Islip Messenger Archive Mar. 19, 2026

‘Molotov Madness’: Cocktail Arrests Spark Bail Reform, Sanctuary Debate

By Matt Meduri

On March 1, 2026, Suffolk County Police arrested three El Salvadoran nationals in the United States illegally, who were found in possession of two Molotov Cocktails and a canister of gasoline at a car stop on Lexington Avenue in Brentwood.

Elvis Osvaldo Romero Martinez, 20, Albert Yanes Moran, 20, and Lorenzo Nohely Alvarado Navarrete, 18, were released following their March 11 arraignment due to the People’s inability to request bail and the court’s inability to set bail under the current New York State bail laws. Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree is not a bail eligible offense. Only Navarrete as Lawful Permanent Resident Status. Neither Moran nor Martinez have any legal status in the U.S.

Continued on page 5

WINTER EVENTS

Jigs on the Sound at Bridgeport & Port Jefferson Steamboat Company, Port Jefferson

March 19, 6:45 PM to 9:30 PM

Hauppauge Spring Craft Fair at Hauppauge High School

March 21, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Frozen Jr The Musical at The Ballet Center, Ronkonkoma

March 21, 3:00 PM to 4:15 PM

Pysanky Egg Decorating with Larissa Grass at Gallery North Setauket

March 21, 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM

2026 Long Island Trout Unlimited Fly-Fishing Clinics at Caleb Smith State Park Preserve Smithtown

March 21, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

15K Run at New Beginnings School of Kings Park

March 21, 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM

Psychic Fair and Gift & Craft Show at Huntington Hilton Hotel Melville

March 22, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

ALY & AJ - Places to Run Tour 2026 at The Paramount Huntington March 25, 8:00 PM

Sound Symphony Concert at Comsewogue High School Port

Jefferson Station

March 27, 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM

Springtime Egg Hunt & Makers Festival at St John’s Greek Orthodox Church Blue Point

March 28, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Bunny’s Breakfast Bash at Dave and Buster’s Islandia

March 29, 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM

SPRING FLING at Marconi Manor Islip April 1, 7:00 PM

WHERE TO FIND OUR PAPER

BAY SHORE

AMVETS Post • Boulton Center • Leggio’s Deli

EAST ISLIP

American Legion Post • Harry’s Bagel Mister Softee Ice Cream • Pat’s Market

ISLIP

American Legion Post Bagels & More • Oconee Diner

OAKDALE

The New Idle Hour Deli

50% Cards Store (Wendy’s Shopping Center)

RONKONKOMA

718 Slice Pizzeria – (719 Hawkins Ave)

Airport Diner • AMVETS Post 48 • B&B Bagels

B.L.D.’s Restaurant • American Legion Post Ronkonkoma Train Station

SAYVILLE

Sayville LIRR Train Station

Sayville American Legion Post • Stop & Shop

WEST ISLIP

Best Farms Market

Higbie Bagels • West Islip Bagels West Islip Community Center West Islip LIRR Train Station

WEST SAYVILLE

LI Maritime Museum

Gilgo Beach Suspect Skips Tuesday Hearing Citing Health Issues

By Matt Meduri

The alleged suspect in the Gilgo Beach serial killings Rex Heuermann did not show up in court on Tuesday morning, as was scheduled at 9:30a.m., due to ongoing health issues.

Heuermann’s attorney, Michael Brown, said that the suspect, who has been in custody in Riverhead since his arrest in July 2023, has been on crutches for nearly a month and is dealing with health issues.

Brown added that since the Tuesday appearance was “only going to be a submission date,” it was agreed that his appearance should be waived. Brown said he’s not “at liberty” to discuss Heuermann’s exact health problems, but that he thought it was “probably better” for Heuermann to stay at the jail.

Heuermann has been charged with the murders of seven women, with charges dating from 1993 to 2011. The victims Heuermann is alleged to have murdered include the Gilgo Four: Melissa Barthelemy, Maureen BrainardBarnes, Megan Waterman, and Amber Lynn Costello. Suffolk County District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) announced Heuermann as the prime suspect after a

year-and-a-half into his first term. The ground-breaking announcement renewed decades of lost hope in the victims’ families and avenged years of inaction by law enforcement and prosecutors prior to Tierney’s administration.

The case is also of state and national importance, as it’s the first case in the state and one of the first in the country to utilize avant garde DNA evidence. The defense has attempted multiple times to suppress the evidence obtained, including DNA from pizza crusts, but Suffolk County Court Judge Timothy Mazzei has ruled that the DNA evidence is admissible as evidence. Mazzei has also denied the defense’s pleas for seven separate trials, instead ruling that Heuermann will face a single trial for all seven offenses.

D.A. Tierney has stated that he would “absolutely not” enter a plea deal with Heuermann.

The Massapequa architect who is alleged to have committed one of Long Island’s most chilling cold cases is due back in court April 8. The trial is expected to commence after Labor Day this year.

Continued from front cover

Suffolk Matters

March 19, 2026

‘Molotov Madness’: Cocktail Arrests Spark Bail Reform, Sanctuary Debate

The investigation says that the defendants allegedly possessed the cocktails with the intention of “firebombing” a car belonging to an individual with whom the trio had had a previous dispute. A fourth individual, who has not yet been charged, was alleged to have directed the firebombing. Suffolk Police say that Martinez allegedly jumped from the driver’s seat of the vehicle into the back seat. Police found two Molotov Cocktails in glass beer bottles in the pocket of the rear driver’s side door. The canister of gasoline was found in the trunk of the vehicle.

If convicted, the defendants face a prison sentence of up to seven years.

New York State Assemblyman Jarett Gandolfo (R-Sayville) led the charge in Albany to highlight the dovetailing of poor criminal justice policy and poor immigration policy. Gandolfo was joined by members of the Suffolk delegations to Albany, Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (R-Baiting Hollow), Assemblyman Mike Durso (R-Massapequa Park), and Senators Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) and Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue). Along for the trip Upstate was Suffolk County Legislature Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville).

“Not only were they [the defendants] required to be released, federal agents were not allowed to arrest them at the courthouse despite the fact that two of the three are in the United States illegally,” said Gandolfo. The Protect Our Courts Act is to blame for that lack of oversight, Gandolfo added.

“But New York State’s law, the sanctuary policies, and the cashless bail policies prevent our law enforcement from doing the job that they need to do,” said Gandolfo.

The Return of Laken’s Law

First and foremost, the bill would repeal the Protect Our Courts Act, and Senator Palumbo, Ranking Member on the Judiciary and Codes committees, said that “five iterations” of bail reform have been done by the State Legislature since its initial passage in 2019. He said the “only reason” some Democrats are making changes is because they are “embarrassed” by how much of a “terrible idea” the bail reforms turned

Laken’s Law, a bill proposed by Gandolfo in 2024 named after Laken Riley, a Georgia student who was brutally murdered by an illegal immigrant with a prior criminal record, is now a subject of discussion again. Laken’s Law would repeal the Protects Our Courts Act and allow federal immigration authorities to conduct arrests at courthouses.

“Now, these three individuals from El Salvador who possessed Molotov Cocktails were sprung loose back into the community and will have the chance to do harm,” said Gandolfo. “Who knows what they will do now that they are set free and roaming the community again? Will they make more Molotov Cocktails and firebomb a car? Will they kill someone, God forbid?”

In those events, Gandolfo said a “straight line” could be drawn right back to Albany, as the people of Suffolk have “consistently voted for safer streets,” and a District Attorney in Ray Tierney (R) who will “lock up criminals.”

“The greater issue is that they [Democrats] fail to see the forest for the trees,” said Palumbo. “Because now we have yet another extremely dangerous situation. It’s not anecdotal because it [bail reform] still hasn’t been fixed. Someone can do the exact same thing tomorrow and go home.”

Palumbo said that sanctuary policies have created “such an unnecessary and unreasonably dangerous situation,” shedding light on the “resistance” across the country.

“ICE is going to do their jobs whether you like it or not,” added Palumbo. He stated that much of the nationwide resistance is because states fail to cooperate with the federal government as they once did, and that sanctuary policies like the Protect Our Courts Act only create a revolving-door situation that requires more federal agents looking for defendants.

“We essentially have raids taking place in order for them to do their job, and that’s really the insanity of the sanctuary policy,” said Palumbo. He countered the common argument that “only criminal” aliens should be removed, instead of “working individuals who are just here illegally and haven’t committed crimes.”

“If they would have allowed this transfer to take place in the jail, it would have been safe, quick, and easy,” said Palumbo (pictured above) of the three Molotov Cocktail defendants. “It’s counterintuitive to what many of my [Democratic] colleagues are looking to accomplish. They say, ‘we’re all for removing criminals.’ Okay then, why don’t [we] just do that?”

What They’re Saying

Presiding Officer Piccirillo lent hyper-local support to the issue, namely owing to Suffolk’s leading of the charge against ineffective criminal justice policy.

“We can’t have a safer Suffolk County when you tie the hands of law enforcement and prosecutors,” said Piccirillo. “This situation is more than madness; it borders on insanity. But that seems to be what happens with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle. They’ve made a serious mistake, and instead of fixing that mistake, they’ve doubled down on it.”

Piccirillo added that as the leader of the Suffolk County Legislature, “we work with law enforcement every

single day to give them the tools and technology to keep residents that we all serve safe.”

“Unfortunately, they can’t do that. Their hands are now tied behind their back because of the laws passed in this chamber by the Democratic supermajority,” said Piccirillo.

“When you have cashless bail, sanctuary policies, it’s just a recipe for chaos,” said Gandolfo. “These are deeply unserious policies and how many times have we heard the phrase, ‘bail reform is working as intended?’ Everyone’s heard that. I’ve even heard conspiracy theories that D.A.’s are intentionally trying to sabotage bail reform by releasing dangerous criminals back onto the streets just because they don’t like the law. It’s nonsense.”

Senator Dean Murray summed up the outrage with a simple question, “what’s next?”

“They come into our country illegally. They violate our immigration laws. Well, you can’t kick them out because they didn’t commit a ‘crime,’” said Murray (pictured left). “Molotov Cocktails, they get let out - bail reform. What does it take for you to open your eyes and see this is dangerous? I don’t want the next step to be someone losing their life, and unfortunately, I’m afraid that’s what it would take.”

Gandolfo called the ongoing budget negotiations an opportunity to “revisit some of these policies that are clearly broken and allow dangerous criminals to walk free” and to remedy immigration laws that allow “criminals who shouldn’t even be allowed to remain in this country to evade capture and continue victimizing their communities.”

Perseverance Pays Off

Have you ever had a project you thought would never see completion? Have you ever been the only person in the room enthusiastic about a lofty goal or a seemingly-impossible result?

You’re certainly not alone, and a production of Fiddler on the Roof in St. James this past weekend should be all the encouragement you need.

The historic Calderone Theatre on Second Avenue in St. James has been a landmark for nearly a century, as Broadway’s hot vaudeville scene made the quaint hamlet a mini-New York to get away from the hustle and bustle of show business in the concrete jungle.

However, as the decades pressed on, the Calderone Theatre’s future became increasingly uncertain as no one seemed interested in revitalizing the theatre to serve its original purpose: entertain the community and involve them in the arts.

But this past weekend, after years of planning, fundraising, grant writing, hard labor, advertising, and logistical work, the theatre finally reopened in its newly-renovated play house that still bears the building’s original tin ceiling. Sold-out crowds were treated to the archetypal Broadway hit Fiddler on the Roof, a fitting tribute to the history of Broadway, the Calderone itself, and a nuanceover-tradition theme that resembles the theatre’s unprecedented turnaround.

That credit belongs primarily to Natalie Weinstein, who, along with a handful of others, saw the vision when virtually no one else did. There’s nothing more disheartening than being the last person in the room cheering on something we love. The painful realization that

we’re sometimes alone in our endeavors and emotions is a soberingly realistic part of life, but that doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the end-all beall.

Weinstein and company have pulled off a remarkable feat, one deserving of County-wide recognition and patronage. Moreover, we urge the government of Suffolk County to support this endeavor monetarily and publicly, as Lighthouse

Productions provides the perfectly balanced partnership necessary for long-term success.

Finally, the Town of Smithtown and the County of Suffolk have made good on their promises to revitalize St. James. Of Smithtown’s three downtown business corridors, St. James is the most well-along. With most of the sewer infrastructure in at press time, only a bit more work needs to be done before more nightlife, restaurants, and entertainment revitalize Lake Avenue into a quaint, North Shore downtown.

And the Calderone Theatre, now called the St. James Community and Cultural Arts Center, has a shot at being the crown jewel of downtown. Who wouldn’t want to have a meal at a local restaurant and then walk around the corner to an affordable, professionally produced Broadway classic?

These types of revitalization projects are always tooth-extractingly slow and can make even the most battle-tested advocate feel as if they’re screaming into the void. But above all, these projects are truly labors of love and as they not only give back to the community, they allow the community to give back and the next generation to be ensconced in an art form that must be preserved.

We congratulate Natalie Weinstein, Carolyn Benson, Jack Ader, and the rest of the team for getting such a long and expensive haul to the much-anticipated curtain rise. We urge the overlapping municipal governments to head out to Second Avenue to see this for themselves.

And most of all, we urge the residents of Smithtown and the rest of Suffolk to put this theatre on their map to enjoy the show.

Molotov Madness Shows Convergence of Bad Policy

The latest incident of three Salvadoran nationals, two of whom had no legal status in the United States, being arrested with two Molotov Cocktails and a gasoline canister for an alleged plan of firebombing of a car sheds light on two issues on which Albany Democrats have categorically dropped the ball and how their negligence has given way to a perfect storm.

First, the disastrous bail reform laws strike again, as Criminal Possession of a Weapon in the Third Degree is not a bail eligible offense.

Of course it isn’t…At this point, the better question would be, what charges are bail eligible?

The fact that the current laws are carte blanche waivers of any culpability with the primary argument often being “benefit of the doubt” doesn’t allow prosecutors and local officials to treat each case with nuance. Plain and simple, these three guys should not have been allowed to walk, regardless of their race, nationality, or citizenship status - even if they’re American-born.

But to make matters worse, two of the defendants should not have been in this country to begin with. The three defendants, the other with legal status as a Lawful Permanent Resident, are alleged to have orchestrated a firebombing of a vehicle belonging to someone with whom

the group had a disagreement of sorts. It’s quite possible that this coordinated attempt at arson at best or domestic terrorism at worst might not have been conceived had the two defendants in the U.S. illegally been handled by federal law enforcement.

New York State’s sanctuary city laws must go. There’s a reason we’re seeing such unrest and resistance across the country: state and local officials grandstanding to Trump for the sake of opposition have made the typical duties of federal law enforcement a life-or-death encounter in many cases. Even as President Obama deported close to three million people across his eight years in office, Democratic and Republican state and local officials didn’t hinder federal law enforcement efforts.

States’ rights are important, but the federal government must have some oversight in certain areas. New York continues to circumvent reality in favor of easy fiat political currency by arguing that most people here illegally are simply trying to make an honest life and that they get caught up when the dangerous criminals are sought after.

And while many immigrants might be contributing to society and attempting to make an honest life for themselves, laws are still laws,

and the U.S. continues to allow itself to be treated like an ATM rather than a country with borders, laws, and an expectation to not have vehicles in Brentwood firebombed by two people who shouldn’t have been here in the first place.

If Democrats argue that only the truly “dangerous” criminals should be deported, then why weren’t all the stops pulled to ensure the two men from El Salvador were apprehended at the courthouse or at another juncture and had their cases handled by the feds? These are clearly two undocumented individuals with a clearly violent and dangerous agenda. What’s the problem with sending these people back to where they came from and preventing them from ever returning to the U.S.? Why clog the system with people who don’t respect our quiet, suburban communities when the miles-long line is full of immigrants who understandably want a taste of the American Dream?

Democrats might think that all illegal immigrants are on the hook because of the people like the alleged defendants in this case, but in reality, everyone in Suffolk - Democratic, Republican, Independent, American-born, or undocumented - is on the hook for at-large policies guided by pathological altruism and progressive myopia.

Hochul Is About to Betray Taxpayers by Ditching Tier 6

By Hank Russell | Long Island Life & Politics

Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Hamburg) gave a speech before a union rally last week, indicating that she is fully behind the efforts of unions to demolish the important fiscal reforms that were put into effect in 2011 to control the government pension time bomb.

It is obvious that the Governor is pandering to the unions, seeking their support in an election year. But her caving to their demands will cost New York taxpayers billions of dollars over future years. This will have an extremely negative impact on the amount of property taxes that we pay throughout the state.

In 2011, the state was in the throes of a horrendous recession caused by the collapse of the real estate market. It came to light that pension obligations were imposing enormous fiscal stress on the state.

Something had to be done to put a limit on these runaway perks and benefits. Employees who had base salaries of $150,000 were racking up an extra $100,000 in overtime, which would be factored into their pension calculations. Thus, the base of their pensions was not their $150,000 salaries, but rather, the higher 250,000 salaries, which provided many retiring employees with six-figure pensions.

So, the State Legislature, under the leadership of then-Governor David Paterson (D), created a new Tier 6, which imposed a different standard for employees hired in 2012 and beyond. It requires them to work longer to have their pensions vested and to contribute a reasonable amount to their pensions as they were working. It also capped the amount of overtime that could be factored into the pension to 15% above the base salary.

Trump Lies

Dear Editor,

When the world spins too fast, we tend to lose sight of what happened in the past. Just as with President Trump’s whirlwind moves, events happen in such rapid succession that it is hard to keep track of his statements.

Let me refresh: his platform for the presidency was filled with promises that have long since been forgotten. We all know that politicians often tell their constituents things just to get elected, then they quickly bypass them.

1.) President Trump lied when he said he was going to end the war between Russia and Ukraine on day one. That’s because the war has continued, and there is no peace in sight.

2.) In one of his early speeches, he spoke about not having any more wars. He even received a peace medal from the World Soccer organization (FIFA). Now, he starts a war involving 10 countries, and 9 U.S. servicemen are dead, with more wounded.

3.) His Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, said the invasion of Iran was caused by Israel. Trump reversed that statement and said it was a preemptive strike. Which politician do we believe? Trump tried to claim that Iran was going to launch a nuclear strike at the US. However, that cannot be true since he said, after the last attack, on June 21, 2025, that all of Iran’s nuclear capability was obliterated.

4.) Trump’s DHS Secretary also misspoke when she said the people who were murdered in Minneapolis were interfering with ICE’s lawful operations. That’s not true either, as the videos show, they were acting within their civil rights.

So, what is true, and how can we possibly tell when Trump is distorting and distracting with his whirlwind succession of events?

What happened to his campaign promises, and is that what we voted for?

Sincerely,

Joel Reitman Peconic (formerly Smithtown)

These were important reforms that, while not addressing the enormous benefits still going out to those hired before 2012, at least would give us some light at the end of the tunnel for the new hires.

But just last year, the Governor and the weak legislature, both Democrats and Republicans alike, diluted Tier 6 by allowing their retiring employees to base their pensions on the last three years of service, rather than the last five, which would have a lower overall average salary.

But now, Hochul and the Legislature are pandering to the unions in seeking an undoing of the whole enchilada. That would mean less pension contributions from the employees and an earlier retirement than mandated in Tier 6.

These changes will force local governments to dramatically raise property taxes to fund these increases in the pension system.

Hochul and the Legislature are hoping that the average voter isn’t paying attention to this sleight-of-hand. They know opposing the unions will automatically lead to union money spent against them in the next election.

So, they signed on with the unions over the taxpayers. There’s only one way to counter the clout of the union and that is for average taxpayers to call their representatives and tell them how you feel about undoing these taxpayer-initiated reforms of 2011.

This op-ed originally appeared in Long Island Life & Politics. For more from LILP, visit them online at lilifepolitics.com.

Letters to the Editor

Disgraceful...

Dear Editor,

On Friday, March 6, I watched the Celebration of Life for Reverend Jesse Jackson. Aired over CSPAN in its entirety all was pro forma until the bitter end. After Kamala Harris spoke with her “I told you so” comments, which I thought were completely childish, next came an unexpected speaker - none other than the President of Columbia Gustavo Petro. At first, he spoke with eloquence through a translator. He waxed on philosophically about the energy of Jesse Jackson living on in his actions and deeds here on earth. Nice, but then came the reason for his visit to Chicago in a Democratic stronghold, before a friendly socialist audience.

What came next was a fire and brimstone bombast that left Al Sharpton in the dust. He was completely outdone, overdone, blown out of the water for what came next. The President of a foreign country stood at the podium at a funeral of an activist and took our current U.S. President to task for everything, bombing other countries, doing Netanyahu’s bidding bombing Iran, and being basically Hitler.

Yes, he invoked Hitler at a church in Chicago in front of three past U.S. Presidents. The audience shifted in their seats and the music tried to play him off. The funeral was at the five-hour mark now and this was getting to be hot topic. Finally, the pastor approached the podium and gently placed his hand on top of Petro’s as a signal to stop. Petro acknowledged he was talking too much. The white guy translating was given the signal to stop translating. When he was done, I was disgusted at what I had just witnessed. I do not know if this was known beforehand how he would be the closer. I am sure he had to appeared on a chosen list of speakers, when Reverend Jackson planned his own funeral.

I cannot believe this took place at all. Yes, I assumed the speakers would talk about the current climate the country was experiencing, but to go after our commander-in-chief when we are at war and Americans are coming home in flag draped caskets this was a bridge too far for me.

Since no one else in the press seemed to have wanted this news out, I am putting it out. It was disgraceful to witness.

Sincerely,

Jamie Hanja Lake Grove

Don’t Be Fooled

Dear Editor,

Nick LaLota has been sending newsletters and ads stating how he has supported initiatives that look like they benefit his constituents. Like most politicians, the messaging is misleading and incomplete.

He describes elements of the “Big Beautiful Bill” that talk about SALT deductions but doesn’t mention the qualifications needed for the full amount, the elimination of health insurance deductions being cut from Obama Care, or how Medicare and Medicaid are being cut in order to provide tax cuts for the wealthy.

You won’t hear how he supported the DHS funding for I.C.E. thugs that murdered 2 people in Minneapolis, and he voted for the Save America Act, which would require proof of citizenship when voting and disenfranchise several million voters. He has supported Trump in almost every case, in spite of the cost to his constituents.

The only vote he has cast that we might approve of was to vote for the DOJ to give the Epstein files to Congress. That vote in the House passed 417 to 1. Perhaps the Republicans needed to look like they were doing something the people wanted. They thought nothing would come of it because the DOJ had no intention of complying. I don’t think any incumbent, including LaLota, deserves to be reelected in November.

Sincerely,

Charles Gueli Laurel

State News

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Disability Advocates Rally for State Funding Increase

By Matt Meduri

As the budget season is now afoot in Albany, groups and organizations are making their voices heard for their piece of the pie.

Last week in Brentwood, Senator Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood) and Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio (R-Baiting Hollow) held a bipartisan rally with advocates to lobby Albany for a 2.7% budget increase for Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

DSPs are essential caregivers who help those with such disabilities achieve as independent and productive a life as possible. They offer support with daily tasks, social skills, and broader advocacy.

The group is also calling for compensation rates to be set by the State Office for People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD) rather than the State Department of Health (DOH).

“We had a lack of support for a decade,” said Bob Policastro (pictured above), founder of Angela’s House and disability advocate. “When you start adding up the shortfall between a decade of lack of cost of living increases [for homecare and educational help], it equals almost a 28% shortfall and it puts us in a really bad spot. We’re still trying to recover from that.”

Policastro was pleased to announce to a crowd of a couple hundred at Brentwood State Park that both the Assembly and Senate have “agreed to help advocate for 4%.” He also called Martinez and Giglio the “biggest voice” they have in Albany.

“New York needs to do better,” said Senator Martinez. “It is our job to make sure

Martinez (pictured right), a member of the Senate Disabilities Committee, added that Albany is “obligated” to support DSPs as they “put their heart and soul” into the job and that they “deserve” a cost of living adjustment.

Both Martinez and Policastro reminded attendees that their voices have been heard across the State so far this year, but have had tremendous impact previously when similar budget cuts to DSPs and associated non-profits sailed through Albany.

Todd, one of the crowd’s selfadvocates, posed the problem in a telling manner.

“How expensive have groceries gotten? How expensive has gas gotten? How expensive has electricity gotten? DSPs have to decide, ‘do I pay my bill or feed my family?’” said Todd. “DSPs shouldn’t have to make those kinds of decisions. In every profession, there’s an increase in salaries, a cost of living increase. DSPs deserve the same respect - to get a raise when they need to because things are getting more expensive.”

Todd (pictured below) pointed out that DSPs can’t afford to get “burnt out” from

working three jobs to make ends meet, especially since their attention is also on caring for those who can’t care for themselves to varying degrees.

Assemblywoman Giglio (pictured left) said that Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Hamburg) put in only a 1.7% increase in funding for those with DBIs in her Executive Budget proposal.

“Thank goodness that the majority of people with developmental disabilities are not living in institutions. We shut that down!” said Giglio. “We take care of you. Nearly 70% of people with disabilities live in the communities and are in our schools. That means our policies must focus on community support, housing, employment, and care coordination, so people can live full, independent lives.”

Giglio, Ranking Member of the Assembly People with Disabilities Committee, added that DSPs often work “behind the scenes,” but that it’s “absolutely essential to helping families navigate a complex system in ensuring individuals receive care and opportunities they deserve.” She also said that some care coordination organizers were being “left out of critical increases” in the budgeting process.

“With a bloated budget of $254 billion and increasing that by another $13 billion in the two One-House Budgets, it’s a small dollar amount to ask for,” said Giglio. “4% is a major step forward. It is more than what was originally proposed and what we originally asked for. It shows that when advocates speak up, Albany listens.”

Giglio and Martinez both contest that

and ensuring families can access services without “unnecessary banners” are the additional steps required as part of a much bigger project.

Byron Preston (pictured above), of East End Disability Associates, Inc., called the

work of DSPs “essential, skilled, and above all, deeply humane.”

“They support individuals in getting the work done, building friendships, learning new skills, and participating every day in moments that are life-fulfilling and enriching,” said Preston. “Across our state, organizations are struggling to recruit and retain staff because of wages that have not been kept up to pace.”

Cathy Marinelli Gagliano, an advocate and mother of a child with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, said that she’s seen “incredible results and progress throughout the years” as her son, Anthony, has been able to find employment and lead an enriching life.

“Independent home group living focused on community integration and employment. This has allowed my son to become more independent and to be employed with Smile Farms,” said Gagliano, calling the need for more funding a “critical human rights issue.”

“Current budget framework includes significant Medicaid spending cuts that threaten the stability of these individuals and the DSPs who care for them. The DSPs are the unsung heroes of the disabled community,” said Gagliano. “DSPs will have massive turnover due to lack of finances.”

Shawn Hyms (pictured below), representing Assemblyman Doug Smith (R-Holbrook), said that DSPs do “God’s work.”

“The budget is being negotiated as we speak. We have to keep the momentum going,” said Hyms.

This Week Today

Thursday, March 19, 2026

National, State, and Local Temperature Checks

By Matt Meduri

National

The war in Iran continues as officials in Tehran continue to reject de-escalation as advised by intermediary nations.

Israel claimed responsibility for two high-profile Iranian assassinations: security chief, Ali Larijani, and Basij force commander, Gholamreza Soleimani. The Israeli military also announced a “wave of strikes” on southern Lebanon as the war effort expands across the Middle East. They claimed that it was in response to “rocket fire toward Israeli territory.” The bombings started hours after Israel told the citizens of Tyre and Palestinian refugees to level.

Meanwhile, gas prices continue to soar as President Donald Trump (R-FL) attempts to handle the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz, a passage between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that gives Iran, Kuwait, Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates access to the world’s oceans. Moreover, all except Qatar are the top-five oil producers in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Because of the geography and literal fuel to the fire of the world’s economy, the Strait of Hormuz is perhaps the most crucial choke point on Earth.

Iran forced the closure of the Strait on February 28 following the joint military strikes by the United States and Israel. As of March 12, Iran has conducted twentyone confirmed attacks on merchant ships, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have warned vessels against passing through the Strait.

World shipping traffic has effectively halted, with oil tanker traffic dropping by nearly 70%, and with more than 150 ships anchored outside the Strait. Roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply is disrupted, while barrels surge to $100 per barrel. Economists describe the closure of the Strait the largest disruption to the worldwide energy supply since the 1970s energy crisis, while also being the largest in the history of the global oil market.

Meanwhile, a senior intelligence official appointed by Trump tendered his resignation on Tuesday.

Director of the National Counterterrorism Center Joe Kent (R-WA) posted his letter on social media, stating, “I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby.”

Kent’s departure is yet another highprofile rebuke of the latest Trump Doctrine by the MAGA wing of the President’s base. Kent had run for U.S. House in a southwestern Washington State congressional district in 2022, losing the red-leaning area in an upset to Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D, WA-03) - now one of the Democrats’ most notable House mavericks. Kent tried again for the seat in 2024, but came up short yet again. The

general consensus as to why he lost was that he was seen as “too far right” for the moderate-Republican district.

The public disagreement is also emblematic of the growing questions surrounding the start of this war, Iran’s true nuclear capabilities - or lack thereofand all at whose behest.

Trump called Kent “very weak on security.”

“When somebody is working with us that says they didn’t think Iran was a threat, we don’t want those people,” said Trump in a statement. “They’re not smart people, or they’re not savvy people.”

In political news, Tuesday night saw Democrats duke it out in a high-stakes contest in Illinois. Senator Dick Durbin (DIL) is retiring after five terms. Durbin is the number-five most senior Senator in the chamber.

Ten Democrats vied to earn the nomination to succeed him, two of whom are incumbent House colleagues.

Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton (D-IL) prevailed over the large field with nearly 40% of the vote. Representatives Raja Krishnamoorthi (D, IL-08) and Robin Kelly (D, IL-02) were the two other front runners, with Krishnamoorthi coming in second with 33% of the vote and Kelly in third place with 18%.

While the Democratic primary was one of the most important on this year’s calendar, the general election in the Prairie State likely won’t amount to much attention. Republicans last won a Senate seat in Illinois in 2010. Republicans went with Illinois GOP Chair Don Tracy (R-IL), giving him nearly 40% of the vote in a field of six candidates.

Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-IL) was unopposed in his nomination for a third term as Governor of Illinois. Pritzker defeated a Republican for re-election in the blue wave of 2018, and was re-elected in 2022 by a smaller but decisive margin. As Illinois shifted to the right in 2024, some Republicans are enthusiastic about competing in a type of race that tends to forego traditional voting norms more than others. Republicans opted for 2022 candidate Darren Bailey (R).

On the special election front, Republicans overperformed in a Virginia State House special election, another notch on their belt of pre-2026 election showings

- although not among many.

The Virginia Beach-based House District 98 saw C. Rice (R-VA) win with 62.5% of the vote, compared to the 2025 margin of 57%.

State

It’s budget season in Albany, and the One-House Budget from the Assembly has been presented.

Due on April 1, the FY2026 Executive Budget, as proposed by Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Hamburg), is at a record level of $261 billion. The One-House Budgets, as submitted separately by the Assembly and Senate, are their own chambers’ wish lists that act as a counterproposal to the Governor’s proposed Executive Budget and the fulcrum at which negotiating begins.

However, the State Assembly has proposed that spending increase to $272 billion, nearly $11 billion more than Hochul’s original proposal and $13 billion above FY2025’s budget.

“The disconnect from reality has never been more apparent,” said Assemblyman Joe DeStefano (R-Medford) in a statement. “At a time when our state should be tightening its belt and focusing on public safety, energy affordability and lowering the tax burden, Albany is moving in the opposite direction. We are seeing billions more in spending layered onto an already bloated budget, with little transparency and even less accountability.”

Assemblyman Keith Brown (R-Northport) said that Albany Democrats’ slogan might as well be, “Add another $11 billion, please!”

“New York’s budget has grown dramatically in recent years, yet many families and small businesses feel like the state is moving further away from them, not closer,” said Brown in a statement.

Local

The Suffolk County Legislature honored eighteen Women of Distinction, one for each of the eighteen legislative districts, as is tradition in March.

An overall county-wide honoree is then chosen by the Suffolk County

Women’s Advisory Commission as the County Woman of Distinction. This year, the honor belongs to Terri NelsonMorolla, of Deer Park (pictured above), who led her community in fundraising and advocacy for those with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“After her son Anthony was diagnosed with autism, she dedicated herself to supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. As a longtime team captain for Autism Speaks leading Anthony’s All Starz, she has organized numerous fundraising events and raised significant support for families navigating similar challenges,” said Suffolk County Legislator Tom Donnelly (D-Deer Park), who nominated Nelson-Morolla, in a statement. “Her impact across the Deer Park community has been remarkable, serving as Fundraiser Chairperson for the Special Education Parent Faculty Club where she led district-wide initiatives including the Be Kind Campaign supporting the Jennifer Capone Scholarship, organized community fundraisers and helped bring together a major gala benefiting Deer Park’s special education programs. Terri has also supported the Deer Park Best Buddies Club, helped raise funds for the 2025 Long Island Best Buddies Friendship Ball and worked with the Town of Babylon to advance sensoryfriendly initiatives for neurodiverse families, including efforts toward a sensory park and sensory-friendly hours at Geiger Water Park.”

“Each of these [eighteen] deserving women have had a profound and praiseworthy impact in their respective communities,” said Presiding Officer Anthony Piccirillo (R-Holtsville) in a statement.

For The Messenger’s coverage area, nominees include Shirley Coverdale, District One; Jackie Osborn, District Three; Lisa Mitnick, District Four; Maria McMullen, District Five; Vanessa Lockel, District Six; Maria Elena Polak, District Seven; Kathleen Cutrone, District Eight; Lucy Duchesne, District Nine; Nicole Amorim, District Ten; Nancy Donahue, District Eleven; Barbara Franco, District Twelve; Nicole Garguilo, District Thirteen; and Heather Mammolito, District Sixteen.

Continued from front cover

Islip Matters

March 19, 2026

Brentwood Street Renamed in Honored of Ex-F.D. Chief

By Madison Warren

This week, community members from Brentwood and local leaders from Suffolk County came together to honor the memory of Chief Chris J. Allen, a beloved member of the community and the Brentwood Fire Department. In recognition of his unwavering dedication to serving the town and his commitment to teamwork, a street in Brentwood was dedicated in his honor.

Standing behind Chris’ wife, Linda, and his son, Christopher, were members of the Brentwood Fire Department, showing both physically and symbolically that they have always supported Chris and his family and will continue to do so.

Before his passing last year after a battle with cancer, he spent 44 years dedicated to the fire department. He took great pride in his role serving Long Island, rising through the ranks during his years of service. He also played a role in the response to 9/11 and built a strong sense of family not only with fellow members of the fire department but throughout the community.

The ceremony pulled on many people’s heartstrings, reflecting the important role Chris played in the lives of those around him. Suffolk County Legislator Samuel Gonzalez (D-Brentwood) and a close friend of Chris, spoke about the impact Chris had on his life. One of his fondest memories, he shared, was living on Newman Street, where he first met his neighbors, the Allens, in 2002. After years of backyard barbecues, block parties, and a friendship built on mutual respect, Gonzalez said he now misses his friend more than ever.

“Chris, you were the greatest fireman that I have ever known. Your selflessness alone is enough to save a city. Let alone running engine one, hook and ladder one, and the Brentwood Fire Department with courage and honor. I hope this enshrinement of your legacy, naming the street you grew up and raised your family on, is enough to say thank you for what you have done,” Gonzalez said.

Islip Town Councilman Jorge Guadrón (D-Central Islip) said he was honored to recognize a true hero in this community with this street sign. Guadrón said that it is an everlasting thank-you to not only Chris Allen but also to his family and the rest of the fire department.

Islip Town Receiver of Taxes

Andy Wittman (R-Sayville) and a volunteer with the Bayport Fire Department, echoed Guadrón’s message, sharing that he also had a deep friendship with Chris and his family. Whitman said he will always remember Chris as a true representation of what it means to be a dedicated community member. He also recalled Chris’s love for radios, noting that he still has and uses a scanner that Chris once gave him.

Before the unveiling of the new street sign, Chris’s wife, Linda, and his son, Christopher, spoke about how meaningful the tribute was for someone they believe truly deserved the recognition.

Christopher shared, “Seeing a street named after him is a huge honor and would’ve been a surprise to him, but I know he would have been grateful for it. Even though he wouldn’t have wanted us to make a big deal about it, it is truly something his life deserved.”

Linda also thanked everyone who has supported their family over the past year, including members of the fire department, Chris’s radio friends, and many family members and friends throughout the community. She and her son were also presented with a proclamation from Legislator Gonzalez. Now in Brentwood, where Broadway and Newman Street meet, a new sign reading “Ex-Chief Chris J. Allen Way” stands proudly overhead. Moments like this serve as a reminder of what the Brentwood community is truly about. It was a day filled with emotion as residents came together to honor a local hero who deserved the recognition he received, a selfless, dedicated man who was a proud husband, father, firefighter, and valued member of the Brentwood community.

Unions Should Be Banned from Donating to Officials Negotiating Their Contracts

By Steve Levy | Center for Cost Effective Government

A prime factor leading to bloated government on the local, state, and national levels is the disproportionate influence that municipal unions have on the political process.

Our center raises the question: how can it be deemed constitutional to allow elected officials who act as managers in the collective bargaining process with unions to receive political payoffs from those very same unions against whom they are negotiating?

In the private sector, if a management official were to take money from a union rep during their negotiations, it would be deemed a violation of law. Yet, in the public sector, this conflict is not only considered legal but is accepted as the norm.

We hope that legislators would pass laws to prohibit these conflicts. However, we understand that it is against their self-interests to do so. And we really can’t put blame on officials who take the donations since we can’t expect them to unilaterally disarm as their opposition rakes in the same contributions. As the saying goes, don’t blame the players, blame the game and the officials who vote against changing it.

Consequently, the only remaining recourse for the beleaguered taxpayer may be to seek a decision by a court that would declare this conflict unconstitutional.

A kindred spirit in this quest is constitutional attorney Philip Howard, who posits that the disproportionate power of municipal unions has so distorted the democratic process that it violates the Guarantee Clause of the United States Constitution.

Howard stresses that the clause places the duty of managing the public’s affairs strictly in the hands of elected officials who are accountable to the public. When those management responsibilities are punted to unelected and unaccountable entities, such as a public employee union, the Guarantee Clause has been violated.

Our center has added that constitutional questions are also at play from a due process and equal protection perspective. Average taxpayers are denied both rights when the elected officials representing them have been compromised by having accepted contributions from the very unions against whom they are negotiating on behalf of the taxpayers.

Elected officials on both sides of the aisle are incentivized to play ball with these powerful unions. The result is a legislative process that gives unions disproportionate influence over the taxpayers who have to pay the bills that come with the contracts that are negotiated.

The facts bear out that the stronger the municipal union, the higher the personnel costs within that particular state, resulting in higher overall spending. The states of New York, California, New Jersey, Connecticut, Oregon, and Hawaii are listed by either MarketWatch or TurboTax as having among the top ten highest taxes in the nation. Meanwhile, MarketWatch listed each of these states as being on the list of the top ten strongest union states in the nation.

Perhaps the most logical analogy that can be made to the bias held by legislators who’ve received contributions from municipal unions is the court cases related to judges who were forced to recuse themselves from matters where they had taken campaign contributions from one of the parties in matters before them.

The preeminent case on this issue was Caperton v. Massey Coal Co., where, in 2009, the United States Supreme Court held that the aggrieved party’s right to due process under the Constitution was violated because the judge deciding his case had received significant campaign contributions from the other party in the action.

How can we say that the due process clause applies to a party in an action where the judge has taken campaign contributions by the opposing party and yet simultaneously claim that taxpayers who are a party to contract negotiations do not have their due process rights violated when the other party - being the union - has given significant sums to the people’s representatives at the bargaining table?

The Court in Caperton stressed that it was not necessary to establish a quid pro quo. There did not have to be an overt agreement between the judge and the party giving the money that the judge would rule in their favor upon receiving the donation.

The fact that there was “a risk of actual bias” meant that the judge had to be removed from the case and that the aggrieved party’s due process rights were violated.

Likewise, we can extrapolate from the Caperton case that, as it pertains to an elected official voting on a union contract, the standard would be whether the

contributions would impact the judgment of the average official. As it relates to a contribution to a judge, the court noted:

…the question is whether, “under a realistic appraisal of psychological tendencies and human weakness,” the interest “poses such a risk of actual bias or prejudgment that the practice must be forbidden if the guarantee of due process is to be adequately implemented.

There is a serious risk of actual bias—based on objective and reasonable perceptions— when a person with a personal stake in a particular case had a significant and disproportionate influence in placing the judge on the case by raising funds or directing the judge’s election campaign when the case was pending or imminent.

This is why two of the greatest champions of the union movement - George Meany and President Franklin Roosevelt - believed that unions in the public sector should not be negotiating contracts, thereby forcing the government to negotiate against itself.

It is remarkable that such a commonsense proposition has not yet made its way up to the Supreme Court. The time has come.

Steve Levy is Executive Director of the Center for Cost Effective Government, a fiscally conservative think tank. He served as Suffolk County Executive, as a NYS Assemblyman, and host of “On the Right Side Podcast.” The Center can be reached at costeffectivegov@gmail.com.

Lake Ronkonkoma

Advisory Board

*

March Meeting

Open to the public and public participation is encouraged!

Presentation by Pio Lombardo on phosphorus removal at Fresh Pond

March 26th, 2026, 6 to 7:30 p.m.

Media Room 184

H. Lee Dennison Building 100 Veterans Memorial Hwy Hauppauge, NY 11788

School Highlights

March 19, 2026

Brentwood DECA Students Headed to International Competition

Members of the Brentwood High School Business DECA club competed against thousands of students at the New York State DECA Career Conference March 4-6 earning multiple honors and sending four students to an international stage.

More than 4,000 students from across New York gathered in Rochester for the annual competition, where participants tested their business knowledge through written exams, marketing challenges and live presentations before judges.

Four Brentwood students qualified for the 2026 DECA International Career Development Conference in Atlanta, where more than 20,000 DECA members from around the world will compete.

Alejandra Obregon earned a Top-10 medal in Apparel and Accessories Marketing, while James Baker placed in the Top 10 in Principles of Entrepreneurship.

Williams Mendoza and Jenifer Sorto Pereira placed third in New York for their Integrated Marketing Campaign presentation, “Journeys and Wonders Culture Kits.” The pair also earned medals for Top 10 Overall, Top 10 Test and Top 10 Presentation.

At the international conference, Brentwood students will compete alongside top qualifiers from around the globe and participate in the Emerging Leader Series, a leadership program focused on goal setting, teamwork and project implementation.

Central Islip HS Students Perform ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

due to the recent blizzard across Long Island.

Sayville Public School Rally for Community Support at Sayville Serving Sayville

Sayville Public Schools’ three elementary schools— Cherry Avenue, Lincoln Avenue, and Sunrise Drive—came together for a spirited evening of volleyball and community support during the Seventh annual Sayville Serving Sayville fundraiser on Wednesday, March 4.

The event brought administrators, teachers and staff from each school onto the court for a friendly round-robin tournament, all in support of local families in need. While the competition for bragging rights and the coveted trophy added excitement to the evening, the true focus remained on giving back to the Sayville community. Admission to the event was $2, with all proceeds benefiting the Sayville School Employees Charitable Foundation (SSECF), which provides critical assistance to families in the community. Attendees

were also encouraged to donate non-perishable food items for the Sayville Food Pantry. Over $2,000 and 11 boxes of food were collected, bringing the total amount collected to $11,000 since the event started 7 years ago.

The evening culminated in a fun and memorable final match, where all three tied teams went head-to-head for a single point, and Cherry Avenue came out with the win.

“Sayville Serving Sayville is a wonderful example of what makes our community so special,” said Dr. Marc Ferris, Superintendent of Schools. “Our staff, students and families came together not just for a fun night of friendly competition, but to support neighbors in need. It was inspiring to see so many people rally around such an important cause.”

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Members of the Long Island chapter of The Giving Doll recently visited Cherokee Street Elementary School in the Connetquot Central School District, donating 650 handmade bookmarks to students to promote a love of reading. While The Giving Doll is best known for spreading joy, hope and comfort to children worldwide through handmade cloth dolls, the organization shifted its focus for this initiative to encourage literacy among elementary students.

Volunteer James Werner, a 1995 graduate of Cherokee Street Elementary, participated in the visit alongside his mother, Janet Werner, also a volunteer with the organization. They were joined by volunteer Diane Kerley and Program Director Maureen Ennis for the special donation.

In total, The Giving Doll will be donating more than 2,000 handmade bookmarks to elementary students across the Connetquot Central School District, supporting both literacy and community connection.

School Highlights

Thursday, March 19, 2026

The Giving Doll Donates Bookmarks to Connetquot Elementary Students

East Islip High School’s French Club Says ‘Oui’ to Cheese

East Islip High School’s French Club hosted its first after-school “Cheese and Chat” event on March 4, featuring a mini lesson on cheese by Nicole Nash, a 4-H Agriculture Program educator from the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County, through a Dairy in the Classroom grant. Nash’s presentation explained how cheese is made and included a guided tasting of four French cheeses: Brie, Comte, Roquefort and fresh chevre. Students and club adviser Maya Iwanejko learned about the cheeses’ origins, milk types and flavor profiles while engaging in lively discussion.

“This is one of many programs we offer to help students make the connection about where their food comes from,” Nash said. “They learn about the difference between what cheese actually is and was for hundreds of years, and the traditional American cheese from the grocery store. A lot of kids are just not exposed to cheeses like these.”

Bayport-Blue Point Earns Top Honors In Robotics and Science Olympiad Competitions

Students in the Bayport-Blue Point School District are celebrating a season of outstanding achievements in STEM, as middle school and high school teams earned major recognition in robotics and Science Olympiad competitions across Long Island.

At Bayport-Blue Point High School, the robotics team capped off a remarkable season in just its second year of competition. At their final qualifier event, the team earned first place for “Inspire,” advancing them to the FIRST Long Island Championship. Competing against 24 teams at the championship, Bayport-Blue Point placed 10th in the regular tournament standings. Individually, student Alex K. was named a finalist for the Leadership Award and received an invitation to attend the FIRST World Championship in Houston, Texas.

Earlier this season, both James Wilson Young Middle School robotics teams delivered strong performances at the FIRST Robotics Qualifier #5

Team Brainstormers 1087 captured the Championship Award, earning first place overall at the event. Team RoboPhantoms 9556 placed second for the Championship Award and was also named first finalist for the Robot Performance Award.

Meanwhile, the district’s Division B Science Olympiad team (grades 6-9) achieved a historic milestone at the Eastern Long Island Science Olympiad Regional Competition. Competing against 36 teams, the Bayport-Blue Point team placed second overall, the highest finish in program history, earning the team its first regional trophy. This also secured the team’s fourth consecutive qualification for the New York State Science Olympiad Tournament, which will be held in Syracuse from April 24-25.

The district’s 10-12 grade Science Olympiad team also delivered a strong performance this season. Competing at the Suffolk County Regional competition, the team placed fifth overall and earned medals in 11 of the event’s 23 competitions. Notably, all seven seniors on the team earned at least one medal. The team will advance to the state competition scheduled for March 20-21.

1: Bayport-Blue Point High School’s robotics team competed at the FIRST Long Island Championship.

2: James Wilson Young Middle School’s Robophantoms 9556 placed second for the Championship Award and was also named first finalist for the Robot Performance Award at the FIRST Robotics Qualifier #5.

3: James Wilson Young Middle School’s Brainstormers 1087 captured the Championship Award, earning first place overall at the FIRST Robotics Qualifier event.

4: Bayport-Blue Point’s Division B Science Olympiad team placed second overall at the Eastern Long Island Science Olympiad Regional Competition. Photos courtesy of Bayport-Blue Point School District.

The Necessary Standard for American Education

The Department of Defense (War)

By Matt Meduri

We continue our series on the federal executive departments this week with one that’s generated controversy as of late, the Department of Defense (DOD)also known as the Department of War.

History and Origin

In the fledgling days of the republic, defense had virtually no federal oversight. The colonies were responsible for their own military arrangements. But after the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, the Second Continental Congress saw the advantages of a national army that wasn’t relegated to arbitrary colonial land claims. In autumn 1775, Congress would charter the Continental Navy and the Continental Marines.

After the Revolution and the convention of the First Congress, the federal government did not entertain legislation to create an official military defense force. President George Washington twice opined to Congress that a military should be established. The War Department was then created on September 29, 1789, the final day of the first session of Congress. The War Department oversaw the Navy until the Navy Department was created in 1798. Each branch’s secretary reported to the president as Cabinet-level advisors for nearly 150 years, when the military branches were unified under the Department of Defense.

World War II was the catalyst for this unification. President Harry Truman (D-MO) proposed the idea, citing to Congress wasteful spending and interdepartmental conflicts. Congress took months debating whether such broad power should be concentrated at the executive level. The National Security Act of 1947 established the National Military Establishment (NME) and created the National Security Council, the National Security Resources Board, the U.S. Air Force, and the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The post of Secretary of Defense was created to control these bureaus.

The NME would be renamed to the Department of Defense on August 10, 1949, and its first secretary was James V. Forrestal (I-NY). The Wall Street financier had served as Undersecretary of the Navy before the United States’ entrance into WWII. Forrestal’s tenure as Defense Secretary consisted of hostilities against the Soviet Union and a general creed of stopping Communism’s expansion in Europe and the Middle East. He was also opposed to U.S. support for the State of Israel, fearing alienation of Arab allies who were needed for their valuable petroleum reserves.

The Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1958 defined the chain of command over the military forces: President to Defense Secretary, to Service Chief of Unified Combatant Commanders, to Unified Combatant Commanders.

Organizational Structure

Oversight of the department primarily belongs to the House and Senate Armed Services Committees and the Appropriations Committees.

The Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) is the lead on policy development, fiscal oversight, and interoperations with other federal departments. Under the OSD’s oversight sits the following agencies: Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, DOD Education Activity, Advanced Research Projects Agency, Commissary Agency, Contract Audit Agency, Contract Management Agency, Finance and Accounting Service, Health Agency,

This column will seek to address the long-forgotten concept of civics and how it relates to American government in general, from the federal level to the local level. This column will explore Constitutional rights, the inner workings of government, the electoral process, and the obligations and privileges of citizens.

Information Systems Agency, Legal Services Agency, Logistics Agency, POW/MIA Accounting Agency, Security Cooperation Agency, Counterintelligence and Security Agency, Technical Information Center, Threat Reduction Agency, and the Space Development Agency - all clearly showcasing the breadth and scope of the OSD’s responsibilities.

For national intelligence purposes, the DOD has split oversight with the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI). They execute war plans and assist and deploy non-DOD intelligence or law enforcement, such as the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA): Informs defense policymakers on military capabilities and intentions of foreign countries. The collection and analysis of militaryrelated intelligence is the DIA’s prime task. About a quarter of all intel that ends up in the President’s Daily Brief comes from DIA. Half of DIA’s employees serve overseas, typically at U.S. embassies in more than 140 countries.

National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA): Collects and analyzes geospatial intelligence to support national security, helps with natural and manmade disasters, and aids in security planning for major events, such as the Olympics.

National Reconnaissance Office (NRO): Operates, designs, builds, and launches reconnaissance satellites for the federal government. It provides intel gathered from the satellites (signal intelligence) to other agencies within the DOD.

National Security Agency (NSA): Collects and monitors global information, often for counterintelligence, and protects U.S. communications and networks. Most of its fact-finding measures are clandestine. This branch has come under scrutiny numerous times since the Vietnam War for its perceived role in the Gulf of Tonkin incident that escalated U.S. involvement in Southeast Asia, as well as for the 2013 whistleblowing incident by Edward Snowden, which revealed the NSA’s interceptions of communications of billions of civilians worldwide, and American citizens’ metadata.

and Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment.

The Unified Combatant Command is a component of personnel and equipment from at least two military departments. Their mission is the operational command of the Armed Forces, under which nearly all operational U.S. forces are situated. The U.S. has eleven Combatant Commands structured on “areas of responsibility” (AOR), or a global, geographical basis. The U.S. has Northeastern, Southern, and Central commands, as does Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and Africa. Other commands include the Strategic Command, Special Operations Command, Transportation Command, Cyber Command, and Space Command.

The Department of Defense Today

The DOD is the largest employer in the United States, with about 1.3 million active-duty military personnel and over 750,000 civilian employees as of last year. With 800,000 National Guard and Reserve forces, the total employment of DOD nearly eclipses three million.

CreditU.S. Department of Defense

The DOD also has one of the largest budgets within the federal executive branch. For FY2026, the DOD requested $961.6 billion - a 13.4% increase from FY2025 to “deliver[s] on the President’s promise to achieve peace through strength by providing the resources to rebuild America’s military, reestablish deterrence, and restore the warrior ethos,” according to the DOD’s official budget request. The budget request consisted of just $113.3 billion in mandatory spending and $848.3 billion in discretionary.

The DOD also has three military departments: The Department of the Army, the Department of Navy (which includes Navy and Marine Corps), and the Department of the Air Force (which includes the Air Force and the Space Force). The secretaries of each of these departments serve at will of the president. These departments’ only responsibilities are to train troops, provide equipment, and conduct administration.

The military services of the DOD, include the branches of the military. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are senior, uniformed leaders within the DOD who advise the President, the Secretary, the Homeland Security Council, and the National Security Council on all military matters. The Joint Chiefs of Staff are presided over by a Chairman and a Vice Chairman, to whom the Chiefs of Staff to the Air Force, Army, Naval Operations, and Marine Corps Commandant all report. The Director of the Joint Staff serves under the Vice Chairman and has oversight over seven other directors: Manpower and Personnel, Intelligence, Operations, Logistics, Strategic Plans and Policy, Operational Plans and Joint Force Development,

The twenty-ninth and current Secretary of Defense is Pete Hegseth (R-TN) (pictured left). Born in Minneapolis, he studied politics at Princeton University and in 2003, he was commissioned as an infantry officer in the Minnesota National Guard. He served at Guantanamo Bay and was deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. He was awarded two Bronze Stars, two Army Commendation Medals, a Combat Infantryman Badge, and a Joint Service Commendation Medal. After Iraq, Hegseth helmed Vets for Freedom as executive director and became a Fox News contributor in 2014. He’s also written several books and served as an advisor to President Donald Trump (R-FL) after his 2016 election.

Hegseth was by far one of the most controversial nominees for Trump’s second Cabinet. His confirmation ultimately came down to a tie-breaking vote by Vice President J.D. Vance (R-OH) when three Republican Senators voted against him. It was just the second time in history that a Cabinet nominee’s confirmation was decided by the Vice President. The first was Betsy DeVos’ (R-MI) confirmation as Trump’s Education Secretary in 2017.

Much of the controversy came from Hegseth’s time on Fox, and allegations of alcoholism, financial misconduct, and marital problems. He’s also drawn more controversy during his tenure for the leaked government group chats on strikes in Yemen, in which an Atlantic reporter was copied, the use of unmarked military planes for boat strikes in the Caribbean, and the recent uses of force in Iran.

In 2025, Trump signed an executive order to refer to the Department of Defense as the Department of War, although a bona fide name change must come from Congress.

10-Year-Old Michael Macaluso Wins Wrestling States in Syracuse

By Madison Warren

This past weekend in Syracuse, New York, the NYWAY State Championships took place, bringing together top young wrestlers from across the state to compete for a title. Among the talented field were several wrestlers representing Long Island, including a standout performance by 10-year-old Islip student Michael Macaluso, who took first place in the 66-pound weight class.

Macaluso showcased skill, determination, and composure throughout the tournament, battling through a challenging bracket against some of the top young wrestlers from across New York State. He represented not only his hometown but also his team, Barn Brothers Wrestling, an elite youth and high school wrestling team based in Manorville.

Macaluso said he trains three to four times a week and prepares for the tournament with hard work and dedication at every practice. He told The Messenger that after placing sixth at last year’s state championships, an accomplishment in itself, his goal this year was to finish in the top three. He not only met that goal but exceeded it with a first-place finish.

He competed in a total of four matches over the weekend, with one of the biggest moments coming in the semifinals. Macaluso defeated an opponent he had previously lost to at a different tournament, earning an 8-2 victory. He said that once he secured that win against a tough competitor, he began to believe he had a real shot at taking home the state title.

After taking first place, Macaluso said he was both excited and proud of his performance. He then turned his attention to cheering on one of his best friends, who also went on to win first place in his division, making the weekend even more special for Macaluso.

Macaluso said that following this win, his next goal is to perform even better at the War at the Shore Tournament in Wildwood, New Jersey, next month. He noted that in previous years, he didn’t perform as well as he had hoped, but with this momentum and continued hard work, he is determined to prove he is a force to be reckoned with.

With two younger siblings in attendance, cheering him on throughout the weekend, Macaluso demonstrated what hard work and dedication truly look like both on and off the mat. Their support was a meaningful part of his experience, as he competed at one of the biggest tournaments of the year. He shared that his brother and sister have developed a love for wrestling as well, inspired in part by watching his journey. Macaluso added that when their time comes to pursue their own goals in sports, he plans to be right there supporting them every step of the way, just as they were for him.

He said his love for wrestling began at a young age, when he watched members of his family compete. Growing up, he looked up to his cousin, who went on to win state championships in high school, and it was then that he knew he couldn’t wait for his own opportunity to step onto the mat and follow in those footsteps.

Macaluso’s success this weekend was not only a reflection of his own hard work but also the support system around him. With his siblings and parents cheering him on, along with his teammates who play an important role in his journey, it’s clear how much those relationships contribute to his growth. Whether at practice or traveling to tournaments across different states, the bond within his team remains a key part of his experience in the sport.

Macaluso’s first-place finish is a testament to his hard work, determination, and passion for the sport at such a young age. As he continues to set new goals and compete at a high level, his performance at the NYWAY State Championships is just the beginning. With a strong support system behind him and momentum on his side, Macaluso is proving to be a name to watch in the future of Long Island wrestling.

With the War at the Shore Tournament only a few weeks away, we wish Michael Macaluso and the rest of his teammates the best of luck, and we are very excited for what else Michael will do.

West Islip Resident Receives County Woman of Distinction Award

Legislator Steven J. Flotteron (R-Brightwaters) presents Nancy Donahue with the 2026 Suffolk County Woman of Distinction Award for the Eleventh Legislative District.

Ms. Donahue and her family have been long-time members of the community where she has volunteered for various organizations for more than 50 years. Her volunteerism began in the mid-1990s when she became a commissioner representing the hamlet of West Islip, working closely with former Chairpersons of Keep Islip Clean, Bill Johnson and Kay Erwood, to keep the organization operating smoothly. In addition, she served as the Chairperson of KIC for three years and was instrumental working on the revitalization of West Islip Beach which involved repainting the main building and clearing the beach of accumulated trash and debris. She worked tirelessly in promoting the beach and making the community aware of this gem which had previously been underutilized. Then, in 2014, Nancy was part of the planning and creation of Madeline’s Playground in memory of Madeline Hsu who tragically died in the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.

Foremost, as President of the West Islip Symphony Orchestra since 1991 to present, an organization she dedicates many hours to spreading the importance of bringing classical music into the community. She is a founding member of the West Islip Country Fair Committee, serving since 1976 and is an active member of the West Islip Chamber of Commerce and a past member of the Sagtikos Manor Historical Society. In addition, Nancy is active in the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion Post and was awarded NYS Woman of Distinction in 2007. There have been many individuals who have greatly benefited from Ms. Donahue’s contributions to the community. She continues tirelessly, at the age of 88 years old, giving of her time and talents to bring cultural arts to others for the betterment of her community.

16 Local History

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Can I Get Your Address?

By Ellyn Okvist, B.Sc.

Spring is creeping in, and a nice walk around the village may be a good choice to get out and enjoy the fresh air. As you walk, bicycle, or even drive, you will see so many street signs for the names of the roads. It seems so many roads have been added. They may look the same as all the other roads, but a walk down them will almost always lead you to an older home or structure that has been there much longer than you would expect. I’ll give you a short but fun list to start your adventure.

The Brothers Smith built their homes in the late 1600s; one still exists and is still known as Sandy Garth. Therefore, Smith Road. Ackerly Lane was part of the long lots of the same time period, and the Ackerly family had a logging business and mill. Heading south, you will recognize Mill Road, which follows the same path as in the middle 1700s. Heading north, Ackerly Lane climbed the hill behind Shoprite and meandered through the Cenacle property. Ackerly Lane is still listed on some tax bills as School Street.

Benomi Avenue was named for Benomi Newton, an ancestor of Sumner Newton. Since we are naming Newtons, Cherry Street crossed through the Jay Nelson Newton logging and sawmill, and to this day the original homes have cherry trees in their yards. Jay Place or Street, however you know it, was a Newton road. Newton Boulevard was Jay Nelson Newton; Uhl Street off of Newton Boulevard was named for Buele Newton. Carlson Road was the home of Minnie Carlson Hawkins, and she was the assistant cashier at the Lake Ronkonkoma Bank. Carroll Avenue, actually used before Hawkins Avenue, was the home of the Carroll Family. They had a significant home at the corner of Carroll Avenue and Church Street. The road also serviced the Newton logging and sawmill, as well as the Stagecoach line that followed Carroll Avenue.

Gus Kappler had quite a compound over by the Lake. Charles Court, Edward Court, and yes, Kappler Court dominated the area. Gus Kappler was a real estate broker. The Original Hans Family homestead was where Stop & Shop is now. The two huge stone pillars, still at the entrance of the original driveway, are a Historical Landmark of Lake Ronkonkoma. Harrison Street was named for the family of Emily Hans Harrison. Her husband was Theodore Harrison, a post office delivery man and brother of Leroy Vollgraff, who had changed his name around WWI to Harrison from Vollgraff.

Haug Drive overlooks the Lake and reflected the Haug Family and Beach. Later, you could find Mr. Haug and his hot dog cart ready for business. Kirk Avenue, on the west side of the Lake was for Joseph Kirk, a war Veteran and American Legion Commander (1932-1933). Metzner Road was named for Martin Metzner and family, who made his fortune with burlap bags. The Metzner’s had two homes and moved twice a year in entirety between Parsnip Pond Road and Metzner Road on the Lake, maybe a mile away. Millan Avenue, off Smithtown Boulevard, is named for Mr. John Millan, a war hero and American Legion Commander (19271928).

Warner Lane was named for the St. Mary’s Church co-founder, Mr. Warner and family. Mr. Warner produced ground lenses for eyeglasses and such. The Quensel Family still holds a road off Hawkins Avenue. Mr. Thorne, for Thorne Street, made barrels in the Lake Grove business area after his service in the military.

The Cleary family, who had the Cleary School for the Deaf, still holds Cleary Road where you can see the William Cleary KIA banner of the WWII family member. You can still find Renwick Road named for Renwick Raynor off Ronkonkoma Avenue. Willis Avenue was named for Willis Hallock. Sullivan Street, off Portion Road, is named for our Rough Rider Austin Aloysius Sullivan, husband of Susann Okvist Sullivan. The property was presented by the United States Government for his service in the Pancho Villa Expedition (1909-1918).

School House Road, which begins at the Lake near Kappler Court, leads you to the original school that was at the five corners. Gatelot Avenue - “Close the gates between the lots” - was created as a reminder to close the gate to keep the farm animals in. School Street, named for the schools that line it, is actually still referred to as Ackerly Lane on current tax bills, which brings us back to the beginning of our road names!

I hope you have enjoyed our “address coverage” this week. If you know of any further history of our road names, please let me know. Thank you.

Suffolk 250 to Include Freedom Fest at Bald Hill

By Matt Meduri

Suffolk County and municipalities across the region are sparing no expense to go all out this July for the United States’ semiquincentennial celebration.

Colloquially referred to as Suffolk 250, officials are pulling no punches in organizing for the once-in-a-lifetime milestone celebration.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) and JVC Broadcasting are proud to announce Freedom Fest, the County’s official

celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary. A free concert with country music superstar Brett Young will be held on July 3 at the Catholic Health Amphitheatre at Bald Hill in Farmingville and will serve as Suffolk’s largest Independence Day and America 250 event.

“This is more than a concert; it is a celebration of our nation’s history, our Veterans, our families, and the spirit of Suffolk County,” said JVC Broadcasting CEO John Caracciolo in

Preleasing Begins for 175 New Apartments at The Core at Station Yards

Preleasing for the second phase of The Core Apartments at Station Yards officially began on Saturday, March 14, introducing 175 new apartment homes to the rapidly growing mixed-use destination in Ronkonkoma.

Prospective residents are invited to visit The Core leasing team to learn more about available units and tour a brandnew model apartment home. While visiting, guests can also experience the vibrant Station Yards neighborhood.

The Core is part of a modern Long Island neighborhood, Station Yards, where authentic roots meet contemporary energy. The new downtown destination is home to celebrated restaurants, distinctive local shops, convenient retail, and community events all within steps of residents’ front doors.

From a splashy poolside scene to inspired coworking spaces and the welcoming village green, The Core offers a lifestyle designed around connection, convenience, and community — where the heart of Long Island beats.

Modern Apartment Living

Each apartment home at The Core features contemporary finishes

and thoughtful design, including stainless steel appliances; quartz countertops; European-style cabinetry; dishwashers and microwaves; in-home, full-size washer and dryer; central air conditioning; spacious closets; balconies in select units; and in-site parking with EV charging stations

Elevated Amenities

Residents at The Core enjoy access to a wide range of resort-inspired amenities designed for both relaxation and productivity, including a resortstyle pool with cabana seating; fire pits, barbecue areas, and hammock farm; basketball and pickleball court; expansive coworking spaces; private offices and conference rooms; WiFi-enabled amenity spaces; lobby concierge; modern fitness center featuring sauna, Pilates reformer, and rowing machine; covered parking garage; pet spa; valet trash service; cold storage for deliveries; bike storage room; two rooftop lounges; and seamless access to the Long Island Rail Road.

Located in the heart of Station Yards, The Core places residents

a statement. “Freedom Fest will be a signature America 250 event that residents can enjoy at no cost to taxpayers of Suffolk County.”

The event is a free ticketed celebration for up to 7,500 Suffolk County residents. It is “entirely supported through private sponsorships, advertisers, and in-kind community partnerships,” according to JVC Broadcasting. Sponsors include the Long Island State Veterans Home, Discover Long Island, Jake’s

58, Maggio Environmental, Catholic Health, the Town of Brookhaven, and JVC Broadcasting.

The July 3 event will culminate in a fireworks extravaganza produced by the “renowned” Grucci family, of whom former Congressman Felix Grucci (R-East Patchogue) is a notable scion.

For tickets and information, go online to licountry.com or ilovesuffolk.com.

within a vibrant, transit-oriented neighborhood that continues to evolve into one of Long Island’s most dynamic downtown destinations.

For more information about leasing opportunities at The Core Apartments, visit Station Yards or contact the leasing team to schedule a future tour.

About Station Yards

Station Yards is a vibrant mixed-use development by TRITEC. It will be a new destination hub for Long Islanders. Along with 1,450 apartments, 195,000 square feet of retail space, and 360,000 square feet of office space, Station Yards is creating thousands of jobs and housing options at the busiest train station in Suffolk County. TRITEC completed the first phase of 489 apartment homes, Alston Station Yards, in 2020. The current development phase includes 563 apartment homes, 68,019 square feet of retail space, 16,500 square feet of office, and a public plaza.

For more information, visit stationyardsli.com

About TRITEC Real Estate Company

Founded in 1986 by brothers Robert J. and James L. Coughlan, TRITEC Real Estate Company is a real estate project delivery organization dedicated to delivering high quality, trustworthy performance and lasting value. TRITEC Real Estate Company — comprising TRITEC Development Group, LLC, TRITEC Building Company, Inc., TRITEC Asset Management, Inc. has established itself as a leader among commercial real estate companies, with a long history of successfully acquiring, developing, constructing, financing, leasing, and managing real estate projects in the New York and DC metro areas. For further information, visit tritecre.com.

In case you were wondering here is a little more about Station Paddy’s Day. Join us for a free St. Patrick’s Day celebration taking place this Saturday at Station Yards in Ronkonkoma. The event will feature live entertainment, a local vendor market, family-friendly activities, festive food and drink specials, and an opportunity to be one of the first residents of the second phase of The Core.

Theater & the Arts

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Go See The Gateway’s Sizzling Revival of ‘The Full Monty’

By Cindi Sansone-Braff

Tired of Long Island’s cold 2026 Arctic winter?

Then The Gateway’s hot, hot, hot production of the hilarious and heartwarming musical comedy “The Full Monty” is just what you need to jumpstart the spring season.

This show features the beloved, Emmy Award-winning television star Sally Struthers, who received a massive round of applause when she stepped onstage. Struthers’ incredible star power, combined with the over-the-top talents of Director and Choreographer Keith Andrews and the herculean efforts of the entire ensemble and creative team, made this an unforgettable night of theater!

“The Full Monty,” a 2001 Tonynominated Broadway musical, was adapted from Simon Beaufoy’s 1997 British cult classic film. The movie was set in the struggling industrial city of Sheffield, England, and centered on a group of laidoff steelworkers desperate to find new ways to support themselves and their families. With a powerful score by composer and lyricist David Yazbek and a well-crafted book by the legendary Terrence McNally, the setting was moved to Buffalo, New York, making the characters’ employment struggles more relatable to American audiences.

The show started off with a bang with Franco Bianchi’s smoking-hot portrayal of Buddy “Keno” Walsh, a professional male stripper who dazzled the women of Buffalo during a Girls’ Night Out at Tony Giordano’s club. During one funny scene set in the men’s room, the girls performed the showstopping cabaret tune “It’s a Woman’s World.”

In contrast, while the girls just want to have fun, their disheartened men congregate at a union meeting to pick up their unemployment checks and break into a darkly comedic song, “Scrap,” in which they share one depressing fact after another about the bleak state of their emasculating circumstances.

Broadway star Rory Max Kaplan, a phenomenal actor with impeccable comedic timing, excelled in the role of Jerry Lukowski, a laid-off steelworker eager to strengthen his relationship with his young son, Nathan, played by the rising star Gavin Gronenthal, who shares this pivotal role with Theo Crossley. Jerry’s pragmatic exwife, Pam, brilliantly performed by Dakota Mackey-McGee, continually pressures him to pay his child support, prompting him to devise an outrageous plan to launch a male striptease act with a motley group of five other unemployed men.

Kelly MacMillan was outstanding as Estelle, Jerry’s hot-to-trot friend with benefits. Kaplan showcased his strong vocals throughout the evening, and his heartfelt rendition of the reflective solo “Breeze Off the River” was one of the show’s highlights.

Clayton Howe delivered a memorable performance as Jerry’s best friend, Dave Bukatinsky, whose feelings of inadequacy and body dysmorphia earned the audience’s sympathy. Howe, a natural physical comic, drew some of the biggest laughs of the evening with his awkward dance moves, and Kaplan and Howe mesmerized the audience with their outstanding duet, “Man.” Mia Gentile rocked the role of Georgie, Dave’s adoring but frustrated wife.

Alex Fullerton was perfectly cast as the painfully shy Malcolm MacGregor, who Dave and Jerry rescued from gassing himself to death in his car. Fullerton, Kaplan, and Howe’s spot-on delivery of “Big-Ass Rock,” a catchy song jampacked with gallows humor, had the audience roaring with laughter.

The audience got a kick out of the kind but dim-witted Ethan Girard, played by Justin Wolfe Smith, who commanded the stage with his high-octane performance. Fullerton and Smith had strong onstage chemistry, and their tender duet, “You Walk with Me,” was one of the most poignant moments in the show.

Broadway veteran Ian Knauer

delivered an award-worthy performance as Harold Nichols, a proud, educated man who hides his unemployment from his freespending but loyal and devoted wife, Vicki, convincingly portrayed by the energetic and vivacious Emily Brockway.

E. Mani Cadet stole the show with his memorable portrayal of Noah “Horse” T. Simmons, a man whose actions proved that age is no barrier to joy or performance. Cadet captivated the audience with his smooth, sultry dance moves during his soulful delivery of the hilarious R&B-inspired song “Big Black Man.”

Sally Struthers gave a flawless performance as Jeannette Burmeister, a chain-smoking, wisecracking, pianoplaying retired showbiz veteran who understands that desperate times call for desperate measures. With her deadpan delivery and sassy attitude, she encouraged the men to step out of their comfort zones, shed their inhibitions, and strut their stuff. Act II started on a high note with Struthers belting out musical one-liners in a riotous rendition of “Jeanette’s Showbiz Number.”

Knowing that the original movie was set in England explains the meaning of the show’s title: “The full monty” is a British idiom meaning “everything,” “the whole nine yards,” or “the whole shebang.” In this show’s context, that would mean the steelworkers strip down to their birthday suits, right? Do they? Go see for yourself!

Just remember, this musical is

known for having one of the most spectacular finales you’ll ever see on any stage. This triumphant onstage moment, when the “Hot Metals” perform the celebratory striptease routine to “Let it Go,” represents steadfast resilience, true courage, and a deep sense of camaraderie.

The entire ensemble brought their A-game to this stellar production, and a big round of applause goes to Miles D. Hanna, Timothy Hearl, Lance Jewett, Katie Luke, Franco Tomaino, and Crystal Renée Wright.

Content Warning: “The Full Monty” contains adult content and language and may not be suitable for all audiences. With that in mind, invite all your fun-loving, grown-up friends and family to come enjoy a fabulous, adult-focused theatrical experience! Performances run through April 12, 2026. For tickets, show schedules, and additional information, visit TheGateway.org or contact the Box Office by phone at 631-286-1133.

Cindi Sansone-Braff is an award-winning playwright. She holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Connecticut and is a member of the Dramatists Guild. She is the author of “Grant Me a Higher Love,” “Why Good People Can’t Leave Bad Relationships,” and “Confessions of a Reluctant Long Island Psychic.” Her fulllength Music Drama, “Beethoven, The Man, The Myth, The Music,” is published by Next Stage Press.

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, March 19, 2026

Japan May Have an Answer to China’s Rare Earth Dominance

By Ben Solis | Outside Contributor for AMAC

With U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi scheduled to meet at the White House on March 19, joint U.S.-Israeli operations targeting Iran’s nuclear and missile programs will undoubtedly be top of mind for both leaders. But the summit also presents an opportunity for two key players in the effort to counter China’s dominance of the rare earths industry to discuss new strategies to loosen Beijing’s grip on one of the world’s most critical supply chains.

Rare earth elements are a group of 17 metals used in many of today’s most advanced technologies. They are essential components in everything from smartphones and wind turbines to electric vehicle motors and advanced military systems. Despite their name, these minerals are not particularly rare in nature – but the mining and refining process is complex and expensive.

Over the past three decades, China has systematically built dominance in the sector. Today it accounts for roughly 70 percent of global rare earth mining and more than 80 percent of processing capacity, giving Beijing enormous leverage over supply chains vital to modern industry and defense.

China’s leadership recognized the strategic value of these minerals long ago. In 1992, Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping famously declared, “Oil is in the Middle East, but rare earths are in China,” highlighting Beijing’s understanding that these obscure materials could become a powerful geopolitical asset.

Professor Jun De Níng, a lawyer and economist who once advised Chinese leader Hu Yaobang, told me in an interview that the Chinese Communist Party has long viewed rare-earth minerals as a strategic weapon against the United States and the West. According to the professor, their mindset centers on war and domination.

No country understands the risks of that leverage better than Japan.

In September 2010, Japan became the first major victim of China’s willingness to weaponize rare earth exports. Following a maritime dispute between the two countries, Beijing abruptly halted shipments of critical minerals to Japanese companies. The move disrupted supply chains across Japan’s manufacturing sector, affecting industries ranging from hybrid vehicles to advanced electronics.

More than a decade later, Japanese leaders are still working to ensure that such a scenario cannot be repeated. When Beijing again signaled its willingness to apply supply-chain pressure this year, Japanese industrial leaders urged the government to pursue an aggressive strategy to reduce dependence on Chinese minerals – beginning with “less China” and ultimately aiming for “no China.”

Kotaro Shimizu, principal analyst at Mitsubishi UFJ Research and Consulting, told me in an interview that “progress is steady but requires massive state investment.”

Tokyo is now investing heavily in several strategies to secure alternative supplies. The Environment Ministry recently increased its fiscal 2026 budget by 6 billion yen ($38.8 million) to support projects aimed at building a rare-earth supply chain independent of China. If approved by Japan’s Diet, the funding will support research, pilot projects, and industrial partnerships.

One of the most intriguing possibilities may lie thousands of miles from Japan’s mainland, deep beneath the Pacific Ocean.

Near the remote Japanese island of Minamitorishima, roughly 1,200 miles southeast of Tokyo, researchers have discovered vast deposits of rare-earth elements embedded in seabed mud. Samples collected nearly 20,000 feet below the ocean’s surface contain at least six of the most valuable rare earth elements and are unusually low in radioactive contaminants, making them easier to process.

Last month, Japan’s government announced the successful completion of a month-long experimental

mining operation in the waters surrounding the island.

During the test, a research vessel deployed a two-layer slurry riser system – essentially a long pipe made up of hundreds of interconnected segments – to pump a mixture of mud and seawater from the ocean floor to the surface. A remotely operated mining machine first stirred the seabed sediment into a slurry, which was then pumped upward through the pipe using water pressure.

The mud contains elements such as dysprosium, neodymium, samarium, and gadolinium. These materials are critical to advanced technologies. Dysprosium, neodymium, and samarium are used in high-performance

Overview - AMAC -

The Association of Mature American Citizens

The Association of Mature American Citizens represents Americans 50 plus. AMAC is centered on American values, freedom of the individual, free speech, and exercise of religion, equality of opportunity, sanctity of life, rule of law, and love of family, with benefits at all levels.

AMAC plays a vital role in helping build the services that will enrich the lives of America’s seniors. AMAC Action, a 501 (C)(4) advocates for issues important to AMAC’s membership on Capitol Hill and locally through grassroots activism. To Learn more, visit amac.us

magnets found in electric vehicle motors and defense systems, while gadolinium plays an important role in nuclear reactor control.

Scientists involved in the project say industrial extraction and refining trials could begin as early as next year. If successful, fullscale production could begin by 2028.

Japan is also pursuing another promising strategy of recycling rare earths from electronic waste.

Under a broad government initiative, Japanese companies are working to recover neodymium and other valuable metals from discarded motors, circuit boards, and other electronics.

Continued on following page

Continued from previous page

Japan May Have an Answer to China’s Rare Earth Dominance

The Environment Ministry plans to expand e-waste recycling capacity to 500,000 metric tons annually by 2030, a 50 percent increase from current levels.

Japan already imports electronic waste from Europe and other regions for processing, and the government plans to invest in additional port-based recycling facilities.

These efforts are being closely watched around the world as governments increasingly recognize the strategic risks of China’s dominance in rare earth supply chains.

George Bennett, chief executive of the London-listed mining company Rainbow Rare Earths, said the issue has only recently begun receiving the attention it deserves.

“It took Trump and the trade wars to finally sharpen the West’s focus on rare earths,” Bennett said. “No single nation should control critical mineral supplies.”

Analysts say a wave of new mining and processing projects is now underway globally. According to the research firm Adamas Intelligence, more than 30 rareearth projects are expected to launch this decade, with roughly half located in the Indo-Pacific region.

Following that global trend, the United States is also working to rebuild its own rare-earth capacity. The Mountain Pass

Mine in California, once the world’s leading source of rare earth elements, has returned to production in recent years and is now operated by MP Materials. The mine already produces a significant share of the world’s rare-earth ore, and new investments aim to expand domestic processing so that those materials can be refined in the United States rather than shipped to China.

Combined with Japan’s breakthroughs in deep-sea mining and recycling, projects like Mountain Pass represent a broader effort among U.S. allies to rebuild secure supply chains and loosen Beijing’s decades-long grip on one of the most strategically important industries in the global economy.

For Washington and Tokyo, cooperation will be essential if those efforts are to succeed.

The upcoming summit between Trump and Takaichi offers an opportunity to deepen that partnership. By coordinating investments, research, and supply chains, the United States and its allies could significantly reduce dependence on China’s rare earth monopoly.

If Japan’s deep-sea discoveries and recycling initiatives succeed, Beijing’s decades-long dominance of one of the world’s most strategically important industries may finally begin to erode.

WORD WHEEL

H L A U E S P

See how many words you can create.

Must have center letter in word and can use letters more than once. 4 letter word minimum.

SUDOKU

See left for the answers (please don’t cheat!)

This Week in History

March 24, 1999: NATO commences an air bombardment against Yugoslavia during the Kosovo War, the first attack by NATO on a sovereign country.

March 21, 2014: Russia formally annexes Crimea amid international condemnation.

March 19,1920:

U.S. Senate rejects the Treaty of Versailles for the second time, refusing to ratify the League of Nations’ covenant and maintaining a policy of isolation.

March 22, 1765:

First direct British tax on American colonists, the Stamp Act, is passed by the British Parliament led by Prime Minister George Grenville.

March 25, 1960:

First guided missile launched from a nuclear powered submarine (USS Halibut).

Source: Onthisday.com.

March 23, 1775: Patrick Henry proclaims “Give me liberty or give me death” in a speech encouraging Virginia troops to join the American Revolutionary War.

March 20, 2016:

Barack Obama (D-IL) becomes the first President to visit Cuba since 1928, arriving for a threeday tour with First Lady Michelle.

By PJ Balzer

No Other Way But Desperate

The World Baseball Classic (WBC) has been extra “spicy” this year. I can’t remember a year when there’s been this much excitement surrounding this worldwide baseball tournament. I also can’t remember a year with this much talent signed up to play in this tournament and this much determination to bring this baseball trophy home, wherever home may be.

Social media has been full of great content of fans from both Venezuela and the Dominican Republic. Fans both here and abroad are going berserk over their team and this great sport. Traditional songs, instruments, and dances have made it into ballparks everywhere. There were a few preliminary games in this tournament played in the capital on the relatively small island. Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, basically shut down everything for these games. The entire city and small towns around it all came out to see the hometown boys play on home turf. Mind you, their hometown boys are now some of the best players in the Major Leagues in the United States. Top draft picks, constantly being selected to All Star teams and a handful of the winners of the annual home run derby.

The unmatched excitement displayed in front of our faces on camera has raised some questions regarding these countries and the sport of baseball, even from some of the most devout and passionate American fans.

Why the extreme excitement and passionate display of emotions over the sport of baseball? Why are so many superstars being cultivated in places that aren’t as abundant in resources? Why does it seem like baseball is a way of life and engraved into the very culture?

Cristiano Ronaldo, the worldrenowned soccer player from Portugal, was interviewed not long

ago regarding his son and his possible future as a “futbol” player. His son seems to be a rising soccer star, at least within his sphere of talent. So naturally, the interviewer asked Ronaldo, “Will your son play professional soccer, and will he be as good as you?

Ronaldo’s reply, I believe, answers many of the questions asked above regarding Venezuela, the Dominican Republic, and baseball:

“I grew up dirt poor in a neighborhood that was dangerous and without much opportunity to leave. Once a soccer ball was placed next to my feet, I knew this was probably my only way out and to some level of success. I lived soccer, it became a part of my being from sunup to sundown. My son is talented but, because of my success, he doesn’t need a way out. The talent and hard work aren’t being driven by desperation.”

Bereavement Support Groups

Will be offered at St. John Nepomucene and are open to people of any faith

Loss of Spouse

General Loss

Loss of an Adult Child

Thursday, March 5th – April 30th at 7PM

(Note: there will be no meeting April 2nd as it is Holy Thursday)

The General Support Group & Loss of a Spouse Group is open to anyone who has suffered a loss at least three months prior, which would be December 5, 2025.

The Loss of Adult Child Group has no wait requirement.

Each group meets weekly for 90 minutes followed by refreshments and hospitality. There is no cost but a commitment to attend each meeting throughout the program is required. All groups are offered in a closed and confidential setting with highly trained f acilitators and are limited to 12 people.

By Ashley Pavlakis

Eastern Suffolk County schools representing Section XI took care of business at the New York State Bowling Championships in Syracuse this past weekend. The lanes at Strike ‘N’ Spare were hot, and pins were coming down in strikes.

High School varsity bowling teams in Suffolk County are members of the New York State Public Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and compete under Section XI. Boys’ varsity bowling has four leagues made up of 35 total teams. Girls’ varsity bowling has three leagues made up of 20 teams.

Let’s start with the Division I large school boys’ bowling championship. The Cougars of Commack brought the title home in dominant fashion, bowling a combined total of 6,503 pins to earn their first NYS title. Prior to this, they claimed the Suffolk County title in February, defeating the 2025 Suffolk County champions, East Islip, with a combined 7,050 total pins. Having won the County title meant they got to represent Suffolk at States.

For the girls, East Islip claimed the New York State title for the first time since 2014, fresh off a back-to-back-to-back Suffolk County title. The girls combined for a total of 5,637 pins to defeat their opponent. East Islip led League II with an 11-1-0 record for the 2025-26 season.

Section XI

Boys & Girls Bowling ‘Let the Good Times Roll’ at State Championships

East Islip was led by a senior trio in Makayla Boyd, Brooke Anderson, and Peyton Scholl. Boyd bowled a 1,187 series, putting up three 200-plus point games in the tournament. Scholl bowled 1,016 for the series, with her best match coming in game five, bowling a 228. Andersen bowled a 1,235 for the tournament, bowling her best match in game five as she helped to erase a 100-pin deficit over her opponent.

The girls’ individual championships saw four Eastern Suffolk County bowlers place in the top six. Senior Brooke Andersen of East Islip took second, Junior Trishna Desai of Smithtown took third, Junior Kaylee Dwyer of Longwood took fourth, and Junior Meeya Leaderman of East Islip took sixth. Desai was recognized for the Sportsmanship Award at the state tournament. All four bowlers were named in Newsday’s top-20 bowlers list prior to the season.

Desai, the lone bowler for Smithtown at the State Championships, has been a strong focal point on the radar for many. In January, Desi bowled a series high 804, with all three matches coming in at 268, 279, & 257. She was averaging first in Suffolk County with a 226.6. Last season, she was part of the All-Star squad that helped win a State title representing Section XI.

Bowling is unique because it’s a mix of individual and a team-oriented sport. If one bowler isn’t doing well, it could affect the team, so relying on others to pick up the slack is sometimes needed. The Section XI bowlers representing Long Island at the NYS championships made sure nothing got in their way, learning from their mistakes, growing as the tournament progressed, and eventually coming out on top.

Congratulations to the Commack boys and the East Islip girls’ teams for winning their respective State championships! Congratulations are also in order to those who qualified and competed in the tournament and bowled well. Thursday, March 19, 2026

St. Anthony’s Boys Hockey Wins Long Island Championship

By Ashley Pavlakis

The Messenger’s exploration of Huntington is relatively new, but the St. Anthony’s boys’ varsity ice hockey team’s dominance is not. The Friars continued to rack up wins and claim titles this year, securing the Suffolk and Long Island championships.

The St. Anthony’s Friars are members of the Suffolk County High School Hockey League (SCHSHL) and compete at the varsity level. The Friars are led by head coach Robert Lund, who is joined by assistant coaches Joe DeLuca and Alex Lund. In 25 games played, St. Anthony’s boasted a 20-4-1 record this season.

The Friars have been a powerhouse for high school hockey on Long Island for a while now. Anyone who gets to the Rinx in Hauppauge to watch the SCHSHL knows this. Surprisingly, they were not the first-place team in the standings this year. The Smithtown/Hauppauge Bulls claimed that spot. That little tidbit didn’t matter to the Friars, though; they claimed what was theirs, and that was the Suffolk County title.

Back in February, the Bulls and the Friars competed in a three-game series for the county championship. The Friars won game one 6-5 in a shootout, and the Bulls took game two 2-1 in regulation. A decisive game three was on the docket for these two teams, who are well acquainted with one another. The Friars emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, becoming Suffolk back-to-back County champions.

With the Suffolk County title under their belt, they had a chance to compete for more. The winner of the Nassau title saw Long Beach beat Bellmore/Merrick, and with that, the Long Island title matchup was set.

The 2nd annual Long Island championship took place locally, at Northwell Health

Ice Center in East Meadow, home of the New York Islanders (practice facility) and the LIU Sharks women’s & men’s hockey teams. Puck drop was at 4:00p.m. on Saturday afternoon, and both teams had a solid three weeks of practice leading up to this matchup.

The Friars and Marines put on a close game, with the score being neck-and-neck. Ultimately, St. Anthony’s emerged as the kings of Long Island, winning the Long Island championship by the score of 3-2. The goal scorers for St. Anthony’s were Thomas Azzariti (2) and Christian Buttacavoli.

This season, the Friars saw most of its offensive output come from four players: Cameron Kalberer, Anthony Cutalo, Zack Sirel, and Thomas Azzariti. This core four has claimed spots 4-7 in the SCHSHL top-10 scoring list for the 2025-26 season. Kalberer went 31g-29a-60pts, Cutalo went 22g-20a-42pts, Sirel went 25g-17a-42pts, and Azzariti went 27g-14a-41pts. Kalberer was the first player to reach the 50-point mark this season.

Prior to the LI championship game, St. Anthony’s and Long Beach were both invited and honored at UBS Arena at the New York Islanders game Friday night versus the LA Kings. Midway through the first period, the two teams were recognized on the jumbotron for winning their respective county titles. The fans wished them luck for their game taking place the next day.

Congratulations to the St. Anthony’s Friar boys’ varsity ice hockey team for going two-for-two in title hunting this season!

By PJ Balzer

This upcoming weekend is arguably the most exciting and unpredictable time in national sports.

Men’s college basketball will give us some real and live March Madness. Full of brackets, predictions, underdogs, and Cinderella teams. Young men we’ve never heard of will rise to the national stage at prime time to showcase their basketball skills. Colleges we’ve never heard of will force us to hear of them. There will be upsets and tears, as there are every year.

This year, for the first time in a long while, Long Island is invited into all of this madness.

Hofstra University will be going to the big dance this year led by freshman point guard and Deer Park native, Preston Edmead. For the first time since 2001, Hofstra has won the ACC under the leadership of Coach Speedy Claxton. Claxton, a Hempstead native,

A Family That Wins Together March Madness Floods Long Island

By PJ Balzer

led Hofstra to the NCAA tournament as a player a little over two decades ago. Now, he leads them to the tournament as the head coach, and it has Long Island buzzing. Hofstra (#13 seed) will take on Alabama (#4 seed) on Friday in Tampa.

Hofstra isn’t the only team invited to the “big dance.”

Long Island University (LIU) will be playing in the NCAA tournament for the first under head coach Rod Strickland. Strickland was an All-NBA point guard and a member of the New York City basketball Hall of Fame. The LIU sharks received their ticket to dance after winning their league (NEC) this season, in defeating Mercyhurst college in the championship game. They are placed at the #16 seed and will be taking on the top seeded Arizona Wildcats this Friday afternoon (March 20). Check your local listings for exact game times.

Every sports program has its ebbs and flows, high points and lows - times of behind-the-scenes hard work being put in where no one else notices, often followed by times of public victory, recognition, and praise.

There is also a specific sentiment, a feeling to every programsomething you notice being inside gym and around the team, something that stands out watching the players interact with each other and with their coaches, on and off the court.

When Will Slinkosky was tapped as the William Floyd varsity boys’ basketball program in 2021-2022. With a new ship captain, there were some new waters to head towards. There were some new things to be implemented or old things to be re-instated.

“When we took over, we implemented a family setting and the family is working together for a common goal,” said Slinkosky. The young coach realized that the family unit all clothed in green and white had to be knitted close together. The wins would follow.

Second was the structure of the family. Floyd players must exemplify discipline, dedication, and a behavioral standard in school and present themselves well. Punctuality is important as is accountability and respect for themselves and peers.

“We have a ‘we before me’ policy, as well as an open-door family feeling. The kids can ask us questions they may have and we do our best to answer them or get the resources to do so,” said Slinkosky. A two-way dialogue between coaches and players is important within this family.

The last, but certainly not least, is the main ingredient that holds the rest together. Love that forms a trust.

“This program is based off family principals and one of them is love. We tell the kids we love them because we do, as if they were our own children,” said Slinkosky.

William Floyd Basketball, which had seen some real glory days under renowned coach Bob Hodgson, Sr., hit a low a few years after Hodgson’s sudden passing alongside some instability within the

program. The team became one that opposing teams would see as an automatic win. Slinkosky and his hard-working assistants set out to change that, attempting to resurrect the name on the front their jerseys that once held weight and reverence in every gym in Suffolk County. Five years later, teams now see Floyd on their schedule and prepare for a dog fight to the final buzzer.

Since picking up the Colonials’ clipboard, the results can simply speak for themselves. The first season of 2021-2022, Floyd started to compete, win games, and the home gym slowly came back alive with excited fans. By playoff time, the boys in green and white had people talking about them again, starting with the fact that they made the playoff bracket for the first time in years. They were no longer a team to sneer at on the schedule. Floyd was for real.

In the first five seasons with Coach “Slink” at the helm, the Colonials have a 61-9 league record and 87-24 overall record. They have completely dominated Suffolk County’s League One, winning four league championships and posting a 53-game winning streak in league play. Both of these feats are now carved into the record books at Floyd. The Colonials have posted an undefeated season (20-0), have appeared in the playoffs each of the past five years and this past year appeared as the overall one seed in the county, still fighting for, and with eyes on, the first county title since 2012.

Eleven of his players over the past five seasons have been recruited to play college basketball, with five of them actively playing at the next level. Three players from this graduating class are currently being recruited by college coaches. Slinkosky couldn’t be prouder of each individual player, young men who are set to succeed on and off the court.

“Our family at Floyd has something to play for, something that drives us beyond ourselves and beyond the sport,” said Slinkosky. “We lost a major part of our family along the journey of the past few years, Coach Darrell Sumpter. We are playing and succeeding with him and his tremendous dedication to this school always in mind.”

Bay Shore Celebrates St. Patrick’s Day

By Madison Warren

One of the many St. Patrick’s Day parades that took place on Long Island this weekend was in the town of Bay Shore, starting at Saxon Ave as it headed down Main Street. Local leaders, small businesses, and performances were cheered on by all of the residents of the Bay Shore community to celebrate the Irish heritage.

Some fan favorites we saw marching down the street were the Long Island Ducks mascot, AMVETS Post 18, TowBoat USA, and the Grand Marshal of the parade, Denise Gibson.

This year has felt especially significant in the Town of Bay Shore, as a wave of changes has continued to reshape the downtown area. The community is steadily evolving into a mixed-use hub, with newly built rental apartments, a growing restaurant scene, and modern retail concepts contributing to its transformation. The Shoregate complex near the train station opened this past year, bringing 418 luxury apartments to the area and further driving foot traffic into downtown.

New dining destinations such as Bar Lucy, Roadtrip, Magnolia’s, and Dark Horse have added to the energy along Main Street, alongside the expansion of local favorites like Kismet Coffee and Roto Café. Looking ahead, one of the most anticipated developments is the relocation of Verde, which is set to move into a larger space featuring a rooftop bar, a first-of-its-kind addition that many in the community are eager to experience.

Local long-time staples like Nalu Dry Goods, Coastal Kitchen, Changing Times, and Willy Nilly have helped shape downtown Bay Shore’s identity, offering a mix of retail, dining, and nightlife that has stood the test of time. These established businesses provide a sense of familiarity and consistency, giving both longtime residents and new visitors a reason to keep returning to the strip time and time again, even as new developments continue to emerge around them.

Altogether, the St. Patrick’s Day parade served as more than just a celebration of Irish heritage; it was a reflection of a community that continues to grow while staying true to its roots. As new developments bring fresh energy to downtown Bay Shore, events like these highlight the strong sense of pride and connection that remains at the heart of the town. Whether welcoming new businesses or supporting longtime favorites, Bay Shore continues to strike a balance between progress and tradition, making it a place residents are proud to call home.