“Preach the Gospel at all times, when necessary, use words.” These powerful, faith-based words to live by are attributed to my favorite Saint, Saint Francis of Assisi.
I am a weak sinner with many faults (as my wife Ashley will correctly attest), and absolutely love our Catholic faith. We named our children after Catholic Saints, with our second-born son bearing the name (Saint) Emeryk (Saint) Francis.
He was the son of wealthy business owners who lived in Italy. The founder of the Franciscan Friars could have lived a life of luxury and comfort, but he dedicated his life to living Christ’s mission of serving and caring for the poor.
It is believed that during a pilgrimage to Rome, Saint Francis encountered a homeless beggar and
was so touched by his suffering that he emptied his pockets and handed over everything he had.
That became the spiritual backbone of Francis’s life: selling everything he had and giving it all to the poor.
My local parish, Saints Rita and Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church, was run by the Franciscans. My entire life was spent at the church, being surrounded by Franciscan friars. My mother, God bless her soul, saw the church and welcoming and loving Franciscans as an escape from the hell known as my home, which was full of raging alcoholism and dysfunction.
I was first an altar boy for Fr. Vincent Carroll OFM, who, many years later, died tragically in a car crash in the Bronx in 1998.
Fr. Vincent was replaced at Saint
BY GEORGE SANTOS
Is Fighting for MS-13 Now—Trump Was Absolutely Right to Deport Abrego Garcia From the
The Democrats have officially decanted to the lower levels of insanity. We are now witnessing something truly absurd: elected officials and media elites fighting tooth and nail to bring back a foreign national deported to his home country—not for jaywalking, but for being a known associate of MS-13, one of the most violent gangs on the planet.
That man is Kilmar Abrego Garcia. He was living in the U.S. illegally, flagged by law enforcement for gang ties, and removed under the Trump administration as part of a broader crackdown on criminal aliens. And for that, the left is now in full meltdown.
Let’s be clear: President Trump did exactly what any sane, lawand-order leader would do. He prioritized American safety over
activist sob stories. Abrego Garcia wasn’t some innocent refugee—he was deported because intelligence linked him to dangerous elements. Trump acted on that intelligence, and the system worked. The only people crying foul are the ones who never cared about the rule of law to begin with.
If Democrats want to understand why Trump supporters back strong deportation policies, they need look no further than here in Suffolk County. A region that’s become synonymous with the brutal reach of MS-13. Over the past decade, we have seen a wave of murders, including teenagers hacked to death with machetes and bodies dumped in public parks. These were not isolated crimes; they were coordinated, cold-blooded executions carried out by illegal alien gang members. Local law enforcement has warned
Remembering Saint Francis and Pope Francis
academic hippie who truly lived the life Saint Francis wanted us to live.
A biology major who loved the Beach Boys, Fr. Ron was a cerebral,
Fr. Ron wore Birkenstock sandals at all times, even in the winter when shoveling snow. When I got
The Left
repeatedly that MS-13 uses weak immigration enforcement and sanctuary policies to grow its ranks. And yet, Democrats still want open borders and softer policies.
The fight against MS-13 in Suffolk County has been hardwon, with President Trump himself visiting the area during his first term to spotlight the crisis and stand with the victims’ families. His administration’s focus on deporting known gang affiliates and strengthening cooperation with ICE brought real results. And now, as the Biden-era policies fall apart and Democrats embrace chaos, Suffolk residents are bracing for a resurgence. This is exactly why Trump’s return to strong border enforcement matters. It's not abstract—it’s life and death in American communities like Brentwood, Patchogue, Central
Islip, and Huntington Station.
Now the Supreme Court says the administration must “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s return. That’s rich. What exactly does that mean? Force El Salvador—one of our sovereign allies—to cough him up because a few liberal judges got squeamish? President Trump’s team has done its part. They notified the Salvadoran government. El Salvador made its choice: they’re keeping him in a high-security prison, right where a suspected MS-13 associate belongs.
But the Democrats can’t help themselves. Senator Chris Van Hollen just made a pathetic pilgrimage to El Salvador to plead for Abrego’s release. That’s right— an elected U.S. senator begging for a foreign national with gang ties to be sent back here. You couldn’t make this up if you tried.
my learner’s permit, he tossed me the keys to his beat-up jalopy with hundreds of thousands of miles on it, and let me drive for the first time.
The Franciscans, especially Fr. Ron had a profound impact on my life. I spent more time at the church friary, far more than my own home. It was there that I felt unconditional love. Going back from memory here, Fr. Ron lived in a three-story friary with shared bathrooms and one small twelveby-twelve bedroom. He was a big man, literally and figuratively, and he never complained about having a bed where his feet hung off the end.
Any time Fr. Ron ran across anything he thought I would need, he always went out of his way to stop by my house and drop it off, whether it be a new pair of shoes or clothes.
Continued on page 8
Where was this compassion for American citizens murdered by MS-13? Where was this urgency when our neighborhoods were overrun by cartel violence and gang infiltration? Silence. But now—now—the left is mobilizing for a deported gang-linked illegal immigrant?
This is why Trump resonates. He doesn’t play games. He doesn’t answer to media spin or politically correct outrage. He answers to the American people—and he understands something that the D.C. elite forgot long ago: You don’t take chances with criminals and gangsters. You don’t gamble with American lives.
The left wants chaos. Trump brings order. Abrego Garcia is not a victim—he’s part of the problem. And President Trump, once again, is the only one willing to solve it.
Rita’s by Fr. Ronald Pecci OFM, the great man who was the true father who raised me.
SANTOS UNCENSORED
Statue of Saint Francis
Credit: Stefan Mychajliw
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
Silly Season in Albany: Suffolk DA and Co. Demand "Drugged While Driving" Law Rewrites
Many flocked to the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge on Friday, April 18th to hear Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney and his aligned front in local government once again appeal to New York State with “enough is enough” urgency.
State lawmakers and their countrywide official counterparts were joined by the surviving family members of victims who were killed by impaired drivers, like Andrea and Tim Carpenter— who held a photo of their late son, Timothy, the victim of a 2023 three-car collision caused by a man police said was high on fentanyl.
Timothy Carpenter was 22 years old.
Language revisions addressed in Gov. Kathy Hochul’s 2025 “State of the State” proposal seek
to expand prosecutable substances and strengthen the penalties for “drugged driving.”
Long Island-elected Republican representatives like DA Tierney, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, State Senator Dean Murray and so forth—are in agreement with said sentiment, but are displeased with the Democratic head of state’s lack of follow-through.
They are ready to bid an overdue farewell to a lackadaisical loophole that still threatens innocent lives everyday, and stood together to communicate as much: That their resistance to all things “feet-dragging” when it comes to life-or-death matters will not go unanswered.
Suffolk County Executive Romaine brought forth the context of the rise of reckless drivers wrecking havoc on Long Island highways, and in general.
He evoked that swift action is needed on a pressing matter that has no business being drawn out within the belly of the budget negotiations beast.
“Our roads are very congested… there are 150 fatalities a year due to road accidents,” Romaine said
while introducing Tierney on Friday. “A lot of that comes from distracted, or drugged driving.”
DA Tierney relayed the nuance-devoid letter of the law as presently constituted requires law enforcement suspecting an impaired driver to definitively
detect a specific drug that belongs to a public health law list, otherwise ample reprimand and long-term prosecution falters.
A noted advocate of bail reform, Tierney added this instance to his running list of “ridiculous laws” that confirm it to be “silly season” up in Albany, from his vantage point.
The DA said New York is one of only four states that limits what qualifies as “drugged driving” to this so-called list.
Adds Romaine: “A driver should focus all of their attention on the road…in an 18-month period, three-distracted driving charges–the maximum fine now is $450. Really?
“You need levels that will deter people [from drugged driving],” he continued, “whether it’s on an approved list or not. We don’t need to reinvent the wheel.”
“A lot of the times we pick up the phone, we don’t know the outcomes,” said Suffolk FRES dispatcher James Alfano. “So it’s definitely a rewarding feeling knowing that you played a vital part of saving somebody’s life.”
Alfano and Christian Dideriksen were the two Fire, Rescue and Emergency Services members recognized alongside five members from the Suffolk County Police Department in Yaphank on Wednesday, April 16th.
Alfano and Dideriksen were commended for talking public callers through CPR and the use of AED over the phone for heart attack and collapse incidents that occurred to men at The Rinx in Hauppauge and on a Bellport Paddle-Up Pickleball Court, respectively.
Others were singled out for recent 911 responses, or simply for years of devotion to coordinating lifesaving efforts throughout the greater community.
Various local leaders were on
hand to honor the aforementioned heroic individuals, as well as Public Safety Dispatchers Angelina Giovanniello, Dominique Grasso and Colleen Jaen, and Emergency Complaint Operators Richard Carentz and Madeline Hart for their lifesaving efforts.
Elected representatives in attendance included Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina, FRES Commissioner Rudy Sunderman, County Clerk Vincent Puleo, Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey and Legislator Trish Bergin.
Amidst April 13-19th also being National Public Safety Telecommunications Week, Romaine thanked all firstresponders out of both the Suffolk FRES and Police Department "for their help through perilous times" and in tragedy prevention.
He noted that dispatchers don’t have the easiest job, but it’s a most essential one; one second they can be having their morning cup of coffee—the next they can be tasked
to talk someone in dire straits, or perhaps with self-harm intentions back from the brink while sending units to their location with no moment to spare.
“It’s the calming voice of the dispatcher giving instructions that helps save lives,” Romaine said from the FRES headquarters’ control room before the assembled emergency brass and press members alike.
Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina perhaps unintentionally evoked Linda Ronstadt's classic “Long Long Time” when he said he’s been a cop for exactly that duration. Having been on the other end of “that” radio “many, many times,” it was with great pleasure Catalina rattled off the highlights of those he and his colleagues proudly gathered to honor.
Angelina Giovanniello was on the other end of the line after
Officer Brendon Gallagher suffered his widely reported, near-fatal injuries, the result of his cruiser flipping over while chasing a reckless speedster near exit 55 of the Long Island Expressway.
“The call couldn’t be more complicated,” said Catalina. “Angelina stayed on that call the entire time, directed that response, and ultimately helped in saving Brendon’s life.”
Community to Celebrate 103rd Birthday of WWII Vet and Former Councilman Gene Gerrard
ByRobertChartuk
Family and friends will gather in June to celebrate a milestone few ever reach: the 103rd birthday of Eugene “Gene” Gerrard, a decorated World War II veteran, longtime public servant, and beloved figure in both Brookhaven Town and the Finger Lakes community.
A native of Brooklyn, Gerrard’s life has been a testament to military, municipal, and personal service. Born in 1922, Gene attempted to join the war effort at just 17, eager to serve his country. Though his mother initially refused to sign the papers, a family friend helped persuade her, and in 1942,
Liberation Medal.
Serving until 1945, Gene rose to the rank of Quartermaster First Class. His dedication earned him multiple commendations, including the American Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the WWII Victory Medal, and the Philippine
After the war, he returned to civilian life with the same work ethic and sense of duty. He applied his trade school education to open two successful printing businesses: Gerrard Printing in Elmont and later St. Gerrard Printing in Port Jefferson Station, which he operated until 2013.
Gene enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Suffolk FRES dispatchers Christian Diderkisen and James Alfano pictured with the local leaders on-hand to recognize them in Yaphank on Wednesday, April 16th.
Gene Gerrard through the years.
Credit: Presiding Officer Kevin McCaffrey's Office
Credit: Veterans Administration
DA Tierney in his latest plea to Albany alongside fellow countywide officials and the surviving family members of victims of drugged drivers.
Credit: SSP
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
Suffolk County Extends Street Takeover Task Force, Add 9 Highway Patrol Officers
Following his State of the County address, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine was back out in the field on April 9th as per usual, and joined by one of his foremost partners in crime prevention: Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina.
Given the success of the Fall 2024-implemented “Street Takeover Task Force” designed to combat drag racing and vehicular recklessness countywide, the pair announced an extension of the pilot program.
Since its inception, the task force has issued more than 3,300 summons, arrested 21 and impounded 34 vehicles, Catalina noted. The program will be extended through at least the summer.
On the broader topic of distracted driving, Catalina also revealed the addition of nine officers to the County’s Highway Patrol Bureau. This “will allow us to put another car on the LIE [Long Island Expressway] and Sunrise [Highway],” said the Commissioner. Such increases police presence on these highways by 33 and 25 percent, respectively.
“It’s going to add to what we have out there already,” said Catalina. “Everyone is going to feel safer.”
Credit: Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine-Facebook
Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina stands at the podium with County Executive Ed Romaine who stood alongside him while he announced the Task Force extension and Highway Patrol additions on April 9th.
Additionally, all recruiting classes henceforth will complete advanced training in “drugged driving” prevention. Catalina cites an increased use of cannabis since its New York legalization as a key factor.
Amidst “Distracted Driving Month,” Catalina implores drivers everywhere: Be mindful.
“You pick up a phone, or a sandwich…if you’re not paying attention to the road, you’re putting yourself and others in danger,” he
said. “Don’t do it.”
Adds Catalina: “Choices have severe consequences. If you’re texting and driving and, God forbid, you hurt someone badly… jail, maybe even prison. You’re going to pay the price.”
Romaine seconded all of Catalina’s notions, outlining that “we cannot smoke cannabis and drive because it decreases our reaction time.”
On the increased police presence, Romaine assured Suffolk County’s highway officers are “out there to protect the public, make sure that everyone is driving safely, and taking care of business—which means paying attention to the road, and not being distracted and not being disoriented.”
Sheriff Toulon, Fellow Elected Reps Break Bread with 'Fox & Friends' at Bethpage Diner
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
Gus Tsiorvas reported to work at 3:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
By 4 a.m., a professional camera crew and producers had arrived at his place of business—the beloved Embassy Diner in Bethpage.
By morning’s end, his siblings— all police officers, and in uniform— had dined with Long Island’s finest in the presence of “Fox & Friends” co-host Lawrence Jones.
“We love law enforcement, we
love first responders. That’s what it’s all about. And we should feed them,” Tsiorvas said on air. “We should honor them and cherish them every day.”
Jones reported live on the scene from the beloved Long Island eatery as part of a local remote series regularly aired on the national morning program.
The Merrick-based nonprofit organization “Project Thank a Cop” co-sponsored the event with Fox & Friends–all keen on doing that;
thanking not just a cop, but cops everywhere for their tireless service to protecting their respective communities.
“It was important to start ‘Thank a Cop’ because we were at a time where civilians didn’t have a really good feeling toward law enforcement,” co-founder Andy Fox told Lawrence. “And we wanted to send a message to these guys… that we have their backs. It’s a difficult job and we appreciate everything they do.”
ByDeborahWilliams
Suffolk County Fire Rescue and Emergency Services (FRES) had a remarkable year fielding emergency service calls to help someone in need in Suffolk County.
In 2024, Suffolk County FRES Dispatchers were busier than ever, answering emergency calls, providing lifesaving instructions, coordinating resources, and supporting first responders across Suffolk County 24/7/365.
Rudy Sunderman, Commissioner of Suffolk County FRES says, “There were 297,000 fire and EMSrelated emergency service calls dispatched by our dispatchers here in Yapank. However, there was 420,000 emergency phone calls answered.”
The disparity in number of
calls is primarily due to the fact that many people often call to report the same car accident, fire, or downed pole or that the question/concern can be addressed over the phone.
Emergency Services
Dispatchers work tirelessly around the clock every day of the year and every hour of the day. They are the first line of defense and make sure the residents of Suffolk County get the help they need when they need it.
“I've worked with them for many years and they do an excellent job,” says Bill Biondi, Commissioner of the Mastic Beach Fire Department. “Dispatch doesn’t just take your call and hang up. They stay on the phone with you until the ambulance gets there. They will walk you through what you need to do until the EMTs arrive.”
Suffolk County FRES wrote, “The voices behind the headset truly make a difference.”
Sunderman recounted how recently two dispatchers were recognized for walking local residents that called in through what to do when someone went into cardiac arrest. “In that moment, our residents rely on our dispatchers to know what to do. Every call is an emergency for someone.”
Becoming an Emergency Services Dispatcher requires a lot of training and dedication. Sunderman said, “First, you have to be EMT Certified. Then, they do approximately 1100 hours of dispatch training before they can dispatch on their own. It's six months of training that they get prior to coming off their training as a new employee.”
They were joined by a who’s who of notable faces islandwide, including the heads of the Suffolk County’s Sheriff’s Department, the county’s trustees, the deputy commissioner of Nassau County, and even wounded policeman in recovery, Officer Brendon Gallagher.
Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino and Town of Islip Supervisor Angie Carpenter were also in attendance.
“You never know what a cop’s been through,” Nassau Police First Deputy Commissioner Kevin P. Smith told Jones during Tuesday’s episode. “What he just came off of or what kind of tragedy he might have just seen.”
Lawrence then turned his sights on Errol Toulon, and prompted the Suffolk County Sheriff to weigh in on pressing state issues
his jurisdiction regularly suffers; in particular, his office’s partnership with ICE to apprehend immigrant criminals both legal and illegal.
“...not only are they back on our street, they are a demise to all of our community,” Sheriff Toulon said. “They’re a threat. I think we really need to make sure that we are coming down on those individuals” and more permanently imprisoning repeat offenders.”
On investigating members of noted local gangs like MS-13 and Tren de Aragua, Toulon assured “we can’t release all the information,” but that he and law enforcement collaborators “are very fortunate to work with the governments of El Salvador, Ireland and Canada.”
For more information on how to get involved with the Project Thank a Cop team, visit their website: www.ptacop.org.
“Words are free; it costs nothing,” Maegan continued. “Speak up and do the right thing. Be a part of the good in the world.”
Added Maegan Fox: “Officers aren’t called for birthday parties; they’re with you when you’re at your worst.”
Credit: Fox News
Sheriff Toulon weighs in on the state of Suffolk's detainment of criminally active illegal immigrants, and his office's joint mission in conjunction with ICE and the governments of other countries.
ByDeborahWilliams
In the first water rescue for the year over the Easter weekend, the Marine Incident Response Team (MIRT) responded to a challenging water rescue in the Terrell River, within the East Moriches Fire District.
A kayaker had become trapped in deep mud and shallow water, hidden from view by tall reeds and remote terrain. Although crews could hear faint cries for help, the victim couldn’t be immediately located.
Under the command of East Moriches Fire Chief John Ragone, a plan was quickly developed to deploy a johnboat into the narrow waterway. Crews coordinated efforts to safely launch and begin the search in the remote area, where visibility was limited and access was difficult.
Rescue swimmers from the Center Moriches Fire Department navigated the muddy waterway and ultimately found the man clinging to cattails, submerged in muddy water up to
Marine Response Team Activated After Kayaker Becomes Trapped in Terrell River
his thighs, cold, exhausted, and unable to move.
Bill Renzetti, member of the MIRT from the Center Moriches Fire Department, and former chief, said, “This person was lucky. He was difficult to see. We had guys up in trees trying to locate him from his cries. He fell out of the kayak, his phone went into the water, and the water temp was around 50 degrees. Hypothermia was setting in quick.”
The rescue swimmers were able to safely remove the man from the water and into the johnboat. However, navigating back to shore proved difficult due to extremely shallow water at low tide. A second johnboat from the Eastport Fire Department was launched with support personnel to assist. Once the boats were paired up and tethered together, remaining MIRT members onshore pulled both vessels through the mud and shallow water back to solid ground.
A johnboat is a special flatbottomed boat best suited for this type of water environment.
Once onshore, the man was transferred to East Moriches Community Ambulance, who transported him to a local hospital for treatment of hypothermia. Afterward, MIRT returned to recover the kayak to prevent further 911 calls from concerned residents spotting an abandoned vessel.
This was not your average rescue, it was physically demanding, time-sensitive, and required full coordination of the entire team. The victim had been in the water for more than 40 minutes before the initial 911 call. With water temperatures around 50 degrees, hypothermia can set in quickly and become life-threatening.
MIRT statement said, “We’re incredibly proud of the teamwork displayed by all the rescuers and agencies involved—and we’re grateful for a successful outcome.”
The Marine Incident Response Team (MIRT) is a
multiagency group of specially trained firefighters who respond to water-based emergencies. MIRT members are Center Moriches FD, East Moriches FD, Eastport FD, Mastic Beach FD, Westhampton Beach FD.
Bill Biondi, Commissioner of the Mastic Beach Fire Department, said, “The MIRT team was put together in a coordinated effort to provide water rescue operations after the Coast Guard Station left. The departments provide this emergency rescue resource without any additional funding. Talks are ongoing to try to get the federal government to provide some financial relief to the volunteer fire and rescue departments for these necessary life-saving efforts.”
MIRT is ready 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to respond at a moment’s notice to water rescues on both sides of the Southport Bridge.
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Brookhaven Town Clerk Kevin LaValle was a guest speaker at the Centereach/ Selden Civic monthly meeting held at the Centereach Fire Department.
He discussed the workings of the Town Clerk's office and how it can help Brookhaven Town residents.
Mr. Lavalle also spoke about service improvements made by the town clerk’s office and engaged with civic members.
Town Clerk LaValle said,
"Thank you to the Centereach/ Selden Civic members for inviting me to their monthly meeting. I enjoy speaking to residents about the Town Clerk's office's services and the various projects we are currently working on to improve those services."
The Town Clerk’s office is located at Brookhaven Town Hall, One Independence Hill in Farmingville. For more information, office hours and services, call 631-451-9101 or go to the Town website: BrookhavenNY.gov
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Suffolk County Marine Incident Response Team rescues a kayaker.
Suffolk County Marine Incident Response Team rescues a kayaker.
Credit: Suffolk County Marine Incident Response Team
Credit: Suffolk County Marine Incident Response Team
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
Stay Melo: HOF Knicks Star Plugs Cannabis Brand in Farmingdale
Each year, more cannabis dispensaries open on Long Island due to the lessening stigma inherently attached to its product.
Modern society has traveled a far cry from the days of “Reefer Madness.” But impacted business proprietors within this niche industry say there are still plenty more hearts and minds to change.
Enter: Carmelo Anthony.
The former New York Knicks star and recent Hall of Fame inductee is the ultimate celebrity spokesperson vouching for the medicinal value of regulated marijuana use.
So much so, Strain Stars of Farmingdale–which first opened in 2023, making it Long Island’s inaugural dispensary post-cannabis legalization–was proud to welcome the perennial All-Star on Saturday, April 19th just ahead of his former team's playoff run.
He was on hand for 1-3 p.m. “meet and greets” at the location to promote his aptly named brand and mantra,“STAYME70.”
“Melo” launched his cannabis
line in collaboration with an Oregon-based cannabis grower. Now, he has traveled back to the complete opposite side of the country to satiate the indica or sativa-charged needs of a built-in customer base; and also illuminate the still-reluctant sector of his East Coast fan base who are asking: Why this, and why now?
In a statement, Anthony said he was “excited to be launching the debut of STAYME70 in New York,” having also held a launch party on Monday at the Dazed Dispensary in Syracuse, a city that has the Orange alum to thank for supplying them their only college title.
"New York is home, and bringing this project to life here feels incredibly personal and full circle.”
A portion of the proceeds brought in by STAYME70 will benefit: (1) the Oregon-based “NuProfit,” which provides funding and coaching for diverse entrepreneurs pursuing legal cannabis commerce; and (2) the “Last Prisoner Project”—a Colorado-based nonprofit devoted to criminal justice reform.
Professional athletes such as NFL wide receiver Josh Gordon never reached their full potential due to repeat suspensions for marijuana use, and the scarlet letter of insubordination this unduly invited his way.
Meanwhile, first-ballot HOFer Calvin “Megatron” Johnson–who played just eight seasons before retiring due to injury concerns—later confirmed THC use throughout his career
as a means to treat concussion symptoms and additional injuries.
Just a few short years later, athletes are now empowered to openly educate and inform the masses without the gear that they will be any less of a role model for young athletes who look to pillars like them to set the tone.
In the age of “The Players Tribune,” the Derek Jeter-
formed platform that removes the middle-men in player-fan relations by encouraging the former to pen personal letters to the latter, mental health awareness in a historically masculine arena has skyrocketed.
The consequence: This “4/20,” millennials or Gen-Zers who grew up watching power forces like Melo hoop didn’t have to hide their affinity for a mightily decriminalized entity.
They didn’t have to, because to know someone of his talent relies on a relaxing agent and sings its praises (so long as it is properly used and not abused), is to recognize they are not alone.
On the local front, said cannabis lovers had the opportunity to thank Carmelo Anthony Saturday afternoon—a most happy, perhaps even too Happy Easter happenstance indeed.
“This isn't just about cannabis,” Anthony added. “It's about empowering our communities, uplifting underserved entrepreneurs, and creating meaningful opportunities that support and celebrate our culture."
Getting Fired: An East Coaster's Reaction to Mulaney's Best West Coast Talk Show Yet
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
To close his post-rehab special “Baby Jay,” rockstar comedian John Mulaney recited the transcription of a GQ interview he does not remember giving because he was under the influence of hard drugs.
In said interview, he spewed what semblances of a talk show concept he had in mind at the time; a few years later, he debuted “Everybody’s in LA” for Netflix in 2024, then rebranded it for a weekly rollout on the streamer as “Everybody’s Live” this spring.
Whether he’s working clean or leaning into the obscene, thriving comfortably as a stand-up or taking “Sack Lunch Bunch”-level creative risks, Mulaney has always proven to win his crowd.
Noted for being a highly idiosyncratic variety show, "Everybody's Live’s” weird energy blends ‘90s Conan and Adult Swim’s "The Eric Andre Show" with a David Lynchgrade fever dream, RIP.
Mulaney will typically host famous friends of his as
guests, plus a less-than-wild card academic or professional who wields expertise in that episode’s theme. Some topics tend to alienate part of the viewing public sans the requisite experiences.
However, Wednesday, April 9th’s “Getting Fired” is as evergreen as chatter fodder gets.
Bill Hader, Chelsea Peretti, Johnny Knoxville and reallife H.R. professional Catie
Maillard’s stories came between big-swing torpedo-barrels like: (1) Mulaney’s second banana, character actor Richard Kind, believing himself to be K*I*S*S frontman Gene Simmons after a head injury; (2) Chester Cheetah’s real-life inspiration performing a song-and-dance number; and (3) a loaded pretaped interview with Michael Jackson’s pet chimpanzee, “Bubbles.”
Hader recalled the time he
was fired as a movie theater ticket-ripper for spoiling the end of 1997’s “Titanic” to a group of sorority girls for ridiculing his Charles Mansonesque disposition.
This went viral the second he uttered it.
Knoxville—who Mulaney sincerely remarked should receive the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor—talked about how his friendliness overrode his bossman responsibilities in the early “Jackass” days. In true George Costanza fashion, some of his fellow screw-loose colleagues who he fired would just continue to show up as if nothing happened.
Maillard illuminated the professional funnymen on how employee coaches also tasked with bad news deliverance must avoid saying “sorry” as a liabilityprevention measure.
At the top of his Episode No. 5 monologue, Mulaney may have lifted one of his strongest bits from a future special to introduce the night’s theme. First and foremost, he addressed that a life of privilege in show business
has afforded him the luxury of evading traditional firing.
Nevertheless, he still found the burden of professional purgatory greatly weighing on him after leaving his “Saturday Night Live” head writer post to develop his own pilot he has since characterized as a “total, unmitigated f—ng disaster.”
Before NBC rejected his sitcom pitch and FOX opted in, he landed a job writing a Madden Commercial starring actor Paul Rudd and then-NFL linebacker Ray Lewis.
Mulaney’s lengthy, off-thewall anecdote about the latter giving him some wild sage advice at the “crafty” table back in 2012 perfectly encapsulates how one’s search for a “deus ex machina” between full-time gigs can transform into mad libs real quick.
It's that "Betwixt, Betweenland” where you will take anything you can get— someone with the right words, any words, at exactly the right time.
Anything to win your crowd.
Credit: WallpaperOK | GoogleMaps
Credit: Netflix
Carmelo Anthony (T) will appear at the Farmingdale dispensary (B) on Saturday for 1-3 p.m. "meet and greets."
(T) Richard Kind as Gene Simmons. (L) John Mulaney, mid-Ray Lewis anecodte. (R) The deadpan return of "Bubbles."
ByDonnaRolando
Greenport Brewery Founder on Reggae Fest: 'A Kickoff of Summer'
Greenport Harbor Brewing Co. in Peconic is expanding its annual Reggae Fest, set for Saturday, May 3, with a larger lineup, a new music venue and craft brews on tap. The event, which began as a small collaboration with a local band, has grown into a seasonal tradition expected to draw crowds from across the region.
Doors open at 2 p.m., with the show beginning at 3 p.m. Advance tickets are $25, compared with $32 at the door, according to the brewery’s website.
The first festival, organized by New York reggae band Aqua Cherry, “surprisingly got a great reception. A lot of people turned out. We had a blast,” said Richard Vandenburgh, a former attorney and founder of the brewery, in an interview with South Shore Press.
As the event grew to include four notable acts, Vandenburgh said, “We came up with the idea of doing it in May as a kickoff of summer.”
Headlining the event will be Mighty Mystic, described as a dynamic and contemporary leader in the East Coast reggae movement. Also performing is Aqua Cherry, known for a reggae fusion of island vibes and rebel rock. The Scofflaws, a New York ska band prominent in the 1990s, will also take the stage, along with Fubar, a Pittsburghbased group blending rock, punk and reggae.
This year’s event will be held in the brewery’s new music venue.
“We’ve actually taken a part of the brewery, and we’ve converted it,” Vandenburgh said. “So, we’ve added a space where we’re going to be able to really present, beyond the reggae festival, other musical acts and artists in a really nice setting.”
citrus notes and a piney, resiny flavor.
In addition to the music, the brewery will offer a selection of its beers. Vandenburgh’s current favorite is a West Coast-style IPA called Other Side, which features
Pope Portrayed by Elaine Thompson
ByRobertChartuk World-renowned artist Elaine
Faith Ryder-Thompson from Bohemia was inspired to paint Pope Francis when he visited America in 2015.
While working long hours on a painting of NASCAR race cars, she viewed the Pope on television the entire time he visited the United States. She snapped hundreds of photographs from her TV at the same time. She was so taken aback by his appeal to all religions and all walks of life in this country that Thompson decided that a painting of Pope Francis had to be her next painting.
Among his stops were the White House, St. Matthews’s Cathedral, the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, the Capitol, and St. Patrick’s Church in Washington, D.C. In New York City, he visited St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the United Nations,
the 9/11 Memorial & Museum & World Trade Center, Our Lady of Angels School, Central Park, and Madison Square Garden.
In Philadelphia, he visited the Cathedral Basilica of St. Peter and Paul, Independence Hall, Festival of Families at Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Bishops at
St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, Curran-Fromhold Correction Facility, Saint Joseph’s University, and the World Meeting of Families.
Pope Francis said on Sept. 24, 2015, to the crowds outside a joint meeting of Congress in Washington, “I ask you all please
Vandenburgh said his move from law to brewing began as a “fun passion project” with college friend John Liegey and their wives, Ann and Betsy.
“We were beer lovers in college and always talked about
doing something together when we got out of school,” he recalled.
He found an old firehouse with 12-foot ceilings in Greenport and suggested converting it into a brewery.
“At the time it was 2009, and it just took off. The next thing you know we were getting courted by beer distributors from New York City and people were coming out and discovering us.”
That initial success led to the Peconic location, where Reggae Fest is now inviting new visitors to explore both the music and the brewery.
“Like any small business owner, I’m very blessed to be working with a great team,” Vandenburgh said. “It definitely can be tricky but I thank God that John and I have two amazing spouses and really supportive families, so you know the days are more good than bad.”
to pray for me. If there are among you any who don’t believe or can’t pray, send good wishes my way.”
Thompson was inspired by the Pope’s wonderful appeal to all faiths. She designed the painting showing his open arms as he gestured in his speeches and sermons during his visit here.
The American flag is in most of Thompson’s paintings, especially her lighthouses and Presidents. It symbolizes our great country and her love of that flag.
Thompson’s forefathers fought in the American Revolution.
Thompson has a gallery in Bohemia where she sells prints and notecards of the Pope's painting. She was unable to sell them to the Vatican City gift shop because the painting had the American flag in it. The original painting is also available. For info, call 516-3807715 or visit www.thompsonart. us. She is presently working on a surprise commissioned painting.
Remembering Saint Francis...
Continued from page 2
Continued on page 8 In addition to modeling his existence after Saint Francis, Fr. Ron was also the epitome of 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18: "Always be joyful, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances.”
The guy never, ever complained, was always happy, and was the richest guy I knew despite living a life of poverty and service. From a purely material perspective, Fr. Ron had nothing, but was blessed with everything a man could ever need to live an afterlife with Saint Francis and all the angels and saints.
We buried Father Ron on the Monday after Easter Sunday in 2022. I’m still crushed that my earthly father is no longer with us.
It is quite fitting and not an accident (an accident is when God chooses to remain anonymous) that most of us woke up on the Monday after Easter to learn the sad news that Saint Francis died on Easter Sunday.
I remember the joy felt when Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio chose “Francis” as his Papal name. Yes, we must mourn his passing and give thanks for his life of spiritual service to Catholics around the world.
Even more fitting is honoring Saint Francis, Father Ron, and Pope Francis by doing our best to live our lives the way all three of them did: “Preach the Gospel at all times, when necessary, use words.”
Housed in a former 1920s car dealership, the venue retains what Vandenburgh described as a “very cool industrial vibe.”
Credit: Olivia Daddona
Credit: Elaine Thompson Greenport Brewing Company
Pope Francis portrayed by Bohemia artist Elaine Thompson.
BySouthShorePressStaff
Rockville Centre Diocese Bishop Releases Statement on Death of Pope Francis
The Most Reverend John O. Barres, fifth Bishop of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, released the following statement after the death of Pope Francis on Easter Sunday.
Bishop Barres is the spiritual leader of the estimated 1.2 million Catholics in Suffolk and Nassau Counties.
Bishop Barres’s Statement on the Death of Pope Francis, April 21, 2025:
"As we mourn the death of Pope Francis on this Easter Octave Monday and the gift of his contemplative global evangelization grounded in Matthew 25 and the spiritual and corporal works of mercy, we give thanks to Father, Son and Holy Spirit for his unique graces and charisms and the compelling way during his Pontificate that he has been a Light of Jesus Christ and the mission of mercy of the Catholic Church to the world.
"In Evangelii Gaudium (2013),
Pope Francis speaks about the original freshness of the Gospel: 'Jesus can also break through the dull categories with which we would enclose him and he constantly amazes us by his divine creativity. Whenever we make the effort to return to the source and to recover the original freshness of the Gospel, new avenues arise, new paths of creativity open up, with different forms of expression, more eloquent signs and words with new meaning for today’s world. Every form of authentic evangelization is always ‘new.’ (11)
"Pope Francis’ commitment to the freshness of the Gospel and his desire to forge new paths of mission creativity were expressed in his encyclicals Lumen Fidei (2013), Laudato si’ (2015), Fratelli Tutti (2020), and Dilexit Nos (2024), along with his apostolic exhortations Evangelii Gaudium (2013), Amoris Laetitia (2016) and Gaudete et Exsultate (2018), Christus Vivit (2019), Querida Amazonia (2020), Laudate Deum (2023), and C’est la confiance (2023).
"This section of Evangelium Gaudium captures, I believe, Pope Francis’ passionate love for the Church and the world and it will continue to inspire us as the Holy Spirit leads us further into the 21st century: “How I long to find the right words to stir up enthusiasm for a new chapter of evangelization full of fervor, joy, generosity, courage, boundless love and attraction! Yet I realize that no words of encouragement will be enough unless the fire of the Holy Spirit burns in our hearts. A spirit-filled evangelization is one guided by the Holy Spirit, for he is the soul of the Church called to proclaim the Gospel…I once more invoke the Holy Spirit. I implore him to come and renew the Church, to stir and impel her to go forth boldly to evangelize all peoples.' (261)
"Today, we pray for the soul of Pope Francis, we pray for the College of Cardinals which will elect his successor, and we pray for his successor who will be
elevated to the Chair of Saint Peter.
"As we pray for the soul of our Holy Father Pope Francis on this Easter Octave Monday, we remember his words on our Lord’s Resurrection.
"In The Joy of the Gospel, Pope Francis writes: 'Christ’s resurrection is not an event of the past; it contains a vital power which has permeated the world. Where all seems to be dead, signs
of the resurrection suddenly spring up. It is an irresistible force…Each day in our world beauty is born anew, it rises transformed through the storms of history…Such is the power of the resurrection, and all who evangelize are instruments of that power.' (276)
May the Word of God be a Light and a Lamp for our steps and may the Holy Spirit lead and guide us!”
25 Years: Hempstead Man Sentenced for Robbing, Stabbing Amityville Funeral Home Owner
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
This week, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced Jason Funderburke—convicted last month—was officially sentenced to 25 years in prison for Robbery in the First Degree and related charges.
His charges, and subsequent conviction by a jury of his peers, stemmed from an Aug. 2023 incident where he stabbed the owner of an Amityville funeral home during a robbery.
A three-time convicted felon, Funderburke and an accomplice approached the funeral home owner at approximately 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 29th, 2023, evidence introduced at trial confirmed. The ill-intentioned pair showed the victim a picture of his own family while demanding money from him at knifepoint.
Upon refusing the request, Funderburke and his partnerin-crime stabbed the victim; they stole his wallet and mobile devices before fleeing the scene.
The victim was treated for his wounds and internal bleeding at Good Samaritan University Hospital.
After being found guilty before Supreme Court Justice Timothy
P. Mazzei on March 12th, 2025, DA Tierney said Funerburke’s crime “rocked the community,” but acknowledged that justice had finally been served.
“This conviction makes clear that law enforcement will not tolerate violent crime, and that we will always pursue justice for victims,” he said.
After this week’s sentencing, Tierney expressed further contempt for someone who would harm an individual “who serves our community during their most solemn moments.
“This sentence will ensure the defendant Funderburke is no longer able to hurt our residents,” Tierney added.
official counts— all violent and felonious—are as follows: One Count of Robbery in the First Degree (Class B); Two counts of Robbery in the Second Degree (Class C); and One count of Assault in the Second Degree (Class D).
The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Kieran R. Rogers and Amanda B. Schieir of the Major Crime Bureau. Detective Corey Malinowski of the Suffolk County Police Department’s First Squad ran point on the investigation, with special assistance from Research Analyst Brooke Baade, courtesy of the Suffolk County DA’s Office.
Fatal Crash Kills Pedestrian in Easter Weekend Tragedy
BySouthShorePressStaff
Suffolk County Police Fifth Squad detectives are investigating a motor vehicle crash that killed a man walking in the street in Bluepoint Saturday night.
Law enforcement reports that Adam Polis was driving a 2015 Ford Mustang eastbound in the left lane of Sunrise Highway, west of Waverly Avenue, when he saw three people in the roadway.
According to cops, the driver tried swerving to the right to avoid hitting the three people walking on the road.
County Police Cars
At approximately 8:35 p.m. that night, police said the vehicle Polis was driving struck Carlos Villafane, who was in the center lane.
Villafane, 69, of Mastic Beach, was pronounced dead at the scene. Polis, 36, of Patchogue, the other two pedestrians, and a passenger in the Mustang were not injured.
The vehicle was impounded for a safety check.
Anyone with information is asked to call the Fifth Squad at 631-854-8552.
Credit: @BishopBarres
Funerburke’s
Credit: Suffolk County District Attorney's Office
Mugshot for Jason Funderburke, sentences to 25 years in prison for crimes committed on Aug. 29th, 2023.
The Most Reverend John O. Barres
Credit: CMJ Enterprises
File Photo: Suffolk
ByRobertChartuk
Pickles & Paws 2025: New York's Largest Animal Adoption Festival Launches This Spring in Yaphank
Get ready for an unforgettable day where community, compassion, and creativity collide. The inaugural Pickles & Paws festival is set to debut on May 31 at Southaven County Park in Yaphank, promising to be New York’s largest and most unique animal adoption event.
Hosted by Wonderland Tails Rescue, the event will bring together 14 animal rescues and shelters from across the state, aiming to find loving homes for hundreds of adoptable pets. But this isn’t just your average adoption event—it’s a full-blown, pickle-themed celebration with a purpose.
Pickles & Paws 2025 blends a heartfelt mission with festival fun, offering attendees the
chance to adopt, explore, and engage in wildly creative ways. Beyond the animal adoptions, the day will feature:
•Pickle-Themed Contests— From costume challenges to eating competitions, pickle fans will find plenty to crunch on.
•5K-9 Fun Run—A vibrant, dog-friendly run through foam bubbles and color bursts.
•Puppy Yoga—Stretch and breathe alongside adoptable puppies.
•Doggie Fashion Show— Rescue dogs hit the runway in paw-sitively adorable outfits.
•Live Music & Entertainment—Performances, contests, and surprises led by an all-day MC.
•Family Fun Zone—Henna,
face painting, axe throwing, fairy hair, foam parties, and more.
•Vendors & Food Trucks— Sample local eats, sip craft brews, and indulge in pickle-inspired bites.
Attendees can also take part in an extensive raffle basket auction and silent auction, with proceeds supporting participating rescue organizations. Dozens of local businesses and supporters have contributed to the prize pool, making this a fun day out and one that gives back.
Rescue groups, vendors, volunteers, and sponsors are encouraged to get in touch through the event’s website at: www.picklesandpaws.com.
Pickles & Paws is about bringing people together—for
animals, fun, and a greater cause, according to the organizers from Stay Salted, the creative team behind the event. “We’ve built something for everyone, from families to foodies to fitness lovers. It’s a festival with a heart.”
Whether you’re looking to bring home a new furry friend or just want to enjoy a foamcovered run and a pickle-eating contest, Pickles & Paws 2025 has something for you.
Majority of New Yorkers Don't Want Hochul to Run Again
ByDeborahWilliams
A new Marist poll reveals terrible numbers for Governor Kathy Hochul. Her popularity, and that of other Democrats, has tanked.
Marist shows, “Hochul’s approval rating is upside down; a majority of New Yorkers think she is not a good leader for the state, and nearly six in ten do not want Hochul to run for reelection next year.”
New Yorkers are pessimistic overall and think the quality of life in New York is on a decline. A majority think the state is unaffordable and most oppose congestion pricing. It doesn’t help that the poll shows many voters say, “New York’s economy is deteriorating, and more than one in three expect their family finances to get worse in the
coming year.”
New York State Conservative Party Chairman Jerry Kassar says, “Hochul has consistently bad polling numbers. It can be argued that her bad numbers are locked in – that it’s not going to fluctuate. I think the biggest thing for her is that she continues to have this very, very high number across the board of people saying that she should not seek re-election.
“Those low numbers have locked in. This poll indicates that we will have a new governor as long as the opposition party, which I chair one of them, ends up with solid candidates for governor,” Kassar added.
Leadership: Just 39% of New Yorkers approve of the job Hochul is doing as governor. Only 13% report they strongly
approve of how Hochul is doing her job compared with 31% who strongly disapprove.
A majority of New Yorkers (53%), including 33% of Democrats, do not think Hochul is a good leader for the state. Perceptions of Hochul have changed since October of 2021 when 56% said the governor was a good leader for New York.
Fifty-seven percent of residents statewide do not want Hochul to run for re-election in 2026. Included here are 40% of Democrats.
Trump: Hochul made a big splash saying she was going to "lead the resistance" against President Donald Trump, but she doesn’t have the state’s voters behind her on that effort. A majority of New Yorkers (51%), including 85% of Republicans
and 63% of non-enrolled voters, want Hochul to compromise to find common ground with President Donald Trump.
Quality of Life: Not helping matters for Hochul, a growing majority (55%) perceives NYS quality of life to have gotten worse. More N.Y.ers (64%) also say the state’s economy is deteriorating. And, less that 40% believe their personal finances will improve while living in N.Y.S. Eighty-two percent of New Yorkers report the cost of living in New York is not very affordable or not affordable at all.
Congestion Pricing: Nearly 60% oppose congestion pricing and believe it should be eliminated because it is an unfair tax on working commuters.
Leaving N.Y.: More than 30% say they plan to leave N.Y. within
the next five years. Reasons given for New Yorkers’ leaving include: Cost of Living: 39%, Quality of Life: 26%, and Taxes: 16%.
Schumer and Gillibrand: Senator Schumer, once a widely popular senator with a reputation for bipartisanship, sees his approval rating drop as he embraces radical, far-left ideology. Fifty-six percent give Schumer fair (20%) or poor (36%) marks. Schumer’s "poor" rating increased 9% since 2021. A majority (53%) think Schumer should be replaced as senate minority leader.
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand’s job approval rating remains upside down with just 36% of registered voters think she is doing either an excellent (13%) or good (23%) job in office.
Suffolk County Fire Rescue...
Continued from page 4
“Dispatchers help provide CPR instructions, we provide NARCAN administration, sometimes it's EMS related, sometimes it's fire related, advising the residents to please get out of their home and stay out late until the fire department arrives,” said Sunderman. “The dispatchers have to be trained to give proper instructions to our residents to ensure that public safety is first.”
Here is just a glimpse at the incredible impact they made last year:
•297,740 Fire & EMS Alarms
•28,332 Police Responses
•5,173 Structure Fires
•13,659 Motor Vehicle Accidents with Injury
•1,394 Utility Emergencies
•928 Water-Related Emergencies
•729 Fire Coordinator Responses
People often call for medical emergencies and FRES Dispatchers are there for that too. Eighty percent of Fire/ EMS calls are EMS-related.
•601 CPR Instructions Were Given
•Aspirin Was Administered 1,966 Times
•An Epipen Was Administered 69 Times.
•93 Narcan Instructions Given
Suffolk County resident Donna Alfano said on Facebook in response to this report by FRES, “Thank you all, and for all you do. It’s truly unbelievable to see the amount of emergency calls that are received in a year!”
New York’s Largest Animal Adoption Festival Launches This Spring in Yaphank
Credit: Pickles & Paws
Hochul is in trouble in the polls.
Credit: Meta AI
STATE
MarineMax in Huntington Hosts New York State Boating Safety Class Ahead of 2025 Brianna's Law Deadline
ByDeborahWilliams
MarineMax in Huntington is inviting local boaters to participate in an in-person New York State Boating Safety Course on Saturday, April 26, 2025, providing an essential opportunity to earn the New York Safe Boating Certificate required by Brianna’s Law.
With the final phase of Brianna’s Law going into effect in 2025, all operators of motorized vessels in New York must complete a certified boating safety course. This upcoming class offers boaters the chance to get certified before the summer season begins.
Boating Certificate.
The class gives boaters all they need to meet the compliance requirements to meet the upcoming state mandate. It also promotes safer waterways through proper education and reflects MarineMax Huntington’s commitment to supporting and educating the local boating community.
• New York State Parks Boating Education Page | https://parks. ny.gov/boating/education.aspx
For those taking an upcoming course, if you are 18 or older, you will receive a form at class which is mailed in after class. A new N.Y.S. Drivers License is mailed to you with the anchor on it.
In 2019, Governor Cuomo signed Brianna's Law, a comprehensive boater education law requiring all power boaters (including those operating sailing vessels with auxiliary power) to complete a boater safety course that was phased in over the last few years. This year, the fullness of the law goes into effect requiring all powerboat operators regardless of age to have a boating safety certificate.
DMVs Are
Brianna's Law is named after Brianna Lieneck, an 11-year-old Long Island girl who was killed in a 2005 boating accident.
Certified instructors lead the course that provides handson, comprehensive training on topics including navigation rules, emergency procedures, and responsible boating practices. Upon successful completion, participants will receive their New York Safe
Huntington 155 West Shore Road, Huntington, N.Y.
• Brookhaven is a roughly 45min ride from Huntington, so leave enough time for travel.
The host of this event, MarineMax, is the world’s largest lifestyle retailer of recreational boats and yachts, as well as yacht concierge and superyacht services, MarineMax (NYSE: HZO) is United by Water. They have over 120 locations worldwide, including over 70 dealerships and 65 marina and storage facilities.
Overwhelmed with Last-Minute Efforts to Get REAL ID Drivers Licenses
ByDeborahWilliams
Be prepared to wait for, and likely not even get, an appointment to get your REAL ID before the May 7 deadline gets here.
"The early bird gets the worm" is not a philosophy people across the country are adhering too when it comes to getting their licenses upgraded to REAL ID which is required to fly domestically beginning May 7.
New York State Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) has been urging New Yorkers to make their appointments for well over a year and now that May 7th is upon us there are few, if any, appointments available.
The South Shore Press went online in an effort to make a REAL ID appointment at a Suffolk County DMV. There are no April appointments available at the Medford, Huntington, Hauppauge, and Riverhead DMV offices. The soonest available appointment at any of these offices is May 8 after the REAL ID deadline. Most offices are booking up quickly through May with the Huntington office only having 2 days in May available and Hauppauge has only four days
in May open.
REAL ID implementation has been postponed several times giving the general public a lackadaisical attitude about getting the ID. But, the time is here and you will need a REAL ID or a passport to travel domestically.
“If you have a flight in your near future, the time is now to get a REAL ID,” said DMV Commissioner Mark J.F. Schroeder. “We are just a few short weeks away from the REAL ID deadline, and you can prevent the burden of delays by getting yours now. Making an appointment online is the best way to get in and out of a DMV office quickly.”
The REAL ID Act was passed twenty years ago, in 2005, enacting the 9/11 Commission's recommendation that the Federal Government “set standards for the issuance of sources of identification, such as driver's licenses.” The Act established minimum-security standards for state-issued driver's licenses and identification cards and prohibits certain federal agencies from accepting for official purposes licenses and identification cards from states that do not meet these standards.
REAL ID is required for: accessing certain federal facilities, boarding federally regulated commercial aircraft, and entering nuclear power plants.
When you do get an appointment, to avoid mistakes and prevent further delays, make sure you bring appropriate proof of residency, with two items such as a current driver
license or nondriver ID or a utility bill or pay stub with a current New York State address. Also, bring proof of your full legal name, and if you have had a name change through marriage or divorce, provide a marriage license or divorce decree that shows the connection.
In addition to the REAL ID, the DMV offers an Enhanced ID which
meets federal REAL ID standards. An Enhanced ID costs $30 extra and can be used as identification when returning to the United States by land or sea from Canada, Mexico and some countries in the Caribbean. A passport is also acceptable as a REAL ID-compliant document.
Safe Boating Certificate Required for All Beginning This Summer
ByDeborahWilliams
Summer boating season is upon us and new regulations go with it.
Starting January 1, 2025, a safety certificate became required of all boat operators, regardless of age, so this is the first boating season under the new rules. The old regulation only required operators of motorized vessels born on or after January 1, 1978, to carry a safe boating certificate.
Boating safety certificates are required for recreational boaters using motorized vessels, including personal watercraft. Operators of nonmotorized boats, such as kayaks and canoes, are not required to have a boating safety certificate at this time.
If you have a lifetime recreation certificate or sporting license, your New York State Driver License can now become an all-purpose boating, fishing, hunting, and parks ID card.
If you don’t want to be bothered with a separate piece of paper, you can carry your safety certificate wherever you go by
adding an anchor icon on your driver's license. The N.Y.S. Parks Adventure License website has an application.
Anyone successfully completing the New York Safe Boating Course or approved online boating safety course may opt to have the anchor icon placed on your N.Y.S. DMV issues document. DMV will maintain a record of your having completed the boating safety course, and automatically place the icon on your license each time it is renewed.
The advantage to this program is that you will no longer need to carry your boating safety certificate with you when boating, provided you have your DMV credential with you. If you would like a new driver's license issued immediately, the cost is $12.50. If you would like to wait until your next, regularly scheduled license renewal, there is no charge.
The New York Safe Boating Course teaches basic boating skills and encourages common sense and courtesy to all who share the water. Boaters can earn their certificate
by taking a classroom course with certified New York State instructors or through approved online courses. Certificates issued by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, America’s Boating Club, US and any NASBLA certified course from other states are also recognized. You can also take the course at waterfront/SUNY Maritime College.
Other things to know about Boating Safety Certificates:
New York recognizes the boating safety certificate issued by your home state.
• Persons may rent and operate a motorboat from a livery without first obtaining a boating safety certificate.
• Staff at the livery must provide basic instruction and safety information before you depart the dock.
• While operators of nonmotorized boats do not need a safe boating certificate, they are encouraged to take a safe boating course as well.
Register now for your boater safety course.
Credit: NYS Parks Department
The REAL ID Deadline is here.
Credit: NYS DMV
ByDeborahWilliams
DiNapoli: State Has No Clear Plan for over $450 Million in COVID Medical Supplies
State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli said in a recently released audit that the state spent nearly half a billion tax payer dollars on a medical stockpile but used little of it and has no clear plan for the leftover equipment and supplies. The audit also showed that the state has no inventory controls or plan for preventative maintenance on the equipment so it would be able to be used in the future.
DiNapoli’s auditors determined the state paid $452.8 million to purchase 247,343 items of DME and received 51 items donated by others or from the federal government, for a total of 247,394 items procured during the onset of COVID-19. Of the total DME available for use, only 324 items were distributed during the public health emergency, and only three items from the 247,343 DME purchased during COVID-19.
This leaves a significant amount of DME purchased during the pandemic (247,340 items) still unused in boxes at warehouses, for which the State continues to incur contracted warehouse management costs.
DME now in storage includes CPAP/BiPAP machines, ventilators, oxygen tanks, pulse oximeters (which measure the saturation of oxygen carried in red blood cells), oxygen concentrators, and infusion pumps. All with no maintenance schedule in place and no plan for distribution and use where it might be needed across the state.
“During the pandemic, New York state quickly purchased medical equipment to address the public health crisis,” DiNapoli said. “Now, hundreds of thousands of unused devices sit idle. I urge the Department of Health (DOH) to develop and execute a strategic plan for the maintenance and use of
these and future medical equipment purchases, so New York is well prepared for the next public health emergency.”
Auditors also found a lack of inventory controls during the pandemic contributed to DOH being unable to account for all the equipment purchased, with credit card transactions an issue. Looking at a sample of nine credit card purchases, auditors found DOH could not provide proof of delivery
for four purchases, which included 140 pieces of DME worth $312,644.
When the public health emergency ended, a Medical Stockpile Steering Committee was created to make recommendations on what quantity and type of DME should be retained in the emergency stockpile. DOH could not provide auditors with documentation supporting how the steering committee reached their decisions, leaving auditors without a way to
assess the committee’s conclusions.
DiNapoli made very basic and common sense recommendations –one’s that any taxpayer would have in place for their own property.
• Maintain basic internal controls during emergency scenarios to ensure stewardship over state assets;
• Document and preserve the process and key factors used when making significant decisions, and keep documentation of key events;
• Develop and implement a strategic plan for DME preventive maintenance so it is ready to use during public health emergencies;
• Develop and implement a statewide public health strategic plan to utilize surplus DME.
There is a lot of work to do to get this system in better shape so that hundreds of millions of New York tax dollars are not wasted.
Who Will Run Against Hochul for Governor of New York?
ByDeborahWilliams
Chatter is rampant about who will run against Gov. Kathy Hochul should she be the Democrat nominee in November 2026.
The field of play in politics is always changing so you never know who will be in the race. If you are of a certain age, you will remember when everyone was sure Gary Hart was going to be president. The political landscape can change in a heartbeat.
The South Shore Press had a conversation with New York State Conservative Party Chair, Jerry Kassar on his thoughts about who might be considering a race for the governor’s office from the Republican/Conservative side of the race.
Kassar believes that with Hochul’s approval numbers so consistently low that “we will have a new governor as long as the opposition party, which I chair one of them, has a solid candidate for governor.”
On who might run, “I would say to you that there are three individuals that I look at as potential candidates for governor in no particular order, Rep. Mike Lawler, Rep. Elise Stefanik, and County Executive Blakeman,” said Kassar.
Both Lawler and Stefanik would have to give up their seats in the U.S. House of Representatives if they decide to run.
Don’t rule Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman (R) who made a name for himself early on in the battle to ban biological males from women’s and girl’s sports. Kassar commented that he had not had any conversations with Blakeman, but there is definitely talk about him.
Stefanik’s name is also being bandied around. After President Trump recently pulled her
nomination for U.N. ambassador to preserve seats in the House Republican majority, Stefanik could be looking to be governor of New York. And, if not, the race alone could give her wider name recognition and campaign legs to potentially make a run for president in 2028.
“I have spoken with her and she has not told me this is what she is seeking, but I can say to you that I very much look favorably on her. Keep putting yourself in the mix is what I should say to her,” Kassar said.
Lawler has been making appearances for some time getting to know people across the state and many think he is seriously considering a run.
“Mike Lawler has discussed it with me and he is in the process of making some determinations,” said Kassar. “He's from almost the perfect part of the state to be running for governor and he's smart and articulate and energetic. I've known him a long time and I like him.”
Kassar feels the Republicans and Conservatives have three distinct opportunities to see how it lines up.
“Hochul should worry about a primary too,” says Kassar. “But, the Democrat Party is structured in such a way right now that they tend to acquiesce to whoever can provide the largest number of jobs.”
As an incumbent governor, Hochul can more or less use that incumbency to keep the Democrat Party at bay and fend off primary opponents for a while, but, as Kassar says, “it's not going to keep the Republican and Conservative parties at bay.”
Kassar promised, “We're going to be coming at her.”
Let the jockeying for position begin!
Community to Celebrate 103rd...
Continued from page 3
In 1981, Gene was elected to the Brookhaven Town Council, where he served for 22 years. During that time, he became a trusted voice in local government and a tireless advocate for his constituents, especially seniors, women, and the emergency services community. He helped create Decision, an organization serving women in business, and programs to provide prom dresses and business wear for those who needed them. He pushed for affordable housing and was a big part of the Hope Ridge moderate-income project in Selden that saw the construction of three-bedroom homes with garages for $70,000.
Gerrard gained widespread attention when he called on the federal government to clean up a Moriches property where radioactive waste was found. Wielding a Geiger counter, Gerrard created a stir among the assembled media when the detector clicked frantically as he approached the hazardous location.
He was also a central figure in the Mount Sinai Fire Department, contributing over five decades of service in roles including chief, chaplain, and fire police captain. He founded the Mt. Sinai Fire Department Benevolent Association and was instrumental in establishing the Brookhaven Volunteer Firefighters Museum. He
made sure emergency vehicle operators could control red lights so they could pass safely through intersections.
“Gene chaired the Brookhaven Republican Party during some very turbulent times,” said Charles Lefkowitz, who served with him on the town board. “He set the foundation for the party's long-term success by holding an open selection process for the leadership. It was a transparent, honest process that led to the selection of Jesse Garcia, who is our current town chairman, said Lefkowitz, noting that Gerrard served under four different town supervisors.
“Gene was an early proponent of protecting the environment,” said Peter Scully, Brookhaven’s deputy supervisor when Gerrard served with former Supervisor Henrietta Acampora. “He supported land use plans and zoning changes to preserve the town’s drinking water and other natural resources. He was behind the Stop Throwing Out Pollutants program and wanted to set up a municipal tire recycling facility, a problemsolving idea way ahead of its time.”
“I asked him the secret to his longevity,” remembered South Shore Press Reporter Robert Chartuk, who worked with Gerrard both as a Legislative Aide and Town Parks Commissioner. “He said it was the fact that he was never a smoker.”
Now residing in Canandaigua with his daughter, Pam Ruschak, Gene hasn’t slowed down. At 94, he became a Red Coat Ambassador at the Canandaigua VA Medical Center, guiding and supporting fellow veterans—a role he continues to fulfill. His warm greetings, steady presence, and dedication have made him a fixture at the Veterans Administration.
In recognition of his service, U.S. Representative Claudia Tenney paid tribute to Gene on the floor of the House of Representatives, calling him “an exceptional community member whose devotion to his country and community is truly inspiring.”
Past honors include being named Veteran of the Month by New York’s 27th Congressional District in June 2021 and receiving a New York State Senate Proclamation from Senator Pamela Helming on his 99th birthday. On his 100th, Gene was celebrated at the American Legion Canandaigua Post 256 and honored again days later by then-congressman Lee Zeldin at a gubernatorial rally. Gene's 103rd birthday celebration will take place on June 14 at the Hotel Canandaigua on the Lake. Anyone interested in celebrating with him can contact gus3322@hotmail.com. Happy 103rd, Gene. Thank you for your continued example of grace, grit, and generosity.
The State is not properly tracking or caring for millions in medical equipment.
Credit: Grok/Twitter
ByDeborahWilliams
Your Second Amendment Rights Don't End at the State Line or at Least They Shouldn't
Legislation that would require all of the states to cooperate and create smooth passage and the same Second Amendment rights to selfprotection no matter which state you are in is on the table in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The Constitutional Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act was introduced by Rep. Richard Hudson (R-NC). The Act would require states to recognize concealed carry permits issued by other states, much like they recognize out-of-state driver's licenses.
The Act establishes a federal statutory framework to regulate
the carry or possession of concealed firearms across state lines.
"I will sign concealed carry reciprocity. Your Second Amendment does not end at the state line," Trump said while campaigning in 2024.
Specifically, an individual who is eligible to carry a concealed firearm in one state may carry or possess a concealed handgun (other than a machine gun or destructive device) in another state that allows its residents to carry concealed firearms.
"When law-abiding citizens are traveling, they shouldn't be turned into criminals because they
cross the state line," Hudson said. Representative Richard Hudson, is a Republican from North Carolina.
The Bill got through the House previously, but was not picked up by the Senate. He feels confident Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) will bring it forward.
“It's about time this was taken up by Congress. A restricted right is not a right it is only a promise made by a hostile government,” said Tom King, President of the New York State Rifle & Pistol Association.
The way it is now, if you want to drive from your home in Center Moriches to Virginia (or anyplace else outside of New York), you would
have to carefully check the pistol carry laws in each states and hope you make the right determination about whether you can fully exercise your Second Amendment right while on your trip.
Trump Throws Lifeline to American Seafood Industry
ByRobertChartuk
In a sweeping new directive to revive the domestic seafood industry, President Trump signed an executive order that promises to cut regulatory red tape, address unfair foreign competition, and restore American dominance in global seafood markets.
Titled "Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness," the executive order builds on the president's earlier 2020 seafood initiative, calling for an aggressive overhaul of regulations that the administration says have hampered U.S. fishermen, aquaculture businesses, and seafood processors for decades. Long Island fishermen have long complained of federal regulations disrupting their ability to make a living.
“The United States controls one of the largest and most abundant ocean resources in the world,” the order reads. “Yet nearly 90 percent of seafood on our shelves is imported, and the seafood trade deficit stands at over $20 billion.”
The administration blames this imbalance on “federal overregulation,” including outdated fisheries data, restrictive catch limits, and leasing of U.S. fishing grounds to foreign offshore wind developers. In parallel, it accuses foreign competitors of flooding American markets with unfairly
priced and, in some cases, unsafe seafood products.
Under the new policy, the Secretary of Commerce is directed to immediately review and revise burdensome regulations that impact U.S. commercial fishing. Within 30 days, the department must identify the most overregulated fisheries and begin rolling back red tape in cooperation with regional fishery councils and other federal partners.
“Unnecessary regulations have crushed our fishermen over the past four years,” the president said. “This order will unleash America’s fishing industry again — cutting costs, boosting production, and putting American seafood back on top.”
Each Regional Fishery Management Council must submit updated recommendations within 180 days to reduce regulatory burdens. The goals are to prevent closures, stabilize markets, and increase profitability.
A major focus of the order is leveling the international playing field. The U.S. Trade Representative is tasked with examining seafood trade practices of major exporting nations, especially those accused of engaging in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing or using forced labor in their supply chains. Potential responses could include sanctions, trade negotiations, or enforcement actions under the
Trade Act of 1974.
In addition, the Department of Commerce and the U.S. Trade Representative must develop a new comprehensive seafood trade strategy within 60 days. This strategy will build on the 2020 Seafood Trade Strategy and focus on reducing nontariff barriers, improving foreign market access, and protecting domestic producers.
The order also calls for modernizing fisheries science and data collection by incorporating cost-effective technology and
expanding cooperative research programs. The National Marine Fisheries Service is instructed to promote the use of exempted fishing permits and develop responsive management practices based on real-time ocean conditions.
To boost domestic demand, the Secretary of Agriculture will work with Commerce to implement an “America First Seafood Strategy.” This initiative includes a nationwide campaign to educate consumers on the health benefits of seafood and expand seafood purchases in federal nutrition programs.
The executive order comes amid growing concern among U.S. fishing communities about regulatory burdens and international competition. Industry leaders have long pushed for reforms to level the playing field and modernize the system.
“This is a turning point,” the president stated. “We’re cutting through the bureaucracy, standing up to unfair trade, and making sure that American seafood — the best in the world — gets the support it deserves.”
President Orders Overhaul of Federal Procurement Rules
ByRobertChartuk
Doing what any astute businessman would do, President Trump is modernizing and streamlining how the federal government buys goods and services. Signing an executive order titled “Restoring Common Sense to Federal Procurement,” Trump mandated a comprehensive overhaul of the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) Rule Book, a 2,000page tome long criticized as outdated, burdensome, and counterproductive.
“The Federal Government is the largest buyer in the world, but doing business with it has become unnecessarily complex and costly,” the president stated. “We are restoring common sense to procurement and lifting unnecessary burdens that have held back innovation, growth, and responsiveness.”
The FAR, first implemented over forty years ago, was designed to ensure consistency and transparency in federal acquisitions. However, recent and historical studies—including the 2024 Senate report “Restoring Freedom’s Forge”—have found that the system has become
an impediment to efficiency, particularly for commercial and defense suppliers.
Under the new executive order, agencies must strip the FAR of any provision not mandated by statute or deemed essential to procurement integrity or national security. The order aligns with the broader deregulatory aims outlined in Executive Order 14192, “Unleashing Prosperity Through Deregulation.”
The administration says the overhaul will foster competition, reduce taxpayer costs, and better support the national and defense industrial bases.
FAR critics have long pointed to its complexity as a deterrent to
small and mid-sized businesses attempting to work with the government. “The system has favored entrenched players who can navigate red tape while stifling innovation and driving up prices,” the White House said. “This is about making the system work for everyone, not just the few who can afford compliance consultants.”
While the order preserves the authority of agencies and maintains existing legal protections, it sets in motion a historic restructuring of federal procurement — one with far-reaching implications for contractors, government operations, and taxpayer spending.
Efforts to make pistol permits be valid nationwide are underway.
Credit: Marine Fisheries Service
Credit: Grok/Twitter
Credit: U.S. Government
ByDeborahWilliams
DOGE Report: Still Very Busy Setting Things Right for the Taxpayer
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) website has been updated showing estimated savings of $160 billion or $993.79 per taxpayer. The per taxpayer amount is calculated using an estimate of 161 million individual federal taxpayers.
The estimated savings comes from all areas of the federal government encompassing waste, fraud and abuse, and also taxpayer-funded programs that have either grown outside of their chartered missions or are not in alignment with American values and interests.
Savings come from a combination of asset sales, contract/lease cancellations and renegotiations, fraud and improper payment deletion, grant cancellations, interest savings, programmatic changes, regulatory savings, and workforce reductions.
Some highlights over the past week include:
Credit Card Update: DOGE continues to track down and cancel credit cards used by federal employees and tighten up control on who can spend the taxpayer money and where. The program to audit unused/unneeded credit cards has been expanded to 30 agencies. After 7 weeks, approximately 470,000 credit cards have been deactivated.
DOGE said on X, ”As a reminder, at the start of the audit, there were ~4.6M active cards/accounts, so still more work to do.”
DEI in the National Science
WORLD
ByRobertChartuk Dispatch,
Foundation (NSF): DOGE congratulated NSF on X, “Great work by @NSF canceling 402 wasteful DEI grants ($233M in savings), including $1M for “Antiracist Teacher Leadership for Statewide Transformation.”
Going forward grant awards will be based on merit, competition, equal opportunity, and excellence. DEI ideology is inherently discriminatory and exclusionary and President Trump made it clear that DEI will have no place in the government or any governmentfunded agency or program.
NSF announced it is terminating awards not aligned with agency priorities, ensuring current and new awards are consistent with the NSF mission. NSF said, “We are committed to creating opportunities for all Americans everywhere, without exclusion of any groups.”
U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA): USDA agencies terminated 57 wasteful contracts with a ceiling value of $1.6B and savings of $1.5B, including a $120K USDA contract for an “Indonesia environmental policy and law enforcement specialist.”
Internal Revenue Service (IRS): Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant said on X, “The IRS has successfully saved $2 billion without any operational disruptions by eliminating wasteful contracts, such as auto-renewed licenses unused for years. The IRS has removed non-technical people from technical leadership roles in engineering and replaced them with experienced engineers.
Chasing
Tutukaka, New Zealand—Mention the Whangarei Deep Sea Anglers Club to a serious fisherman, and their eyes will light up. For those really in the know, they’ll tell you that it was the home base of writer Zane Grey when he came to hunt the giants.
“Going forward, skilled engineers will drive technical decisions. The IRS has its fair share of software talent. The
IRS is strengthening privacy by empowering technical cybersecurity experts and reducing system complexity,”
Bessant wrote. “Fewer contractors and a leaner tech stack mean a smaller attack surface and stronger data protection.”
Trump Takes over Penn Station Reno
ByRobertChartuk
Tired of cost overruns and mismanagement at the MTA, President Trump took control of the long-delayed renovation of Penn Station, a key rail hub for Long Island commuters.
Citing “chronic inefficiency and waste by local officials,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the administration is committed to a project that reflects "America's greatness.”
Under Trump’s plan, oversight of the renovation will shift from the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to Amtrak and private partners. The move marks a defining moment in the future of urban infrastructure and a direct rebuke of state leadership. “President Trump has made it clear: the days of reckless spending and blank checks are over,” the Transportation Secretary said in signaling a new era of accountability.
The move was welcomed by Governor Kathy Hochul, who has been under fire in her quest to generate new money for the MTA through congressional pricing in Manhattan and a payroll tax. She pushed for the arrangement in her meetings with Trump, claiming it
would save New York taxpayers $1.3 billion. Currently estimated at $7 billion, the overhaul will reflect “classical architectural heritage," a hallmark of Trumpera design that prioritizes “dignity, permanence, and American identity,” according to preliminary plans.
Commuters have long dreaded the claustrophobic station for its low ceilings, lack of amenities, and dingy appearance. Trump’s reputation as a builder, having successfully taken over previously stalled projects such as the Wollman Rink and the Ferry Point golf links, provides hope to commuters that he can get the Penn job done.
“Long Island commuters have
Legends at Whangarei
This isn’t just another club; it’s a temple of big game fishing, where world records for marlin and swordfish have been weighed, measured, and immortalized. The walls are lined with photos of the great catches and the trophies of those who made them.
It was 1926 when Zane Grey first
arrived here, lured by tales of sailfish dancing across the water and sharks with jaws like bone saws. The famed writer of Westerns and stories of adventure found more than fish— he found a muse. From these waters, the dentist-turned-author conjured “Tales of the Angler’s El Dorado” and “Tales of Swordfish and Tuna,” helping to put the Bay of Islands on game fishing’s global map.
Mounted on the wall is Bill Boniface’s 494-pound striped marlin, an all-tackle world record made near Poor Knights Island in 1986. There’s a photo of the 1,237 pound blue marlin caught by R. Jameson off the North Cape in 2009. A plaque recognizes the capture of striped marlin 00220 off Cape Brett by Barney MacGibbon in 1991. Tagged a year earlier by Lorraine Cornes in the Middle Ground, it was the first of its species ever to be recaught, thus indicating a regular migration to and from New Zealand waters. MacGibbon was awarded $10 by the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries for his effort.
suffered long enough under the MTA, both in having to subsidize it and endure lousy facilities and service,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano. “Trump has a proven record as a man who gets things done. We’re hoping he can get us a new Penn Station.”
The MTA’s last major effort to benefit riders, the Grand Central Madison project, took decades and turned into one of the most expensive railway undertakings in U.S. history, with costs exceeding $11 billion. The authority was recently called to task for overspending for the new $7 million waiting shelters at the Mastic-Shirley Train Station and for its refusal to eliminate diesel trains on Suffolk’s three rail lines.
“The lure of the sea is some strange magic that makes men love what they fear,” Grey wrote. “Death on the shifting barren sands seems less insupportable to the imagination than death out on the boundless ocean.”
The legendary sportsman came not only to fish, but to write—and through his words, helped shape the mythos of both the American West and the wild, alluring sea. What he left behind wasn’t just records or novels, but an aura, a lingering spirit that’s still palpable in the halls of Whangarei.
President Trump to take over Penn Station renovation.
Credit: Long Island Rail Road
Credit: Robert Chartuk
HISTORY LESSONS
BY RICHARD ACRITELLI
“Consider it done,” these were the words of Sound Beach resident James Henke when describing the commitment of King Quality owner Jeff Brett to the needs of Rocky Point VFW Post 6249. On April 14th, there was a ribbon-cutting event to thank this business for a new roof that was donated to this veteran’s installation that was led by its Commander Joseph A. Cognitore.
It was a wonderful morning, where everyone met in the post for breakfast and coffee, as the veterans, King Quality leadership, and politicians from every part of the local, state, and national government were present. Brett distributed green military style King Quality sweatshirts that were worn by this post’s members and many of the people who were present for this ceremony. This major business leader is a proponent of trying to make this community into a better place and its relationship with VFW Post 6249 is a perfect match to always care for others.
After the National Anthem and the presentation of plaques, certificates, and Councilwoman Jane Bonner presented “Jeff Brett Day for the Town of Brookhaven.” Next to Brett was Henke, a graduate of Port Jefferson High School in 1963, who was later drafted into the army in 1966. By 1967, Henke was sent to South Vietnam
where he fought with the 9th Infantry Division in the Mekong Delta as a light weapon machine gunner. Henke was a recipient of the Bronze Star for bravery in the field against the Vietnamese communists. Speaking to the crowd, Brett stated, “We would not be able to enjoy our freedom and way of life if it was not for these veterans. They willingly sacrificed to protect and preserve the ideals of this proud country.” In many ways, he spoke about his “Uncle Jimmy” and his valor and sacrifices during the Vietnam War.
Speaking for the post, Cognitore created the “King Quality Brett Brigade,” as his members wore glasses and crowns to colorfully thank this business. Cognitore a native of Brooklyn and Farmingdale, went to college in South Dakota, and once he graduated college in South Dakota, he was drafted into the army. After completing “Tiger Land” at Fort Polk in Louisiana, Cognitore was sent overseas and was an older and experienced platoon sergeant. Cognitore was later ordered into Cambodia to help protect American soldiers from the North Vietnamese and Vietcong military use of the Ho Chi Minh Trail to utilize this territory as a freedom of movement and for supply bases.
Fifty-five years after conducting “Search and Destroy” missions, Cognitore was
King Quality: A Patriotic Business to Help Our Local Veterans
extremely appreciative of Brett’s donation to this post. This is a solid relationship that has been established between this VFW and King Quality, as through the words of Cognitore, “that this is an important day for Post 6249, Brett ensured that we will be able to continue our mission to always help present and future veterans and residents of the North Shore and Suffolk County.” Bonner echoed the sentiments of Cognitore, “Brett’s donation of a brand-new roof to VFW Post 6249 is a meaningful and deeply appreciated contribution to our veteran’s community. His generosity reflects a strong commitment to giving back and supporting those who have served our country. We’re proud to recognize him for his outstanding act of service.”
For this event, the military color guard was presented by good friends Gary Suzik and Dan Guida. Stationed on the right was “Lieutenant Dan” Guida, an armor officer during the Vietnam War. During this conflict, Guida briefly attended St. John’s University in Jamaica, Queens, left college, and was drafted into the army. He was sent to Officer Candidate School (OCS), where Guida was later commissioned as a second lieutenant armor officer.
Your Second Amendment Rights...
Continued from page 13
“I remain committed to second amendment rights. We have for years supported the concept of reciprocity,” said N.Y.S. Conservative Party Chairman Jerry Kassar. “We're a pro-second amendment group and New York State is a horrible
example of how individuals who are essentially tourists can come into the state and find themselves under arrest for something that there's literally no legitimate argument, what did they have done, anything whatsoever wrong.”
Mary O’Hara,
Communications Director for Congressman Nick LaLota said, “Congressman LaLota is a strong supporter of the Second Amendment and remains committed to defending the rights of law-abiding gun owners.”
LaLota is “taking a closer look
Guida was deployed to South Vietnam to serve with I Corps from 1967-1968 to lead tanks, armored personnel carriers, and logistics operations in this area. While Guida supported the ground forces against the enemy near Da Nang, handling armor in Southeast Asia was a difficult chore. Coming home, Guida completed his education to become a certified public accountant, provides financial advice to veterans, and volunteers at the Long Island State Veterans Home at Stony Brook University.
Suzik is a proud native of Michigan who has become one of the most trusted lieutenants to help Cognitore run this productive post. As a young man, Suzik enjoyed playing football, hockey, and downhill skiing before entering the navy. For four years, Suzik was deployed on the USS La Salle, where he specialized in guiding landing craft. This ship that was built at the Brooklyn Navy Yard was the home to Suzik on a capable vessel that traveled to every ocean and assisted in helping secure the astronauts from the Gemini capsule.
Ordered to sail to the Caribbean Sea during the Dominican Crisis, Suzik was on board with 400 sailors and almost 600 marines. Managing crises that were close to home, the hot spots of the Cold War, and the escalation of the Vietnam War, ships like the USS La Salle were essential in bringing American naval and military strength against adversaries. Suzik was proud that his ship transported Admiral John McCain Jr., who was the father of the deceased naval pilot, prisoner of war, senator, and presidential candidate John McCain. Like most of the veterans of this post, military experience is a worthy tradition, as Suzik’s father fought during the World War II Battle of the Bulge in 1944-1945.
at the legislation as it recently passed the Judiciary Committee, but has not yet been scheduled for a floor vote. Nevertheless, LaLota remains committed to ensuring Americans’ Second Amendment shall not be infringed,” O’Hara added. The Act creates requirements
And through this busy morning, Brett, who was an all-county wrestler at Port Jefferson High School spoke to Senior Aidan Barry, a county wrestling champion about his prospects of competing at the United States Coast Academy next fall. This Rocky Point High School presented Brett with a plaque and a big handshake for his construction support to this veteran’s installation. Thank you to Mr. Jeff Brett and the special donation from King Quality to support the patriotic efforts of VFW Post 6249 and also the expected expansion of its military museum in the near future.
for lawful concealed carry across state lines. It would apply to any person possessing or carrying a concealed handgun in a State allowing them to do so in areas in the State that are open to the public such as national parks and land under the jurisdiction of many federal agencies as well and other regular places.
BY NANCY BURNER, ESQ.
A bypass trust— also known as a credit shelter trust—is a type of trust commonly used in estate tax planning for married couples. It is typically created upon the death of the first spouse, through that spouse’s will or living trust.
While married couples benefit from an unlimited marital deduction (meaning assets can pass to the surviving spouse free of estate tax), this only delays estate taxes until the second spouse passes away. Without proper planning, the surviving spouse’s estate could face a significant tax bill.
A bypass trust helps avoid this by taking advantage of the deceased spouse’s estate tax exemption. In 2025, New York State’s estate tax exemption is $7.16 million. If a couple’s combined assets are near or exceed this threshold, incorporating a bypass trust into their estate plan is worth considering.
Bypass trusts are especially important for New York residents
What
Trust and Do I Need One?
for two reasons:
(1) Use It or Lose It: New York does not allow the unused portion of a deceased spouse’s exemption to carry over. If it’s not used when the first spouse dies, it’s lost.
(2) No Portability: Unlike the federal system, which allows a surviving spouse to use any unused exemption through a process called "portability," New York has no such provision.
Let’s look at a simplified example:
A couple has a combined net worth of $10 million. If the first spouse dies and all assets go directly to the survivor, the survivor's estate may be subject to tax later. But if $5 million is placed in a bypass trust upon the first spouse’s death,
TARA D’AMATO
The library will be providing social work assistance by our licensed social worker Alex and social work intern Anne. They can help connect individuals to services and appropriate resources for housing and financial assistance, provide referrals for programs, complete various forms and applications, and more. Appointments are required.
Make a one-hour appointment with Alex: Wednesdays, May 7th, 14th, 28th, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Held at our Main Branch.
Make a one-hour appointment with Alyssa: Thursdays, May 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Held at our Mastic Beach Branch. Fridays, May 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Held at our Mastic Beach Branch.
those funds can grow and be used for the benefit of the surviving spouse, without being included in their taxable estate. The surviving spouse can still access income (and, if needed, principal) from the trust for the rest of their life.
Depending on the couple’s goals and financial situation, the estate plan can either require that a bypass trust be funded, or allow for flexibility so the surviving spouse and their advisors can make that decision after the first death.
Incorporating a bypass trust into an estate plan involves important legal and financial decisions. Always consult with a qualified estate planning attorney to determine the right approach for your circumstances.
Britt Burner, Esq. is a Partner at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. focusing her practice areas on Estate Planning and Elder Law. Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. serves clients from New York City to the east end of Long Island with offices located in East Setauket, Westhampton Beach, Manhattan and East Hampton.
Make a one-hour appointment with Anne: Tuesdays, May 6th, 13th, 12:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Held at our Main Branch.
Fridays, May 2nd, 9th, 16th, 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Held at our Main Branch.
Alzheimer’s
Caregiver Support Group
Thursdays, May 1st & 15th, 6:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Held at our Main Building. Register now.
The Family and Children’s Association is hosting a support group for caregivers who care for someone with dementia or memory loss. This group is for spouses, children, or any other family members or friends who are caring for someone with memory loss. Open to all.
Job and Career Counseling
Saturday, May 3rd, 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Held at our Main Building. Register now.
Register for a one-on-one session with our seasoned career counselor for students and professionals to help with resumes, cover letters, interview etiquette, job searching techniques, and career transition advice! For MMSCL cardholders only. Appointments required.
N.Y. State Health
Insurance Navigator
Wednesdays, May 7th, 14th, 21st, 28th, 9:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Held at our Mastic Beach Branch.
Need Health Insurance? A bilingual (English-Spanish) N.Y. State of Health navigator will be available to assist in enrolling for health insurance through the New York State of Health Marketplace. No registration required. Open to all.
2025-2026 BUDGET VOTE ON APRIL 22
REGISTER TO VOTE
Tuesday, April 15, 2025
9 a.m. – 9 p.m. at the Main Library
You are eligible to vote if:
• You are at least 18 years of age
• You are a citizen of the United States
• A resident of the William Floyd School District for at least 30 days
BUDGET HEARING
Tuesday, April 8, 7 p.m. Main Library, 407 Wm Floyd Parkway, Shirley
ABSENTEE & EARLY VOTING
Tuesday, April 15, 5 p.m. is the deadline to return applications for an absentee/ early vote ballot if the ballot is to be mailed to you.
Monday, April 21, 5 p.m. is the deadline to return applications for an absentee/early vote ballot if the ballot is hand delivered to you.
Dear Neighbors,
We’re excited to kick off our first full year with all three of our library locations fully up and running! We’re committed to keeping our library services top-notch while being mindful of how we manage public funds. To continue providing the great resources, programs, and spaces you rely on, we’re proposing a small budget adjustment this year. For the average home assessed at $1,995, this would mean an estimated increase of $2.90 per month (estimated $35 per year). We understand that any increase matters, and we want to be transparent about why this change is needed.
The 4.9% budget increase is largely due to costs that are out of our hands, like rising employee benefits such as health insurance and retirement contributions. We’ve also adjusted wages for some of our entry level librarians and security guards to better align with regional salary levels. While this is a step in the right direction, there’s still more work to be done to ensure we can attract and keep the amazing staff that make our library such a valuable community service. More than 60% of all our workers are local residents, and most of our senior managers are William Floyd graduates. Secondly, the costs of eBooks and online resources have increased significantly and there is a high demand for these services.
With the reopening of the Main Library in November 2024, this is the first time we’ve had all three of our updated facilities fully operational. We’re proud to offer expanded programs, resources, and welcoming spaces designed to inspire learning, creativity, and connection in our community.
We know that exceeding the state’s 2% tax cap is a big ask, and it’s not something we take lightly. This budget is carefully designed to ensure our library system remains sustainable and continues to provide the services you rely on.
We also want to let you know about this year’s trustee election, which includes two open seats:
• A full-term seat (2025-2030), currently held by Joseph Maiorana.
• A one-year remainder term (through June 2026), currently held by Nancy Kimmerling.
We truly appreciate your support and invite all district residents to participate in the upcoming budget vote on April 22, 2025. If you have any concerns about the budget or anything else, we are available to answer any questions.
Sincerely, The Board of Trustees
Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library FY 2025-2026 Operating Budget (PROPOSED)
Employee Salaries
Voting will take place on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Shirley location of the Community Library. In order to vote, you must be: (1) 18 years of age or older, (2) a citizen of the U.S., (3) a resident of the district for at least 30 days, and (4) registered to vote.
The estimated tax rate associated with the proposed operating budget is $37.37 per $100 of assessed valuation, which equates to an estimated annual levy of $745 for an average household (based on an assessed valuation of 1,995).
A five member Board of Trustees elected by the voters of the district governs the Library. If you have any questions about this proposed budget, please contact Lonna Castro, Library Director at (631) 399-1511 ext. 2020.
LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES
LEGAL
NOTICE FOR LLC:
Notice of formation of JPGathans LLC, Articles of Org. filed with the Secretary of State of New York (SSNY) on 3/13/2025. Office location: County of Suffolk. SSNY designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail process to: The LLC, 8823 Calypso Court, Naples FL 34112. Purpose: Any lawful act.
Notice of Formation of SJC WOODLAND, LLC, a limited liability company.
Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (SSNY) on MARCH 18, 2025. Office located in Suffolk County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to SJC WOODLAND, LLC, 343 DAYTON AVENUE, MANORVILLE, NY 11949, USA. Purpose: any lawful purpose.
COUNTY OF SUFFOLK Lakeview Loan Servicing, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST Sharon Klune a/k/a Sharon L. Klune; et al., Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 2, 2024 I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Front steps of Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on May 1, 2025 at 9:30AM, premises known as 4 Laurel Crescent a/k/a Laurel Cresent, Manorville, NY 11949. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in Manorville, Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk, State of NY, District 0200 Section 510.00
Block 05.00 Lot 029.031. Approximate amount of judgment $635,637.89 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 207406/2022.
Jacob Turner, Esq., Referee
LOGS Legal Group LLP
Attorney(s) for the Plaintiff 175 Mile Crossing Boulevard Rochester, New York 14624 (877) 430-4792
Dated: February 17, 2025 For sale information, please visit www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832
SUPREME COURT: SUFFOLK COUNTY. FEDERAL HOME LOAN MORTGAGE CORPORATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FREDDIE MAC SEASONED CREDIT RISK TRANSFER TRUST, SERIES 2019-2, Pltf. vs. RONALD KOCSI JR, et al, Defts. Index #205792/2022. Pursuant to judgment of foreclosure and sale entered June 27, 2024, I will sell at public auction at Brookhaven Town Hall, One Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY on May 5, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. premises k/a 464 Carnation Drive, Shirley, NY 11967 a/k/a District 0200, Section 615.00, Block 05.00, Lot 017.00. Approximate amount of judgment is $253,630.60 plus costs and interest. Sold subject to terms and conditions of filed judgment and terms of sale. STEVEN LOSQUADRO, Referee. MARGOLIN, WEINREB & NIERER, LLP, Attys. for Pltf., 575 Underhill Blvd., Ste. 224, Syosset, NY 11791. #102176
PENNYMAC LOAN SERVICES, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST JOSEPH DUFFY, ET AL., Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered March 19, 2020,
I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on May 13, 2025 at 10:30AM, premises known as 231 Elm Road West, Mastic Beach, NY 11951 District: 0200
District: 0209 Section: 029.00 Block: 02.00 Lot: 042.000. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Mastic Beach, Village of Mastic Beach, Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York. Approximate amount of judgment $127,662.27 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #623369/2018. Annette Eaderesto, Esq., Referee Fein, Such & Crane, LLP
28 East Main Street, Suite 1800 Rochester, NY 14614
Manorville's Brookfield Cemetery Corp. will hold its annual meeting on Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 5:00 PM at the Manorville Historical Society, 50 North Street, Manorville. All interested persons are invited to attend.
L16231 - 04/09/2025, 04/16/2025&04/23/2025
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF SUFFOLK
DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS TRUSTEE FOR ARGENT SECURITIES INC., ASSETBACKED PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2006-M2, Plaintiff, Against WILLIAM CIARAMELLI
A/K/A WILLIAM N. CIARAMELLI, WILLIAM S. CIARAMELLI A/K/A WILLIAM CIARAMELLI, Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 01/28/2025, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738, on 5/12/2025 at 2:30PM, premises known as 143 North Summit Avenue, Patchogue, NY 11772, 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 Incorporated Village of Patchogue, Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York.
District 0204 Section 008.00 Block 01.00 Lot 034.004 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $549,912.25 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 602562/2020
Billie Jean Miller, Esq., Referee.
MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 MIDLAND AVENUE, SUITE 205, PORT CHESTER, NY 10573 Dated: 3/13/2025 File Number: 560-1352 MB
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF SUFFOLKBROOKHAVEN. WILMINGTON SAVINGS FUND SOCIETY, FSB NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR CASCADE FUNDING MORTGAGE TRUST
HB4, Plaintiff -againstBETTY J. SIMPSON AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF ROSA GILLESPIE A/K/A/ ROSE LEE
GILLESPIE A/K/A ROSA LEE GILLESPIE A/K/A ROSA L. GILLESPIE, et al Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated February 18, 2025 and entered on February
21, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY on May 21, 2025 at 10:30 a.m. premises situate, lying and being in Centereach, Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York, known and designated as DSBL: 0200-0420.00-01.00004.000.
Said premises known as 48 HAWKINS ROAD, CENTEREACH, NY 11720
Approximate amount of lien $386,297.60 plus interest & costs.
Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment and Terms of Sale. Index Number 614696/2019. ANNETTE EADERESTO, ESQ., Referee Pincus Law Group, PLLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 425 RXR Plaza, Uniondale, NY 11556
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT SUFFOLK COUNTY US BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR VRMTG ASSET TRUST, Plaintiff against THE UNKNOWN HEIRSAT-LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DISTRIBUTEES, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, TRUSTEES, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, AND SUCCESSORS IN INTEREST, AND GENERALLY ALL PERSONS HAVING OR CLAIMING, UNDER, BY OR THROUGH THE DECEDENT PAULA HIGGINS, BY PURCHASE, INHERITANCE, LIEN OR OTHERWISE, ANY RIGHT TITLE OR INTEREST IN AND TO THE PREMISES DESCRIBED IN THE COMPLAINT HEREIN, 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 February 13, 2025, I will
sell at public auction to the highest bidder at Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on May 21, 2025 at 11:30 AM. Premises known as 17 Nelson Pl, Mastic, NY 11950. District 0200 Sec 823.00 Block 09.00 Lot 028.000. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situated, lying and being in the Town of Brookhaven, at Mastic, County of Suffolk and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $237,380.82 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 604561/2024. 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.
Supreme Court County of Suffolk Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, as Trustee for the benefit of the Freddie Mac Seasoned Credit Risk Transfer Trust, Series 2019-4, Plaintiff AGAINST
Estate of Patrick Nestor, Jr., et al, Defendant
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly dated June 4, 2024 and entered on June 6, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY on May 21, 2025 at 9:30 AM premises known as 47 Hunter Lane, Centereach, NY 11720. 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: 421.00, BLOCK: 04.00, LOT: 027.000;
LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES
District 0200. Approximate amount of judgment is $312,599.62 plus interests and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index # 607797/2023.
U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY AS OWNER TRUSTEE FOR RCF 2 ACQUISITION TRUST, Plaintiff against VERONICA BRADY, 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 23, 2024, I will sell at public auction to the highest bidder at Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on May 23, 2025 at 9:30 AM. Premises known as 225 Lyman Road, East Patchogue, NY 11772. District 0200 Sec 984.10 Block 06.00 Lot 009.000. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in Bellport, in the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York. Approximate Amount of Judgment is $174,293.19 plus interest, fees, and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No 623458/2023. 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.
MISCELLANEOUS RENOVATIONS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS
WHEREAS, the CENTER MORICHES FIRE DISTRICT has, by appropriate resolution, established a certain capital reserve fund designated as the Capital Reserve Fund, established pursuant to Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law, in an account for deposit of said Capital Reserve Fund entitled, "The Center Moriches Fire District, Section 6(g) General Municipal Law BUILDING AND PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT CAPITAL RESERVE FUND, in local banks, and
WHEREAS, the MISECLLANEOUS RENOVATIONS of THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUATERS INCLUDING THE REAR STAIR, AMBULANCE
BAY, TRUCK FLOOR, AND FRONT RAMP and associated expenses is deemed necessary to meet the emergency services needs of the residents of the CENTER MORICHES FIRE DISTRICT, and
WHEREAS, the maximum cost to repair and to maintain WORK ASSOCIATED WITH MISECLLANEOUS RENOVATIONS of THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUATERS INCLUDING THE REAR STAIR, AMBULANCE BAY, TRUCK FLOOR, AND FRONT RAMP REAR STAIR, AMBULANCE BAY, TRUCK FLOOR, AND FRONT RAMP, (labor, materials, and delivery), including incidental expenses, advertising, and attorney's fees is estimated to be Six Hundred Thousand Dollars ($600,000.00) dollars.
IT IS RESOLVED that pursuant to the laws and regulations applicable and in particular to Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law, that such purchase project for the MISECLLANEOUS RENOVATIONS of THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUATERS
INCLUDING THE REAR STAIR, AMBULANCE
BAY, TRUCK FLOOR, AND FRONT RAMP REAR STAIR, AMBULANCE
BAY, TRUCK FLOOR, AND FRONT RAMP, , advertising, incidental expenses, engineering, and attorney fees shall be expended from the Capital Reserve Fund entitled, "The Center Moriches Fire District, Section 6(g) General Municipal Law BUILDING AND PROPERTY IMPROVEMENT CAPITAL RESERVE FUND " upon authorization of the Board of Fire Commissioners, at the maximum estimated cost of six hundred thousand dollars ($600,000.00) dollars, and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution is subject to a permissive referendum as provided for in Section 6(g) of the General Municipal Law.
The adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly put to a vote and upon roll call, the vote was as follows:
Chairman DeLong )
A YES
Commissioner Saetran ) A YES
Commissioner Schlosberg ) AYES
Commissioner Fremgen )
A YES
Commissioner Stypulkowski ) A YES
The resolution was thereupon declared duly adopted.
Dated: Center Moriches, New York April 14, 2025
LEGAL NOTICE
TO THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CENTER MORICHES FIRE DISTRICT:
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a resolution was duly adopted by the Board of Fire Commissioners of the CENTER MORICHES FIRE DISTRICT, Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk, State of New York, on the 1 4th Day of April 2025, subject to permissive referendum as provided for by the General Municipal Law.
An extract of the resolution
is as follows:
THE CENTER MORICHES FIRE DISTRICT SHALL EXPEND A SUM NOT TO EXCED SIX HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE SECTION 6(G) GENERAL MUNICIPAL LAW BUILDING AND PROPERTY
IMPROVEMENT CAPITAL RESERVE FUND FOR THE MISECLLANEOUS RENOVATIONS of THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HEADQUATERS INCLUDING THE REAR STAIR, AMBULANCE BAY, TRUCK FLOOR, AND FRONT RAMP REAR STAIR, AMBULANCE BAY, TRUCK FLOOR, AND FRONT RAMP.
This resolution shall not take effect until thirty (30) days unless, in the meanwhile, a permissive referendum as provided by the General Municipal Law is required to be held.
Dated: April 14, 2025
BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS CENTER MORICHES FIRE DISTRICT TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN
ATTEST:
MICHAEL SCHLOSBERG
Secretary
L16242-04/23/2025
SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK
DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL TRUST COMPANY, AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE INVESTMENT TRUST 2005-1, -against-
AMPARO LARA A/K/A
LARA AMPARO A/K/A AMPARO G. LARA, 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 11, 2018, wherein DEUTSCHE BANK NATIONAL
TRUST COMPANY, AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE FOR AMERICAN HOME MORTGAGE INVESTMENT TRUST
2005-1 is the Plaintiff and AMPARO LARA A/K/A
LARA AMPARO A/K/A
AMPARO G. LARA, 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 May 22, 2025 at 10:00AM, premises known as 130 AUBORN AVENUE, SHIRLEY, NY 11967; and the following tax map identification: 0200783.00-04.00-024.000.
ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING AT SOUTH HAVEN 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.: 612930/2017. Daniel Panico, Esq. - Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.
NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION SUBJECT TO PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Middle Island Fire District, in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, at a meeting thereof, held on the 16th day of April,
2025, duly adopted, subject to permissive referendum, a Resolution, an abstract of which is as follows:
Expenditure for the upgrade to the Camera System/Network and LED lighting, with necessary and related equipment, not to exceed $125,000.00 from the Property Acquisition & Improvement Capital Reserve Fund (PAI).
Dated: Middle Island, New York April 17, 2025
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OF THE MIDDLE ISLAND FIRE DISTRICT IN THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK Chrissy Rosenfeld, District Secretary
L16244-04/23/2025
Center Moriches Fire District Building and Site Renovations & Repairs
NOTICE TO BIDDERS
The Center Moriches Fire District hereby invites the submission of separate sealed Bids for the following work:
CONTRACT: 03-1-100
Concrete CONTRACT: 04-1-100
Masonry CONTRACT: 05-1-100
Structural Steel & Metal Egress Stairs CONTRACT: 08-3-050
Overhead Doors Complete
Bid packages will be available as follows:
Bid packages will be available electronically (beginning May 1, 2025, at 9 AM). Prospective Bidders to email a request to register to Jill Carney, Assistant Project Manager at jillc@sandpebble.com. Once a completed Bidder registration card is received, each prospective Bidder will receive a Sharefile link to the Bid documents to the email address cited on the Bidder registration card.
A bid security in the amount of 5% of the base Bid for each bid is required to be submitted via Bid Bond (AIA Document A310), or 5% of the base Bid for each bid up to a maximum of $5,000
(for Bid security provided by check).
Contractors must be registered with the Bureau of Public Work and Prevailing Wage Enforcement prior to bidding. Registration certificate is to be submitted with bid package.
Each Bidder must indicate the segment(s) of the contract that will be completed by the Bidder
itself and which segment(s) by subcontractors. Only the registered Bidder will be permitted to submit a Bid.
A Bid may be rejected in the interest of the Owner based on the extent of proposed delegation of the performance of the contract to subcontractors and/ or based on the level of qualification and experience of the Bidder or proposed subcontractors.
Sealed Bids will be received from registered Bidders at the Center Moriches Fire District Dispatch Office 301 Montauk Hwy, Center Moriches, NY 11934, no later than 12:00 PM on the 22nd day of May 2025, and then publicly opened and read aloud via Zoom Conference call at 1:00 PM on the same day, May 22, 2025. Each Bidder will receive a link and password to the email address provided on the
Bidder Registration Card after the Bid is received. The Contract Number must be clearly marked at the righthand lower corner of the Bid envelope. Any Bids received later than the prescribed date and hour will be rejected.
The Center Moriches Fire District Board of Commissioners reserves the right to reject any or all Bids submitted in the best interests of the Owner and
to waive any informality in any Bid and shall further make awards in any manner it deems advisable in the best interests of the Center Moriches Fire District. The successful Bidder shall be required to execute a formal contract with the Center Moriches Fire District.
Each Bidder shall agree to hold its Bid price for fortyfive (45) days after the formal Bid opening. BY
CENTER MORICHES FIRE DISTRICT Suffolk County, New York
Dated: April 2025
L16245-04/23/2025
THE CLASSIFIEDS
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BETTOR ANGLE TM
BY TOM BARTON
The NFL Draft offers bettors a unique way to bet on sports, yet there will be no game played. Betting on who will be selected and where has been a fun situation for many bettors over the years, but with more and more social media and leaks from the teams we have gotten into an almost WWE type of betting atmosphere where the odds have been blown out of proportion for most draft slots. But there are still some places we can capitalize on.
Things like the first pick and second pick have been completely priced out of any value zone, in fact so has the third, although there is still speculation on that pick. The
#1 overall pick looks like it will be Cam Ward, but to bet that you'd have to lay $20,000 to win $100. Just a terrible value play. The same as the second pick and the Brown taking Travis Hunter. Those odds are at a robust -1000. Meaning if you laid $1,000, you'd win $100. The third pick in the draft has Abdul Carter as the favorite at -600. There is some speculation the Giants want Sanders and if you buy into that you can get him at +500 to be the third pick.
These aren't really the good value plays, but that doesn't mean we can't find value elsewhere. Look past the first few picks and the value starts to jump out at you. At
Disappointment on Ice
ByTomBarton
Both the New York Islanders and New York Rangers were expected by many to be playoff teams this season, yet both will miss the postseason in what can only be described as a massively disappointing year for New York hockey.
The Rangers missing the playoffs is a downright shock to most NHL fans. In fact, they are part of the "Original Six" teams based in the United States, and this year they have all missed the playoffs, for the first time ever.
Just one year after winning the Presidents’ Trophy with an NHLhigh 114 points and reaching the Eastern Conference finals, the Rangers failed miserably this year. Peter Laviolette's club never seemed to get things going and it was evident as they scuffled around .500 for most of the year. This team looked like it gave up before December at times and really had checked out the past month. Consider the checkedout mentality when you realize
they did not come back in any game down 2 goals the entire season.
Now, they enter an offseason with the distinction of being just the second team in franchise history and fourth team in NHL history to go from Presidents’ Trophy winners to missing the playoffs the next season. There is certainly a bullseye on coach Laviolette, but this goes even deeper as fans will hold the players and front office accountable as they await what moves will put them back on track and be able to call this lost season a fluke, rather than falling off the cliff. As of now the Rangers look like Wile E. Coyote as they fall from grace.
The Islanders expectations were certainly less, but this is still a bad season for the Isles by any measure. The crosstown rivals' failures might take the sting off, but that is no consolation for true Islander fans who feel like the team has been floundering for a while. Maybe this is their wake-
NFL Draft Betting - Is There Any Value Left?
pick #4 the New England Patriots have all but confirmed they will be taking offensive lineman Will Campbell and you only have to pay $400 to win back $100 in that spot and at #5 Mason Graham was seen this week in a Jaguars T-shirt while working out. If you believe your eyes Graham is even money to land with the Jags.
The bet that I like most is over 3 QB's taken in the first round. Ward is a certainty, as is Sanders. That leaves Jaxson Dart to make this a push at worst, Dart has been flying up draft boards and now is thought to be a top 10 pick. Milroe would be next and the chances that he is taken in the first are growing by the
up call that wholesale changes must be enacted.
The Islanders failed to make the playoffs for the first time in three seasons and just the second time in the previous six seasons. Yet, with that success did anyone really give them a chance at the Cup during any of those years. They were more so middling and now have cratered down.
This is no offseason for
excuses from the front office.
Matt Barzal's missed 28 games will be a built-in excuse but this team had more problems than just his injury. This team still doesn't have enough offense, and we could say the same thing for the past decade or so. They were shut out the 4th most times in the league this year and when you don't have a stellar offense you need to win close, defensive games. They didn't do that
losing 12 games in overtime or a shootout, and 19 one-goal games. Their off-season plans have to bring in offense in any way they can, the problem is they have been searching for that for so long it's starting to sound like an impossibility. Both New York clubs have a very important offseason on the way where major changes have to be installed to restore the faith in the fans after this down year.
3rd All-Time And Climbing
ByTomBarton
Center Moriches star pitcher
Joey Hiller has etched his name into the record books and is climbing the school's all-time charts.
This week Hiller pitched a complete game in a 12-2 win over Mattituck to send Moriches to 7-1 on the season. This start wasn't just a complete game, but it moved Hiller into some elite company as far as the Center Moriches record books are concerned.
Hiller struck out 12 batters in the effort and the fire baller now sits in 3rd place in program history with 202 strikeouts. Center Moriches has had some big-time arms, and he is just another in a long line of frontline starters. His 202 K's put him behind the leader Paul Gibson, who amassed an incredible 375 punch-outs during tenure and Glenn Gibson, who might be in reach this season for Hiller,
with 270 K's. Hiller also had two hits and
RBIs to help his
This seems like one of those safe bets where you push by pick 10 and then hope someone makes a move to send it over.
New York Fans Bad Season
Credit: Grok
Some Impressive Performances at the Half
ByTomBarton
The Suffolk County Girls' Flag Football league has reached the halfway point in the season and besides being an enormous success there are some big storylines around the county.
This season is being defined by some huge individual accomplishments. Half Hollow Hills star Samantha Heyman is leading the league in rushing yards with just under 600 but it's her 12
scores on the ground that really has opened up some eyes. Heyman has rushed for two scored in five of her last six games. If that wasn't enough, she also sits fourth in the County in yards passing being just short of 1,400 yards and her 28 passing TD's is just one off of the leader. All eyes will be on Heyman as she continues her trek to claiming the title of best player in Suffolk County.
Rocky Point's Kylie Hagan is about 100 yards shy of leading the County as she sits in 3rd place
overall but her yards per carry is eye-popping. While Heyman has the lead in yards she has 70+ carries to Hagan's 45.
Longwood's QB Delaney Israel leads the league in passing yards with nearly 1,700 yards and her 13 TDs is impressive but what might
be most impressive about her season has been it has been mistakes-free up until this point with a zero next to her interceptions count. PatMed's Mackenzie Hughes leads in passing TDs with 29 and she sits in 3rd place on the leader board for passing yards.
On the receiving end of things there are four different players with eight or more TD catches, and we are watching a real battle at the top of the yards race with Longwood's Giselle Harris barely edging out PatMed's Angie McGrath by only a few yards.
Fantasy Baseball - Sell the Snakes
ByTomBarton
Last week in this column we spoke about two Texas Rangers who were buys, despite their slow starts, and how each one of them could be had at a bargain. This week there are two starters that it's time to unload onto another owner who maybe will still value them at their peak pre-draft price tag.
Both of the Arizona Diamondback starting pitchers Zac Gallen and Corbin Burnes were top 10 picks among starting pitchers and both have
New York Giants Draft Preview
ByTomBarton
The New York Giants are sitting with the #3 pick in Thursday's NFL Draft and there are still so many directions the team can go in, and the rumors are swirling all over the speculation of whose name will be called.
Early in the process most believed
the Giants would land Cam Ward or Sanders, but as time has gone on we have watched Sander's stock fall and Ward's escalate. It seems like a given that Cam Ward will be gone by the #3 pick, and Sanders, well he has been mocked by experts as high as #2 and as low as the mid-teens at this point.
Adding Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, seemed to show the Giants cards that they won't go after a signal caller but each of them can be merely a bridge for that next franchise QB. Rumors are that even the Giants are split on whether or not they should take Sanders, and they might not be fully decided.
New York Jets Draft Preview
ByTomBarton
The New York Jets feel like a franchise that is beginning from scratch. They have a new GM, a new head coach, a new QB and really an entirely different identity entering this Thursday's draft. With pick #7 the new regime gets to show gang green fans right away what this team will be all about and the direction it plans to head in.
Most draft experts are tabbing the Jets with an offensive lineman. That is the safe route to go and it's a need the Jets will need to fix in the short term, but there are also other things to consider. The Jets brought in Aaron Glenn, a defensive minded head coach, and he has stated he wants a defensiveminded team. That alone could give all the offensive lineman talk some pause because Glenn might want to build the defense first. Keep in mind the Jets also will be without their star LB on the inside this season with CJ Mosley after he was released by the team. That now leaves a glaring hole in the middle. A name to watch is
Grok
Jets Pick #7
Jihaad Campbell. Campbell comes from an elite program at Alabama and can play the middle right away. If somehow Abdul Carter or Mason Graham fall, the Jets would scoop either player up as well.
If the Jets do stay the course and look to offensive line, the conscious seems to be that Armand Membou will be the pick. The right tackle from Missouri has scouts raving about his fast feet and how quick he is, rather than a bulking-sized tackle.
For many insiders Will Campbell is the surest fire-first rounder in the draft. He is solid and steady, which are words that you want associated with offensive lineman and although he is a pass protector first, the Jets want look to the safe route here.
The Jets are still being rumored to be looking at Sanders at QB and have been linked to RB as well, but it seems like it will be linebacker for Glenn or offensive tackle in this first round, while they can address their other needs later.
some serious question marks surrounding them. Their stat lines look ugly but it's the
metrics that make fantasy managers shutter and those metrics spell sell.
Continued
Let's assume though the Giants back off from making Sanders the pick at #3, where do they go from here? The Giants have more needs than it looks like as most bad teams do. That leaves Colorado WR/ CB Travis Hunter, and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter. In other words, the Giants simply can't screw this up.
Hunter has been doing his best to make GM's not want to take him with him insisting that he will play both ways in the NFL and being loud about it, but his talent is unquestioned. Hunter would best fit the Giants as a WR, but the reality is it's much harder to find a shutdown corner in the NFL and most execs expect that whatever team drafts him will encourage Hunter to play on the defensive side of the ball. The Browns recently compared him to Ohtani, which could mean the Giants end up with Carter.
End up is such a weird term when, in all reality, Carter is probably the most talented player in the draft. Many scouts have said that he should be the #1 pick, but QBs always take precedent for team need like the Browns and Titans have. Carter is not only one of the most talented, but he is that rare NFL Draft prospect that has a high floor. The Giant's defense is one that is front-loaded with big-time pass rushers and adding to that group could make this team downright scary as soon as next season. Even if Carter doesn't wind up being like Michah Parsons, he will be a sack specialist on a defense first team. That's a win for a draft pick.
The jury is still out on whether Big Blue will choose Sanders, Hunter or Carter, but for many Giants fans and scouts alike the third option might prove to be the best fit.
Samantha Heyman
Credit: halfhollowhillscsd | Instagram
Giants Pick #3
Credit: Grok
Credit:
SPORTS Pure Domination for Miller Place
ByTomBarton
Last season without a single senior on the team the Miller Place softball team won the Suffolk County championship. So, it stands to reason that this championship level team, now with experience under their belt would once again be a powerhouse this year, but no one could have imagined this sort of dominance coming.
Miller Place enters the week with a perfect 8-0 record. While that might be unsurprising it's how they amassed that record that will have you questioning if there is some sort of typo in this article.
Miller Place has outscored their opponents by a ridiculous mark of 126 to 6 runs.
To put that into more perspective the Panthers have scored a dozen or more runs in every game this season, they put up a 27 spot in their opening game against Hampton Bays and have scored 71 runs in 4 home games this season. On the other side of the field the pitching and defense has been just as impressive. Only one team has scored more than one run against this squad, and they already have three shutouts in the early going.
Star pitcher Ava Zicchinelli,
who was so instrumental in their success last year has been electric with eight victories, to lead Suffolk County, and she has 58 strikeouts in just 37 innings pitched.
Offensively this team doesn't have any player with more than one home run, yet they are putting up video game offensive stats, which just highlights the depth of this lineup.
This team is not quite halfway through the season, but if the early returns tell us anything it's that Miller Place isn't just the team to beat, but they look like an all-time dominant team.
Dontrelle and Puckett Added to the Flock's Anniversary Team
Fantasy Baseball...
Continued from page 26
Corbin Burnes is the first name, and his new team can't be happy with what they have seen thus far. Burnes began the week with an ERA approaching five, a WHIP that was nearly one and a half, no wins, and his K's are down to just three each in the past three games. But it goes even deeper for their newly minted $210-million-dollar man.
Burnes has watched his strikeout rate drop every year from 2020 when it was 36.7% to 2021 at 35.6%, in 2022 it fell to 30.5%, in 2023 it had a huge drop to 25.5%, last season it fell more to 23.1%, and this year he is getting close to the teens with a 20.3% strikeout rate. To put that into perspective Griffin Canning has a higher K rate right now. That also coincides with the highest walk rate increase from last year in the league and a decrease in velocity. Get an owner that still believes Burnes is who he was in the past and unload him as soon as you can.
Zac Gallen is another DBacks
starter who was once a surefire ace, but those innings may have caught up with Gallen. He sits with a 5.60 ERA this season, like Burnes his WHIP is up near one and a half and while his K numbers don't seem bad if you take away that one gem of a game where he struck out 13, he would have 16 K's in 21 innings.
Gallen has had high pitch counts, he is nibbling the corners, which has led to his increased walk rates and home run problems. That means he doesn't trust his own stuff, which has been reported that his fastball has lost it's jump. Gallen has watched his ERA increase each of the past four seasons, the same with his WHIP and that spells longterm trouble.
If you paid for Gallen or Burnes to be your ace, you understand the problems they have put you through this early month of the season. Don't hold on hoping for a huge turnaround, sell now while they still have good value before they fall even further.
ByTomBarton
The Long Island Ducks have added a very familiar name to their 25th Anniversary team when they announced that former starting pitcher Dontrelle Willis has been chosen as the 24th member.
Willis was a member of the Ducks during the 2013 season. Willis made a name for himself when he burst onto the Major League Baseball scene in 2003 by winning the National League Rookie of the Year. With the Ducks he made 14 starts and put up an impressive 2.57 ERA, three complete games, one shutout and 52 strikeouts in 87.2 innings of
work. He was selected to play in the Atlantic League All-Star Game and got the start for the Liberty Division, working a 1-23 first inning.
In the majors Willis was a two-time National League AllStar and has now become a studio and game analyst for FOX Sports and Apple TV as well as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers television broadcast team.
The Ducks also added former infielder Cody Puckett as the 25th member of the franchise’s 25th Anniversary Team.
Puckett spent five seasons with the flock from 2014 to 2018.
He appeared in 514 games and had 38 home runs, 252 RBIs, 238 runs, 529 hits, 79 doubles, two triples, 137 walks and a .324 onbase percentage. He ranks among the best in franchise history in several categories including fifth all-time in franchise history for games played, hits, total bases and at bats, sixth in RBIs, seventh in runs, eighth in doubles and ninth in extra-base hits.
The former Reds and White Sox prospect earned an Atlantic League All-Star Game and Post-Season All-Star selection in 2015. He was also named a Second Team Post-Season AllStar in 2014.
Old-School Kirwin Mows 'Em Down
ByTomBarton
We had an early season gem on the diamond between Eastport-South Manor and Harborfields this week which resulted in an old-school-style pitcher's duel.
Eastport-South Manor won 1-0 as Noah Kirwin not only won the game but he threw a no-hitter in the process. Kirwin finished with 100 pitches throw and he was as dominant as the stat line shows with an eye-popping 17 strikeouts.
The tone was set early in this one as Kirwin struck out the first 13 batters he faced. He barely missed a perfect game as he walked one batter in the fifth inning.
The hard-luck loser Harborfields Joe Deceglie who matched Kirwin through five but the Sharks scored in the bottom of the seventh to keep their unbeaten record alive this season.
Kirwin is looking like that
Panthers 2024 Team
Credit: @avazicchinelli | X
Dontrelle Willis
Credit: LIDucks.com
Hollow Hills in his next start at home this weekend.
