Smithtown Messenger Archive Apr. 9, 2026

Heuermann Pleads Guilty in Gilgo Beach Case

By Madison Warren

Perhaps the most historic criminal development in Long Island’s history reached a close on Wednesday, as Rex Heuermann, 62, of Massapequa Park, pled guilty to murdering eight women over a period of over thirty years.

District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) announced that Heuermann pled guilty to three counts of murder in the First Degree and four counts of murder in the Second Degree. As part of his allocution, he also publicly admitted to killing an eighth victim, Karen Vergata.

Continued on page 5

Two Havens Wins Gold for Best Stout in NY

By Madison Warren

Two Havens Brewing Company, Smithtown’s first and only brewery, has earned gold in the Best Stout category at the annual New York State Brewers Association (NYSBA) competition in Albany.

The competition highlights more than 500 breweries, microbreweries, farm breweries, brewpubs, and brewing-related businesses across the state, all of which are part of NYSBA’s mission to support and protect New York’s craft beer industry through advocacy, education, and promotion.

With dozens of categories in the competition, Two Havens faced stiff competition, going up against 35 other breweries in the Best Stout category. Owner Dave Okenshorn said the brewery’s first beer was brewed in 2023, and while they have continued to grow and improve since then, the win came as a surprise. With New York State home to some of the best brewers in the country, the recognition underscores the significance of the achievement.

Continued on page 10

SPRING EVENTS

Opera Night, Long Island at Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Huntington

April 10, 7:30 PM to 9:15 PM

Parsons Dance Company at Staller Center for the Arts, Stony Brook

April 11, 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM

2026 Trout Unlimited Fly Casting Clinic at Connetquot River State Park, Oakdale

April 11, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Comedy Night at the Seaport Diner at Seaport Diner Pt. Jefferson Station

April 12, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Selden Spring Craft Fair at Newfield High School, Selden

April 18, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Community Yard Sale & Antiques at Olish Farms, Eastport, April 18 & 19, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Kiwanis Rocks! Car Show at Mamma Santina Pizzaeria

April 19, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM

Sunday Funday: Earth Day is Every Day at Sweetbriar Nature Center, Smithtown

April 19, 1:00 PM

Wardenclyffe Science Pub at Blue Point Brewery, Patchogue

April 22, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM

Books and Bites at Fire Island Vines Bay Shore

April 24, 6:00 PM to 9:30 PM

BAFFA’s Annual Juried Student Art Exhibit at BAFFA Art Gallery, Sayville

April 25, 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM

Superhero Strong- Self Control Class with GoYo Creative at Chance to Dance East Setauket

April 25, 10:00 AM to 10:45 AM

Andrew C. DeMarco

Foundation and Tiny Songbirds Fundraiser at Islip Terrace Fire Department

April 25, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM

(631) 269-6421

HAUPPAUGE:

Paper Wreath- April 22, 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Teen Game Night - Mario Kart- April 24, 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM

COMMACK:

Thursday Movie of the Week - Ghostlight - April 24, 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM

NESCONSET:

Garden in a Jar - Silly Cress Heads- April 11, 3:00 PM to 3:45 PM

How Does Your Garden Grow?- April 16, 2:00 PM to 3:15 PM

KINGS PARK:

DIY Clothespin People- April 10, 10:30 AM to 11:15 AM

Cricut Crafts - Spring Stencil Art- April 15, 5:00 PM to 5:45 PM

SACHEM:

Weather Wonders Storycraft - - April 16, 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM

Book Time with a Dog (Grades 1-5) - April 16, 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM

SMITHTOWN:

Make It Monday- April 20, 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM

Suffolk Matters

County Increases E-Bike Enforcement

By Madison Warren

Back in December, The Messenger spoke with Suffolk County Legislator Chad Lennon (C-Rocky Point) (pictured right) about the growing concerns surrounding the rise of e-bikes in Suffolk County.

At the time, he emphasized the importance of passing I.R. 1835 and I.R. 1836 to help ensure the safety of both e-bike users and other drivers on the road. This week, he reaffirmed his support for the legislation and shared updated insights on the issue.

Lennon has continued to raise concerns about unsafe e-bike use not just across his district, but across Suffolk County, pointing to riders traveling at high speeds, weaving through traffic, and often operating without helmets. He also noted that the near-silent nature of many e-bikes makes it difficult for drivers to hear them approaching, creating added risks on busy roadways.

Under New York State law, e-bike riders must be at least 16 years old, and e-bikes are divided into classes with specific speed limits and rules governing where they can be operated. While helmets are required for certain riders

and classes, Lennon said many of these regulations are not widely understood by the public.

He emphasized that a lack of awareness, even among parents, has contributed to the issue, prompting him to distribute informational materials to local school districts outlining current laws and safety guidelines.

In response, the proposed legislation aims to strengthen existing regulations by limiting where e-bikes and scooters can be used, reinforcing helmet and age requirements, and increasing penalties for reckless behavior, including higher fines and possible impoundment for repeat offenses. Parents or guardians of underage riders would also be held accountable.

throughout the district. He described witnessing multiple dangerous situations firsthand, including kids weaving in and out of traffic along NY-25A, an adult performing a wheelie while traveling against traffic, and a child riding uphill in the dark, nearly impossible to see. In addition, his office has received numerous complaints about young riders harassing residents.

“My biggest concern in someone will be killed on an e-bike. We have heard from several medical professionals the increase in people, especially children, with head injuries related to e-bike operation,” Lennon told The Messenger

addresses that gap by giving law enforcement the authority to impound e-bikes when violations occur. Regulations surrounding e-bike classifications, speed limits, and general operation remain under New York State law.

Enforcement is already underway, with several e-bikes having been impounded in recent weeks. Lennon said his office has received multiple calls regarding these actions, highlighting both the increased enforcement and a general lack of public awareness. Lennon emphasized the importance of making sure residents are aware of the laws and potential penalties. The goal, he said, is to ensure the public understands the rules and consequences moving forward, rather than being caught off guard by enforcement measures.

Lennon said his biggest concern remains the safety of children

Lennon explained that while both New York State and Suffolk County previously had laws in place regarding e-bike use, there was little ability to enforce them effectively. The recently-passed County legislation

Lennon said he will continue working to address the issue by pushing for stronger awareness and accountability, stressing that the goal is to prevent a tragedy before it happens. He urged residents and families to take the laws seriously and be mindful of how e-bikes are being used, emphasizing that safety must come first for everyone on the road.

Continued from front cover

Heuermann Pleads Guilty in Gilgo Beach Case

Since the mid-1990s, the swirlings of the “Gilgo Killer” have been in headlines, when women, primarily sex workers, began to go missing. In 1993, Sandra Costilla disappeared; in 1996, Karen Vergata; in 2000, Valerie Mack; in 2003, Jessica Taylor; in 2007, Maureen Brainard-Barnes; in 2009, Melissa Barthelemy; in 2009, Megan Waterman; and in 2010, Amber Lynn Costello. Then in 2010, Shannan Gilbert disappeared in Oak Beach after calling 911, which created a larger buzz on where these missing women had gone and prompted a large-scale search.

During the search for Gilbert, police discovered the remains of four women along Ocean Parkway, which led to what is now known as the “Gilgo Four.” From there, Suffolk Police collected remains around the same area, and the number of victims grew to over ten individuals, including unidentified remains.

This is where national attention grew as Suffolk Police continued the case but made little progress. In 2022, we saw a new multi-agency task force on the case using new technology, phone data, and digital forensics that hadn’t been brought to the case yet, which people saw as a turning point.

This new task force, led by D.A. Tierney, returned to the beginning to review all the evidence. At this point, cell phone data became critical, as one of the biggest breakthroughs came from the victim, Melissa Barthelemy, analyzing a burner phone. Patterns of the burner’s phone were tracked between locations, Massapequa Park and Midtown Manhattan.

Through phone data analysis, key witness accounts, advanced digital and forensic techniques, surveillance, DNA collection, and coordinated multi-agency efforts, the arrest of Heuermann in Manhattan in July 2023 was made possible. He was arrested

originally for the victims Barthelemy, Waterman, and Costello, but Brainard-Barnes was later added.

After over two decades, justice has finally been served for the victims’ families.

On the First Degree Murder charges, Heuermann faces life in prison without the possibility of parole for each charge, applying to Barthelemy, Waterman, and Costello. For the Second Degree Murder charges, he faces twenty-five years to life for each charge, applying to Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Jessica Taylor, Valerick Mack, and Sandra Costilla. In the case of Karen Vergata, a plea deal was struck to have the charges for her murder covered by the previous charges.

“This man [Heuermann] walked among us, acting as a normal suburban dad, when in reality, all along, he was obsessively targeting innocent women for death,” said Tierney at the Brentwood Campus of Suffolk Community College, flanked by dozens of law enforcement and prosecutorial personnel to his left, and family members of the victims to his right.

“Ultimately, this case is really about these victims and their stories; it’s not about the defendant,” said Tierney. “We have a lot to be thankful for despite these emotions.”

Tierney expressed his gratitude to the families who began working with him when he was a federal prosecutor before his 2021 election as Suffolk District Attorney. Federal, state, and local law enforcement partners and investigators have worked tirelessly for close to fifteen years when all evidence is considered.

Among many Tierney specifically named was Clyde Wells, a forensic scientists of the Suffolk County Crime Lab who collected the hairs from the victims in the case and pushed for

mitochondrial and DNA testing - two elements that not only solidified the prosecution’s case but allow Gilgo Beach to serve as a pioneer in state and national case law regarding avant garde forensic technology.

“This case closes and another one opens, and there are still bodies on that beach,” said Tierney, as several more victims remain either unlinked to a suspect or unidentified altogether. “There’s no rest for the weary. We are going to continue to work with our partners and try to obtain closure for as many families as we can.”

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina minced no words with his characterization of the Gilgo Beach serial killer.

“Today, he was exposed for exactly what he is: a sadistic, soulless, murderous monster,” said Catalina.

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol Toulon (D) expressed his thanks to his staff for “uproot[ing] an entire jail

security system to accommodate an individual of this magnitude.”

Heuermann has been housed in Riverhead and will remain there until he is sentenced.

Attorney Gloria Allred (pictured left), who has represented the victims’ families, said that the women turned to sex work to provide for their families.

“It wasn’t what they wanted to do, but it was what they felt forced to do, because they had no meaningful alternatives,” said Allred, accusing Heuermann of only caring for himself and “executing what he thought was his perfect blueprint for murder.”

Allred then called up the families of each victim to verbally accept the plea deal. All families were enthusiastic and relieved to see their nightmare finally reach its end. Maureen BrainardBarnes’ daughter, Nicolette, and son, Dylan, accepted the plea on behalf of their mother.

“Today, it’s not about the person responsible. Today, it’s about the women’s lives who were stolen. It’s about their voices, their future, and their families. the love that still surrounds them,” said Melissa “Missy” Cann, who added she’s lived for nineteen years in the “space between heartbreak and hope.”

Cann spoke to her sister directly, “Through every year, every setback, every unanswered question, I carried you with me, and I kept that promise. And today, it has been done. Justice has finally found its way to you. Your voice was never silenced, your story never forgotten, and your life will always mean more than the tragedy that took you.”

Tierney added that Heuermann decided to plead guilty to spare the victims’ families the “ordeal” of having to endure a trial.

Heuermann is due back in court for sentencing on June 17.

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Bail Reform, Chelsey’s Law, XylazineA Furious Cocktail Albany Must Water Down

One of this week’s stories covers a Selden man indicted for allegedly operating as a narcotics trafficker. He allegedly sold fentanyl to two East Patchogue brothers, one of whom overdosed, with the other miraculously surviving. Not only that, he allegedly possessed enough fentanyl to kill over 2 million people.

For reference, Suffolk County has a population of about 1.55 million. Our coverage area of Smithtown, Brookhaven, and Islip has about 950,000 residents.

But this isn’t just about what was stopped and just how many lives were potentially saved by the swift actions of the Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) and the District Attorney’s Office. It’s about the cracks in the State’s system that quickly widen into chasms with cases like these.

This Selden case unfortunately dovetails perennial problems that are nearly impossible to remove either directly or indirectly from any Suffolk resident at this point. We have all either been affected by the epidemic or have known someone who was unfortunately claimed by drug dealers. While we recognize that substance abuse is a legitimate issue, we take care to note that some reckless drivers and repeat offenders are degenerate addicts who simply have no place in a civilized society.

We can blame the careless addicts and the money-hungry dealers all we want. The reality is, if our State Legislature was run by people with a modicum of realism, these instances can be dramatically decreased.

Let’s start with bail reform, the great punching bag of the saner parts of New York since its unfortunate passage in 2019. D.A. Ray Tierney (R) and company had to do significant legwork to indict the defendant with Operating as a Major Narcotics Trafficker. Thankfully, their efforts were not in vain, but only to ensure that he could be held on bail, as selling cocaine to an undercover office is curiously not a bail eligible offense in the great state of New York.

That doesn’t undo the harm the defendant already allegedly committed, nor does it immediately remedy the fact that he allegedly had a warehouse of illicit substances and weapons in Selden, but that required legwork does make it invariably more difficult to get lesser defendants off the streets. Moreover, it makes pinning down alleged kingpins like the Selden man, who is facing 15 to life, much more cumbersome than it should be.

Innocent until proven guilty, of course, but any self-respecting Legislature shouldn’t impede these efforts.

Since 2023, Republicans in the New York State Legislature have regularly lobbied

to get Chelsey’s Law passed. Named after Chelsey Murray, a Suffolk resident who overdosed from a fentanyl cocktail, the bill would charge dealers with manslaughter or aggravated manslaughter if they knowingly sell substances that are likely to result in a consumer’s death. Since then, more Democrats have climbed aboard. In 2025, Assemblymembers Jarret Gandolfo (R-Sayville), Joe DeStefano (R-Medford), Ketih Brown (R-Northport), Tommy John Schiavoni (D-North Haven), Rebecca Kassay (D-Port Jefferson), and Steven Stern (D-Dix Hills) were just some Suffolk delegates to co-sponsor this bill. Stern deserves the credit for bringing it to the floor and we commend all involved for recognizing a good idea when they see one.

Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) is carrying the Senate version of the bill, followed by Senators Mario Mattera (R-St. James), Alexis Weik (R-Sayville), and Dean Murray (R-East Patchogue).

Why has Albany, led in trifecta-form by Democrats, refused to bring this bill to a vote? Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Hamburg) can easily slip this bill into her bloated Executive Budgets, so why won’t she? It’s not a controversial law, and even if there is some legal gray area in terms of “knowingly” selling lethal substances, we’re not inclined to give drug dealers the benefit of the doubt, frankly.

Even so, those technicalities can be ironed out. In our view, there’s no excuse to not pass such a commonsense bill.

Finally, we arrive at Xylazine, a cattle sedative that has been appropriated by dealers to cut their products and inflate their profit margins, as well as enhance effects of fentanyl and other opioids. Known as “tranq” on the streets, Xylazine’s usage by some folks would almost be comical - again, cattle sedative - if the effects weren’t so bleak. Moreover, Xylazine’s overdose effects cannot be reserved by NARCAN.

Albany should absolutely make this drug illegal to possess. In Suffolk County, save for parts of the East End, if you come into contact with Xylazine, odds are it’s probably being used with opioids. We understand there could be some more red tape wrapped around its legitimate uses, but we don’t think that that would be rocket surgery in ameliorating.

Governor Hochul and our Democratic legislature could take advantage of this extended budget season to present some commonsense changes that will fill cracks in the system and save lives.

Will they douse the furious cocktail, or will they light it ablaze and toss it to the suburbs?

Empty Chairs, Empty Main

Over the last couple weeks, the hamlet of Centereach has seen a vibrant discussion over a proposal to build a legal cannabis dispensary in the shopping center on Middle Country Road (NY-25) just west of the interchange with Nicolls Highway (CR-97).

Nestled in the heart of the Middle Country region, Centereach, revered as it is by its residents, is also understood to be something of “pass-through” country in Suffolk County. Nonetheless, they take pride in their hamlet and currently find that things are on the up for the first time in a while.

When the discussion turned to a cannabis dispensary, it naturally sparked a heated debate - no pun intended. The Town of Brookhaven has seen several legal dispensaries - not grimy smoke shops that get raided every quarter or so - pop up over the last few years.

Brookhaven Town Councilman Neil Manzella (R-Selden) led the discussion, we think, pragmatically and as objectively as possible. The debate also delivered him his most interacted-with social media post, with hundreds of comments, likes, and shares. Some expected a rather large public hearing at Town Hall last Thursday evening.

However, only a baker’s dozen showed. Minus one of The Messenger’s reporters, only Councilman Manzella, the developer, a few civic association leaders, and a separate, private citizen were on hand.

It was a starkly noticeable curveball to those in attendance, including us. We thought it would be a spirited meeting for a hot-button issue in Centereach, but Town Hall’s ample seating options weren’t even remotely filled. We will give some benefit of the doubt in that the rejection of the dispensary proposal had already been publicized, but we’ve seen other meetings with determined or foregone conclusions draw sizable crowds.

Streets

Then again, it was at 6:00p.m. on a weekday. Not terribly late, and most people are out of work by then. No classic “2:00p.m. board meeting” excuse to be found here.

Meanwhile, Centereach will have to continue on with another empty store front on their de facto Main Street. The legal, clean, and “normal” establishment in a cannabis dispensary pushes out the seedy smoke shops we’ve all come to abhor. That proposal was pushed out, primarily due to personal objections to cannabis use.

While the people still have their right to speak, what’s the ultimate cost? The reality is, there’s an awful lot of red tape preventing a legal dispensary from opening, but there’s virtually nothing stopping an illegal smoke shop that’s difficult to exterminate, is an eyesore in the neighborhood, and sells questionable, if not strictly illicit products.

And once again, doesn’t Centereach deserve a downtown too?

We implore the public to show up to meetings, not just voice opinions online. Both are important, but one makes a much bolder statement. Not only do largescale attendances send more of a message - regardless of whether it’s heeded - but it demonstrates the true value of the issue at hand. If it got someone out of the house, it’s highly likely the issue is taken seriously.

And instead of merely rejecting, we respectfully urge the public to suggest alternatives. Saying “no” to change is almost always the easiest option. Plus, listening to each other in person is much easier and better than scrolling through a comments section.

We urge residents across our townships of coverage to get more involved and more forward-thinking, doing their best to put aside personal prerogatives. Fill the seats and maybe the Main Streets will follow.

By Mike Simonelli

Angry Mob: Wrong Then, Wrong Now

Nearly 2,000 years ago, Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judea, gave the citizens a choice. They could save one man’s life while condemning the other to certain death. Imprisoned and awaiting his sentence was Barabbas, a criminal and rebel “who had committed murder in the insurrection” against the Romans. Betrayed by his disciple Judas for a handful of silver, Jesus was a “religious teacher and faith healer” –a man of peace who had lived without sin and been observed performing dozens of miracles.

Jesus had a large following of disciples and believers by then. His legendary feats, including restoring sight to a blind man, bringing a widow’s son and a synagogue leader’s daughter back from the dead, and feeding thousands of people with just a handful of fish, had been marveled at by many. But that day in the courtyard, Jesus’ followers were either absent or cowered into silence by the angry mob dominating the scene.

An angry mob that was fueled by the Chief Priests and Pharisees, who feared Jesus and saw him as a threat to their fiefdom. To maintain their power, these supposed men of God manipulated the crowd to demand the execution of his only Son. Their actions crucified an innocent who had shown pure love for his fellow man and freed a “notorious prisoner” who had murdered, rebelled against, and robbed his fellow man.

While there is no modern-day equivalent of Jesus, the same angry mob exists, as do the same hypocritical, self-serving leaders, and they are again choosing evil over good.

From perpetuating the Ferguson lie of “Hands Up, Don’t Shoot”, to falsely claiming Border Patrol Agents on horseback whipped Haitian migrants with their reins, to comparing ICE agents to Nazis and fascists, Democratic leaders consistently feed into the angry mobs’ fury against our nation’s law enforcement officers (LEOs). Financed by anti-American billionaires George Soros and Neville Singham, that angry mob is also well-funded and organized as it sows chaos during its march toward socialism and communism.

The angry mob spat on Jesus as he dragged His cross up the hill. That same mob spits on (and throws cement blocks at) our LEOs as they carry out their official duties.

The angry mob freed a murderer. That same mob celebrates the release of copkillers (47 in the past 9 years in NY) and makes celebrities out of violent criminals and murderers such as Ferguson’s Michael Brown, Boston Marathon Bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and UnitedHealthcare CEO assassin Luigi Mangione.

Today’s angry mob cried out in support for …

• Drag queen story time in libraries, boys in girls’ locker rooms, and mutilating

confused children;

• Releasing MS-13 gang-member, wife abuser, illegal alien Kilmar Abrego Garcia;

• Domestic terrorist Renee Good, who tried to run over an ICE agent;

Today’s angry mob cried out against…

• Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson for justifiably defending himself;

• Former Marine Daniel Penny for trying to protect fellow riders from a violent, emotionally disturbed man on the subway;

• Israel for defending itself after the October 7 Palestinian Islamic Terror attack, in which over 1,200 of its citizens were murdered and hundreds kidnapped.

Today’s mob remains remarkably silent for…

• The 50+ LEOs feloniously murdered in the line of duty each year, including NYPD PO Jonathan Diller whose cold-blooded killer was just found not guilty of first-degree murder by a NYC jury despite clear video evidence of the crime.

• Laken Riley, Sheridan Gorman, and the many innocent American victims of illegal aliens

• Daily victims of recidivist criminals, the latest of which includes 7-month-old Kaori Patterson-Moore killed during a drive-by shooting in Brooklyn.

Today’s angry mob uses intimidation and violence to defund the police, protect the criminals, push radical trans ideology, silence the majority, and scapegoat anyone with a contrasting point of view. They are loud and committed, but they are neither right nor righteous. It was foretold in the scriptures that Jesus would rise again, but if America falls, it has no such guarantee.

More likely, cowering to the mob’s demands will result in America meeting the same miserable fate of other countries taken over by socialism, communism, and Islamism. All the while, the angry mob will be cheering, and the majority will remain silent until they find themselves rationing food as in Cuba, eating zoo animals to survive as they did in Venezuela, or watching their youth be executed after sham government trials as in Iran.

Recognizing his mistake, Judas tried to return the silver and ended up committing suicide when he realized it was too late. In their silent complicity, Americans are committing civilizational suicide, and only God knows if they will realize their mistake before it is too late.

Mike Simonelli is a retired U.S. Army officer, retired police officer, and author of Justified Deadly Force and the Myth of Systemic Racism.

Letters to the Editor

Better than a Rally

Dear Editor,

The No More Kings rally in Greenport, Riverhead, and across this great land was attended by over 3 million people, but it will soon be forgotten as it was too short-lived.

What is really needed to wake up the executive branch of our government is a sustained rally, a prolonged siege. Our founding fathers did just that after they had had it with King George’s taxes and suppression. The thirteen independent colonies chose to form a more perfect union. Those congresses they held supported an army of local countrymen, and after it was shown to be effective against one of the most powerful armies in the world at Breed’s Hill, they supported it.

Congress drafted and upheld a written document that defines our government as a constitutional republic. Thomas Paine emphasized this in his pamphlet called Common Sense. 150,000 copies were sold, convincing the average American to understand the great cause of freedom from an autocrat. We need a string of marches and boycotts that make a real difference. We have had a lot of those types of successful pushbacks against wrongful government and businesses. They have made the politicians and their rich backers pay attention to us, the constituents.

Most politicians do not know the meaning of the word “constituent.” We need to boycott until it hurts to effect change. Looking at past boycotts will help us to understand their powers.

In 1760, the Boston Tea Party, in 1956, the Montgomery, Alabama, bus boycott, and in 1965, the United Farm Workers produce boycott. From 1966 to 1972, the NAACP boycotted white-owned businesses, the Nestle boycott 1974-1984, the Starbucks Boycott over holiday cups during 20052007, the Twitter/X boycott in 2023, the Tesla boycott 2025, the Bud Light Boycott 2023, and the list keeps growing. My good friend is boycotting Amazon; he buys from Etsy, eBay, or Wayfair.

If you want to make a difference, let’s all do as my friend did: boycott Amazon.

Let’s start today. I urge you to pick a company like Amazon that supports the federal government and its various agencies, such as ICE. If enough of us do that, there will be a difference.

Sincerely,

Joel

Reitman

Peconic

Still No Kings!

Dear Editor,

I am pleased to report that the many who spent their weekends protesting seemed to have done their jobs.

America is king-free!

But seriously, even if we’re not all in support of what the president or our congress is doing, doesn’t it seem odd that the left will hold a “No Kings” protest when they barely cared about Kamala Harris being coronated with the nomination in 2024? Doesn’t it seem odd that they’re protesting law enforcement procedures that Democrats still in Congress once agreed with, but only became a problem when Trump became president? Even Democrats were able to shut down the government for over a month last year, despite being the minority party. I don’t see any kings here…

No one can take these protests seriously when it seems like they don’t even know what they’re protesting.

Let’s not protest things that don’t exist – such as a king in America. Let’s protest the individual issues and strike common ground.

Sincerely,

Lou S. Mastic Beach

Lake Ronkonkoma Community Raises Concerns Over Fireworks Show

By Matt Meduri

As preparations are well underway for the America 250th event this summer, Lake Ronkonkoma is currently toiling over a separate display set for Memorial Day Weekend that has raised concerns from community members.

The initiative sponsored by Suffolk County Legislator Trish Bergin (R-East Islip) is set to include a fireworks show over the lake in what the Legislator describes as the revival of an age-old community tradition, as well as using funds that would otherwise be left on the table.

However, members of the community don’t agree and environmentalists, animal welfare experts, and Veterans organizations are raising concerns.

On Eagle’s Wings

The primary point of concern is the welfare of newly-spotted eagles that are nesting around the lake. Environmentalists’ findings not only point to a healthier lake that is slowly being remediated, but also a semi-rare spectacle in central Suffolk that has become a treat to the average passerby.

John DiLeonardo, founder and Executive Director of Humane Long Island, said that eagles, among other species around the lake, have capture myopathy, a non-infectious disease brought on by extreme stress, fear, or panic. It can cause severe muscle damage, heart failure, kidney failure, paralysis, or even death.

“These are things we deal with after fireworks every single year, New Year’s and the Fourth of July,” DiLeonardo told The Messenger. “Thankfully, it’s not something we deal with on Memorial Day because it’s not historically celebrated with fireworks.”

“The biggest problem in the lake is there’s only oxygen in the first eight feet of water. All the rest down to 65 feet has no oxygen whatsoever,” Legislator Kennedy told The Messenger. “That’s what keeps the fish and turtles alive, and we’re going to be taking away from the minimum oxygen that we have.”

Ellyn Okvist, President of the Lake Ronkonkoma Heritage Association, who has been following the eagles’ presence closely, stated concerns for the already-vulnerable eaglets who might surrender to capture myopathy or be abandoned by their parents due to the fireworks.

“What about all the other wildlife that’s been brought back and cultivated to make a home here?” Okvist told The Messenger. “Lake Ronkonkoma is a primary water body on the eastern flyway, a migratory bird route, and we got Lily Pond County Park dedicated as a nature preserve, specifically because there are hundreds of thousands of birds that are migrating. You’re going to put this fireworks show right smack in the middle of a time when they’re in the midst of their movement.”

DiLeonardo added that rescue efforts post-fireworks show would be “very difficult.”

“There’s very little you can do, just cleaning up the damage after it’s done and trying to save the orphans before they die. It would be a disaster.”

He also said that protecting the bald eagle, the symbol of the United States, would be fitting for such patriotic fervor.

Lake Ronkonkoma Improvement

For the variety of Lake Ronkonkoma civic groups, as well as Suffolk County Legislator Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset) (pictured right), restoring the lake to its former glory has been a decadeslong project. Only in October did the County announce their procurement of a Lake Keeper, a team of freshwater specialists whose sole purpose is to clean up Lake Ronkonkoma, the upper glacial layer of the County’s groundwater. Environmental studies graduate students from Columbia University have even started pitching their own ideas to improve Long Island’s largest freshwater lake.

All are concerned with the dozens of chemicals and irritants that are emitted by fireworks, especially those that fall into the water itself.

Veterans’ Affairs

Fred Tartaglione (pictured left), Commander of American Legion’s William Merritt Hallock Post #155, represents the area’s Veteransfour posts altogether - whom he says are universally opposed to the show.

“Memorial Day is a solemn day when we remember the fallen, those who came before us, those who died for the service of this country. It’s not a celebration,” Tartaglione told The Messenger “I understand the context of this being the 250th anniversary of the United States, and on July Fourth, that should be celebrated.”

Tartagilone added that it’s becoming a “flagrant disregard of the solemnness of the holiday.”

“We remember the dead; we don’t celebrate them. We honor them. There’s a difference.”

Technical Technicalities

Other members are concerned with permits and amenities for the event. Legislator Bergin stated to The Messenger that she is arranging for such features, as well as rounds of buses to shuttle spectators from the Ronkonkoma LIRR station parking lots to the lake.

“There’s one public restroom at the Lake - on the Brookhaven side. There’ll be food, no bathrooms, and people drinking,” said Carignan. “Fireworks bring alcohol. Alcohol brings trouble. Trouble just metastasizes.”

Electric trolling motors are allowed on Lake Ronkonkoma, according to the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). However, gasoline-powered motors are prohibited and boats must be launched from the DEC boat ramp off of Victory Drive. The Town of Islip would also have a say in the matter, as the Town owns the bottom of the lake. Its shores, however, are split between the towns of Smithtown, Brookhaven, and Islip, as well as Suffolk County.

“Perchlorate, copper, aluminum, barium, lead - heavy metals,” Joanne Carignan, a volunteer with the Lake Ronkonkoma Improvement Group, told The Messenger. “Perchlorate can also affect thyroid functions in organisms.”

Carignan, a thirty-year member of the commercial insurance industry, also invoked the need for an event policy, standard fare for large-scale municipal events. She also mentioned the side of Pond Road, a drop-off point for hypothetical buses, being too small to host heavy vehicular traffic.

Legislator Kennedy also noted that the Lake Ronkonkoma Advisory Board’s stance on the show was not promulgated by a vote, rather a poll of residents who were not in support due to the ramifications.

Moreover, residents around the lake are known for putting on their own shows on July Fourth, but the concerned citizens find that the cleanup, pollution, disturbance to wildlife, and difficulty for battletested Veterans are much easier to handle. Additionally, those displays are individuals lighting off fireworks in backyards, not a fully-produced show launched from barges on the lake itself.

At its end, the citizenry does not believe there is malice at play behind this proposal and they find the patriotic and nostalgic overtones well-intentioned. Instead, they attribute the discord to a lack of communication and proper planning.

They instead suggest, perhaps, a drone light show over the Lake for Flag Day, June 14. That way, the U.S. and its Veterans can be honored, the 250th celebrations can come to the area, and the community can get a taste of the past with a lights show over Lake Ronkonkoma.

This Week Today

Thursday, April 9, 2026

National, State, and Local Temperature Checks

By Matt Meduri

National

The second Trump Administration sees its second high-profile departure in Attorney General Pam Bondi (R-FL). Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche (R-NY) will serve as Acting AG until a formal successor is confirmed by the Senate.

Bondi has been perhaps the premier lightning rod in the Trump Administration, namely over the Epstein Files. The federal government’s oversight in redactions, partial release of the damning files, and failure to bring prosecutions and investigations has earned the chagrin of the broader American electorate.

President Donald Trump (R-FL) (pictured right) wrote on X that Bondi is “moving to an important private sector role I am thrilled about.”

While no pinpoint moment for her termination has been reported, sources say that Bondi’s failure to pursue legal actions against his political foes might have had a hand in it, as well the slow-burn of some high-profile litigation, American birthright citizenship for one.

“workable basis on which to negotiate.”

Republicans also regained a seat in the House of Representatives in a Tuesday night runoff.

Republican District Attorney Clayton Fuller (R) defeated retired Brigadier General Shawn Harris (D) in a runoff for GA-14, a northwestern Georgia seat that former Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene (R) had resigned in January.

Fuller won the runoff with 57% of the vote, as of press time, to Harris’ 43%. It marks a stark underperformance from Greene’s 2024 election, in which she won with nearly 75% of the vote. Trump had carried the district with 68%.

Bondi was heavily criticized for her performance in an oversight committee hearing regarding the Epstein Files, during which she deflected questions by insisting the fervor around the issue is merely a PR football kicked around to sully Trump’s name. Her comment regarding the “Dow [Jones]” being over “50,000” at that hearing Reports now indicate that former Congressman and current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administration Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley) is understood to be on the shortlist for AG. While Trump has not stated publicly how far up the list Zeldin is, reports indicate that Zeldin’s name has come up the most in backroom discussions.

The war in the Middle East wages on as both the U.S. and Iran have waffled on peace talks. Trump raised eyebrows earlier this week by threatening that a “whole civilization will die” Tuesday night if Tehran did not acquiesce to reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has rejected Trump’s ultimatums, calling them “helpless and nervous.”

However, on Tuesday evening, Trump wrote on social media that the U.S. and Iran, with Pakistan as a mediator, commit to a two-week ceasefire. He said that agreement hinges on Iran “agreeing to the complete, immediate, and safe opening of the Strait of Hormuz.” He added that all military objectives have been met and that a “definitive long-term peace plan with Iran” is “very far along.”

Trump claimed he received a ten-point proposal from Iran, which he believes is a

The special election marks the first instance since the Iran War that voters have hit the polls.

Democrats, however, took a remarkable win for themselves on Tuesday night, by flipping a conservative seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court.

Wisconsin’s top court is officially nonpartisan, but liberal judges have held a 4-3 advantage since the 2023 elections. They expanded that majority to a 5-2 majority with the election of Chris Taylor on Tuesday, defeating Maria Lazar. Taylor won with over 60% of the vote to Lazar’s 40%.

State

The Democrat-led State Senate Majority turned down a measure to cut the State income tax in the latest rounds of budget negotiations.

S.9110, sponsored by Senator Steve Rhoads (R-Bellmore), would have phased in income tax cuts over a ten-year period. Single filers earning under $50,000 and joint filers earning under $100,000 would have paid no State income tax under this proposal. The State income tax would have been lowered to 4% for single-filers earning $250,000 and joint filers earning $500,000, which sits around 6-7%.

“250 years ago, New Yorkers fought a revolution, in part, over a 6% tax on tea,” said Rhoads in a statement. “New Yorkers are fighting a revolution today as well, but this revolution is not being fought with rifles and bayonets. It’s being fought with cardboard boxes and moving vans as one New Yorker leaves this state every two minutes and twenty-three seconds to states like Texas and Florida that offer greater economic opportunities and a more competitive tax climate.”

Rhoads added that “Democratic spending” is to blame, as it has increased “over 60% under one-party rule,” and that the “last eight years are costing every man, woman, and child in New York $5,000 per year.”

“Even in the face of their failures, Senate Democrats unanimously voted against providing New Yorkers with meaningful tax relief and have left town without a budget in place,” said Rhoads.

The bill failed by a show-of-hands vote. All twenty-two Republicans of the State Senate voted in favor, but no Democrats joined their ranks.

In other state news, the criminal who murdered NYPD officer and Massapequa native Jonathan Diller two years ago was acquitted of the top count of firstdegree murder.

Diller’s, 31, murderer, Guy Rivera, 36, was instead charged with manslaughter.

Nonetheless, Diller’s family and the greater law enforcement community were stunned at the decision. Rivera shot Diller, also a father of a young child, at a traffic stop in Far Rockaway. Rivera has been billed as a “career criminal” for having twenty-one prior arrests.

Rivera faces up to 90 years in prison without parole for the four counts on which he was convicted. Had he been convicted of murder, he would have faced a maximum sentence of life without parole.

Local

Rivera was charged with manslaughter instead of murder due to the prosecution’s failure to establish beyond a reasonable doubt that Rivera intended to kill Diller.

NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said in a statement that Diller, having been “ruthlessly murdered” in the line of duty, displayed a “level of courage most could never imagine.”

“There is no greater testament to a person’s character than the way they choose to live their life, and Jonathan chose service,” said Tisch. “While I am deeply disappointed that Jonathan’s killer was not convicted of the top murder charge, I am grateful that he has been convicted on all other counts.”

For Women’s History Month, the Suffolk County’s “Ladies of the Legislature” hosted a clothing drive to collect women’s business and casual attire and accessories. The donations will be delivered to organizations across the county. Legislators Trish Bergin (R-East Islip), Stephanie Bontempi (R-Centerport), Leslie Kennedy (R-Nesconset), Rebecca Sanin (D-Huntington Station), and Ann Welker (D-North Sea) participated. Donations were collected and their district offices throughout the month of March.

“To be successful, in a job or just in life, you need to feel good about yourself,” said Kennedy, who represents the southern half of Smithtown and parts of Middle Country, in a statement. “Taking care of yourself lets you take better care of others - and we all need to care for each other. I believe my colleagues and I are making a difference.”

Legislator Bergin (pictured below), who represents a Lake-to-Bay stretch of the Town of Islip, added, “Every mother, sister, friend, and colleague should feel confident and beautiful as she embarks on a new opportunity in life. I was pleased to see the generous response from the community for our effort.”

9,

Continued from front cover

Two Havens Wins Gold for Best Stout in New York

This was not Two Havens’ first year participating in the competition. Okenshorn said that as results were announced, starting with bronze, then silver, he assumed the brewery had not placed. When Two Havens was ultimately named the gold medal winner, he said he was blown away.

Dave Okenshorn shares this win with a few others: Dave Bernstein, Jimmy Carty, Gary Carruthers, and Jeremy Strootman, all of whom make Two Havens possible, spreading their love for crafted beer across Long Island.

What set Two Havens apart in the Best Stout category was its ability to meet the key qualities judges look for in a top-tier beer. Okenshorn said entries were evaluated on factors including clarity, head and head retention, flavor, balance, aftertaste, and mouthfeel, all things, according to the judges, Two Havens excelled in.

Okenshorn said each beer recipe is carefully crafted, with a focus not only on his own preferences but also on what a wide range of customers will enjoy. He added that he enjoys experimenting with different malts, grains, and hops, as well as varying base recipes to create new flavors.

“We always try to pride ourselves on having beers that all taste different,” Okenshorn told The

Messenger. “All of our beers have different notes, whether they’re a little higher in ABV, a little more fruit-forward from the hops, a little less bitter, or a hybrid of bitterness with some sweetness, something that makes each beer stand out on its own.”

Community involvement remains a priority for the team at Two Havens, and they hope to expand those efforts in the future. The brewery has taken part in events including Taps and Talent at Sweetbriar, charity events at Old Street, Smithtown Day, and the Smithtown Fire Department’s cornhole event. Okenshorn added that much of the team is based in the Smithtown area, making it especially meaningful to operate close to home and build a brand within the community.

Looking ahead, Two Havens has plans for continued growth. Okenshorn said the brewery’s short-term goal is to keep building its brand and expand distribution to more bars, restaurants, and beverage stores. Long-term, he said, the team hopes to open a taproom/restaurant location.

As Two Havens Brewing Company continues to grow, the team remains committed to sharing its passion for handcrafted beer with the community and beyond. For more information, visit www.

twohavensbrewing.com. Congratulations to Okenshorn and the entire Two Havens team on this well-deserved recognition. Many are excited to see what they have in store next as they continue spreading their love for craft beer.

Two Havens Brewing Company is located at 320 Maple Avenue in the Maple Commons Shopping Center in Smithtown hamlet and can be reached at 631-360-8080.

Edgewood Corridor Enters Final Phase of Improvements

By Matt Meduri

Edgewood Avenue connects downtown Smithtown with the northwestern part of St. James. Features of the route include Nesaquake Middle School, Blueblinds Mansion, Borella’s Farmstand, and Whisper Vineyards.

Smithtown’s Highway Department is not only repaving the road this week, but is culminating deep infrastructure work that started last year.

“The Highway Department restructured all the storm drains, redid concrete sidewalks by Nesaquake, updated aprons, and a revitalized look altogether,” a Town spokesperson told The Messenger. “It got too cold too fast for the Highway Department to finish paving, so they’ve been waiting for the spring thaw. As of Monday, Edgewood was milled and prepped for paving.”

Edgewood’s entirety from Jericho Turnpike (NY-25) to North Country Road (NY-25A) will be “fully revitalized,” according to the Town. Landing Avenue, from the train tracks to the bridge, will also receive a “fresh, smooth surface.”

The Town’s Highway Department budget is about $31 million, which includes capital projects for the year, making it one of the bigger budgets of the Town. However, with increasing costs, the dollar just doesn’t stretch as far as it once did.

“Everything costs money. Sand, asphalt, vehicles, repairing the vehicles. Everything has significantly skyrocketed,” said the spokesperson. “You might have $1 million and that gets you one road paved. We have 490 miles of road to cover.”

The Town is grateful to Congressman Nick LaLota

(R-Amityville), who secured $5 million in a Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant for town-wide road works.

“That’s a huge help to us, considering we don’t get enough from the State,” said the spokesperson.

“Edgewood Avenue is more than just a roadway, it’s part of the daily rhythm for many in the community. From morning commutes to kids walking to school, it’s a route that many people rely on,” said Town Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) in a statement. “These improvements are about making that experience safer, more comfortable, and more dependable for everyone. Thanks to the incredible coordination between our Highway Department, led by Superintendent Robert Murphy, and our Planning, Engineering, and Environmental teams, along

with the success of our grant efforts, we’re able to deliver real results for residents while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars.”

Detours have been in place and will remain in place until the work is completed, but finalization is projected to come this weekend.

“This is about creating a roadway that works better for everyone who uses it,” said Highway Superintendent Bob Murphy (R-St. James) in a statement. “Edgewood is a welltraveled route for drivers, but it’s also a place where people walk, bike, and spend time outdoors. These improvements will make those everyday moments safer and more enjoyable, while providing a smoother, more reliable roadway for years to come.”

By Matt Meduri

House Ratings: Democrats Inch Closer to Majority

The U.S. House is home to the most dynamic political landscape of this midterm, but the overall size of the battleground has shrunk considerably over just the last few cycles. In the blue wave of 2018, Democrats picked up forty seats out of over 100 competitive districts. For 2026, the contentious landscape is about half - give or take a few seats, depending on who you ask - what it was just eight years ago.

We’re moving over a dozen seats this week as President Trump’s approval rating continues to wobble and as the states’ primaries allow the tickets to materialize.

CA-03 (Open-Kiley) - Likely D (Flip) to Safe D (Flip): This sprawling eastern California district went from a moderately Republican one to a much bluer one around the affluent, uber-liberal Lake Tahoe-Sacramento area. Two-term Congressman Kevin Kiley (R) is running as an Independent in a neighboring district.

CA-48 (Open-Issa) - Tilts D (Flip) to Leans D (Flip): This suburban San Diego seat is the last remnant of a Republican-dominated SoCal. The legendary Darrell Issa is hanging it up this year after his Trump +15 seat was gerrymandered into a Harris +3. Issa is likely the only Republican who could have threaded that needle, and while it’s still on the table for keeps, the GOP will have to work harder here to retain it.

CO-07 (Pettersen) - Likely D to Safe D: This district runs from suburban Denver down to exurban Pueblo with some ritzy ski towns and working-class communities mixed in. While this is a “reach” seat for the GOP, the environment and Colorado’s relatively new progressive lean puts this seat out of reach this year.

FL-22 (Frankel) - Likely D to Safe D: This northern Palm Beach seat has swung right in both presidential and congressional contests as of late, but while still a “reach” seat, the current environment and shocking March 24 special election results should strike immediate fear into the Florida GOP.

FL-23 (Moskowitz) - Leans D to Likely D: This Greater Miami seat includes Boca Raton and most of Fort Lauderdale. One of the lesser Democraticleaning seats in Miami, the GOP has come close to winning this seat since the 2021 Republican gerrymander and Florida’s rightward lurch has put this seat on the radar. But FL-23 remains obdurately Democratic, and this cycle probably won’t give way to a dramatically competitive race here, if any.

FL-25 (Wasserman Schultz) - Likely D to Safe D: This Broward County seat that contains Miramar and Hollywood does not exist in a political environment conducive to a realistic Republican challenge this November.

FL-27 (Salazar) - Safe R to Likely R: While this now-red part of Miami – southern Miami, Palmetto Bay, and Little Havana, notably – was swing territory in 2018, the GOP just lost Miami’s mayoral seat to a Democrat for the first time in thirty years. The bruising special election results from late March have widely been seen as a bad omen. The GOP should be fine in FL-27, but if anything, this rating change reflects our observance of Miami’s antipathy towards the GOP as of late and a “margin watch” rating on this seat.

(Miller-Meeks) - Tilts D (Flip) to Leans D (Flip): This southeastern Iowa seat is the least Democratic of the Hawkeye State’s four congressional seats. In 2020, it played host to one of the closest elections in U.S. history; Marianette Miller-Meeks (R) flipped the open seat by 6 votes out of nearly 400,000 cast. The 2024 race wasn’t much wider. We think this sits on virtually all Democratic paths to 218.

KS-03 (Davids) - Likely D to Safe D: This seat takes in the Kansas side of Kansas City, as well as the growing suburbs Overland Park, Lenexa, Shawnee, and Olathe. Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D) flipped this seat in the 2018 midterms, and despite Topeka Republicans drawing this into more competitive turf in 2021, Davids has been twice re-elected since then by ten-point margins. Davids was eyeing a Senate run in the event that the GOP-led Kansas Legislature would gerrymander her district, but they’re about 20 votes short of surviving a veto from Governor Laura Kelly (D). For now, Davids looks like a safe bet in Democrats’ only seat from the Sunflower State.

MN-02 (Open-Craig) - Leans D to Likely D: We thought that four-term Congresswoman Angie Craig’s (D) retirement to run for Senate would keep this suburban Minneapolis seat at least somewhat competitive. National environment is one thing, but we expect Democratic voters to be out in full force and take many Independents with them after the chaos in Minneapolis as of late.

MT-01 (Open-Zinke) - Tilts R to Leans R: This seat takes in the western third of Montana, home to the base of its mining history, Glacier National Park, and some of the state’s largest cities - Bozeman and Missoula, notably. This part of the state is ancestrally Democratic, dating back to the strong ties between mining and labor unions going back to the late 1900s. Ryan Zinke’s controversial tenure as Trump’s first-term Interior Secretary made him an easy target for Democrats when Zinke ran to return to the House. Both of his 2022 and

2024 elections were narrow, but his retirement can make way for a more baseline Republican who might complicate Democrats’ rare opportunity at this seat.

NM-01 (Stansbury) - Likely D to Safe D: We held this Albuquerque-to-Las Cruces seat to a higher competitive standard, but not only will the environment likely disallow competition here, but the GOP’s lack of a Senate candidate, we think, will disrupt New Mexico’s typical environment.

TX-34 (Gonzalez) - Leans R (Flip) to Tilts R (Flip): This McAllen-based seat is right on par with the national political average, meaning it’s not more left or right of center. While the GOP gerrymander makes it one of the more realistic Republican targets this year, it’s still far from a foregone conclusion, and the battle-tested Congressman Vicente Gonzalez (D) is running for reelection here.

WI-03 (Van Orden) - Tilts R to Toss Up: This western Wisconsin seat has raced to the right in the Trump era, but it’s still tricky down ballot. With the environment shaping up to what it seems, this seat should be right in the eye of the hurricane. Wisconsin will also play host to a competitive gubernatorial race, so there’s almost no telling what will happen in one of the last few states keen on splitting their tickets somewhat regularly.

Here’s the Count

This week’s update produces fourteen favorable shifts for the Democrats and just one for the Republicans. We estimate Democrats have the advantage in 216 seats, while the Republicans have the same in 208 - 218 is needed for a majority. We identify eleven seats as Toss Ups, three of which belong to the Democrats, and eight to the GOP.

Our current forecast shows that Democrats will flip eleven seats; the GOP will flip seven. That gives a D+4 net gain, but they still need to find two more seats to win in order to form a majority.

Town Honors

Assistant Town Attorney Rachel Lenberger

The Town of Smithtown proudly recognized Assistant Town Attorney Rachel Lenberger as its Employee of the Month for April 2026 during the most recent Town Board meeting— an honor reserved for public servants whose dedication, professionalism, and character leave a lasting impact on the community.

Each month, the Town Board pauses to celebrate an individual who exemplifies the very best of public service. This April, that recognition was awarded to a rising professional whose work ethic and positive spirit have quickly made her an invaluable member of the Town Attorney’s Office.

Rachel’s journey with the Town began in 2022 while she was still attending Touro Law School, serving as a Summer Intern in the Town Attorney’s Office. Her eagerness to learn and strong work ethic immediately stood out, earning her a return the following summer. From those early days, it was clear that Rachel brought not only talent, but a genuine commitment to public service.

After graduating from law school, passing the bar exam, and being admitted as an attorney in May 2024, Rachel was appointed as an Assistant Town Attorney by the Town Board in November at the age of 28. Notably, Rachel shares a unique distinction with Town Attorney Matt Jakubowski, who was hired into the same role at just 26 years old, a testament to the confidence placed in her abilities at

such an early stage in her career.

Since her appointment, Rachel has approached each assignment with focus, professionalism, and a determination to grow. Working alongside a skilled team of attorneys, she has continued to build her expertise—recently achieving a significant milestone by successfully defending the Town in her first case, which she handled independently from start to finish.

“Rachel represents the next generation of public service professionals—driven, capable, and deeply committed to the work,” said Supervisor Ed Wehrheim (R-Kings Park) in a statement. “Her dedication, attention to detail, and positive attitude reflect the high standards we strive to uphold across all departments. We are proud to have her on our team.”

Rachel’s recognition underscores the Town’s continued commitment to celebrating the individuals who work diligently behind the scenes to serve the residents of Smithtown with integrity and excellence.

As she continues to grow in her role, the Town Board expressed its confidence that this achievement marks just the beginning of a long and successful career in public service.

The Town of Smithtown congratulates Rachel Lenberger on being named Employee of the Month for April 2026 and thanks her for her outstanding contributions to the community.

In Loving Memory

Herbert J. SEUS

June 23, 1932 –March 26, 2026

Herbert John Seus, of Fort Salonga, passed away March 26, 2026, at the age of 93. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of 60 years, Elizabeth “Betty” (McDonough) Seus, in 2018. Herbert was born in Manhattan to Pius and Gisela Seus. He is predeceased by his brother, Edward Seus, and sister, Eleanor Flynn.

After marrying, Herbert and Betty left Queens to build a life on Long Island, where they raised seven daughters.

Herbert was a dedicated family man, whose greatest joy was found in the company of his daughters: Elizabeth Seus, Denise Butera, Noreen Lacourciere, Mary Ellen Alptekin, Caroline Seus, Regina Seus, and Valerie Byrne. His legacy extends to his 15 grandchildren, each of whom he adored and cherished deeply.

Herbert’s journey through life was marked by dedication, service and an unwavering devotion to his family. Herbert was a husband, father, grandfather and a distinguished Korean War Veteran.

A proud Veteran, Herbert served his country with honor in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 to 1955. During his service, he achieved the rank of Staff Sergeant and was stationed in Korea and Japan. His bravery and commitment were recognized with several commendations, including the U.S. Presidential Unit Citation with two bronze clusters, the National Defense Service Medal and the United Nations Korean Service Medal.

Herbert is remembered not only for his service and devotion to family but also for his ability to fix anything that broke. He truly was one of a kind. He was the engineer, the mechanic, the electrician, the repairman, the plumber, the builder, the master lawn care technician, and the photographer. There was never a “job” too big or too small that he did not want to take on. He would tackle it…and successfully complete the mission. In 2019, at the age of 87, Herbert, a proud Korean War Veteran, experienced a once-ina-lifetime journey to the nation’s war memorials in Washington, D.C., where he traveled alongside his fellow Veteran brothers and sisters.

Through the nonprofit, Honor Flight Long Island, Herbert was selected to be one of 50 United States military Veterans to go on his Honor Flight. It was a day-long experience and one that he would never forget. Decades later, as a Veteran, the Honor Flight brought Herbert and his fellow warriors back to Washington, D.C., to stand at the very memorials built to honor their service and their fallen comrades. From soldier to Honor Flight, it was a profound full-circle moment — a journey of service, sacrifice, and finally, heartfelt recognition among their brothers and sisters in arms.

From the Veterans’ arrival at Long Island’s MacArthur Airport in the early morning, to the resounding applause they received upon their arrival in Baltimore, Herbert and his fellow Veterans toured and reflected at the moving War Memorials on the National Mall in D.C. After a long, emotional day, our gallant Veterans returned home to MacArthur Airport, where they were given a heroes’ welcome. Pipes and drums played in their honor. Family, friends, and hundreds of people gathered and cheered to recognize and honor them at their late-night arrival. Herbert was so overwhelmed with emotion that day, as he was so proud to have served our country.

Herbert’s life was honored on March 31, 2026, with a ceremony at the Church of St. Joseph in Kings Park. Herbert was then laid to rest with military honors in Calverton National Cemetery, alongside his beloved wife of 60 years, Elizabeth “Betty” Seus, for the final time.

In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that donations be made in his name to Honor Flight Long Island and to Tunnel to Towers, two organizations that reflect Herbert’s values and dedication to service.

Herbert J. Seus’ life was a testament to the power of love and resilience. He will be deeply missed but forever remembered. May his soul rest in peace, and may his memory continue to inspire those he leaves behind.

To place an obituary in The Messenger Papers for your loved one, please call (631) 265-3500 or email news@messengerpapers.com

Weather Forecast: 100% Chance of Learning

Students and faculty at Mills Pond Elementary were both educated and entertained during a recent visit from Emmy Award-winning meteorologist Samantha Augeri, who brought her interactive program, Sam’s Weather School, to the classroom.

Augeri guided students through the science behind weather systems and the powerful storms they can produce, including tornadoes, hurricanes and blizzards. Along the way, students discovered how meteorologists track developing weather patterns and why accurate forecasting plays such an important role in keeping communities safe.

The fun didn’t stop with the forecast. Students had the chance to step into the role of meteorologist themselves, delivering their own weekly weather reports in front of a green screen. Augeri also brought hands-on science to life by creating a “tornado in a box” using dry ice and explored real meteorological tools, giving students a front-row seat to the science behind how weather forms.

Smithtown HS West Names Commencement Speaker

Smithtown High School West senior Kristin McGuire has been selected by her classmates as this year’s commencement speaker, a true honor announced on March 27 at the annual Gold Cord Breakfast by Principal William Holl.

“It’s a big honor. I was a little surprised,” Kristin shared. “If I had to guess why I was chosen, I think people know I’m a hard worker, very diligent, and I like to think of myself as a leader.”

As she looks ahead to graduation, Kristin says she is eager to craft a speech that stands out. She plans to take her time developing a message and promises not to use ChatGPT.

The Gold Cord Breakfast celebrated students who have achieved a cumulative 4.0 GPA, as well as those earning a 4.4 GPA—recognized as Gold Cord with distinction.

“Everyone in this room is an excellent representative of High School West. You’re all role models,” said Principal Holl.

Assistant Principals Scott Johnson, Derek

Gold

their families, where each senior

take

and share their college plans and intended majors.

Hauppauge Middle School Hosts Connection Day

Ahead of their April break, Hauppauge Middle School hosted its annual Connection Day, an all-day celebration dedicated to promoting belonging, connection and inclusion among students.

The celebration began with an upbeat, welcoming schoolwide pancake breakfast. Students then watched “Inside Out 2,” followed by thoughtful small group conversations that encouraged reflection on the film’s themes.

Throughout the day, students participated in a variety of interactive activities. The gym was transformed into a hub for teamwork-building group games, while the cafeteria became a high-energy dance party with a live DJ.

The day concluded with a powerful assembly, featuring motivational speaker, powerlifter, and wrestler Rohan Murphy. He spoke about navigating life with a disability and pushing beyond limitations others placed on him. Emphasizing resilience, hard work and self-

belief, he encouraged students to pursue their ambitions with confidence, reminding them that their goals are within reach if they are willing to strive for them.

Connection Day continues to highlight Hauppauge Middle School’s dedication to cultivating an inclusive environment where all students feel valued and supported.

The Necessary Standard for American Education

The Department of Health and Human Services

By Matt Meduri

We’re digging back into our mini-series on the federal executive departments. This week, we’re picking up where we left off with the Department of Health and Human Services - often simply referred to as HHS.

History and Origin

HHS took on multiple iterations before it became the department as we know it today. In 1939, the Federal Security Agency (FSA) was established to oversee food and drug safety, education funding, the Social Security old-age pension plan, and the administration of public health programs.

But the FSA was something of a cornucopia of preestablished bodies. The Reorganization Act of 1939 had the plan to reduce the number of agencies that reported directly to the president.

The U.S. Public Health Service (PHS) was one of these. PHS had its origins in the early days of the republic, with President John Adams signing into law the Marine Hospital Service in 1798. Its purpose was to treat sick and disabled American merchant seamen. In 1878, the first Federal Quarantine Act grew PHS’ oversight to include prevention of overseas epidemics. By 1912, it took on the name of PHS.

The FSA also took in the Office of Education, which was set to handle the long-disorganized service of education. While the Massachusetts Bay Colony took the New World’s first steps towards public education back in 1647, it wasn’t until around the time of the Civil War that it became a more salient topic. In 1867, the Department of Education was created to collect data on American education. It was then transferred to the FSA.

The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was created during the Great Depression to put young Americans to work and to conserve natural resources. It remained an independent agency until absorbed by the FSA. The Social Security Board was another Depression-era agency that would also become part of the FSA.

In 1940, another reorganization plan saw the FSA take in more agencies, including, notably, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The post-WWII environment would reshape how the federal government handled its agencies. With that, President Harry Truman (D-MO) attempted to make the FSA an executive federal department, but the legislation was not passed. Instead, President Dwight D. Eisenhower (R-KS) noticed that the FSA’s programs had ballooned in importance and cost, with its budget exceeding the combined figures for the departments of Commerce, Labor, Justice, and the Interior. Eisenhower proposed a reorganization act to dissolve the FSA and instead make the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (DHEW) a federal department. It went into effect on April 11, 1953.

Further reorganization would necessitate separate departments yet again. President Jimmy Carter (D-GA) saw that functions of the DHEW were ballooning in importance and in need of better streamlining. By 1979, DHEW had grown to manage over 250 programs, which included Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. He proposed splitting DHEW into the Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services.

Social Security functions would be removed from HHS in 1995 as a separate agency.

HHS Today

As of April 2025, HHS has undergone a “major restructuring,” according to their website, which saw their workforce go from about 90,000 to just over 60,000. Their FY2026 budget proposal was $95 billion, nearly a 25% cut from last year’s levels.

The twenty-sixth and current Secretary of HHS is Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (I-NY) (pictured right). One of President Trump’s more controversial Cabinet nominees, Kennedy was ultimately confirmed in a 5248 vote. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) was the sole Republican to vote against him.

Kennedy’s mission statement at HHS is “Make America Healthy Again,” which is accompanied by a commission of the same name. Their objectives are to investigate the causes of chronic childhood diseases and the potential threats of weight-loss drugs, mood stabilizers, stimulants, and SSRIs as they all become more prevalent. He’s also been impassioned to phase out petroleum-based food dyes and tighten the FDA’s standards on Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) ingredients.

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.

Dr. Casey Means, Trump’s nominee. While Means is a Stanford-trained otolaryngologist (ENT), her record has been questioned to her criticism of conventional healthcare, her inactive medical license, and lack of surgical residency completion.

National Institutes of Health (NIH): The primary federal agency responsible for biomedical and health research. Founded in 1887, the NIH invests over $48 billion annually to improve health. Among many other endeavors, it also operates the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, the world’s largest research hospital.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): The national public health agency in the country that looks to protect the public through the control and prevention of disease, injury, and disability. It focuses on infectious disease, occupational safety and health, food borne pathogens, and environmental health, among other focuses. The 2025 reorganization on Secretary Kennedy looks to align the CDC towards infectious disease programs.

His recently launched Operation Stork Speed aims to improve baby formula options and consists of investigations into the environmental causes of autism. His skepticism of some forms of vaccine treatment have been an ongoing criticism of his advocacy and legal work over the years, particularly of the theory that vaccines that include mercury can cause autism. Upon taking office last year, Kennedy fired all seventeen members of the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and replaced them with new members to reduce pharmaceutical industry influence.

Bureaus and Agencies

Within HHS are a number of agencies that are under the Public Health Service. The PCH also houses the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (USPHSCC). It is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States, and their mission is to “protect, promote, and advance the health and safety” of the nation through “rapid and effective response[s] to public health needs, leadership and excellence in public health practices, and [the] advancement of public health science,” according to the Surgeon General’s website.

Office of the Surgeon General: The Surgeon General is the operational head of the USPHSCC and the de facto federal spokesperson on public health matters. The Surgeon General is appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate, and must be appointed from individuals who are members of the regular corps of the PHS and have specialized training in public health programs. The Surgeon General serves a four-year term and is either the senior or next-most senior uniformed officer of the commissioned corps.

While the Surgeon General is not required by law to be a doctor, it is traditional that the role is filled by someone with such experience. The role has been vacant since 2025, mostly due to the stalled hearing for

Food and Drug Administration (FDA): Responsible for promoting and protecting public health through control and supervision of food safety, caffeine products, dietary supplements, tobacco products, prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals, vaccines, blood transfusions, cosmetics, animal feed, veterinary products, biopharmaceuticals, and medical devices.

Indian Health Service (IHS): Responsible for providing direct medical and public health services to federally recognized Native American Tribes. It provides care in 37 states to nearly 2.2 million people out of 3.7 million American Indians and Native Alaskans.

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR): Focuses on lessening health risks associated with exposure to hazardous substances.

Healthy Resources and Services Administration (HRSA): Improves healthcare access for people who are isolated, uninsured, or medically vulnerable.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ): Enhances the quality and effectiveness of healthcare services through guideline development and research.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA): Improves the quality and availability of treatment and rehabilitative services for those suffering from substance abuse and mental illnesses, with the goal of reducing illness, death, disability, and cost to society.

Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response: Prepares for, prevents, and responds to public health emergencies and associated health risks through building capabilities, researching countermeasures, and providing fiscal support to strengthen hospitals’ and systems’ capabilities.

Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H): Makes “pivotal investment in break-through technologies and broadly applicable platforms, capabilities, resources, and solutions” in areas of medicine that cannot be “accomplished through traditional research or commercial activity.”

Office of Global Affairs (OGA): HHS’ primary diplomatic branch to coordinate global health policy.

Albany’s April Fools’ Budget and New Yorkers Are Paying the Price

Today, Albany proudly announced an “on time” budget. Smaller than expected, full of “relief,” a reason for New Yorkers to stay.

But it is sadly a poor April Fool’s joke because the only thing real here is the joke being played on taxpayers.

Let’s be honest…this entire process has become the punchline. Albany wants credit for working hard for a budget that is already late and somehow they deserve applause.

And the budget they are proposing is bloated and completely out-of-touch?

New Yorkers were promised relief. What they are getting instead is a late budget that continues to drive up costs, expand government, and double down on the same policies that are already pushing families and businesses out of this state.

That’s not progress. That’s denial.

For years, I’ve been warning about exactly this: reckless spending, unrealistic mandates, and policies that ignore the economic realities facing hardworking New Yorkers.

And yet, here we are again - another late budget, another round of empty promises, another hit to the wallets of the people who can least afford it.

Albany Democrats, led by Governor Hochul (D), want you to believe this is going to be a win while she begs those who have left our state to return to pay

even higher bills, but that is why they left in the first place.

Let’s call it what it is: a last-minute scramble wrapped in talking points, hoping no one looks too closely at the price tag.

And that price tag is real.

Energy costs continue to rise. Taxes and fees continue to pile on. Small businesses are struggling to stay open. Families are making harder choices every day. Instead of addressing these challenges head-on, Albany continues to push policies that make things worse.

We are not just up against bad decisions; we are up against an entire system in Albany that refuses to listen. It’s a system that prioritizes politics over people, that calls it “relief” while New Yorkers feel anything but.

If it walks like a joke and costs like a joke…it’s a joke.

But here’s the problem: no one is laughing.

This isn’t funny for the senior on a fixed income trying to pay their utility bill. It’s not funny for the small business owners struggling to keep their doors open. It’s not funny for the families who are packing up and

leaving New York altogether. It’s not funny to workers whose jobs are being threatened.

We need real leadership, we need accountability, and most importantly, we need policies that are grounded in reality — not ideology.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll continue to say it: New Yorkers deserve a plan - not a performance. Because right now, this budget isn’t just disappointing.

It is an April Fools’ joke that hardworking New Yorkers are being forced to pay for every single day.

Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James) has represented the Second District in the New York State Senate since 2021. The Second District contains the entire Townships of Huntington and Smithtown.

Senator Mattera serves as Ranking Member on the Corporations, Authorities, and Commissions Committee and on the Energy and Telecommunications Committee. He also serves on the committees on Cannabis; Civil Service and Pensions; Labor; and Transportation.

The Second District office is located at 180 East Main Street, Suite 210, in Smithtown and can be reached at 631-361-2154.

House Passes LaLota Co-Sponsored Bill to Protect Long Island’s Waters

By Matt Meduri

On April 2, the U.S. House passed the American Water Stewardship Act, a bipartisan bill that delivers for the Long Island Sound Program and the National Estuary Program.

Congressman Nick LaLota (R-Amityville) was one of the co-sponsors of the bill, fitting in with his role as CoChair of the Long Island Sound Caucus.

The bill, H.R. 6422, updates and reauthorizes key provisions of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to strengthen the oversight of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), headed by Long Islander Lee Zeldin (R-Shirley). The bill reauthorizes federal environmental programs through fiscal years 2026 to 2031.

The Long Island Sound Program is one of those key provisions. Established by Congress in 1985, the program pulls together the EPA, New York, Connecticut, institutions, and nonprofits to maintain and restore the Sound and its watershed. The watershed extends up to Canada.

The National Estuary Program also affects Suffolk County, as it restores twenty-eight estuaries of national significance, with the Sound and the Peconic Estuary included.

The bill also modernizes the Beaches and Environmental Assessment and Coastal Health (BEACH) Act, which allows authorities to strengthen public health protections, funds identification of contamination

sources, and expands the definition of “coastal recreation waters” to cover river mouths and beachadjacent areas. The EPA is directed to incorporate these advances in detection and testing technology.

“Long Island families don’t need more talk about protecting our waters, we need results and the American Water Stewardship Act delivers exactly the results we need by locking in long-term support for the Long Island Sound and our estuaries,” said LaLota in a statement. “I made sure our local priorities were included in this national bill because clean water isn’t just an environmental issue here, it’s economic security, it’s public health, and it’s our way of life.”

Denise Stranko, Executive Vice President of Programs for Save the Sound, said in a statement, “We are grateful to Representative LaLota for cosponsoring this bill and for prioritizing the reauthorization of critical funding of the Long Island Sound Partnership programs that protect and restore the health of the Long Island Sound.”

Joyce Novak, PhD, Executive Director of the Peconic Estuary Partnership, said in a statement, “The passing of the American Water Stewardship Act is a show of immense support in the efforts to protect our nation’s water quality. Reauthorization of the National Estuary Program ensures that programs like the Peconic Estuary Partnership can continue work to protect and restore clean water, habitat, wildlife, and economic drivers in nationally significant estuaries across the United States.”

Local History

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Raynor Veterans Memorial Park

By Ellyn Okvist, B.Sc.

Raynor Veterans Memorial Park is located at 174 Ronkonkoma Avenue, Lake Ronkonkoma. Purchased by D.J. O’Connor from a local woman, it became the home and property of O’Connor, and the first Ronkonkoma Fire Department. O’Connor was a businessman, who had been instrumental in so many of our village improvements. He supervised and then came to the rescue of St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic Church, which was built in 1884. Upon completion, it was discovered that the Church was built on the wrong parcel. O’Connor quickly dealt with the owner and obtained the parcel using his own funds. The Church was built to accommodate the Irish Catholic residents who mostly were employed by the many pavilions and service businesses in town. They were making a trip to Smithtown and east to attend mass and finally could remain near home and enjoy their Sunday.

The Ronkonkoma Fire Dept kept its horse, wagon, and fire hose apparatus in the larger barn on the premises. Equipment was stored on the walls, and always ready to go. There is a local family who has actual photographs of the station.

The perimeter of the Lake itself began to change from residential to commercial, and as the lake front became less and less exclusive, some of the people sold their homes and moved away. When D.J. O’Connor sold his estate in 1921, part of the property was bought by George Raynor whose family had lived near the lake since the 1840s. This became the well-known Raynor’s Beach.

George Raynor and his wife Dorothy were co-owners with his brother Newton Raynor, and together they ran Raynor’s Beach on Ronkonkoma Lake for more than two decades until the late 1960s. Mr. Raynor died on August 16, 1973, Dorothy Raynor died March 1998. Upon George’s death in 1973, Dorothy continued to reside in the home. At one point, she decided to sell to the County of Suffolk, and the transition was quite hectic.

September 10, 1992, announced that contract signings cleared the way for work to begin at Raynor Park between Suffolk County and the contractors. In 2002, plans were still

in the making to revitalize Raynor Park. Up until this time, graffiti, garbage, and vandalism had taken their toll on the area. The large pillar that said “Raynor’s Beach” and dated back to the 1930s was destroyed.

“Working Toward Greener Pastures” was printed Sunday, May 5, 2002, and reminded us that the park had been neglected for decades. A bipartisan effort was made by three County Legislators, with $1.7 million designated to develop the park by next fall. Legislators Andrew Crecca (R-Hauppauge), Joseph Carracappa (R-Selden) and William Lindsay (D-Holbrook) pushed for the park and it went through as an amendment to the County capital budget. About 150 students from Sachem High School gathered and cleaned up on April 15, 2002, filling three truckloads with trash. Unfortunately, November 14, 2004, still reports unfinished work, contractors had backed out, leaving the area with rock piles and cement blocks littering the place. Hardship and disorganization had left an eyesore and promises made were broken.

Today, Raynor Veterans Memorial Park holds the PFC Charles Richard Greene Killed in Action Memorial, which has been restored to the proper dignity that our twenty-three known Killed in Action deserve. On June 14, 2026, 1:30p.m. please join us for the Ceremony organized by the Lake Ronkonkoma Heritage Association. Our William Merrit Hallock American Legion #155, AMVETS, and William Francis Taylor Post VFW will join us in the ceremony. Local clergy will lead the ceremony with prayer and dignity. Sachem North High School Music Department will be present to supply the music needed for such an event. Many of the families and friends for the KIAs will also be present. The William Merritt Hallock American Legion will lead the Flag Day Ceremony at 3:00p.m.

This will be the first memorial placed, with more to follow, including the Women’s Veterans Remembrance Memorial and the Pilot’s Remembrance Memorial. The park will be a place to walk, ponder and salute our community veterans or just give you quiet time. To quote Andrew Crecca, “We want a place we can gather…”

By Mollie Barnett

The Superpowered Business

An AI-enabled person offers ten times the performance of someone without. That’s not a prediction. That’s what’s happening right now, inside businesses that have made the decision to enable their workforce.

The difference isn’t the AI. It’s the leader.

March 24 was a personal “Jesus, take the wheel” moment for me with Claude.

I had spent the better part of a day trapped inside a Microsoft debacle that should have taken twenty minutes. My Microsoft account was purchased through GoDaddy. GoDaddy meant an extra relay point, an extra layer of confusion, and an extra round of “that department doesn’t handle this.”

The problem of the middleman.

And the middleman’s middleman.

And the middleman’s middleman’s middleman.

My web developer had no interest in sacrificing his day to overseas tech support.

Smart man.

Split-screen AI was helping, but I was still hitting friction, or the end of patience. I had reached that threshold every business owner knows — I don’t care about elegant. Just fix it.

I handed it to Claude’s Dispatch; it launched about an hour before.

In plain English, I said, “Here’s the problem. My Microsoft account is in GoDaddy, and my Mac keeps bouncing it out.”

Twenty minutes later, it was resolved.

Here is what that moment revealed. It wasn’t about Claude being impressive. It was about an entire middleware layer becoming unnecessary. The relay points, the intermediaries, the systems we’ve built, and the staffing models around them - eroded away.

All in about 15 minutes.

The businesses that understand what’s replacing them are quietly pulling ahead.

March Came in Like a Lion and It’s Going Out the Same Way

Claude had a breakout month. The updates dropped, the capabilities expanded, and people who hadn’t paid close attention suddenly had their heads spun while memes of Sam Altman crying in a corner flooded X and Reddit.

I am not counting OpenAI out. Not even close - at least they were mentioned.

Here’s the honest read: Claude and OpenAI are moving toward the same destination. Both are building toward AI as a workplace operating layer — persistent context, access to your systems, multi-source reasoning, action-taking across tools.

Currently, the difference between the two isn’t capability. It’s legibility. Claude tells a cleaner orchestration story. OpenAI expresses a similar trajectory through layered workflow surfaces — Projects, Connectors, Deep Research, Tasks. It is the same strategic curve, different packaging.

The race is closer than the internet wants you to believe.

Ethan Mollick, whose research on AI and work deserves your attention, recently made a point that cuts through the noise: dedicated AI integrator roles inside companies are likely to be transitional. Not because AI implementation doesn’t matter — because the platforms are making it increasingly accessible without a specialist in the room.

Advisors, fractionals, and facilitators will not be a permanent headcount, that is why they are called fractionals.

The middleware is collapsing. AI is what’s filling the space it leaves behind.

Jensen Huang, CEO of NVIDIA, said it plainly: he will only hire people who are already experts at their task and experts at using AI. Not one or the other. Both.

That statement landed like a quiet thunderclap for every business owner paying attention — because it reframed the hiring conversation entirely. It’s not about finding AI geniuses who only know prompts. It’s about finding strong people who are also fluent. Judgment plus leverage. That’s the new baseline.

This is Where it Gets Real for Long Island

Orchestrators are not a feature. They are the mechanism — and most business owners haven’t encountered that word yet in this context.

Here’s what it means in plain English. An orchestrator is what transforms AI from a smart assistant that you feed questions into an operating layer that coordinates across your entire business. It reaches into your calendar, your email, your files, your data, and

your workflows — and directs action across all of them toward a defined goal. Not one task at a time. Across systems. Simultaneously. The AI isn’t just answering questions anymore. It’s running plays.

If you can’t orchestrate with AI, your workflow cannot match someone’s who can. That’s not a warning about the future. That’s a description of a skill set. The businesses building orchestrated, enabled teams are operating at a fundamentally different speed than the ones that aren’t. The gap is real, it’s growing, and it’s largely invisible to the people falling behind because they don’t yet know what they’re missing.

The orchestrated person doesn’t just work faster. They understand every aspect of everything. Strategy, operations, finance, communications, research — not because they’re superhuman, but because the orchestration layer handles the drag. The barriers between them and their central function are gone. They move unencumbered toward the goal. That’s not a metaphor. That’s a workflow.

It Only Works if the Worker Knows What They’re Doing

Dabbling creates mess. And this is the part that gets glossed over in every AI headline.

AI fluency without strategic clarity is amplified chaos.

Imagine a team that’s been handed powerful tools but has no shared understanding of goals, no clarity on priorities, no process to evaluate what good looks like.

Now give them AI.

They don’t produce better work. They produce more work — faster, louder, in more directions at once, with less coherence than before. Fragmented messages multiplied at machine speed. Contradictory outputs nobody has the framework to evaluate. The illusion of productivity covering deeper disorganization.

AI accelerates whatever direction you’re headed. Point it wrong and you’ve built an industrial-scale confusion engine. That’s not transformation. That’s expensive noise.

This is why the human in the loop isn’t optional.

Direction. Discernment. Knowing what good looks like before you ask the machine to help you get there is an imperative.

Human acumen plus machine leverage. That pairing is everything. Without it, you don’t have a superpowered team. You have a faster mess.

The Best AI is not the Story; the Best Leaders are.

And the best leaders are making a decision: a decision to enable their teams. Deliberately. Strategically. With connectors, with context, with clarity about what they’re building toward.

Not to bolt AI onto existing chaos. Not to buy a boxed app with an AI label and call it transformation. Not to chase the platform that won this week’s Internet argument. To actually build it — and build it around real goals, real workflows, and real people who understand their work deeply enough to direct the machine well.

The business owner who does that — who creates a superpowered staff — has a superpowered business. From the warehouse floor in Ronkonkoma to the CFO suite in Garden City, the shape of competitive advantage is changing. It’s not about who has the degree, the tenure, or the title.

It’s about who learned to work with these tools, built their team around them, and pointed everyone at the goal without the friction that used to slow everything down.

The gap opening now is not between better models and worse ones. It’s between the leaders who are deciding and the leaders who are waiting.

And on that front, the clock is very much ticking.

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Selden Man Charged with Possession of Fentanyl - Enough to Kill 2 Million

By Matt Meduri

The fentanyl scourge continues across Suffolk and New York State, but District Attorney Ray Tierney (R) and law enforcement were able to take one alleged perpetrator off the streets - one who had enough of the synthetic opioid to kill about 2.2 million people.

Phillip Gonzalez, 42, of Selden, was indicted for Operating as a Major Drug Trafficker, among other offenses, Tierney and company announced on Thursday at his office in Riverhead. Gonzalez is also a prior federal offender and is currently on federal parole.

Besides a massive quantity of fentanyl, law enforcement also seized hefty amounts of MDMA (ecstasy) and ketamine and two illegally possessed and loaded firearms (pictured top right)

“Most importantly of all, we stopped a defendant who allegedly made a living selling drugs to victims suffering from substance abuse disorder from further harming our community,” said Tierney (pictured right).

The Suffolk D.A. stated that cases such as these “unfortunately start with a tragedy.”

According to the investigation, the story begins on February 17, 2026, in which Suffolk County Police Department (SCPD) officers received a call about two individuals found unconscious from a possible drug overdose in East Patchogue. One victim was pronounced dead and the other was transported to NYU Langone Hospital in Patchogue. That victim survived.

Investigators recovered from the scene two “distinctive” glass vials, each containing a powder, and two cell phones. One of the phones led investigators to the alleged trafficker and seller, Phillip Gonzalez, who in the phone’s contact was listed simply as “Yash.”

On February 20, an undercover detective of the SCPD contacted Gonzalez from the decedent’s phone and arranged a narcotics sale. Gonzalez allegedly directed the investigator to meet him in Selden for the sale, where he allegedly sold the undercover

officer power cocaine. The same sting was arranged on February 24, at which Gonzalez allegedly sold the officer another quantity of cocaine.

February 26 brought the search warrant at Gonzalez’s Selden home, where four and one-half kilograms of fentanyl were recovered, over twoand-a-half kilograms of which contained Xylazine, a cattle sedative known as “tranq” often mixed with opioids to enhance or prolong the sedative effects. Xylazine is also known to be used by dealers as a cutting agent to increase their profits.

Despite years of lobbying from Tierney and countless others, New York State has not made Xylazine illegal to possess and sell.

“The good news for Suffolk County is that fentanyl is getting harder to obtain by drug dealers,” said Tierney. “The bad news is that they’re changing their modus operandi by mixing in all these other drugs [Xylazine]. Tierney added that it not only makes for a more dangerous cocktail for the user, but a more difficult task for law enforcement to identify the involved substances.

“Xylazine itself can be a death sentence…but once the victim feels the effects of Xylazine, those effects can’t be countermanded with NARCAN,” said Tierney, adding that while he’s implored Albany to make Xylazine illegal to possess, the Legislature and Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Hamburg) have “steadfastly refused.”

Also allegedly seized from Gonzalez’s home was over one-and-a-half kilograms of crystal meth, 223 grams of a mixture called “pink cocaine” - which consists of ketamine and ecstasy, almost 41,000 milligrams of ketamine, 234 grams of cocaine, and five boxes that contained hundreds of vials of fentanyl and pink cocaine. Investigators note that these vials stored at the Selden home matched the ones found at the site of overdoses in East Patchogue.

Detectives also allegedly recovered from Gonzalez’s residence two loaded handguns, an extended magazine, and drug paraphernalia such as digital scales.

In total, the value of the illicit substances has a street value of over $360,000. Gonzalez faces twenty-five counts collectively, which could fetch him a sentence of fifteen years to life imprisonment.

Since his election in 2021, Tierney has consistently lobbied Albany to amend what he calls “archaic” drug laws. He’s worked to convince the State Legislature to pass Chelsey’s Law, named for Chelsey Murray, a 31-year-old Suffolk woman who, in 2022, fatally overdosed from fentanyl that was traced back to her alleged supplier. Senator Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk) has been a leading sponsor of the bill over the last few sessions. Also called the “death by dealer” statute, the law would hold charge dealers who knowingly sell controlled substances that are likely to result in the death of its user with manslaughter or aggravated manslaughter.

“How many more New Yorkers must die at the hands of these dealers and these deadly opioids before our Governor and our Legislature act?” said Tierney, pointing out the Legislature’s “failure” to act. He hailed the Suffolk’s Narcotics Bureau’s, namely their overdose team, work with experienced prosecutors to fill in the gaps where the State does not.

“We potentially saved the lives of over 2.2 million individuals from ingesting dangerous drugs. 2.2 million people is about 700,000 more people than the entire population of Suffolk County,” said Tierney. Of the pink cocaine, also called “tusi,” is considered a “club drug” more commonly found in New York City and Montauk.

“We want to caution everybody as summer approaches and we have people coming out to Long Island to enjoy our beaches: be very careful with what you’re taking because odds are if you’re purchasing illicit drugs in Suffolk County this summer, it’s going to contain some of these deadly substances.”

Tierney also connected the persistent bail reform problems in New York to the case at hand, as the initial charges that Gonzalez faced were not bail eligible.

“Selling cocaine to an undercover officer is not bail eligible in New York. The defendant allegedly sold drugs to multiple people, resulting in the death of one victim, and we could not have been able to ask for bail until we were able to link that sale to the individual,” said Tierney. “That takes time, time that other victims don’t have.”

The D.A. added that “thankfully,” Suffolk law enforcement was able to “make that link and charge Gonzalez with the bail eligible offense of Operating as a Major Drug Trafficker.”

“It should not require all that legwork,” said Tierney. SCPD Commissioner Kevin Catalina said that the urgency of the issues precedes itself.

“It’s almost impossible to find somebody in Suffolk County who has not been either directly or indirectly affected by this issue,” said Catalina (pictured left).

Published by Messenger Papers, Inc.

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Downed Pilot – Rescued

By Robert B. Charles | National Spokesman for AMAC

Three days ago, prayers were said for an American F-15 weapons officer who – together with the F-15 pilot – ejected over southern Iran. The pilot was soon rescued. Yesterday, the weapons officer was also rescued. Prayers answered.

To those involved in this Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) mission, well done! Beyond this victory, comfort comes from how American aviators train and operate.

First, unlike those in Iran’s Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad region, American CSAR teams, Pave Hawk helicopters, and fixed-wing pilots are proficient with night vision.

Second, every “strike package” or collection of combat aircraft gets pre-briefed by intelligence on “what ifs” of the mission, contingencies, where to go, and what to do.

Third, US military pilots and aircrew receive SERE training (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) for events exactly like this one, on how to survive physically, mentally, and emotionally in hostile circumstances.

SERE training starts with outdoor survival, moves to evasion, resistance, and escape. In this case, after ejecting, evasion and signaling surely came into play. Military personnel do as they train.

Beyond skills, personnel learn to improvise. American ingenuity and resourcefulness save lives. Our culture is about never giving up, pressing on. We envision, believe, and work towards outcomes. That is especially so under pressure.

SERE training takes improvisation to another level. Advanced situational awareness and mental strength, adaptability, and preparedness are taught and practiced until automatic, the way you might tap your car’s brakes, gas, and use mirrors.

From first aid, navigation, and camouflage to evasion and signalizing, these pilots were welltrained. To enable extraction, they knew the terrain, routes to move, pick-up points, as well as how to resist, endure, and manage the stress.

If apprehended, other skills would have kicked in, part of SERE training – how to react, what to say, Code of the United States Fighting Force, which notably ends:

“I will never forget that I am an American, fighting for freedom, responsible for my actions, and dedicated to the principles which made my country free. I will trust in my God and in the United States of America.” They all know it.

Bottom line: When every hour counts, American aviators have and rely on SERE training. American pilots are the best trained in the world, and part of that training is crisis response, reacting to pre-imagined contingencies, like this kind of event.

How much comfort can we take from that?

Overview - AMACThe 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

A lot. These two pilots, and the CSAR team that searched and found them, are the best of us, examples of American can-do against long odds. Proving Americans always find a way, they did.

As we move from Easter, four things. First, these pilots – and the team that saved them – knew to “trust in God and the United States.” Second, they never said never, kept going until done. Third, contingency planning, “seeing around corners,” preparing works in our world, too. Fourth, prayers for those who need them are part of success.

WORD OF THE Week BLASÉ

Etymology: early 19th century: French, past participle of blaser ‘cloy’, probably ultimately of Germanic origin.

adjective

Pronounced: /blah·zay/ Definition: unimpressed or indifferent to something because one has experienced or seen it so often before.

Example:

“The citizens had become blasé on criminal justice as the State took no initiative to reform it.”

Synonyms: dispassionate, emotionless, insouciant

Antonyms: responsive, excited, invigorated

Source: Oxford Languages

WORD WHEEL

R H C U E S A

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

April 15, 1877:

World’s first home telephone installed in Somerville, Massachusetts, at the house of Charles Williams, Jr.

April 13, 1992:

Crystal Pepsi begins test marketing in Sacramento, Providence, Denver, Dallas, and Grand Rapids.

April 10, 1815:

Mount Tambora in the Dutch East Indies experiences a cataclysmic eruption, one of the most powerful in history, killing around 71,000 people and causing a global volcanic winter.

April 9, 1865:

Confederate General Robert E. Lee and 26,765 troops surrender at Appomattox Court House to U.S. Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, ending the Civil War in Northern Virginia.

April 14, 2003:

The Human Genome Project is completed with 99% of the human genome sequenced to an accuracy of 99.99%.

Source: Onthisday.com.

April 11, 1968: President Lyndon B. Johnson (D-TX) signs the 1968 Civil Rights Act.

April 12, 1811: First US colonists on the Pacific coast arrive at Cape Disappointment, Washington.

By PJ Balzer

The Unseen is Eventually Made to Be Seen

My family has this friend. He’s been a friend for decades now. A friend through some really fun years of youth sports, family celebrations, and a few heart-to-heart conversations. A friend through weddings, funerals, and everything in between the two. A friend that, not coincidentally, shows up at the most random and needed moments to check up on his friends.

This person is also what many would consider an important person. A local entrepreneur with several avenues of both earning and influence, this gentleman is on a first-name basis with local leaders, authority figures, and entrepreneurs of the same “level.” He knows how to talk, walk, and get things done. If I mentioned his name, which I won’t, most people in my neck of the woods and beyond would know exactly who this person is.

There’s a saying though that I’ve found to be true, especially in the past several years of my life. The saying has a variation of different wordings and sources, yet all of them are just as true.

“True character is how you treat those who can do nothing for you.” Or, in a similar fashion, the famous boxer Muhammad Ali is quoted saying, “I don’t trust people who are kind to me but rude to the waiter. Because they would treat me the same if I was the one waiting on them.”

Early on Easter morning, my wife and I headed out to church service. On the way there, we both noticed how unusually quiet the roads were and how many businesses were closed. It was nice to see our town sort of looking like an old-fashioned Sunday. One place that was open though was the full-service car wash. People like to show up to family functions with a clean car. Since it was pretty early, there was only one car sitting on the road all cleaned and ready for Easter Sunday. It had obviously just been washed, hand dried, tires shined up, and sparkling clean.

Unbeknownst to me it was my “important” family friend in the car by

himself. I slowed down a bit deciding whether I should make a sharp right into the parking lot to greet him. But we were just barely on time for church service, and he looked like he was having a friendly conversation - a friendly conversation with the gentleman who just hand-dried his car. His driver’s side window was all the way down and they were both smiling as they conversed. I have no doubt at all that special holiday generosity was involved as well.

He’s known to be a generous person in situations both seen and now it looks unseen as well, even though nothing is ever truly totally unseen. The point is, this well-known and important man was treating the human drying his car early on Easter morning with respect, dignity, and kindness. From a distance, it looked like they were friends and I wouldn’t at all be surprised if they were.

Everything that is seemingly hidden and done in secret eventually comes into the light for others to view - both good and bad, right and wrong,

just and unjust. You can count on it, even if it takes a while. There truly are eyes everywhere and this Easter morning was another example. The way you treat the servers, the waiters, the workers, and those that may fall beneath your social status in life will always end up eventually at the surface for others to view.

My heart was blessed early this Easter morning by witnessing our friend treat this hardworking gentleman with such kindness. It also reminds me personally that there are eyes and ears everywhere. Even though we can’t see them, they certainly do see us.

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.

Pre-registration is required. Please call 631-589-0540, ext. 250 for more information or to reserve your seat for the group you would like to attend.

Thursday, April 9, 2026

Smithtown Bulls Strike Perfection on the Diamond

By Ashley Pavlakis

The Smithtown Bulls Baseball and Softball teams of East & West threw no-hitters this weekend on the ballfield. Jayden Melville (East softball) threw a no-hitter, Dylan Cogliano (East baseball) threw a nohitter, and Kyle Flood (West baseball) threw a one-hitter.

The Smithtown East girls’ varsity softball (3-2-0) competes in League III, the Smithtown East boys’ varsity baseball (2-1-0) competes in League III, and the Smithtown West boys’ varsity baseball (3-1-0) competes in League IV. All three varsity teams are members of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA).

East softball is led by fourteenth-year head coach Glenn Roper. He helped the team to a County Championship in 2023, the first since 1998. East Baseball is led by fourth-year head coach Rob Christensen. He helped the team win back-to-back League III titles in 2024 and 2025. West baseball is led by nineteenth-year head coach Al Nucci. Nucci has been a core staple in the Smithtown School District for two decades; his resume on the diamond is a testament to that fact. West won League titles in ‘11, ‘14, ‘16, and ‘24.

Starting off with the lone female pitcher to dominate on the pitch, let’s talk about Jayden Melville. Melville has pitched in two out of five games this season for the Bulls. Bellport (W) and Longwood (W) were her opponents, and she pitched a no-hitter against the Clippers. On April first, Melville put up this stat line: five strikeouts, no walks, no hit batsmen, retired the first 20 batters, all with 64 pitches thrown. That is pure dominance. To top it off, her team performed on offense, winning 10-0.

To keep it on the East side of town, Dylan Cogliano helped the East Bulls go two-for-two on no-hitters. The Bulls went to battle in their first three-game series of the season at the end of March. The Bulls faced Newfield and split the series 2-1 in favor of the Bulls. Cogliano threw seven strikeouts and allowed zero hits in an 11-0 win for the Bulls. The day before, the Bulls only gave up one run while scoring eight. The first game of the series went to Newfield by the score of 3-1.

Last but not least, Smithtown West’s own, Kyle Flood, kept the magic rolling, recording a one-hitter versus Deer Park. Flood managed a no-hitter through six-and-two-thirds innings before surrendering a hit to Jayden Setiadi. The pitcher recorded seven strikeouts as well. Michael Cascione faced one batter and struck him out to record the save. Currently, Flood is

tied for first place in the Section XI standings with two wins.

Newsday named their top-100 baseball and softball players prior to the season, and some Bulls made the list. Leila Piccoli, a Jr. first baseman for East, Michael Cascione, a Senior shortstop and pitcher for West, Gabrielle Krayewski, Sophomore catcher and third baseman for West, and Jiselle Singh, a Sophomore shortstop for West, all made the list the top-100 list in their respective sport.

The baseball and softball seasons are just heating up; there’s plenty more ball to be played in another exciting season for the Smithtown Bulls. Congratulations to Jayden, Dylan, and Kyle for their dominant performances on the mound this past week!

Longwood Girls Flag Football Off to a Strong Start in League I

By Ashley Pavlakis

Flag football is back, and the Longwood girls’ varsity flag football team has hit the turf with their sights set on capturing the flag and some titles.

The Lions are playing both sides of the ball really well, and it’s paying off on the scoresheet and in the standings.

The Longwood girls’ varsity flag football team is a member of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) and competes in League I. The Lions are led by Aden Smith and alum Anthony Boriello. Longwood boasts a 4-0-0 record, sitting atop League I.

Longwood has played four games so far, three against league opponents and one against non-league opponents. Though it made no difference to the outcome, as Longwood won all four games, the next ten games will be against nine League I opponents, with Riverhead Charter being the sole non-league opponent. The Lions have amassed 71 points this season while holding their opponents to 26. Football, flag or tackle, starts with the quarterback. They are the leader on the field, and the play starts with them. They call the routes for their team to execute on the field. For Longwood, the backbone of their team comes in the form of Claire Sclafani. She’s good with her hands and her feet, as we saw her on the soccer field in the fall. Sclafani was named to Newsday’s Top-50 flag football players list prior to the season.

The senior captain is leaving it all out on the field for her senior season. Sclafani’s stat line this season reads: Passing - 38 attempts, 61 completions, 448 yards, and 5 touchdowns. Rushing - 17 attempts, 131 yards, and 1 touchdown.

Flag football doesn’t involve tackling. It’s not a highly physical game, as it

relies more on skill and speed. The rules are the same in that the teams are still trying to score touchdowns, but the difference is that the flag substitutes for a tackle. Instead of physically applying the tackle, they pull the flag instead, and it stops the play.

Liana Colazzo played a significant role in Longwood’s overtime thriller on Saturday afternoon. Sclafani threw for two touchdowns, one in regulation and one in overtime. The Tigers got the ball for their attempt to score, but Colazzo made sure they never saw the endzone. Colazzo recorded her third sack of the game to put a stop to Northport’s drive and seal the 14-7 win for her team. Jada Griffith also recorded five sacks on defense to help keep Northport from scoring.

The Longwood Lions have yet to win a title in flag football, partly due to the sport’s young life in Section XI as well as Sayville’s dominance, but they’ll look to change that narrative this season as they aim for a first in everything. League I, County, and Long Island titles are the end goal for this team. A strong start is just the beginning of what’s to come for flag football at Longwood.

Longwood will face their cross-town rivals next week in a three-game series with the William Floyd Colonials. These games will be played on April 13-16.

Ducks Ink Eight-Year MLB Veteran Wilmer Difo

The Long Island Ducks today announced the signing of infielder Wilmer Difo. He begins his first season with the Ducks and 17th in professional baseball.

“Wilmer has a tremendous amount of experience in the game and is a versatile, productive player,” said Ducks Manager Lew Ford. “We look forward to having his veteran presence in our clubhouse.”

Difo is an eight-year Major League veteran, having spent six seasons with the Washington Nationals (2015-20) and one season apiece with the Pittsburgh Pirates (2021) and Arizona Diamondbacks (2022). In 492 MLB games, he compiled a .250 batting average with 19 home runs, 103 RBIs, 158 runs, 295 hits, 36 doubles, 14 triples, 106 walks, 24 stolen bases and a .311 on-base percentage. Defensively, the 34-year-old posted a .979 fielding percentage while spending time at second base, shortstop, third base and all three outfield positions.

The Dominican Republic native was twice named an MiLB.com Organization All-Star (2014-15). During the 2014 season, he was named the South Atlantic League’s Most Valuable Player while earning Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star honors and garnering a Baseball America Low Class-A All-Star selection. In 136 games with Hagerstown that season, he batted .315 with an .831 OPS, 14 homers, 90 RBIs, 91 runs, 136 hits, 31 doubles and seven triples. Most recently, the switch hitter split the 2025 campaign with Guerreros de Oaxaca and Leones de Yucatan of the Mexican League. He hit .281 with two homers, 29 RBIs, 45 runs, 79 hits, 12 doubles, one triple, a .400 on-base percentage and a .752 OPS in 81 games. Difo was originally signed by the Nationals as an amateur free agent in 2010.

“I’m extremely excited to join the Ducks organization and be part of such a competitive and respected team,” said Difo. “I’m looking forward to getting to work with the guys, contributing however I can and building something special this season. My goal is to bring energy every day, help the team win and continue to grow both on and off the field.”

The Long Island Ducks are entering their 26th season of play in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball and play their home games at Fairfield Properties Ballpark in Central Islip. They are the all-time leader in wins and attendance in Atlantic League history, have led all MLB Partner Leagues in total attendance for five consecutive seasons, and have sold out a record 721 games all-time. For further information, visit LIDucks.com or call 631-940-DUCK (3825).

About the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball (ALPB) Celebrating its third decade, the Atlantic League is Major League Baseball’s first Professional Partner League, a player gateway to the major leagues, and a leader in baseball innovation. Over its 27-year history, the ALPB has sent over 1,450 players to MLB organizations while drawing nearly 50 million fans to its 10 state-of-the-art ballparks that stretch from New York to North Carolina. Follow the action at AtlanticLeague.com.

Riverhead Softball Team and Players Named Among Long Island’s Best

Riverhead High School’s varsity softball team was recently named ninth on Newsday’s list of the top Long Island high school softball teams for the 2026 season. In addition, three outstanding Blue Waves players—Jordyn Kwasna, Adriana Martinez, and Madison Saladino—were recognized by Newsday among the top 100 Long Island high school softball players.

“Our varsity softball team continues to shine following its Suffolk County championship season,” said Riverhead Central School District Superintendent Dr. Robert Hagan. “The district is proud of the exceptional dedication, teamwork, and talent our players showcase each day. The district congratulates the team and these remarkable student-athletes on their welldeserved recognitions as they begin the 2026 season.”

In 2025, the Riverhead High School varsity softball team won the Suffolk County championship for the first time in school history. With a 16-2 record in league play, the Blue Waves also earned their second straight league title— the first time Riverhead softball won back-toback league titles in over 50 years.

Senior outfielder Jordyn Kwasna compiled

an impressive 2025 season to contribute to Riverhead’s success. Her .451 batting average and 1.216 OPS were accompanied by three home runs, 26 RBIs, and 32 runs. In addition to being named to Newsday’s all-Long Island second team, Jordyn earned all-county and allstate honors.

Senior shortstop Adriana Martinez hit .451 in the 2025 season, with a 1.151 OPS, 23 RBIs, 29 runs, and 13 stolen bases. She struck out only twice and garnered all-county honors. Following her graduation from Riverhead High School, Adriana plans to continue her academic and softball career at Clark University.

Junior catcher and third baseman Madison Saladino was also an integral member of the Blue Waves Suffolk championship roster last year, hitting .448 with a 1.118 OPS, seven doubles, 34 runs, and 13 stolen bases. She earned alldivision honors.

For more information about the Riverhead Central School District, please visit the district’s website at www.riverhead. net. Happenings in the district can also be followed on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ riverheadCSD. #BlueWavesPride.

Tiering Up: Municipal Unions Rally for Pension Reform

By Matt Meduri

About 30 unions rallied on Friday afternoon at Suffolk Community College’s Brentwood Campus to bring the Governor and the Legislature’s attention to what they say is desperately-needed pension reform.

Tier 5 of the State’s retirement system was created in 2010 to offset economic fallout from the recession. Tier 6 was created in 2012 to address crises in the State budget and to reduce long-term pension costs for municipal employees.

While Tier 6 guarantees a monthly pension for life, a five-year vesting period, among other benefits, a variety of union officials and employees and a bipartisan slate of elected officials say that the negatives outweigh the positives.

Critics also argue that many employees are doing the same work as their Tier 4 colleagues, but are not receiving the same benefits. That, in part, has led to what many characterize as “pension penalties,” as well as decreased net recruitment.

“It needs to go back to Tier 4, because [Tiers] 5 and 6 eroded pensions,” Senator Mario Mattera (R-St. James), a forty-four-year veteran of Plumbers Local 200, told The Messenger. “Give the people who work for their pensions the dignity, a decent wage, decent health care.”

Mattera added that collecting overtime has also been a headache for many employees, an example of a “pension penalty.” He also praised State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli (D-Great Neck Plaza) (pictured right) for ensuring the State’s investments are up. But regarding the ongoing delays in the State Budget, he’s not entirely optimistic that Governor Kathy Hochul (D-Hamburg) will deliver.

“I have a feeling it’s going to be a Band-Aid fix, but it’s not going back to Tier 4. It needs to go back to Tier 4,” said Mattera. “The Governor is very good at sugarcoating things. This is an election year; she’s going to try to do whatever she has to do. We need to go forwards, not backwards”

Governor Hochul is running for re-election this November.

Along with Mattera and a bipartisan host of local elected and union officials was the Comptroller himself at Friday’s rally.

Associations (PBAs) and was composed of dozens of unions, including, but not limited to Suffolk AME, IBEW, AFL-CIO, NYSUT, PCNY, the Teamsters, as well as law enforcement from Yonkers and the MTA.

“They told you that you were essential, but they can’t afford you,” said Suffolk PBA President Lou Civello (pictured left). “We sacrifice for that next generation. We make sure that our kids have everything we never got. And this state functions the exact opposite way. We steal from the future.”

Civello added that with each tier, “we hurt the next generation, so much so that people don’t want these jobs anymore.” He also referenced Officers Joe Damon and Jonathan Diller, both killed in the line of duty, as emblematic of the sacrifice that law enforcement professionals endure.

“These are the people that make this state run, and the promise of a decent retirement for 30 years of service risking your life, running into fires, or grading papers long after everybody else turned their lights off, was the tradeoff.”

He also criticized the State as having a “whole lot of money for a lot of other things.”

“This isn’t about greed. People who are in public service dedicate, risk, and sacrifice,” said Nassau County PBA President Tommy Schevlin. “We give up time with our family to protect your family, to teach your family. We deserve to be able to afford to live in New York - especially here on Long Island.”

“You are the backbone of our Long Island communities,” DiNapoli told a firedup crowd at Suffolk Community College’s Brentwood Campus. “I’ve lived here all my life; I see your efforts every day. I may not know each of your names, but I do know the work that you do.”

DiNapoli, who grew up in Albertson with a CWA shop steward father and a CSEA member mother, brought some good news for an otherwise contentious topic.

“I can report to you that the public pension plans in New York, unlike so many other cities and states, are well-funded. Our plan is one of the bestfunded in America,” said DiNapoli. According to a February 11 statement from his office, DiNapoli reported that the estimated value of the New York State Common Retirement Fund is $297.8 billion, a 2.44% return on investment for the State’s third fiscal quarter that ended December 31. The Fund’s long-term expected rate of return is 5.9%.

New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) Second President Ron Gross (pictured left), a former teacher of the William Floyd School District, said that so many employees in Tiers 1 through 4 are in the fight with Tier 5 and 6 employees.

“The issues have barely been realized. They haven’t even got to retirement yet. We’re looking at these issues in advice,” said Gross, adding as Tier 4 workers retire, recruitment issues might be ahead in the next few years. “When people are talking about the costs now, what about the costs down the road?”

Police Conference of New York (PCNY) President Michael O’Meara added that keeping attractive retirement options on the table might help New Yorkers think twice about leaving the state.

“The State pension fund continued to grow,” said DiNapoli in that statement. “Drops in the stock market, inflation, slower job growth, and broader economic volatility remain risks.” However, he said the “real challenge” is what the rankand-file “recruitment and retention” experience.

“Here we are years later and some of the concerns that so many of us raised have certainly come to pass,” said DiNapoli, who was one of the initial opponents of Tier 6 in 2012.

The rally was organized by the Suffolk and Nassau Police Benevolent

“We’ve got to strike while the iron’s hot,” said O’Meara, as the State Budget drags into overtime.

“If it keeps going this way, our grandchildren will be Tier 9,” said NYS Public Employees Conference (NYSPEC) Chairman Peter Meringolo.

Ralph Raymond, Second Vice President of the State Association of Fire Districts, said New York lost 100,000 municipal employees over the last five years.

“Last time I looked, there was nobody on the bench,” said Raymond. “We need to fix this so we can continue to provide our residents with the proper fire protection, police protection, and services.”

Senator Monica Martinez (D-Brentwood) (pictured left), a former Brentwood Schools teacher, said that public servants don’t go into it “for the money,” rather, “we love to give back to the communities, not only those we live in, but which actually made us who we are today.”

Senator Jack Martins (R-Great Neck) (pictured bottom left) said that the State’s budget is $250 billion, $16 billion more than last year

“If you’re going to increase spending in this state by $16 year-over-year, there is absolutely no reason to not do the right thing. There’s enough money to do it,” said Martins. “Let’s not fix Tiers 5 and 6; let’s kill Tiers 5 and 6.”