The South Shore Press 1/8/25

Officer Brendon Gallagher

From the

BY STEFAN MYCHAJLIW

Imagine having your morning cup of coffee with your family, eating breakfast, kissing your kids and spouse goodbye, bolt out the front door, then never know if you’ll walk back home alive later that night.

That is exactly how first responders and law enforcement spend every single day, risking their lives to protect our families and keep our communities safe.

Suffolk County Police Officer Brendon Gallagher is hospitalized and fighting for his life after a serious crash on the Long Island Expressway.

Thankfully two of Nassau County’s bravest were on their way to their respective shifts when they came upon the crash and rendered assistance to the critically injured Suffolk County Police Officer, who was rushed to Stony Brook Hospital.

Every single day we should take time to do two things if we can:

* Thank a veteran for their service to our great nation.

* Thank a first responder, firefighter, and police officer for risking their lives to keep us safe.

In the People’s Republic of San Francisco even hardcore radical progressives called to refund the police after slashing law enforcement budgets four years ago. Then Mayor London Breed called for a big increase in police funding, despite that city’s almost $800 million budget deficit.

The move was too little, too late, as fed up and fearful taxpayers just voted her out of office.

Businesses bolted their downtown districts and families couldn’t take the crime-infested hellhole San Francisco has become.

The entire “defund the police” movement is one reason why former vice presidential candidate Tim Walz was such a train wreck of a choice by Kamala Harris.

BY GEORGE SANTOS SANTOS UNCENSORED

As we usher in the new year, there’s much to anticipate, especially with the upcoming implementation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). With President Trump's return to the White House later this month, Americans can expect significant changes aimed at curbing the excessive spending that has plagued Washington, D.C. This initiative, led by President Trump, will see tech mogul Elon Musk and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy at the helm, driving efforts to slash unnecessary expenditures in the federal government.

Many of the challenges Americans face today, particularly inflation, are directly linked to the staggering $36 trillion national debt, a result of the federal government’s

Take Time to Thank First Responders

When violent criminals burned down Minneapolis businesses and attacked cops, Walz bent the knee to the defund-the-police progressives and refused to call in the National Guard to help police who were under siege from angry mobs.

Sadly and ironically, those who cry to defund the police are often the first to dial 9-1-1 when their lives are on the line.

Case in point, Queens Councilwoman Tiffany Cabán urged businesses in her district to

not call 9-1-1 in an emergency. The left-leaning pol publicly released a guide for anyone in danger to basically reason with their attacker and call the nonemergency 3-1-1 line for help.

But guess who called 9-1-1 when threats were called into their City Council Office?

You guessed it: defund-thepolice-loving-leftist Tiffany Cabán.

As for Officer Gallagher, he did not have the opportunity to reason with the mentally unstable individual when he responded to a person in distress call in March of 2022. If this brave officer took Councilwoman Cabán’s office to call in social workers to deal with mentally unstable individuals, he assuredly would be dead.

That’s because this is officer Gallagher’s second brush with death while on the force for the Suffolk County Police Department.

Continued on page 4

New Year, New Beginnings: A Look Ahead to the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)

fiscal irresponsibility. DOGE aims to cut federal spending by 40-60% over the next 2 to 3 years. A good starting point for these cuts would

be agencies like the IRS and other three-letter entities known for their inefficiencies. In any private sector, such levels of redundancy would

lead to bankruptcy. It's time for the federal government to be held to the same standards.

Concerns about cuts to Social Security and Medicare are understandable, but the focus will likely be on eliminating waste, fraud, and abuse within these programs. The goal is to run them more efficiently, ensuring they serve Americans better without unnecessary bloat.

During my 11 months as a congressman, I witnessed firsthand the careless spending habits of some colleagues, particularly with their Members Representational Allowance (MRA). This lack of accountability is unacceptable, and we must establish stricter consequences and deterrents for federal employees to curb wasteful

spending and corruption.

One lesser-known agency, the General Services Administration (GSA), is infamous for the saying, “the government pays $300 for toilet seats.” Addressing such issues is crucial, and with DOGE, both the government and Americans from all walks of life stand to benefit immensely. The only viable path out of our current predicament is a leaner, more fiscally responsible federal government with a balanced budget.

The year 2025 holds great promise, with DOGE and other projects set to be spearheaded by the Trump administration over the next four years. I, for one, am elated and optimistic about the positive changes ahead for our country.

Credit: Grok/Twitter

December 2022: Officer Brendon Gallagher (mustache) wheels his partner out of Stony Brook Hospital

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy

Credit: WABC

ByMichaelJ.Reistetter

Bail Reform Demanded After Reckless LIE Speedster Sends Suffolk Cop to ICU, Life Support

Nearly two years to the date after he and fellow officers were stabbed in Medford, Suffolk County Officer Brendon Gallagher was seriously injured once more—this time in a Long Island Expressway (LIE) chase turned malicious.

Local leaders joined at 1 p.m. on Monday outside the entrance of Stony Brook Hospital to discuss what transpired in Brentwood on Sunday night.

Police officials confirmed Officer Gallagher—a member of Suffolk County’s recently formed Street Takeover Task Force— had been on the side shoulder of the LIE between exits 55-56 on an unrelated traffic stop at approximately 6:09 p.m. on Jan. 5th when a Mustang flew by him at 95-100 mph.

Gallagher pursued the vehicle, at which point the Mustang’s driver Cody Fisher tried to flee detection by blending into traffic. Fisher’s attempt to make a break for it was short-lived, as he soon lost control of the car. It fishtailed and sideswiped Gallagher’s vehicle, forcing the latter to leave the roadway, strike a tree, and overturn.

Fisher collided with a light

post. He was transported to South Shore University Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Suffolk County Police announced after the press conference they had arrested Fisher for driving while ability impaired; assault in the second degree; unlawful fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle in the second degree; and reckless driving.

Dr. James A. Vosswinkel (“Voss”), who also treated Gallagher when he was stabbed two years ago, shared health updates at the press conference. He recalls that police officers— who Nassau County’s Police Commissioner identified as a pair of off-duty officers en route to their posts—“climbed into the mess” to control as much of the hemorrhaging Gallagher suffered as they could. It took about 30 minutes to extricate Gallagher from the vehicle.

A helicopter emergency transported Gallagher to Stony Brook, where he currently remains in the ICU asleep, on a life support ventilator, and on medication.

Gallagher was in bad shape when first admitted, according to Dr. Voss. Transfusions were required to quell internal

bleeding. Lacerations consumed a large portion of his body. His aorta had ripped extensively.

Suffolk PBA President Lou Civello was not shy in referring to reckless individuals like the Mustang driver as “thugs that are terrorizing our roads.”

He declared the State of New York has failed Gallagher, has failed everyone as this ongoing local epidemic of speedsters turning main roads into war zones egregiously persists. In this instance, Fisher was on probation for a weapons charge and had previously been arrested for much of the same offenses.

Civello commends the officer now battling his life for responding to his past near brush with death by choosing to return to the streets rather than settling for the more comfortable confines of a desk job.

“We have a mother and father wondering if their son is going to make it and it didn’t have to happen,” he said. “This officer is an absolute hero. We are praying for his recovery.

“You shouldn’t have to almost kill a police officer for us to be able to hold you on bail. These laws have no teeth,” Civello concludes. “The very laws that

Beechwood Meeting January 16

ByRobertChartuk

Another community meeting on the Beechwood redevelopment of the Mastic Beach Business District will be held on January 16 at Brookhaven Town Hall in Farmingville starting at 6:30 p.m. Residents will have an opportunity to comment on the environmental impact statement drafted for the 40-acre project. They are encouraged to view the 42-page document at BrookhavenNY. gov.

The town selected the Beechwood organization to reshape the Neighborhood Road

business area, a massive project involving 143 individual parcels. According to conceptual plans laid out at previous community meetings, the redevelopment will involve a mixed-use downtown area with up to 630 housing units (apartments/condos and townhomes), 130,000 square feet of commercial space, 16,000 square feet of community/ civic space, and supporting parking, roadway and sidewalk improvements.

A public review of the Generic Environmental Impact Statement (GEIS) is part of a lengthy approval process that also

we risk our lives to uphold and enforce are undermining us. We renew our call to the state legislature, to the assembly, to the senate: Do your job!”

“Our first obligation is public safety and protecting the public,” Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine said. The longtime local legislator surely grows more disappointed each time he must deliver similar press conference-staged remarks on a seemingly weekly basis within a frenzy of cases all marked by fast and furious wannabees who decided to play the anti-god.

Romaine seconded Civello’s notions. “You don’t protect the public with laws that allow

people to speed race well over 100mph, to speed race the Long Island Expressway, and allow them to walk out the very same day,” he said. “That cannot and should not be the case. We need changes in Albany to protect the general public and to protect our police officers.”

While a demand for a longterm legislative change is palpable, everyone on hand’s primary focus was made apparent: showcasing their solidarity with the Stony Brook University Hospital staff tasked to restore Gallagher to health.

“The next 24-48 hours are critical,” Dr. Voss stressed.

takes into consideration utility and roadway improvements, parking, downtown beautification, landscaping, and high-quality architecture to support local investment, economic growth, new jobs, pedestrian-oriented activity, and new housing opportunities, according to the statement.

Those who can’t attend can provide feedback at seqra@ BrookhavenNY.gov

Quote of the Week

ByRobertChartuk

“Suffolk should be where we take care of one another, and we care about one another, and she cared enough to listen and to act. We’re not a community where you set people on fire and just watch. That’s another type of community.”

— Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine at a ceremony honoring a Mastic woman for rescuing a man who had fallen through the ice.

“The next 24-48 hours are critical,” Dr. Voss (L) of Stony Brook University Hospital stressed. Officer Brendon Gallagher is currently on life support in the hospital’s ICU.

Credit: South Shore Press

County Executive Ed Romaine

County Executive’s Office Credit: Beechwood Organization

ByStefanMychajliw

Riverhead Correctional Facility Lit Up in Blue to Raise Awareness of Human Trafficking

To raise awareness for human trafficking, Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr., announced today that the center façade of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Facility in Riverhead will be lit up in blue light throughout this month.

January 2025 is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month, which coincides with the Department of Homeland Security’s annual “Blue Campaign” - a national public awareness effort to educate the public to recognize the signs of victims of human trafficking.

Sheriff Toulon and the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office have

embraced the Blue Campaign over the past few years. “Human trafficking is happening in Suffolk County and in communities across the country,” said Sheriff Toulon. “While often these victims are women who are vulnerable due to substance abuse issues or traumatic experiences throughout their lives, men and women from all backgrounds can become victims.”

Sheriff Toulon started the Sheriff’s Anti-Trafficking Initiative (S.A.T.I.) Unit in 2018 - the first of its kind in the country operating from inside a correctional facility.

The principal objective is to ensure that all victims of human trafficking who pass through the Suffolk County Correctional

Facility are identified and have access to the services they need to recover. Additionally, they are supported throughout their longterm journey as survivors with the help of the S.T.A.R.T. Resource Center and through many nonprofit service providers partnered with the Sheriff’s Office.

Since inception, S.A.T.I. has conducted 7,415 inmate interviews, identified 224 human trafficking victims and identified 354 perpetrators. Criminal investigations against these traffickers are coordinated with local, state, and federal partners working with the Suffolk County Anti-Trafficking Initiative.

Veteran Receives Special Gift

ByRobertChartuk

Kevin Dobson was a Vietnam veteran and actor in Knots Landing, one of the longestrunning prime-time series in television history. Before he died, he was honored with the gift of a Vietnam Veterans Memorial Statue poster created by Bohemia artist Elaine Faith Thompson.

Thompson designed the official poster in 1984 at the request of President Ronald Reagan. “The President reviewed four of my drawings for the poster and chose the one with the American flag,” said Thompson, who is famed for her paintings of Long Island scenes and presidential portraits, including a recent work depicting Donald Trump.

In preparation for creating the Vietnam poster, Thomson supervised a 13-hour shoot with photographer Dan Rosenheck at the foundry in Plainview

where the statue was created.

“It was very important to have the American flag in the design, which I laid out so that only five stars were visible, symbolizing the branches of military service,” Thompson explained. The lettering was the same style as on the Vietnam wall in Washington. Of the four names on the bottom of the poster, Thompson is the only one who is still alive. Rosenheck was killed when his plane crashed in 1987.

The artist has many relatives with military backgrounds, including Presidents Ulysses S. Grant, John F. Kennedy, and those who fought in the American Revolution. Her late husband, U.S. Marine Richard Polizzi, was shot three times in the Korean War and passed away from war-related injuries at the age of 35. Her late brother Frank Ryder was also in the Korean War. Richard Ryder, her other late brother, was in the Coast Guard. More recently,

who served in Kuwait.

Thompson is also known for paintings of the United States Golf Association and PGA championships, canvases of the Statue of Liberty, the Pope, Elvis,

Take Time to Thank...

Continued from page 2

It was December of 2022 when a Medford man plunged a knife into his chest. But for the Grace of God he is alive today. This is how Stony Brook University Hospital surgeon Dr. James Vosswinkel described how close he came to dying that day:

“The knife went through his vest, through his notebook, through his shirt, through his skin, through his muscle, through his rib, right over his heart,” said Dr. Vossinkel.

Folks could completely understand if Officer Gallagher turned in his badge back then and took a medical retirement. No one would or should question if he had walked away from the job after that horrific

stabbing back in 2022.

He honorably sacrificed his life to protect and serve once again, and for the second time, is fighting for his life after this recent car crash.

We can never, ever repay the debt of gratitude we have for the brave first responders who risk their lives so we can safely live ours.

The least we can do is take the time out of our lives to say “thank you” in whatever way we can to the men and women who wear a uniform to save our lives.

They don’t deserve scorn. They don’t deserve spineless, cowardly politicians pontificating about defunding the police.

The next time a left-wing

pets, houses, lighthouses, and the Big Duck in Flanders, and portraits of Presidents George Washington, John F. Kennedy, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln.

Both Thompson and Dobson, her first husband’s cousin, are devoted to helping military veterans. She has donated copies of her work to local veterans groups. The statue in her poster was erected to commemorate the surviving Vietnam veterans and was paid for by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

Thompson’s prints and originals are available for purchase. Contact the artist at her gallery in Bohemia at 516380-7715 or email etcreation@ optonline.net. For more, visit: www.thompsonart.us

lunatic politician demands we spend less on law enforcement, march them right up to Officer Gallagher’s hospital room.

Let them ask him to his face, the second time he’s battling to survive, if he thinks defunding the police is a great idea.

They don’t have the heart.

Officer Gallagher has a massive heart of selfless sacrifice, one that was almost pierced two years ago at the hands of a mentally unstable individual.

God bless him for the heart that he has, God bless him on his road to recovery, and God bless his family by his side.

They desperately need our thanks and especially praise, now more than ever.

Credit: SCSO

Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Correctional Facility

Thompson’s granddaughter, Madison Polizzi, is in the Navy, and her grandson, Jamie Mas, is a former Marine and Army Ranger

Vietnam poster designer Elaine Faith Thompson is shown with Kevin Dobson.

Credit: Thompson’s husband, Red Thompson

ByRobertChartuk

Ice Rescue Earns Honors

When a man on the creek behind her Mastic home found himself in a life-or-death situation, Kayla Masotto sprung into action. He had fallen through the ice and was struggling to stay afloat. Risking her own life, she grabbed her paddleboard and pulled the man to safety.

Three bystanders at the edge of Poospatuck Creek joined in the rescue—Joseph Wahl, Tony Orsi, and Alyssa Treadwell—and they were all honored in a special ceremony by local officials.

“Today, we highlight an act of kindness that saved a person’s life,” said County Executive Ed Romaine. “I am extremely proud of these brave residents and thank them for their selflessness and willingness to help their neighbors in need.”

In a dramatic video captured by her sister, Kayla pushes her board ahead of her on the ice and then angles it toward the hole where

the drowning man was splashing. “Oh my God,” a voice repeats on the video. “Be careful, Kayla.” The man struggles to get up on the board as Kayla, perched on her knees, tries to pull him in. Her board precariously perched half on the ice and half on the water, she offers her paddle, which he grabs and is pulled aboard.

“He started to panic and scream,” Kayla said when she first saw the man in trouble after his Jet Ski got stuck in the ice and sank. He wasn’t wearing a life jacket. “I just did the only thing l could think to do and ran to my basement to get my paddleboard and get out on the ice because l just know how quickly someone could go into hypothermia and drown in a situation like that.”

As Kayla moved in, she said the victim told her his fingers weren’t working, and his legs were numb. When they were safe on shore, he thanked her, saying he thought he was going to die.

The 911 call about the man

being in distress came in at 12:30 p.m., according to Steve Januszkiewicz, assistant director of Suffolk’s Office of Emergency Management. “Our dispatcher was quickly processing the call to get the responders out, but before they were able to finish that, the update from the caller was that somebody, who we now know as Kayla, was already affecting a rescue,” he said, noting, “By the time the call was done and help was on the way, the man was out of the water.”

Long Island was experiencing a cold snap that spread sheets of ice across local waters. “Kayla did a great job,” Januszkiewicz, who also serves as chief of the Mastic Fire Department, went on. “The rescue was certainly not without risk. She was calculated and strategic and stayed low, which was very smart.”

Also heaping accolades on the 28-year-old was County Clerk Vince Puleo, himself a 53-year emergency services veteran. “It takes a lot of courage to do what

A Busy Year in Brookhaven

ByRobertChartuk

Brookhaven is the largest township in New York, and an end-of-the-year report from Town Clerk Kevin LaValle shows it.

“I want to take a moment to personally thank my clerk's office staff for their hard work and dedication,” LaValle said in announcing the extent of the office’s activity in 2024. “Their diligence and efficiency” made it possible for the town to issue:

11,353 parking permits for persons with disabilities

• 2,638 marriage licenses 2,212 marriage certificates

• 3,718 new birth certificates and 6,700 certified copies of birth certificates

• 3,023 new death certificates and 27,467 certified copies of death certificates

• 4,231 dog licenses

• 700 boat leases and 189 additions to our marina waiting list

“This is just a portion of the work we do on a yearly basis. Our office is one of the busiest

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Kayla did. Even if you were an expert out there, a lot could go wrong.”

“It truly was a group effort,” Kayla stressed. “I couldn’t have done what l did without the efforts of the other three. It was a scary situation for all involved.”

The hero thanked the members of the Mastic Fire Department for their quick response and the Suffolk Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Department. “It’s weird when people say you’re a hero, a superwoman, but truly, I’m just a neighbor and l would do it for anyone and l hope that’s the message we can put out to the community.”

"This is the best of Suffolk," Romaine said. "Suffolk should be where we take care of one another, and we care about one another, and she cared enough to listen and to act. We’re not a community where you set people on fire and just watch,” he concluded. “That’s another type of community.”

Town Clerk’s offices in the state, and so much gets done thanks to the incredible team behind it,” LaValle noted. Looking ahead, the Clerk said he’s excited to continue collaborating with the Town’s IT Department to further advance his office’s technology and build connections to local organizations to gain insights and strengthen services. He flagged the upcoming completion of the Regional

Record Center in Bellport as a major milestone, allowing the town to partner with other organizations to maximize data management.

“As we move forward, we remain deeply rooted in the history that brought us to where we are today. Thank you to everyone who has supported our office this year—I’m eager to see what we can accomplish together in 2025,” LaValle concluded.

Chartuk, Deborah Williams, Howard Roark, Stefan Mychajliw, Tom Barton, Nancy Burner, Fredrick Miller, Rich Acritelli, Michael J. Reistetter, Tara D’Amato Proofreader Kaitlyn Bankson

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Serving the Communities of The Village of Bellport, Brookhaven, Center Moriches, Centereach, Coram, East Moriches, East Patchogue, Eastport, East Shoreham, Farmingville, Gordon Heights, Lake Ronkonkoma, Manorville, Medford, Mastic, The Village of Mastic Beach, Middle Island, Miller Place, Moriches, Mount Sinai, North Bellport, The Village of Patchogue, Port Jefferson Station, The Village of Port Jefferson, Ridge, Rocky Point, Ronkonkoma, Selden, Shirley, Shoreham, Smith Point, Sound Beach, Speonk, Terryville, Wading River, & Yaphank.

The crowd recognizing Mastic resident Kayla Masotto for her ice rescue.

Hero Kayla Masotto receives a special proclamation from County Executive Ed Romaine for her daring ice rescue.

Credit: County Executive’s Office

Credit: County Executive’s Office

Brookhaven Town Clerk Kevin LaValle

Brookhaven Town Hall

Credit: Town of Brookhaven

Credit: Town of Brookhaven

ByRobertChartuk

Wilderness Walk in the High Dunes

Just over the Smith Point Bridge in Shirley lies the stunning Fire Island High Dune Wilderness area. The oceanfront park honors Otis G. Pike, the Suffolk congressman whose legislation created the Fire Island National Seashore and the 1,381acre park that carries his name.

Located on the barrier island that protects the mainland from the ocean, the area is the only federally designated wilderness in New York State.

Seven of Fire Island’s 32 miles are designated as wilderness in a track that stretches from the National Seashore visitor’s tower at Smith Point to Watch Hill.

Before Hurricane Sandy washed out a vast swath of the barrier beach, hikers could traverse the dunes all the way to Davis Park and Fire Island’s other summer communities, now only accessible by boat.

Those making the 3-mile round trip from the visitor’s tower to the beach are treated

to a spectacle of both sea and terrestrial life. Whitetail deer make their home in forests of pine, bayberry, and poison ivy, while piping plovers, an endangered species, nest in bare patches on the beach. Red foxes also inhabit the wilderness, along with hawks, snowy owls, and speedy shorebirds. Red-

wing blackbirds fill the marshes with song, and dragonflies dart among the rushes to catch mosquitoes and flies. The ocean is a haven for seals and whales and all manners of game fish–bass, bluefish, fluke–while migratory ducks raft in the bays known as Bellport and Patchogue between the island and the mainland.

Credit: Robert Chartuk

ByDeborahWilliams

Get Help to Stop Smoking in 2025

2025 is here and everyone is thinking about how to make it better than 2024 and accomplish some goals. For some, it is financial goals, for some career goals, and for many, it is health goals like losing weight or finally quitting smoking.

Suffolk County wants to help you stop smoking and it won’t cost you a cent. The program begins on January 9th. The county’s smoking cessation program is a seven-week course that uses a comprehensive approach to the treatment of tobacco product dependence. All cessation groups and programs are supervised by a nurse practitioner, and services are provided to residents at no cost.

Program participants also receive personalized follow-ups. Pre-registration is required. Registration remains open

for each class until the second session. Contact: Debora at 631853-2928 or Debora.rippel@ suffolkcountyny.gov

The sessions will be held at: St. Charles Hospital, Wisdom Conference Center , 200 Belle Terre Road, Port Jefferson. Dates are: January 9, 16, 23, 30 February 6, 13.

Time: 6:00 – 7:15 PM

As soon as you quit, your body begins to repair the damage and continues to repair itself for many years. According to the American Lung Association:

• 20 Minutes After Quitting: Your heart rate drops to a normal level.

• 12 to 24 Hours After Quitting: The carbon monoxide level in your blood drops to normal and The risk of heart attack is significantly reduced

• 2 Weeks to 3 Months After

Quitting: Your risk of having a heart attack begins to drop and your lung function begins to improve.

• 1 to 9 Months After Quitting: Your coughing and shortness of breath decrease.

• 1 Year After Quitting: Your added risk of coronary heart disease is half that of someone who uses cigarettes or other tobacco products.

• 5 to 15 Years After Quitting: Your risk of having a stroke is reduced to that of a someone who does not smoke or use other tobacco products and your risk of getting cancer of the mouth, throat, or esophagus is cut in half.

• 10 Years After Quitting: Your risk of dying from lung or bladder cancer is cut in half and you risk of getting cervical cancer or cancer of the larynx, kidney or pancreas decreases.

• 15 Years After Quitting: Your risk of coronary heart disease is the same as that of someone who does not use cigarettes or other tobacco products.

The Suffolk County program will give you educational and

Yaphank Train Station on the Move

ByRobertChartuk

Shovels are expected to go into the ground this week on a new Yaphank train station, an effort that will see the Long Island Rail Road stop move east to the other side of William Floyd Parkway.

The new location will make the railroad more convenient for commuters from the new developments along the parkway. The current station, located next to the county offices off Yaphank Avenue, doesn’t get much use since most of the employees drive to work, officials said.

The new station will be on the east side of William Floyd, south of the Long Island Expressway near the 7th Precinct. Riders coming from the east and those working at Brookhaven National Laboratory will have faster access to the commuter stop. Many Long Islanders commute to New York City, which has seen the renovation of Penn Station and a new terminal at Grand Central Station opened last year.

Senator Dean Murray applauds the Yaphank station move, which was first proposed in 2017, but is skeptical of the timeline. “It seems like the MTA was holding the project hostage until they got congestion pricing and approval of their capital plan,” Murray said of the railroad’s parent organization, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. In the face of lawsuits, Governor Kathy Hochul has pushed through the congestion tolls in Manhattan to fund the MTA, while legislative leaders in Albany are holding up approval of its capital budget until the authority makes good on promises to cut costs, according to the senator.

“They’re not coming through with the $100 million in savings they keep telling us about,”

Murray said of the MTA, which has a $87.7 billion budget. “They yes us to death, and then they don't do it. They waste money like crazy and then come back and ask for more money.”

Murray added, “The new

station will do a lot of good in that location. It'll help in job creation and everything else. So it is a good thing, and we really do need it, and we really do deserve it. But I'm cautiously optimistic

that it'll move forward.”

Suffolk officials have also been pushing for the electrification of the Ronkonkoma line to Yaphank out to its terminus in

behavioral strategies to help you develop a quit plan to eliminate the use of tobacco products or electronic nicotine delivery systems, also called ENDS. The program also provides over-thecounter medications for a fee to participants who are medically eligible.

Greenport, a plan not currently in the MTA budget despite repeated calls to eliminate the railroad’s century-old use of environmentally hazardous diesel engines.

Town Expands South Shore Conservation Area

ByRobertChartuk

Another wetlands parcel has been added to the South Shore Conservation Area on the Mastic Peninsula, land off Riviera Drive that has been inundated with flooding.

“We have reached terms on the buyout of the property that includes an elevated and incomplete structure on Riviera Drive in Mastic Beach,” announced Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico. “We will take down the structure and clean up the property to restore the wetlands.”

Few may know that this property is owned by Larry Sloman, aka Ratso, a well-known author whose works include Mike Tyson’s autobiography and the script for Howard Stern’s movie “Private Parts,” Panico noted. He also appeared for a brief cameo in Adam Sandler’s film, “Uncut Gems.”

“We are grateful to him and his wife for reaching terms on the sale of this property so that we may continue our

This abandoned home on Riviera Drive in Mastic Beach will be removed and the wetlands property preserved by Brookhaven Town as part of the South Shore Conservation Area.

planned wetland restoration work in this area of Riviera Drive, a road that is now constantly underwater due to sea level rise,” the Supervisor said. “That certainly wasn’t the case when I grew up in Mastic Beach, but because of the work we have done to continually acquire hundreds of such parcels in the MasticShirley Conservation Area, we will leave an unspoiled and meaningful environmental legacy for future generations to come.”

“Once again the town has taken the initiative to preserve environmentally sensitive lands to help protect our environment,” said Steve Brown, a member of the Brookhaven Open Space and Farmland Preservation Committee, which recommended the acquisition. “These wetlands are critical for water quality and providing habitat for a healthy ecosystem. The town has been very active in preserving lands along the South Shore waterfront.”

Credit: Grok AI/X

Credit: Robert Chartuk

Stop Smoking in 2025

Credit: Brookhaven Town

ByRobertChartuk

Suffolk Sheriff's Office Hosts 3rd Annual Giveaway

Eyes were bright on the children who streamed into a roomful of gifts at the annual holiday giveaway hosted by Suffolk Sheriff Errol Toulon.

Spreading the joy of toys, shoes, and pajamas was a community effort coordinated by the Sheriff’s START Resource Center with donations by Toys for Tots, Walmart, EJ’s PJs, True North Community Church, and Keith Caputo of Helping Makes You Happy.

Helping out at the giveaway was Patricia Poggi of EJ’s PJs, who’s been distributing pajamas to needy kids for the last 14 years. Starting at her Centereach home, where she gave away

34 pairs in the first year, Poggi and her family, Edward, Jeremy, and Patrick, gave out more than 10,000 PJs, which were made possible through donations from local companies and businesses.

Also chipping in were Keith Caputo and his mom, Cassie, who host various fundraisers and community service projects every year, events that “involve community participation as we strive to be family-friendly and provide positive volunteering experiences for anyone who wants to participate,” Keith said.

The Sheriff's Transition and Reentry Team (START) opened its doors in 2020 to facilitate the successful reentry of justice-involved individuals

with the hope of reducing recidivism. “Needs such as substance abuse treatment, education, job assistance, DSS assistance, identification issues, transportation, food, housing, and clothing are all addressed,” Toulon explained. He said it is important to establish a discharge plan for an individual's successful return to their community and provide support for them and their families.

Upon discharge from jail, individuals visit the SMART Resource Center, where the staff and many service providers address all the needs identified by counselors. At this time, the warm hand-off to the community begins, and lines of communication are established

for follow-up care. According to the sheriff, the Resource Center continues to remain available

post-incarceration for followup assistance in the hopes of continued success.

Credit: Robert Chartuk

ByMichaelJ.Reistetter

DA Tierney Indicts Farmingville Man for Sex Trafficking, Additional Crimes

Just in time for the New Year, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney and his team detained yet another reported scumball underworld operator.

On Dec. 31st, 2024, the District Attorney announced Mitchell H. Johnson, of Farmingville, had been levied a “Sex Trafficking”grade indictment for “allegedly using physical violence and narcotic drugs to induce a woman to engage in sexual acts with himself and others for profit.

“One of my top priorities is the complete elimination of sex trafficking within Suffolk County,” Tierney said. “This indictment is a pledge to the victim and our community that these heinous acts will be

met with our most significant penalties.”

As detailed within the aspects of the thorough investigation made available to the public in the aftermath of Johnson’s indictment, the 38-year-old alleged offender is purported to have begun providing crack cocaine to the victim starting in 2023.

This illicit drug operated as a device through which Johnson could control his victim in a variety of ways. It physically impaired her judgment and margin for resistance, and both emotionally and physiologically manipulated her into an addictive codependency. She was essentially compelled to satisfy any lewd request made by her captor in exchange for a continued supply or run the risk of a massive withdrawal-charged

health episode.

These requests most horrifically included engaging in paid sexual acts with third parties; beyond the illegal transactions, Johnson is also accused of forcing the victim to perform oral sex on him, withholding drugs from her, and strangling her until she lost consciousness.

According to the DA’s office, Johnson reportedly used the drug-induced control he lorded over his victim to impose strict rules. She was not allowed to keep any money for herself, nor be allowed to leave the hotel room alone. Johnson is also alleged to have kept the victim’s sole identification on his person to prevent her from fleeing, and having even gone as far as to threaten his victim’s family with physical violence, should she choose to betray his commands at any point.

In May 2023, she finally broke loose from physical and psychological captivity and reported her abuse to the police at once.

Johnson was arraigned for an unsurprising litany of sexual and violent felony offenses on Dec. 26, 2024. He is next due in court on Jan. 10th, and faces a 25-year prison sentence.

A Holiday Miracle! Kangal Shepherd Pups Rescued from

Ronkonkoma House

Contact the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter at (631) 4516950 to learn how to adopt one of the recovered puppies.

ByMichaelJ.Reistetter

If you can’t love them right, the community will, won’t we?

The downright disgusting side of human nature never fails to serve one something egregious to shake their heads in due disgust at; the silver lining in this particular instance at least is that two adorable puppies have been recovered from a Ronkonkoma house of animalabusing horrors, and are now available for adoption.

Homeowner Munim Raghid was arrested on Thursday, January 2nd, and charged with animal cruelty for the second time in 30 days, District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney recently announced. Raghid was arrested by members of the DA’s Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety (BEAST) team, and charged with one count of animal cruelty and four counts of criminal contempt in the second degree.

“I created my BEAST investigative team for a reason,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We will pursue every act of animal cruelty

reported to us and prosecute to the fullest extent of the law.”

Just last month, Honorable Judge Evan Zuckerman ordered that Raghid must not possess any animals while he was under investigation for reportedly neglecting a kangal shepherd to the point of its emaciation.

Sure enough, BEAST investigators found three additional kangal shepherds in his care—or lack thereof, rather—after the fact. Two of them, the aforementioned puppies already on the market for a forever home, were immediately seized.

Meanwhile, the third made this feel-good story with one bleak opening act possible in the first place, with a little help from man's best friend for good measure.

A Good Samaritan noticed a puppy lying on a roadway on New Year’s Eve. Discerning that the pup had been struck by a car and could not use its legs, the Samaritan wrapped the puppy in a blanket and raced it to Atlantic Coast Veterinary

Specialists, an emergency hospital based in Bohemia.

As veterinarians evaluated, and would later determine to be a fractured pelvis and leg fractures on the part of the kangal in their presence, the Good Samaritan raced back to the scene and knocked on doors until he found the owner.

In defiance of the medical staff insisting his animal's injuries were too substantial for a day of discharge, Raghid left the veterinary specialists center with

his dog in tow just before the clock struck midnight.

This reunion was short-lived though, and rightfully so; later on New Year’s Day, BEAST investigators converged upon Raghid’s home and recovered the three animals.

Raghid surrendered the puppies at the time of the seizure. Their adoption is being curated through the Town of Brookhaven Animal Shelter. Like the third who could only be evaluated and not treated

at the emergency veterinary clinic due to the extent of its injuries, one of the puppies primped for swift adoption must also first undergo extensive rounds of surgeries.

Previously, the District Attorney’s office announced a working agreement with the Fund for Animal Cruelty Treatment of Suffolk, Inc. (FACTS).

For more information on how the public can help the mentioned puppies and others like them, visit factssaves.org today.

Eastport-South Manor School District Rewards 24 Students for Positive Behavior

ByMichaelJ.Reistetter

The Eastport-South Manor Central School District announced last week that it had selected two dozen students within the junior-senior high school as recipients of the newly christened “Student of the Month” award.

Teachers recommended the students they deemed most deserving of the award and its “positive behavior” criteria. The school’s Positive Behavior and Interventions Support Committee naturally had final say in determinations. This group is overseen by assistant principals Dr. Sheila Dempsey, Daniel Franchese, and Peter Caccavale.

The students recognized just prior to the 2024/2025 school year’s winter recess were as

Credit: Eastport-South Manor Central School District

Twenty-four Eastport-South Manor Jr.-Sr. High School students were selected for the school’s first Students of the Month award.

and

follows: Andrew Ackerman, Brody Cognato, Abigail Dosiak, Addison Fiori, Jaxon Gomes and Mason Quinn (Grade 7); Justin Fricchione, Natalie Hayton, Kaylee Jacobellis, Joshua Jerez, Brayden Mahoney and Payton Satriana (Grade 8); Joseph DeLuca, Lydia

Credit: Will Cadena/suffolkcountyny.gov

Credit: Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office

Mitchell Johnson, of Farmingville, was arraigned on several sex crime-related charges last week.

Deptuch

Gavin Marino (Grade 9); Arlyn Daniela Lorenzo Lima, Isabella Manfredonia and Ethan Schaarschmidt (Grade 10); Jameson Ackley, Mia Cannavaro and Jaylin Pentzel (Grade 11); and Vincent Abolafia, Carol Chiqui and Jacob Hubbard (Grade 12).

ByStefanMychajliw

WFHS Senior Earns Full Scholarship to the University of Chicago

William Floyd High School senior Milton Calderon-Suriel will attend the University of Chicago next fall on a full fouryear scholarship through the QuestBridge National College Match program.

Milton is one of just 2,627 students selected and matched with a school in a field with more than 25,500 talented applicants nationwide. Milton plans to major in computer science in the fall.

QuestBridge connects the nation’s highest-achieving seniors to top colleges and universities and access to the QuestBridge Scholars Network, a thriving community that offers transformative educational, career, and life opportunities that help propel students in the next chapters of the lives and beyond.

“Milton is bright, determined and intuitive. Success is a part of who he is and I know that will continue with him throughout his college education,” said his guidance counselor, Arianna Scanlon. “I truly believe that he can be successful in anything he pursues, and he will do so with a smile and while helping others.”

Milton has been an outstanding high school

student, achieving a 99.5 grade point average while enrolled in numerous honors and Advanced Placement classes. His success has made him a role model for his peers and younger siblings.

This upcoming June, Milton will proudly become a firstgeneration high school graduate and then a first-generation college student in the fall.

In the time he has between academic and family responsibilities, Milton has been a member of the William Floyd High School track and field team. Being able to successfully balance his responsibilities is a testament to his dedication, determination and maturity.

Ms. Scanlon added, “Milton has been my student for the last three years, and I have seen him exemplify his independent, adaptable, and resilient personality on every occasion. He puts forth his best effort consistently, no matter what challenge stands in his way.”

National College Match program recipients are admitted early to any of the 52 college partners that work with QuestBridge. These partners use their own funds as well as state and federal aid to fund the Match Scholarship, which is made up of a generous financial aid package that covers the full cost

of attendance, including tuition, housing, food, books, supplies, and travel expenses.

“We are delighted to welcome this record-breaking number of QuestBridge Scholars,” said Ana Rowena Mallari, Co-Founder and CEO of QuestBridge, in the nationwide announcement. “These Scholars will contribute a rich diversity of perspectives and experiences to our college partners, enhancing the vibrancy of their campus communities.”

This year’s Match Scholarship Recipients come from all 50 states

and the District of Columbia, as well as the territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These outstanding high school seniors have an average unweighted grade point average of 3.94, and 92% are in the top 10% of their graduating class. The majority of this year’s Match Scholarship Recipients – 83% –are among the first generation in their families to attend a fouryear college in the United States.

All finalists who join QuestBridge college partners

become part of the QuestBridge Scholars Network, which connects students to a community of peers from a similar background. QuestBridge also provides enriching programs for its alumni, including the opportunity to apply for fulltuition scholarships to top business schools through the Graduate School Match: MBA. There are more than 30,000 current college students and graduates worldwide that belong to the QuestBridge Scholars Network and Alumni Association.

Real World Prep: Real Estate Pros Speak to William Floyd HS ‘Real Estate Reality Class’

ByMichaelJ.Reistetter

Ahead of the holiday recess, William Floyd High School’s “Real Estate Reality” class welcomed three real estate professionals as guest speakers: Ed Shine, a broker and owner of Shine Realty; Stephanie Salvo, an agent at Shine Realty; and Theresa Wright, a mortgage specialist for Nationwide.

This trio of industry experts shared their journeys and countless insights into their careers, offering students a look at all the possibilities a career in real estate may hold.

Taught by William Floyd High School business teacher Ms. Lee Cillo, a licensed Realtor, “Real Estate Reality” is a half-credit elective course available to junior and senior year students. Its goal is to equip students with foundational knowledge about real estate terminology, how to understand concepts and trends, and what is required to explore future professional opportunities within the wide world of real estate.

Before graduation, students begin to seek college and career counsel. Learning about real estate

Credit: William Floyd School District

(L to R) Ed Shine, broker/owner, Shine Realty; Stephanie Salvo, agent, Shine Realty (and her daughter); and Theresa Wright, mortgage specialist, Nationwide.

at this time lends them ample time to process the cost of living across different geographic regions longterm, and additional logistics that play into their greater decisionmaking. Math, ethics and contracts are all a part of the equation.

Students were encouraged to ask questions in an open forum

environment that spotlit licensed professionals and their eager-forinformation younger counterparts.

Salvo brought her young daughter along as well. She shared what motivated her to choose a career in real estate over other exciting paths.

Possessing a flexible schedule as she does enabled her to

juggle professional and personal obligations without a hitch. This resonated with students uncertain about the intricacies of balancing family and work life prior.

“Having a forum where the students are able to hear from fulltime real estate professionals holds a lot of weight with them,” said Ms.

Cillo. “Real estate is a fascinating industry and one that can be lucrative with some hard work. It's not out of their reach and now they have people to add to their network if they choose to build on this in the future.”

Adds William Floyd High School senior A’Jiah Broughton: “I enrolled in the real estate class as an opportunity to grow my knowledge in the real estate field. I felt the guest speakers were very informative as they ended up opening my eyes to a pathway I had not considered. I am grateful for the opportunity to meet and speak with them.”

“The guest speakers significantly enhanced the educational experience for our real estate students,” said Jackie Giacalone, chairperson of William Floyd High School's business department.

“Their expertise and willingness to share personal experiences provided invaluable insights into the industry. We look forward to continuing this initiative and inviting more professionals to inspire and educate our students in the future.”

Credit: WFSD

Guidance Counselor Arianna Scanlon and Scholarship Recipient Milton Calderon-Suriel

ByRobertChartuk

Sheriff Services Come to CMO

Suffolk Sheriff deputies set up shop at the Center Moriches Library Monday to bring various services to the community, including a Shed the Meds drop box and medical IDs. The stop was one of many Sheriff Errol Toulon conducts every year as part of his efforts to help residents stay healthy and safe.

“Shed the Meds allows for the

safe disposal of drugs so they don’t end up in the wrong hands or pollute the water supply,” explained Bryan Stoothoff of the Community Relations Unit.

“We’re glad that so many people are coming in for our services.”

Kathy DeVito said she saw a notice about the event in the library’s newsletter and stopped by to put some prescriptions in the box that had been in her

medicine closet for years. “It was definitely time to get rid of them, and this is a safe way to do it,” the East Moriches resident said. A regular visitor, she also takes advantage of the library’s recycling drop box.

Right behind DeVito was Gena Harsch, who came from Manorville with her daughter, Olivia, to dispose of a bag of unwanted meds from her house and her mother’s. “It’s a nice service for the community,” she noted.

At another table, Officer T. Yacovone was busy printing special IDs designed to assist seniors and individuals with medical needs by providing a compact card that contains essential information. “The card ensures that, in emergencies, first responders have immediate access to critical health details, facilitating prompt and accurate medical care,” the officer said. Included on the card is the individual’s name and photo, along with their address, blood type, medical history, and emergency contact information. The deputies were also signing

up residents for the Yellow Dot program, which provides a decal they can put on the driver’s side rear window of their vehicles to alert first responders to the presence of vital medical information stored in the glove compartment. “People can update their information as necessary, which is stored in a bright yellow envelope that can’t

be missed,” Yacovone pointed out.

Another service offered by the department is the Sheriff’s Foundation, which supports community-based programming to reduce crime and recidivism, improve outcomes for atrisk individuals, and build positive relationships with law enforcement.

More Sex Trafficking in Suffolk: Missing Patchogue Teen Found on Boat in Islip

ByMichaelJ.Reistetter

Following a tip that his daughter was on a boat in an Islip marina, a Long Island father made good on his promise to retrieve his missing child and return her to safety.

Friday night's recovery of Emmarae ("Emma") Gervasi, 14, of Patchogue, brings resolution to a nearly month-long saga, but also invites more inquiries: Who were her captors?

As previously reported by other outlets, Emma left her Terrel Street home on the evening of Dec. 9th. She had last been seen at around 5 p.m. that day, leaving out the front door barefoot and without a jacket.

Emma had told her mom she was heading to retrieve something from the car in the driveway. Instead, she entered a blue Honda that had pulled up; security footage confirming this does not conclude if she did so willingly, or if she was pulled into the car. It is her father Frank Gervasi’s understanding that Emma "went off" with a man she met online, but left him soon thereafter for a “random 65-year-old man,” according to The New York Post.

Security cameras next captured Emma knocking on motel doors in Bohemia the following day. It would be several weeks into a virtually explosive search party before she would resurface.

While providing updates during his collaborative pursuit alongside officials from Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney’s offices, the Gervasi patriarch was candid about his daughter's troubled history. This included mentions of a penchant for running away and being susceptible to the manipulative nature of shady adult influences.

Surely a distressing holiday season for the Gervasi family, the prolific online interest and prayers sent their way thanks to local and greater media exposure most definitely led to the breakthrough.

Mass intrigue in the case also inspired faulty leads, conspiratorial misdirection, red herrings and so forth. Emma Gervasi is reportedly a witness in two upcoming trials, but neither law officials nor her father have commented on this in the wake of her re-emergence.

Emma’s father did take to his Facebook account on Sat., Jan. 4th to thank all those within the community who shared her photo on social media and plastered missing person flyers around town. Without their efforts, he believes, Emma would not have been found.

“The good thing is that my nightmare is over,” Frank said. “However, other parents’ nightmares are still existing. Their children are still missing.”

After reporting that Emma is doing well and recovering in a facility, Frank revealed that, as he suspected, Emma indeed was

being held against her will—and not allowed to leave the boat she was ultimately discovered upon sans an escort.

“She was being forced to do things that a 14-year-old shouldn’t have to do,” Frank said. “So I do believe this is sex trafficking, and it’s being looked into.”

He continued: “Anytime a kid is being held against their will or forced to do things that they don’t want to do, whether it’s for addiction purposes or whatever it is, that’s a form of sex trafficking. They get these girls, they get them hooked on drugs, and then they make them do stuff for it.”

While Suffolk authorities continue to plow ahead at confronting and subsequently dismantling pop-out outfits of a globally encompassing sex crime industry that, as Gervasi correctly surmised, has become a “very big problem on Long Island,” the relieved parent cautions others to keep an eye on their children.

“These people are predators," he said, "and they will stop at nothing to get to your kid."

Credit: Robert Chartuk

Credit: Robert Chartuk

Suffolk Sheriff deputies set up shop at the Center Moriches Library to provide services to local residents.

Gena Harsch gets rid of some unwanted meds at a drop box provided by the Suffolk Sheriff’s Department.

Credit: Images via Facebook/Frank Gervasi. Collage via SSP Frank Gervasi (L) seen in his latest Facebook post providing an update in the case of his no-longer-missing daughter, Emma (R).

ByDeborahWilliams

New York Loses Population - Again

New York is the third-ranked state as far as people leaving— not the bronze medal most want to get. Two recent studies of population moving trends show that New York is not doing well and is getting worse. Cornell University and United Van Lines National Movers Study track the trends.

Democrats lead the five states losing the most population –New Jersey, Illinois, New York, California, and Massachusetts.

The United Van Lines National Movers Study tracks state-to-state moving patterns each year and reported that 59% of the total New York migrations were outbound. Nassau-Suffolk “earned” a spot in the top 25 metropolitan areas losing population. Movers are seeking economic relief without sacrificing quality of life, reflecting a growing presence for less dense, more affordable regions.

Lee Zeldin said when he was running for governor, "Why does New York lead the entire nation in population loss? Because their wallets, their safety, their freedom, and the quality of their kids' education are under attack." Not much has changed since then, in fact, the statistics keep getting worse.

United classifies states as “high inbound” if 55% or more of the

moves are going into a state, and “high outbound” if 55% or more moves were coming out of a state. New York ranks as "high outbound."

Cornell University’s study showed more population decline is expected in the short and long term for New York. For those who decide to leave, the driving force is the continued decline in the standard of living and high housing costs. In short, people want a better lifestyle for their families. Retirement also plays a role.

“Once again, New York finds itself on a crummy list when it comes to quality of life issues,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano. “With the destructive policies of the Democrats giving us high taxes, illegal immigration, and crime, it’s no wonder people are bailing out left and right.”

The Van Lines report showed Sunbelt states like South Carolina, Alabama, and Arkansas are gaining traction as residents flee urban centers with rising costs and shrinking opportunities.

New York State Conservative Chairman, Jerry Kassar, said “Once a leader in jobs, innovation, education and medicine, today’s NY is a leader in exporting its citizens. It is a sad commentary on government policies destroying what was once a truly Empire State.”

Cornell’s study predicts New York state’s population could shrink by more than 2 million people over the next 25 years – a decline of more than 13%.

Cornell Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy’s Program on Applied Demographics (PAD) projects that New York faces a significant population decline due to low fertility rates and aging that has not been offset by new arrivals.

Over the last 25 years, the population of New York State has gone up and down. Census estimates indicate that the New York State population was declining at the end of the 2010-2020 decade and dropped much more sharply in the early

Why People Are Leaving New York

ByRobertChartuk

People are moving to the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia—places that are not as expensive as New York. They would like to stay, this is where they grew up, where their families are, but it's unaffordable.” Kyle Meyer, Center Moriches

Taxes, utility costs, and incompetence in government are driving people away. This is what the politicians have brought us.”

Jack Schwartz, Eastport

part of the current decade. The Covid-19 pandemic played an important role in this sharp drop.

Cornell looked at three scenarios of population loss –High, Medium, and Low. With the Middle scenario, New York’s population is projected to decline to around 18.3 million by 2050. The Low scenario is a 2050 population of around 17 million. The High scenario is more in favor of population growth and shows an increasing population to 19.8 million in 2038 with a slow decline to 19.5 million in 2050. None of the scenarios project a return to the 2020 census count of 20.2 million.

NY is also getting older and

those of child-bearing age are having fewer children – and even no children at all. In 2022 the median age was 40 years. The median age in New York has been increasing for a long time. In the 2000 Census, the median age was 35.9, in 2010 it was 38.0 and in 2020 it had increased to 39.0. The projections show a median age in 2050 between 43 and 44 years old.

Cornell did their initial report on projected reductions in state population first and will update the report in mid-2025 to include projections by County and Region. When those numbers are released a deeper dive into Suffolk County will be available.

People can't afford to raise a family and enjoy life; it's just too expensive. I feel bad for the younger generations. They want to stay here—Long Island is a great place— but they just can’t afford it.”

Annette Schnitger, Ridge

People are tired of the high taxes and crime.”

The problem is taxes. I believe we have some of the highest taxes in the nation. It’s no wonder people are leaving for states that are less expensive.”

Sal Sclafani, Bayport

Property values are really high; people can't afford to buy, and rents are high. Long Island has everything; people want to come here, and that drives up prices.”

Kathy Dinnigan, Ridge

Joe Franchi, Manorville

The South Shore Press Man on the Street went out to find out why so many people are leaving New York.

More people are leaving New York State than moving in.

Credit: Grok AI/X

ByDeborahWilliams

Republican Senators Say, "Wait a Minute" on Hochul Rebate Plan

During COVID, New York, like many states had to borrow billions to cover pandemic unemployment programs. New York borrowed an estimated $6 billion dollars and that debt remains on the books.

Meanwhile, Governor Kathy Hochul made her first priority for 2025 a proposal for New York State’s first-ever Inflation Refund.

The refund would return about $3 billion to New York taxpayers in direct payments to around 8.6 million New York taxpayers statewide in 2025. Those eligible would receive payments of $300 to single taxpayers who make up to $150,000 per year, and a payment of $500 for joint tax filers making up to $300,000 per year.

Returning taxpayer money to taxpayers is almost always a good thing, paying off debt is a good thing too. And if the rebate goes through, the debt remains completely intact. Using the $3 billion in proposed rebate funds would cut the unemployment debt in half and relieve the taxpayer of that burden going forward. Three Republican senators agree that the tax burden needs to be lessened and

want the governor to consider a better approach.

Republican Senators Dean Murray (R-Brookhaven), George Borrello (R,C-Jamestown), and Pam Helming (R,C, IP-Geneseo), all members of the Senate Committee on Small Business, Commerce and Economic Development, have called on Governor Kathy Hochul to take decisive action to alleviate the burdens facing New York’s small businesses.

In a joint letter, the senators urged Governor Hochul to dedicate state funds to paying off the roughly $6 billion in Unemployment Insurance (UI) Fund debt that is still owed to the federal government, a critical step that they argue would provide a more effective and long-term solution to alleviating inflation and reducing consumer costs.

Senator Murray, the Ranking Member of the Committee, emphasized the connection between this issue and rising consumer costs.

"By eliminating a massive expense for employers and businesses, we are helping them and allowing them to lower the costs of goods and services, which in turn,

helps consumers. Instead of a oneshot check, this brings long-term relief for everyone,” said Senator Dean Murray, 3rd District.

The senators highlighted that the state’s Unemployment Fund debt, accrued during the COVID-19 pandemic, has put an enormous financial burden on small businesses, forcing them to shoulder higher unemployment insurance premiums. These increased costs threaten to stifle recovery efforts for small businesses that are already

New Session, Same Battles in Albany

ByRobertChartuk

Long Island legislators return to Albany this week for the start of a new session with a familiar slate of issues that will once again highlight the ongoing conflict between local taxpayers and the forces that control state government.

At the top of the agenda are affordability, crime, and the green energy mandates they believe are unachievable and could very well bankrupt the suburbs. They will go to battle with an Inflation Relief & Consumer Assistance Plan, A Blueprint for Childcare (ABC) Plan, and a simple idea to stem the crime wave sweeping over the state: scrap cashless bail.

“If we are to truly turn a corner in 2025, we are going to need to make some wholesale changes to the way we conduct business here in New York,” stated Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, a member of the Republican Conference. “It’s a constant battle against the New city Democrats who oppose all of our reforms, but we are optimistic public pressure will help us get the big issues done.”

While the governor and leaders of the senate and assembly usually wait until the last minute to spring their spending plan on the legislators, financial concerns will be a hot topic right from the start. New York leads the nation in taxes and fees, and its business climate has residents fleeing in record numbers. The state drains its taxpayers for a bloated $229 billion budget—twice that of Florida, which has a larger

mandated shutdown during the pandemic, it is only fair that employers are not left to shoulder these costs."

The legislators also underscored that addressing the UI debt would demonstrate the state’s commitment to supporting its small business community.

grappling with inflation and other economic pressures.

"Instead of following the commonsense approach of other states and using some of the billions in federal COVID aid to pay down the unemployment debt, the governor unfairly shifted the burden to businesses and employers through the Unemployment Insurance Assessment Surcharge (UIAS),” said Senator George Borrello, 57th District. “Since the UI deficit stems from the government-

population and no income tax—and the local lawmakers are pushing for relief.

The inflation-fighting plan put forth by the Assembly Republicans would give residents a break by eliminating state taxes on fuel, personal care products, housekeeping supplies, and food purchases. They’ve also proposed a new Division of Regulatory Review & Economic Growth, which would remove regulations inhibiting job creation.

“To further help families manage cost-of-living concerns, we are committed to making child care more affordable through tax incentives for families and providers,” said Assemblyman Will Barclay, leader of the GOP caucus, who noted that childcare costs are often one of the largest expenses in household budgets. “Developing alternative childcare options and removing rules and regulations that

drive up costs and obstruct access to care are essential to alleviating these financial pressures,” he said of the plan that would save families an average of about $2,300 a year.

The local legislative contingent would rather the state leaders agree to more robust and lasting measures to cut taxes and enhance the state’s economic climate rather than the logistically expensive gimmick of sending each taxpayer a $300 check. “We must get back to basics, cut spending, and do more with less,” stressed Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio. “We need to protect our seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities.”

Pledging to “work diligently” to restore law and order, the Republicans want to provide judges with the latitude to hold dangerous criminals, along with reforming the broken parole system and ensuring 16- and 17-year-old serious offenders are held accountable for their

actions in the appropriate court.

“Too often, violent offenders escape responsibility by having their cases transferred out of Criminal Court,” they argue. They’re also vehemently against the sanctuary state and open border policies of the Democrats and support President Trump’s call to deport illegal immigrants, starting with the criminals that plagued the state with murder, drug offenses, and other crimes.

The legislators said they also expect more rallies in Albany by Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney and other prosecutors to give them more teeth in combating the illicit drug trade, particularly against fentanyl and tranq, which are killing New Yorkers in record numbers.

According to the Republicans, the goals of the 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act are unachievable. “The potential costs associated with

“The state must take full financial responsibility for its UI debt to the federal government and end this burden on our small businesses and family farms,” said Senator Pam Helming, 54th District. “If we truly want to help our employers grow and protect local jobs, we must reduce the cost of doing business in New York State. Our economic success depends on it.”

Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R-Medford) agrees. “What we would much rather see is the Democrat leaders of the Legislature and Gov. Hochul approving the Republican bills to cut what are the highest taxes and fees in the nation and our inflation fighting measures,” said DeStefano. “These would amount to taxpayer savings well above the few hundred dollars of our own money they’re giving back to us.”

the near-total electrification of our energy grid are staggering, and it is extremely irresponsible that the law passed without a complete financial analysis,” stressed Assemblyman DeStefano. “We cannot afford to cut out traditional energy sources, and our school districts most certainly cannot afford to replace their entire bus fleets with new electric models as the legislation demands. Homeowners and businesses would also like to keep their gas stoves, barbecues, and heating systems.”

As the annual Albany pushand-pull begins anew, Long Island legislators are keen to keep school aid funding intact and beat back Gov. Hochul’s attempt to upset the hold harmless policy that kept schools from receiving less than their share of a $24.9 billion pot than the year before. Also on the radar is blocking moves to usurp local zoning authority to build multi-family housing and reverse plans to collect $75 billion from companies they say are causing climate change, expenses that will be passed on to consumers.

Lawmakers will also be jockeying for monies from the state’s $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act. They will be looking to the state for support in handling the region’s solid waste once the Brookhaven Town landfill closes over the next few years. At issue is the Long Island Power Authority balking on extending power purchase agreements for wasteto-energy facilities, which the Democrats oppose.

The State Capital

Credit: Nations Online

Credit: Grok AI/X

Senators ask Hochul to reconsider rebate plan.

ByDeborahWilliams

New Down-Payment Assistance for First-Time Homebuyers in New York

In 2025, buying a first home will be a little easier for some on Long Island, and Suffolk County specifically.

Governor Kathy Hochul awarded $51 million in grants throughout the state to support homeownership for more than 1,000 households.

The awards will help low- and moderate-income homeowners make their homes safe and accessible and provide down payment assistance for first-time homebuyers.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced that 1,060 households statewide will benefit from $51 million in grants to support affordable homeownership. The awards will help low- and moderateincome families make repairs, accessibility modifications or safety upgrades to their homes, replace manufactured homes,

and provide down payment assistance for first-time buyers.

“This investment will make the dream of homeownership attainable and manageable for more than 1,000 households, allowing families and individuals across New York to live safely and affordably in homes of their own,”

Governor Hochul said. “My administration is committed to increasing affordability for families and putting every tool at our disposal to work to address our housing crisis.”

The total award for Long Island is $2.3 million and will assist 64 units of housing. The organizations that will receive the funds include:

Community Development Corporation of Long Island, Inc.

- Accessibility Modifications$300,000

Community Development Corporation of Long Island, Inc.

- Accessibility Modifications for Veterans - $300,000

Community Development Corporation of Long Island, Inc.

- Accessibility Modifications for Medicaid Members - $300,000

County of Suffolk - TenantBased Rental Assistance$1,250,000

United Way of LI Accessibility

- Modifications for Veterans$150,000

The grants—administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal’s Office of Community Renewal— were awarded to nonprofit organizations and localities to help preserve affordable housing, support veterans and older New Yorkers, increase access to homeownership, and strengthen local economies.

New York State Homes and Community Renewal Commissioner RuthAnne Visnauskas said, “Increasing access to housing and making homeownership an affordable reality is critical for all New Yorkers. The $51 million we announced today through a variety of programs will provide resources people need to make necessary home repairs and accessibility modifications, provide help with down payments, replace manufactured homes, and allow more than 1,000 households to live safely and securely in their communities.”

New York Reacts to the Death of President Jimmy Carter

ByDeborahWilliams

The 39th President of the United States, President Jimmy Carter, passed away on December 29 in hospice care after a long battle with cancer. President Carter had his 100th birthday in October and was the longest-living US President in history.

People from across the country and the globe shared their condolences for the family and their gratitude for his service to the nation in the Navy, as Governor of Georgia, President of the United States, and perhaps most fondly as what many call “The Best ExPresident Ever.”

Carter and his wife Rosalynn set up the Carter Center after his presidency and worked around the world for free and fair elections, human rights, and, right here at home, taking up hammer and saw and building homes for those in need.

New Yorkers of all political stripes spoke fondly of the former president. Regardless of party affiliation, President Carter was widely respected and revered for his integrity, humility, and abundant good works throughout his life.

President-elect Donald Trump said, "I just heard of

the news about the passing of President Jimmy Carter. Those of us who have been fortunate to have served as President understand this is a very exclusive club, and only we can relate to the enormous responsibility of leading the Greatest Nation in History. The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans. For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude."

Governor Kathy Hochul said, “President Jimmy Carter embodied decency and integrity throughout his life of public service. I'll never forget as a teenager meeting him in Buffalo. He was an inspiration to me and so many Americans. Our hearts are with the Carter

family during this difficult time.”

Rep. Mike Lawler (R-NY17) said, “Today, we mourn the loss of one of our most humble and devoted public servants, President Jimmy Carter. President Carter personified the true meaning of leadership through service, through compassion, and through integrity.

New York Senate Minority Leader Robert Ortt (R) said, “President Jimmy Carter was a true embodiment of the American dream, working from peanut farmer in rural Georgia all the way to President of the United States. Regardless of political party, we respect his contributions to our American story. My prayers are with the Carter Family during their time of loss.”

Senator Chuck Schumer (DNY) said, “Today, we mourn the loss of one of our most humble and devoted public servants, President Jimmy Carter. President Carter personified the true meaning of leadership through service, through compassion, and through integrity.”

Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY21) said, “The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices.” —President Jimmy Carter President Carter was a true American patriot whose dedicated service to our nation will never be forgotten. May he rest in peace.”

New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) said, “President Jimmy Carter was America's

longest-living president in history, but he will be remembered for far more than that. He was a true public servant who dedicated his life to giving back and not just during his presidency. We all witnessed it with the work he did with Habitat for Humanity. He lived an honorable and good life — a true American. May he rest in peace with his beloved wife, Rosalynn.”

New York Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D), said “President Jimmy Carter was a devoted public servant, a lifelong activist, and a prolific humanitarian. I am devastated to hear of his passing, but I know that his legacy will live on through the work of the Carter Center and the thousands of people he influenced throughout his life. My thoughts are with his family today. He will be deeply missed.”

New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli (D) said, “President Jimmy Carter guided the U.S. during turbulent times. After his presidency, he continued to work tirelessly for peace and justice at home and around the world, earning a Nobel Peace Prize, all while volunteering for Habitat for Humanity. With humility and his steadfast moral compass, he redefined the role of a former president. May he rest in peace.”

A family in front of their new home.

Credit: Grok AI/X

Credit: Facebook

Credit: US Navy portrait

Former President Jimmy Carter passes away. Former President Jimmy Carter

ByRobertChartuk

Fight Inflation by Removing Business Burdens

Cutting the cost of living is on the minds of local legislators as they head back to Albany with plans to fight inflation. From high energy prices to burdensome taxes, regulations, and fees, New York is the most expensive place to live in the nation and has the worst business climate. These factors are driven by government policy, and the lawmakers are pushing for change.

Senator Dean Murray is heading to the capital with a plan that would save billions. Rallying a coalition of Republican legislators from across the state, Murray has appealed to Gov. Kathy Hochul to eliminate the dreaded UIAS— Unemployment Insurance Assessment Surcharge—a state mandate that is draining $10.2 billion from New Yorkers.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, the Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund was depleted thanks to thousands of New Yorkers not being allowed to work. To throw them a lifeline, the state took a loan from the federal government and is forcing employers to pay it back. They’ve ponied up $5.7

billion so far and are still on the hook for another $4.5 billion.

“Doing away with this massive expense will allow businesses to pass their savings on to consumers by reducing the costs of goods and services,” explained Murray, the ranking minority member of the Commerce, Economic Development, and Small Business Committee.

“This benefits businesses and consumers, bringing true, longterm relief to all New Yorkers.”

According to another legislator behind the plan, Senator George Borrello,

“Instead of following the commonsense approach of other states and using some of the billions in federal COVID aid to pay down the unemployment debt, the governor unfairly shifted the burden to New York’s businesses and employers through the UIAS. Since the deficit stems from the governmentmandated shutdown during the pandemic, it is only fair that employers are not left to shoulder these costs.”

Anyone who produces a paycheck is charged for the loan, which cost taxpayers $250

million this past year in interest alone. The debt could have been avoided had the Democrats who control New York better managed the $19.1 billion the state received under the CARES Act and other grants, on top of the $33.5 billion received by New York City and $2.4 billion to local governments. The federal COVID largesse has contributed substantially to the country’s monstrous $36.3 trillion national debt, a $323,000 burden on every taxpayer that will affect generations to come.

As President Trump takes office, the battle to repair the economic damage from the Biden-Harris administration and bring spending down to pre-pandemic levels will be at the top of his agenda.

“The state must take full financial responsibility for its unemployment insurance debt to the federal government and end this burden on our small businesses and family farms,” said Senator Pamela Helming, another coalition member. “If we truly want to help our

Cuomo Lashes out at Congestion Pricing

ByDeborahWilliams

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo brought the congestion pricing scheme to New York pushing it through the legislature in 2019 and is now opposed to the plan. The scheme was the first such congestion tax in the nation. It was intended to raise revenue from commuters and visitors driving into portions of Manhattan to fund MTA maintenance and upgrades.

Governor Kathy Hochul put the tax into place beginning January 5, 2025.

Now, and perhaps not unsurprisingly, Cuomo is knocking the incredibly unpopular congestion tax as he looks to make a political comeback and run for mayor of New York City. Now that it suits his political path, it makes perfect sense to remove his support from his signature legislation.

Cuomo recently said in an op-ed column that appeared in the NY Post, “The people of New York know this is not the time to implement congestion pricing,” saying between rising

violent subway crimes and a difficult economy now was not the time for such a tax on people who live, work and visit New York City.

He’s right, of course, and perhaps he has looked at the facts on the ground and changed his mind. Maybe he changed his position for political expediency. And, maybe a little of both.

Richard Azzopardi, Cuomo's spokesman, came out strong saying on X, “Hey, the $15 congestion fee was passed by the MTA Board under Governor Kathy Hochul’s watch. Your ridiculous 40% ‘savings’ argument fools no one.

“It is undeniable that New York is in a dramatically different place today than it was in 2019, and without a

employers grow and protect local jobs, we must reduce the cost of doing business in New York State. Our economic success depends on it.”

In their letter to the governor, the senators stated: “We would strongly encourage you to remove this massive added expense on businesses and employers by immediately paying off the balance of the money borrowed from the Federal Unemployment Insurance Fund.

Paying off the loan will eliminate the need for the UIAS that is currently costing employers hundreds of millions of dollars a year. This will not be a one-shot savings, but instead, will help New Yorkers save on an ongoing basis every time they go shopping for those goods or services.”

Taking this approach, the senators said, “will also send a strong message to New York businesses that we do care and we want to help them succeed.” Taxpayers hope that this year’s state legislative session will produce results that help stop the record outmigration of New Yorkers to states that better manage their money.

study forecasting [the toll’s] consequences based on facts, not politics, it could do more harm than good to New York City’s recovery,” Azzopardi said.

Melissa DeRosa, Cuomo’s former chief aide said, “Nothing that Governor Hochul loves more than gaslighting — ask them the one about how much safer the MTA is under their watch.”

Cuomo’s change of heart has not gone unnoticed.

“It’s nice to see that now Cuomo recognizes what a bad idea congestion pricing is, but we won’t forget that he was the one who signed it into law just like the bail reform and sanctuary state policies that have made us less safe,” said. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (R-Staten Island).

Malliotakis added, “Maybe he should have listened to Republicans before championing these disastrous policies who also challenged Hochul to ride the subway without her state police security detail.”

New York Conservative Party Chairman, Jerry Kassar, said when asked if he was surprised Cuomo came out so hard against a proposal that he fought so hard to pass, “Well, I think it's reflective of his chameleon-type style that always has at its end action which he thinks is politically beneficial to him.

“As he looks to run for mayor, I guarantee he could not come up with too many things more popular than opposing congestion pricing in New York City. It is immensely unpopular. But, like so many of Andrew Cuomo's ideas and thought processes and conversations what you see is not what you get,” Kassar added.

Robert Holden said on X, “Cuomo is the reason we’re in this mess: bail reform, discovery changes, sanctuary state, congestion pricing, legal pot without stopping illegal shops, and more. Now he’s using subterfuge in a desperate attempt to reinvent himself. Are voters really that stupid? I hope not!”

State Senator Dean Murray

Credit: Office of Senator Murray

Former Governor Andrew Cuomo

Credit: Facebook

ByDeborahWilliams

Automatic Voter Registration in New York Is Coming2 Years Late

In 2020, New York State became the 19th state to pass automatic voter registration (AVR). About half the states currently have some form of AVR, and half do not.

What is AVR? AVR takes the individual’s decision to register to vote out of their hands and gives state agencies the mandate to register you to vote. This means that if you interact with the Department of Motor Vehicles, state social service agencies, or SUNY you will be registered to vote unless you specifically opt out at that time.

AVR still has not been implemented in New York despite being passed in 2020. What happened? There were COVID-caused delays and after COVID was over, the State Board of Elections chose two separate private companies to implement the program and both failed.

In late 2023, the Board of Elections set up an agreement with New York State’s Office of Information Technology Services and they say that is advancing as expected. $16.6 million in taxpayer funds is allocated for this program and it is expected to be ready by summer 2025 for the DMV to begin AVR.

However, state Sen. Michael

Gianaris (D,WF-Queens) wants to amend his original bill to change the opt out to what's called “backend registration.” This means that a person will not be given the chance to opt out at the point of service. Instead they will be automatically registered to vote, notified by mail, and then would have to proactively “unregister.” If the amendment is passed it will push back the AVR implementation by 2 more years.

New York’s automatic voter registration system, originally set for January 2023, will launch in mid-2025—over 2 years late. The system, designed to register eligible residents during interactions with state agencies, faced delays due to pandemic disruptions, bidding issues, and technical hurdles.

The $4.1 million system aims to streamline voter registration through agencies like the DMV and social services. Supporters argue it could register up to 2 million eligible voters, while critics cite concerns about potential duplicate or ineligible registrations.

Despite ongoing delays, lawmakers are debating changes to the opt-out process, with some proposals risking further setbacks. Advocates stress the need for a smooth rollout to ensure longterm success.

It is widely believed that implementing AVR will help boost

Democrat enrollment and perhaps help them gain permanent power in New York. AVR has boosted enrollment dramatically in some states, but that does not always translate into more votes.

New York State Conservative Party Chairman, Jerry Kassar, said, “It's been a not-so-secret thing in politics that enrollment is not really related to turnout.

“The Democrat efforts to grow their enrollment with AVR have not necessarily been successful. This time President Trump won the popular vote and Republicans win plenty of elections all over the over the country. In many places, most of the states now (not NY), they probably win the majority elections,” said Kassar.

New York voters can already

register by mail, in person at a Board of Elections, through the DMV, and, most recently, through the internet. Voters have a variety of ways to register. It's not difficult; voters have plenty of opportunities.

“AVR looks like it's a solution — an expensive solution — in search of a problem," said Joe Burns, partner at Holtzman Vogel specializing in election law.

Burns said, "I think it's a problem when New York State commits to do something — in this case, launch automatic voter registration — and isn't able to pull it off. It causes regular citizens to lose confidence in our system generally and the electoral process specifically. That isn't good for self-government or democracy.

"Unfortunately, the state legislature frequently conjures up some big idea and then forces a state agency to implement it without giving the agency the tools it needs to do the job. It certainly looks like that is what happened here," added Burns.

Kassar said, “My personal view is that voting is a privilege. Voting is accessible to all American citizens, but it is a privilege where some effort should be made by you the voter.

“I also believe that the automatic registrations raise the possibility of voter fraud. I don't want to overplay that, but I do think that that voter fraud and election integrity is a concern to the average American,” Kassar added.

To those who say Republicans and Conservatives oppose AVR because they want to suppress the vote, Kassar says, “I've always advocated for the most people possible coming out to vote. I'm a gigantic advocate for high voter turnout. We've always felt that that is fine for us as the Conservative Party. We feel that we're a populist group and the more people that come out to vote the better. Some people will say I'm crazy for that, but if I'm going make the effort to convince people we are right on the issues, I want people to come out and vote for us.”

BY KARL GROSSMAN

At long last, Suffolk County has a county executive who fully understands the need to send highly treated wastewater back into the underground water table on which the people of Suffolk depend on as their “sole source” of potable water, instead of dumping it in nearby water-bodies including the Atlantic Ocean. And Ed Romaine has legislative support. Further, providing funding to do this was the passing of a referendum in the November election amending the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act and increasing the county sales tax by l/8th of a penny to raise money to build sewers and install high-tech Innovative/ Alternative septic systems and fund, as the measure stated, “projects for the reuse of treated effluent.”

As Romaine told Mark Harrington of Newsday last month: “All the sewers we will build will be tertiary in nature and will recharge. We’re not as stupid as they were years ago where all they did was take that outfall pipe and send it [the wastewater] out to the ocean or the Long Island Sound.”

As a Suffolk County legislator and Brookhaven Town supervisor, Romaine repeatedly emphasized the need to send treated wastewater back into the underground water table.

Five decades ago, I was writing extensively at the daily Long Island Press and in national media about the folly of the then under-construction Southwest Sewer District being based on a wastewater treatment plant being built in West Babylon to send 30 million gallons a day of wastewater through an outfall pipe out into the Atlantic.

Leading opponents of the scheme were Charlie Pulaski, conservation chairman of the Suffolk County American Legion, and George A. King, chairman of the Long

Island Baymen’s Association. They warned this would impact adversely on the Carlls River and many streams, and by diverting so much freshwater into the ocean change the salinity of Great South Bay.

Romaine and a bi-partisan group of Suffolk County legislators were at the Bergen Point Wastewater Treatment Plant in West Babylon last month to announce having wastewater from the plant used to irrigate an adjacent county golf course and also for uses within the plant itself.

“This is one of ten county wastewater treatment plants that we are currently considering for water reuse,” declared Romaine, a Republican from Center Moriches.

“By utilizing what otherwise would have been a byproduct, we can decrease the pressure on our aquifer by hundreds of millions of gallons a year and even help recharge the aquifer.”

A breakthrough for Suffolk on this started in 2016 when treated effluent from the Riverhead Sewage Treatment plant began being used to irrigate the adjacent Indian Island County Golf Course to offset dumping wastewater into the Peconic River.

At the event at the Bergen Point plant, Legislator Kevin J. McCaffrey of Lindenhurst, presiding officer of the Suffolk Legislature, said its reuse of wastewater “will let Bergen Point be known for helping water quantity as well as water quality.

This is a great step forward to see if we can effectively take the wastewater and, instead of letting it flow into the ocean, use the effluent for irrigation and other purposes to help recharge the aquifer and reduce the nitrates in our water.

I thank the county executive and hope all these planned projects will work together.”

“Moving forward, we need to do

Water Reuse at Bergen Point

more recharging and water reuse,” said Legislator Steven Flotteron of West Islip, its deputy presiding officer. “Bergen Point is just one of the many sites where a golf course is close to a treatment plant. But golf course irrigation is just one example of ways in which we are now moving forward together, the legislature and county executive, to reduce the pollutants, replenish the aquifer, and improve our water quality.”

Legislator Ann Welker of Southampton said: “The success of the Riverhead Sewage Treatment Plant’s Water Reuse Program…has been phenomenal” and “Suffolk County plans to build on this success with water reuse.” The passage of the Suffolk County Water Quality Restoration Act amendment provides for funding for such “improvements…With that comes the possibility of more water reuse projects through the county, which is an exciting prospect.”

Suffolk Legislator Steven Englebright of East Setauket is already endeavoring to have sewage from Stony Brook University and surrounding neighborhoods sent to irrigate close by St. George’s Golf and Country Club.

In 2023, a Long Island Water Reuse Road Map & Action Plan was advanced by the Islip-based Seatuck Environmental Association and Greentree Foundation. The plan identifies 50 golf courses in Nassau and Suffolk Counties situated within 2 miles of wastewater treatment facilities and thus are available for recharge, and identifies other locations including “sod farms and greenhouses, as well as for lawns at educational campuses” and “commercial centers.”

It can be viewed by clicking on the box titled “Water Reuse” on the front page of Seatuck’s website—at https://seatuck.org/

Its Executive Summary states: “Over the past half century, water quality in Long Island’s groundwater aquifers (the sole source of drinking water for more than 2.5 million Nassau and Suffolk County residents), as well as both freshwater and coastal surface waters, has steadily declined…. During this same time period, Long Island’s water quantity problem has also come into focus.”

It continues: “Water reuse (or water recycling, as it is also known) is a complementary strategy that can meaningfully help Long Island

address its water issues. It involves ‘reusing’ highly treated wastewater generated from sewage treatment plants for water-dependent purposes instead of discharging it into the ocean or local coastal waters.

“The dual benefits of water reuse have long been recognized and embraced in other parts of the world, such as the Middle East, and across the country, especially in places such as California, Arizona and Florida, where supplies of freshwater are limited,” it goes on. “These states have incorporated extensive strategies to recapture and reuse valuable water resources…. According to the Environmental Protection Agency approximately 2.6 billion gallons of water are reused daily in the United States.”

But “New York and other states in the Northeast have been slower to adopt these strategies.”

A 93-page hydrology report done by the U.S. Geological Survey released last year on the underground water table below neighboring Nassau County— which is 88% sewered with sewage treatment plants dumping wastewater into adjacent water bodies—is now “under stress,” it said, with saltwater intrusion moving in as the amount of fresh water in the water table being depleted.

One can go back to the late 1800s and how Brooklyn lost its potable underground water supply—by over-pumping from the water table below it and consequent saltwater intrusion, along with pollution— and became dependent on a now fully subscribed upstate reservoir system. Losing its potable water can’t be allowed to happen to the rest of Long Island. Finally, there are Romaine and Suffolk County legislators tackling the vital water supply issue.

HISTORY LESSONS

BY RICHARD ACRITELLI

“…Let us learn together and laugh together and work together and pray together, confident that in the end we will triumph together in the right. The American dream endures. We must once again have full faith in our country--and in one another….”

President James “Jimmy” E. Carter, January 20th, 1977

Speaking to Americans during the Inauguration of 1977, Carter was elected at one of the most complex times in American history. On October 1st, 1924, Carter was the first president to be born in a hospital, he grew up working on his father’s peanut farm, saved his money, and a thirteen-year-old during the Great Depression, he purchased five homes and rented these homes. In high school, Carter was motivated to enroll in the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland. By 1941, Carter was the valedictorian, spent one year studying at the Georgia Institute of Technology, and was accepted into this military school. Gaining this education during World War II, the fighting was never too far from these students, as they trained for the prospects of being deployed overseas. Carter distinguished himself with his studies, as he graduated at the top of his class and at this school, he met Rosalynn Smith, a younger friend of his sister, and they were married in 1946.

By 1947, Carter served in the submarine service and had their first of four children. During the start of the Cold War, Carter was one of the first officers to be placed on a nuclear submarine and he later taught crew members of the USS Seawolf. After thriving in the navy, Carter’s father died of cancer in 1953, and he resigned his commission from the navy to go home. From a drought the family farm fell into hard economic times, and Carter was determined to ensure that it would not fail, as the family barely earned enough money to survive.

Whereas the South changed at this time, Carter observed the Brown v. Board of Education desegregation of public schools, Rosa Parks' refusal to leave her seat, and Carter as a naval officer, experienced the integration of the Armed Forces. Living in the “Deep South,” there were reluctant people to accept these economic and social changes, as the Ku Klux Klan and other hate groups' influence expanded. When Carter refused to support their resentful actions, there was a boycott against his crops.

Life began to change, as Carter’s farm earned a profit, and he served on community hospital and library boards, taught Sunday school, became a deacon, and was a member of his local school board. Never a person to run from

problems, Carter, a veteran, had a combination of local and national knowledge that would be combined during the start of his political career. In the early 1960s, Carter ran for the Georgia state senate and lost this race. After voter fraud was determined, he gained this new position, where he expanded rights for African Americans and limited wasteful government spending.

In 1966, Carter a liberal democrat opposed a conservative republican in Lester Maddox for the election of governor. Politically, this was the “Solid South” since the creation of this nation that was dominated by democrats, especially in Georgia, Carter’s pro-civil rights stance, cost him the election to Maddox.

Placing third in this election, over the next four years, Carter positioned himself for the 1970 gubernatorial election and immediately he campaigned for this position. Carter extended his support to more white voters, and even as the Atlanta constitution did not endorse him, he won this political contest. Through the Civil Rights Acts of 19641965, Carter expressed that all forms of segregation had to end in Georgia. As a reformer, Carter tackled government spending fraud, expanded environmental protection state laws, and increased school funding.

A junior figure within national politics, Carter intently watched the Nixon and George McGovern race for the presidency in 1972. To learn more about national politics, the leadership, and key democratic figures, Carter became the chair of the Democratic Governor’s Campaign Committee and in 1974 was the campaign chairmen for the Democratic National Committee. Through the corruption of Watergate, the resignation of Spiro Agnew and later Nixon, and Gerald Ford not being directly elected to the presidency, Carter believed that he offered different political course for this beleaguered nation.

Whereas Carter excelled at the local and state levels of politics, he vied for the presidency during one of the darkest moments in our history, as Americans openly doubted the power of this country. For Carter, every political campaign seemed to be a “uphill” battle, as during his presidency, few people knew his policies, and even in his own state, the newspapers wrote, “Jimmy Who is Running What!” Against nine other democratic candidates, Carter aggressively pursued this office with the message that as an “outsider,” he could fix America. Not overwhelmingly winning the majority of the votes in the primaries, Carter gained enough support to oppose Ford. Carter identified Ford as the present establishment that weakened this nation through his controversial pardon of Nixon. Ford countered that Carter was a small-town

From Plains, Georgia, to the Presidency: The Political Life of James “Jimmy” E. Carter

Eagle Claw” military air operation into Iran to free these Americans, but it failed miserably. Eight Americans were killed, as two of the helicopters malfunctioned and another aircraft collided during a sandstorm in an Iranian desert. Weapons, maps, resources, and the dead were left behind, as this operation was staged 200 miles away from Tehran and was forced to abort this mission. Again, the country was humiliated on the world stage, and Carter was perceived as a weak leader. And through this entire negative situation, he ran for president against former California Governor Ronald Reagan.

candidate who lacked the experience for the presidency, and he would raise American taxes through the growth of government. Carter was considered an honest politician and this attribute hurt his campaign when Playboy magazine interviewed him. Admitting that he had “lust” in his heart for other women, Carter’s political lead against Ford disappeared toward this election. As Ford improved his campaign, his connection to Nixon, the perception of being a “klutz” on Saturday Night Live, and his debate performance where he stated that the Soviets did not dominate Eastern Europe, helped Carter win this election. Quickly, Carter pardoned Vietnam War “draft dodgers,” supported social and economic legislation, and ended the funding for the B-1 bomber. His relationship with Congress deteriorated over his refusal to endorse “pork barrel,” as claimed that these were the backroom deals that engulfed the political corruption of Washington, D.C. Carter’s lack of support hurt him, as congressional members utilized his low popularity to successfully deter his initiatives. During the massive growth of stagflation, Carter deregulated the airline, trucking, and railroad organizations that lowered costs. And Carter pushed Congress to financially support “Superfund” legislation to clean up toxic waste sites across this nation.

During this time, America used one-quarter of the production of the (OPEC) Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries that showed our dependence on foreign oil. As prices increased, Carter created the Department of Energy and the Energy Security Act that partnered the government with privately own businesses and 20 billion dollars of aid to produce more fuel in the United States. Carter stressed that Americans should use public transportation, carpool, make and

purchase fuel-efficient, smaller cars, ride a bike, and utilize the growth of wind and solar power to limit our dependency. But OPEC decreased its sales to the United States, and the barrel of oil quickly increased in cost to $34, and this created “runaway” inflation that has today inflicted our people. Americans did favor his notion that instead of raising their home heating temperature, they should wear a sweater. By the time that Carter left office in 1981, there was a reduction in the consumption of foreign oil, and the nation had a surplus of natural gas and oil, as American production increased during the 1980s.

These four years were agonizing, as Carter was widely hit with major foreign policy concerns as seen when Iranian radical Islamic students supported the return of the Ayatollah Khomeini. Opposing the powerful Shah of Iran who received military aid by the United States, this leader lived in extravagant wealth, as most of his citizens endured poverty. As Khomeini promised to nationalize Iran and remove foreign interference that included American business and political interests, the Shah was deposed in 1979. Forty-six years ago, the Shah was allowed in the United States for cancer treatment, Iranian government and students, overwhelmed the American embassy in Tehran. Screams that our nation was the “Great Satan,” 3000 Iranian militants stormed this embassy, and 66 Americans were imprisoned for 444 days. Every day, the Iranian captors paraded blindfolded American citizens and military personnel on television and stated that Carter was unable to free his own people. Americans were shocked and angered over the continued nightmare of the “Hostage Crisis.”

On April 24th, 1980, Carter approved a top secret “Operation

Carter successfully negotiated the Camp David Peace Accords between Israel and Egypt that brought a historic start of peace in the Middle East. He presided over the turnover of the Panama Canal, but the (SALT II) Strategic Arms Limitation was not fully ratified, and the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan. Americans feared that Carter represented the “malaise” in the nation and that his “Question of Confidence” speech that stated the “next five years will be worse than the last five years,” was another sign that he accepted these poor times. Reagan was an older figure who ran for the presidency, he promised to proudly restore the economic and military credibility of the United States, especially against second-rate nations that threatened this nation. At every turn, Reagan fought the presidential record of his opponent and exclaimed, “A recession is when a neighbor loses his job. A depression is when you lose yours. And recovery is when Jimmy Carter loses his.”

The powerful victory of Reagan in 1980 and again in 1984 proved that Americans wanted to proceed in a different direction from Carter. But his legacy is felt today, as many of the programs that Carter tried to establish in the late 1970s are now widely used. Working for groups like “Habitat for Humanity,” Carter identified more with these programs that benefited smaller groups of people who needed economic support. For decades, Carter was an important reminder that our most powerful leaders should never forget about their roots. This former president was a Sunday school deacon and teacher in his church congregation. The Carter’s visited over 130 countries around the world, took a controversial picture with Fidel Castro in Cuba, and was a leading advocate for human rights around the world. It was a tumultuous presidency for Carter, where many of these political events were unforeseen, but for his entire life in government, he dealt with complex challenges and overcame many obstacles.

Former President Jimmy Carter presents the National Space Club's Goddard Memorial Trophy to NASA Administrator Dr. Robert A. Frosch on behalf of the team that planned and executed the Voyager mission to Jupiter and beyond. The trophy is America's most prestigious space award, presented annually to an individual or group for outstanding acheivement in space, contributing to U.S. leadership in astronautics. From left to right:

John Lent, Martin Marietta Company President Jimmy Carter NASA Administrator Robert A. Frosch

Credit: Nasa Public Domain Stock Photos | Dreamstime

ASK NANCY

BY NANCY BURNER, ESQ.

No, a living will and a last will and testament are completely different documents. A last will and testament (“last will”) is an instrument used to memorialize how he or she would like assets distributed after his or her death. A living will discusses wishes regarding end-of-life medical treatment. Both documents play an important role in an estate plan.

The person who signs the last will is called the testator. In a last will, the testator nominates an executor, the person who will be responsible for handling your estate after death. The last will also states what assets you would like to have distributed to certain people, charities, or other entities, known as beneficiaries. An executor does not have the authority to collect or distribute assets until the last will is probated by the Surrogate’s Court in the

county in which the testator was a resident at the time of his or her death.

For parents with young children, a last will can also allow testators to name a guardian for minor children. If there are beneficiaries that are minors or incapacitated, it can provide that the assets be distributed into trusts on behalf of those beneficiaries.

A living will allows you to leave written instructions that explain your health care preferences if you are determined to have a terminal illness or are at the end of your life and you are not able to communicate your wishes. This document only becomes effective when you are unable to make your own decisions, and it is believed that you are in an irreversible state with no reasonable expectation of recovery. In contrast to the living will is a health care proxy, in which you name an agent to make medical decisions on your behalf if you are unable to do so. Most

Living Will vs. Last Will and Testament

living wills refer to the “agent” to withhold or withdraw treatment, this can refer back to the agent named in a health care proxy. The living will should be used by your health care agent as a guide to carry out the wishes.

Credit: Flynt | Dreamstime

A living will can address whether or not you wish to receive the following treatments: cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), mechanical ventilation, tube feeding, comfort care (palliative care), organ and tissue

donations, donating your body for scientific study

A last will and testament is meant to respect your wishes in the time after your death, while a living will is used to honor your wishes in the last moments of your life. It is wise to inform those close to you what your wishes are for the last moments of your life and thereafter once you pass away. Clarity to your named agent or executor is the best way to ensure your wishes are carried out.

By Britt Burner, Esq. & Erin Cullen

Britt Burner, Esq. is a Partner at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. focusing her practice areas on Estate Planning and Elder Law. Erin Cullen is a graduate of the Maurice A. Dean School of Law at Hofstra University. 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.

, Licensed Funeral Director

539 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, NY 11967

Phone: (631) 281-0800 Fax: (631) 281-6435 RomaFuneralHome@yahoo.com www.romafuneralhome.com

BY TARA D’AMATO

Assistant Library Director

Now that winter is here, there's more time to cozy up with a good book. Why not join a book club and meet new friends in the process? The library has two monthly book-related meetups for adults, check out these two in January:

Thursday, January 16, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Held at Sunsets at Senix Restaurant (50 Senix Ave, Center Moriches, NY). Registration begins Friday, January 3rd. Deciding what to read next? Join us for a discussion about books at Sunsets at Senix Restaurant! There is no assigned reading; chat about what you are currently reading, what you want to read, or your most favorite book of all time. Appetizers will

be provided. Wine and beer will be available for purchase.

Book Discussion of Daisy Jones & The Six

Thursday, January 23, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. Held at our Main Building. Registration begins Thursday, December 26.

Copies of the book will be available for pickup at our Main Branch starting December 26.

Experience the highs and lows of fame, fortune, and forbidden love while discussing the novel, Daisy Jones & The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. Daisy is a girl coming of age in L.A. in the late sixties, sneaking into clubs on the Sunset Strip, sleeping with rock stars, and dreaming of singing the Whisky a GoGo. The sex and drugs are

thrilling, but it’s the rock and roll she loves most. By the time she’s 20, her voice is getting noticed, and she has the kind of heedless beauty that makes people do crazy things. Another band getting noticed is The Six, led by the brooding Billy Dunne. On the eve of their first tour, his girlfriend Camila finds out she’s pregnant, and with the pressure of impending fatherhood and fame, Billy goes a little wild on the road. Daisy and Billy cross paths when a producer realizes the key to supercharged success is to put the two together. What happens next will become the stuff of legend. The making of that legend is chronicled in this riveting and unforgettable novel, written as an oral history of one of the biggest bands of the seventies.

What is the space like?

The Makerspace is a dedicated place in the library where patrons can come and create by using special technology or through traditional methods. We also have staff on hand to guide you with your projects. Staff can be booked for oneon-one appointments to help you with a makerspace project or just help you with anything technology related. We like to think that you are only limited by your imagination in this space! The Makerspace is important to the community because it allows people to use technology to which they may not otherwise have access. The Makerspace is staffed by knowledgeable staff members trained to help you complete any project and learn about all the great things offered in the space. It is setup like a workshop, to have places to work on projects without disturbing other library patrons.

How can I get involved in using the space?

Cricut and Cricut Equipment, Cricut Maker 3

Cricut Heat Press

Patrons can learn how to use the Cricut machine, embroidery machine, Ellison die cutter, button maker, podcast equipment, and sublimation printer with Digital Services instruction via one-on-one appointments or through monthly program offerings. After being properly instructed on how to use the equipment, patrons may use these independently. However, appointments are recommended to ensure there is no overlap on using the machines.

Patrons can learn how to search and create 3D models, but staff will be operating the 3D print machines. Patrons will also not be permitted to handle the heat press machine. This is due to safety and risk of burns as the equipment gets very hot.

What is the equipment and what can it do?

Apart from workshops focusing on our maker equipment, patrons will also find a variety of technology-themed classes offered in the lab, including utilizing Microsoft’s suite of programs, designing your own website and mobile applications, creating graphic design artwork with Canva, and much more.

The Cricut Maker 3 is a versatile, highperformance cutting machine designed for crafting and DIY projects. It can cut over 300 materials, including fabric, vinyl, paper, and leather, making it ideal for a wide range of creative endeavors. Maker 3 allows users to create custom designs for home décor, personalized gifts, apparel, scrapbooking, and more. With its compatibility with Cricut’s Design Space software, users can access a library of ready-made designs or create their own, bringing their ideas to life with ease and precision. Patrons can enjoy the library’s pro subscription to the Design Space software for full access to design elements. Consult the Digital Services Department with questions regarding necessary materials to purchase.

The Cricut heat press and mug press are used to infuse iron-on materials such as ink and vinyl onto an object.

A Digital Services Librarian will determine an ideal time and temperature for the press and use it to affix your design to your chosen object.

Sublimation Printer, Brother SP-1

A sublimation printer is a specialized printer that uses sublimation inks to transfer designs onto specified materials, by applying high heat. The heat creates a chemical reaction which permanently infuses a design onto an object. The sublimation printer requires a sublimation blank in order for the design to transfer. These designs will not infuse unless it is a sublimation vessel. If you want a shirt or a mug with a personal picture, various colors, and for it to be long lasting and permanent, sublimation is a great option for that project. The cost to print is $2.00 per sheet.

Button Maker

Ellison Die Cutter

VR

3D Printers: Prusa i3 mk3/mk3s, Prusa XL, Ultimaker 3

Podcast Equipment

3D printers work by using computer software to design or download a special file type (.stl, .obj or .thing). These files are added to slicing software, which enables it to be read by the 3D printers. Once initiated, the material heats up and is dispensed through a nozzle (extruder), and the model is printed layer by layer to create a three-dimensional object from bottom to top. You can create the designs yourself on CAD software (like TinkerCAD), or you can download them from a website like Printables, Thingiverse, or Cults3D. Many are free, but you can also purchase them if you wish to do so. Price to 3D print is .10 cents per gram.

Embroidery Machines:

Brother PE545, Brother SE600

Embroidery Machines work similarly to 3D printers, as they also use specialized files and software to create and read designs. The machine can stitch a pre-programmed design onto fabric, where the fabric is held taut in a hoop, and the machine automatically moves the needle to create the desired pattern by following instructions from the digital embroidery file. All the maker has to do is change the thread, and the machine prompts you when, and what color to use for the design. Our SE600 works with a USB and the PE545 can be used with USB or Bluetooth design transfer.

•Premium USB microphone with blue voice

•12-input master bus audio mixer

• Kensington classic over-ear headphones

Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that creates a simulated 3D environment that users can explore and interact with in a realistic way.

•Professional studio arm

We have all that you need to create your own podcast in the library. This includes the following equipment:

•All necessary cords and adapters

Additions coming soon:

• Laser engraver

•Large format poster printer

•Digital Support Librarian assistance

We have a button maker that uses specified supplies to create personalized buttons. Button makers work by pressing an image around a metal backing and then sealing the image with a plastic cover.

Ellison die cutters are like cookie cutters, but for crafting! The Ellison die cutter is a hand-operated machine that uses pre-designed metal “dies” to precisely cut shapes out of paper, cardstock, and other materials.

LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES

REFEREE'S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF SUFFOLK

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATEHOLDERS OF THE CWALT, INC. ALTERNATIVE

LOAN TRUST 2005-86 CB, Plaintiff - againstREMBERTO R. DELGADO BLANCO, AS EXECUTOR OF THE ESTATE OF ROSANNA MEDINA

A/K/A ROSANNA

MEDINA-BLANCO, et al

Defendant(s).

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on October 18, 2024. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on the 15th day of January, 2025 at 2:00 PM. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being near the Village of Marlchea, in the Town of Brookhaven, in the County of Suffolk and State of New York.

Premises known as 34A Midland Avenue, Mastic, NY 11950.

(District: 0200, Section: 824.00, Block: 03.00, Lot: 033.000)

Approximate amount of lien $290,579.40 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Index No. 029672/2009.

William F. Andes, Jr., Esq., Referee. McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC

Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840

New York, NY 10170 Tel. 347/286-7409

For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www. Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832

Dated: November 6, 2024

During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with

the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. Auction Locations are subject to change.

L16124 - 12/18/2024, 12/25/2024, 01/01/2025 & 01/08/2025

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 January 22, 2025 at 10:00 AM. Premises known as 1 Ellen Ct, Lake Grove, NY 11755. District 0208 Sec 008.00 Block 11.00 Lot 029.000. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Lake Grove, Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $412,399.72 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 605329/2016. For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. During the COVID-19 health emergency, Bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of the sale including but not limited to wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Should a bidder fail to comply, the Referee may refuse to accept any bid, cancel the closing and hold the bidder in default. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction

Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale.

Steven P. Bertolino, Esq., Referee File # NY202200000067-1

L16125 - 12/18/2024, 12/25/2024, 01/01/2025 & 01/08/2025

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK

DITECH FINANCIAL LLC, -against-

MARLENE

DIAZ, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Suffolk on October 31, 2016, wherein DITECH FINANCIAL LLC is the Plaintiff and MARLENE DIAZ, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the BROOKHAVEN TOWN HALL, 1 INDEPENDENCE HILL, FARMINGVILLE, NY 11738, on January 16, 2025 at 12:30PM, premises known as 731 OLD MEDFORD AVE, MEDFORD, NY 11763; and the following tax map identification: 0200-837.0003.00-039.000.

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

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 002170/2013. Michael T. Clancy, Esq. - Referee. The Referee does not accept cash and only accepts bank checks or certified checks made payable to Michael T. Clancy, as Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in

accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

L16126 - 12/18/2024, 12/25/2024, 01/01/2025 & 01/08/2025

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK

HSBC BANK USA, N.A., AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF THE RENAISSANCE HOME EQUITY LOAN ASSETBACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-1, -againstLJ EQUITIES II LLC F/K/A 166 FROWEIN LLC, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Suffolk on September 23, 2024, wherein HSBC BANK USA, N.A., AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED HOLDERS OF THE RENAISSANCE HOME EQUITY LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2005-1 is the Plaintiff and LJ EQUITIES II LLC F/K/A 166 FROWEIN LLC, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the BROOKHAVEN TOWN HALL, 1 INDEPENDENCE HILL, FARMINGVILLE, NY 11738, on January 22, 2025 at 1:00PM, premises known as 24 SPAR DRIVE, MASTIC BEACH, NY 11951; and the following tax map identification: 0200-975.00-11.00-015.000 F/K/A 0200-975.00-05.00015.000 F/K/A 0209013.00-05.00-015.000.

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT MASTIC IN THE TOWNSHIP OF BROOKHAVEN, COUNTY

OF SUFFOLK AND STATE OF NEW YORK

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 610904/2020. Elyse Nicole Grasso, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

L16128 - 12/18/2024, 12/25/2024, 01/01/2025 & 01/08/2025

NOTICE OF SALE

Supreme Court County of Suffolk

U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee for Banc of America Funding Corporation 2007-3, Plaintiff AGAINST

Michael Devito, Stacey Devito, People of the State of New York, et al, Defendant

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated July 15, 2019 and entered on August 5, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY on January 28, 2025 at 9:30 AM premises known as 461 Avondale Drive, Shirley, NY 11967-1201. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the County of Suffolk, State of New York, SECTION: 616.00, BLOCK: 04.00, LOT: 007.000, Dist 0200. Approximate amount of judgment is $518,916.58 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 063052/2013.

The aforementioned auction will be conducted in

accordance with the District and Suffolk County Auction Plan in effect at this time.

For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www. Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.

Allan B. Mendelsohn, Referee

FRENKEL LAMBERT WEISS WEISMAN & GORDON LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706

L16131 - 12/25/2024, 01/01/2025, 01/08/2025 & 01/15/2025

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff, vs. RONALD VOEGELE A/K/A RONALD E. VOEGELE, ET AL., Defendant(s).

Pursuant to an Order Confirming Referee Report and Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on March 11, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on January 23, 2025 at 9:00 a.m., premises known as 121 Hagerman Avenue, East Patchogue, NY 11772. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York, District 0200, Section 979.70, Block 05.00 and Lot 004.000. Approximate amount of judgment is $350,497.03 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #615544/2022.

Brian Egan, Esq., Referee

Greenspoon Marder, 1345 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2200, New York, NY 10105, Attorneys for Plaintiff

L16135 - 12/25/2024, 01/01/2025, 01/08/2025 & 01/15/2025

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF SUFFOLK

LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES

CMG MORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff, Against

COREY LEMAY AKA

COREY M. LEMAY, et al, Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 10/23/2017, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738, on 1/29/2025 at 10:00AM , premises known as 30 Balsam Drive, Medford, New York 11763, And Described As Follows:

ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town Of Brookhaven, County Of Suffolk And State Of New York.

District 0200 Section 870.00 Block 03.00 Lot 030.002 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $318,054.88 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 604459/2015

Thomas Joseph Demayo, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 MIDLAND AVENUE, SUITE 205, PORT CHESTER, NY 10573

Dated: 12/16/2024 File Number: 15-311761 MB

L16137 - 12/25/2024, 01/01/2025, 01/08/2025 & 01/15/2025

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK

SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS AND NOTICE

Index No. 606117/2017

Date Filed: 12/3/2024

Selene Finance LP, Plaintiff, -against-

PROPERTY ADDRESS:

643 Jayne Boulevard, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776

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 a notice of appearance on the attorneys for the Plaintiff within thirty (30) days after the service of this summons, exclusive of the day of service. The United States of America, if designated as a defendant in this action, may appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the complaint.

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS: The foregoing Summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an Order of the Hon. S. Betsy Heckman Torres, a Justice of the Supreme Court, Suffolk County, entered Nov. 27, 2024 and filed with the complaint and other papers in the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office.

NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECT of the above captioned action is to foreclose a Mortgage to secure $285,000.00 and interest, recorded in the Suffolk County Clerk’s Office on June 28, 2007, at Liber M00021559 of Mortgages, page 783 covering premises known as 643 Jayne Boulevard, Port Jefferson Station, NY 11776 a/k/a District 0200, Section 311.00, Block 03.00, Lot 009.000.

The relief sought in the within action is a final judgment directing the sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the Mortgage described above.

Rawle A. Crichlow, Individually and as Administrator of the Estate of Frank Crichlow a/k/a Frank O. Crichlow; Glen Walter Crichlow, if he be living or dead, his spouse, heirs, devisees, distributees and successors in interest, all of whom and whose names and places of residence are unknown to Plaintiff, Defendants.

Plaintiff designates Suffolk County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is situated.

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 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 PLAINITFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.

Dated: November 13, 2023

Steven M. Palmer, Esq. Foreclosure Attorney LOGS LEGAL GROUP LLP F/K/A SHAPIRO, DICARO & BARAK, LLC

Attorneys for Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, NY 14624 (585) 247-9000

Fax: (585) 247-7380

Our File No. 17-061735 #101979

L16140 - 01/01/2025, 01/08/2025, 01/15/2025 & 01/22/2025

NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF SUFFOLK

THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON FKA THE BANK OF NEW YORK, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE CERTIFICATE HOLDERS OF THE CWABS, INC., ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-25, Plaintiff, Against

James P. Walsh, Stephanie M. Walsh, et al, Defendant(s)

Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 06/16/2021, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738, on 2/5/2025 at 2:00PM, premises known as 27 Pineway Ave, Mastic Beach, NY 11951, And Described As Follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York.

District 0200 Section 970.00 Block 02.00 Lot 012.000 And 013.000.

The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $469,411.27 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 604429/2019

For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www. Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832.

Billie Jean Miller, Esq., Referee.

SHELDON MAY & ASSOCIATES Attorneys at Law, 255 Merrick Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 Dated: 12/9/2024 File Number: 35262 MB

L16142 - 01/01/2025, 01/08/2025, 01/15/2025 & 01/22/2025

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

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

Clancy Street Corporation, 47 Montauk Highway, Post Office Box 5048, Quogue NY 11959, has made application to the Brookhaven Town Board acting as the Planning Board for approval of a site plan with Planning Board special permit for outdoor seating. This proposal is known as Clancy Street Food Court @ Manorville, located on the south side of the Long Island Expressway South Service Road and County Route 111, Manorville, Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York and described as follows:

NORTH: Land now or Formerly Suffolk County

WEST: Right of Way known as Long Island Expressway South Service Road

SOUTH: Right of Way known as County Route 111

EAST: Land now or formerly Suffolk County

Notice is hereby given that the Brookhaven Town Board acting as the Planning Board will hold a public hearing in the Town Hall 2nd floor auditorium, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, New York on Thursday, January 23, 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 31, 2024 Daniel J. Panico, Supervisor L16145-01/08/2025

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

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

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THE BETTOR ANGLE TM

BY TOM BARTON

The Oklahoma City Thunder have the best record in the Western Conference this season and they are sitting with a seven-game lead for that best record. The Thunder have been on fire and seem to be getting better as the year moves on, but as impressive as they have been winning game, it's their cover rate that has sports bettors rolling with the Thunder.

With their win over the third best team in the NBA, the Boston Celtics on Sunday, OKC has now won 15 games in a row. That is a head-turning streak as it is, but when you have a team with an impressive 30-5 record usually the sports books can make some good money with the public backing them against inflated lines. That has not been the case for the Thunder as they have crushed the books during this stretch.

Oklahoma City has been favored in every game during this 15 game win streak, but the books have not pushed the line to a point where they have been able to get the underdog to cover. OKC is a mind-boggling 13-1-1 against the spread during the streak. This team is not just winning games, they are crushing the spread.

The question for us is can the streak continue? Offense usually shines during these streaks and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the leading offensive force for the Thunder. He led the Thunder in points, rebounds, assists and steals against Boston and recorded his 20th 30-plus-point game. He ranks 3rd in the league in points per game on the season and inside the top 20 in assists.

But as much as the offense is impressive, it's been the defense that has led this money

train. Against Boston the Thunder's defense was on full display holding the best threepoint shooting team to just 9 of 46 from deep. That sort of defensive prowess should give bettors confidence that the cover machine will continue. In order to beat the spread other teams will almost certainly have to get hot from the outside, or have the books over adjust to defeat this hot streak.

The Thunder have a tough road stretch ahead where they take on Cleveland, New York, Washington and Philly, only to return home and have to play the best team in the league Cleveland again. Continuing their winning ways will be tough but if they lose a few of these road games we might not see the adjustment the books will need and this OKC cash cow will keep producing for bettors all month.

Ducks Add to Their 25th Anniversary Team

ByTomBarton

The Long Island Ducks had added the 10th member to their honorary 25th Anniversary team. The Ducks have added former pitcher Rod Henderson to the team.

Henderson was an original Duck as he pitched for Long Island during their first two seasons of existence in 2000 and 2001. He combined to make 29 appearances on the bump with an excellent 17-5

record in the two seasons, that spanned 27 starts. Henderson not only won at that outstanding rate but he has one of the lowest ERA's with a 2.39 ERA as a Duck. In his brief time with the team he left his mark with three complete games, two shutouts and 162 strikeouts with just 52 walks in 181 innings on the mound. Henderson was selected to play in the 2001 Atlantic League All-Star Game in

Rolling with the Thunder

Newark, N.J., as the North Division’s starting pitcher. Many Ducks fans will remember the day where he was literally untouchable. On May 25, 2001, Henderson became the first Atlantic Leaguer to ever throw a no-hitter. Against the Atlantic City Surf the two-year MLB veteran struck out 10 batters, walked just two and needed only 108 pitches to complete the no-hitter.

Credit: Michael Polak

Rod Henderson

SPORTS Mount Sinai Basketball Keeps the Winning Going

ByTomBarton

The Mount Sinai boys basketball team just keeps piling up the wins and their defense has been at the forefront of the winning this season.

The Mustangs improved their record to 7-1 on the season with another exciting win this weekend. They defeated Newfield 76-73 to improve to

3-0 in their division.

The Mustangs defense has been a big reason for their hot start to the season. Mount Sinai has held five different teams to 53 or less points and only Newfield was able to score more than 63 on them this season.

Their offense has also been a mainstay as they have scored 69+ points in all but two games

Warney Dominating Overseas

ByTomBarton

Former Stony Brook star

Jameel Warney received a Hoops Agent Player of the Week Award this week.

The star center had an excellent game in the last round for topranked Seoul SK Knights for round 22.

The 30-year old former Seawolf had a double-double with 34 points and 20 rebounds. His team beat KCC Egis, who are ranked #7 overall, 96-86.

With that win the Knights took over the top position in the South Korean KBL. The Seoul

this season and they have a high watermark of 85 they put up against John Glenn.

The scoring has come from many different Mustangs. Against Newfield Brian Vales scored 21 points, while Dominic Pennzello put in 17. Blake Kolsch

added 14 and with Marcus Magloire's 12 that meant 4 players were in double digits, with another three adding to the scoring.

Knights have a solid 17-6 record. Warney is league's best scorer this season, averaging 25 points per game, while leading the league in rebounds with 13 rebounds per game. He also is 8th in league for most assists and averages 53% from the field.

Warney has played overseas for years now. He was the first Stony Brook player to reach the NBA when he made his debut with the Dallas Mavericks on March 11, 2018. He led the team to its first ever appearance in the NCAA Tournament and graduated as the school's all-time leader in several career categories.

On the season Vales is averaging 14 points and 8 rebounds, Pennzello leads the team in scoring with 21 points per game and Brock Kolsch averages 10 per contest.

Mount Sinai continues their schedule this week with games against Kings Park before playing three games in 5 nights, two against Hampton Bays.

Knicks and Rangers Owner Charles Dolan Dies

ByTomBarton

Head of a media empire

billionaire Charles Dolan has died at 98 years old.

Dolan is best known for his media prowess where he created HBO and Cablevision. For sports fans Dolan is more associated with his sports properties that includes Madison Square Garden, the New York Knicks and the New York Rangers.

Dolan also owned AMC Networks, and BBC America is a part of AMC. Dolan's death was announced in the family's Long Island newspaper this week.

Dolan began his career with sports and industrial films before moving to New York.

In 1964 Dolan made a deal with New York to wire some Manhattan buildings with cable. Dolan saw the opportunity because of the tall buildings in the city would block transmission, cable was

new frontier.

Soon after he made a deal to show the Knicks and Rangers playoffs on cable, according to Variety. He then went on to create Home Box Office for movies, and then sold both his cable service and HBO to build up Cablevision, which ended up providing television and internet to households across

the north-eastern United States.

In 2015, the Dolan family sold Cablevision to European company Altice for nearly $18 billion dollars.

Dolan was worth $5.4 billion dollars at the time of his death, according to Forbes. His son James runs the media enterprise now.

Coach Condon Gets His Day

ByTomBarton

This week ShorehamWading River will be celebrating one of their finest coaches with "Joe Condon Day."

Coach Joe Condon accomplished an outstanding feat this week by winning his 300th career win as head coach of the Shoreham-Wading River Wildcats wrestling.

Coach won #300 at the Mountain Duals in Johnston, where the Wildcats earned an impressive 65-10 victory over Hudson Falls.

The school has now dedicated Wednesday January 8th Joe Condon Day to celebrate the milestone. As the sixth varsity coach in the history of the SWR Wrestling program, Joe Condon has coached Varsity for the past

13 years. Under his guidance the team recorded a program record 27 wins and finished the 2020 season ranked #3 in The New York State Sportswriters Final Ranking Poll.

During his tenure the Wildcats have won 4 League Titles and 1 Suffolk County Championship. He has had 90 All-County Wrestlers, 18 County Champions, 16 members of the Century Club (100 wins), 23 All-

State Wrestlers, 5 NY State Champions, 18 All-Americans, and 3 National Champions.

Coach Condon is not only the coach but he was a graduate of Shoreham-Wading River where he was a fouryear Varsity starter and team captain. As a wrestler he was a three-time league finalist, twice he was a Suffolk county freestyle champion, and finished 2nd in NYS freestyle championships.

the

Credit: @KrissyMeehan_ | X Charles Dolan

Credit: Shoreham-Wading River Central School District | faceboo Coach Condon

Credit: asia-basket.com

Jameel Warney

Mount Sinai Boys Basketball Team

Credit: Mount Sinai Booster Club | Facebook

SPORTS Pat-Med Wins Both Best Coaching Awards

ByTomBarton

The Patchogue-Medford High School Boys Varsity Soccer team had an outstanding season and their coaches were recognized for their excellent work this week.

Head Coach Tim Trava and Assistant Coach James Kelsh were named the Suffolk County League 1 Coach of the Year and Suffolk County League 1 Assistant Coach of the Year.

Trava is a 2023 PatchogueMedford Hall of Fame inductee. He graduated in the Class of 2000 and is considered one of Pat-Med’s greatest athletes. Although he stood out on the basketball court, winning the

team MVP, he is a soccer legend.

As a senior Trava scored 19 goals, was named All-League and All-County, while also holding a 95 academic average. After Pat-Med he went to St. Joseph’s College locally because he wanted to play under coach Gary Smith, who was also a former Pat-Med soccer star.

While at St. Joe’s Trava held nearly every Golden Eagles scoring record, led the NCAA D-3 men’s soccer in scoring, and was a two-time Metro Region All-American. He soon followed coach Smith as St. Joe’s second ever head coach and spent eight seasons at the helm before returning to Patchogue-Medford

to coach his high school team.

This season Trava, as a coach, watched his player, Raiders forward Ryan Lazaridis, beat his long standing scoring record. With his 20th goal of the season

Lazaridis broke his record that had stood since 1999. Trava said “I knew somebody would break it. I’ve had Ryan for three years now, and he was the perfect candidate to finally do it.”

Coach Kelsh has made an impact on the season as an assistant coach. Kelsh has an extensive background which includes being the Director of Operations and Events for SUSA Soccer Academy.

St. Joe's Basketball Heads Into 2025 with Big Hopes

ByTomBarton

The St. Joseph's Golden Eagles women's basketball team is off to a fast start to the season and they are heading into 2025 with high hopes.

The team closed out 2024 with a 66-57 nonconference win over John Jay College in the Danzi Center to improve their record to 9-3 on the season. They also improved to 5-1 at home with the victory.

Graduate student Charlotte Twohig led all players with 23 points in the game on 8-for-16 shooting from the floor while adding a team-high seven rebounds and three assists. For the season she paces the team in minutes played, comes in second in scoring average per game and rebounds.

Junior Megan Spina leads the team with 13.7 points per game and finished with 18 points going 7-for-13 from the field with five boards in their last game.

Junior Emma Kelly added points with four assists and six rebounds.

The Jets Begin To Search For A New Head Coach

ByTomBarton

The New York Jets have begun the hiring process for their new head coach and if the early reactions are any indication the Jets fans believe the Jets are being "the same old Jets."

This offseason there is a slew of young, offensive-minded coaches that have been surrounded by talk of them taking the reins of some team for next season. At the top of seemingly everyone's list is the Detroit Lion offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Johnson has made Jared Goff look like an MVP and his innovative style has been on full display both with a dynamic ground game and prolific air attack.

Then there is Liam Coen. Coen

Credit: @CoachRexRyan | X

has led the Bucs in the post-Brady era to become an explosive offense as well. Like Johnson he has taken a promising young QB, who was traded and fell on tough times, and made him into a legit MVP candidate. Baker Mayfield has thrived under Coen and the offense has as much success running with late draft picks like Bucky Irving, as it does going to the air, even without one of their stars in Chris Godwin.

Then there is Kliff Kingsbury. The once young and thriving head coach fizzled out but has a reputation that he is building on now with Washington. The Commanders offense, and Jayden Daniels the likely Rookie of the Year, have shown glimpses of what made Kingsbury a hot item just a

few years ago.

These three are young, offensiveminded, young-QB-driven coaches who it seems everyone will be after. Yet, the Jets have not been linked to any as of yet. The same can be said for the hot names in the college ranks like Dan Lanning or Lincoln Riley.

The Jets began their search by tapping into Mike Vrabel. A hardnosed coach who overachieved with Tennessee might be just what this team needs. If it wants to stay

in the win now mode, which means bringing back Aaron Rodgers, the Jets will also interview their interim head coach this week, but no one seems to believe he is actually in the running. Then there is the ex. Rex Ryan.

Ryan has openly spoken how he wants the Jets job again and in many fans minds it's good to have someone who wants the job. But, no one else is knocking on Ryan's door this hiring cycle and that could mean something. Ryan went 46-50

The Golden Eagles return to Skyline Conference action as they try to improve on their 5-2 conference record when they travel to Farmingdale State College this week then they are back at home hosting Purchase on Friday.

for the Jets but did have a 4-2 playoff record. The one thing he was not able to master is getting the QB right while he was in New York.

So, the question is which coach do the Jets bring in? It looks like they are heading in the direction of a head coach who has head coaching experience in the NFL rather than a hot coordinator or a college coach, which then begs the question: Is this team building a winner, or are they building to make Rodgers happy... again?

Longwood's Alumni Game Is a Hit

ByTomBarton

This past week the Longwood volleyball program proudly hosted its inaugural alumni game.

The game was established to bring together 15 alums representing a range of graduating classes and the program’s past and present coaches. Bringing back some of the graduates and having them participate with the new seniors makes for a very fun, and different experience.

Participants included a 2002 graduate, whose daughters now continue the family tradition in the program, as well as members of the Class of 2025. Being able to share that common bond and then take it on the court is a great way to bond the school together from

past to present.

Longwood said "The spirited competition showcased the exceptional talent and teamwork that have long defined our

program’s legacy. This memorable day not only celebrated the program’s rich history but also established a new tradition, strengthening the bonds within our Longwood volleyball family!"

Credit: @SJLIAthletics | X Charlotte Twohig

Coach Tim Trava

Credit: Patchogue-Medford School District | Facebook

Rex Ryan

Credit: Longwood Central School District | Facebook Longwood Alumni Game

Coach Tim Trava