New York State is unique when it comes to running for office and what ballot lines candidates appear.
It’s called fusion voting. Meaning, you can be a registered Republican and still appear on the ballot on minor party lines, even though you’re not a member of that political party.
I’ll use myself as an example.
Right now in Erie County, New York, where I ran for countywide office in 2012, there are approximately 280,878 registered Democrats, a whopping 44.3% of the electorate. Just like New York State, it’s a dark blue county, with 162,394 registered Republicans, or 25.6% of all voters.
It’s almost impossible for the GOP to run countywide and win, especially in presidential election years, where there’s massive Democratic turnout.
Keep in mind, I ran as a
Republican in 2012 when Barack Obama was at the top of the ticket. Family, friends, donors, and many in the GOP told me not to run. It was impossible, based on the sheer volume of Democrats, that a member of the Grand Old Party just could not win.
Those doubts were temporarily enforced when I was talking about that first election with my now late mother, Arlene Mychajliw.
She seemed a touch nervous, borderline tense when talking to me one day about the race. I thought she had the same doubts many others did, and quite frankly, I didn’t blame anyone. Think about it: If every Democrat showed up and voted for the candidate in their own party, that person is automatically up by 45%. All they would need is 5% of the rest of the electorate plus one more vote
BY GEORGE SANTOS SANTOS UNCENSORED
Week three in prison. The weight of those words alone is enough to knock the wind out of me. Yet here I am, living it, breathing it, and confronting the harsh reality every single day. No amount of denial or wishful thinking can erase where I find myself.
I went from standing at the pinnacle of power and prestige attending galas, navigating multimillion-dollar fundraisers in glittering Manhattan apartments and Long Island mansions to the rock bottom of federal confinement. It has been a fall played out for the world to see. And let me tell you this: some people are reveling in it, almost celebrating my downfall like it’s a sport. Others, quietly and steadfastly, are rooting for me
to win a two-way race.
Communists Hijacked the Democrats
So I asked my Mom, a lifelong and devoted Democrat, “Hey, what’s up?”
She gave me a concerned look and finally came clean.
“I never voted for a Republican in my entire life. I don’t know if I can now, even though you’re my son and I love you.”
I thought, “Good Lord, if my own mother isn’t voting for me, I’m in trouble.”
That day, she got a short lesson in fusion voting, that she could vote for me on the Conservative or the nowdefunct Independence lines.
“Oh Thank God Sweetheart,” she said, as my mom realized she could vote for her son while at the same time remaining true to her vow to never, ever vote for a Republican.
My late mother was a
“Kennedy Democrat.” Moderate. Pro-life, Pro-Labor, union to the core, and fought hard for the working man and woman.
If she were alive today, she would be an outcast in today’s Democratic Party that’s been hijacked by radical extremists like AOC, Bernie Sanders, and in New York City, Commie
The Democratic Party of today supports open borders, fights for illegal immigrants, despises law enforcement, wants to defund the police, embraces Socialism, and pushes radical policies like putting hard-core criminals back on the streets with little or no bail.
Week 3 Behind Bars: From Prestige to Prison
to rise again. In between those extremes, I am simply trying to survive mentally, emotionally, and physically.
Ironically, one small grace has emerged in this strange chapter of my life: the people I’ve found myself surrounded by. Against all odds, I’m sharing space with men who despite our circumstances maintain a sense of normalcy in our conversations. We aren’t hardened criminals. We aren’t career inmates. For the most part, we are individuals who stumbled, fell, and are trying to figure out the next step forward.
Perhaps most surreal of all is that my dorm mate is none other than Sam Miele. Yes, the same Sam who once stood beside me at high-
end fundraisers. Today, instead of discussing campaign strategy in penthouses and estate living rooms, we find ourselves reflecting on the past while lying on prison bunks. We talk openly about our so-called “fall from grace,” but we also talk about rebuilding, about the future, about proving that this is not our final chapter. At least, I pray it isn’t.
Still, even with camaraderie, reality bites and sometimes it burns. This past week has been unbearable in the most literal sense of the word. The government has many inefficiencies, but no one could have convinced me that being slowly baked alive in a metal warehouse was part of the experience. Imagine fifty men jammed together in a makeshift dormitory, with
temperatures rarely dipping below 85 degrees and often soaring into the 90s. No relief, no reprieve just suffocating, relentless heat.
I have begged, pleaded, and filed every request imaginable for the administration to fix the air conditioning. Yet here we remain, cooking in conditions that are not just uncomfortable but dangerous.
The building itself is hardly fit for long-term habitation: sheet metal walls, shoddy construction, the look and feel of a temporary warehouse rather than a permanent facility.
On my first night, I discovered a gaping tear in the vinyl ceiling six feet long and four feet wide exposing thick black mold overhead. After weeks of raising the alarm and
pointing out my increased reliance on my albuterol inhaler, what was the solution? A maintenance officer came by and simply covered it up. Out of sight, out of mind, right. Except the heat doesn’t go away. The mold doesn’t disappear. And the toll on our health keeps mounting. Breathing becomes a daily struggle. Sleep, once a refuge, is now a luxury. On most nights I scrape together four, maybe five restless hours before the suffocating air jolts me awake.
The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America states clearly that “cruel and unusual punishment” is forbidden.
Continued on page 10
Mamdani.
Credit: Stefan Mychajliw
2012 Erie County Election Ballot
ByRobertChartuk
Shell-obrating Suffolk's Oyster Comeback at FirstEver Jamboree
Suffolk’s once-ubiquitous oysters took center stage on Saturday as thousands of residents and officials gathered at Smith Point Park for the inaugural Long Island Oyster Jamboree, a free, family-friendly festival celebrating the region’s burgeoning shellfish industry.
Hosted in partnership with the Long Island Oyster Growers Association (LIOGA), Tiki Joe’s, and the county, the Jamboree featured live music, contests, family activities, and, of course, endless oysters harvested from Suffolk waters.
“This is a celebration of both our history and our future,” said County Executive Ed Romaine, who presided over the opening ceremonial shuck. “Long Island oysters once fed the world. They built communities, sustained families, and shaped our economy. Today, they are coming back stronger than ever, and Suffolk is proud to lead the way.”
Romaine praised local growers for reviving the industry. “We don’t just grow oysters—we grow
jobs, we grow cleaner water, and we grow pride in our waterfronts,” he said. “If you love oysters, there’s no better place on earth to taste them than right here.”
The county’s oyster industry is indeed on the upswing. Once nearly wiped out by overharvesting, disease, and pollution, Suffolk waters yielded about 10 million oysters in 2024, contributing to an industry with a $16.5 million annual economic impact. As filter feeders, each oyster cleans up to 50 gallons of water a day, helping restore the health of bays and estuaries.
Suffolk Legislator Jim Mazzarella, whose district includes Smith Point and South Shore oyster grounds, highlighted the dual value of the mollusks.
“Oysters have a tremendous impact on both the economy and the environment,” he said. “I’m proud of our growers and the county for putting on this amazing event.”
North Fork Legislator Catherine Stark added a personal touch. “I love oysters,” she said. “Ever since I was a kid, I enjoyed shucking them and eating with my family. Today,
I’m proud that we’re working to preserve our working waterfronts so future generations can have the same experience.”
Also sampling the shellfish were state Senator Dean Murray, Suffolk Legislators Trish Bergin, Stephanie Bontempi, and Ann Welker, Brookhaven Councilman Neil Foley, and Southold Town Trustee Elizabeth Peeples of the Little Ram Farm, who all downed oysters together for a photo op.
Local growers showcased their harvests, each with its own character depending on where it was raised. “I’ve had oysters from all over the world and these are the best,” said Dan Romanelli of Huntington. “Long Island has the perfect water for growing shellfish. You can really taste the difference.”
Joe Finora of the Hampton Oyster Company touted his farm’s innovative methods. “We were the first to use floating cages at the surface,” he explained. “It results in cleaner shells and a better-tasting oyster.”
Eric Koepele, president of LIOGA, reminded festivalgoers
of Long Island’s legacy. “Queen Victoria once decreed that the only oysters served at Buckingham Palace should come from Long Island,” he said. “We’re the Napa Valley of oysters. Our goal is to double harvests every year—we call it ‘Koepele’s Law.’”
The oyster maven is shooting for a 100-million harvest within a decade.
Among the oyster farms
featured at the Jamboree were Oyster Ponds, Blue Point, Montauk Pearl, Davy Jones Shellfish, Neguntatogue, North Fork Big Oyster, Maris Stella, Hampton Oyster Company, Little Ram Oyster, Bombshell Oyster Farm, and Peconic Gold Oysters. The South Fork Sea Farmers Shell Collection Program and the Cornell Cooperative Extension were also represented.
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney Outraged
After Indicted Guatemalan Foreign National Released
ByDeborahWilliams
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced that Wilmer Castillo Garcia, 22, a Guatemalan national, was indicted for Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, and other related charges, after he allegedly sold narcotics to an undercover officer.
Garcia was also charged with Endangering the Welfare of a Child, in connection with a separate event where he allegedly provided THC gummies that caused the hospitalization of 12 William Floyd Middle School children in March.
Tierney expressed outrage that Garcia was not held on bail considering his alleged crimes against children and flight risk to evade prosecution.
“This is yet another example
of how New York’s bail laws are broken,” said District Attorney Tierney. “We cannot even ask for reasonable security on a foreign national who allegedly provided THC Gummies that sickened middle schoolers to ensure he faces justice.”
When William Floyd School District revealed the scary circumstance back in March, they said at the time, “This morning, a student at William Floyd Middle School handed out edible THC gummies to approximately 12 students, who have since fallen ill. The Suffolk County Police Department and local EMTs responded en masse to provide care and assistance, along with our school nurse, to students.”
Fortunately all of the students recovered, but that left the question of where did these drugs come
from?
Suffolk County launched an investigation into Wilmer Castillo Garcia’s alleged drug sales. According to the investigation, Castillo Garcia allegedly twice sold quantities of cocaine and marijuana to an undercover law enforcement officer. The THC in the gummies the children ate was allegedly traced to an Instagram account “7k_teddy,” which led investigators to Castillo Garcia.
Justice Senft ordered Castillo Garcia released on his own recognizance during the pendency of this case because his charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State
law, meaning prosecutors cannot ask for, and judges cannot set bail, despite the fact that the defendant is alleged to be a foreign national with connections and ability to flee our jurisdiction to evade prosecution.
On August 14, 2025, Castillo Garcia was arraigned on the indictment before Acting Supreme Court Justice Anthony Senft, Jr., for the following charges contained in the indictment:
• Two counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies;
• Two counts of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Seventh Degree, a Class A misdemeanor; and
• One count of Endangering the Welfare of a Child, a Class A misdemeanor.
Castillo Garcia is due back in court on September 2, 2025, and faces up to nine years in prison if convicted of the top count.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Kendall Walsh of the Narcotics Bureau, and the investigation was conducted by Police Officer Jessica Anderson and Detective John McGlynn of the Suffolk County Police Department Narcotics Unit.
Incident Overview: From March Hospitalizations to Bail-Free Release
ByRobertChartuk
March 3, 2025: Twelve students (ages 13–14) at William Floyd Middle School were hospitalized after ingesting THC-laced gummies, some distributed by a fellow student.
Investigation: Suffolk County Police linked the gummies via an Instagram account to Wilmer Castillo Garcia, leading to his identification.
Additional Charges: On
May 5 and 12, 2025, Castillo Garcia allegedly sold cocaine and marijuana to an undercover officer, resulting in further felony drug charges.
Charges Filed:
• Two counts third-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance (felony) Two counts third-degree criminal possession (felony)
• One count seventh-
degree criminal possession (misdemeanor)
• One count endangering the welfare of a child (misdemeanor)
Arraignment: Castillo Garcia pleaded not guilty and was released on his own recognizance due to charges being non-baileligible under current New York law. His return to court is scheduled for September 2. If convicted on the top count, he faces up to nine years in prison.
Pointing up the benefits of local seafood are, from right, Kristin Gerbino, fisheries specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension, Rebecca Werner, bay scallop research assistant, and volunteer Harry Zember.
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Alleged drug dealer set free without bail.
Credit: Grok/Twitter
ByRobertChartuk
Local Officials Outraged Over 'No Bail' Release in Cannabis Poisoning
A wave of community outrage is building following the release of a Guatemalan national without bail after being charged with providing cannabis-laced gummies that hospitalized 12 William Floyd Middle School students.
Wilmer Castillo Garcia, 22, faces four felony counts—including two for criminal sale of a controlled substance and two for possession— as well as two misdemeanors for endangering the welfare of a child. He also allegedly sold cocaine and marijuana to an undercover officer, resulting in further felony drug charges.
District Attorney Raymond Tierney called the release “yet another example of how New York’s bail laws are broken,” lamenting that existing statute renders even
serious charges—combined with a foreign national’s flight risk—nonbail eligible.
State Senator Dean Murray sharply criticized Garcia’s release: “I’m happy with Suffolk law enforcement—they did a great job. DA Ray Tierney secured an indictment—but then they had to release the guy because of the ridiculous bail-reform laws. He is a foreign national from Guatemala. He is a definite flight risk. And yet they release him back out onto the streets.”
“This case tragically demonstrates what’s wrong with the absurd criminal justice system inflicted on us by the Socialist Democrats,” noted Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano. “Twelve middle schoolers hospitalized—children— and the suspect immediately walks free. This shatters any public
confidence left in the system that Gov. Hochul and Zohran Mamdani support,” the assemblyman said of the Democrat candidate for New York mayor.
DeStefano is pushing to repeal the cashless bail laws signed by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo after they were approved by a Democrat-only vote in the middle of the night. “We need amendments that prioritize public safety over ideology. Judges must be empowered to consider flight risk, especially when children are endangered. Enough is enough,” he stressed.
“If endangering our children isn’t reason enough to keep this guy off the streets, what is?” Senator Murray wondered. “We are in a fight— people are dying every single day from overdoses, fentanyl, and other dangerous drugs. If we can’t set bail and hold the pushers, we can’t cut
off the supply. And yet, there’s no logic behind letting dealers back on the streets. It’s twisted.”
“Bail reform was meant to deliver fairness, but cases like this show
especially our kids.”
Oh, Where Art Thou? Federal Ban on Cashless Bail Only Way for NYS to Exhale
“Every place in the country where you have no cash bail is a disaster,” President Trump said in his Aug. 11th White House press conference.
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
Earlier this month, President Donald J. Trump set the record straight on a controversial policy within his native state, announcing a bail reform-charged federal bill to be penned by upstate Rep. Elise Stefanik.
“Every place in the country where you have no cash bail is a disaster,” Trump said in an Aug. 11th White House press conference, acknowledging “America-first law and order” as an utmost priority.
Trump is confident a bill can reverse the tides, so long as Republicans in Congress and the Senate stand by his side.
“I’m going to have to get the Republicans to vote,” he said, “because the Democrats are weak on crime… they don’t know why. They want it to stop because they get mugged too.”
As the House Republican Leadership Chairwoman, Stefanik showed her support of Trump’s blitz on cashless bail in an official statement: “Just like DC, New York’s failed cashless bail law fuels devastating crime that harms lawabiding families and emboldens violent criminals.”
Under Gov. Kathy Hochul, “dangerous repeat offenders are
released back onto our streets within hours free to commit more crimes and terrorize innocent victims,” Stefanik added.
“We must allow our brave police, county sheriffs, and prosecutors to do their jobs.”
Trump’s declaration of Empire State intervention came in the wake of his having taken hold of the Washington, D.C. Police Department. If New York continues to drag their feet, the Commanderin-Chief reckons it is high time his administration first-hand command said bail-involved tomfoolery to cease with a swift and concrete federal smackdown.
According to Spectrum Local News, Illinois is a model Trump can point to on the New York front. Through the SAFE-T Act, passed in 2021 and implemented in 2023, they became the first state to eliminate the option for defendants to pay money to leave jail while awaiting trial.
Said Trump: “I mean, bad politicians started” Chicago and New York’s dire need for bail reform. As far as he and those in lockstep are concerned, changing an abhorrent statute from the topdown would reverse troubles that started stateside.
He considers appointees such as
Attorney General Pam Bondi and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche candidates to lift New York’s bail policy out of the woods when he says “lift.”
Meanwhile, in D.C., a mass crackdown on youth crime is in full force.
As reported by Yahoo, Washington’s top federal prosecutor, Jeanine Pirro, contends that Congress should be permitted to charge a higher degree of juveniles as adults.
"I can't arrest them. I can't prosecute them. They go to family court and they get to do yoga, and arts and crafts.”
“Enough,” Pirro added. “It changes today.”
Sturgeon Moon Rises Red Over the South Shore
ByRobertChartuk
Followers of the lunar calendar were witness to a Sturgeon Moon rising over the South Shore, a blood-red spectacle intensified by the lingering smoke of Canadian wildfires. The sight of the moon glowing crimson against a summer sky was more than just a moment of beauty—it carried centuries of meaning and tradition.
The August full moon embodies a deep Native American heritage. Tribes who lived along the Great Lakes and Hudson River called it the Sturgeon Moon because the massive freshwater fish was most abundant during late summer. The sturgeon, sometimes called a “living fossil,” could grow to enormous size and provided a vital food source, especially through its celebrated caviar. For Native people, the full moon was a celestial signal of nature’s bounty and a reminder of the balance between sustenance and respect for the natural world.
Other Indigenous communities marked the August full moon. The Anishinaabe, Dakota, and Cree used moon cycles as calendars, each name reflecting the natural rhythms of hunting,
gathering, and preparation for the colder seasons. In these cultures, the August moon was a marker of abundance and transition.
European settlers also attached names to this lunar phase, often calling it the Grain Moon or Barley Moon, tied to the late-summer harvest. Across continents, the full moon was a reliable guide for planting, fishing, and spiritual observances.
The Sturgeon Moon is part of a long procession of named moons that track the changing year.
September will bring the Harvest Moon, which rises closest to the autumn equinox and once gave farmers extra evening light to gather their crops. October’s Hunter’s Moon traditionally signaled the time to hunt game and store food for winter. November brings the Beaver Moon, marking when trappers should set their snares before the swamps froze. December closes the year with the Cold Moon, a stark reminder of the season’s long nights and frigid weather.
Continued on page 7
they swung way too far,” said Civic Activist Rosalie Hanson. “We need reforms that don’t strip courts of the tools to protect communities—
Credit: Stock photo
Credit: Credit: The White House | YouTube
Credit: Robert Chartuk Sturgeon Moon rises over Moriches Bay.
ByDeborahWilliams
Get New Playground Equipment
Shorefront Park in Patchogue will receive almost $340,000 in a New York State grant to upgrade the playground in Shorefront Park.
Two parks on Long Island will receive new funds to upgrade playgrounds in their parks. One park on the South Shore of Suffolk County and one on the South Shore of Nassau County.
Patchogue Mayor, Paul V. Pontieri said, “We are very excited about the parks grant. Old equipment is being replaced that has been in the park for 15 years or more. It needs to be replaced and upgraded to today’s standards. We thank Governor Hochul for approving it so we can move forward and make the park the best we can for our residents.”
Long Island Grant Awardees are:
• The Village of Patchogue ($339,277) will replace an unsafe playground equipment structure with a new and enhanced
structure at Shorefront Park.
• The Village of Rockville Centre ($349,107) will rehabilitate a children's playground by removing the current playground apparatus and flooring and replacing them with new accessible and safety-compliant apparatus and surfacing at Rev. Morgan Days Park.
“By expanding access to recreational opportunities, we are investing in the future of our communities so New Yorkers can safely explore and connect with our parks and outdoor spaces,” Governor Hochul said.
“These compelling projects will provide a meaningful impact on their communities and ensure that every child has the ability to play, learn, and grow in a safe and engaging environment.”
The grant pays for the construction of recreational facilities and other improvements to municipally owned recreational sites and parks, such as playgrounds, courts, playing fields, and facilities for swimming,
biking, boating, picnicking, hiking, fishing, camping or other recreational activities. This grant opportunity can fund up to 90% of the total eligible project costs and total grant awards are capped at $1 million for each project.
Seventeen projects in statewide were awarded a total of $10 million in funding from a new
municipal parks and recreation statewide grant program fund for the development and improvement of municipal parks and recreation sites statewide for the public to enjoy. Funding for this program was provided by the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act.
Deer Park High School named NYS Most Outstanding 'Best Buddies' Chapter
ByDeborahWilliams
Deer Park High School’s Best Buddies Chapter won big at the Best Buddies Leadership Conference. They were named “Most Outstanding” chapter.
Seven students–Alexis Borowski, Bailey Corcoran, Aubrey Goetz, Carysn Goetz, Chloe Luby, Sophia Paduano and Eve Valentine–traveled to Indiana University Bloomington to attend the annual Best Buddies Leadership Conference.
Best Buddies in New York offers one-to-one friendship, integrated employment, and leadership development programs for individuals with and without disabilities. There are 254 chapters with over 7,000 participants across New York State.
Best Buddies New York says, “Best Buddies gives people with special abilities a chance to make friends, speak up, be heard and advocate for themselves and others within their community.”
Deer Park Best Buddies Chapter hosted the Long Island Best Buddies Friendship Ball this year. They also attended other Best Buddies events across Long Island such as the Best Buddies Friendship Walk and the Best Buddies Boo Ball around Halloween. The club meets every two weeks and each meeting involves some an activity, such as collaborating with other clubs or attending school events.
Best Buddies leaders from around the world along with volunteers and community advocates gathered at the conference to empower the future of the disability rights and inclusion movement.
The Deer Park students returned home with triumphant news that they had won the New York State Most Outstanding Chapter Award for 2025, a prestigious honor celebrating the dedication to inclusion and friendship for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The award was presented to Deer Park’s student
Once they were back at home, the Deer Park chapter was also honored at the Babylon Town Hall by Town Supervisor Rich Schaffer and Councilman Terence McSweeney for their “outstanding efforts and impact within the community.” A small group from Best Buddies attended the Town Hall ceremony to receive recognition for all of their efforts.
“We are forever grateful for the support that is shown for our chapter in the Deer Park School District and the Deer Park community,” Best Buddies co-advisers Joe Alo and Gabriella Gilmartin said. “It is this support and the number of dedicated students that we have the opportunity to work with each school year that truly makes this chapter incredible. We look forward to all of the great events and buddies we will make along the way to 2026 and beyond.”
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Shorefront Park is to receive grant.
Credit: Village of Patchogue
Credit: Deer Park School
Deer Park wins Outstanding Best Buddies Chapter.
LOCAL
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
Brookhaven IDA Closes on Apartment Complex Proposed for Patchogue River
Frederick C. Braun III, Chairman of the Brookhaven Industrial Development Agency (IDA), announced on Wednesday, August 13th, that they have closed on a package of economic incentives in the local real estate department.
An intended 262-unit, four-story rental apartment complex, featuring affordable and workforce housing, is slated for the Village of Patchogue, courtesy of 214 Main Owner, LLC, of Farmingdale, which is an affiliate of Nord Development Group.
The benefits package—the byproduct of a whopping $160
million project first approved by the IDA board on March 28th— officially closed on July 31st.
“This project, when built, will be a wonderful bookend for West Patchogue,” said Braun.
Led by Joseph Rossi and Peter Ferrandino, the group plans to build the complex on a 4.0-acre site that currently houses a vacant steel plant, an auto body shop and a laundromat.
Forty-nine studio apartments, 141 one-bedroom units, and 72 two-bedroom units, along with retail and office space, are outlined in the blueprint. Twenty-
seven apartments will constitute affordable housing for residents whose incomes are at or below 80% of the median income locally.
The complex will also include a public riverwalk, two swimming pools and two gyms. “The Trolley House” office space that has long been put to use by the Patchogue Chamber of Commerce will remain in action on the premises as well.
Adds Braun: “We are happy to assist with this project, which is situated in an area of the village that needs redevelopment. It will provide much-needed additional rental housing for our residents.”
Water Warning: Authority Says Heavy Summer Usage Threatens Suffolk's Supply
ByRobertChartuk
Long Island relies on a “sole source aquifer” for its drinking water, and in the summer, the supply is drained to its limits, mostly from lawn sprinklers and irrigation. With hot, dry weather continuing, the Suffolk County Water Authority is warning all customers that usage remains at dangerously high levels and is urging immediate conservation.
Peak demand has hit 520,000 gallons per minute multiple times this summer, pushing the system to its limits, according to Jeff Szabo, SCWA CEO. Several weeks of sustained high overnight and early-morning irrigation use have left water storage tanks starting the day at low levels and taking longer to recover.
“Those tanks are essential to maintaining pressure in the distribution system. When levels drop too low, water flow to homes and businesses can diminish—and, in the event of a fire, emergency
services may not have the supply they need to respond,” he warned.
“With every well, pump, and treatment facility already operating at full capacity, there is no reserve infrastructure to meet the surge.”
“Unfortunately, not enough of our customers have been cutting back,” said SCWA Chairman Charlie Lefkowitz. “If this continues, we’ll see more drops in water pressure, and our ability to respond to emergencies like fires will be at risk.”
The Stage 1 Water Alert, issued July 23, remains in effect for all SCWA customers, including residences, businesses, and golf courses. The authority is asking everyone to stop lawn watering until further notice. If watering is necessary, customers must follow an odd/even schedule based on their house number and not water between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
“Our crews are doing everything possible to keep water flowing, but this is a shared responsibility,” Szabo stressed. “If customers don’t
take these restrictions seriously, we risk widespread pressure drops that could leave firefighters without the water they need in an emergency. This is all about public safety.”
Szabo noted that building more wells to meet peak demand is not the answer. Overdrawing the aquifer would threaten water quality, and constructing new
facilities for use only a few days each summer would cost millions, raising customer rates.
Instead, the focus is on spreading out demand. Most residents already water every other day, but many do so on the same mornings, creating massive strain on the system. Following the odd/even schedule more evenly distributes usage and allows tanks time to recover.
SCWA also urges customers to fix leaks promptly, delay car washing, and avoid using hoses to clean sidewalks or driveways.
“This is not just about lawn health—it’s about community safety,” Szabo said. “Every gallon saved makes a difference.” For more information, go to: www. scwa.com/conservation.
Long Island Cares: Harry Chapin Food Bank Awarded Grant to Aid East End Veterans
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
Long Island Cares, founded in 1980 by the late “Cat’s in the Cradle” singer Harry Chapin shortly before his untimely passing en route to a charity performance at Eisenhower Park, was recently awarded a $50,000 grant by New York State.
The grant—which LI Cares first learned about in June— is to provide nutrition-based relief to former military personnel living on the East End who struggle with food insecurity.
According to the organization, they will purchase meat, produce and other nutritious items for those “still sacrificing to keep us safe.”
“Long Island Cares estimates that there are 9,000 foodinsecure individuals in the area,” Jessica Rosati, vice president for Programs and Community Services at LI Cares, said in a news release.
“This grant will help meet
According to their website, LI Cares provides nutritional food and support services for a network of more than 374 community-based member agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and veterans’ services programs.
the surging need with full access to nutritious and culturally relevant foods,” she added.
The regional food bank’s Hunger Assistance and Humanitarian Center of the Hamptons has served 124,540 meals to nearly 14,000 people in 2025 alone, according to LI Business News.
LI Cares says about 314,000 Long Islanders are suffering from hunger, 71,000 of whom are children.
Every Tuesday is Veteran
Day at six of LI Cares’ popular pantries. Food is distributed to applicable events and additional veteran hotspots, such as American Legion Halls, along with the 106th Rescue Wing at the Westhampton Air National Guard Base.
Adds Michael Haynes, LI Cares’ vice president for Government Relations, Advocacy and Social Policy: “This timely funding will help us do even more for these brave men and women this upcoming holiday season.”
Officials urge immediate conservation to protect water pressure and firefighting capability
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Credit: licares.org
An aerial shot of the Patchogue River area where a $160M apartment complex project has been approved to break ground.
Credit: Marinas.com
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
Mr. Zeldin Comes to Hauppauge: EPA Head Slams Lithium Battery Plant Proposal
Courtesy of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), a lithiumion battery power plant is being built in the Hauppauge Industrial Park.
Not if the people of Hauppauge and the greater area have anything to say about it.
Outraged residents and local leaders united at the Hauppauge Fire Department on Monday, August 18th—where former congressman, gubernatorial candidate and current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) head Lee Zeldin led the charge against BESS.
The Shirley native turned White House cabinet administrator confirmed he has been in rooms with President Donald Trump and Democratic Governor Kathy Hochul wherein local concerns are being heard across party lines.
“This goes well beyond Hauppauge,” he said—evoking the “apocalyptic” scene that was the Jan. 2024 Los Angeles wildfires.
“Since January, people have been contacting me with concerns” over lithium battery plants and the damage they inflict upon communities—like nearby Warwick, Jefferson County and even East Hampton.
The antidote to catastrophe, says Zeldin, is not sacrificing volunteer firefighters in bulk, rather, a combination of compliance, logic adherence and cooperative federalism.
Checking partisan mentality at the door to defy disaster is paramount, he continued: “I don’t know anyone’s ideology, who they voted for in the past, who they’ll vote for in the future…none of that matters. The most important people here today are concerned residents who demand a voice and a seat at the table. They want their fire commissioners to be heard.”
Teeing up Hauppauge’s Fire Commissioner Scott Munro, the second-generation police officer by day and blaze runner by night expertly informed the masses that lithium battery fires in a sensitive ecosystem such as Hauppauge’s “are notoriously difficult to extinguish.”
He revealed 20 lithium fires have been reported at BESS facilities nationwide—including one at a California location that called for the mandatory evacuation of 1,000 residents. These types of fires can burn for days, and in some instances, have even lasted a week. Needless to say, but repeatedly said anyway—they can release toxic chemicals that pose a significant risk to the community at large.
“This goes well beyond Hauppauge,” EPA administaror Lee Zeldin spoke of the grave danger posed by BESS' lithium battery plant proposal.
BESS’ proposed plant would be located on the corner of Rabro Drive and Rt. 111—less than half a mile from St. Thomas More Church, Hauppauge’s HYO Little League baseball fields, 3,000 feet from Nissequogue Riverwaters— and as alarmingly close to Bretton Woods Elementary School.
“It is unreasonable to expect our volunteer firefighters—who have families and jobs—to handle a disaster of this magnitude,” Munro said. “We can’t put our residents and firefighters at risk. We urge the developers to reconsider this proposal.”
Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman followed suit by classifying BESS’ controversial intentions as a regional issue. “It’s just common sense that we would oppose environmental hazards like battery warehouses in our communities.”
Echoing Zeldin’s sentiments, Blakeman intimated decisions about the safety of these sites should be made by towns, villages and cities—not in Albany. “That’s called local control,” he said, “and we need to have local control.”
As a “preventative maintenance
guy” who has been “fighting at every committee meeting,” State Senator Mario Matteria, of St. James, also emphatically aligned himself with the “who’s who” of BESS lithium battery plant opponents. He chalked up lithium battery ions to “nothing but an experiment that’s not going to work.
“God forbid we do have a blackout…[this type of wind solar energy storage] is going to last an hour, maybe two? It’s going to cause not millions or billions, but trillions of dollars—and guess who’s going to pay for it? The rate-payer,” said Mattera. “We can not have these energy storage facilities in our neighborhoods!”
Getting rid of natural gas on the quest for different sources of renewable energy is not the answer, Mattera professed to those in attendance and in an earlier letter he penned to Gov. Hochul.
“Our president is working with the governor right now, [urging] that we bring in the Constitution Pipeline [which would open up a vital corridor of energy to the Northeast territories], that we retool our natural power plants.”
“That’s the right investment,” Mattera—along with Zeldin, their fellow leaders and the constituents they vow to protect—believe. “Not this.”
Senators Urge Parole Board to Reject Rule Change They Say Endangers Public Safety
ByRobertChartuk
Two Republican state senators are calling on New York’s Board of Parole to abandon a proposed rule change they say would undermine public safety by prioritizing the age and brain development of violent offenders over the severity of their crimes and the danger they pose to communities.
East Patchogue Senator Dean Murray and Rob Rolison of Poughkeepsie, members of the Crime Victims, Crime and Corrections Committee, sent a letter to Parole Board Chairman Daryl Towns urging him to reject the plan. The proposal, now in a public comment period through October 12, would require the Board to give “great weight” to the diminished culpability of minors serving life sentences for crimes committed before the age of 18.
Under the change, parole hearings would place greater emphasis on factors such as adolescent brain development, immaturity, and a limited ability to appreciate consequences. Murray and Rolison argue that this shift would diminish the consideration of an offender’s threat to the community, the gravity of the crime, and the voices of the victims.
“During my time as a police officer in the Town of Poughkeepsie, I saw
firsthand the lifelong scars left on victims and families by crimes so violent and heinous that a life sentence is the only just outcome,” Rolison said. “The Parole Board’s duty is to protect the public and stand with victims—not to create a path for offenders who have already proven they are capable of unimaginable harm.”
Murray echoed that concern, warning that the proposal bypasses the legislature. He likened it to the “Fair and Timely Parole” bill, which failed in Albany earlier this year.
“Rather than going through the body that represents the people of New York—the state legislature— the Parole Board decided to bypass and ignore us and adopt this controversial change on their own through a rule change,” Murray
said. “I fear this will have deadly consequences.”
The senators’ letter cited rising youth crime following New York’s “Raise the Age” legislation, which shifted many criminal cases involving 16- and 17-year-olds to family court. They pointed to New York City statistics showing a 25% increase in minors accused of serious crimes since 2018, including a 136% rise in arrests of youths carrying firearms.
They also highlighted recent
controversies involving parole decisions, including the release of offenders who later committed violent crimes. “This change to parole comes at a time when the Parole Board is already releasing cop-killers and discharging dangerous criminals from supervision,” the senators wrote, warning that the new rule would accelerate what they described as “a slide into lawlessness.”
Critics of the proposal argue that those eligible under the rule— individuals serving life sentences for
crimes such as murder or predatory sexual assault—represent some of the most dangerous offenders in the prison system. “Creating leniency for those who have committed the most serious offenses is illogical and will have a potentially devastating impact on public safety,” Rolison and Murray wrote.
The senators urged residents to speak out against the change during the public comment period. Comments can be submitted by email to rules@doccs.ny.gov.
Sturgeon Moon Rises Red...
Continued from page 4
This year’s Sturgeon Moon was especially dramatic because of the ongoing wildfires in Canada. Millions of acres of forest have burned, sending plumes of smoke southward into the U.S. The fine particles in the atmosphere scatter blue light and allow longer red wavelengths to dominate, turning the moon into a glowing ember in the sky. For many on Long Island and beyond, the Sturgeon Moon became a blood moon, a symbol
not only of natural cycles but also of the environmental crises unfolding in real time.
Astronomers note that while this August full moon was not technically a supermoon, its presence was no less commanding. The interplay of tradition, celestial timing, and atmospheric haze created a moment that felt both timeless and urgent—a reminder that fire hundreds of miles away could shape the way we see the night sky.
The next full moons will be the Corn or Harvest Moon on September 7, the Hunter’s Moon on October 6 (also a supermoon), the Beaver Moon on November 5 (another supermoon), and the Cold Moon on December 4, which will rise as the final supermoon of the year. A supermoon occurs when a full moon coincides with the Moon’s closest orbital approach to Earth, making it appear larger and brighter than usual in the night sky.
Senator Dean Murray
Credit: Michael J. Reistetter
Credit: State Senate
LOCAL
ByRobertChartuk
Patchogue's Gene Perry Leads New York's Volunteer Firefighters as FASNY President
With the Fire Association of the State of New York convention in town, The South Shore Press had a chance to sit down with its president, Patchogue native Gene Perry.
Perry’s dedication to volunteer firefighting spans more than four decades. “I’ve been a firefighter for 46 years in the Patchogue Fire Department,” he told us. “I joined the Vanguard Hose Company Number One at age 21, in 1979. My two uncles were involved, and I lived just behind the firehouse, so it was a natural fit.”
Over the years, Perry has taken on numerous roles, from company financial secretary to benevolent trustee, deepening his involvement beyond active firefighting.
His leadership extends statewide.
Perry is a past president of the Suffolk County Volunteer Firemen’s Association and the Southern New York Volunteer Firefighters
Association, covering nine southern counties, including New York City, where nine volunteer fire companies still operate across the five boroughs. Today, he serves as president of FASNY, the statewide organization representing the interests of 80,000 volunteer firefighters in New York. “There are 109 fire departments in Suffolk County and 71 in Nassau,” he noted, underscoring the scale of volunteer fire service on Long Island.
Perry’s journey within FASNY began in 2002 on the membership committee. He rose through the ranks, becoming assistant sergeant at arms, a director, and first vice president. Last August, he was elected president and will serve until 2026.
Under Perry’s guidance, FASNY manages a unique 96-bed skilled nursing facility in upstate Hudson, exclusively for volunteer firefighters. “It’s more like a country club than a nursing home,” he explained, highlighting how the
organization ensures top care for those who have volunteered to serve their communities.
Training and education remain central to FASNY’s mission. Perry outlined annual EMS seminars held in Selden and Geneva, which have trained thousands of EMTs and paramedics over nearly 50 years. He also spoke about the organization’s winter games in Cortland County—a weekend event fostering camaraderie among firefighters and their families.
Legislatively, FASNY is active, successfully working with state leaders to phase out harmful PFAS chemicals in turnout gear by 2028 and secure extensions for EMS cost recovery programs. He stays engaged with related task forces to educate the fire community.
Locally, Perry is involved with the Ridge Fire Museum in Brookhaven, where he serves as director at large, while his son is the president. He retired in 2017 as an emergency services dispatcher for Patchogue,
Patchogue Firefighter Dan Brooks Honored as Volunteer of the Year
ByRobertChartuk
Recognizing the dedication and sacrifice of Suffolk County’s volunteer fire service, legislators opened their August meeting in Riverhead with a ceremony honoring 18 men and women—one from each district—who exemplify community service and public safety leadership.
From the 7th Legislative District, Legislator Dominick Thorne proudly recognized Dan Brooks of the Patchogue Fire Department as his 2025 Volunteer Firefighter of the Year.
“Dan Brooks is a tireless advocate for the fire service and a shining example of what it means to give back,” Thorne said. “He has dedicated decades to protecting others, training fellow firefighters, and making his community stronger.”
Brooks began his volunteer firefighting journey in 1987 as part of the Cortlandville Fire Department’s Explorer program in his hometown of Cortland, NY, becoming a full member in 1989. By 1992, he was serving as
vice president of the department and working as an EMT with the Rescue Squad.
After relocating to Ocala, Florida, Brooks became Assistant Chief of Marion County Fire-Rescue’s allvolunteer Station 23. Returning to New York, he joined the McLean Fire Department, where he served as a firefighter/EMT and responded with neighboring ambulance agencies in Dryden and Groton.
In 2020, Brooks joined the Patchogue Fire Department, where he now serves as incident safety officer, chief driver of the rescue truck, and chair of the department’s annual golf outing and Main Street car show. The following year, he also became a member of the Patchogue Ambulance Company, serving as chief driver, EMT, and chair of the Recruitment and Retention Committee.
“Dan’s leadership goes beyond responding to emergencies,” Thorne noted. “He’s strengthening our fire service through recruitment, training, and public outreach— ensuring the next generation is ready to serve.”
Brooks is currently the second vice president of the Suffolk County Volunteer Firefighter’s Association, secretary of the Brookhaven Town Volunteer Firefighters Museum, and a legislative committee member for the Firefighters Association of the State of New York.
“Volunteer firefighters are the heartbeat of our emergency response system,” Thorne concluded. “Dan Brooks represents the best of that tradition, and we are lucky to have him in our community.”
balancing his professional career with volunteer leadership.
With a legacy spanning 150 years—FASNY was founded in 1872—the organization remains vital to New York’s volunteer fire service. Perry is only the fourth Suffolk County member to serve as president and the second from Brookhaven Town, reflecting both his personal commitment and regional pride.
As Firefighters’ Day approaches at the New York State Fair in Syracuse, Perry encourages volunteers to connect, learn, and honor those who serve. “Any volunteer firefighter can get into the fair free with ID,” he said, noting the memorial services recognizing firefighters who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Gene Perry’s commitment to firefighting runs deep in his family. Both of his sons have followed in his footsteps, serving proudly in the Brookhaven Fire Department. His oldest son, Patrick, was recently elected as one of the five commissioners of the district, taking on a leadership role in the community. Meanwhile, his younger son, Christopher, plays a vital part in training the department’s new recruits, helping to prepare the next generation of volunteer firefighters. Together, they carry forward the family legacy of service and dedication to protecting their community.
Communists Hijacked the Democrats
Continued from page 2
The South Shore Press took a deep dive into the issue of bail reform in New York State with team coverage over the arrest and quick release of Castillo Garcia. He’s the Guatemalan national accused of selling gummies laced with deadly drugs to kids within the William Floyd School District.
Despite Garcia facing four felonies, the soft-on-crime, Democrat-sponsored, “no bail” laws meant he walked free after his arrest.
If my mother were alive and we chatted about the absurdity of “no bail” laws in New York, no question, she would be outraged. While she still wouldn’t vote for Republican candidates, there’s zero chance Arlene Mychajliw or moderate Democrats would be fine with any violent criminal not being held accountable.
The Democratic Party is
at a crossroads here in New York State. It sure looks like they’re barreling toward the radical road of Socialism and Communism, with Zohran Mamdani as its next leader, one who is on his way to victory as the Big Apple’s next mayor. God help us all.
To those moderate and commonsense Democrats like my mom, why don’t you give the GOP a chance? Our values are your values: fund police, secure the border, keep criminals behind bars where they belong, lower taxes, responsible government spending, and supporting policies that keep communities and families safe and secure.
Who knows, maybe in 2026 you’ll cast your ballot for the Republican candidate for governor? And yes, more than likely, you’ll be able to do so using another political party line, just like Arlene Mychajliw did.
FASNY President Gene Perry
Dan Brooks
Patchogue Fireman Dan Brooks is honored by Legislator Dominick Thorne, center, as fellow firefighters look on.
Credit: FASNY
Credit: Suffolk Legislature
Credit: Robert Chartuk
LOCAL
ByDeborahWilliams
Justice Department Releases Suffolk County Police Department from Monitoring
After 11 years of oversight, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it will end federal oversight of the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) stemming from a Settlement Agreement entered into in January 2014.
The announcement comes after a report by DOJ concluding that SCPD has met the requirements of the 2014 agreement aimed at stopping discriminatory policing.
SCPD was being monitored in three compliance provisions of the Settlement Agreement with DOJ: (1) bias-free policing; (2) language assistance; and (3) community engagement.
DOJ’s letter said, “Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) has achieved and maintained substantial compliance with the remaining three sections of the Agreement for at least the previous twelve months. Accordingly, it is appropriate to terminate these remaining sections of the Agreement.”
The Agreement called for SCPD
to improve bias-free policing, increase community engagement, and develop additional policies and training, among other things. With support from the Justice Department, as set forth in the DOJ report, SCPD has now achieved sustained substantial compliance with all of the Agreement’s terms.
“Suffolk County Police Department’s commitment to protecting the public in a constitutionally compliant way is commendable,” said Assistant Attorney General Harmeet K. Dhillon of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. “This Department of Justice is committed to collaborating with law enforcement to make American communities safer.”
SCPD implemented languageassistance policies and deployed resources to ensure that people with Limited English Proficiency have meaningful access to police services. It improved reporting and supervision throughout the department. It also improved policies, training, and tracking to better handle hate crimes and
misconduct complaints.
“The Suffolk County Police Department is to be commended for taking the steps necessary to achieve the objectives of the 2014 agreement with the Department of Justice and our Office,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Policing in Suffolk County has been enhanced and become more responsive to
community needs. The partnership between our Office and the SCPD has strengthened the safety of all residents of the County.”
Not everyone is happy with the DOJ actions in this matter, however. LatinoJustice has been involved in alleged discrimination against Latinos in Suffolk County for years and believes DOJ setting SCPD free in this matter is premature.
Bell-to-Bell School Smartphone Ban Looms
ByDeborahWilliams
Starting in September, New York State law requires bell-to-bell restrictions on smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices in K-12 schools statewide.
Governor Hochul put this initiative in place based on feedback from teachers, parents and students. Under the new regulations, school districts across New York developed their own policy for restricting smartphones–empowering administrators and teachers to advance a plan that works best for their buildings and students.
The governor said last week that 90% of NYS school districts have submitted their plans. South Shore Press took a look at the database for Suffolk County Districts and is happy to report that all South Shore Districts have submitted something to the state and are in compliance with the new law.
For parents of students enrolled in public schools, charter schools and BOCES across New York, you can see your school’s policy for yourself at the new NYS databaseny.gov/phonefree. Just type in either the name of your school district or "Suffolk" to see every district in Suffolk County. Parents are also encouraged to reach out to their school if they have any questions.
“Our kids succeed when they’re learning and growing, not clicking and scrolling — and that’s why schools across New York will be ready to implement bell-to-bell smartphone restrictions this fall,” Governor Hochul said. “As we look ahead to the start of the school year, communication is key – and our
new online resource is making it easier for parents and students to review their school’s plan.”
The remaining districts and schools yet to finalize their policy are expected to in the coming days at upcoming school board meetings scheduled for August. The state’s online resource will continue to be updated when any additional policies are published and submitted.
New York’s statewide standard includes:
• Prohibiting unsanctioned use of smartphones and other internet-enabled personal devices on school grounds in K-12 schools for the entire school day, including classroom time and other settings like lunch and study hall periods.
Allowing schools to develop their own plans for storing smartphones during the day— giving administrators and teachers the flexibility to do what works best for their buildings and students.
• Securing $13.5 million in funding to be made available for schools that need assistance in purchasing storage solutions to help them go distraction-free.
• Requiring schools to give parents a way to contact their kids during the day when necessary.
• Requiring teachers, parents and students to be consulted in developing the local policy.
• Preventing inequitable discipline.
• The policy allows authorized access to simple cellphones without internet capability, as well as internet-enabled devices
officially provided by their school for classroom instruction, such as laptops or tablets used as part of lesson plans.
• Several exemptions to smartphone restrictions, including for students who require access to an internet-enabled device to manage a medical condition, where required by a student's Individualized Education Program (IEP), for academic purposes or for other legitimate purposes, such as translation, family caregiving and emergencies are also included in the policy.
LatinoJustice settled a class action lawsuit with SCPD in 2023.
Andrew Case, supervising counsel for LatinoJustice PRLDEF said, “Relieving the Suffolk County Police Department of monitoring requirements under the DOJ consent decree does not affect LatinoJustice’s separate monitoring of the department to address biasedbased policing and racial profiling in its ranks pursuant to a 2023 class action suit settlement on behalf of Latino residents in the county which requires the SCPD to collect and report policing and traffic stop data.”
LatinoJustice commissioned a report that will be released soon. They say the report “reveals the department still issues Latino drivers tickets more often than white drivers for the same offense; issues Latinos more tickets than white drivers, and searches their cars on a lower threshold than used for white drivers.”
LatinoJustice promises it will continue its external monitoring and reporting on SCPD policing practices.
SCPD Commissioner Catalina Swears in New Recruit Class
ByDeborahWilliams Suffolk County Police
Commissioner Kevin Catalina swore in the latest class of Suffolk County Police recruits during a ceremony in Brentwood early Monday morning.
The class includes 120 SCPD recruits, 12 of whom are fluent Spanish speakers. Thirty percent of the class has prior law enforcement experience.
The ranks of several other police departments are swelling as well. Fifty-six recruits from other agencies wore sworn in representing the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office, Town of East Hampton Police Department, Town of Shelter Island Police Department, Town of Southampton Police Department, Town of Southold
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced that it will end federal oversight of the Suffolk County Police Department.
Students taking one last look at their phones before school begins.
Credit: U.S. Department of Justice
Credit: Grok/Twitter
Suffolk County Police Department swears in new recruits.
Credit: Suffolk County Police Department
Stony Brook Dam Stalemate Persists One Year Later
ByRobertChartuk
A year after a torrential storm washed away the Harbor Road dam, cutting off Head of the Harbor from Stony Brook, reconstruction remains stalled by an ownership dispute.
The dam collapsed last August when nearly a foot of rain pummeled the North Shore, overwhelming drains and flooding homes. Rushing water cut through
the aging structure, draining the popular duck pond and leaving a gaping hole where the road once stood. Built centuries ago to power a colonial mill, the pond is slowly reverting to its natural state—with some naturalists welcoming the change and others lamenting the loss of the bucolic basin.
Residents expected swift repairs, but rebuilding quickly bogged down. Brookhaven Town and the Ward Melville Heritage Organization have cited conflicting
property records over ownership of the dam and the length of Harbor Road that ran on top of it. The uncertainty has delayed applications for disaster funding, since only the responsible party can apply. Both sides have conducted title searches, which town officials say prove the
Heritage trust as the owner.
The stalemate has left lingering problems. The bridge once served as a vital connection for residents, emergency vehicles, and commerce.
Now drivers face detours on narrow village roads, and Stony Brook businesses report fewer visits from across the harbor.
Signs urging a resolution to the impasse have popped up throughout the community, prodding the parties to settle their competing claims.
Rare Deer Spotted in East Patchogue
ByRobertChartuk
Leslie Lenahan has an unusual visitor to her East Patchogue backyard this summer: a ghostly white deer among the greenery. “At first I thought it was a goat,” she laughed. “It’s so shy—you barely get a glimpse, and then it’s gone.” It's not sporting antlers yet, so she doesn’t know if it’s a doe or a stag.
The visitor isn’t a true albino; it's a piebald deer, a rare genetic variation that causes patches of white on the coat. Some piebald deer are mostly white with small brown spots, while others may have skeletal differences like crooked or shortened legs.
Piebald deer are extremely uncommon, appearing in less than 2% of the whitetail population. Isolated herds, such as the famed Seneca Army Depot
herd in New York, have produced larger numbers due to the spread of the recessive gene. There were even some in the fenced-in acreage at Brookhaven National Lab.
Most piebald deer live healthy lives, though some with physical deformities may face challenges.
Historically, Indigenous cultures revered piebald deer as spiritual messengers and often protected them.
For Leslie, the deer is a rare glimpse of nature’s diversity in her own backyard. “It’s an unusual visitor,” she said. “We’re grateful to have it.”
Assemblyman DeStefano Hosts 'Coffee with a Cop' in Bellport
ByRobertChartuk
The Bellport Apothecary was buzzing Thursday morning as Assemblyman Joe DeStefano joined Suffolk County Police officers for “Coffee with a Cop,” an informal community meet-and-greet that drew a steady crowd of residents.
“This is the kind of grassroots connection we need more of,” DeStefano said, smiling between handshakes. “It’s one thing to read about issues in an email or see them on social media, but when you sit down face-to-face with the people you serve, you hear what’s really on their minds.”
The event, hosted by Apothecary owner Gio Naso, gave neighbors a chance to chat with members of the
Suffolk Police 5th Precinct while enjoying coffee and pastries. The conversations ranged from traffic concerns to quality-of-life issues and upcoming events.
“This is a great way to meet the community and a great way for the community to meet us,” said Mike Coyne, an officer with the 5th Precinct. “Some people prefer a meet-and-greet; they get information, we get information. You never know what the street will tell you.”
DeStefano said the casual atmosphere was the event’s biggest strength. “No podiums, no speeches—just people sitting together over coffee,” he noted. “I think when folks see their police officers and elected officials as
neighbors, not just uniforms or titles, it builds trust.”
“This is a great idea, a real pipeline for the community where people can get up close and personal with the officers,” Naso added. “We appreciate all that they do for us and look forward to having them back again soon.”
Fifth Precinct Commanding Officer David Doherty said he was pleased by the turnout. “Thank you to Assemblyman DeStefano and everyone involved for this successful community interaction,” Doherty said.
DeStefano said he hopes to see similar events in other parts of the 3rd Assembly District. “Every community is different, but the desire for connection is the same,” he said. “If you want to know what
people care about, you need to show up and listen.”
Week 3 Behind Bars...
Continued from page 2
Now, I may be an inmate, but I am also an American. Every man in here is still entitled to basic rights and basic dignity. To ignore those rights in the name of bureaucratic incompetence is nothing short of unconstitutional.
And let me be clear: the fantasy stories of “Club Fed,” the supposed cushy lifestyle of federal inmates, are nothing but lies. Hogwash. A myth for the uninformed. The truth is what I am living through now a broken system, rotting
facilities, and administrators who seem incapable or unwilling to correct it.
If there’s one silver lining, it’s the correctional officers on the ground. Many of them do their best under impossible circumstances, showing professionalism in the face of an administration that appears to have abandoned both staff and inmates. But they are not the decision-makers. The people who are supposed to run this facility responsibly—the ones at the top—are failing miserably. And
it is the men inside, along with the officers tasked with keeping order, who pay the price.
I refuse to be silent. I refuse to sit quietly and accept this as my reality without shining a light on it. Each week, I will continue to document my experience, my struggles, and my observations, because the American people deserve to know the truth about how their government treats its prisoners. This is my own personal hell but it is also a fight. And if I know one thing about myself, it is that I don’t back down.
Credit: Leslie Lenahan
A rare piebald deer with its family in East Patchogue.
Credit: Dr. Sandra Sprowes
Signs urging a resolution to the impasse blocking the reconstruction of Harbor Road have popped up throughout Stony Brook.
Assemblyman Joe DeStefano chats with local residents during the Coffee with a Cop event at the Bellport Apothecary, from left, Isabella Rossellini, Leslie Lenahan, and Mary Fassman.
Suffolk Police Officer Bonnie Lynch chats with Bellport Apothecary owner Gio Naso and Assemblyman Joe DeStefano at the Coffee with a Cop gathering.
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Credit: Robert Chartuk
ByRobertChartuk
A Journey Into the Sunken Forest
I step onto the winding path at Sailors Haven on a bright August morning, entering a world both ancient and alive. The air carries a delicate blend of salt and earth, tinged with the sweet scent of sassafras and bayberry. On one side of Fire Island, the Great South Bay laps gently; on the other, the Atlantic steadily pulses. The hush of waves and the songs of birds form a timeless chorus to this living cathedral.
The forest around me is gnarled and intimate; grandfather trees knit a ceiling that filters light into silver threads. Beneath this cloak, lush ferns and moss carpet the ground, a testament to endless seasons of
tenacious growth. This maritime woodland is older than most could imagine—its story beginning thousands of years before when a retreating glacier and shifting sands left a peaceful Eden among the dunes. As the landscape settled, the outpost rose like an island of resilience—the Sunken Forest, a steadfast bastion along the wild coast.
Over centuries, hurricanes and nor’easters have lashed and withdrawn, inundating the oasis with salt and sea. Yet here, where the roots anchored, a primeval wood took hold to form an ecosystem unlike any other on the seaboard. I stop to peer at the oaks and cedars, their weathered trunks clad in textured bark, their twisting
sky and poison ivy, berries crimson bright, say stay away.
Ahead, a white-tailed deer, nose twitching, slips through dense shrubs—its fur tigered with sunlight. An osprey soars overhead, a silvery menhaden clutched in its grip; a red-winged blackbird darts through the reeds.
Scientists say that roughly 300 years ago, this place was nothing more than a barren stretch of windblown sand. Gradually, beach grass and other trailblazing plants rooted themselves, stabilizing the dunes and creating conditions for hardier species to follow. These early colonizers trapped the drifting sand and built organic matter into the soil, slowly transforming the harsh
landscape into a more hospitable home despite scarce nutrients, which they drew from air, sea spray, and windborne minerals.
As the soil deepened and improved, a richer community emerged. The first forerunners yielded to trees and shrubs. Over time, the maritime grove took shape. Within the guarding embrace of the double dunes, everything remains modest in height, never rising above the natural berms that shield them.
Balanced between ocean and bay, the Sunken Forest endures—a quiet testament to time’s slow hand and nature’s enduring will.
roots clutching the sandy ground. Rose of Sharon blooms tempt the
Looking toward the Great South Bay.
The path along the sea.
Grandfather trees knit a ceiling that filters light into silver threads.
Rose of Sharon blooms along the seashore
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Credit: Melissa Lugones
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Credit: Melissa Lugones
LOCAL
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
Call it a Comeback! You Can't Kill Kilwins of Patchogue
Whilst covering Mister Softee’s bombshell dock into East Islip back in March, we had an eccentric source with allegiancebased reluctance iconically declare: “...only Babylon baby boys know about Kilwins.”
However, the Chocolate and Ice Cream Shop chain indeed had another South Shore staple over more eastward in Patchogue before closing down—only to see a timely revitalization by way of the same owners at the helm of North Shore Kilwins’ strong Port Jefferson base.
As recently reported by the local media, when the owners
LIMEHOF's
of Kilwins’ Patchogue storefront had to step aside, 74 E. Main Street would lie vacant for quite some time.
A few months later, Christine and Brian Viscount, of Mt. Sinai, brought the good vibrations that have long-lined their Port Jeff power source for all things delicious-flavored desserts from their shore to ours.
The couple opened their original waterfront location in the summer of 2017; it has since become the heart of downtown Port Jeff.
Now, they are determined to endear themselves to a similar close-knit community that
attracts Long Islanders from all over. The Viscounts took over the Patchogue shop on May 31st, and officially opened shortly after the summer season commenced a few weeks later.
Kilwins is a national brand with its footprint in just about every corner of America. The Viscounts told Greater Patchogue they first discovered Kilwins in 2013 during a weekend in Newport, Rhode Island.
Meanwhile, this newspaper journalist had his first Kilwins experience in Fort Myers last month.
Take me back.
Inaugural Music Doc Fest Winners Announced
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF)’s first annual Music Documentary Film Festival took place from August 8th to August 10th at 97 Main Street in Stony Brook.
Its award ceremony was held at the Three Village Inn, where various winners were announced.
“In our very first year, the LIMEHOF Music Documentary Film Festival exceeded all expectations by uniting filmmakers, musicians, and audiences in a shared love of music’s power to inspire,” said Executive Director Tom Needham.
Filmmaker Robert Schwartzman took home one of the top prizes, receiving Best Director for his film “Hung Up on a Dream: The Zombies Documentary.”
“When a festival embraces anything, sometimes that’s how people are going to learn about these films,” said Schwartzman. “A festival is a
moment of sharing people’s work, and I think it’s great to highlight music-specific stuff and documentary format.”
Additional highlights of the occasion include noted local music historian and documentary filmmaker John Rose, of Setauket, winning the Long Island Filmmaker Award for “Building The Beatles,” and Rich Korn’s “Cat’s in the Cradle 50th Anniversary” winning Best Feature.
The festival lineup covered a wide variety of genres, from classical, jazz, blues and folk, to pop, rock and hip-hop—and everything in between. Ska, anyone?
“Our winning films celebrated a breathtaking spectrum of music—from groundbreaking hip-hop and timeless folk to genredefying rock and beyond—each revealing the brilliance of the artists behind them,” Needham added.
“This diversity is the heartbeat of our festival and the inspiration for what’s to come.”
Movie of the Week: Tay Tay on New Heights
ByMichaelJ.Reistetter New news!
To announce her latest album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” the showstopper herself, Taylor Swift, crashed her three-time Super Bowl champion boyfriend Travis Kelce's podcast on Wednesday, August 13th.
The feature-length, conversational feast between pop culture’s favorite power couple and the Kansas City Chiefs tight end’s brother and cohost, former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce, subsequently broke the Internet.
Initial reports determined 1.3 million viewers were watching "New Heights" live via YouTube as the interview aired from 7 p.m. onward. By Thursday afternoon, it surpassed the most views the No. 1 sports podcast has accrued for a single interview, with over 10 million tuning in compared to the 8 million that streamed the 2023 episode featuring Jason’s wife, Kylie, as a special guest.
Swift recapped how Travis’s shameless public declaration of romantic interest in her two years prior piqued her curiosity. As the floodgates opened with multiple mutuals of theirs going to bat for Travis’s high character in addition to his colorful persona, Swift saw in her famous admirer a safe and similar soul.
Throughout her appearance, she characterized Travis as someone "straight out of a 1980s’ John Hughes movie"—who also happens to know exactly what
Credit: @newheightshow / YouTube Are you ready for it?
it means to be a world-class entertainer ever engulfed by the physical demands and mental grind of the endless spotlight.
Moreover, Swift also confirmed she didn’t know squat about sports, especially football, before Cupid’s arrow went ahead and sent her screaming back to Arrowhead Stadium for performances that weren’t her own.
A gushing Travis repeatedly indicated that he was “the luckiest man in the world” as he and Jason attentively listened to Swift emotionally translate her master recording reclamation saga.
When Swift wasn’t smitten about catching Kelce, planting Easter eggs, baking sourdough and raising kittens, she would reflect with great ease and exhale, the once-tortured poet now ready to pump out focused, streamlined dance-pop hits like
it's 1989.
For “The Life of a Showgirl,” Swift plugs a title track collaboration with Sabrina Carpenter. She also reunites with “Red” and “1989” producers Max Martin and Shellback, signaling an expected departure from the Jack Antonoff sound synonymous with her last few “eras.”
Still, she did stipulate the new record—the photographic artwork for which was spicily shot by the same crew used for “Reputation”—would flaunt storytelling comparable to 2020’s Grammy Award-winning “Folklore.”
Swifties the world over are more than ready for it. Who better to find something to rhyme with orange than its newest champion stepping through the other end of that not-so-coincidentally colored door after all come October 3rd?
Two handsome couples with Long Island roots enjoying ice cream and strawberry milkshakes at Kilwins’ Fort Myers, Florida, location.
The winners!
Credit: Siena Zuardi & kilwins.com
Credit: Ed Shin/Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame
ByRobertChartuk
Teens Crash Stolen Kia Into Mastic Beach Home, Face Criminal Charges
“I see too much violent crime being committed by young punks who think that they can get together in gangs and crews and beat the hell out of you or anyone else.” These were the words of former New York Judge Jeanine Pirro, now the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, speaking at a press conference by President Trump on cracking down on crime in the nation’s Capitol.
She could have been talking about Suffolk County, where a group of young punks drove a stolen car through a house in Mastic Beach.
According to Suffolk Police, two male teenagers were arrested after they crashed a stolen 2014
Kia Optima into a residence at 196 Washington Avenue. Seventh Precinct officers, patrolling in an unmarked vehicle, spotted the Kia at the intersection of Mastic Road and Patchogue Avenue around 4:30 p.m. The car had been reported stolen earlier in the day.
When marked patrol units attempted to stop the car, the driver sped off. Minutes later, the Kia plowed into the home. The driver tried to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended, while his passenger remained in the vehicle. Both teens were taken to NYU Langone Hospital–Suffolk in Patchogue with non-life-threatening injuries.
No other injuries were reported.
The Town of Brookhaven fire
marshal assessed the residence for structural damage, and the Kia was impounded.
The 16-year-old suspects, whose names are being withheld due to their age, were each charged with Criminal Possession of Stolen Property in the fourth degree. They were issued Field Appearance Tickets and will be arraigned at the Youth Part of First District Court in Central Islip at a later date.
Detectives from the Seventh Squad are asking anyone with information about the incident to call 631-852-8752. Police remind the public that a criminal charge is an accusation, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Middle Island Man Charged for Selling Fentanyl and Animal Cruelty
ByDeborahWilliams
Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced that Troy Daniels, 44, of Middle Island, was indicted for four counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance for allegedly selling fentanyl out of his Tudor Lane residence. Daniels and his girlfriend Toni Gerwycki, 31, of Middle Island, also face animal cruelty charges for their alleged neglect of four American Bully puppies.
“Each illicit transaction of fentanyl has lethal potential,” said District Attorney Tierney. “Dealers must face consequences commensurate with the threat that their actions pose to our community.”
According to the investigation, on several dates between May 2025 and July 2025, an undercover police officer allegedly purchased large quantities of fentanyl from Daniels. On each occasion, Daniels allegedly sold over 2 ounces of fentanyl to the officer, an amount sufficient to kill over 28,000 people.
Members of the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office East End Drug Task Force executed a
court-authorized search warrant at Daniels’s residence to search for narcotics and other related drug paraphernalia. When they entered, they allegedly observed three American Bully puppies living in deplorable and unsafe conditions. The three puppies were allegedly found confined in one crate with no food or water, and laying in feces and urine. A fourth American Bully dog was allegedly observed to have severely infected and inflamed ears that required immediate veterinarian attention. Members of the District Attorney’s Biological, Environmental, and Animal Safety Team (BEAST) were contacted, and all dogs were taken to a veterinarian for medical attention.
The handling of fentanyl can sometimes result in the fentanyl going airborne, or a small amount falling to the floor. Fentanyl poses a risk of death to dogs and other animals the same as it can be deadly to humans.
Daniels was arraigned on following charges:
• Four counts of Criminal Sale of a Controlled Substance in the First Degree, Class A felonies;
• Thirteen counts of Criminal
Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Third Degree, Class B felonies;
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Controlled Substance in the Fourth Degree, a Class C felony;
• Two counts of Criminally Using Drug Paraphernalia, Class A misdemeanors;
• One count of Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Fourth Degree, a Class A misdemeanor;
• One Count of Overdriving, Torturing, and Injuring Animals, a Class A misdemeanor; and
• Three counts of Failure to Provide Proper Food and Drink to Impounded Animals, an unclassified misdemeanor.
Justice Horowitz ordered Daniels held on bail. He faces up to 20 years in prison if convicted on the top count.
Gerwycki was arraigned for one count of Overdriving, Torturing, and Injuring Animals, a Class A misdemeanor, and three counts of Failure to Provide Proper Food and Drink to Impounded Animals, unclassified misdemeanors.
Gerwycki was released from jail without bail because both charges are considered non-bail eligible under current New York State law. Gerwycki faces up to a year in jail, if convicted on the top count.
This case is being prosecuted by Assistant District Attorney Raquel Tisi of the Narcotics Bureau. The narcotics investigation was conducted by Police Officer Logan Frati of the District Attorney’s Office East End Drug Task Force and the animal cruelty investigation was conducted by Detective Joanna Westrack of the Suffolk County Police Department’s District Attorney Squad.
Sayville Teen Arrested in Smith Point Beach Stabbing
ByRobertChartuk
Suffolk Police arrested an 18-year-old Sayville man after he allegedly stabbed another teenager during an altercation at Smith Point Beach on Saturday evening.
Police said Alexander Murphy, of 30 Lincoln Avenue, was involved in a fight on the outer beach when he stabbed a 17-year-old Selden boy in the back with a knife at about 6:07 p.m. on August 16.
The crowd gathered for the county’s Oyster Jamboree had largely dissipated prior to the incident, which took place down the beach from the Smith Point pavilion.
The victim, whose name was withheld because of his age, was taken to a local hospital with serious but non-lifethreatening injuries, according to authorities.
Murphy was also transported to a hospital for treatment of minor injuries. He was charged with second-degree assault and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Police said Murphy will be arraigned in First District Court in Central Islip once he is released from the hospital.
Detectives from the Seventh Squad are investigating the incident. Anyone with information is urged to call investigators at 631-852-8752.
The house on Washington Avenue rammed by teenagers in a stolen car.
Middle Island couple faces drug and animal cruelty charges.
Credit: Robert Chartuk
Credit: Grok/Twitter
Credit: Rosalie Hanson
Suffolk Police at the scene of a stabbing on Smith Point’s Outer Beach.
ByDeborahWilliams
New York State Is $34 Billion in the Hole – That's Billion with a 'B'!
New York State Comptroller, Tom DiNapoli sounded the alarm that NY’s finances are in big trouble. $34 billion worth of trouble.
The state’s Division of Budget forecasts a growing structural budget deficit with a cumulative three-year budget gap of $34.3 billion. The gaps reach levels not seen since the global financial crisis of 2008.
The $34.3 billion gap is up $7 billion since the January release of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 Executive Budget Financial Plan, and is attributable to downward revisions to the economic forecast and projected revenues, as well as increases in projected spending.
In other words, New York’s Democrats have a massive spending problem.
New York State Conservative Party Chairman, Jerry Kassar said, “When you constantly overspend on a whole range of unnecessary programs including billions to assist those here in our nation illegally and you ignore all information indicating the Federal Government will not bail you out, Hochul and the Democratic controlled legislature have no one to blame other than themselves. The Conservative Party and GOP many times warned this would occur. My advice, listen on occasion.”
Herb Stein’s Law (Ben Stein’s father and economist) has a famous saying, “Anything that can’t go on forever, won’t.” New York seems immune to this reality and will test
the limits of spending and taxing on its residents.
South Shore Press spoke with Assemblyman Mike Fitzpatrick (R, C, I-Smithtown) on the issue of the NYS budget. When asked how much more NY can really raise taxes to continue financing out of control spending, Fitzpatrick said, “Taxes can't be raised any further.
This will be a true test for the Governor because she knows. The smart Democrats know that they can't afford to lose any more of high earners. They are mobile and they are leaving New York in droves.
“The problem they have now is this threat of Mamdani coming in as NY Mayor. These DemocratSocialists are emboldened and they're going to put a lot of pressure on the Democrat caucus to give them what they want. The governor is really going to have to stand firm. I hope she does. We saw this coming. The increases in spending over the last decade are simply unsustainable,” says Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick makes no bones about what needs to be done.
“Stop the whining. Stop the crying. There's no crying in politics. There's no whining in politics. We've got to work for the benefit of everyone. We've got to get serious about fiscal discipline here because we simply can't afford it.”
On what he thinks will happen if Mamdani wins Fitzpatrick says, “It will only get worse as people who are productive and who are wealthy have the liberty to move and they're going to, many have done so already.”
Asked if he sees any movement, any willingness to address this deficit hole on the Democrat side, Fitzpatrick offered, “Today I would say no, there's no willingness because all they want to do is blame Trump and try to use him in the elections next year to try and flip seats in the house.”
Fitzpatrick closed out by saying, “In order for us to be fiscally healthy as a state, and as a nation, we've got to get our act together. We can no longer afford to spend the levels we're spending. That's the plain, simple truth. It's got to stop. Otherwise, our children and grandchildren are going to see a decline in their quality of life that we would never accept for ourselves.”
Kansas City's $17 Million Grocery Flop Is a Warning for New York
ByRobertChartuk
The Socialist ideas pushed by New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani have failed every time they’ve been tried. His latest? City-run grocery stores—a scheme already tested and proven disastrous in Kansas City.
The government-owned Sun Fresh supermarket shut its doors after years of empty shelves, high crime, and $17 million in taxpayer spending. A sign on the locked doors blamed “unforeseen circumstances beyond our control.”
In reality, the problems were well known: theft so rampant that employees carried tasers, chronic inventory shortages, and multiple
taxpayer bailouts, including $750,000 in “emergency” funding last year.
The store was touted as a model of public ownership when it opened in 2018. Now it’s a vacant building—a monument to the fact that government can’t wish away the economic, security, and logistical realities of running a business.
Yet Mamdani still promises his city-run markets would “operate without a profit motive” and pass savings to customers. Kansas City’s failure shows what actually happens: Taxpayers foot the bill while shoppers take their business elsewhere.
Government control of key
industries—the Socialist model— fails because it strips away competition, dulls innovation, and replaces consumer choice with political decision-making. Without the pressure to perform, efficiency collapses, costs balloon, and the public is left holding an empty bag.
Why should all New Yorkers care? Businesses are threatening to bail out of the state if Mamdani becomes mayor, leaving the rest of the taxpayers to make up for the lost revenue. If Gov. Hochul and her Progressive colleagues in the legislature continue their wasteful ways, such as increasing this year’s budget by $12.5 billion to a record $254 billion, the state will face a grim economic fate.
DOGE Report: Failure to Address Significant Risk of Fraud and Improper Payments
ByDeborahWilliams
The mindset of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is now firmly embedded in agencies and departments across the federal government. Waste, fraud, and abuse are being detected and prevented at every turn.
A recent report issued by the Office of the Inspector General Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the federal employee retirement applications
process, administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM), is "fraught with IT management weaknesses" and not nearly enough has been done to fix it.
An initial, and shocking finding of DOGE was the Iron Mountain cave system where the entire federal retirement program was kept in paper taking months to process by hand any one individual’s retirement paperwork. 700+ mine workers
operate 230 feet underground to process ~10,000 applications per month, which are stored in manila envelopes and cardboard boxes.
OPM manages and administers the federal retirement program and the agency has been working on modernizing the process for more than 20 years with little progress. It was noted at the time that if this were a private company, they would have long since gone out of business.
The GAO report released that, "OPM has not yet demonstrated that it has incorporated key aspects of IT project management as part of its modernization effort, as we recommended. Doing so would help ensure that key aspects of the project, such as scope, responsible organizations, costs, schedules, and risks are identified and that progress toward meeting objectives, such as processing timeliness, can be assessed.”
The GAO said that legislation was enacted on July 4, 2025, that directed OPM to implement their recommendations. GAO estimated that OPM could save $1 billion
after fully implementing their recommendations.
Gene L. Dodaro, comptroller general of the United States, wrote to the OPM director saying, “GAO’s has 14 open priority recommendations. Additionally, there are 44 other GAO open recommendations that we will continue to work with your staff to address.”
Under "Actions needed” are commonsense items such as:
• OPM needs to implement a monitoring mechanism to identify and remove ineligible family members from the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program.”
• OPM needs to develop, document, and implement a Retirement Services IT modernization plan.
• OPM needs to establish and maintain a workforce planning process and assess competency needs and staffing.
• The Director of OPM should establish a time frame to develop
a plan to manage permanent electronic records.
In November 2024, GAO reported that, on a government-wide basis, just 70% of their recommendations made 4 years ago were implemented. OPM’s recommendation implementation rate was just 33%. As of July 2025, OPM had 58 open recommendations.
The GAO report also calls out areas of particularly high risk to fraud, waste, abuse, and mismanagement. One of the highrisk areas—strategic human capital management—directly centers on OPM. In addition, mission critical skills gaps are a factor in 20 of the other 37 areas currently listed as high-risk.
Weekly DOGE Contracts Update:
In the last five days, agencies terminated 123 wasteful contacts with a ceiling value of $5.3B and savings of $4.2B, including an $857k Department of the Interior contract for a “technical advisor, Lagos Nigeria.”
Iron Mountain Pennsylvania cave system where federal retirement records are kept and processed.
Department of Government Efficiency
Credit: Legislature Chambers Albany/Bob Chartuk
The NY budget is in big trouble.
HISTORY LESSONS
BY RICHARD ACRITELLI
Welcome to former United States Army Captain Frank Lombardi who is now the new commander of Rocky Point Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 6249. Taking over this position after the retirement of decades-long Commander Joseph A. Cognitore, Lombardi has a tremendous mentor who will guide him through the responsibilities of this new leadership role. Thank you to Cognitore for his unyielding efforts to help find affordable housing for veterans, to aid the 9/11/01 Diamond in the Pines Learning Site, the Private FirstClass Joseph Dwyer PTSD Statue & 5K Race, the Rocky Point military history museum, the Wounded Warrior Golf Outing, feeding veterans, and lobbying all levels of politicians.
Lombardi’s story began in Miller Place, where he was an active young man who liked playing ice and deck hockey and was an all-county golfer. He enjoyed studying military history and physics and before he graduated, Lombardi was accepted into the United States Merchant Marine Academy at King’s Point. Instead, he went to Stony Brook University but later left to transfer to Cortland University to major in history and enlisted into the Army’s Simulations Membership Program. Maintaining his grades and training in the military, Lombardi prepared to become an Army officer. In college, he was a member of the historic 42nd Infantry “Rainbow” Division that was stationed out of Syracuse. Being a “student-soldier,” Lombardi graduated from Cortland in 1989, where he quickly enlisted into active duty.
Rapidly Lombardi began his military career, as he went to basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, went to Airborne, Air Assault, and Ranger schools. He was soundly instructed in how to handle weapons, land navigation, packed and repaired parachutes, maintained food and sleep deprivation, loading and delivering different fighting equipment/ guns, set up airdrop zones, survival training, and he collaborated well with others. Succeeding through different military tasks, Lombardi believed that it was important to always “concentrate and keep your eyes forward” toward these challenging and changing military efforts. As a second lieutenant, Lombardi watched the end of the Cold War against the Soviet Union and the evolving strategic and foreign policy mission of the United States.
From Fort Drum in Upstate New York to Hawaii, to being sent to several jungle-training deployments in Panama near the Columbian border, Lombardi became a hardened officer in the field. Lombardi was later deployed to the Egyptian Sinai Peninsula, where he directed field artillery, mortars, air strikes, and helped
guide a fire support team. By December 1990, to reinforce the growing Desert Shield strength of American and coalition forces, Lombardi and his unit was ordered to Saudi Arabia.
Situated near the Iraqi border, Lombardi experienced the tenacious air and ground war that devastated Saddam Hussein’s military forces. Within a “blink of an eye” the ground war was over and by St. Patrick’s Day 1991, Lombardi spent eighteen hours flying home on a C-130 to return to Miller Place. Tired from the long flight, Lombardi was pleased to see his family and friends, marched in the Rocky Point St. Patrick’s Day Parade and for the first time had a meal at VFW Post 6249. Lombardi was directed to Fort Drum, where he was the Division Artillery (DIVARTY) officer and was he eventually sent back to Panama for jungle training.
In August 1992, after Hurricane Andrew hit Homestead Air Force Base in Florida, Lombardi, a newly promoted first lieutenant was ordered to this area. As all living accommodations were destroyed, and these forces from Fort Drum immediately helped the rescue and recovery efforts, purified drinking water, built shelters, and provided medical care. For seven weeks, as supply officer, Lombardi was given $10,000 to purchase chain saws, shovels, picks to clear debris, and tents, baby formula and diapers to help the local citizens. Violent challenges were presented by the South Miami gangs, who shot at these soldiers and while they were not initially armed, this changed as these service members had to protect themselves to carry out this domestic mission.
This was a busy year for Lombardi that saw him ordered to assist “Operation Restore Hope” in Somalia. Serving as a supply officer, he was tasked with coordinating much-needed materials that were needed daily for the soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division. Flying back and forth to Somalia from Fort Drum, Lombardi received constant requests of Gatorade for soldiers who were operating within the hot and dry conditions of Somalia, and he organized 10,000 bottles to be sent to this part of Africa.
This deadly campaign was made famous by the film “Black Hawk Down” that chronicled the impossible objectives of caring for people within a country that did not have a functioning government. This longtime war-torn nation was controlled by competing warlords who used food as a weapon over the needs of the people. Lombardi recalled that Somalia looked like a “Mad Max” movie, where there were no forms of civility to care for the citizens of this Third World country. The 10th Mountain Division was ordered to protect food shipment and disbursement
Meet the New Commander of VFW Post 6249 and the CoFounder of 22 Across
against local aggressive militias who were bent on controlling foreign food supplies and targeting local American allies. Lombardi worked with officers who supported the rescue and recovery efforts of the downed American helicopters that were attacked during the October 3-4th, 1993, “Battle of Mogadishu.” It was a harrowing experience that saw this nation lose 18 American soldiers and 73 wounded.
Shortly, after arriving home, Lombardi went to “Captain’s School” at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to be instructed in becoming a staff officer, where he was taught public speaking, briefings, and providing background support to future operation. In 1996, Lombardi was sent to his last duty station in Hawaii. He had the unique experience of observing military specialists who were sent to Vietnam to recover remains of dead American soldiers from this war, where they were later identified at this base. He helped run a headquarters company that oversaw mortuary affairs, supply, airborne operations, and the motor pool for the 25th Infantry Division. During a training exercise, Lombardi slipped on a wet floor in a helicopter, landed in a tree, and severely hurt his knee.
After handling a multitude of national and foreign positions through times of war and peace, Lombardi left active duty and served in the reserves for the next three years in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Lombardi has the rare experiences of serving at the end of the Cold War, was a Gulf War veteran, and he was at the front to reinforce the “New World Order” of the United States as the lone superpower. As a civilian, Lombardi, along with several other officers, were offered jobs by General Electric. He later established his family, married his wife Lisa, is extremely proud of his
three daughters Megan, Alexa, and Kaitlyn, and their grandchildren Samoan and Holden. An avid motorcycle rider, Lombardi often uses this mode of transport with his trademark veteran’s cyclist vest, helmet, and flags. Today, he continues his mission to be the leading member of his family, is an avid golfer and hockey player and fan. Like in uniform, Lombardi has cared for others, as he is the chief logistics officer for the Kinexion Network that provides care for children and adults with intellectual disabilities.
This busy Wading River resident is a veterans' advocate who cares deeply for the ongoing suicide crisis amongst members of the Armed Forces. It is estimated that each day 22 veterans die from post-traumatic stress disorder, as this amounts to one veteran dying every 65 minutes. The Veterans Administration concurs with these troubling numbers that have tragically hit the veteran’s community. Lombardi, along with War on Terror and Purple Heart Recipient Chris Levi who had over 130 surgeries to treat his wounds, and local businessman Alex Rohman are determined to weaken the numbers of veteran’s suicide.
On August 29th, this committee is preparing for their ninth kayaking trip from Bridgeport, Connecticut, to travel directly across the sound to Port Jefferson Harbor. It is almost 22 miles across, where 22 kayakers will navigate these waters through the “solidarity” of ensuring that the suicide of American military members is not forgotten with the goal to drastically cut these numbers. This 501(c)(3) organization is motivated to raise funds to help garner expanded support services for veterans and care for their families. Armed with kayaks and a special patriotic energy to treat our veterans, please join this
fundraiser, and welcome these local citizens who are paddling for a vital cause. On this date, residents can see the conclusion of this journey from Connecticut within the beauty of Port Jefferson and will be given free food and drinks and activities to usher in this worthy charity. For all of those interested citizens who would like to attend this event, donate, and watch these kayakers land in Port Jefferson, you can see additional information from their website-22 PTSD Awareness Challenge.
There will most likely be past supporters such as the Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon, American Legion Post 1146, Bikers Against Child Abuse, Cooking for Long Island Veterans Central Nassau Guidance and Counseling Services Bridging the Gap Veterans Program, Cooking For Long Island Veterans, Suffolk County VFW Leadership, Disabled American Veterans, Joseph Dwyer Veterans Peer Support Project’s, Kinexion Network, Long Island Cares, Long Island State Veterans Home, New York State Assembly, North Fork United Methodist Church, Operation Veronica, Paws Of War, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Rolling Thunder Inc. NY Chapter 6, Smithtown Parkinson Therapy Center, Suffolk County Office of Emergency Management, Suffolk County Veterans Service Agency, Teachers Federal Credit Union, Tribute and Honor Foundation, United Veterans Beacon House, Inc., US Military Vets MC, VA Suicide Prevention, VERGNational Grid, VFW Post 6249, and Warrior Ranch Foundation. On your calendar, mark down a date that will furnish plenty of smiles and goodwill toward this ongoing national veterans problem, where 22 PTSD Awareness Challenge and Across are devoted to the needs of struggling Armed Forces members and their families.
BY NANCY BURNER, ESQ.
Medicaid Payments for Family Caregivers
Can a friend or family member be my caregiver through the Community Medicaid program?
For those who need long-term care and wish to have it provided by a family member, they can enroll in a Community Medicaid program that allows a person of their choosing to be paid to assist them with activities of daily living (“ADL”), including tasks such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, and light cleaning.
To be eligible for Community Medicaid, an individual must meet certain income and asset limits. Starting September 1, 2025, the applicant must show that they require physical assistance with three or more ADLs. The exception to the rule being that if there is a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, the applicant need only show the need for supervisory assistance with two or more ADLs.
If the minimum needs criteria is met, personal care services can be provided through a licensed home
care agency or, in the case of a friend or family member, through the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (“CDPAP”). This program allows those who need a caregiver to recruit and hire someone of their choice to assist them with daily needs.
It can be difficult for the elderly or disabled to come to terms with needing help, and it can be even harder for them to trust strangers to care for them in the home they may have maintained for decades on their own. CDPAP allows a familiar face to provide the necessary services. Beyond having a familiar face, a CDPAP caregiver is allowed to assist with certain tasks for which a licensed home health aide cannot. These include the ability to administer medications, inject insulin shots, perform wound care, administer nutrients through a feeding tube, make medical assessments, or open mail. The CDPAP caregiver is not limited by a license.
Most family members can serve as paid caregivers, but there are some exceptions. Spouses and parents of children under 21 may not serve as personal. You do not have to be a family member to be a paid caregiver, it can be any person including, but not limited to, siblings, friends, prior home health aides, or neighbors can also
Credit: Victorrustle | Dreamstime.com
qualify.
CDPAP determines the hours of care a recipient may receive based on a Medicaid assessment evaluating medical needs. Caregivers are paid on the books directly from a Medicaid fiscal intermediary. Wages are on an hourly basis and the hourly rate usually ranges from $15 to $25
TARA D’AMATO
Summer is the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the beauty of our local community! Join up with the library staff at these scheduled family events at local parks and attractions. You’ll have fun, learn something new, and meet new friends.
Patriots Preserve
Tuesdays, August 5 & 19, 10:00–10:45a.m.
Registration required for each separate session.
Meet us at Patriots Preserve for a morning walk with your little one.
Ages birth-23 months with an adult.
Sandcastles @ Smith Point Beach
Monday,August18,6:00–
per hour depending on various factors.
This program is great for those who wish to care for elderly parents or disabled family members without having to sacrifice income which they need to support their own immediate family. An attorney familiar with planning for the elderly and disabled can help you navigate Medicaid application and determine which programs are available to you.
By Erin Cullen, Esq. and Britt Burner, Esq.
Britt Burner, Esq. is the Managing Partner at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. focusing her practice areas on Estate Planning and Elder Law. Erin Cullen, Esq. is an associate attorney at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. focusing her practice on Trusts and Estates. Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. serves clients from New York City to the east end of Long Island with offices located in East Setauket, Westhampton Beach, Manhattan and East Hampton.
7:00p.m.
Register one person to represent the family.
Weather permitting.
Meet up with library staff on the sand in front of Tiki Joe’s at Smith Point Beach for sandcastles and warm weather fun. We include a sun safety station with info, sunscreen and goodies for the kids, provided by Stony Brook Cancer Center’s Prevention in Action program.
Families with children entering Grade 6 or younger.
Family Walk Night @ Patriots Preserve
Thursday,August21,6:15–7:00p.m.
Register one child entering Grade 6 or younger to represent the family.
Meet us at Patriots Preserve for a summer night walk with your family.
Families with children entering Grade 6 or younger.
Register each child attending. Weather permitting.
Did you know anyone can go crabbing for blue claw crabs from our local waters? With some simple equipment, you can catch come crabs for dinner or just for curiosity. We will be catching and releasing.
Families with children entering Grade 6 or younger.
Library Director
Happening at the
Adults
Register for programs three easy ways: in person, online at www.communitylibrary.org or contact the Adult Information Desk at 631-399-1511 ext. 2014 for the Moriches branch, ext. 1028 for the Mastic Beach branch or ext. 2024 for the Main Building, regardless of program location. Programs are for Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library cardholders only, unless otherwise stated.
Take Care of Yourself
Rooted in Growth
TRY SOMETHING NEW!
Monday, March 24, 6:00 – 7:15 p.m.
Held at our Moriches Branch.
Registration begins Monday, March 3.
What’s On Your Nightstand?
Thursday, August 21, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Held at Sunsets at Senix Restaurant, 50 Senix Avenue, Center Moriches.
Registration begins Thursday, July 31.
Plant your own succulent in a custom decorated planter while exploring themes of personal growth! Presented by Christine Szaraz from Stony Brook University’s Healing Arts program.
Relax with Yoga
Tuesday, March 4, 11, 18, 25
3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Held at our Main Building.
Everyone Loves a Story
What’s on your Nightstand?
Thursday, March 13, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Held at Sunsets at Senix Restaurant 50 Senix Ave, Center Moriches, NY
Registration begins Tuesday, March 4.
Deciding what to read next? Join us for a discussion about books at Sunsets at Senix! There is no assigned reading; chat about what you are currently reading, what you want to read, or your most favorite book of all time. Snacks will be provided. Wine and beer will be available for purchase. Open to all.
Registration begins Tuesday, February 25.
This in-person yoga practice is guided from a chair and a mat to provide options and variations for accessibility. You will be encouraged to move at your own pace and in a way that is kind to your body. It is a practice for beginners or anyone looking to find extra room to breathe and decompress. It will focus on connecting breath and movement and creating length and strength in the body.
Cookbook Book Club Exploration
Wednesday, August 27, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Held at our Moriches Branch.
Registration begins Tuesday, August 19.
Home Improvement Workshop
Your Home’s Electrical System
Saturday, March 29, 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Held at our Main Building.
Registration begins Thursday, March 6.
Join Brian Schnee to learn how the electrical system in your house provides appropriate power to satisfy your electrical needs safely. This discussion will include your home’s incoming service, the main electrical panel board, wiring materials, outlets, smoke detectors and safety measures. This class will be followed by an electrical workshop on April 5 where you will have the opportunity to wire your own outlets and light switches.
Deciding what to read next? Join us for a discussion about books at Sunsets at Senix! There is no assigned reading; chat about what you are currently reading, what you want to read, or your most favorite book of all time. Snacks will be provided. Wine and beer will be available for purchase. Open to all.
Book Discussion
Thursday, March 20, 2:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Held at our Main Building. Registration begins Thursday, February 20.
Bernadette Fox is notorious. To her Microsoft-guru husband, she’s a fearlessly opinionated partner; to fellow private-school mothers in Seattle, she’s a disgrace; to design mavens, she’s a revolutionary architect; and to 15-year-old Bee, she is her best friend and, simply, Mom.
Then Bernadette vanishes. It all began when Bee aced her report card and claimed her promised reward: a family trip to Antarctica. But Bernadette’s intensifying allergy to Seattle— and people in general – has made her so agoraphobic that a virtual assistant in India now runs her most basic errands. A trip to the end of the earth is problematic. To find her mother, Bee compiles email messages, official documents, and secret correspondence – creating a compulsively readable and surprisingly touching novel about misplaced genius and a mother and daughter’s role in an absurd world. Copies of the book will be available at our Main Branch starting February 20.
Cookbooks rank high on publishers’ Bestseller lists. At the same time, the Internet abounds with recipes. We are thinking of creating a cookbook book club. Should we include cooking, baking, and pot-lucking? Or simply reading and discussion? (Some library book clubs actually “read it and eat it.”) Please come to this casual get-together to share your ideas and suggestions!
The featured March events and authors are:
Power of Reset and How to Change What’s Not Working
Women on the Hill
Children & Parents
Register for programs three easy ways: in person, online at www.communitylibrary.org or contact the Children’s Reference Desk at 631-399-1511 Ext. 2016 for the Moriches Branch, Ext. 1030 for the Mastic Beach Branch or Ext. 2028 for the Main Building.
Crafts-To-Go can be picked up at open library locations. One craft per child, per visit please
TAKE THE FUN ON THE ROAD!
ALL IN-PERSON PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED IN-PERSON ONLY. SUPPLIES WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR PICK UP.
Sandcastles @ Smith Point Beach
Monday, August 18, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Register one person to represent the family.
Weather permitting.
PROGRAM REGISTRANTS MUST ARRIVE WITHIN 10 MINUTES OF THE START OF EACH PROGRAM OR THEIR RESERVATION WILL BE FORFEITED.
MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUR ONLINE PROGRAM CALENDAR FOR PROGRAM DETAILS.
BABIES / PRESCHOOL - AGES BIRTH TO
Meet up with library staff on the sand in front of Tiki Joe’s at Smith Point Beach for sandcastles and warm weather fun. We include a sun safety station with info, sunscreen and goodies for the kids, provided by Stony Brook Cancer Center’s Prevention in Action program. Families with children entering Grade 6 or younger.
Registration begins one week prior to each session unless otherwise noted.
Register one child entering Grade 6 or younger to represent the family.
Thursday, March 6, 6:30 – 7:15 p.m.
Meet us at Patriots Preserve for a summer night walk with your family. Families with children entering Grade 6 or younger.
Held at our Mastic Beach Branch.
Please bring a blanket and dress for a mess
Ages birth-18 months with an adult.
Crabbing @ Forge River
Baby Playdate
Friday, August 22, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Register each child attending. Weather permitting.
Meet us at the fishing pier at Forge River Marina on Riviera Drive, Mastic. We will provide all of the supplies, but feel free to bring your own bucket and net if desired. Dress for mess.
Fridays, March 7 & 21, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Held at our Main Building. Friday, March 14, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Held at our Moriches Branch. Friday, March 28, 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. Held at our Mastic Beach Branch. Please note this is an unstructured meet up.
Ages birth-23 months with an adult.
Families with children entering Grade 6 or younger.
FAMILIES
Family Connect: Family Art Night
Wednesday, March 5, 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Held at our Main Building.
Drop-in, no registration required.
Please note this is an unstructured meet up.
Families with children Grade 5 or younger.
Art Studio & Storytime
LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES
SUPPLEMENTAL SUMMONS–SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF SUFFOLK – COMPULINK CORPORATION, DBA CELINK, Plaintiff, -against- MICHAEL M. VARRIALE JR. AKA
MICHAEL L. VARRIALE, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL VARRIALE AKA
MICHAEL YARRIALE; ANTHONY VARRIALE, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL VARRIALE AKA
MICHAEL YARRIALE; FRANCESCO VARRIALE, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL VARRIALE AKA
MICHAEL YARRIALE; PAUL T. VARRIALE AKA
PAUL V. VARRIALE, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL VARRIALE AKA
MICHAEL YARRIALE; YOLANDA COUTANT AKA YOLANDA
VARRIALE, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF
MICHAEL VARRIALE AKA MICHAEL YARRIALE; THERESA M. MCGUIRE AKA THERE
M. VARRIALE, AS HEIR, DEVISEE, DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL VARRIALE AKA MICHAEL YARRIALE; ANY AND ALL UNKNOWN HEIRS, DEVISEES, GRANTEES, ASSIGNEES, LIENORS, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES AND ALL OTHER PARTIES CLAIMING AN INTEREST BY, THROUGH, UNDER OR AGAINST THE ESTATE OF MICHAEL VARRIALE AKA MICHAEL YARRIALE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ACTING ON BEHALF OF THE SECRETARY OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ACTING ON BEHALF OF DEPARTMENT OF TREASURYINTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; DITECH FINANCIAL LLC; CLERK OF THE SUFFOLK COUNTY TRAFFIC & PARKING VIOLATIONS AGENCY; PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK; “JANE DOE” (REFUSED NAME) AS JOHN DOE #1, Defendants - Index No. 603028/2023 Plaintiff Designates Suffolk County as the Place of Trial. The Basis of Venue is that the subject action is situated in Suffolk County. To the above named Defendants–YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in this action and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the complaint is not served with this Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff’s Attorney(s) within 20 days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York); and in case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. That this Supplemental Summons is being filed pursuant to an order of the court dated June 25, 2025. NOTICEYOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME – If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to the mortgage company will not stop the foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (COMPULINK CORPORATION, DBA CELINK) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. The foregoing summons is served upon you by publication pursuant to an order of the Honorable S. Betsy Heckman Torres, J.S.C. Dated: June 25, 2025 Filed: June 30, 2025. The object of this action is to foreclose a mortgage and covering the premises known as 380 West End Avenue,
Shirley, NY 11967. Dated: February 11, 2025 Filed: July 9, 2025 Greenspoon Marder LLP, Attorney for Plaintiff, By: Monica G. Christie, Esq., 1345 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 2200, New York, NY 10105 P: (212) 524-5000 F: (212) 524-5050 No Service by fax) Service purposes only: Trade Centre South 100 W. Cypress Creek Road, Suite 700, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309 P: (888) 491-1120 F: (954) 3436982
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF SUFFOLK Nationstar Mortgage LLC d/b/a Champion Mortgage Company, Plaintiff AGAINST
Aaron Ruff a/k/a Aaron G. Ruff, Individually and on behalf of the Estate of Millinee Thomas; et al., Defendant(s)
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF SUFFOLK
CMG MORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff, Against
COREY LEMAY A/K/A COREY M. LEMAY, et al, Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 10/23/2017, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, at Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738, on 9/10/2025 at 11:00AM, premises known as 30 Balsam Drive, Medford, New York 11763, and described as follows:
ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York.
Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on August 3, 2023 and an Order Appointing Successor Referee duly entered on April 30, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on September 10, 2025 at 9:30 a.m., premises known as 24 Golden Gate Drive, Shirley, NY 11967. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York, District 0200, Section 980.30, Block 01.00 and Lot 032.000. Approximate amount of judgment is $260,227.18 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #616260/2021.
Frank Maffei, Esq., Referee
Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 180758-1
NOTICE OF MEETING CHANGE OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OF THE MIDDLE ISLAND FIRE DISTRICT
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 15, 2021, amended November 22, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on August 28, 2025, at 9:00AM, premises known as 108 Wilson Avenue, Medford, NY 11763. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, situate, lying and being at Middle Island, Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk, State of New York, District 0200 Section 497.00 Block 02.00 Lot 006.000. Approximate amount of judgment $328,134.19 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index# 612283/2015.
District 0200 Section 870.00 Block 03.00 Lot 030.002
CANCELED
The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $318,054.88 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 604459/2015
Thomas Joseph Demayo, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, U.S. BANK TRUST NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE OF THE CHALET SERIES IV TRUST, PLAINTIFF, VS. JENNIFER WAGNERAUERBECK A/K/A J.D. WAGNER-AUERBECK A/K/A JENNIFER W. AUERBECK A/K/A JENNIFER WAGNER, ET AL., DEFENDANT(S).
Pursuant to a Judgment of
John Bennett, Esq., Referee Friedman Vartolo LLP, 85 Broad Street, Suite 501, New York, New York 10004, Attorneys for Plaintiff. Firm File No.: 203392-1
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF SUFFOLK, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE ON BEHALF OF AND WITH RESPECT TO AJAX MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST 2016-C, MORTGAGE-BACKED NOTES, SERIES 2016-C, Plaintiff, vs. RICHARD FRANCA, ET AL., Defendant(s).
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Middle Island Fire District in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, will change the regular monthly meeting of the Board of Fire Commissioners from Wednesday, October 15, 2025 to Wednesday, October 22, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Dated: Middle Island, New York
August 15, 2025
By Order of the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Middle Island Fire District Chrissy Rosenfeld, District Secretary
L16324-08/20/2025
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF SUFFOLK SPLITRAIL PLACE ASSOCIATES, LLC, Plaintiff AGAINST
PROPERTY OPTIONS NY LLC, JASON A. ROMANIELLO, TOWN SUPERVISOR OF THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, VAULT CAPITAL LLC, NEXTSTONE CAPITAL LLC, INDEPENDENT FUNDING GROUP LLC, and JOHN DOE and JANE DOE, the last two names being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered on December 26, 2019, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on September 16, 2025 at 9:30 a.m., premises known as 232 Vita Drive, Shirley, NY 11967. All that certain plot, piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Township of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York, District 0200, Section 644.00, Block 01.00 and Lot 021.001. Approximate amount of judgment is $235,844.93 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #610834/2018.
foreclosed herein, and any parties, corporations or entities, if any, having or claiming an interest or lien upon the mortgaged premises,
Defendant(s)
NOTICE OF SALE
NOTICE IS HEREBY
GIVEN pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale dated August 1, 2024 and duly entered August 15, 2024, and entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Nassau wherein SPLITRAIL PLACE ASSOCIATES, LLC is the Plaintiff and PROPERTY OPTIONS NY LLC, JASON A. ROMANIELLO, TOWN SUPERVISOR OF THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, VAULT CAPITAL LLC, NEXTSTONE CAPITAL LLC, INDEPENDENT FUNDING GROUP LLC, and JOHN DOE and JANE DOE, the last two names being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of premises being foreclosed herein, and any parties, corporations or entities, if any, having or claiming an interest or lien upon the mortgaged premises are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY11738 on September 23, 2025 at 10:30 AM, the premises known as 87 Lynbrook Drive, Mastic Beach, NY 11951, Block 13.00 Lot 046.00.
ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE
BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE TOWNSHIP OF BROOKHAVEN, COUNTY OF SUFFOLK AND STATE OF NEW YORK
Approximate amount of judgment $187,512.56 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #619398/2023. The aforementioned auction will be conducted in accordance with the District and SUFFOLK County Auction Plan in effect at this time.
Attorneys for Plaintiff L16325 - 08/20/2025, 08/27/2025, 09/03/2025 & 09/10/2025
Supplemental Summons and Notice of Object of Action SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK ACTION TO FORECLOSE A MORTGAGE INDEX #: 613196/2024 U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION AS TRUSTEE FOR MERRILL LYNCH FIRST FRANKLIN MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST, MORTGAGE LOAN ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-3 Plaintiff, vs JOSEPH EDISON REPP AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF JOSEPH W. REPP AS SURVIVING SPOUSE OF BLYTHE ANN REPP, ERICA EASOW AS HEIR TO THE ESTATE OF JOSEPH W. REPP AS
SURVIVING SPOUSE OF BLYTHE ANN REPP, UNKNOWN HEIRS OF JOSEPH W. REPP IF LIVING, AND IF HE/SHE BE DEAD, ANY AND ALL PERSONS UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, CLAIMING, OR WHO MAY CLAIM TO HAVE AN INTEREST IN, OR GENERAL OR SPECIFIC LIEN UPON THE REAL PROPERTY DESCRIBED IN THIS ACTION; SUCH UNKNOWN PERSONS BEING HEREIN GENERALLY DESCRIBED AND INTENDED TO BE INCLUDED IN WIFE, WIDOW, HUSBAND, WIDOWER, HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DESCENDANTS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES, LIENORS, AND ASSIGNEES OF SUCH DECEASED, ANY AND ALL PERSONS DERIVING INTEREST IN OR LIEN UPON, OR TITLE TO SAID REAL PROPERTY BY, THROUGH OR UNDER THEM, OR EITHER OF THEM, AND THEIR RESPECTIVE WIVES, WIDOWS, HUSBANDS, WIDOWERS, HEIRS AT LAW, NEXT OF KIN, DESCENDANTS, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, DEVISEES, LEGATEES, CREDITORS, TRUSTEES, COMMITTEES, LIENORS, AND ASSIGNS, ALL OF WHOM AND WHOSE NAMES, EXCEPT AS STATED, ARE UNKNOWN TO PLAINTIFF, PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA ON BEHALF OF THE IRS, NEW YORK
STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE JOHN DOE (Those unknown tenants, occupants, persons or corporations or their heirs, distributees, executors, administrators, trustees, guardians, assignees, creditors or successors claiming an interest in the mortgaged premises.) Defendant(s).
MORTGAGED PREMISES: 417 Old Montauk Highway Eastport, NY 11941 To the Above named Defendant: You are hereby summoned to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Supplemental Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff(s) attorney(s) within twenty days after the service of this Supplemental Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Supplemental Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Suffolk. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. TO Unknown Heirs of Joseph W. Repp Defendant In this Action. The foregoing Supplemental Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. Susan Betsy Heckman Torres of the Supreme Court Of The
State Of New York, dated the Eighth day of August, 2025 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Suffolk, in the City of Riverhead. The object of this action is to foreclosure a mortgage upon the premises described below, executed by Joseph W. Repp and Blythe Ann Repp dated the March 29, 2007, to secure the sum of $247,775.00 and recorded at Book M00021508, Page 110 in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk on April 3, 2007. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed April 16, 2009 and recorded on May 5, 2009, in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk at Book M00021813, Page 251. The mortgage was subsequently modified on December 24, 2011. The mortgage was subsequently modified on January 26, 2017. The mortgage was subsequently modified by a Deferral Agreement on November 4, 2022. The mortgage was subsequently modified by a Deferral Agreement on March 10, 2023. The mortgage was subsequently modified by a Deferral Agreement on April 29, 2023. The property in question is described as follows: 417 Old Montauk Highway, Eastport, NY 11941 NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this Foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court
where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. DATED: August 11, 2025 Gross Polowy LLC Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s) 1775 Wehrle Drive, Suite 100 Williamsville, NY 14221 The law firm of Gross Polowy LLC and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. 86963
The following Self Storage unit contents containing household and other goods Will be sold for cash by StorQuest Self Storage 393 Smith road Shirley, NY 11967 (631)-729-6945 To satisfy a lien on 8/26/2025 at approx. 12:00pm at www. storagetreasures.com
086 Allison McDonald 133 Justin Crofton 329 MYRCINE Maldon 361 Susan Beiter 374 Kelly Ardila 553 Giorgianno Mazzini
L16327-08/20/2025
THE CLASSIFIEDS
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Print Shop needs Jogger/Press Helper. Warehouse experience helpful, but not necessary. Productive environment 40-50lbs lift requirement, looking for reliable dependable person. Good Pay and Benefits. Apply in Person: 14 Ramsey Road, Shirley NY 11967 9:00 am-4:00pm M-T, or fax resume to 631-345-0709. Phone-631-345-3800 ext 223.
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The Fantasy Baseball Experience - Prospect Look Ahead
ByJackThaler
Hi, my name is Jack Thaler and I hoped you enjoyed last week's edition of My Fantasy Baseball Experience. This week I will be doing a special edition and looking ahead and talking about prospects who are the future of fantasy baseball.
Players who are still in the minor leagues obviously don’t matter towards most leagues but in keeper leagues they do matter so today’s lesson will be directed towards people in keeper leagues. Obviously, most of the prospects in the top 25 will be pretty good so today I will
be talking about prospects who I think are going to be good who are not in the top 25 but also giving my 5 favorite players in the top 25 and their top tools.
(#3)Leo De Vries(Hit:60)
(#1)Konnor Griffin(Run/ Arm:70)
(#5)Jesus Made(Hit/Power/ Arm:60)
(#17)Ethan Holliday(Power:65)
(#16)Luis Pena(Run:70)
Now that I have given you my 5 favorite prospects out of the top 25, I will be talking about 5 prospects
outside of the top 25 who I think are going to be good. Starting with the number 38 overall prospect Noah Schultz, a left-handed pitcher for the White Sox. Schultz was a guy being compared to Randy Johnson and had two incredible seasons in the minors before hitting a rough patch this year causing him to be
pushed out of the top 25. I still think Schultz should be a top 25 prospect and I still think he is going to be a great pitcher in the majors, but I think he just needs a little time to develop before that can happen.
The next player is the number 39 overall prospect in shortstop
Aiva Arquette. Arquette was the number 7 overall pick of the 2025 draft. He has some elite tools, and the Marlins are really good at player development and Arquette fits the bill of players that the Marlins have developed in the past so I think with a little development Arquette will be a star.
Injured Studs Coming Back
ByTomBarton
As we get closer to the end of the season in baseball, that means the end of the fantasy season is also right around the corner. That also means that many teams realize they can't win this year, so many have checked out, but those who still are active might be ready to unload some players that you can take advantage of their lowered price tag.
If you're still in the hunt there are a couple of notable names coming back from an injury that can immediately boost your team. They also have been a pain for owners this season, so many would be fine with unloading them at a discount.
The first name is Yordan Alvarez. Alvarez will report to Corpus Christi this week to start a rehab assignment. It looks like the season of woes for Alvarez could be coming to an end. Alvarez is a true game changer for any offense. He had hit 30 or more home runs
in each of the past four seasons, along with 86,104, and 97 RBIs twice, and that comes with a great average right around .300. He will step into a pennant race on a solid offense and could be a league winner at a discounted price.
If you're looking for pitching, go no further than making an attempt to get Chris Sale. Sale is on a rehab assignment and could be back as early as next week. He
just threw 56 pitches and plans to build that up in one or two more starts before rejoining the Braves. Sale wasn't having his Cy Young year, but was still very effective. An owner might be nervous about his age, his team being out of the playoffs, and his injury past, which all makes for compelling talking points when you try to obtain a big-time ace.
Charlie Condon
Credit: @DNVR_Rockies | X
Credit: @YordanAlvarez44 | X Yordan Alvarez
TM
BY TOM BARTON
College football is back and it is time we start to look at futures plays. When we discuss futures plays most times people gravitate toward who will win the National Championship and who will win the Heisman award. The problem is the front-runners are usually always the ones who cash those tickets and that means the values are not worth the risk and long-term money being held on a futures play.
I prefer to stay with team total over and unders for my future plays. That takes the guesswork out of things like who will be voted on or a playoff game that can go either way. Most of the time the schedule plays an important role and this year my selections are as much about the schedule as they are about wins and losses.
With that said here are my best bets for the future in this 2025 college football season:
Liberty Flames Team Total
Over 9 1/2 wins:
The Flames are my biggest bet
this preseason as the team that will crush their over. Liberty has a history of being that steady winner and nothing should change here. The Flames are getting undervalued here because they only won eight games last season but this year's schedule is something different. Liberty's schedule has them playing just five games against teams that finished over .500 last season. They only play one team with nine wins and they have three layups against teams with four wins or less. They get James Madison at home, and they would have to lose three games to drop this ticket. They have never not had a winning record since they joined the upper division and they are the most talented team in the conference. There is a real chance this team goes undefeated.
Utah Utes Team Total Over 7 wins -
The Utes will be back to that elite team that so many of us are used to. Devin Dampier is under center and he has all sorts of tools. In fact taking Dampier at 60 to 1 to win the
College Football Future Plays That Will Pay Off
Heisman is worth a level two play for a big long shot. Utah went 2-7 in one-score games and has absolutely no consistency at QB, both of those things will change here and that will propel them to win this conference. Utah not only brought in Dampier, but they brought in his offensive coordinator so he will be able to know the offense. Utah's defense has one of the best coordinators in the country running the show and they are the best defense in this conference. Utah not only wins eight games, but they are in the college football playoffs.
Clemson Tigers Team Total Over 9 1/2 wins:
I expect Clemson to be right in the mix for a national title and that means they aren't losing three games this year. Klubick is special and while I don't see the value in him to win the Heisman, I won't put it past him. The Tigers offensively should be high flying after his 43 TDs last season and the dual threat will be able to carry them for most of the weak schedule. On the
SPORTS The Moon Ball Is Back
ByTomBarton
This past weekend there was the battle of New York in a preseason game when the Giants took on the Jets in the stadium that both of them call home. While the final score can be some small bragging rights for one team or another, it's still the preseason so the score of the game means very little in the big picture. What
does mean something however is how certain players can look, and the G-Men had as good of a feeling leaving the game as you can have this time of year.
The moon ball is back, and that should be encouraging for any New York Giants fan.
Quarterback Russell Wilson may not be the same nimble and sure-footed QB he once was with the Seattle Seahawks,
defensive side of things Clemson has a new defensive coordinator and he will have to fix the run stopping issues but they brought in one of the best transfer classes in the nation to fill those holes. They might not go
unbeaten but they won't lose three games. The Tigers won 10 games in 13 of the last 14 seasons, so I feel comfortable they can get there again with the best QB they have had since Trevor Lawrence.
but Wilson showed he still has a big arm and that was on full display in the preseason game against the Jets.
Wilson famously named his deep passing ability the "moon ball" while he was with Seattle as the short QB launches the ball as high as anyone in the league, and hopefully as deep as well. Wilson looked good the entire time he was in the game but the eye-opening moment came when he fired the deep pass. Wilson threw the ball
from his own 11-yard line and his patented high arching-pass hit receiver Beaux Collins just inside the Jets’ 30 yard line. That sort of pass few QBs in the league can make, and at his age many believed Wilson was not among them.
Wilson proved doubters wrong and although Dart had a good game himself. Dart completed 88% of his passes for 137 yards, and one touchdown on Saturday against the Jets. Head Coach Brian Daboll was
quick to announce Wilson as the unquestioned starter to begin the season. Daboll said, “Russ is our starter and we’re going to keep developing Jaxson. Jaxson’s just got to continue to work to get better, and we’ve got to help him get better."
With Dart playing so well and Wilson looking like he rediscovered some of his old self the Giants are feeling good with their signal-callers to enter the season.
The Fantasy Baseball ExperienceProspect...
Continued from page 24
Up next is the number 50 overall prospect in second baseman Christian Moore. Moore has never hit badly in the minors but when in the majors he hit into a slump. With some development I think his minor league success will translate to the majors. The number 54 overall prospect in catcher Eduardo Tait is up next. He has elite power and was just traded for Jhoan Duran which shows
how the Twins think of him, and he has also been putting up great year after great year which further shows his talent.
The final player is the number 60 overall prospect in outfielder Charlie Condon. Condon has elite hitting skills but has struggled so far in the minors resulting in Condon being pushed out of the top 25. Condon was clearly the best player in the 2024 draft but went third showing how he
has been underrated from the very start. I think with some development Condon will be elite in the major leagues. Sadly, this is my last edition of the summer. I want to wish you all luck with your fantasy teams as the season winds down and I just wanted to thank all the people who joined me this summer and I will hopefully be back next year.
Russell Wilson
Credit: @DangeRussWilson
ByTomBarton
The Ducks Honor Jewish Heritage
This week the Long Island Ducks and the Jewish Community Centers of Long Island proudly hosted Long Island Jewish Heritage Night at the Ducks game.
The game brought thousands of fans out to celebrate Jewish pride, community, and solidarity with Israel, as well as their hometown Ducks.
The evening began with a powerful video honoring the 50 hostages still held in Gaza by Hamas. The Ducks held 50 reserved seats, each adorned with a yellow ribbon, as a poignant tribute to those taken from their families. It is believed that 20 of the hostages are still alive, but all 50 are desperately waiting to be brought home. The message was
clear: Bring Them Home Now.
To begin the night Suffolk County Comptroller John M. Kennedy, Jr., MBA, JD threw out the ceremonial first pitch, and the national anthems set the tone for the night: Hatikva was performed by Ellie Dreyfus, a Stage 74 performer from the Suffolk Y JCC, and "The Star-Spangled Banner" was sung by Stage 74 performers Emma Campbell, Raegan Helfner, Avery Kormoski, Maya Sachs, Sophie Karp, Ariana Ramos, Olivia Caraballo, and Ruthie Gentile.
Fans also enjoyed on-field games, exciting prizes, and an exhilarating postgame fireworks display that lit up the summer sky.
The Ducks gave the fans plenty to cheer about on a night that
The Lions Take Home
More Gold
ByTomBarton
The Longwood Lions were in full roar this past week when they took home numerous awards at the National Football Foundation Scholar-Athlete Brunch.
Both Giselle Harris and Delaney Israel were recognized as All-Long Island players.
Israel was named as one of the prestigious Golden Seven Award winners. The Golden Seven Award is only awarded to seven top scholar-athletes across the entire county.
Israel played three sports and shined in them all. She was a soccer, basketball and flag football standout. She earned All-County
was for more than just cheers and baseball. Special guests included Detective Sergeant Apryl Hargrove, head of the Suffolk County Police Department Hate Crimes Unit.
“Jewish Heritage Night was more than just a baseball game, it was a night of pride, unity, and resilience,” said Rick Lewis, CEO of the Mid Island Y JCC and Suffolk Y JCC.
“We are deeply grateful to everyone who came out to stand together, to honor our heritage, and to show unwavering support for Israel, hostages still being held captive, and our Jewish community. A special thank you to the Long Island Ducks and their owner, Frank Boulton, for supporting Jewish pride and making Jewish Heritage Night possible.”
Sachem Wins the Lineman Challenge
ByTomBarton
Any football fan knows that in order to win games with any sort of consistency you need to protect your QB and open up holes for your running backs. While they don't always get all the glory they should offensive lineman are the lifeblood of any successful football team, on every level.
With that being said Sachem should in a very good position to win a lot of games this year after winning the National Football Foundation Lineman Challenge.
honors in her senior year for soccer and was named the 2025 Suffolk Player of the Year. In basketball she earned a spot on the Academic All County team and in football she became a three-time All-County selection this season to go along with the 2025 Suffolk Player of the Year.
The Longwood social media sites said of them: "These amazing young women have set the bar incredibly high with their dedication both on the field and in the classroom. Best of luck as you continue your academic and athletic journeys in college!"
To top off the festivities Longwood coach Aden Smith was also named Coach of the Year.
Injured Studs...
Continued from page 24
Finally, I would steer clear of Zach Wheeler and if you own him try to trade him for pennies on the dollar. Wheeler went down this week with blood clots and there is a good chance he won't pitch again this season. Blood clots can be lifethreatening, and the underlying issue here is even if they are controlled by Wheeler, MLB does
not allow you to pitch while on blood thinners. Most experts have said they believe that will be the course of action. Even if there is some debate if he can return the Phillies would be cautious with him and want him for the playoffs. He is a big time sell as our prayers are with him that this is only a sports related issue that can be resolved, but for fantasy his season is all but done.
The event was held at Northport High School and featured eight intense events to gauge how good the offensive lines of Long Island's best teams would be this season. The competition included the sled
Suffolk County Pitchers Next Destinations
ByTomBarton
This week Suffolk County baseball was in the news quite a bit and where those athletes would continue their careers were at the top of the list.
Connetquot's shortstop Jagger Adamo has committed to stay and continue his career on Long Island. The senior has decided to commit to The Long Island University Sharks. Adamo was named League II MVP this past season and it's a big get for the Sharks to keep him on the Island.
Coach of the PAL Blue Line Rangers Baseball and Head Coach of Mt. Sinai Varsity Baseball, Eric Strovink, took to X to congratulate LIU saying, "Congratulations to our guy Jagger Adamo! The LIU Sharks are getting a great one!"
Riverhead's star pitcher Matt Zambriski has also chosen to stay
Credit: Longwood Central High School | Facebook Delaney Israel and Coach Smith
Long Island Jewish Heritage Night was presented by the Jewish Community Centers of Long Island, which includes the Mid Island Y
JCC, Suffolk Y JCC, Sid Jacobson JCC, The Marion & Aaron Gural JCC, and the Barry & Florence Friedberg JCC.
Ducks Jewish Heritage Night
Credit: @LIDucks | X
local as he decided to stick in New York when he committed to St. John's University.
And the last Suffolk County pitcher to make some headlines this week goes to former Sachem East standout Rafe Schlesinger.
The 2021 Sachem East graduate is in the Cleveland Guardians farm system and was promoted this week to High A. He will now pitch for Lake County as he continues his ascension with an eye on the majors.
Credit: @strovhouse | X Jagger Adamo
push, bench press, and farmers walk, and at the end of the day it was Sachem who rose above the rest to take home the crown.
Sachem football head coach Dave Caputo said after the event
that he is “Always proud to represent Division I football on the county stage" and Sachem's X page was excited to see these boys in action writing: "We can’t wait for the season to start!"
Credit: sachemcsd | Instagram Sachem Football Offensive Line
SPORTS The 50-Year Anniversary of Bellport Football
ByTomBarton
The nostalgia hits you as much as the biggest defensive lineman coming around the corner on a blitz. As you walk into Coach Cipp's house you can feel the pride and memories of decades of football come over you. In his back room is a museum of sorts filled with memorabilia of Bellport football. The trophies and accomplishments of this great coach, and great school are easy to write about, but Coach made it very clear to me this story was not about him but about the 50year successes of Bellport.
The problem is how can I separate one from the other? The story of Bellport football is Coach Cipp and the story of Coach Cipp is Bellport football. So, let's start from the beginning. The Bellport football program was established in 1976 by none other than the legendary Coach Cipp. Over the course of their 50 years, they have established themselves as the premiere football program in Suffolk County and Long Island. Their excellence runs so deep that in 2006 the program was named the best high school in New York State.
They were the #1 ranked team in the state in 1982 and 2001. Won the Long Island Championship in 1992,1995,1997,2002,2005 and 2010
and has won the Suffolk County Championship an unprecedented 13 times. The program was inducted into the Hall of Fame and named team of the decade.
With all that has been accomplished it can get lost on people that this is much more about what they have built as a community and foundation, rather than just immense success. Though one clearly follows the other and vice versa.
The success is certainly in the stats, but also the approach that this team had. Coach Cipp regaled me with a story of when no one wanted to play an unbeaten team from Upstate and his players went into their house, after Coach called the team and agreed to play in order to fill out the schedule and beat the unbeaten squad. After that all of New York had to take notice of not just Bellport football, but Long Island football as a whole. Bellport never was shy to play the best and show that they can hang with the best. It's that moxie, with the unbridled success, that separates their program from everyone else.
We'll start with the coach himself.
Coach Cipp was inducted into the Suffolk County Sports Hall of Fame in 1996 and the National Football Foundation Hall of Fame in 2011. Coach is still a very important part
of the school, and it goes beyond the field being named after him. Coach Cipp sat down for an interview with me that led to us walking onto the field to see the current coaching staff. He was greeted with the utmost respect, which is expected, but his glowing reviews of the new staff and team could not have been more profound. Coach Cipp might not be on the sidelines anymore, but he is certainly a part of the fabric of Bellport football.
Speaking with Coach on a number of topics he lit up with a certain extra exuberance when he spoke of his sons. This went beyond fatherly pride and into sheer admiration for what they have accomplished. Coach Cipp coached from 1976-1992 and then again from 1996-2000. In between that Roy Still manned the sidelines and then Coach Cipp handed the reins over to his son Joe Cipp III in 2011. When you talk about Bellport coach's sons' legacies are as tied into Bellport lore almost as much as his own. Both of his sons went on to coach under his leadership at Bellport and as if it were destined to be one coached offense, the other defense. When asked about this he smiled and explained that it was always the plan. To have them compete against each other made them stronger, and in turn the
team better. Now that is long-term coaching.
Current Head Coach Jamie Fabian took over the team in 2017. Meeting with Coach Fabian you could feel that old-school style that has brought the school 50 years of success still instilled into the program. Fabian worked his way up through the ranks and already has a Suffolk County Championship and Coach of the Year honor under his belt. The tradition continues.
One of the most heartwarming traditions was told to me by Coach and it highlighted the connection that the entire Bellport community has with each other. After every
Suffolk's Top Arms Are Chosen to Represent L.I.
ByTomBarton
Two Suffolk pitchers have been added to the staff for the Leiderman Cup.
The Leiderman Cup is an annual event that will be taking place this weekend that pits Long Island's best baseball players against those from New York City.
This week two local players were added to round out the team. Right-handed pitcher DJ Filippone, who will be a
Connetquot graduate in 2026, was added to represent Team Long Island. Filippone went 5-2 with a 2.40 ERA and 53 Ks over 40 innings pitched for the Suffolk AAA Champions. He is not just a one-way player though as his bat was also irreplaceable batting.385 with 10 extra base hits last season.
Joining him in the rotation and on the Long Island squad is Brendan Rivera. Rivera is also a right-handed pitcher from the
Longwood class of 2026. He was named an All-State player after putting up remarkable numbers this season. He pitched to a 1.30 ERA, to go with a 1.00
WHIP, and in just 52 innings pitched he struck out 59 batters. His legendary season didn't stop when the regular season came to an end as he threw three
SWR Gets a New AD
ByTomBarton
Shoreham-Wading River Central School District has a new athletic director. The district has hired Deb Ferry to lead the Wildcats.
Ferry was named ShorehamWading River’s new director of health, physical education and athletics as she replaces former athletics director Eric Bramoff.
Ferry spent the last nine years as athletics director at Half Hollow Hills Central School District. While with Half Hollow she was in charge of four schools and 125+ different sports teams. Ferry worked with nearly 200 coaches and was at the forefront of establishing their unified sports teams.
Before Half Hollow Hills, Ferry worked as director of health, physical education, nursing and athletics in the Port Jefferson School District from 2007 to 2016. While there she built the lacrosse program from the bottom up.
She got her start in coaching and was the head girls varsity
game player, coaches, and alumni gather at Coach's house and sort of just hang out and have a good time. Each one of them has a place in Bellport's history and each of them adds to the story of the 50 years of greatness the school has been able to produce.
The story of Bellport football can't be told by a reporter or a writer. It has to be told by the community and the lives it has touched for 50 years. For Bellport football their 50-year story in the making is not just about wins and losses or shoulder pads and helmets, but it's about hearts and minds, and that is evident in everything surrounding the football program.
complete games, one being a nohitter in the playoffs.
The Leiderman Cup will take place at Mitchell Field this weekend.
Coach Cipp's Memoribilia
Credit: Tom Barton
field hockey coach from 2002 to 2007 and head junior varsity girls lacrosse coach from 1999 to 2006 at Northport High School. She also was a college coach at SUNY Cortland and with the Empire State Games and the United States
Field Hockey Association. Ferry currently serves as second vice president of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA), a position that she will be in until 2032.
Credit: Shoreham Wading River School District | Facebook Deb Ferry
