Where To Find Us
ADVERTISE
YOUR
BUSINESS
HERE
Page 22
Email publisher@ messengerpapers.com
Thursday, September 4, 2025 ~ Volume 70 ~ Issue Number 46 ~ $1.00
Suffolk County
Goes Purple By Matt Meduri
Carole Trottere speaks of stigmas of opioid addiction (Credit - Matt Meduri)
The modern era has brought a scourge of designer drugs and networks that proliferate them at break-neck speeds, signalling leaders and officials to encourage an all-hands-ondeck approach to help stem overdoses. “We know that drug addiction is a disease. We have to begin to treat it like a disease. And we’ve got to look not only for prevention and education, but also treatment. People can’t overcome their addiction with appropriate treatment, and it’s very, very difficult,” said County Executive Ed Romaine (R-Center Moriches) last week at the H. Lee Dennison Building in Hauppauge. Romaine added that drug abuse not only harms the immediate victims, but can leave a lifelong impact on families and communities. Continued on page 4
An Ongoing Debate for Connetquot: Thunderbirds or T-birds? By Madison Warren
Last week, right before the Labor Day weekend kicked off, the Connetquot School Board meeting was held at OakdaleBohemia Middle School to discuss the ongoing consideration of their mascot name being shortened from “Thunderbirds” to “T-birds.” A controversial topic within the district, parents, alumni, staff members, local Native American tribe members, and even some students attended the meeting, hoping to move closer to a resolution.
Continued on page 10
Credit - Madison Warren
FULL STORIES ON:
Carpenter’s Corner Page 3
Aldi Opens in Lake Ronkonkoma Page 8
Hauppauge Secures Bond Upgrades Page 15