reporter Robert Chartuk is joined by the scouts of Troop 414 after being reunited with his old bugle from a half century ago.

Credit: Patrick Keller

ByRobertChartuk

State System for Children Needs Intervention

A system that serves children with disabilities is broken, prompting state officials to call on the Department of Health to fix it. At a press conference in Albany to raise awareness of the problem, legislators said the Early Intervention Program's online portal is experiencing serious technological issues.

Hosting the event was Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio, who said concerns have been raised about the program’s El-Hub system by providers and parents.

“The system is plagued by service disruptions, people are having problems using it, payments are not going out on time,” according to Giglio, who added that children are not being matched up with the services and support they need in a timely manner.

The Early Intervention Program is designed to support children

NATION

who exhibit developmental delays or have diagnosed physical or mental conditions. It aims to enhance the development of these children and provide essential assistance to their families. The program provides evaluation, health and therapeutic services, special instruction, family support and respite, transportation, and assistive technology. Launched in October, its online portal has

failed in its capacity to provide these services, the officials stressed.

“The EI-Hub system has struggled with reliability, creating barriers for children with disabilities to access critical services,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano in urging the health department to straighten things out. “Designed to improve

efficiency, the system’s flaws have instead caused significant challenges. Children are being left on hold for months, providers aren't being paid, and precious data is being lost. These issues must be resolved to ensure no

child is left without the support they require.”

The legislators asked for a full inspection of the system by the health department to ensure its efficiency and reliability.

Cue: Good Times...

Continued from page 13

On the contrary: it’s just waiting for the next no-name to become somebody within this ultra-intense process of striking creative lightning not despite, but because of the little resources at your disposal.

Staying indie at heart seems more doable than ever before for a tristate suburbanite. Amidst the recent Los Angeles fires that mass-devastated domiciles and the air quality at large, the number of young creatives annually flocking to the West Coast will

most definitely decline. Creating "cinemagic" at the Nesconset Gazebo has never made more sense than it does today.

Even Gen X auteur Richard Linklater has (mostly) kept his films within his native Texas this whole time. It’s turned out quite alright alright alright for him, don’t you think? We keep getting older, while 1993’s “Dazed and Confused” ($6.9 million) remains timeless.

Yes, it does.

Reflections on Presidential Portraits as Trump and Vance Make Theirs Official

ByRobertChartuk

Since the founding of the United States, official presidential portraits have served as both an artistic tradition and a powerful symbol of leadership. From George Washington to the newly elected Donald Trump, these works of art capture the essence of our nation’s leaders and their times, offering a window into history while preserving legacies for future generations.

The tradition of official presidential portraits began in 1796 with Gilbert Stuart’s renowned

painting of George Washington. His “Athenaeum” depiction became so iconic it appears on the $1 bill. Since then, every president commissioned a formal portrait, with styles evolving to reflect changing artistic movements and the personalities of the leaders themselves.

For his portrait, featuring an icy stare reminiscent of the mugshot that rallied his supporters against the lawfare of his political foes, Trump chose a picture taken by Pari Dukovic. The renowned photographer from Istanbul, Turkey, is known for his vibrant and dynamic portraiture. It contrasts sharply with the smiling face of Trump’s first-term photo.

During the 19th century, presidential portraiture was dominated by realism, as seen in the paintings of Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. By the 20th century, artists began experimenting with more expressive and modern techniques, such as John Singer Sargent’s work for Woodrow Wilson.

The diversity of approaches has expanded further in recent decades, with contemporary artists bringing new vibrancy and symbolism to their work.

John F. Kennedy's official portrait, painted posthumously by Brookly-born artist Aaron Shikler at the request of Jacqueline Kennedy, is analyzed as a character study. Unlike most presidential portraits, Kennedy is depicted as pensive, with his eyes downcast and arms folded. His wife’s only stipulation to Shikler was to “create an image different from the way everybody else makes him look, with the bags under his eyes and that penetrating gaze. I'm tired of that image."

to symbolize the continuity of governance. They usually end up at the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington or presidential libraries. They serve the dual purpose of honoring the individual service of each president while embodying the evolving ideals of American leadership. They stand as historical artifacts preserving the cultural, political, and artistic spirit of their time while offering future generations insight into the challenges and triumphs of each administration.

President J.D. Vance’s portrait, taken by White House Photographer Daniel Torok, highlights the former Marine Corps Corporal’s piercing blue eyes. The New York artist gained recognition for his work in both photography and film, reflecting a keen eye for detail and a commitment to storytelling through visual media. Characterizing the new portraits, the

team stated: “They go

More recently, presidential portraits have embraced a broader range of styles and voices. Barack Obama’s depiction, painted by Kehinde Wiley, broke traditional conventions with the president seated before a floral background, symbolizing elements of his heritage and history. The shift reflects changing artistic tastes and a move to represent the unique identities of America’s leaders.

Official portraits are displayed in the White House, with copies at government offices, courthouses, embassies, and military bases

Vice

Trump

Vice President J.D. Vance

Credit: National Archives President Theodore Roosevelt

President Donald Trump

Credit: National Archives President Abraham Lincoln

Credit: National Archives President Barack Obama

Credit: National Archives

President John F. Kennedy

Credit: National Archives

President George Washington

Credit: National Archives President Woodrow Wilson

Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio leads a press conference in Albany to call for fixes to the Early Intervention Program’s online system.

Credit: State Assembly

HISTORY LESSONS

BY RICHARD ACRITELLI

For the second time in three executive branch terms, President Donald J. Trump was sworn in as the leader of the United States of America. A highly divisive election, outgoing President Joseph Biden was present to relinquish his constitutional authority, as he watched from the first row the transition of power to Trump. Perhaps the last time that politicians were jointly unified was how America responded to quickly help each other after the 9/11/01 attacks. It has been a week since the start of Trump’s presidency, and the negativity between him and Biden has not yet subsided. Whereas these are not rare times in our history, there are many examples of hostile tensions between political leaders that date back toward the start of this republic.

In 1801, Jefferson won a narrow election through the aid of congress. It was a “winner”-take all process, where regardless of the political party, the second place finisher became the vice president. Under Federalist President John Adams, Democratic Republican Thomas Jefferson placed second to become vice president. Jefferson opposed the actions of Adams to support the Alien and Sedition Acts that limited the rights of Americans. With James Madison, both democratic republicans authored the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions that tried to “nullify” these laws and intensified the views of “states rights.” Again, Adams and Jefferson ran against each other, and it was possible that both leaders could reverse their positions, even though Aaron Burr and Charles Pinckney were also part of this election.

Jefferson was one of the smartest people that this nation ever produced, established the University of Virginia, was a secretary of state, governor, author of the Declaration of Independence, and a vice president. There were moments when Jefferson was critical of leaders like Washington and Adams, where he did not always respect the pressures that they faced. Serving in the first cabinet of President George Washington, Jefferson often had conflicting political and national ideas that clashed with Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. Adams served under Washington as a two-term vice president and became the second president of this nation. His one term in the presidency was a nightmare, as the United States fought an undeclared naval war against the French, dealt with British impressment, and desperately held onto the policy of neutrality. Not a tactful figure, Adams quarreled with Federalists and Democratic Republicans over the early direction of government. During this election, Adams was accused of supporting the monarchy. Federalists stated that Jefferson was a “God-less” figure that identified with the radical

phases of the French Revolution. Opposition papers wrote that Jefferson’s reign would amount to “murder, robbery, rape, adultery, and incest, will openly be taught and practiced.” Many Americans were concerned over the values of Jefferson, and they saw this political contest as the head of the “Revolution of 1800.”

Adams received little help from his own party, as its leader Hamilton was opposed to the idea of Adams gaining a second term. Many Federalists believed that Adams was weak against the French and Hamilton vehemently exclaimed that he was too “unhinged” to continue as a two-term president. This election was a disaster for Adams, as Jefferson and Burr, both tied each other with 73 electoral college votes, and this assured that Adams was only a one-term president. Later, Jefferson did not invite Adams to the inauguration, and it was unlikely that Adams would have attended as he was furious about losing. As Jefferson was being sworn in as the newest president, Adams headed back to Massachusetts.

Hamilton played the “king maker,” as he detested Burr for not being loyal toward any one political party and stance. Although both of these men fought during the Revolutionary War, they were spirited rivals and Hamiliton believed that Jefferson was a better choice for this nation. He wrote several letters to Federalists in Congress to secure their votes to assure victory for Jefferson.

Hamilton was a brilliant figure, but he was spiteful against his enemies, as he later opposed Burr’s unsuccessful attempt to become governor of New York, and he openly criticized him in the papers. These aggressive actions led to his death, when Burr shot him in a duel in Weehawken, New Jersey, in 1804. Hamilton stated his presidential rationale against Burr:

The people are asking to hear my voice For the country is facing a difficult choice

And if you were to ask me who I’d promote— —Jefferson has my vote I have never agreed with Jefferson once We have fought on like seventy-five diff’rent fronts

But when all is said and all is done Jefferson has beliefs. Burr has none. The election of 1824 saw a unique political contest amongst candidates who were vehemently opposed to each other to enter the White House. As President James Monroe was about to retire from public life, there was a new generation of leaders that ran for the executive branch. John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson were opposites, as they widely clashed against each other to win the presidency. As a child, Jackson endured poverty, and he represented a new class of people that emerged beyond

The Early Experiences of Battling for the Presidency and the Transition of Power

the Appalachian Mountains. Adams grew up in Massachusetts from a family of means, where he saw the earliest foundations of the Revolutionary War and government from the efforts of his father.

As Americans enjoyed the steady leadership of Monroe, they observed a challenging time of two candidates from vastly different backgrounds. During his younger years, Jackson fought in the Revolutionary War and was captured by the British. Later, he was a self-taught lawyer, holding short stints as a representative and senator for Tennessee. Jackson left Congress to sit on the bench of the Tennessee state court and became the major general of this state’s militia. He had a fierce temper, was involved in numerous duels, and drove himself to become an important person within this area of the country.

The hero of the Battle of New Orleans became a household name for defeating the British and demonstrating a new sense of nationalism after this disastrous war. In 1814, Jackson continued to fight the Creeks, Choctaws, Cherokees, Chickasaws, and his actions during the First Seminole. In 1818, Jackson, with no authority, invaded Florida, to assault the Indians, and to protect the panhandle states near the Gulf Coast. This region was lawless, as American towns and farms in isolated areas were attacked by the Indians that utilized the Spanish Florida border to their advantage. Jackson believed that the unwillingness of the Spanish to guard this border allowed slaves an easier chance to escape into this foreign colony. A later rival, Secretary of State John Quincy Adams supported the actions of Jackson through his brutal decision to determine that two British citizens were spies, and he later hung them for inciting attacks against the United States.

Adams earned his education from Harvard and was a well-rounded figure who spoke seven different

languages. He became a lawyer and was later drawn to politics, where Adams published stories supporting the initiatives of Washington for America to adhere to a foreign policy of neutrality. Washington made Adams a minister to the Netherlands and later his father appointed him to the same position in Prussia. He was ordered back to the United States after his father lost the election of 1800, returned to his law office, later won a seat in the Massachusetts state senate, and was chosen to be a senator in Washington, D.C. in 1803.

At this time, Adams, like his father, did not agree with all the beliefs of the Federalist party, as he resigned his position in the senate, went home to his law practice and taught at Harvard University.

President James Madison eventually asked him to become a minister in Russia and at the end of the War of 1812, Adams helped negotiate the Treaty of Ghent. DemocraticRepublican James Monroe, asked Adams, a former Federalist, to become a secretary of state within his administration. While Monroe wanted to strengthen his cabinet with leaders from different parties and regions, Adams was well versed in handling foreign affairs. Adams negotiated the joint British and American occupation of Oregon, negotiated the acquisition of Florida after Jackson’s invasion, and he authored the words behind America’s dominance of the Western Hemisphere through the Monroe Doctrine.

Many Americans understood that Jackson was a capable general in the field against the British and Indians, they did not feel that he had a chance of winning this election. Jackson never left the country, had no experience handling foreign affairs, and had minimal experience in government. Although he was winning this election, Jackson did not have the majority of the electoral college votes, the Twelfth Amendment was used by the house of representatives to determine the next president. Speaker of the

House Henry Clay of Kentucky ran for president, and he stated that Jackson was a “military chieftain” from the woods that was incapable of leading America. This western politician was committed to establishing internal transportation improvements to economically strengthen the Midwest. Clay utilized his prowess in Congress to help Adams win the necessary votes to win the presidency, and he was quickly appointed as secretary of state. As Adams did not win the popular vote, he won the election through a wide scale “mistrust” from the older congressional elite that identified Jackson as a threat to democracy, which were echoed later in his life by Jefferson at this time.

From 1825-1828, Jackson claimed that a “corrupt bargain” prevented his rightful place as president and over the next couple of years, his supporters gained election to Congress. Adams was opposed at every turn by Jackson’s supporters to prevent many of this president’s goals from being achieved. Again in 1828, both men waged a defiant campaign of “mudslinging,” where they made outlandish claims against each other. Adams stated that Jackson’s mother was a “prostitute,” and Jackson exclaimed that Adams helped find young ladies for the czar of Russia. Right up until the election, Adams urged others to never vote for Jackson through the notion that Jackson would never adhere to the Constitution and was a violent individual that engaged in duels. Jackson countered that Adams was the long-standing face of corruption in American politics and government that needed to be changed. Jackson won a sectional election and like his father 28 years before him, John Quincy refused to attend the inauguration of his competitor who became the controversial face of this nation from 1829-1837. Today, Trump has a fiery picture of Democrat Andrew Jackson within the Oval Office that was seen this week as he was signing numerous executive orders.

John Quincy AdamsSixth President Of The United States

John AdamsSecond President Of The United States

Credit: Cornell University Library | Dreamstime

Credit: Cornell University Library | Dreamstime

ASK NANCY

BY NANCY BURNER, ESQ.

Guardianship in New York is typically sought in situations where an individual is unable to make decisions for themselves due to incapacity. Common reasons for seeking guardianship include: mental illness, when a person has a significant mental health condition that impairs their ability to make informed decisions; developmental disabilities; loss of mental capacity, such as from dementia or Alzheimer's Disease; and in some circumstances, substance abuse or physical incapacity.

In a circumstance where someone has brought a petition for a guardian to be appointed for another person, proceedings will be held to determine if the individual is incapacitated and in need of a guardian and who the most appropriate guardian will be. If a friend or family member has concerns about the proposed guardian’s motives or abilities, they should consult with an attorney of their own regarding

When Is a Guardianship Needed

the possibility of objecting to the guardian’s appointment. Objections to a guardianship should also be considered if a valid durable power of attorney exists or if the alleged incapacitated person can manage

their personal affairs or property on their own.

In New York, guardianship proceedings are governed by Article 81 of the Mental Hygiene Law. Under Article 81, the court will

impose the least restrictive form of guardianship that is necessary to protect the individual's well-being. Additionally, there is a guardianship proceeding under Article 17-A of the Surrogate’s Court Procedure

Act, specifically for individuals who are developmentally disabled or delayed. The court will assess the situation, and it’s important for all parties to ensure that the rights and well-being of the individual in question are protected.

Given the complexities of guardianship proceedings and the potential impact on the lives of those involved, it is essential to seek the advice of an attorney who specializes in guardianship matters. An experienced attorney can provide guidance on all available relief under New York statutes and help navigate the legal process effectively.

By Hon. Gail Prudenti

Hon. Gail Prudenti is the Former Chief Administrative Judge State of New York and a Partner at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. focusing her practice on Trusts & Estates. 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.

(631) 281-6435 RomaFuneralHome@yahoo.com www.romafuneralhome.com

BY TARA D’AMATO

LIBRARY LIVING Assistant Library Director

The library is a place where you can have your voice heard and develop your creativity. Meet other like-minded people who enjoy performing music or join a group that is sharing their creative writing. These programs for adults

Open Mic NightThursday, February 20 6:00 – 8:30 p.m.

Held at our Main Building. Registration begins Monday, February 10. The mic is all yours! Sing some songs, read some poems, tell some jokes, or come to just listen. Performers will have a 15-minute performance slot. Microphones and a keyboard will be provided. Registration required. Open to all.

Beginner Sketching and Drawing with Colored PencilsTuesday, February 11 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Held at our Mastic Beach Branch. Registration begins Wednesday, January 29. Join local artist Jennifer Lucas to learn the basics of sketching and drawing using colored pencils. Materials needed for class: A set of 24 Prismacolor colored pencils (either Premier or Scholar), Prismacolor colorless blender pencil, a plastic eraser, a hand sharpener

and a Strathmore colored pencil paper pad. Open to all.

Creative Writer’s Workshop - Thursday, February 13 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Held at our Moriches Branch. Registration begins Tuesday, February 4. Express yourself in a safe and friendly environment with Anne Kelly-Edmunds during this monthly creative writing workshop. Create all types of original works in a supportive space.

Credit: Viktor Budyka | Dreamstime.com

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.

BABIES & TODDLER ACTIVITIES

Messy Meetups

ALL IN-PERSON PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED IN-PERSON ONLY. SUPPLIES WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP.

Wednesdays, February 5 & 19

10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Crafts-To-Go can be picked up at open library locations. One craft per child, per visit please MAKE

Held at our Moriches Branch.

BABIES / PRESCHOOL

Join us for child-led, messy, creative playtime at the library! Each week we explore creative sensory activities together. We try to be outside as much as possible, so dress for mess and weather. We get dirty and wet! These activities require close supervision by an adult.

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!

Monday, December 2, 11:00 – 11:30 a.m.

Held at our Moriches Branch.

Baby Playdate

Fridays, December 13 & 27

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Ages 18 months-5 years with an adult.

Ages birth-23 months with an adult.

Zumbini

Babies Bonding:

Tuesday, December 3, 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.

Handprint Calendar – February

Held at our Mastic Beach Branch.

Held at our Moriches Branch.

Fridays, December 6 & 20

11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Held at our Mastic Beach Branch.

December 17, 11:00 – 11:45 a.m.

Ages birth-4 years with an adult.

Thursday, February 6, 6:30 – 7:15 p.m.

Held at our Mastic Beach Branch.

Please note this is an unstructured meet up.

Messy Meetups

Ages birth-18 months with an adult.

Wednesdays, December 4 & 18

10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Baby Playdate

Held at our Moriches Branch.

Ages birth-23 months with an adult.

Friday, February 7 & 21, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Little Creators

Ages 18 months-5 years with an adult.

Held at our Main Building.

Baby Games

Friday, February 14, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Monday, December 9

Held at our Moriches Branch.

10:30 – 11:15 a.m.

Friday, February 28, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Held at our Moriches Branch.

Held at our Mastic Beach Branch.

Monday, December 16

10:30 – 11:15 a.m.

Please note this is an unstructured meet up. Ages birth-23 months with an adult.

Held at our Main Building.

Toddler Playdate

Ages birth-18 months with an adult.

Friday, February 7 & 21, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.

Held at our Main Building.

SCHOOL-AGE

Please note this is an unstructured meet up. Ages 2-3 years with an adult.

Tail-Waggin’ and Readin’ Fun!

months-5 years with an adult.

story together and then create a winter Building.

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.

Little Creators Art Studio & Storytime

Mondays, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Held at our Main Building. Tuesdays, 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.

Monday, February 10, 10:00 – 10:30 a.m.

Held at our Main Building. Be prepared for very messy play.

Held at our Mastic Beach Branch.

Ages 18 months-5 years with an adult.

Drop-in. No registration required. Grades K-5.

Grades 1-5.

Grades K-5.

Adults

Register for programs three easy ways: in person, online at www.communitylibrary.org or contact the Adult Information Desk at 631-399-1511 Ext. 2014 for the Moriches Branch, Ext. 1028 for the Mastic Beach Branch or Ext. 2023 for the Main Building. Call or visit any building to register, regardless of program location.

Take Care of Yourself

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF

Silver Sneaker Full-Body Workout

Silver Sneaker

Tuesdays, February 4, 11, 18, 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. Held at our Main Building.

Full-Body Workout

Tuesdays, February 4, 11, 18 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Held at our Main Building.

Registration begins Friday, January 24. Join certified Silver Sneaker instructor, Jennifer, for a light cardiovascular workout that combines strength and resistance training, balance, coordination, and stretching. Wear comfortable clothing. Resistance bands will be provided. This class is done either standing or sitting. Bring light weights and water to class.

Registration begins Friday, January 24. Join certified Silver Sneaker instructor, Jennifer, for a light cardiovascular workout that combines strength and resistance training, balance, coordination, and stretching. Wear comfortable clothing. Resistance bands will be provided. This class is done either standing or sitting. Bring light weights and water to class.

Yoga in Spanish / Yoga en Español Saturday, February 15, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Held at our Main Building.

Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Group

Thursdays, February 6 and 20 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Registration begins Saturday, February 1. Join Tatiana for a beginner yoga class in Spanish! Tatiana Correa is a certified yoga instructor, RYT200. She will guide you through simple poses to stretch your body and relax your mind. Please bring a yoga mat.

Held at our Main Building. Register now.

¡Venga y acompañe a Tatiana para una clase de yoga que será para principiantes y en español! Tatiana Correa es una instructora certificada de yoga, RYT200. Ella le guiará a través de posturas simples para estirar su cuerpo y relajar su mente. Por favor, traiga una alfombra de yoga.

The Family and Children’s Association is hosting a support group for caregivers who care for someone with dementia or memory loss. This group is for spouses, children, or any other family members or friends who are caring for someone with memory loss. Open to all.

Everyone Loves a Story

What’s on your Nightstand? Thursday, February 13, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

favorite book of all time. Appetizers will be provided. Wine and beer will

perspectives, McBride explores themes of community, race, identity, and the complexities of human relationships. As the story progresses, secrets about the town’s past are revealed, touching on generational trauma and and insight into the human condition. McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love and community-heaven and earth-that sustain us. Copies

The MMSCL is now participating in Author Talks These free, live virtual presentations are from some of the best-known authors.

Visit https://libraryc.org/communitylibrary upcoming authors and to register.

The featured February events and authors are:

How We Create Pandemics, From Our Bodies to Our Beliefs A Library Speakers Consortium and Smithsonian Institution Collaboration Tuesday, February 4, 2:00 p.m.

Dystopian Tropes from an Indigenous Perspective: In Conversation with Waubgeshig Rice Award-Winning and Bestselling Author of Moon of the Crusted Snow Tuesday, February 11, 7:00 p.m.

I Am Nobody’s Slave: An Author Talk with Pulitzer Prize Finalist Lee Hawkins Award-Winning Journalist and Creator and Host of the podcast “What Happened in Alabama?” Tuesday, February 18, 2:00 p.m.

Store by James McBride. A compelling, multi-

LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT

SUFFOLK COUNTY

HUDSON CITY SAVINGS

BANK, Plaintiff against ABRAHAM L. TURPIN

A/K/A ABRAHAM

TURPIN, et al Defendant(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Knuckles & Manfro, LLP, 120 White Plains Road, Suite 215, Tarrytown, NY 10591. Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered December 20, 2019, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on February 7, 2025 at 11:00 AM. Premises known as 105 Carlton Drive East, Shirley, New York 11967. District 0200 Sec 615.00 Block 02.00 Lot 013.000. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $494,834.06 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 609334/2015. Cash will not be accepted at the sale. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District's Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing.

Pamela J. Greene, Esq., Referee File # 2154-000927

L16144 - 01/08/2025, 01/15/2025, 01/22/2025 & 01/29/2025

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF ABFC 2007WMC1 TRUST ASSET BACKED FUNDING CORPORATION ASSET BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-WMC1, -against-

RENEE SCHIEFERSTEIN

A/K/A RENEE

CARRICK AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE

ESTATE OF ELEANOR A. SCHIEFERSTEIN, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Suffolk on September 27, 2023, wherein U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF ABFC 2007WMC1 TRUST ASSET BACKED FUNDING CORPORATION ASSET BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-WMC1 is the Plaintiff and RENEE SCHIEFERSTEIN A/K/A RENEE CARRICK AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF ELEANOR A. SCHIEFERSTEIN, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the BROOKHAVEN TOWN HALL, 1 INDEPENDENCE HILL, FARMINGVILLE, NY 11738, on February 10, 2025 at 11:30AM, premises known as 59 BROADWAY, SHIRLEY, NY 11967; and the following tax map identification: 0200-907.0007.00-002.000.

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 617683/2016. Giuseppe T. Rosini, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK

DIRECTIVES.

L16146 - 01/08/2025, 01/15/2025, 01/22/2025 & 01/29/2025

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF SUFFOLK

U.S. BANK TRUST, N.A., AS TRUSTEE FOR LSRMF MH MASTER PARTICIPATION TRUST

II, Plaintiff AGAINST DORA W. CHAN, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered February 2, 2022, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on February 18, 2025 at 10:30AM, premises known as 20 West Lake Drive, Patchogue, NY 11772. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Patchogue, in the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York, District 0204, Section 012.00, Block 04.00, Lot 003.000. Approximate amount of judgment $469,615.02 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #610027/2018. Only Bank or Certified check payable to the Referee will be accepted for the downpayment. No third party check or cash will be accepted. Andrea Denicola, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 16003669 83603

L16147 - 01/15/2025, 01/22/2025, 01/29/2025 & 02/05/2025

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK

DITECH FINANCIAL LLC, -againstSTEVEN C. BRUMMERLOH, 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 November 25,

2024, wherein DITECH FINANCIAL LLC is the Plaintiff and STEVEN C. BRUMMERLOH, 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 February 20, 2025 at 10:30AM, premises known as 42 CRESTWOOD LANE, FARMINGVILLE, NY 11738; and the following tax map identification: 0200599.00-08.00-029.000.

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT LAKE RONKONKOMA, TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, COUNTY OF SUFFOLK AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 606046/2019. Annette Eaderesto, 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.

L16150 - 01/22/2025, 01/29/2025, 02/05/2025 & 02/12/2025

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF SUFFOLK MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATOR OF SUFFOLK COUNTY AS ADMINISTRATOR OF THE ESTATE OF ELIZABETH RYDER, WHO WAS THE SURVIVING SPOUSE OF WALTER RYDER, JOHN RYDER AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ELIZABETH RYDER, WHO WAS THE SURVIVING SPOUSE OF WALTER RYDER, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a

Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 31, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on February 24, 2025 at 1:30PM, premises known as 51 Morning Drive, Centereach, NY 11720. 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 442.00, Block 06.00, Lot 037.000. Approximate amount of judgment $382,685.97 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #600757/2020. Jonathan A. Baum, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 18-001871 83883

L16152 - 01/22/2025, 01/29/2025, 02/05/2025 & 02/12/2025

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK

MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC, -against-

THORE R. FOSS, JR., AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF PATRICIA FOSS, 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 November 21, 2024, wherein MORTGAGE ASSETS MANAGEMENT, LLC is the Plaintiff and THORE R. FOSS, JR., AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF PATRICIA FOSS, 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 February 21, 2025 at 11:00AM, premises known as 53 CHAMPLIN STREET, RONKONKOMA, NY 11779; and the following tax map identification: 0200-

566.00-03.00-031.000.

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT RONKONKOMA, IN THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 621999/2021. Giuseppe T. Rosini, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

L16153 - 01/22/2025, 01/29/2025, 02/05/2025 & 02/12/2025

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF SUFFOLK Nationstar Mortgage LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST William Giangrande; Wendy Giangrande a/k/a Wendy R. Giangrande; et al., Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered June 21, 2022, and Amended December 18, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on February 26, 2025 at 10:30AM, premises known as 119 Holbrook Road, Holbrook, NY 11741. 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 727.00 Block 05.00 Lot 010.000.

LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES

Approximate amount of judgment $734,335.93 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 064294/2013. The auction will be conducted pursuant to the COVID-19 Policies Concerning Public Auctions of Foreclosed Property established by the 10th Judicial District.

Annette Eaderesto, Esq., Referee

LOGS Legal Group LLP f/k/a Shapiro, DiCaro & Barak, LLC

Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792

Dated: December 30, 2024

L16154 - 01/22/2025, 01/29/2025, 02/05/2025 & 02/12/2025

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 02/12/2025 at approx. 12PM at www. storagetreasures.com:

Mary-Catherine Leili- 1172 -,Stacey Travis 2022, Harry Church -2107, Erica Baez -2129, John Zirpoli -2162, Madlyn Glazer -3063

L16155-01/29/2025

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, Farmingville, NY 11738 on March 5, 2025 at 11:00 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

L16156 - 01/29/2025, 02/05/2025, 02/12/2025 & 02/19/2025

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT SUFFOLK COUNTY

U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCAF ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff against VINCENT DELLORCO, et al Defendant(s)

Attorney for Plaintiff(s) Leopold & Associates, PLLC, 80 Business Park Drive, Suite 110, Armonk, NY 10504.

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered September 17, 2024, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at Brookhaven

Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on March 4, 2025 at 10:00 AM. Premises known as 108 Riviera Drive, Mastic, NY 11950. District 0200 Sec 882.00 Block 07.00 Lot 040.001. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Township of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $268,055.96 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 203289/2022. The foreclosure sale will be conducted in accordance with 10th Judicial District's Covid-19 Policies and foreclosure auction rules. The Referee shall enforce any rules in place regarding facial coverings and social distancing.

Daniel J. Panico, Esq., Referee File # 10601958

L16157 - 01/29/2025, 02/05/2025, 02/12/2025 & 02/19/2025

PUBLIC NOTICE

BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS

MIDDLE ISLAND FIRE DISTRICT

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the MIDDLE ISLAND FIRE DISTRICT will have an Information Hearing on Wednesday, February 19, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. at the District Office Building of the Middle Island Fire District, 195 Middle Country Road, Middle Island, New York, to review and invite the public comment on the upcoming referendum for voters to approve the proposition to purchase three engines and one ladder truck, with necessary and related equipment for $7,000,000.00.

PLEASE TAKE FURTHER

NOTICE that the regular Board meeting on February 19, 2025 will be held immediately following the information hearing at the Middle Island Fire District. Dated: Middle Island, New York January 23, 2025

By Order of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the

Middle Island Fire District

Chrissy Rosenfeld, District Secretary

L16158-01/29/2025

NOTICE OF SPECIAL ELECTION

MIDDLE ISLAND FIRE DISTRICT, IN THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK MARCH 4, 2025

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to the resolution duly adopted on January 22, 2025 by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Middle Island Fire District, in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, a Special Election of the qualified voters of said Fire District, will be held on March 4, 2025, at 6:00 P.M. (Prevailing Time) and the polls shall remain open until 9:00 P.M. (Prevailing Time) or as much longer as may be necessary to enable the voters then present to cast their votes. The voting shall be at the Firehouse, 31 Arnold Drive, Middle Island, New York The voting shall be upon the following Proposition:

PROPOSITION

SHALL the bond resolution of Middle Island Fire District, in the Town of Brookhaven, New York, entitled: “BOND RESOLUTION OF THE MIDDLE ISLAND FIRE DISTRICT, IN THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK, ADOPTED JANUARY 22, 2025, AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF BONDS OR ENTERING INTO A LEASE-PURCHASE OR INSTALLMENT PURCHASE AGREEMENT IN A PRINCIPAL AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $7,000,000 TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION OF THREE ENGINES AND ONE LADDER TRUCK, INCLUDING ANCILLARY EQUIPMENT; STATING THE ESTIMATED MAXIMUM COST THEREOF IS $7,000,000; APPROPRIATING SAID AMOUNT FOR SUCH PURPOSE; AND PROVIDING FOR THE LEVY AND COLLECTION

OF TAXES TO PAY THE PRINCIPAL OF SAID BONDS AND THE INTEREST THEREON AS THE SAME BECOME DUE AND PAYABLE,” be approved?

All residents of the Fire District who were duly registered with the Suffolk County Board of Elections, or who have otherwise registered as eligible registered Fire District voters, and who have resided in the Fire District for a period of at least 23 days immediately preceding the date of the Special Election, shall be eligible to vote at said Special Election.

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS

DATED: JANUARY 22, 2025

CHRISSY ROSENFELD FIRE DISTRICT SECRETARY

L16159-01/29/2025

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

COUNTY OF SUFFOLK

INDEX # 602624/2024

Filed Date: 8/8/2024

Supplemental Summons Plaintiff designates Suffolk County as the place of trial based on the location of the mortgaged premises in this action

Mortgaged Premises: 2368 Louis Kossuth Avenue, Ronkonkoma, New York 11779

DLJ MORTGAGE

CAPITAL INC., Plaintiff, against JOHN E. STROH SR. AS HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN TO EUGENE ROBERT

STROH A/K/A EUGENE R. STROH A/K/A EUGENE STROH; PATRICK JAMES

STROH AS HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN TO EUGENE ROBERT STROH A/K/A EUGENE R. STROH A/K/A EUGENE STROH; DARLENE ANN MCGEE

STROH A/K/A DARLENE ANN STROH AS HEIR AT LAW AND NEXT OF KIN TO EUGENE ROBERT

STROH A/K/A EUGENE R. STROH A/K/A EUGENE

STROH if living, and if dead, the respective heirs at law, next of kin, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, devisees, legatees, assignors, lienors, creditors and successors in interest and generally all persons having or claiming under, by or through said defendant who may be deceased, by purchase, inheritance, lien or otherwise of any right, title or interest in and to the premises described in the complaint herein, and their respective husbands, wives or widow, if any, and each and every person not specifically named who may be entitled to or claim to have any right, title or interest in the property described in the verified complaint; all of whom and whose names and places of residence unknown, and cannot after diligent inquiry be ascertained by the Plaintiff; JOHN DOE AND JANE DOE 1 THROUGH 50, INTENDING TO BE THE UNKNOWN HEIRS, DISTRIBUTEES, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, TRUSTEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, AND ASSIGNEES OF THE ESTATE OF EUGENE ROBERT STROH A/K/A EUGENE R. STROH A/K/A EUGENE STROH, WHO WAS BORN IN 1935 AND DIED ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2021, A RESIDENT OF SUFFOLK COUNTY, WHOSE LAST KNOWN ADDRESS WAS 2368 LOUIS KOSSUTH AVENUE, RONKONKOMA, NEW YORK 11779, THEIR SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST IF ANY OF THE AFORESAID DEFENDANTS BE DECEASED, THEIR RESPECTIVE HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST OF THE AFORESAID CLASSES OF PERSON, IF THEY OR ANY OF THEM BE DEAD, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE HUSBANDS, WIVES OR WIDOWS, IF ANY, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES AND PLACES, ARE UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF; CLERK OF THE SUFFOLK COUNTY DISTRICT COURT; SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; SUSTAINABLE NEIGHBORHOODS LLC;

LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES

TOWN SUPERVISOR

TOWN OF ISLIP; CLERK OF THE SUFFOLK COUNTY TRAFFIC & PARKING VIOLATIONS

AGENCY; PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; "JOHN DOE #1" to "JOHN DOE #10," the last 10 names being fictitious and unknown to plaintiff, the persons or parties intended being the persons or parties, if any, having or claiming an interest in or lien upon the mortgaged premises described in the complaint , Defendants.

To the above-named defendants: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the plaintiff's attorneys within twenty (20) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within thirty (30) days after the service is complete if this summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME IF YOU DO NOT RESPOND TO THIS SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT BY SERVING

A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE MORTGAGE COMPANY WHO FILED THIS FORECLOSURE PROCEEDING AGAINST YOU AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT, A DEFAULT JUDGMENT MAY BE ENTERED AND YOU CAN LOSE YOUR HOME. SPEAK TO AN ATTORNEY OR GO TO THE COURT WHERE YOUR CASE IS PENDING FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ON HOW TO ANSWER THE SUMMONS AND PROTECT YOUR PROPERTY. SENDING A PAYMENT TO YOUR MORTGAGE COMPANY WILL NOT STOP THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (DLJ MORTGAGE CAPITAL INC.) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. This action was commenced to foreclose a mortgage against property located at 2368 Louis Kossuth Avenue, Ronkonkoma, New York 11779 McCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC By: CAREN BAILEY, ESQ. Attorneys for Plaintiff 1 Huntington Quadrangle, Suite 4N25 Melville, NY 11747 631-812-4084 855845-2584 facsimile File # 23301647 HELP FOR

HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE The State encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and non- profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Department

of Financial Services at 1-800-342-3736 or visit the Department`s website at www.dfs.ny.gov RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO LEAVE YOUR HOME AT THIS TIME. You have the right to stay in your home during the foreclosure process. You are not required to leave your home unless and until your property is sold at auction pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale. Regardless of whether you choose to remain in your home, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROPERTY and pay property taxes in accordance with state and local law.

FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to "save" your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner`s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. § 1303 NOTICE

L16160 - 01/29/2025, 02/05/2025, 02/12/2025 & 02/19/2025

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Islaamic Center of Mastic Shirley Inc., 503 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, New York 11967, has made application to the Brookhaven Town Board acting as the Planning Board for approval of a site plan requiring variances from the Town’s Land Development Standards. This proposal is known as Islaamic Center of Mastic Shirley @ Shirley, located on Northwest corner of William Floyd Parkway and Tudor Road, Shirley, Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York and described as follows:

NORTH: Land now or formerly Bayview Prpty Mgmnt Corp

Land now or formerly Adrienne & James D Lamb III

WEST: Land Now or Formerly Maria & Agostino Gioe

Land now or formerly Michael & Marilyn Mauceri

Land now or formerly Christine & Eric J Bruno

Land now or formerly Agnieszka Brynda & Joseph Martinelli

Land now or formerly Kevin M & Suzanne M Fox

Land now or formerly

Rosemarie Mackay

SOUTH: Right of way known as Tudor Road

EAST: Right of Way known as William Floyd Parkway

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, February 13, 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 27, 2024

Daniel J. Panico, Supervisor L16161-01/29/2025

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BY TOM BARTON

Do not adjust your television sets, we have a repeat. That's right for Super Bowl LIX we will see the Philadelphia Eagles against the Kansas City Chiefs, which we all witnessed not long ago.

Not many times in Super Bowl history have we had a repeat and it has been very rare that the rosters are as similar as they will be with these two match up against each other in less than two weeks. The star names are back with Mahomes, Reid, Kelce and company for the Chiefs, while most of the same names remain in Philly with Hurts, Siriani, Brown and cast head into the big game. Kansas City may have taken the first game but most think that the Eagles outplayed them in that one, and now they have the best player on the field in Barkley, who has looked even better during this playoff run.

With all that said let's take a quick peak at the tale of the tape, from a sports betting perspective.

While the rest of the country curses the weather in these dreary and cold months, Patrick Mahomes shines through the gray and plays his best football. In January and February Mahomes is 16-2 straight up when he is either at home or on a neutral site, like the Super Bowl. His losses came against Tom Brady in the Super Bowl and Joe Burrow in the playoffs. In fact he doesn't even need the ultra cold weather to make a statement because he starts heating up once the weather begins to get even a little chill in the air. Mahomes is 44-6 in November or later.

Want even more Mahomes magic stats? Mahomes is a perfect 8-0 against the spread when he is either an underdog or a favorite that is less than 3 points. He is also 17-3 in his playoff career.

While all the talk will be about Mahomes, and rightfully so, we also have the Andy Reid off of a bye week factor. No coach in NFL

Chiefs vs. Eagles Betting Nuggets

history has been better at using the bye week to his team’s advantage than Chiefs head coach. His teams have close to an 85% winning percentage when Reid has more than one week to prepare. And back to Mahomes, when he has rest of more than a week, he is 30-4.

So, we should count out the Eagles right? Not at all. There is a reason the spread is just 1 1/2 points. Over the course of this

NY Well Represented in Cooperstown

ByTomBarton

This year's Major League Baseball Hall of Fame class has New York ties all over it.

The three inductees all played for either the Yankees or the Mets and one of them have decided to wear a New York hat into the hall.

Longtime Yankee CC Sabathia will don the interlocking NY on his cap as he makes the Hall of Fame on his first try. Sabathia garnered 86.8% of the vote to be inducted. New York fans will remember Sabathia as the ultimate workhorse starting pitcher. Even with his prior stops CC was always the throwback type of starter who would give you as many innings as you needed and you could almost throw out the pitch count when he took the hill.

Sabathia was a six-time AllStar, Cy Young Award winner and World Series champion. His career spanned 19 years as he started with the Cleveland Indians (200108), then went to the Milwaukee Brewers for one season before joining the Yankees from 2009 to 2019. Sabathia finishes with 251 wins and 3,093 strikeouts. His workhorse legacy can be seen in his numbers, which for a modernday pitcher seem almost unreal. He threw 3,577 1/3 and went over the 200-inning threshold eight times.

For most Yankees fans they remember Sabathia's on-the-field highlights well, but his character also was a pinstripe staple. In his last game he had an incentive to finish so many innings to earn a

half a million dollar bonus. Sabathia decided to throw that away and plunk the opposing batter in retaliation for one of his teammates being hit earlier. Sabathia's legacy is one of durability, success and a clubhouse leader.

Billy Wagner had a nail-biting finish to see if he would get the call to the Hall, somewhat fitting for the flame-throwing closer, but in the end Wagner is a Hall of Famer. Wagner was in his 10th and final year on the ballot and would have been removed if he failed to reach the threshold of votes this time around. Wagner finished five votes short last year.

Wagner was a seven-time AllStar, finishing his career with 422 saves in 16 seasons. He pitched for the Astros, Phillies, Red Sox, Braves and New York Mets. He ended his career with the eighth most saves all time and second most by a lefthander behind another New York

season the Eagles actually were the better statistical team.Philly's point differential was more than 100 points better, they ranked in the top six in both offense and defense while KC was 10th in offense and 12th in defense.

The Eagles were 13-7 against the spread making their backers very happy, while the Chiefs were still over bet by the public and had an under .500 against the spread

record. KC also were just .500 as favorites this year while Philly was a perfect 3-0 when they were listed as underdogs.

The underdog role is notable because since 2020 dogs are 4-0 against the spread and have won three of those games outright in the Super Bowl. Underdogs are also 29-27-2 ATS in the Super Bowl all time.

They also have something, and someone, they didn't have when these two met the last time in the big game and that is Saquon Barkley. The Eagles have rushed for 39 touchdowns this season, which is the second most in a season in NFL history and it's Barkley who has changed the dynamic of the team. Barkley has 2,447 rushing yards, the second-highest total in a season in NFL history.

The tale of the tape shows exactly why this spread is a mere point and a half.

John Franco with 424.

Ichiro Suzuki was the highlight of this Hall of Fame class and barely missed getting 100% of the vote. That left Mariano Rivera still as the only player in history to get 100% of the Hall of Fame votes.

Ichiro needs only one name and that speaks to not only his popularity, but also his immense success. Suzuki is considered to be one of the greatest hitters in the history of baseball, and he did much of his damage overseas before tearing up MLB.

He became the first Japaneseborn player elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. A career .311 hitter that jumped onto the scene and immediately made an impact on the sport by winning Rookie of the Year and MVP honors in his first season. Ichiro wasn't just a quick bat though as he also stole 509 bases in just 2,653 MLB games. He will wear a Mariners hat into the Hall

SWR Becomes League Champs

ByTomBarton

This weekend the ShorehamWading River Boys Track Team clinched the League Championship for the second consecutive year.

The team has a number of key performances to ensure they would take home their back-toback titles.

Freshman Frank Valenti was able to clock a time of 8.41 seconds in the 55m High Hurdles. That was the best mark for all freshmen and sophomores in Suffolk county and was also the best time on the entire Island. With that recordsetting time as a freshman he was able to secure a fourth place finish.

The Wildcats grabbed a first place victory when Spencer Lee won tee 3200-meter race. Patrick Shea finished in second place as he delivered a strong performance in the 1600-meter.

Michael Huebner was able to take home two honors with a first and second place finish in two different events. Huebner won the 1000-meter and placed 2nd in the 300-meter.

Cameron Sheedy and Kyle Schiff took home 3rd and 4th place finishes while Logan Jung dominated in the High Jump. Leyton Mangiamele secured a 4th place nod there as well. Both Jung and Mangiamele also excelled in the Long Jump, finishing third and fourth, respectively.

Jarrell Winston added a second place finish to the trophy case in the 600-meter and the 4x200 relay team achieved a commendable fourth place finish.

Beating the rest of the field the 4x800 A and B teams dominated their event, securing first and second places, respectively, to seal the championship victory for SWR.

Met,

Sabathia and Ichiro

Credit: @CC_Sabathia

Credit: Tom Barton SWR Wildcats

SPORTS The Jets Name The New Man In Charge

ByTomBarton

The New York Jets coaching search has ended and it ends with a familiar face taking the lead role.

The Jets have hired Aaron Glenn to be their new head coach. Glenn was the top defensive coordinator on the market from the Detroit Lions, but Jets fans remember #31 fondly from his time playing corner for Gang Green.

Glenn is the Jets former 1994 first-round pick, played eight seasons for them, then became a personnel scout for the team, went through many stops and paid his dues, and now after turning heads for the Lions defense will rejoin the organization at 52 years old.

As a member of the Jets, he made two Pro Bowls and recorded 24 interceptions before heading to the Houston Texans. His 24 picks rank

fourth in team history and he added 36 breakups in 120 games with New York.

Glenn was requested for interviews with each of the first six coaching jobs that were open this offseason. Like a true New York Jet, he declined the Patriots but took meetings with the other five open spots.

The Jets have bucked a recent trend of hiring only inexperienced offensive coaches but the respect from his players can't be overstated. During the 2023 season, an NFLPA survey of players ranked Glenn as the top defensive coordinator in the league.

It isn't just current players that are celebrating the decision for Glenn to lead the Jets as quickly after the announcement Joe Namath took to social media to write "I’m hoping all

New York Jets fans are as thrilled as my family and I are that Aaron Glenn is our new Head Coach. I wish the season would start next week!"

Glenn's departure from the Lions is something Detroit has

not had to deal with since JFK's administration. The Lions had not had a coordinator become a head coach since then, and now they have lost their offensive coordinator in Ben Johnson this week when he went to the Bears, and now with Glenn going to the Jets.

There are still a lot of decisions to be made for New York with a GM search ongoing and Aaron Rodgers's future with the team looming large, but the Jets have their head man and he can begin to assemble his coaching staff.

The Colonials Are Crowned the Kujan Champs Again

ByTomBarton

The William Floyd boys varsity wrestling team has won the 39th Annual Kujan Brothers’ Memorial Tournament.

The team, led by head coach Tony Mecca, took home the title with an outstanding overall tournament that included two overall champions, four secondplace finishes and a total of 15 student-athletes placing in the top six.

Taking home the two overall champions titles were Josiah Lors and Antonio Martin, along with finalists David Barrera, Brandon Caceres, Caleb Holmes and Jack Meyer.

The championship win makes it the Colonials' second Kujan Tournament title in the past three years after they beat top-ranked teams including Bellport and

The Colonials are currently 8-2 and ranked among the top teams in Suffolk County. With five dual meets remaining and the league and county championships ahead, they have their sights set on greatness.

The Annual Kujan Brothers’ Memorial Wrestling Tournament is a storied tradition that features

Bills Mafia Give Us a Story We Can't Refuse

ByTomBarton

In sports, much as in life, we often get to see the ugliness in passionate people. Fans tend to overreact and they often go over the line. But, as in life there are so many good people out there that restore our faith in humanity and the goodness that can be done.

We watched both scenarios play out this week. When the Baltimore Ravens drove down the field against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC Championship game on Sunday they needed a twopoint conversion to tie the game late. That's when Lamar Jackson rolled to his right and found an open Mark Andrews in the front corner of the end zone...except the ball was dropped, in snowy

conditions, by Andrews. That led to the Bills moving on to the championship game and once again Lamar and the Ravens were left out of advancing after a great regular season.

Andrews has been an integral part of the Ravens success for years and he had a very good season this year for the Birds, but that didn't stop Baltimore fans from turning ugly. There were many mistakes that day for the Ravens but the burden fell on Andrews's shoulders and the fans immediately turned on their star tight end.

Reports quickly came out that Andrews was so upset that he did not meet with the media afterwards and then more reports

surfaced about his social media being used to threaten him. The hate messages and even death threats highlighted the worst of the worst in the fans.

With every negative story in the news and world right now this story could have ended there but the Bills fans changed all that. Bills Mafia, as they are lovingly referred to as, stepped up in support of Andrews. Even though he was an opposing player the Bills fans made sure that some good came of this bad situation of fandom over common sense.

Bill fans began to go to Andrews's charity and started to donate to the cause. They were raising money for Breakthrough T1D, a nonprofit that funds research toward therapies and treatments for Type 1 diabetes. Andrews, a Type 1 diabetic himself, has supported the charity in the past and is the charity of his choice.

"As many of you know Ravens TE wasn't able to catch the the game-tying 2-point conversion and upset Ravens fans," reads the fundraiser's description. "On top of that the TE has been receiving death threats and nasty comments [after] his performance last night. We want Bills Mafia to donate

to Mark's charity for Juvenile diabetes. Let's reach a goal of at least 5k."

The $5,000 goal now seems like a modest one as the donations had soared over $20,000 in just one day and now sits at over $50,000 as of Tuesday night. The Bills Mafia aren't the only contributors either as fans from all sorts of teams have jumped on to support Andrews's cause. Out of this ugliness the Bills Mafia have led us to a great story not only for the generous Bills fans, but for anyone who calls themselves a fan.

a full day of wrestling with competing programs from Long Island and sometimes beyond. It is held in honor of two former William Floyd wrestlers, Kevin and Steve Kujan, who tragically passed away in a motorcycle crash in 1984. This event, for the past 39 years, has brought the wrestling community together and helped to keep Kevin and Steve’s memory alive.

Andrews commented during the week saying how devastated he was by the loss and the "shock and disappointment" is unlike anything he has ever felt. Andrews went on to address the Bills fans and the cause saying "despite the negativity, I've seen heartfelt love and encouragement, including from those who have generously donated to the Breakthrough T1D organization. Even when the moment seems the darkest, perspective can reveal that there's still a lot of light in this world."

NY Well Represented...

Continued from page 25

Ichiro ended his career with 10 All-Star selections, was a Gold Glove winner and a three-time Silver Slugger winner. When Ichiro came to the United States he had already been a phenom. He collected 1,278 hits in the Nippon Professional Baseball league in Japan, which if you add that to his MLB totals would give him more overall hits (4,367) than Pete Rose, MLB's all-time leader.

Suzuki and Sabathia have a lot of history and now will go into

the Hall together. They finished first and second in 2001 voting for AL Rookie of the Year and later were teammates for two seasons with the Yankees.

Sabathia took to social media to congratulate his teammate Saying "Ichiro - we started as rookies together and we’re going out together. Always admired the way you approached the game and the great teammate you were to me and so many others. Thank you for everything you’ve done. HOF"

Smithtown East.

Credit:

William Floyd Wrestling

Aaron Glenn

Credit:

SPORTS Macchia Is Simply the Best

ByTomBarton

William Floyd High School senior Zariel Macchia just keeps making headlines and her achievements are becoming legendary for the school and Long Island.

Macchia has added to her long list of honors with one of the biggest that she can get. She has been named the 2024-25 Gatorade New York Girls Cross-Country Player of

the Year.

The win now makes her a threetime Gatorade New York Player of the Year winner. Macchia won last year as well so that now makes back-to-back honors for the CrossCountry star. She not only has won in consecutive years for CrossCountry but also has the title once for track & field.

With the honor she became the

Eastport-South Manor Indoor Track Win the Title

ByTomBarton

The Eastport-South Manor Jr.-Sr. High School varsity indoor track team can now call themselves champions.

The boys won the League III Championship title this week at Suffolk County Community College’s Brentwood campus. They were led by Coach

Brian Methven who was named coach of the year in Class B in December. The track team has been outstanding and now can call themselves one of the best teams on the island, led by one of the best coaches.

The team finished fourth at the Yale Track Classic earlier in January.

Collins Is #1 in NY State

ByTomBarton

Being ranked #1 in the state is such a rare feat and to accomplish that as an eighth grader only adds to the aura of the honor. That honor has gone to Great Hollow Middle School eighth grader, Andrew Collins.

Collins impressed, once again showing why he’s ranked number one in New York state, by running the fastest mile of all eighth graders this year at the PUMA International Showcase in Staten Island this weekend.

Collins ran a mile at 4:33 (4 minutes and 33 seconds) and is currently ranked #1 in New York and #2 nationally. He started running on the high school cross-country team this fall, when he made the AllDivision team. This winter, he was part of the 4x800m relay team that won the League Championship.

first three-time “Gatorade Player of the Year” winner from Long Island. During her highly successful cross-country season she won the Suffolk County Class A Title, the NYSPHSAA Class A State Title, the NY State Federation Title and the U20 USATF Cross-Country Championships while also securing a top-three finish in the Foot Locker National Championships. Her efforts earned her Third Team All-America (19th place at the Nike Cross Nationals Final), All-State, All-Long Island, All-County and All-League honors.

Gatorade Player of the Year is the top honor in high school sports, celebrating the nation's best high school athletes for their success

on the field, in the classroom and in the community. The award distinguishes Macchia as New York's best high school girls Cross-

The Ducks Get Their Shortstop Back

ByTomBarton

The Long Island Ducks have announced the signing of shortstop Kole Kaler.

Kaler signed on to play for his second season with the Ducks and fourth in professional baseball.

“Kole did a fabulous job for us after coming over from the Pioneer League,” said Ducks Manager Lew Ford. “He provided defensive stability for us at the shortstop position while contributing greatly at the plate.”

Kaler appeared in 54 games with the Ducks last season. During the year he batted an impressive .311 with a .383 on base percentage. Kaler had 20 RBIs, 33 runs, 59 hits, seven doubles, 22 walks and 14 stolen bases in those 54 games with the Flock.

Collins has put all eyes on him during his young career and is exceeding every expectation.

He will now compete in the National Championship this March.

was also a defensive standout as he played an excellent shortstop committing just six errors.

Still just 26 year old, he was acquired from the Boise Hawks where in 2023 he had a .363 on base percentage in 84 games.

The switch-hitter began his professional career in 2022, spending 20 games with the

City ThunderBolts of the Frontier League. Kaler played two seasons of collegiate baseball at the University of Hawai’i and one at Texas A&M University. His excellent batting eye was on display at both stops where he hit .289 with a .389 on base percentage and .797 OPS in 131 games combined.

Country athlete, and she joins an impressive group of alumni that spans CEOs, coaches and star athletes.

Macchia POY

He

Windy

Credit: Michael Polak Kole Kaler

Credit: courtesy of Smithtown CSD Andrew Collins

Credit: Jessica Novins Eastport-South Manor Track Team

Zariel Macchia