From the
BY STEFAN MYCHAJLIW
Two incredible moms in my life are the glue that holds two families together: my amazing wife, Ashley, and my own mother, Arlene June Mychajliw.
Literally and figuratively, these two “A’s” deserve high marks for the women they are and the great job they did and are doing, guiding and shaping the lives of their respective children.
They are the solid and sturdy backbones of raising children, with both doing so under starkly different circumstances.
My mother, Arlene, was born into horrific circumstances in her formative years. She was abandoned by her birth parents and sent to multiple orphanages and foster homes, where my poor mother was horrifically abused by
those who were supposed to love and protect her.
She was a teen runaway. I don’t blame her at all. I can’t imagine the psychological damage done by having the two people who brought her into this world give her up to be raised by someone else, then having those monsters abuse her.
My sweet mother had no idea how to raise a family, what unconditional love was, or even what a healthy, “normal” family was like. It wasn’t her fault. Life was a constant hustle for basic survival.
She had seven kids with five different men, me being the baby of the family. While we were dirt poor from a purely financial perspective, my mother blessed
BY GEORGE SANTOS
The political winds are shifting in New York, and what once looked like an unshakable blue stronghold is now anything but. Two years out from the 2026 gubernatorial race, the early rumblings in both major parties suggest a seismic battle is coming for the Governor’s Mansion—and this time, Republicans are poised for a serious breakthrough.
Governor Kathy Hochul, already viewed by many as a placeholder after ascending to the role postCuomo, is floundering in the eyes of both the public and her own party. Her mismanagement, weak leadership, and steady embrace of far-left policies have left a bitter taste in the mouths of New Yorkers who’ve watched crime skyrocket, taxes remain sky-high, and everyday freedoms eroded under her watch.
Even Democrats are growing
tired of the circus in Albany. Word is spreading that Bronx Congressman Ritchie Torres—one of the rare voices of reason left in the Democrat Party—is seriously weighing a primary challenge. Torres gained national attention for his outspoken defense of Israel and moral clarity following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attacks. His refusal to bow to the progressive fringe has earned him the respect of centrist and “blue dog” Democrats across the state. There’s a hunger for balance—even within his own party—and whispers from behind closed doors suggest more than a few Democrat insiders are quietly rooting for Hochul’s exit.
And who can blame them?
Hochul’s administration has done more to weaken the Democrats’ credibility in New York than any Republican operative ever could. She presides over a state
Two Great Moms Get Grade “A’s”
me with two incredible gifts: encouraging and guiding me to attend Mass and be close to the church, and working incredibly hard in school.
These were the seeds of my professional success, all that I owe to my mother Arlene. Our home life was hell. My biological father was an abusive, raging alcoholic.
To protect me from the horrors of home, she asked our parish priest, Fr. Ronald Pecci, to mentor me and take me under his wing. I was an altar server, church lector, and Fr. Ron’s “right-hand man.” His positive, nurturing, and “father figure” influence saved my life. I owe that grace to my mom.
She also reinforced that education was the great equalizer in life, that in the greatest country in the world, you can achieve anything at all with a solid education.
My mom would always make sure my homework was done first before I was able to go to the neighborhood Boys and Girls Club, another positive escape that kept us off the streets and away from home.
Continued on page 10
The Empire State Showdown: GOP Rising as Hochul's Grip Weakens
where lawlessness runs rampant, affordability is a distant dream, and thousands of families are fleeing for friendlier territory. For a party with a supermajority, it’s almost impressive how mismanaged things have become.
But while Democrats flail, Republicans are gearing up for a resurgence—with two stars shining brightly on the horizon.
First, there’s Congressman Mike Lawler from the Hudson Valley. Lawler’s no-nonsense, pragmatic style has earned him widespread support—even in a district that traditionally leans blue. He’s governed with transparency and a sharp focus on local needs, making him one of the few Republicans who can win hearts and minds in deep Democrat territory. That said, internal chatter suggests Lawler is leaning toward staying in Congress for now. His departure could hand
his hard-fought seat back to the Democrats, and he knows it. The party needs his steady hand in D.C.—and Lawler is smart enough to play the long game.
Then there’s the firebrand from upstate, Congresswoman Elise Stefanik.
Make no mistake—if Stefanik jumps into the race, the game changes instantly. A staunch defender of President Trump and a fierce advocate for the America First agenda, Stefanik represents the bold leadership that New Yorkers have been craving. She doesn’t mince words, she doesn’t dance around the truth, and she doesn’t play the Albany games. She’s already built a massive $10 million war chest, which speaks to both her fundraising prowess and the excitement she generates among grassroots voters and major donors alike.
When you put Hochul and Stefanik side by side, the contrast couldn’t be more jarring. One is a dithering bureaucrat who governs with fear and appeasement. The other is a bold reformer who fights for families, police, small business owners, and border security. Stefanik brings the kind of energy that can flip swing voters, reawaken disillusioned Republicans, and even attract independents who are fed up with the status quo.
It’s also worth remembering how close former Rep Lee Zeldin (R) came to winning in 2022. He ran a smart, tough campaign that nearly toppled the Democrats’ dominance, despite being heavily outspent and running in a midterm year. That razor-thin margin proved one critical point: New York is in play. And this time around, the conditions are even more favorable for a GOP win.
Continued on page 5
SANTOS UNCENSORED
Arlene Mychajliw
Credit: Stefan Mychajliw
Ashley Mychajliw
Credit: Stefan Mychajliw
ByRobertChartuk
It was like the Wild West: rival gangs shooting up Suffolk County in broad daylight. An assault at the Smith Haven Mall sent panicked shoppers fleeing after a pistol skidded across the food court—only to be kicked away by an alert bystander. A hail of bullets struck a moving vehicle, which careened into the Robo car wash in Patchogue and flipped over. A gang boss allegedly ordered a $10,000 hit from prison, and the teenage shooter later posted about his payday on social media.
This week, it all came to a dramatic end. District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney stood before a table stacked with confiscated firearms—including a pistol fitted with a drum magazine capable of holding dozens of rounds—and announced a sweeping takedown of two violent rival street gangs.
A grand jury returned a 168-count indictment charging 22 members and associates of the Mak Balla Family—a subset of the Bloods street gang— with 17 shootings, three armed robberies, possession of 22 illegal firearms, and more than 40 narcotics sales spanning from 2021 through 2025. Tierney’s office also unsealed a 23-count indictment against six members of the 9-Trey Bloods gang, who
Tierney Shuts Down Violent Gangs
allegedly conspired to carry out a for-hire shooting at the direction of Joseph Baker, a gang leader who issued the order while incarcerated in a New York State prison.
“These comprehensive investigations and consequential indictments are exactly what I promised the people of Suffolk County when I formed the Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau in 2022,” Tierney said.
“We will work tirelessly with our law enforcement partners to ensure that any violent organization operating here in Suffolk County will be taken down.”
According to prosecutors, the Mak Balla Family and its affiliated subsets—“4Eva Rich” and “Real Ni**az Only”—operated under a strict code of violence, peddling narcotics and using proceeds to fund their hierarchy and bolster their status through displays of luxury on social media. Their crimes included coordinated armed robberies, drug trafficking, and shootings carried out in a bid to control local turf. Their lawbreaking terrorized the South Shore communities of Bellport, Coram, Mastic-Shirley, and beyond.
Meanwhile, members of 9-Trey allegedly carried out a targeted shooting in November
after Baker offered $10,000 to have a rival shot in the legs. The indictment alleges his orders were relayed through a chain of co-conspirators—including his niece—leading to multiple shootings, gun recoveries, and arrests over a two-week span. One of the recovered firearms included a high-capacity magazine and a laser sight, according to law enforcement.
The sprawling investigations involved over 100 search warrants, surveillance video, wiretaps, and digital forensics, ultimately piecing together what Tierney described as a “multi-year criminal enterprise” that endangered residents and turned Suffolk communities into battlegrounds.
All 28 defendants face serious charges. Several are remanded without bail and, if convicted on the top counts, could face up to 25 years to life in prison. “We are committed to dismantling these violent criminal networks and restoring peace to our communities,” said Suffolk Sheriff Errol Toulon, Jr., whose office participated in the takedown.
The cases are being prosecuted by the District Attorney’s Violent Criminal Enterprises Bureau with assistance from multiple police departments, including the
Suffolk County PD, Riverhead Town Police, U.S. Marshals, and the State Department of Corrections.
“Let this be a warning to anyone who thinks gang violence will be tolerated here,” Tierney stated. “You will be found. You will be indicted. And you will be removed from our streets.”
The district attorney appealed to Gov. Kathy Hochul and legislative leaders to tighten the state’s lax criminal justice laws, noting that Baker was given early release when the governor ordered the emptying of New York prisons. Up for reelection this year, Tierney also criticized
the Democrat “Raise the Age” bill that removed responsibility for crimes by those under 18, a law the gangs took advantage of by sending minors to commit shootings and other crimes.
Joining Tierney in announcing the arrests was Suffolk Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina, who noted: “This allows us to focus on other things because we don’t have to chase these idiots around.”
“The toughest gang around is the one that wears a badge,” said former Suffolk Sheriff Vincent DeMarco, now the U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District. “We play by the rules, and we always win.”
South Shore Press Video Vault: Colonial Youth & Family Services Summer Camp
ByStefanMychajliw
If you're looking for a monthlong summer camp for your kids, Colonial Youth & Family Services is hosting one from June 30th, 2025, to August 29th, 2025. Registration information can be found at ColonialYFS.org or by calling 631-878-5049.
Here are portions of an interview in our “South Shore Press Video Vault” with Colonial Youth Child Care Director Suzanne Roberts. The full interview can be found on our website: SouthShorePress. com.
South Shore Press News
Director Stefan Mychajliw: For the very few folks who aren't familiar with what you great people do, can you explain exactly what it is?
Colonial Youth Child Care
Director Suzanne Roberts: Colonial Youth is a non-for-profit organization that strives to help the community in many ways. We offer mental health services with on-site and off-site therapy sessions. We also have family services where we assist the food pantry and some senior deliveries. We have a wide range of child
care services, including before and after care, which tends to ages six to ten years old. We offer universal preschool, which is ages four and five years old, our infanttoddler program, which is six weeks to four years old. And lastly, our summer camp, which is four to ten years old.
Mychajliw: What can parents expect from your summer camp?
Roberts: Children will come in, they'll have breakfast, which is provided to us through Florian Food Services. They are wonderful, we have a great partnership with them. They provide some breakfast and lunch, as well as snacks and some milk.
After 10 o'clock, children go outside and we have a wide range of activities set up for them. Each camper goes outside for about 40 minutes. They all take turns because we have three separate classrooms where kids are divided based on age, so you don't have a four-year-old mixed in with a tenyear-old.
We make sure they have their water, sunscreen, bug spray, all of that on. They then can come inside and we have activities set up for them, which are a range of coloring blocks, building blocks. We have PSEG that comes here with their trucks. Kids try on hard hats and safety gloves. They even
got a chance last summer to sit inside of the bucket. We also have the Holtsville Wildlife & Ecology Center, which brings in all types of animals.
We also have bounce houses outside. We also host theme days.
We also have an ambulance company visit, and they do a wonderful program with the kids where they explain all of their lifesaving tools.
Mychajliw: I've got multiple young kids at home and our middle son is a picky eater. So can you talk about your food program you offer to all kids, including for my middle one who is very picky?
Roberts: We have a Week A and a Week B schedule that changes on and off every other week. Children have a choice between two different types of breakfasts, either a cereal, a bagel, sometimes a waffle in the mix too. For lunch, we have chicken nuggets and french fries, and then as well as a simple surprise of what is on that menu that day. Sometimes it can be meatloaf and mashed potatoes. So we still have the chicken nuggets and the french fries available for them in the event that they may
be a little more pickier.
Mychajliw: As a parent myself, my wife and I are hesitant to drop off our kids at any summer camp.
Roberts: We are regulated through OCFS, the Office of Children and Family Services. They provide vital support to day care staff and the parents by establishing regulations and guidelines that ensure the safety of the campers. For day care staff, we have on-site training available.
I'm able to reach out to my licensor at any time, anytime I have a question, they make sure that we're following all regulations and guidelines. All of my staff is also CPR and first aid certified.
Mychajliw: Where can folks and parents, grandparents, sign up?
Roberts: You can always give us a call at 631-878-5049. You can go onto our website, which is ColonialYFS.org where we have our registration packets online for you to print out and fill out. All we ask is that whenever you fill out a packet, you come to our site located at 176 Madison Street, Mastic, New York 11950, and you drop off your packet.
Suffolk District Attorney Ray Tierney, right, points to a graph showing a drop in crime with Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina and Sheriff Errol Toulon.
Stefan Mychajliw and Suzanne Roberts
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Credit: South Shore Press Video Vault
LOCAL
ByRobertChartuk
Spring Bursts Into Bloom at Waterdrinker Farm's Tulip Festival
Nothing says spring on Long Island quite like the return of the Tulip Festival at Waterdrinker Family Farm in Manorville—a riot of color, culture, and community that draws thousands of visitors each year.
This year’s festival is bigger and brighter than ever, with millions of tulips bursting into bloom across sprawling fields that look like a scene from a Dutch postcard. From brilliant reds and vibrant yellows to
delicate pastels, the tulip fields offer a mesmerizing visual experience that has quickly become one of the region’s most beloved spring traditions.
“This is the best time of year to shake off winter and experience something magical with your family,” the farm boasts. “People come from all over to walk among the flowers, take pictures, and just enjoy being outside again.”
But the tulips are just the beginning. The festival is a full-
fledged family destination featuring live music, local food trucks, and a wealth of hands-on activities for children—including jumbo jump pads, mini golf, and an obstacle course. In addition to the floral displays, visitors can explore the farm’s greenhouse, packed with thousands of spring blooms, or get to know barnyard residents like goats, pigs, and bunnies in the petting area.
Adding to the unique atmosphere is Little Amsterdam, a whimsical mini-village that celebrates the Dutch roots of tulip cultivation. Visitors can stroll through the quaint setup, learn about the history of tulips in the Netherlands, and take in exhibits that connect the flower to centuries of cultural and economic history—including a stop at the Tulip Tunnel Museum, where the 17th-century phenomenon known as “Tulip Mania” is brought to life in an engaging and interactive way. It’s educational without being dry—it really shows people how something as simple as a flower could once be more valuable than gold.
After exploring the fields and exhibits, many visitors unwind at the farm’s on-site Long Island Farm
Brewery, where craft beer, cider, and wine are served with a view of the fields. A special Dutch Pilsner is on tap for the season, offering a festive toast to spring’s arrival.
And for those who want to take the experience home with them, Waterdrinker offers a U-Pick tulip section, where guests can select their own flowers for just $1 a stem—a popular feature for both home decorators and Instagram enthusiasts alike.
With sister locations in Manorville and Riverhead,
has fast become a seasonal staple for Long Islanders. And with the Tulip Festival’s vibrant blend of natural beauty, fun, and culture, it’s easy to see why.
“This isn’t just about flowers,” one visitor said. “It’s about getting outside, celebrating the season, and making memories.”
The festival is open daily— Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and weekends from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, go to www.water-drinker.com.
Future Considerations: Career Day For ESM Sophomores, College Decision Day for Seniors
Let’s go Sharks!
Eastport-South Manor Jr.-Sr High School recently hosted its second annual Career Day.
Tenth-grade students spoke with community members who turned out to promote the perks of their respective jobs. These professionals shared insights about their career paths and the keys and recipes for attaining success.
Career Day especially highlighted the arts, media and communications fields; business and finance; health and wellness and medicine; law and public service; STEM and trades, and skilled labor.
Assistant Principal Shelia Dempsey and teacher Alexis
Duggan organized the event. The pair explained that Career Day gets underclassmen thinking about the long-term value of their education.
Elective courses with more specialization also help bridge the gap between grade school and university as students begin finetuning their passion-and-profit playbooks.
Brendan Blackford of the U.S. Navy was a noteworthy featured guest. Jessica Ocasio, an outpatient oncology nurse, Stephanie Ogeka, a Blackstone accountant, Danielle Gruttadaurio, a Suffolk County Police Department forensic artist, and Suffolk County Police Officers were also in attendance.
Meanwhile, upperclassmen were encouraged to don their
college garb on Thursday, May 1 to commemorate National College Decision Day.
Seniors gathered in the hall and took photos of their classmates and friends’ wide-ranging undergraduate pursuits.
Eastport-South Manor Central School District mainstays that grew up together may be geographically pulled apart in a few months.
But the celebratory memories of
this final sprint will forever remain.
As the sun shines again upon the good times roll montage playing daily and nightly for graduating high school seniors across the greater area and beyond, it’s incumbent upon loved ones of the next chapter-bound to remind them: They only get this time once.
Thus, stop listening to beautiful songs through a heartbreaking lens.
You have your whole life to do that.
Value the glass-half-full wonder
years as they wind down.
It’s not “set an end to something beautiful” in “Yellow” by Coldplay, it’s “turn it into something beautiful” — I know, I’m just as shook as you are.
And the somehow-reunited Oasis didn’t damn their education. Nor did they not want to be there when you hit the ground. They do want to be there, in fact.
…so don’t (do) go away.
Sunrise Wind Work Continues
Despite a Skeptical Trump
ByRobertChartuk
Despite President Trump's souring on green energy, work is moving ahead on Sunrise Wind— one of the nation’s largest offshore projects. Crews have reached the land side of the Smith Point Bridge, installing the conduits that will house a 123-mile cable from the turbines planned off Montauk Point.
Shortly after reentering the White House in January, the president froze new leases for offshore wind and ordered a review of the industry. Late last month, the administration put the $7 billion Empire Wind project off Long Beach on hold.
has long criticized wind energy as being too expensive and detrimental to birds and marine life.
“The shoe hasn’t dropped yet on
Waterdrinker
Enjoying the tulips at the Waterdrinker Farm in Manorville are, from left, Blake Brown of Sayville and sisters Lily and Emma Barszczak from Shirley.
Rows of tulips at the Waterdrinker Farm in Manorville.
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Credit: Robert Chartuk
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
Trump
Sunrise, but it could,” said energy analyst David Walsh, who closely monitors energy policy in the Northeast. “This administration has clearly soured on offshore wind.”
Work continues on the Sunrise Wind project on the mainland side of Smith Point Bridge.
Credit: Robert Chartuk
(T) ESM HS students pose in their college wear. (B) Brendan Blackford of the U.S. Navy, speaks with ESM 10th graders.
Credit: Eastport-South Manor Central School District
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
Punch-Drunk Huntington! Adam Sandler's First Drama Coming to Cinema Arts Centre
Either in honor of its 23rd anniversary, or just because it’s that evergreenly good, “Punch-Drunk Love” will screen at Long Island’s go-to art house cinema on Friday, May 23rd at 7 p.m.
Paul Thomas “PTA” Anderson turned many heads—on the heels of what I decree while presenting my “you gotta understand, I’m a cinephile” ID his magnum opus, the operatic and messy masterpiece “Magnolia” (1999)—when he announced who would front his next film.
“I’ve always considered Adam Sandler [Dean] Martin and [Jerry] Lewis,” PTA told one Cannes panel interviewer who suspected the duo’s 1955 film “Artists and Models” as one of “Punch Drunk Love’s” key inspirations.
The unlikely pairing surprised everyone with a screwy romcom hijacked by a psych-thriller collaboration that permitted the funnyman to deliver his usual mumbling charmer with an acute rage-come-alive schtick, just cut to different music by a reel conductor this go-around.
In the years since his “look what I can do” 2002, Sandler has continued to occasionally dip into the dramatic deep end.
“Reign Over Me” (2007) casts him as a grieving 9/11 widower. In “Funny People” (2009) for Massapequa native Judd Apatow, he’s a movie star who revives his stand-up career after getting diagnosed with cancer. “Uncut Gems” (2019) makes a sports gambling addict out of a “sandman” we still find ourselves rooting for even when he’s gone too far off the rails.
These and more “one for them” Sandler entries all have “PunchDrunk Love” to thank for being the
first, though. They tap into a truth that Sandler’s always possessed since his days busking in the NYC subways while studying drama— not a typo—at NYU in the mid1980s.
For all its tears, “Reign Over Me” is about how major ingredients to treating overwhelming loss can be found somewhere over a rainbow called midnight Mel Brooks movie marathons.
“Funny People” is about redefining your career, and reclaiming your life in the process.
“Uncut Gems” is about the pursuit of victory in the face of all naysayers.
And “Punch-Drunk Love,” so says PTA, is about finding your rhythm, your music, your balance and your dance partner—which, in many ways, also describes the aforementioned three.
The film sees Sandler as Barry Egan, a troubled man with doorway OCD and massive selfconcept woes. His seven sisters are relentlessly intrusive. He oddly wears a royal blue suit to his toilet plunger factory job, stocks up on supermarket puddings by day and calls phone sex hotlines by night.
He’s not a loser—he just hasn’t won a damn thing yet.
It takes the simultaneous emergence of a harmonium and
a red-dressed enchantress—who low-key may be just as high-key disturbed as he—in his life for Barry to carpe diem squeeze his way into something more comfortable than the skin he’s felt numb and unnerved in for so many years.
Twenty-three years later, audiences are still reaping all the benefits. Cinema Arts patrons can purchase their tickets online: $16 for the public, $10 for members.
“My grandfather passed away when I was a kid. That night, when all the relatives were coming over to my house to pay their respects, I was somehow in my room watching a Jerry Lewis movie… and I was laughing,” Sandler recalled at Cannes while promoting “PunchDrunk Love” alongside PTA and co-stars Emily Watson and the late
Philip Seymor Hoffman.
“I felt really guilty about laughing,” he added. “My father and my uncle said, ‘That’s what he’s there for. Movies are there to cheer you up.’ So he’s always been a big part of my heart. I always love when a Jerry Lewis movie comes on.”
PTA—who also wrote and directed “Boogie Nights,” “There Will Be Blood” and “Licorice Pizza”—next plugs the Thomas Pynchon-inspired “One Battle After Another” with Leonardo DiCaprio for an IMAX theatrical release this September.
Sandler has “Happy Gilmore 2” and “Jay Kelly” set for Netflix in 2025 as well.
See you at the movies.
McMemory Lane Time: The Snack Wrap Is So Back
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
Welcome back, McDonald’s Snack Wraps. Our dreams of your return long remained, and now they have finally turned around.
Per the no. 1 worldwide fastfood chain, one of Mickey D’s’ foremost cult-adored, yet oftdiscontinued items not named the McRib is forging a valiant comeback to revitalize its menu in 2025.
The Snack Wrap was first launched in the US in 2006, and oh, was it ever glorious.
I personally recall first indulging in one, then several Snack Wraps at 12 years old in late July 2008. This “My Chemical Reisman”-in-the-making’s life forever changed in more ways
Hundreds Turn Out for MastiCon V at Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library
ByStefanMychajliw
The Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library welcomed a crowd of more than 350 pop culture fans, families, and costume enthusiasts this past Saturday for the
fifth annual MastiCon, the library’s signature celebration of comics, anime, cosplay, retro gaming, and community creativity.
Held at the library’s Moriches Branch, MastiCon V featured a vibrant mix of activities for all ages
— from Artist Alley and Vendors Row to a live Cosplay Contest, retro gaming lounge, and meet-andgreets with local cosplayers.
“This is what a modern library looks like — alive with imagination, inclusive energy, and community spirit,” said Lonna Castro, Director of the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library. “MastiCon invites people of all ages and backgrounds to connect through the stories, fandoms, and creative expressions that inspire them. We're thrilled to see it grow every year.”
This year’s Cosplay Contest attracted participants across multiple age groups, with winners awarded gift cards and applause from an enthusiastic crowd.
Local artists and vendors lined
the space with fan-inspired art, merchandise, and crafts, while retro game stations gave attendees a nostalgic trip back through classic titles.
“This event captures the heart of
our library’s mission — to be a place where people come not just to read, but to experience, connect, and create,” said Joe Maiorana, president of the Library Board of Trustees.
Credit: Tom Casper
Credit: Tom Casper
Credit: Punch-Drunk Love/Robert Elswit/New Line Cinema
MasticCon V
Date night, PTA-Style
than one while playing a weeklong travel baseball tournament within the Cooperstown, New York-set
Mecca of America’s pastime.
No one: | Snack Wrap: You up?
Credit: McDonald's | X
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
Late LI Native Officer Jonathan Diller Enshrined at NYPD HQ 'Wall of Heroes'
NYPD Officer Jonathan Diller was among the many heroes honored at 1 Police Plaza on Thursday, May 1st.
The Franklin Square native was posthumously promoted to detective rank shortly after being shot and killed during a Far Rockaway traffic stop that turned tragic on March 25th, 2024.
He was 31 years old.
President Donald Trump made a notable appearance at the first leg of Diller’s mass-attended, twoday wake services to express his condolences while still campaigning for reelection last year.
"We have to do a lot of things differently because this is not working. This is happening too often," Trump told reporters outside the Massapequa Funeral Home after meeting the Diller family.
“We have to stop it. We need to get back to law and order.”
Trump’s visit lasted about 40 minutes, while Gov. Hochul’s stay the following day was not nearly as lengthy, nor warmly received.
After conversing with Diller’s widow, Hochul was confronted by a man outside. Onlookers clapped as the governor exited.
A perceived lackadaisical approach to bail reform—which appears within the impassioned platforms of many elected representatives islandwide—under the Hochul administration has been regularly blamed for Diller’s untimely demise.
A married father of an infant child, Diller's presence was surely felt on Thursday. His proud relatives sat front and center at the beautiful ceremony where politics were thankfully checked at the door, and only fondly recalled heroics were on the day's commemorative itinerary.
The department unveiled 50 plaques to serenade just as many fallen cops for their selfless and sacrificial efforts.
One additional plaque—paying tribute to Joseph M. Abate, an electrician who died in 2021 as a result of 9/11-related lung cancer— made it 51 lives honored in total; physically gone, but confirmed never to be forgotten.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch referred to these departed brave men and women of all different ranks and titles, and “whose sacrifices took different forms," as “the very best of us.”
“Their names are being added to our Hall of Heroes,” said Tisch, “but their absence has already been felt
at roll calls, in squad cars, in homes across the city and the state.”
We at The South Shore Press thank Officer Diller, his fellow
fallen heroes, and all the boys and girls in blue, and in general, who risk their lives so that we can live easier.
At 85, Fran Hit the Road
ByRobertChartuk
For most of her life, Frances Chartuk was a homebody—steady, grounded, the kind of mother who kept the household running and the family stitched together with quiet strength. The Center Moriches resident read voraciously, always fascinated by history, culture, and places she never thought she’d see. But in her 80s, something changed. Maybe it was the spark of a new romance, maybe just a shift in the wind—but Fran hit the road.
At 85, with her new boyfriend at the wheel, she began checking off her bucket list of places she’d only dreamed of visiting. She stood at the edge of Boston Harbor and threw tea into the water. She spent the night in the famously haunted home of Lizzie Borden, a place as chilling as the rhyme etched in American folklore.
Her journey continued through the heart of American history and culture—Gettysburg’s solemn fields, the elegant halls of the Newport Mansions, and the winding paths of Dupont’s Winterthur and
the architectural beauty of Fallingwater, the Frank Lloyd Wright estate in Pennsylvania, and checked out the Baseball Hall of Fame.
But Fran didn’t stop there. She laughed at Dollywood, soaked in the music of Nashville’s Grand
May they rest in peace, their legacy carry on, and their name be eternally displayed at the Wall of Heroes.
Ole Opry and the Country Music Hall of Fame, and paid homage to Elvis at Graceland. She visited Appomattox Court House, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and wandered through the Titanic Museum and Al Capone’s cell at the Alcatraz East Crime Museum. From Hershey’s sweet-smelling butterfly atrium to the Fishing Hall of Fame and the quirky D’Elia Antique Tool Museum in Connecticut, she explored it all— history, gardens, architecture, music, and mystery.
And along the way, she stopped to visit family—her daughter in Delaware and son in Virginia— never forgetting where she came from even as she embraced where she was going.
This Mother’s Day, we honor Fran—not just as a loving mom, but as a woman who, well into her 80s, reminded us it’s never too late to chase curiosity, explore the world, and live with wonder. Here’s to Fran—who proved the road doesn’t end when you grow old; sometimes, it just begins.
Mighty Audit Monday: Suffolk Comptroller Recovers $1.7 Million
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
According to Suffolk County Comptroller John M. Kennedy, Jr.’s office, the longtime local representative recently oversaw a successful audit of overpaid medical sentences.
Comptroller Kennedy settled yet another audit with Anthem BlueCross BlueShield that revealed a massive billing error. The former administrator of hospital benefits for the County’s self-insured employee medical health plan was paying the County $1,688,138. This plan covers 45,000 active or former employees or dependents.
Kennedy and Company deployed the Segal Group to perform the medical claims audit. The audit centered on January 1st through
December 31st, 2022.
Says Kennedy’s Office: Anthem repeatedly undercharged members for copayments, thereby overcharging the County for benefits assigned. Instances of duplicate claims were also detected, in addition to overpaid plan benefit limits for acupuncture, chiropractor and physical therapy services.
Mistakes revolved around the process of coordinating benefits with medicare claims were found to have been a systemic issue above all else.
“Auditing the County’s selfinsured employee medical health plan has been a priority of mine since becoming County Comptroller in 2015,” said Kennedy. “As a result of these audits, my administration
has recouped over $10 million in misspent medical costs for the taxpayers of Suffolk County.”
The County ended its administrative service agreement and 19-year partnership with
Anthem at the conclusion of last year, choosing to go into contract with Aetna moving forward.
Thousands of Students To Visit SCPD Headquarters To Celebrate Police Week
ByDeborahWilliams
The Suffolk County Police Department is getting ready for the Department’s annual Police Week and Police Memorial Service.
Suffolk County Police Deputy Commissioner Belinda Groneman joined members of the Guardians of Our Dependents (GOOD) Foundation to brighten up the outside of Police Headquarters in Yaphank in preparation for the events.
Volunteers planted flowers around the main building and the memorial garden.
The Suffolk County Police Department will open its doors to give students of all ages an up-close look at police operations during Police Week beginning May 5th at Police
Headquarters in Yaphank.
During the first day of the event, high school students will be introduced into the ins and outs of a law enforcement career, tour the police museum and participate in demonstrations about distracted and impaired driving.
Students will also see mock car stops to learn what they should do when stopped by the police.
For the next three days, elementary school and junior high school students will attend the event with age-related experiences. Throughout all four days, Crime Scene, Emergency Service Section, Highway Patrol and Marine Bureau will have displays for students to tour. Various
police vehicles, equipment and antique police cars will be on display.
The GOOD Foundation was founded in 2009 to support children of deceased police officers.
The mission of the GOOD Foundation is to help the families of members of the Police Department, Port Authority Police Department, and FDNY after a member’s passing.
This includes both nonline of duty deaths, line of duty deaths, and those injured during the LOD. This foundation has been able to help over two dozen families, not only from the Suffolk County Police Department, but from Nassau County and the NYPD as well.
Credit: Facebook-John M. Kennedy Jr. | Anthem
“Auditing the County’s self-insured employee medical health plan has been a priority of mine since becoming County Comptroller in 2015,” said Suffolk County Comptroller John M. Kennedy, Jr.
Longwood Gardens. She marveled at
Credit: Chartuk Family Frances Chartuk at Longwood Gardens in Delaware, one of the many stops during her epic road trips.
ByDeborahWilliams
National Grid Is Raising Rates Again to Pay for N.Y. Green New Deal
Last May, The South Shore Press covered National Grid’s request to New York State for approval of a 15-20% increase in electric and gas rates. The time for those extra dollars to come from your wallet is here.
The Public Service Commission will vote on this three-year phased in rate hike soon and is expected to approve the request. National Grid said one of the main reasons for the rate hike is the mandates associated with the clean energy transition and advancing the goals of New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (N.Y. Green New Deal). The state’s climate law, one of the toughest in the U.S., has also been driving up
delivery rates.
If approved, customers would be paying 20% more over a three-year period. This adds up to nearly $175 more per customer in the first year totaling $268 by year three. This means the average household will experience an increase of $14.32 a month the first year, just over $6/ month in the second year, and more than $4/month in the third year.
The Public Service Commission will vote on this proposal in the coming months. If approved, it means starting sometime this year, you could be paying a higher electric bill so National Grid can update its infrastructure to meet demands of the Green New Deal.
"We know that the last thing our
customers want is a rate hike on their electricity, but what's really the driving factor in this is our push to modernize what's really an aging infrastructure," said David Bertola, National Grid spokesperson. "Is it ideal to see a rate increase? No, but these are things that need to be done, and by stretching them over three years, we're trying to, trying to kind of minimize the impact as much as possible."
Price hikes for New York’s other electricity providers are also expected. PSEG Long Island customers already got hammered with a significant rate hike in 2024, with the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) board approving an 11.6% increase in the utility's budget. The average monthly
bill for Long Island residential customers increased approximately $20,
Governor Hochul Wants to Give You $400 of Your Own Money
ByDeborahWilliams
Governor Kathy Hochul is touting her $400 rebate back to New York taxpayers in her recent budget proposal. The budget was due April 1st so it is already a month late.
Everyone but the politicians seem to understand that government has no money of its own. Every cent the government has comes from hardworking Americans in the form of taxes and fees. But, somehow when politicians are giving it away to other people, or back to you in the form of a rebate, they put their names all over it.
This proposed N.Y. state budget is no different. It is filled with giveaways hoping to buoy Hochul’s dismal approval ratings as she heads into a new election cycle. Strong Republican candidates are on the horizon as are threats of a primary challenge within her own party. When there is blood in the water, politicians do what they can to curry favor.
So, what is Hochul doing with your money this year in the form of giveaways?
Over eight million eligible New Yorkers will receive up to $400 in rebate checks using $2 billion in taxpayer funds. Hochul calls this rebate "Inflation Refund Checks.” Individuals will get up to $200, while families can receive up to $400. You don’t have to apply for the
checks – you’ll get one as long as you did a tax return for the most recent filing year.
“If anybody questions whether or not an inflation rebate is a good idea, go with me to a grocery store and walk and push a shopping cart as a mom is putting everything from eggs to diapers and bread and tuna fish in the cart,” Hochul said.
“I promised New Yorkers to fight like hell to put money back in their pockets and make our streets and subways safer. That’s exactly what this budget will do.”
Here are the income brackets that define what your rebate will be:
• Joint tax filers making up to $150,000: $400
• Joint tax filers making over $150,000 but no greater than $300,000: $300
• Single tax filers making up to $75,000: $200
• Single tax filers making over $75,000 but no greater than $150,000: $150
There is no timeline set yet as to when you might receive your check. The state legislature still has to pass the budget.
Hochul is taking a victory lap claiming she gave back $5,000 to N.Y. families. She calls it her Affordability Agenda. Other giveaways using your own tax
money include:
• Expanding New York’s child tax credit to up to $1,000 per child for 1.6 million families.
• Cutting taxes for the middle class claiming 75% of all tax filers in
Assisted Suicide Bill Passes New York Assembly, Heads to Senate
ByDeborahWilliams
The New York State Assembly passed an Assisted Suicide bill (A136/S138) that amends the state’s public health law to allow a terminally ill adult with a prognosis of six months or less to be prescribed a medication that would cause death.
The bill passed 81-67 after four hours of debate. A bill needs 76 votes to pass. Every Republican and 20 Democrats voted against this legislation. Two physicians would need to agree that the person has the mental capacity to qualify. A physician is not required to be present when the lethal dose is taken.
"The NYS Conservative Party unequivocally opposes assisted suicide. It is extraordinarily dangerous for governments to involve themselves in the life-anddeath decisions of innocent people. If terminally ill New Yorkers wish to enter hospice, they have every right to. There is no need for Dr. Kevorkian type businesses -- aka 'Doctor Death' -- in New York,” said Chairman Jerry Kassar.
“Canada went down this slippery path, and the results have been chilling-what began as a 'compassionate option' has become a bureaucratic nightmare and a moral disaster. New York will regret following suit,” Kassar added.
South Shore Press spoke with Jessica Rodgers, Coalitions Director for the Patients Rights Action Fund, “There is almost no oversight. After the patient receives the prescription, the state
washes their hand of that patient. There's no follow-up to ensure that they maintain capacity to make this decision.
“Everything in the law is done for the anonymity of the patients and the prescribers and makes it as challenging as possible to investigate much less prosecute abuse,” Rodgers added.
Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) said, “This radical legislation, driven by Governor Hochul’s Far Left allies, normalizes the termination of human life under the guise of ‘compassion,’ putting the elderly, disabled, and terminally ill at risk of coercion and despair.
“Instead of investing in palliative care, mental health support, and life-affirming resources for those facing terminal illness, this legislation offers an immoral shortcut that devalues human life. It sends a chilling message to our seniors and disabled communities that their lives are expendable," said Stefanik.
What are the potential abuses and pit falls?
“In Oregon, we see diabetes consistently listed as one of the qualifying conditions. Anorexia nervosa, which is a mental health condition, has been used in Colorado and Oregon,” Rodgers said.
“What's important to note is that the doctors who have prescribed lethal cocktails for these treatable conditions have not been sanctioned. In practice, if you're not receiving treatment for anorexia, then certainly that,
and other conditions, can be considered imminently fatal,” said Rodgers. “There is no requirement for treatment.”
Rodgers described a case study in 2024 for a woman in Oregon with a diagnosis of early Alzheimer's. She chose to stop eating and drinking for five days. She found a prescriber in Oregon who said, well, your death is imminent because you're not eating or drinking. He prescribed her lethal drugs under Oregon's law, which is the law that New York is modeled after.
In Canada, they initially started with very similar frameworks that New York is considering. A few years later, they did a study to project how much money they would save if they expanded the bill.
“After that report came back, they expanded it. They now have two tracks. If you have what is considered to be a terminal condition, you can apply and get euthanasia within 24 hours,” Rodgers said. “And, if you have any manner of disability, then you qualify under track two.”
Disability advocates continue to be vocal in opposition. The New York Association on Independent Living, the National Council on Independent Living, the National Council on Disability, the Center for Disability Rights, and “the list just goes on and on and on and on with these tremendous advocates who understand the unique threat that this kind of policy poses for their communities,” Rodgers concluded.
Electric rates to go up, again.
Hochul to Give $400 Rebates
Credit: National Grid
Credit: Grok/Twitter
ByDeborahWilliams
New York to Risk $40 Billion in State Pension Funds on Green New Deal Investments
New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced $2.4 billion in additional investments of The New York State Common Retirement Fund (Fund) into what they call “climate solution opportunities.”
This latest round of investment brings the total amount of pension funds risked on climate funds to $26.5 billion, toward the state’s goal of $40 billion. The Fund is the third largest state pension fund in the U.S., with approximately $273.4 billion in assets.
Previously, DiNapoli announced that the retirement fund had a goal of net-zero portfolio emissions by 2040. The investment philosophy of the Fund states it will “keep focusing on long-term climate resilience in line with fiduciary duty.
“Climate change poses a real threat to our investments, but the actions announced today will help
position the Fund to address those risks and seize on opportunities generated as the world transitions to a low-carbon economy,” DiNapoli said. “The Fund is a leader on addressing the investment challenges posed by climate change and our efforts continue. Over one million members and beneficiaries depend on the Fund’s long-term strength for a secure pension.”
The Comptroller’s office said they would continue to actively disinvest as well as restrict buying in any fossil fuel fund including investments in 39 coal, oil sands, and shale oil and gas companies. They will also disinvest in eight coal and shale oil and gas companies that the Fund has determined are not prepared for the transition to a low-carbon economy: Kinetic Development Group Ltd., NLC India Ltd., PT Petrindo Jaya Kreasi Tbk., Yancoal Australia Ltd., Civitas Resources Inc., Peyto Exploration & Development Corp., Texas Pacific
Land Corp., and Viper Energy Inc.
The Fund will not directly purchase or directly hold debt or equity securities, or invest through an actively managed account or vehicle, in these restricted companies. The newly restricted securities, valued around $31.1 million, will be sold by the Fund in a prudent manner.
Three funds have been picked as part of its Sustainable Investments and Climate Solutions (SICS) Program for their focus on either the climate transition or supporting green infrastructure.
Two billion dollars to the
FTSE Russell TPI 1000 Climate Transition Index, an index fund that examines companies’ fossil fuel reserves, carbon emissions, green revenues, management quality and carbon performance.
Two hundred fifty million dollars to the Oaktree Power Opportunities Fund VII, a fund targeting investments supporting infrastructure, including electric power, solar, and water systems though investments in aging infrastructure, energy efficiency, and renewable energy, primarily in North America.
One hundred fifty million dollars to the Vision Ridge Partners Sustainable Asset Fund IV, a fund targeting investments focusing on climate mitigation and adaptation through identifying, developing, and transforming assets across energy, transportation, and agriculture, primarily in North America.
House Passes Take It Down Act to Combat Online Exploitation of Minors
ByRobertChartuk
In a decisive bipartisan vote, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Take It Down Act, a landmark bill aimed at protecting children and young adults from nonconsensual intimate imagery (NCII) and online
exploitation. The bill passed the Senate earlier this year and now heads to President Trump’s desk for signature.
The legislation marks one of the most significant federal efforts to address the growing threat of malicious digital content targeting minors. It
provides new tools to remove unauthorized imagery from online platforms, strengthens penalties for offenders, and enhances protections for victims of digital abuse.
First Lady Melania Trump, who made passage of the bill a central focus after returning to the White House in January, celebrated the House action.
“Today’s bipartisan passage of the Take It Down Act is a powerful statement that we stand united in protecting the dignity, privacy, and safety of our children,” Mrs. Trump said. “Through this critical legislation and our continued focus with ‘Be Best,’ we are building a future where every child can thrive and achieve their full potential.”
Mrs. Trump has been a longtime advocate for online safety, and in March, hosted a high-profile roundtable on Capitol Hill with lawmakers, survivors of NCII, and internet safety advocates to push for swift passage of the bill. During the event, she called for stronger protections in an increasingly datadriven world and highlighted the dangers of deepfake technology.
The Take It Down Act cleared the House Energy and Commerce Committee earlier
this month before advancing to the full House for a vote.
The Senate passed its version of the bill in February, with President Trump voicing his support during his 2025 Address to a Joint Session of Congress.
The First Lady credited bipartisan cooperation in Congress for the bill’s success and thanked House Republican leadership for
expediting its consideration. She also praised members of both parties who voted in favor of the measure.
The bill’s passage represents a significant milestone for the White House’s broader efforts to bolster online protections for young Americans. President Trump is expected to sign the bill into law later this week.
Congress passes Take it Down Act.
Credit: Center for Missing and Exploited Children
N.Y.S. pension fund invested in Green New Deal Funds.
Credit: Grok/Twitter
NATION
ByRobertChartuk
Media's Tariff Tiff Brushed Back by Trump's Trillions in U.S. Investments
Reaction to President Trump’s tariff and tax policies by the nation’s news outlets, dubbed “Chicken Noodle Media,” has been doom and gloom. They overlook, however, his simple premise: Impose a tariff on goods coming from the United States, and we will charge you the same amount. Charge zero, and we will charge zero.
The goal is simple: Reduce the trade deficit and bring manufacturing back home. After four years of Joe Biden, the United States was losing trillions to foreign competitors. Nations such as China, infamous for abusive trade practices, enriched themselves while American workers suffered.
As a result of Trump’s hard-line on tariffs, more than 100 countries have lined up to do business with the world’s biggest consumer. They have no choice, and you can bet that Trump’s deals will benefit Americans.
CEOs of the world’s largest corporations have taken note. At a recent White House event, business leaders joined the president
to announce a staggering $8 trillion in new investments in our country. The scale of this influx can be tracked at whitehouse.gov/ investments.
As the media fixated on Trump’s tariff policies, 20 major companies sent representatives to meet with him at an “Investing in America” summit. Among them was GE Aerospace’s Larry Culp, who noted: “We are investing a billion dollars this year across 16 states, not only in our manufacturing footprint but with so many of the small and midsized businesses that constitute our supply chain.” He told Trump, “Mr. President, thank you for what you are doing, not only to revitalize U.S. manufacturing but helping ensure that the aerospace industry, one of our biggest net exporters, continues to lead the world in innovation.”
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang unveiled plans for a $500 billion chip manufacturing facility. “We’re working on artificial intelligence across industries—from healthcare and life sciences to financial services and education,” Huang said. “That’s only possible because of the infrastructure here and
the strong policies that support innovation. Thank you, sir,” he told the president.
Other companies announcing massive expansion plans include Apple, GE Aerospace, Taiwan Semiconductor, Roche, Johnson & Johnson, Eli Lilly, Novartis, AbbVie, Merck, Abbott, IBM,
Stellantis, Regeneron, Chobani, Toyota, and Hyundai. Sovereign wealth funds from the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Japan, and Taiwan also pledged significant investments.
“The U.S. is the center of innovation; it must continue its leadership on Artificial
DOGE Report: What Are the Highlights 100 Days In?
ByDeborahWilliams
President Donald Trump was elected on the strength of his policy promises to the American people. Secure borders, tough on crime, deporting violent illegal aliens, eliminating DEI, protecting women and girls in sports and locker rooms, and spending the taxpayer money–your money–properly and within the mission and interests of the American people.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) was born from this promise. DOGE is uncovering massive waster fraud and abuse as it goes department by department and agency by agency–some worse than others. DOGE has cut at least $160 billion so far with a goal of $2 trillion.
It is also uncovering antiquated computer systems and generally poor stewardship practices. Extremely poor accounting practices have been uncovered
showing payment systems that don’t record why the payment is being made or if the person is even alive or entitled to a payment. Millions in loans made to children were also found.
DOGE reported on X that, “In 2020-2021, Small Business Administration granted 5,593 loans for $312M to borrowers whose only listed owner was 11 years old or younger at the time of the loan. While it is possible to have business arrangements where this is legal, that is highly unlikely for these 5,593 loans, as they all also used an SSN with the incorrect name.”
This week, DOGE gave a shout out to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy for terminating seven wasteful grants with award value of $54M and savings of $51M, including:-$6M for “collaborative planning to address safety concerns of women and gender non-conforming people”-$12M for “accelerating
equitable decarbonization”-$6M for “hyperlocal pollution exposure inequalities” in New York City.
Still other agencies and grants do not perform any service that is in the interest of the American people and some is in direct conflict with American values. DOGE staffers revealed in a recent interview with Fox News’ Jessie Waters that the United States Institute of Peace “is definitely the agency we've had the most fight at. We actually went into the agency and found they had loaded guns inside their headquarters. Additionally, we found that they were spending
WORLD
money on things like private jets, and they even had a $130,000 contract with a former member of the Taliban.”
DOGE also announced this week that agencies terminated 401 wasteful contracts with a ceiling value of $2.1B and savings of $613M, including a $276k Treasury contract for a “Kenya program coordinator”, a $228k Treasury contract for “Kenya, Uganda, Namibia and Tanzania cruiser vehicles,” a $24k DHS contract for “two day training on equal opportunity in employment,” a $15k DHS contract for “Out and Equal
Intelligence,” said Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank, whose affiliated companies plan to invest $700 billion. “This is the largest investment for infrastructure in the United States, which is the future of mankind, I believe. It's going to change every industry, every way of mankind's lifestyle of the future.”
Talks are ongoing to hammer out a fair trade deal with China, a country Trump says has been “ripping off” the U.S. for years. Their threat to withhold the rare earth minerals essential for modern technology was countered by the deal Trump recently signed with Ukraine to develop its natural resources. This move advances a peace deal with Russia through a U.S. presence in the war-torn country.
“The businesses represented today clearly understand that if you build your factory in the United States, your tariff rate is zero,” Trump said. “Every investment, every factory, and every new job is a signal of American strength and confidence in our future. We’ve never seen anything like this.”
workplace advocates,” and a $5.9M DoC contract for “environmental consulting support services.”
It is important to note that although there are certainly individuals and agencies that exist to waste and defraud the taxpayer pocketbook, some agencies are simply mired in outdated systems, have layers of management that hamper any progress and efficiency, and other agencies have good people who work in agencies that have been allowed to bloat to the point that they are out of mission. These agencies and grants are being defunded and even eliminated.
It's War in Wellington
ByRobertChartuk Dispatch, Wellington, NZ—
Members of Congress bickering in Washington have nothing on the legislators of New Zealand, who recently performed a Haka—a traditional Māori war dance—on the floor of Parliament in protest of a controversial bill.
The country is embroiled in debate over attempts to redefine the Treaty of Waitangi, the nation’s foundational agreement between the British Crown and Māori chiefs. Signed in 1840, the treaty recognizes Māori ownership of indigenous lands and resources—but differing interpretations of its terms have sparked long-standing disputes over rights and sovereignty.
The dramatic protest unfolded
Legislators in New Zealand perform a Haka in Parliament.
during the first reading of the Treaty Principles Bill, introduced by the libertarian ACT Party. The bill aims to narrow the interpretation of the treaty—a
move critics argue would undermine decades of progress in addressing colonial-era injustices.
Credit: Chat GPT Continued on page 17
President Trump with Masayoshi Son, CEO of SoftBank, whose affiliated companies plan to invest $700 billion in the U.S.
Contract with the Taliban canceled by DOGE
Credit: News feed
Credit: Grok/Twitter
BY NANCY BURNER, ESQ.
Medical aid in dying is not permitted by New York State law just yet, but it is making its way through the state legislature.
The state Assembly’s health and codes committees advanced the legislation, known as the Medical Aid in Dying Act. The last time this effort was advanced to the floor of either chamber of the state Legislature was its original introduction in 2016. To become law, the bill must be passed through both chambers of the state legislature and then be signed by the governor.
Medical Aid in Dying in New York
New York, capacity to make the decision to end one’s life would require a patient to be twentyone years or older, be terminally ill with six months or less or live, must understand and appreciate the nature and the consequences (risks and benefits), and be able to communicate their informed decision to their physician.
Time will tell and the path is still unpaved, but this development in New York law is groundbreaking in both the medical and legal communities.
As far as the New York bill goes, medical aid in dying would only be available to people who have been determined to have six months or less to live. Those living with a chronic disease or disability would not be eligible. Currently, only eleven states in the U.S. have laws that permit a physician to assist terminally ill patients end their lives.
The pending legislation has proponents and opponents who have both formed positions based on varying ethical, religious, and
medical reasons. The proposed New York law would allow for a self-administered dose that would allow for the patient to determine whether and when to administer it.
family serving yours since 1976
According to the law, capacity would also need to be intact to be able to communicate with a physician licensed in New York state about the desire to receive medical aid in dying. In
LIBRARY LIVING
BY TARA D’AMATO
Assistant Library Director
Britt Burner, Esq. is a Partner at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. focusing her practice areas on Estate Planning and Elder Law. Erin Cullen is a graduate of the Maurice A. Dean School of Law at Hofstra University. Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. serves clients from New York City to the east end of Long Island with offices located in East Setauket, Westhampton Beach, Manhattan and East Hampton.
The Mastics-MorichesShirley Community Library invites fans of all ages to experience the MastiCon, a celebration of comics, anime, cosplay, retro gaming, and pop culture. This free, all-ages event brings the spirit of ComicCon to eastern Long Island and attracted nearly 300 attendees last year. This year’s edition promises even more excitement, with Artist Alley, Vendors Row, Author’s Nook, live cosplay contests, special guests, retro games, and family-friendly fun.
“MastiCon is one of the most joyful, creative events we host all year,” said Lonna Castro, Director of the Mastics-
Moriches-Shirley Community Library.
“It reflects everything a modern library can be — a place where stories come to life, community comes together, and imagination takes center stage.”
When:
Saturday, May 3, 2025
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
(Rain location: Main Library Building, 407 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, NY 11967)
Where:
Moriches Branch, 201 Montauk Highway, Moriches, NY 11955
Highlights include:
• Cosplay Contest (1:00–2:30 p.m.) – Gift cards awarded to winners in multiple age groups.
• Artist Alley and Vendors Row –Featuring local creators, artists, and vendors offering everything from art prints to collectibles.
• Retro Gaming Lounge – Play classic Nintendo games on the Switch.
• Photo Ops with Local Cosplayers – Meet and mingle with costume enthusiasts. No registration required for general attendance. Space is limited for the Cosplay Contest.
For more information, visit: www.communitylibrary. org or call (631) 399-1511.
Kostanti A Kruk, Owner Matthew Kruk, Licensed Funeral Director
Credit: © BrunoWeltmann | Dreamstime.com
MASTICS-MORICHES-SHIRLEY COMMUNITY LIBRARY LITERACY DEPARTMENT
Bo o k S a l e
Friday, May 30 ..... 10 AM – 5 PM Saturday, May 31 .......... 10 AM – 4 PM
Sunday, June 1 .......... 12:30 PM – 3:30 PM to benefit the Community Family Literacy Project, Inc., a 501c3 registered charity
Browse a selection of gently used materials for the whole family. Held at the Main Library, 407 William Floyd Pkwy, Shirley
• Hardcover books $2/ea
• Paperbacks $1/ea
• DVDs 2 for $1
• CDs 5 for $1
• Blu-rays $1/ea
• Audiobooks $1/ea
• Buy & fill a tote bag with books $15/ea
For more information please call (631) 399-1511 ext. 2002. Cash only. Use of handheld barcode scanners is not permitted.
Please let us know in advance if you will need an accommodation that will make this event accessible to you. Photographs may be taken at any of the Library’s programs. These photos may be used in Library publicity, including but not limited to the Library newsletter and web page. If you do not want photos taken of you or our child(ren), be sure to inform the library staff member overseeing the program before the program begins. All photographs are the property of the Library.
LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES
YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (HSBC BANK USA, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE UNDER THE POOLING AND SERVICING AGREEMENT DATED AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2006, FREMONT HOME LOAN TRUST 2006-E) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. This action was commenced to foreclose a mortgage against real property located at 706 Doane Avenue Bellport, New York 11713.
McCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC By: Caren Bailey, Esq. Attorneys for Plaintiff One Huntington Quadrangle, Suite 4N25 Melville, NY 11747 631-8124084 855-845-2584 facsimile File # 20-303274 HELP FOR HOMEOWNERS IN FORECLOSURE NEW YORK STATE LAW REQUIRES THAT WE SEND YOU THIS NOTICE ABOUT THE FORECLOSURE PROCESS. PLEASE READ IT CAREFULLY. SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME. IF YOU FAIL TO RESPOND TO THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT IN THIS FORECLOSURE ACTION, YOU MAY LOSE YOUR HOME. PLEASE READ THE SUMMONS AND COMPLAINT CAREFULLY. YOU SHOULD IMMEDIATELY CONTACT AN ATTORNEY OR YOUR LOCAL LEGAL AID OFFICE TO OBTAIN ADVICE ON HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF. SOURCES OF INFORMATION AND ASSISTANCE The State encourages you to become informed about your options in foreclosure. In addition to seeking assistance from an attorney or legal aid office, there are government agencies and non- profit organizations that you may contact for information about possible options, including trying to work with your lender during this process. To locate an entity near you, you may call the toll-free helpline maintained by the New York State Department of Financial Services at
1-800-342-3736 or visit the Department`s website at www.dfs.ny.gov RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS YOU ARE NOT REQUIRED TO LEAVE YOUR HOME AT THIS TIME. You have the right to stay in your home during the foreclosure process. You are not required to leave your home unless and until your property is sold at auction pursuant to a judgment of foreclosure and sale. Regardless of whether you choose to remain in your home, YOU ARE REQUIRED TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PROPERTY and pay property taxes in accordance with state and local law. FORECLOSURE RESCUE SCAMS Be careful of people who approach you with offers to "save" your home. There are individuals who watch for notices of foreclosure actions in order to unfairly profit from a homeowner`s distress. You should be extremely careful about any such promises and any suggestions that you pay them a fee or sign over your deed. State law requires anyone offering such services for profit to enter into a contract which fully describes the services they will perform and fees they will charge, and which prohibits them from taking any money from you until they have completed all such promised services. § 1303
NOTICE 16-12-20*
L16255 - 05/07/2025, 05/14/2025, 05/21/2025 & 05/28/2025
NOTICE OF FORMATION
Notice of Formation of OPAL BEAUTY, LLC, a limited liability company. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (SSNY) on APRIL 30, 2025. Office located in Suffolk County. SSNY has been designated for the process of service. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to CASSANDRA MASTROGIACOMO, 35 ELDER DRIVE, COMMACK, NY 11725, USA. Purpose: any lawful purpose.
L16256 - 05/07/2025, 05/14/2025, 05/21/2025, 05/28/2025, 06/04/2025 & 06/11/2025
Resolution Submission Form
Meeting of: May 1, 2025
Title: Resolution for Further Public Hearing in the Matter of the Establishment of Proposed Mastic Beach Sewer District, in the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk, State of New York, Pursuant to Article 12-A New York State Town Law
Department: Law Department
Sponsors: Karen Dunne Kesnig
Permissive Referendum: No
SEQRA Required: No
Financial Impact:
Reason: To call a further public hearing to consider the proposed Mastic Beach Sewer District.
Body:
IN THE MATTER OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE PROPOSED MASTIC BEACH SEWER DISTRICT, IN THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, STATE OF NEW YORK, PURSUANT TO
ARTICLE 12-A §209-d OF NEW YORK STATE TOWN LAW
ORDER CALLING FURTHER PUBLIC HEARING TO BE HELD ON MAY 22, 2025
WHEREAS, pursuant to Town Law Section 209d, the Town Board of the Town of Brookhaven scheduled a Public Hearing, on the Town Board’s own motion, to consider the establishment of a proposed Sewer Improvement Special District to be known as the “Mastic Beach Sewer District”; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Sewer Improvement Special District will be located in portions of the unincorporated hamlet of Mastic Beach, in the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk, State of New York.
A detailed description of the proposed boundaries are attached as Schedule A; and
WHEREAS, by Resolution dated April 10, 2025, the Town Board of the Town of Brookhaven adopted an Order, on the Town Board’s own motion, calling a Public Hearing to be held on May 1, 2025 in the matter of the establishment of the proposed Mastic Beach Sewer District pursuant to Article 12-A §209-d of the New York State Town Law.
WHEREAS, said order recited in general terms the filing of Map, Plan and Report in the Town Clerk’s office for public inspection, prepared by Hayduk Engineering, LLC, Consulting Engineers, a description of the boundaries of the proposed district, the estimated maximum amount proposed to be expended for the improvement, the proposed method of financing to be employed and specifying that the Town Board shall meet at the Brookhaven Town Hall, One Independence Hill, Farmingville, New York 11738, on May 1, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. for the purpose of conducting a public hearing on such proposal to establish Mastic Beach Sewer District and to hear all persons interested in the subject matter concerning the same.
WHEREAS, NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, by the Town Board that it hereby determined: That the Notice of Hearing that was published and posted for the May 1, 2025 Public Hearing was insufficient, in that it failed to state the cost of the improvement to the typical property.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Board determined that it is in the public interest to conduct a further public hearing upon due notice pursuant to Town Law Article 12-A §209-e
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Town Board shall meet at the Brookhaven Town Hall, One Independence Hill, Farmingville, New York 11738, on May 22, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., to hear all persons interested in the matter of the proposed establishment
of the proposed Mastic Beach Sewer District stating the cost to the “typical property” and, if different, to the “typical one or two family home” as defined in Town Law §209-a.
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the comments and statements made at the May 1, 2025 public hearing shall be deemed legally valid, not withstanding the insufficient notice defect.
PUBLIC NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Article 12-A, §209-d of the New York State Town Law, a public hearing shall be held by the Town Board of the Town of Brookhaven at One Independence Hill, Farmingville, New York, on the 22nd day of May, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. to review and accept a revised Map, Plan and Report prepared to consider the establishment of the proposed Mastic Beach Sewer District, in the Hamlet of Mastic Beach in the Town of Brookhaven, an area outside of any village. Said revised Map, Plan and Report shall be available for public inspection and review at the Town Clerk’s Office during the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and shall be posted on the Town’s signboard and in the Town’s official newspaper and the Town of Brookhaven’s official website, at least ten (10) days prior to the public hearing.
The boundaries of proposed Mastic Beach Sewer District are attached hereto and made a part of this resolution as Schedule “A”. Mastic Beach Sewer District is intended to serve two areas: Area 1, the Neighborhood Road Redevelopment Area and Area 2, additional properties along Mastic Road. The proposed sewer infrastructure including the following: one Wastewater Treatment Plant, SBR process, 300,000 gpd capacity with four (4) process trains; two (2) sanitary pumping stations, the Mastic Road Pumping Station at 225,000 gpd and the Wastewater Treatment Plant Pumping Station, on the same parcel as the Wastewater Treatment Plant, at 75,000 gpd; and sewer service by gravity sewers, with certain remote properties connected
using Low Pressure Sewers if gravity service is not feasible. The estimated capital cost of the sewer infrastructure is $42.7 million, which includes construction, construction administration, engineering, legal, bond counsel, a 30% contingency. A total of $24.25 million in grants and external funding is anticipated. For conservative financial planning, this report assumes that only 50% of expected grant funding is secured. The estimated annual debt service is $2.2 million. The estimated annual operating cost of the infrastructure is $1.2 million following construction of the Neighborhood Road Redevelopment Area development.
Costs to the Typical Property Owner
Based on the proposed redevelopment project that encompasses more than 50% of the number of parcels in the proposed District, the most frequently occurring, or “typical property” would be a new housing unit between 600-1200 SF in size. The cost of the district to the typical property owner in Year 1 of operation is $4,297/year.
The cost of the district to a single-family home in Year 1 of operation is also $4,297/ year.
The cost of the district to the typical property owner after Phase 5 of the NRRA is $2,788/year.
Additional grant funds are anticipated and will further reduce these costs.
Hook-Up Fees
Existing residential properties will not have to pay for additional hookup costs. The costs for residential connections are borne by the project and paid for by the District.
Each individual property owner will be responsible for connection to the new sewer stubs provide at each property line.
Estimated hook-up cost for a typical commercial property is approximately $26,500, depending on location and specifics related to the property.
The proposed method of apportioning the cost of construction and improvement of the Mastic Beach Sewer District is to assess the costs entirely against the lands benefitted thereby, being the entire
LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL
area of Mastic Beach Sewer District; and to assess, levy and collect costs from the several lots or parcels within the benefitted area proportion to the amount of benefit which the improvement shall confer upon such lots or parcels based on the number of EDUs as described in the Map, Plan and Report.
The proposed Mastic Beach Sewer District located in the Hamlet of Mastic Beach and area outside of any village is divided into three service areas:
Service Area 1: The Neighborhood Road Redevelopment Area, to be comprised of mixed-use commercial residential uses;
Service Area 2A: existing parcels located along Mastic Road between the Mastic Road Pump Station to the Wastewater Treatment Plant life station, consisting of a mix of commercial and residential properties; and
Service Area 2B: existing parcels located along Mastic Road from the Wastewater Treatment Plant lift station north to the Mastic Beach Sewer District boundary at Wavecrest Drive, consisting of mostly undeveloped wooded parcels.
The boundaries of proposed Mastic Beach Sewer District are attached hereto and made a part hereof as Schedule “A”.
KEVIN LAVALLE, TOWN CLERK
TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN
Dated: May 22, 2025 Farmingville, New York
Schedule ''A''
Mastic Beach Sewer District Outline
BEGINNING at a point on the southeasterly line of Wavecrest Drive distant 100' easterly from the intersection of the southeasterly line of Wavecrest Drive with the easterly line of Mastic Road, said point being the northeasterly corner of Lot 10, Map of Mastic AcresUnit 6B;
RUNNING THENCE along said map and across Quay Avenue, S 15°01'56" W, 659 feet to the southerly line of Quay Avenue;
THENCE along said road line N 70°36'53" E, 386 feet to the westerly line of Cypress Drive;
THENCE along said road line S 19°23'07" E, 200 feet to the northerly line of Lot 1273, Map of Mastic AcresUnit 2;
THENCE along said lot line
S 70°36'53" W, 252 feet to the northeasterly corner of Lot 1282 on said map;
THENCE along the easterly line of Lots 1282 through 1286, S 19°23'07" E, 250 feet to the northerly line of Lot 1287;
THENCE along said lot line
S 70°37'42" W, 246 feet to the easterly line of Mastic Beach Road;
THENCE along said road line N 19°16'01" W, 250 feet;
THENCE S 69°28'24" W, 102 feet to the westerly line of Mastic Beach Road and the northerly corner of Lot 37, Map of Shirley Long Island-Unit P;
THENCE along the westerly line of Mastic Beach Road S 18°29'09" E, 207 feet;
THENCE along the northerly line of Lot 34, Map of Shirley Long Island-Unit P, S 71°30'51" W, 150 feet to the easterly line of Lot 38;
THENCE S 18°29'09" E, 158 feet to the easterly line of said map;
THENCE along said line the following courses and distances:
1) S 28°26'41" W, 548 feet;
2) S 21°36'51"W, 878 feet to the northerly line of Map of Mastic Gardens;
THENCE along said map line S 84°26'16" W, 35 feet to the easterly line of Lot 40 of said map;
THENCE along said lot line and across Lincoln Avenue, S 05°23'48" E, 150 feet to the southerly line of Lincoln Avenue;
THENCE along said road line S 84°36'12" W, 126 feet to the westerly line of Byway Lane as shown on said map; THENCE along said road line and across Washington Avenue, S 04°59'58" E, 423 feet to the southerly line of Washington Avenue;
THENCE along said road line S 85°00'02"W, 196 feet to the easterly line of Mastic Road;
THENCE along said road line and across Silver Road the following courses and distances:
1) S 07°15'58" E, 412 feet;
2) S 02°02'24" W, 110 feet to the southerly end of a curve connecting the southerly line of Silver Road with the easterly line of Knapp Road; THENCE along the easterly line of Knapp Road and across Ann Road and Pine Road the following courses and distances:
1) S 20°07'23" E, 430 feet;
2) S 10°28'33" E, 333 feet;
THENCE N 87°57'36" W, 143 feet across Knapp Road and along the southerly line of Pine Road to the northeasterly corner of Lot 227, Map of Mastic Estates; THENCE along the easterly line of Lots 227 through 236, S 04°17'39" E, 201 feet to the northerly line of President Road;
THENCE S 17°26'53" W, 52 feet to the southerly line of President Road and the northeast corner of Lot 246; THENCE along the easterly line of Lots 246 through 251, S 02°02'23" W, 124 feet; THENCE along the easterly line of Lots 252 through 259, S 07°05'12" W, 145 feet to the northerly line of Edwards Road;
THENCE S 35°08'40" W, 85 feet to the southerly line of Edwards Road and the northeast corner of Lot 276; THENCE along the easterly line of Lots 276 through 283, S 19°02'33" E, 200 feet to the northerly line of Barclay Road;
THENCE along said road line S 70°57'27" W, 133 feet;
THENCE S 29°29'36" W, 76 feet;
THENCE S 00°35'24" W, 124 feet;
THENCE S 13°13'49" E, 83 feet to the westerly line of West Riviera Road;
THENCE along said road line and across Neighborhood Road, S 18°23'56" E, 1082 feet to the northerly line of Lot 9054, 3rd Map of Mastic Beach;
THENCE along said lot line, S 71°36'04" W, 99 feet;
THENCE S12°53'34" E, 41 feet;
THENCE S 60°29'02" W, 156 feet;
THENCE S 13°54'48" E, 113 feet;
THENCE S 76°05'12" W, 208 feet to a point on the northerly line of Victoria Place;
THENCE along said road line the following courses and distances:
1) Along the arc of a curve bearing to the left, having a radius of 343 feet and an arc length of 140 feet;
2) S 52°43'27" W, 300 feet to the easterly line of Bayview Drive;
THENCE S 63°39'24" W, 50 feet to the westerly line of Bayview Drive and the northerly line of Lot 9731, 4th Map of Mastic Beach;
THENCE S 52°43'31" W, 71 feet to the easterly line of Cranberry Drive;
THENCE along said road
line N 18°24'59" W, 220 feet;
THENCE S 60°25'22"W, 41 feet to the westerly line of Cranberry Drive and the northerly line of Lot 9792 of said map;
THENCE along the northerly line of Lot 9792 and Lot 9827, S 71°34'59" W, 440 feet to the easterly line of Elder Drive;
THENCE N 89°58'54" W, 63 feet to the northerly line of Linden Place;
THENCE along said road line S 71°35'01" W, 440 feet to the easterly line of Huguenot Drive;
THENCE S 70°25'38" W, 54 feet to the westerly line of Huguenot Drive and the northerly line of Lot 2863, 6th Map of Mastic Beach; THENCE along said lot line N 88°39'09" W, 100 feet to the easterly line of Lot 2886; THENCE along said lot line N 01°20'51" E, 20 feet to the southerly line of Lot 2885; THENCE along said lot line and across Woodside Road N 88°39'09" W, 140 feet to the westerly line of Woodside Road;
THENCE along said road line S 01°20'51" W, 60 feet to the northerly line of Lot 2919;
THENCE along said lot line N 88°39'09" W, 100 feet to the easterly line of Lot 2937; THENCE along the easterly line of Lots 2937 through 2935, N 01°20'51" E, 60.00 feet to the southerly line of Lot 2930;
THENCE along the southerly line of Lots 2930 through 2934, N 88°39'09" W, 100 feet to the easterly line of Lynbrook Road; THENCE along said road line N 01°20'51" E, 54 feet; THENCE S 69°48'10" W, 156 feet to the northwesterly line of Commack Road; THENCE along said road line S 51°12'02" W, 572 feet; THENCE N 38°47'58" W, 100 feet to the southerly line of Lot 375, Map of Shirley Long Island-Unit E; THENCE along the southerly line of said Lot 375, S 51°12'03" W, 31 feet; THENCE along the westerly line of said lot 375, N 14°42'27" W, 218 feet to the southerly line of Neighborhood Road; THENCE along said road line N 75°22'29"E, 160 feet; THENCE across Neighborhood Road and along the westerly line of Lot 397 of said map, N 14°36'59" W, 269 feet; THENCE along the
northerly line of Lots 397 through 416 of said map, N 73°15'58" E, 400 feet;
THENCE along the easterly line of said Lot 416, S 14°36'59" E, 133 feet to the northerly line of Lot 417 of said map;
THENCE along the northerly line of said Lot 417, N 75°23'01" E, 205 feet to the westerly line of Lot 436 of said map;
THENCE along the westerly line of said Lot 436, S 16°44'02" E, 20 feet to the southwest corner of said lot 436;
THENCE along the southerly line of said map, N 52°07'53" E, 1828 feet to the easterly line of Lot 724 of said map; THENCE along said line N 37°52'07" W, 100 feet to the southeasterly line of Parkwood Drive;
THENCE N 11°48'10" W, 142 feet to the northerly line of Robinhood Drive;
THENCE along said road line N 79°11'56" E, 387 feet to the westerly line of Mastic Road;
THENCE along said road line the following courses and distances:
1) N 38°05'46" E, 152 feet;
2) Along the arc of a curve bearing to the left, having a radius of 975 feet and an arc length of 322 feet to a point where Mastic Road intersects the westerly line of Map of Shirley Long IslandUnit S;
THENCE along said map line N 10°48'04" W, 530 feet to the southerly line of President Road; THENCE along said road line S 79°11'56" W, 87 feet; THENCE N 54°00'28" W, 117 feet to the northwest terminus of Floyd Road South and the southerly line of Map of Country Woods at Colony Preserve-Lot 80; THENCE along said map lot line the following courses and distances:
1) N10°48'04"W,4 feet; 2) S 81°07'38"W, 30 feet; 3) S 77°17'48"W, 60 feet; 4) S 78°26'08" W, 75 feet; 5) N 10°48'04" W, 20 feet; 6) S 81°29'23" W, 150 feet; 7) S 79°57'48" W, 75 feet; 8) S 10°48'04" E, 11 feet; 9) S 79°11'56" W,150 feet; 10) S 76°54'28" W, 150 feet; 11) S 78°26'08" W, 75 feet; 12) S 79°11'56" W, 225 feet; 13) S 76°46'13" W, 165 feet; 14) S 10°48'04" E, 4 feet; 15) S 79°11'56" W, 50 feet; 16) N 10°48'04" W, 4 feet; 17) S 78°03'08" W, 100 feet; 18) S 79°11'56" W, 525 feet;
19) S 79°57'48" W, 75 feet; 20) S 79°11'56" W,170 feet;
21) S 10°48'04" E, 3 feet;
22) S 79°11'56" W, 50 feet;
23) N 10°48'04" E, 3 feet;
24) S 79°11'56" W, 92 feet;
25) S 77°40'08" W, 75 feet;
26) S 79°57'48"W, 150 feet;
27) S 78°26'08" W, 75 feet;
28) S 79°11'56" W, 375 feet;
29) S 79°57'48" W, 75 feet;
30) S 79°11'56" W, 90 feet to the easterly line of Flower Road on said map; THENCE along said road line N 10°48'04" W, 79 feet; THENCE continuing along Lot 80 of said map the following courses and distances:
1) N 79°11'56" E, 188 feet;
2) N 08°05'00" W, 127 feet;
3) N 05°23'02" E, 73 feet;
4) N 19°57'39" E, 75 feet;
5) N 28°49'21" E, 81 feet;
6) N 28°55'05" E, 815 feet;
7) N 49°20'41" W, 205 feet to the easterly line of Flower Road on said map; THENCE along said road line and the following courses and distances:
1) Along the arc of a curve bearing to the right, having a radius of 200 feet and an arc length of 49 feet;
2) Along the arc of a curve bearing to the right having a radius of 35 feet and an arc length of 18 feet;
3) Along the arc of a curve bearing to the left having a radius of 67 feet and an arc length of 106 feet; THENCE continuing along Lot 80 of said map the following courses and distances:
1) N 62°27'46" E, 146 feet; 2) N 82°13'47" E, 302 feet;
3) N 34°25'01" E, 414 feet;
4) N 43°17' 17" E, 185 feet;
5) Along the arc of a curve bearing to the right, having a radius of 1000 feet and an arc length of 226 feet;
6) Along the arc of a curve bearing to the right, having a radius of 600 feet and an arc length of 597 feet;
7) S 63°01'34" E, 371 feet;
8) Along the arc of a curve bearing to the left, having a radius of 600 feet and an arc length of 378 feet;
9) N 80°51'43" E, 147 feet;
10) S 10°47'52" E, 380 feet;
11) S 10°48'04" E, 962 feet; THENCE along the northerly lines of Lots 170 through 173, Map of Mastic Estates, S 87°57'37" E, 102 feet;
THENCE along the easterly line of said Lot 173, S 02°02'24" W, 100 feet to the northerly line of President Road;
LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES
THENCE along said road line S 87°57'36" E, 80 feet to a curve connecting said road line with the westerly line of Mastic Road;
THENCE along the arc of said curve bearing to the left, having a radius of 20 feet and an arc length of 31 feet to the westerly line of Mastic Road; THENCE along the westerly line of Mastic Road the following courses and distances:
1) N 02°02'24" E, 1010 feet;
2) N 07°15'58"W, 410 feet;
3) N 07°14'31" W, 50 feet;
4) Along the arc of a curve bearing to the right, having a radius of 716 feet and an arc length of 380 feet;
5) N 23°30'18" E, 57 feet;
6) N 21°37'29" E, 112 feet;
THENCE along the southerly line of Map of Shirley-Unit P, S 84°36'10" W, 228 feet to land of the Union Free School District;
THENCE along the common line between the land of the Union Free School District
and the Map of Shirley-Unit P the following courses and distances:
1) N 21°36'51" E, 1134 feet; 2) N 28°26'43" E, 995 feet; 3) N 18°34'44" W, 143 feet; 4) N 71°23'16" E, 200 feet to the westerly line of Mastic Beach Road;
THENCE along said road line N 18°35'54" W, 622 feet;
THENCE N 71°24'06" E, 50 feet to the southerly end of the arc connecting the easterly line of Mastic Beach Road with the southeasterly line of Wavecrest Drive; THENCE along the arc of said curve bearing to the right, having a radius of 30 feet and an arc length of 65 feet to the southeasterly line of Wavecrest Drive; THENCE along said road line across Madison Street and Mastic Road, S 74°58'04" E, 516 feet to the POINT or PLACE OF BEGINNING.
Schedule ''B''
The annual debt service was calculated using a capital recovery factor (CRF) using the formula below:
CRF = i (I +1)ᶰ (1 + i)ᶰ - 1
Where: i = interest rate, ᶰ = payback period
Financing information such as the interest rate and payback period is based upon information provided by the Town, who examined the historical rates observed by the Town for comparable bonds for other projects. Note that market rates fluctuate over time and the final interest rate may vary from the estimate.
6.4 User Cost Calculations
As previously noted, unit costs are expressed on a "per-SFE" basis, where an SFE represents 225 gpd of sanitary flow demand. Commercial users requiring
more than one SFE of capacity may estimate their costs by multiplying their actual sanitary demand (in SFEs) by the cost per SFE provided herein.
For reference information, the projected costs for each type of user are calculated below. The time period selected for the analysis is the first year following construction of the NRRA development.
Table 5 - Projected
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SPORTS Future Writers of the World Are on a Good Path
ByTomBarton
There are few things in the world, and most parents would contest that nothing in the universe, is better than when your child looks up at you with pride. I was able to experience that this week when my son Tommy's teacher Mrs. Larson, from Joseph
about my career.
The class is learning about what it's like to get into college. From writing an admissions essay into their "Garden University" to designing and organizing their dorm rooms, the lessons were all about writing and how effective
that tool will be as they move on to the next step in their education. This is impressive at any level, but it's even more impressive when you consider this is only a 5th grade class.
I came into the class with a plan to speak about my media career, the obstacles and benefits I have gotten being in the sports radio and newspaper world, but when I was preparing to speak to the class I realized how much I had in common with these young writers. Like them I had assignments, favorite topics to write about and a teacher, or in my case an editor, to look over my work.
When I was done speaking, I saw a smile and prideful look coming from Tommy at me, which is everything a father wants. But as I scanned the room what I saw was just amazing, and every teacher has seen that look. Engaged and eager to learn young faces with a slew of questions staring back at me. The
The Ducks Welcome Special Singers
ByTomBarton
This weekend the Long Island Ducks had a group of special guests on the field when the Albert G. Prodell Middle School chorus performed the national anthem before the game.
Choral director John Samonte led the students as they sang on the field just before the Ducks took on the Staten Island FerryHawks. With families and fans in the stands, the performance was a proud moment for both the students and the school community.
The experience highlighted the importance of music education and gave students a real-world opportunity to showcase their skills in a professional setting.
The Shoreham Wading River school district said, "Special thanks to WHAM for generously sponsoring custom performance T-shirts that helped the students look and feel like a team. The
Shoreham-Wading River Central School District celebrates this incredible achievement and applauds the students, families, and community members who made it all possible."
ESM Has Eight Scholar Athlete Teams
ByTomBarton
The winter sports season at Eastport-South Manor Jr.-Sr. High School was certainly one to remember as all eight varsity Teams were named Scholar-Athlete teams by the New York State Public High School Athletic Association.
In order to qualify the studentathletes must have acquired a collective 90% grade point average or more. In addition to the teams there were standout individual performances by the ESM athletes. Both the girls and boys bowling teams received the NYSPHSAA Sportsmanship Award. The boys' team also won the League 2 Championship; they had the Section XI Wildcard Tournament High Scorer and were a Playoff Qualifier. For the boys Jacob Lerit earned AllLeague honors and Logan Silbert was named All-League and All-
County.
The boys winter track team also won a title when they won the League III Championship title, as well as the Section XI Small School County Championship title while the girls winter track were also named a Scholar-Athlete Team. Separately Amaya Agudo earned All-League and All-County, Colleen Carroll also got the nod for AllLeague and All-County, Sarah Cluff, Meghan Burst, Sophia Colavito, Maddie Laezza, Elsie Martin, Lila McCarthy, Sara Mikula and Brooke Springsteen all made All-League. For the boys' team Justin Albanese led the way with All-League, AllCounty and All-State. Paul Zorn was named All-League and AllCounty. Will the other All-League honors go to Aiden Campbell, Christian Capolino, Jaden Flood, Riley Gimpel, Hyan Sy, Paul Zorn. Individually seniors Jaden Flood and
questions that they asked were insightful and you could see the work the class has put into their writing and college preparation.
The winner of the writing contest, Kaitlyn, as well as Tommy stood in front of the room and read their applications. I can honestly say I had almost no critiques as they used phrases and words that I would expect from a senior in high school to write. The class was donned out in their college gear from Cornell to Texas, Virginia to UMass Lowell, Army to Florida State the class was not only knowledgeable about how to get into college but seemed already
have their favorite colleges chosen. That forward thinking was not surprising by the time I left the class. Speaking with the children afterwards and Mrs. Larson during the class you could see the clear path and thirst for learning each of them had. We then spoke about Ivy League colleges and I have never been so sure that the Ivy's will have a few of these bright minds learning in the classrooms in just a few short years, and the class as a whole will be making an impact on the world...possibly, and hopefully, as writers who can lead us to a bright future.
It's a Breeze to Get to 300
ByTomBarton
Brianna Henke has hit a milestone and has done so in impressive fashion.
Henke notched her 300th save in net this week for the Rocky Point Eagles lacrosse team. "Breezy" as she is affectionately nicknamed came into the season as one of the biggest names to watch in Suffolk County. Last season she saved more than 52%
and academic
York State Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance, the award recognizes one male and one female Suffolk County high school senior from
of the shots she faced.
This season she ranks inside the top 15 goalies in the county with 80 total saves, which includes two double-digit save games already this year. Henke has already committed to continuing her career at the University of Massachusetts.
The Eagles are 9-3 overall and 7-3 in their division and are in the hunt for the top seed with four games remaining in the season.
each school district who exemplifies outstanding scholastic ability, physical education performance and leadership qualities.
The girls varsity basketball team were named a Scholar-Athlete Team with Sara Langdon taking home All-League honors and Karma Gould being named the Unsung Hero.
The boys varsity basketball also was named a Scholar-Athlete Team. They were led by Sait Coskuntuncel who went All-League and AllAcademic and Brady McGowan who was named All-League and All-Conference.
The wrestling team and competition cheer teams also were named Scholar-Athlete Teams. The cheer team had Cassandrah Catalano and Kaelyn McCall each take home an Academic All-County nod.
Allyson Justesen were recognized for their outstanding athletic
endeavors with the 2024 NYS AHPERD Suffolk Zone Award. Sponsored by the New
A. Edgar in Rocky Point, asked me to speak in front of the children
Mrs. Larson's Class
Credit: Tom Barton
ESM Student Athletes
Credit: Eastports South Manor School District
Credit: Shoreham Wading River School District | facebook Students Sing The National Anthem
Credit: rpg_vl | Instagram Brianna Henke