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VOL. 60 NO. 3
JANUARY 15-21, 2026
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ELDER LAW ESTATE PLANNING MEDICAID GUARDIANSHIPS Rochelle L. Verron, Es q. ESTATE & TRUST Founder & ADMINISTRATION Managing Partner
Eight-alarm blaze in North Amityville on New Year’s night By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Courtesy Steve Gravano, Town of Babylon
Babylon Town Supervisor Richard Schaffer and County Executive Ed Romaine in a warm exchange before Schaffer is sworn to another term by the county executive.
Schaffer and town officials take oath of office in Babylon By CAROLYN JAMES cjames@liherald.com
Richard Schaffer was sworn in for a new term as Babylon town supervisor on Monday, January 5, marking the start of his 14th year in the role. The ceremony took a notably bipartisan tone, with Schaffer—a Democrat—taking the oath of office from Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine, a Republican. Also sworn in that day were Councilmen Anthony Manetta and Tony Martinez, along with Babylon Town Clerk Gerry Compitello. “I am extremely grateful,” said Schaffer, who became the youngest person to serve as Babylon’s supervisor in the 20th century when first elected in 1992. After stepping away from the role, he returned in 2011 following Steve Bellone’s election as county executive. “It is truly a privilege to serve,” Schaffer said. “I take my job seriously; I love this town
and want to leave it better than I found it.” In introducing Romaine, Schaffer noted their long-standing working relationship from Romaine’s time as Brookhaven town supervisor. “He is from another party, but at his core he wants to do the right thing,” Schaffer said. “He wanted to make sure that he stood up for everybody, gave everybody a fair shake—including me.” Schaffer credited their collaboration for recent progress in town and county government. “We’ve gotten more done in the last year, and I’m looking forward to the next three,” he said, “supporting him and all the initiatives of my fellow town supervisors in Suffolk County.” Romaine returned the praise. “Unless you’ve worked with Rich, you don’t know that this man is a leader,” Romaine said. “He puts the people he represents first. I have always supported Rich because he is the guy who’s going to get things done and work across party lines for the benefit of his conCONTINUED ON PAGE 2
Two North Amityville firefighters are recovering from minor injuries after battling a commercial building fire late New Year’s Day, fire officials said. Firefighters were called around 10:30 p.m. Jan. 1 to reports of smoke and a working fire at a large warehouse on Albany Avenue. Crews arriving on scene immediately searched for occupants and stretched two hose lines into the building, according to John Heidrich, North Amityville Fire Department’s District Supervisor. Firefighters were forced to retreat due to heavy fire and smoke conditions and concerns about a possible roof collapse. Once outside, crews set up tower ladders and began attacking the fire from above.
“They were able to contain the fire to the center of the building, which has several tenants,” said Heidrich. As conditions improved, firefighters reentered the building and extinguished the fire with assistance from multiple neighboring departments, including Farmingdale, North Lindenhurst, Lindenhurst, West Babylon, Amityville, Massapequa and Copiague. The Melville Fire Department responded with a drone unit, officials said. The Wyandanch-Wheatley Heights Ambulance Corps treated the two injured firefighters and one civilian, all of whom sustained minor injuries. “In all, we probably had about 100 firefighters at the scene,” Heidrich said. First Assistant Chief Devon Rhodan was in charge at the scene.
Courtesy Paul Mazza/Zone2 Photos
Volunteers from the West Babylon, Lindenhurst North Lindenhurst and Copiague fire departments rushed to scene of fire in North Amityville.