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Thursday, December 4, 2025 ~ Volume 138 ~ Issue Number 3 ~ $1.00
Deck the Halls…Carefully! By Matt Meduri
The classic tradition of getting a Christmas tree, putting it in its stand, adorning it with decorations, and leaving it as a classy focal point of the living room isn’t optional for most people; it’s a must. But Suffolk County Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Services (FRES) urges that residents must also take great care when decking the halls, as the holidays can quickly turn tragic if proper precautions aren’t taken. Suffolk FRES took the liberty of demonstrating what a house fire would look like with a watered and cared-for tree, as opposed to one that is neglected. The watered tree is unexpectedly resistant to the flames, while the unwatered tree lights almost instantaneously, with the rest of the room and the house not too far behind. Continued on page 5
Suffolk firefighters simulate a fire with a watered tree against a dry tree in Yaphank (Credit - Suffolk FRES)
Town Earns Bronze Designation
as Nitrogen Smart Community By Matt Meduri
Long Beach in Nissequogue (Credit - Town of Smithtown)
FULL STORIES ON:
New Column: The FRES Files Page 4
The Mattera Report Page 10
Lou Zara Seeks 2nd Term in Hauppauge F.D. Page 15
The Town of Smithtown has earned a new designation – being one of two towns on Long Island to achieve Bronze Status in the New York State Nitrogen Smart Communities Program. Smithtown joins the Town of North Hempstead as the only two municipalities on the Island to achieve this feat. The program, established by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and the Long Island Regional Planning Council (LIRPC), highlights local governments committed to combating nitrogen pollution and protecting water quality. The distinction means Smithtown has taken steps to safeguard its groundwater, salt marshes, and estuaries. Continued on page 10