The South Shore Press 3/11

BY ROBERT CHARTUK

Like many Americans, I was riveted to the news as the United States went to war with Iran. After 47 years of listening to “Death to America” and the ayatollahs sponsoring terrorism across the globe, I’m glad to see a president who said enough’s enough.

In less than a week, America’s military might leveled Iranian targets and the rogue nation’s fanatical leadership was annihilated. Pundits can spin all day long about what comes next, but the fact is Iran’s nuclear bomb ambitions and ability to threaten its enemies are gone.

I remember in the late 1970s when Iran held U.S. hostages for 444 days and the oil crisis that followed. We waited in gas lines for hours and felt our prestige as a superpower slipping away. The hostages were released the day Ronald Reagan took office,

driving home the message that who sits in the Oval Office really does matter.

With memories of gas rationing in my head—sales restricted to odd-even days based on your license plate—I took a keen interest in the business of oil during this latest conflict. The cost of gas shot up as Iran targeted the lifeblood of the world’s economy. They fired missiles at refineries and threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, where 20% of the world’s oil passes. Tankers idled as insurance companies declined to cover them.

The price of West Texas crude surged to $119 a barrel overnight on Sunday and then dropped to $88 after President Trump took to the podium for an update on the war and a promise that the U.S. military will make sure that whatever’s left of the Iranian

Oil, War and the Power of The Presidency

military won’t be able to attack ships passing through Hormuz. He promised military escorts if necessary and a $20 billion reinsurance plan to keep the tankers moving.

The president also said the United States is not hurting for oil. The nation leads all other countries in petroleum production and has locked down Venezuela’s oil reserves after arresting its narco-terrorist leader and building a relationship with its new president.

Oil is the queen in President Trump’s international chess match. Losing Venezuela as its financial benefactor and chief source of oil, Cuba’s communist dictatorship is feeling the pressure of democracy. Witnessing the moves of a decisive president, Russia is feeling the heat to end its war against Ukraine, and Chi-

na, with its Belt and Road plan to take over the world, has lost a key source of energy and a long-time American antagonist.

Petroleum has driven wars

and economics since the days it replaced whale oil, and it’s high time we had a president willing to play the cards necessary to keep America on top.

Suffolk Residents Invited to Try New Voting Machines

By Robert Chartuk

Suffolk residents are getting the chance to see and test a new generation of voting machines before they are used in upcoming elections, as the county Board of Elections (BOE) holds demonstrations to familiarize voters with the updated technology.

The demonstrations allow members of the public to step up to the machines, walk through the voting process, and ask questions about how the system works. The county allocated $34.8 million for the new machines and other BOE infrastructure in its 2024 capital plan.

The machines combine digital touchscreen technology with traditional paper ballots, creating what election officials describe as a hybrid system designed to improve accuracy while main-

taining a verifiable paper record of every vote.

Under the new process, voters will check in at their polling place and receive a blank ballot,

like they have done previously. Instead of moving to another station, voters will enter a curtained booth and insert the ballot into the voting machine.

Once the ballot is inserted, a touchscreen interface guides voters through their choices. The system allows them to select their preferred language and cast their votes for each race or ballot question by tapping the screen.

The software is designed to prevent over-voting by blocking selections that exceed the number of candidates allowed for a particular office. Voters are also given the opportunity to review their choices before completing the process.

If a race is left blank, the machine alerts the voter and allows them to return to that contest before finalizing their vote. Write-in candidates remain an option through a touchscreen keyboard that allows voters to type in a name.

Accessibility features are built into the machines to assist voters

with disabilities. Adjustable screens can be lowered and angled for wheelchair users, while handsets with braille instructions and audio guidance help voters who are visually impaired. Additional controls are available for voters with limited mobility. Once the voter confirms their selections, the machine prints the choices onto the paper ballot. The ballot is then cast into a secure lockbox inside the machine, creating a physical record that can be used to verify results if necessary.

Election officials say the machines are not connected to the internet and are designed to provide both security and a clear paper trail for every vote cast. Demonstrations will run to April 17. For dates and locations, visit suffolkcountyny.gov/Departments/BOE.

COVERING ALL OF SUFFOLK

We hope you enjoy your complementary copy of the South Shore Press —our way of welcoming new readers to truly local journalism. In this edition, you’ll see what sets us apart:

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By Bruce Blakeman

New York families are struggling under the weight of some of the highest property taxes in the nation. Yet instead of delivering meaningful relief, Governor Kathy Hochul has chosen to send $1.5 billion in taxpayer money to bail out New York City as it grapples with a budget shortfall under newly elected Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

That decision sends the wrong message to taxpayers across Long Island, the Hudson Valley, and upstate New York.

Reports indicate New York City has already reduced its projected deficit from $12 billion to about $7 billion. Despite that

Why Hochul’s NYC Bailout Should Go to Tax Relief

improvement, Albany is preparing to send $1 billion this fiscal year and another $510 million

next year to help cover the city’s finances. If the state truly has $1.5 billion available, that money should be returned to the taxpayers who earned it—starting with school tax relief for homeowners across New York.

For too long, suburban and upstate taxpayers have been treated as an afterthought in Albany’s budget decisions. Hard-working families are paying thousands of dollars each year in property taxes while also facing rising costs for groceries, energy, and housing. They deserve relief.

Instead, the state continues to funnel massive resources into programs that disproportionately benefit New York City.

Childcare subsidies and voucher programs now cost the state nearly $1.8 billion annually, with the largest share directed to the city.

At the same time, New York City’s policies surrounding its sanctuary city status are placing additional strain on public finances. Reports estimate that spending on services for asylum seekers and related programs will exceed $6 billion over current multi-year plans.

Taxpayers across the state should not be forced to shoulder the burden of policies and spending decisions made by city leaders.

New Yorkers deserve a different approach. As governor,

I would return surplus dollars directly to taxpayers, beginning with school tax relief. I would also end the practice of oneoff bailouts that reward fiscal mismanagement and divert resources away from education, infrastructure, and other essential services that benefit communities statewide.

Every dollar sent to Albany comes from the hard work of New Yorkers. It should be spent responsibly and fairly. Our state needs leadership that stands up for every community, not just the political priorities of New York City.

Bruce Blakeman is the Nassau County Executive and candidate for governor.

Trump47 Proves with Iranian War He is the Disciplined Trader

By Neil W. McCabe

Voters sent President Donald J. Trump back to the White House based on their memories of his first term and the comparison with his troubled successor, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

There was also the idea that the synthesis of these two experiences, along with the contemplation that comes with four years in exile, would bring Americans a wiser president, which is exactly what we have now.

In his 1990 book, The Disciplined Trader, Mark Douglas teaches that trades are trades. They are not messages from Heaven or reflections on the trader—just data. You can listen to the data or not, but the market is always right. With Trump47, we see the disciplined trader as president.

President George W. Bush knew by December 2003 there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that serious insurgencies were forming on both the Sunni and Shia sides of the Iraqi coin. Yet the U.S. had combat troops there until the end of 2011 for no good reason at all.

For Bush, Iraq was a losing trade that he held onto for dear life—even doubling down with the 2007–2008 surge—for what? In the first week of Trump’s attacks on the rulers of the Islamic Republic of Iran, members of

the Iraqi Parliament stood up from their seats clapping and chanting together: “Death to America! Death to America!”

It is sad, because we were once so close.

Monday: Disciplined Trader Trump signaled that he was ready to hit the bid on Iran.

Friday: the day before he presided over the dignified transfer of the remains of six servicemembers killed in Kuwait by an Iranian drone to their families, Trump said he was all-in.

He posted on Truth Social: “There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER! After that, and the selection of a GREAT & ACCEPTABLE Leader(s), we, and many of our wonderful and very brave allies and partners, will work tirelessly to bring Iran back from the brink of destruction, making it economically bigger, better, and stronger than ever before.

IRAN WILL HAVE A GREAT FUTURE. ‘MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN (MIGA!).’

Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP”

On Monday, he told reporters his attacks on Iran were a short-term excursion which, having achieved the destruction of Iran’s nuclear facilities and the country’s air force, navy, and ruling oligarchy, meant it was time to wrap things up.

Fair enough. Trump was told there would be an upris -

ing, which has yet to appear. He seems to have accepted that.

Trump was told if he did not want to commit U.S. ground forces, the Kurds were ready to march to Tehran. He told the Kurds to stand down, along with the last shah’s son, Reza Pahlavi.

Douglas warned traders that the market does not give you your money back in a losing trade. It is game over.

“Execute your losing trades immediately upon percep -

tion that they exist,” he said. Even though it will bruise your ego, pain avoidance—or worse, hope—are not trading strategies. A loss is the cost of doing business.

There are Trump supporters who are taken aback when the president ends the Minneapolis immigration law enforcement operation Arctic Frost, or when he moved Kristi Noem from leading Homeland Security to her new post as the envoy to the Shield of the Americas.

Maybe in Trump45 it would have gone differently. Or maybe, while in exile, Trump gave the impression he would hang on to losing trades. That is not the case, and the country is better for it. Trump47 is the disciplined trader as president. Watch, learn, and appreciate.

Neil W. McCabe is a Washington-based journalist and political commentator who covers politics, defense, and policy.

By Rosalie Hanson

Library Cafe Welcomes Dutton Brew House

The Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library officially welcomed a new café vendor with a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrating the opening of Dutton Brew House, a small, family-owned company focused on service, community and family.

Local officials, library board members and staff gathered to mark the opening of the café, located inside the system’s main branch on William Floyd Parkway. Among those attending the celebration were State Senator Dean Murray and Assemblyman Joe DeStefano, who joined library leaders in welcoming the new business.

“This library has become a true community hub, and adding a local family business like Dutton Brew House only makes it stronger,” DeStefano said. “It’s a great place for residents to gather, enjoy a cup of coffee and take advantage of everything this beautiful facility has to offer.”

Murray said the new café enhances what has already become one of the region’s most impressive public facilities.

“The new library on William Floyd Parkway is really the crown jewel of this library system,” Murray said. “With the addition of Dutton Brew House, visitors can enjoy great coffee while spending time reading, studying or attending programs here.”

Dutton Brew House offers specialty drinks, fresh snacks and treats to library visitors. The company is also known for shipping freshly roasted coffee beans to customers around the world, roasting beans to order and delivering them directly to customers’ doors.

The main library facility anchors a growing system that also includes

newer branches in Moriches and Mastic Beach, providing expanded services and gathering spaces for residents across the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley community.

Cafe hours are Monday through Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and closed Sunday.

WFHS Senior Earns Air Force Academy Nomination

By Stefan Mychajliw

William Floyd High School senior Dominick Lauro has earned a congressional nomination from U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer to attend the United States Air Force Academy, bringing him one step closer to his goal of serving as an officer in the Air Force.

The nomination is considered a significant honor. Each year, only the top 25 applicants for each of the five service academy vacancies are selected to interview for one of Schumer’s nominations.

Lauro has built a strong record of leadership, academic achievement and community service during his time at William Floyd High School. A highly decorated member of the school’s Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC), he has served in several leadership roles, including commanding officer, senior enlisted leader and operations officer. He has also served as captain of the program’s Drill Team, Color Guard, Academic Team and Inspection Team.

In the classroom, Lauro has maintained a weighted grade point average of 96.08, ranking 46th among more than 700 students in the Class of 2026.

“Dominick is a driven, disciplined and resilient young man,” said Steven May, his guidance counselor at William Floyd High School. “He is dedicated to serving in the Air Force,

pushing himself to never settle while carving his own path toward success.”

Outside of school, Lauro has been active in the Civil Air Patrol, the civilian auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. He currently serves as a cadet squadron commander and cadet deputy commander. During his time in the program, he earned the Cadet of the Year Award in 2023 and the Amelia

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Lauro has also contributed to his community through volunteer work with local veterans organizations, tutoring and mentoring students, and helping at soup kitchens.

An Eagle Scout, he organized the creation of a veterans memorial wall at St. Jude’s Church as part of his Eagle Scout project.

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LOCAL

By Stefan Mychajliw

Brookhaven officials and emergency responders gathered Feb. 28 to celebrate the annual Installation of Officers for the Mastic Beach Ambulance Company, honoring the volunteers who provide lifesaving emergency medical services to the community.

The ceremony, held at East Wind Caterers in Wading River, brought together first responders, families, and local leaders to recognize the company’s outgoing leadership and formally install officers for the coming year. Among those attending were Brookhaven Town Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig, Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and Suffolk County

Mastic Beach Ambulance Installs Officers at Annual Ceremony

Legislator Jim Mazzarella.

During the event, Dunne Kesnig presented certificates on behalf of the Brookhaven Town Council, acknowledging the dedication of the company’s members and their essential role in protecting residents throughout the area.

“The volunteers of the Mastic Beach Ambulance Company represent the very best of community service,” Dunne Kesnig said. “Their commitment to responding whenever residents need help makes a meaningful difference in the lives of so many families.”

The installation ceremony is a long-standing tradition that highlights the dedication and sacrifice of the ambulance company’s members, who respond

to thousands of emergency calls each year.

The Mastic Beach Ambulance Company traces its roots back to 1948, when it was originally established as part of the Mastic Beach Fire Department. In 1987, the ambulance service separated from the fire department in order to focus exclusively on emergency medical response. Since then, the organization has continued to grow while maintaining its mission of providing high-quality care to the community.

Today, the company operates from its facility on Neighborhood Road and serves a coverage area of approximately 11.8 square miles. The district stretches from Moriches Inlet across Fire Island to Old and New Inlets in the

south and north to Wavecrest Drive.

Staffed by trained volunteers and professionals, the organization also promotes public

health through community outreach, education programs and its Youth Squad, ensuring a continued tradition of service for future generations.

Floyd Faculty Concert Raises $7K for Music Scholarships

By Stefan Mychajliw

The William Floyd School District’s Music Department continued one of its most cherished traditions with the 43rd Annual Music Faculty Scholarship Concert, held before a packed audience at the William Floyd High School auditorium.

The lively evening not only entertained the community but also raised more than $7,000 in scholarships for graduating seniors planning to pursue music education in college.

The annual event features the district’s music teachers and staff stepping into the spotlight, volunteering countless hours to rehearse and perform for students, families and community members. This year’s concert proved to be one of the most successful in

the event’s long history.

“This event has always been a popular tradition for our school

community,” said Dr. Amy Sckipp, coordinator of music for the William Floyd School District.

“Our music faculty volunteers countless hours of preparation to perform for our students and their families. Every year, they strive to put on an even more amazing show. You wonder how they can top the last year and then they do. Floyd Music is one of a kind.”

Music teacher Ryan Feldscher served as emcee for the evening, guiding the audience through a diverse program that featured a wide range of musical styles and creative faculty collaborations.

Performances included popular hits such as Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things,” Miley Cyrus’ “Party

in the USA,” and Avril Lavigne’s “Sk8er Boi.” Faculty ensembles also performed selections from film and theater, including “Pure Imagination” from Willy Wonka, “Married Life” from Up, and “For Good” from Wicked.

Various faculty groups took the stage throughout the night, including the Krusty Clarinet Crew, Floyd Folk Folks, Hall Pass Heroes, and the String Faculty Ensemble. The concert concluded with a high-energy finale performance of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train” by the full music faculty.

Now in its 43rd year, the Music Faculty Scholarship Concert continues to celebrate the talent and dedication of William Floyd’s music educators while supporting future musicians from the district.

Saved from Flames: Crash Survivor Reunites with Heroes

By Stefan Mychajliw

Suffolk County officials reunited with a man whose life was saved by police officers who pulled him from a burning vehicle after a violent crash in Holtsville last November.

Kervens Lesperance survived the Nov. 24 crash thanks to the quick actions of several Suffolk County police officers who rushed to rescue him as flames engulfed his overturned Jeep Cherokee on southbound Nicolls Road.

At a press conference, Suffolk County Police Commissioner Kevin Catalina praised the officers for acting without hesitation.

“As a first responder, when you come across a scene like we’re gonna see today, you don’t think, you just act,” Catalina said. “I want

to commend all of the officers here today for doing just that. They immediately sprang into action, ultimately saving Kervens’ life.”

According to Catalina, Highway Patrol Officer Craig Capobianco was the first to arrive at the scene at about 11:20 p.m. The impact of the crash had sheared off the roof of Lesperance’s Jeep, causing it to overturn and ignite.

Two bystanders were already trying to pull Lesperance from the wreckage, but he was pinned beneath the steering column.

Capobianco grabbed Lesperance and tried to pull him free while K-9 Officer Michael Renna used a fire extinguisher to slow the flames. Officer Robert Stroehlein then reached beneath Lesperance’s legs and helped free

him. As they pulled him from the wreckage, officers Joseph Nofi, Renna and Stroehlein quickly dragged both men away from the burning vehicle while Officer Robert Rosciano helped extinguish the remaining flames and render aid.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine called the officers heroes.

“They wear the uniform of a police officer, but they wear more than that. They wear the uniform of a hero,” Romaine said. “They responded and saved this man’s life.”

Meeting the officers for the first time since the crash, Lesperance expressed gratitude.

“I just want to say, glad that I’m here,” he said. “Thank you for saving me.”

SANTOS UNCENSORED

BY GEORGE SANTOS

For years, Washington’s foreign policy establishment sold the American people a tired lie: that strength abroad must always be paired with hesitation at home. Endless meetings, endless “strategic patience,” endless warnings from career bureaucrats who have never had to answer to the voters. And yet the Middle East only grew more unstable.

President Donald Trump rejected that failed consensus, and the results speak for themselves.

What we are witnessing today is the return of clarity in American leadership. President Trump understands something the foreign policy class often forgets: peace is preserved not through weakness, but through unmistakable strength. When adversaries know the United States is willing to act decisively, the calculus in Tehran, Damascus, and beyond changes overnight.

The President’s recent actions in the Middle East signal exactly that kind of resolve. They send a simple message to regimes that thrive on chaos: the days of testing American patience without consequence are over. For too long, Iran and its network of proxies operated under the assumption that Washington would respond with

A Return to Strength in American Leadership

statements, sanctions, and strongly worded letters. Trump changed that equation.

Critics in the media and on Capitol Hill immediately rushed to the microphones to warn of escalation, as they always do. But these are the same voices who predicted catastrophe when Trump moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. They warned of regional collapse when he brokered historic normalization agreements between Israel and several Arab states. Time and again, the so-called experts were wrong because they underestimate what decisive leadership can achieve.

Trump’s approach is rooted in realism. It recognizes that the Middle East does not reward ambiguity. Allies need to know the United States stands firmly with them. Adversaries need to know provocations carry consequences.

That clarity is why our partners in the region are more willing to cooperate today. It’s why America’s deterrence, badly eroded over the last decade, is being restored.

Let’s also be honest about the political reality in Washington: the old partisan lines on foreign policy are beginning to crack. Even some Democrats who once reflexively opposed

Trump’s every move now quietly acknowledge that projecting strength has stabilized a volatile region. Meanwhile, a small faction of Republicans still clings to isolationist instincts that ignore the strategic importance of American leadership abroad.

History will likely view this moment

not as reckless, but as corrective. President Trump is reminding the world that American power, when exercised with confidence and purpose, can restore balance where chaos once ruled.

And after years of drift, that kind of leadership is exactly what the world has been waiting for.

Cops Cuff Man After Selden Knifepoint Robbery

By Stefan Mychajliw

A Holtsville man has been arrested after police say he robbed a woman at knifepoint inside a building on College Road in Selden, according to Suffolk County police.

Police said Mitchell Taylor, 32, entered the building at 533 College Road armed with a knife and approached a 29-year-old woman at about 8:40 p.m. Investigators said Taylor demanded the woman’s wallet and jacket while threatening her with the knife.

The victim complied with the demand and Taylor fled the building with the stolen items, police said. The woman was not injured during the encounter.

After an investigation, Sixth Squad detectives identified Taylor as the suspect in the robbery. Detectives located him early Wednesday morning at his home on Long Island Avenue in Holtsville.

He was arrested at approximately 1:05 a.m., authorities said.

Taylor was charged with

first-degree robbery, a felony under New York law. Police said the investigation was conducted by detectives assigned to the department’s Sixth Squad.

Taylor is being held overnight at the Sixth Precinct pending arraignment. He is scheduled to be arraigned at First District Court in Central Islip.

Authorities did not release additional details about the circumstances leading up to the robbery or whether the suspect and victim knew each other. Police also did not say whether

the knife used in the robbery was recovered. The incident occurred inside a building on College Road, a busy corridor near several

businesses and residential complexes in Selden.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Suffolk County Police.

Residents in the area reported seeing police activity late Tuesday and early Wednesday as detectives worked to identify and locate the suspect. Authorities said the arrest followed investigative work by Sixth Squad detectives assigned to the case.

The investigation remains ongoing, police said.

Suffolk Sheriff Unveils New Youth Leadership Program

By Stefan Mychajliw

Suffolk County Sheriff Errol D. Toulon, Jr. has announced the launch of a new youth education initiative aimed at helping middle school students build leadership and life skills while strengthening relationships between young people and law enforcement.

The program, called SKILLS, Sheriff’s Kids Improving Leadership and Life Skills, will replace the long-running GREAT (Gang Resistance Education and Training) program that the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office has taught in schools throughout the county

for nearly two decades.

Officials say the change comes as the national GREAT curriculum has become outdated, with its most recent update occurring in 2018.

By developing a new program in-house, the Sheriff’s Office will be able to adapt the curriculum more quickly to address modern challenges facing students.

“We are excited to launch this brand new program aimed at assisting our youth in making good choices and empowering them to be leaders among their peers,” Toulon said.

“The Sheriff’s Office has a

robust presence in our school districts, and this initiative will further strengthen our relationship with the young men and women of our county.”

The 10-week curriculum is designed for sixth-grade students and began rolling out this week in the William Floyd and Brentwood school districts. Officials say creating the program internally also allows the Sheriff’s Office to train instructors without sending officers away for outside certification, saving thousands of dollars in training costs.

The SKILLS curriculum focuses on communication,

decision-making and personal responsibility. Students will learn about topics such as healthy versus unhealthy

social media use, internet safety, identifying trusted adults and recognizing cyberbullying.

Lessons will also address peer pressure, vaping and other emerging trends, while teaching students strategies for saying no and making positive choices.

Additional instruction includes building empathy, improving listening skills and learning techniques for conflict resolution and managing anger.Sheriff’s officials say the program is intended to equip students with tools they can use both in school and throughout their lives.

LOCAL

By Alice Painter

The Suffolk County Fire District Officers Association honored Assemblyman Joe DeStefano as Commissioneru of the Year during the organization’s annual meeting and installation brunch held at East Wind in Wading River.

DeStefano, who recently concluded a distinguished 30-year tenure as a commissioner in the Medford Fire District, is the only individual to receive the honor twice. He was the first-ever recipient of the award when it was introduced in 2016 and was selected again for 2025 in recognition of his decades of leadership and service to the fire service community.

Association President Scott Thebold presented the award, noting DeStefano’s long record of commitment to volunteer firefighting and emergency services across Suffolk County. DeSte -

Assemblyman Honored as Fire Commissioner of the Year

fano currently serves as treasurer of the Fire District Officers Association and has held numerous leadership roles within the regional and statewide fire service community.

Suffolk County Clerk Vincent Puleo, who also serves as state director of the association and is a commissioner with the Nesconset Fire District, was likewise recognized as Commissioner of the Year for 2025.

During the ceremony, DeStefano was presented with a proclamation signed by members of the Suffolk County Assembly Minority delegation, including Assemblymen Doug Smith, Mike Durso, Keith Brown, Jarett Gandolfo, Mike Fitzpatrick and Assemblywoman Jodi Giglio.

Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine and Suffolk County Legislator Dominick Thorne were also in attendance to recognize DeStefano’s long ca -

reer in public safety and public service. DeStefano joined the Medford Fire Department at age 19 and went on to spend more than four decades as a volunteer firefighter and emergency responder. During his 30 years as commissioner, including five terms as chairman of the board, the district completed major capital improvements, including construction of a new main firehouse and renovations to two satellite stations.

Under his leadership, the district modernized its apparatus fleet and expanded benefits aimed at helping recruit and retain volunteer firefighters and EMS personnel.

The ceremony also included presentation of the President’s Award to Tim Edwards of Fire News and Kathryn Machtel, secretary-treasurer of the North Patchogue Fire District.

NY Small Business Optimism Falls Below U.S. Average

By The South Shore Press

A new report on the state of small businesses in New York shows a mixed outlook for entrepreneurs across the state, including thousands of small business owners on Long Island.

The report from the National Federation of Independent Business found that optimism among New York small business owners lagged slightly behind the national average during the summer of 2025, reflecting concerns about hiring, sales expectations, and the broader economy.

The organization’s Small Business Economic Trends survey measured New York’s Small Business Optimism Index at 95.6, about 2.3 points below the national average

of 97.9.

While the number indicates somewhat lower confidence in the future, business owners in New York actually reported stronger assessments of their current busi-

ness health compared with owners elsewhere in the country.

According to the survey, 18 percent of New York small business owners rated the health of their business as excellent, compared

with 11 percent nationally. Another 57 percent said their businesses were in good condition, three points higher than the national average.

The report paints a complex picture of the state’s small business environment. New York owners were more pessimistic about future economic conditions and hiring plans, but more positive about their current financial health.

For many businesses across Long Island’s Main Street districts—from restaurants and retail shops to contractors and service companies—the biggest challenge remains finding qualified workers.

Labor quality was identified as the single most important problem facing small businesses in New York. Rising labor costs ranked

as the second biggest concern, reported by 15 percent of business owners in the state, compared with 9 percent nationally.

Inflation, which was the top issue for many businesses in 2024, declined significantly as a concern. Only 8 percent of New York small business owners listed inflation as their biggest challenge in 2025, down from 18 percent the previous year.

Researchers say uncertainty about future economic conditions remains high, though slightly lower in New York than in the country overall.

The survey draws on responses from small business owners across the state, including those operating throughout Long Island’s diverse small business economy.

State to Fast Track Route 25 Resurfacing Project

By Robert Chartuk

A long-awaited resurfacing of one of Suffolk County’s most battered roadways has been accelerated after months of pressure from local officials and mounting complaints from drivers.

State Senator Dean Murray and Assemblyman Doug Smith announced that Department of Transportation officials have agreed to fast-track a major resurfacing project on Route 25, also known as Middle Country Road, between Route 347 and Adirondack Drive. They also announced a state commitment to $300,000 in emergency pothole repairs.

The resurfacing project, valued at roughly $11 million, was originally expected years down the road as part of the state’s five-year highway and bridge plan. After continued negotiations with NYS-DOT Region 10

Director Richard Causin and wors-

ening road conditions following this winter’s snowstorms, the timetable has been moved up significantly.

Under the revised schedule, the state will begin the bidding process in December 2026. The contractor selected through that process will begin maintaining the roadway during the following winter and start preliminary preparation work. Full resurfacing is expected to begin during the paving season in late spring 2027.

Drivers along the busy corridor have complained for months about potholes, crumbling pavement and hazardous driving conditions, particularly after the harsh winter weather accelerated deterioration along the heavily traveled roadway.

To address the immediate problems, NYS-DOT has also committed roughly $300,000 for emergency pothole repairs and maintenance on five of the worst sections of Route

25 between Route 347 and Adirondack Drive.

Those areas include stretches between Adirondack Drive and Dare Road, North Evergreen Road to Boyle Road, Highview Lane to Marshall Drive, Crown Acres to Hammond Lane, and County Road 97 to Paula Avenue.

Additional areas along the corridor will continue to be maintained by state DOT crews.

Murray said the accelerated timeline came after sustained efforts by local officials, first responders, community leaders and residents pushing the state to act more quickly.

“I applaud and appreciate Director Causin’s willingness to not only listen, but to work with us to find solutions,” Murray said. “To get a major project such as this into the five-year plan and then have it moved up multiple times to its earliest possible

timeline is certainly no easy feat.”

Smith said the improvements will bring needed relief to thousands of drivers who rely on the roadway daily.

“This work will help address the deteriorating conditions and improve safety for drivers, families and first responders who all use this roadway every day,” Smith said.

Added Assemblyman Joseph DeStefano: “This is great news for drivers, local businesses, and the community. A great job by Senator Murray and Assemblyman Smith in getting this done.”

State officials also reminded residents that potholes on state roads can be reported by calling 1-800-POTHOLE (1-800-768-4653).

LOCAL

By Stefan Mychajliw

A 36-year-old Calverton man has been indicted in connection with the fatal stabbing of his mother, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney announced.

Curtis Trent Jr. was charged with second-degree murder in the death of his mother, Kathleen Harrison Trent, 63, who also lived in the Forge Road home they shared. He also faces charges of concealment of a human corpse and tampering with physical evidence.

According to prosecutors, a

LI Son

relative went to the residence on Jan. 29, 2026, and noticed what appeared to be blood in and around the home. After being unable to locate Kathleen Trent, the relative contacted police.

Officers from the Riverhead Town Police Department responded that evening but were unable to find the victim, her vehicle, or her son. Investigators later determined that Kathleen Trent had last been seen two days earlier, on Jan. 27.

When police entered the home, they discovered that the victim’s phone, wallet and medication were still inside, de-

Stabbing Death

spite her vehicle being missing. Investigators also observed what appeared to be blood on the sole of a pair of male sneakers in the house. The sneakers and other items were collected and sent for forensic analysis.

Authorities said Curtis Trent Jr. returned to the Forge Road home in the early morning hours of Jan. 30, driving his mother’s 2017 Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck. Police were waiting at the residence and questioned him about his mother’s whereabouts, but he was unable to provide an explanation. The truck was impounded,

and investigators later allegedly found blood on the tailgate.

Additional evidence was recovered on Feb. 6, when clothing believed to belong to the defendant and appearing to have blood on it was discovered along Mill Road in Manorville.

On Feb. 11, Kathleen Trent’s body was found wrapped in a blanket about 25 feet off Connecticut Avenue in Manorville.

An autopsy determined she died from multiple stab wounds.

Trent was ordered held without bail and faces 25 years to life in prison if convicted. He is due back in court April 22.

HISTORY LESSONS

BY RICHARD ACRITELLI

On February 28th, during an afternoon meeting in Tehran, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and his key government and military advisors were killed in a surprise attack by American and Israeli forces. At a second meeting to determine who would lead the country, another group was killed in a joint American and Israeli strike. Currently, the Persian Gulf, the skies over Iran, its neighboring nations, and the Straits of Hormuz are among the most hostile areas in the world. The United States is dismantling Iran’s vast military resources and nuclear capabilities.

It is expected that Kurdish forces may enter the ground war to help overthrow the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). While the Iranians have launched numerous missiles and drones, their defenses have largely been destroyed, the Americans and Israelis have gained air superiority, and they are hunting down remaining weapon sites. Erratically, the Iranians have widened this war against their own neighbors and even North Atlantic Treaty Organization countries like Turkey and have possibly pushed Saudi Arabia toward flying combat missions with the Israelis.

Since 1979, there has been limited American contact with the strict fundamentalist Islamic regime of Iran, and the United States has relied on other nations to present its concerns. Since the end of World War II, the Americans and British feared a Soviet presence in this strategic, oil-rich nation. The British controlled the majority of Iran’s petroleum rights through the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company and feared a nationalist seizure of those assets.

When Prime Minister Mohammad Mosaddegh moved to nationalize Iranian oil, the British and Americans supported efforts to restore the authority of Shah

FOG OF WAR AND HUMANITY

BY RICHARD ACRITELLI

Two Long Island–raised brothers have joined the Israeli Army as “lone soldiers,” serving in combat units during a period of escalating conflict that now includes fighting tied to the widening war involving Iran.

Their story was told by their mother, Orly Regev, to Gal Swisa Cohen during “The Israeli Bond” podcast on hmTv, a production of the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County.

The twins, sons of Long Island resident Orly Regev, enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) after graduating high school in New York, despite being American-born citizens who had already been accepted to several U.S. colleges.

Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. Rather than sending troops, President Dwight D. Eisenhower approved a covert Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operation known as “Operation Ajax.” The mission was directed in the field by Kermit Roosevelt Jr., the grandson of President Theodore Roosevelt, who helped organize demonstrations and political pressure that ultimately removed Mosaddegh and restored the Shah to power after he had briefly fled the country. A longtime government leader, Mosaddegh had sought to nationalize all Iranian oil and rid his nation of outside “influences.”

From 1953 to 1979, the Shah, England, and the United States established a major alliance that included Western financial aid and major purchases of defense weapons by Iran. Oil profits from the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company enriched both the company and the Shah’s government, and the royal family lived lavishly. The Shah opposed Islamic dissenters, placing many in jail and forcing others into exile.

One of these radical leaders was Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, a religious figure who was later exiled to Turkey, Iraq, and France. The Shah’s secret police crushed dissent among parts of the population that lived below the poverty line. After World War II, the American population, towns, cities, and the economy experienced tremendous growth, and foreign resources were needed to support that expansion. By 1980, the United States imported a significant amount of its oil from Iran and other countries belonging to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

There was growing division over the pro-Western reforms in Iran that pushed many people to support the stringent views of

A History of Conflict: Iran and the United States

Khomeini and oppose the Shah and his outside alliances. As many citizens lacked basic resources and faced poor future prospects, the Shah earned massive oil profits, cracked down on opposition, and supported the United States. For decades, the U.S. relied heavily on foreign fuel and sought to keep Iran as a buffer against the Soviet Union’s desire to control the Persian Gulf. By the late 1970s, major protests targeted the Shah from middle-class liberals, communists, the poor, and militant students who sought no separation between government and religion. Hostile resentment increasingly grew against the Shah as authorities violently suppressed major Islamic protests in the city of Qom.

Khomeini repeatedly labeled America the “Great Satan” and called for death to the United States for supporting the oppressive rule of the Shah. At first, President Jimmy Carter reasoned that the Shah had to promote domestic reforms to meet some of the demands of the opposition. Khomeini returned to Iran, faced little resistance from the military, and took control of the country. Iran became an Islamic Republic, strictly followed sharia law, and vowed to carry out

a “Holy War” against the United States. The Iranian people were further infuriated by the Carter administration’s decision to allow the Shah into the United States to receive treatment for malignant lymphoma. This decision fueled demands that the Shah be returned to stand trial for crimes against his own people.

Tensions deteriorated between the United States and Iran, as staff members of the American Embassy were briefly detained by Iranian forces. While Khomeini ordered the release of 100 American workers, he demanded that the foreign presence in Iran be reduced. Before 1979, about 44,000 Americans lived in Iran, including many government and military workers. The American embassy sent home most of its staff of 1,400 workers and left only seventy to handle the responsibilities of the diplomatic post.

On November 4th, 1979, after several tense months of protests and after Marine guards had already prevented one attempted seizure, the embassy was attacked by Iranian students. This began a national nightmare that lasted 444 days for 66 hostages, who were blindfolded, detained, and paraded in front of television cameras. Khomeini supported the militants, refused to negotiate with Carter, and made only a minimal concession by releasing thirteen women and African American hostages.

Every night, Americans watched news programs such as Ted Koppel’s Nightline to learn about the fate of the hostages and the response of Carter and the government in efforts to free them. Carter first ordered the freezing of Iranian assets and prevented the sale of military parts to Khomeini’s government. As the embassy was seized, six American embassy workers escaped the students and

were rescued by the Canadian government. This account was later depicted in the 2012 film Argo, which portrayed the dangers faced by these Americans who feared being killed by the Iranian government. The film showed the tensions within the government and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) as they attempted to return the Americans safely in what seemed like a near-impossible mission.

About six weeks after the embassy was taken, the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, posing a threat to a large portion of the world’s oil supply. Carter feared communist control of the region and demanded that the Soviet Union withdraw its forces from Afghanistan. When the Soviets ignored American protests, Carter retaliated by boycotting the 1980 Moscow Olympics, halting grain trade, and suspending future arms-reduction treaties.

Americans watched in horror as blindfolded and imprisoned citizens were paraded on television. While the government attempted to negotiate with Khomeini’s regime, the process was extremely slow, and Carter eventually ordered a rescue attempt. On April 24th, 1980, Carter approved the risky plan known as “Operation Eagle Claw,” which called for Special Forces to fly near the American Embassy in Tehran. The plan expected a military team to seize the embassy, rescue the hostages, and be picked up by helicopters waiting at a nearby airfield. This hazardous mission of 118 soldiers was devastated by a desert sandstorm that caused helicopters to malfunction, and later an airplane and helicopter collided, killing eight American service members.

Next week will be a continuation of the history and fighting in Iran.

Long Island Twins Join Israeli Army

Regev, a certified public accountant and mother of three, said the decision reflected the values her family emphasized while raising their children in both Israeli and American cultures.

“My husband and I both served in the army,” Regev said in a recent interview for the Holocaust Memorial and Tolerance Center of Nassau County’s podcast, The Israeli Bond. “For us it was meaningful. We never forced our kids, but they grew up hearing about it and learning about Israel.”

The brothers grew up on Long Island while maintaining close ties to Israel through family visits and participation in Israeli Scouts, a youth movement for Hebrew-speaking children. Both were

active athletes in high school, one a swimmer and the other a rower.

Although they applied to colleges as a backup plan, their primary goal was joining the IDF. “They were accepted into elite combat units,” Regev said. “For them, it felt like a major achievement.”

Their service took on new urgency after the October 7 attacks in Israel, when both soldiers were called to their units and deployed into active combat zones.

One son was sent south toward the Gaza border area, while the other was stationed in northern Israel amid fears of a broader regional conflict.

For Regev, the pride she initially felt quickly turned into constant worry. “You go from pride to fear,”

she said. “When your son goes into a combat zone, you wait for a message that he’s okay.”

The situation has grown even more tense as the conflict in the Middle East has expanded, including Israeli military operations tied to the war involving Iran.

Despite the risks, Regev said both sons remain proud of their service. “They were never afraid the way we were,” she said. “They felt they needed to be there with their unit.”

One of the twins has since completed his service and recently began medical school in Israel, inspired in part by his work as a combat medic during the war. The other remains in the army.

For their mother, the experience has been both difficult and meaningful. “When you raise your children with values about giving back,” Regev said, “eventually they carry those values themselves.” Hear the entire interview with Regev at www.hmtcli.org

SUFFOLK CLOSEUP

BY KARL GROSSMAN

As Gov. Kathy Hochul pushes to make New York the “center” of a revival of nuclear power in the United States, the third in a series of “Forums for a Nuclear-Free New York” was held last week to counter her drive.

Meanwhile, more than 100 organizations—including Sag Harbor-based Coalition Against Nukes, founded by Priscilla Star, its director, and Huntington-based Healthy Planet, its executive director Bob DiBenedetto—sent an “open letter” to Governor Hochul, with copies to other state officials, pushing back on what it called New York’s “failing energy vision.”

It charged there now is an “increasingly likely failure…of will if not the targets themselves… to meet” the climate goals set by a 2019 state law which emphasizes solar and other renewable energy sources.

The “Forums for a Nuclear-Free New York” have been organized by a coalition of environmental organizations. The first was titled “Safe and Affordable Energy,” featuring Dr. Mark Z. Jacobson, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford University and author of “No Miracles Needed,” a book about how existing green power sources led by solar and wind could provide all the energy the U.S. and world require. Also featured was Joseph Mangano, executive director of the Radiation and Public Health Project, who presented research linking nuclear power plants to cancer and other illnesses in communities near them.

The second forum was titled “Why Nuclear Power is Neither Low-Carbon nor Emissions-Free,” and it featured Susan Shapiro, an environmental attorney, and Dr. Marvin Resnikoff, a nuclear physicist who has worked on radioactive issues in the U.S. and interna-

Coalition Grows Against Hochul’s Nuclear Plan

tionally for five decades. A main Hochul claim is that nuclear power is “zero-emission” and thus needed, she says, as an answer to climate change. They countered that the nuclear fuel cycle was heavily carbon-intensive and nuclear power plants themselves emit a radioactive form of carbon, Carbon-14. To claim nuclear is emissions-free “is a fraud on the public,” said Shapiro.

The third forum featured Dr. Gordon Edwards and was titled: “Debunking Nuclear Hopium—Small Modular Nuclear Reactors, Advanced Nuclear Reactors, and Fusion.” Gordon is president of the Canadian Coalition for Nuclear Responsibility. He refuted Hochul’s claim that nuclear power plants are of new “safe” designs, detailing how they continue to be danger-

BY KATHRYN NOCERINO

We all recognize “Native American” totem poles, those painted, carved wood monuments constructed by the peoples of Alaska. Did you know that the ancient Romans also had clan totems? Julius Caesar’s clan totem was the eagle (Aquila). Japanese noble, and perhaps also ordinary, families maintained clan totems, and samurai armor featured these symbols. Imagine if the last thing you ever saw on earth happened to be a gigantic iron butterfly? The Ainu, a nation of primitive white people living in the north

of Japan, hold the bear sacred. The “aboriginal” peoples of Australia and New Guinea also revere totemic animals. Go to the Metropolitan Museum or the Museum of Natural History and look at the carved house poles and the canoes. (Michael Rockefeller was supposed to have been eaten by these people after he made some kind of bad move during an expedition.)

The “American Indians” are supposed to have maintained a kinship with nature, considering animals as another lineage of individuals. Witches were be-

renewables.”

“Nuclear power is one of the most expensive forms of electricity ever invented,” he continued. “New nuclear projects routinely run billions of dollars over budget and take far longer to construct than wind, solar, or energy storage systems, often a decade or more. At a time when we urgently need rapid climate action, can we afford to wait that long? And then there are the risks from uranium mining and radioactive waste to the long-term contamination and residential proximity exposure. Nuclear power carries environmental and human health consequences that can be devastating. The legacy of accidents at places like Chernobyl and Fukushima remind us that while catastrophic failures may be rare, their impacts are profound and long lasting.”

idea of small modular reactors,” one kind of nuclear power plant Hochul is advocating. Their acronym, “SMR,” could also be called “spending money recklessly,” which I believe is a true statement because the small modular reactors are going to be very, very expensive…. “Also, you have more concentrated fission products and activation products” and “that means the structural materials are much closer to the core of the reactor. The materials that are close to the core get very radioactive…. Public money is needed because private funding is very hard to find…. These are big problems.”

He told the story of the proposed Nuscale small modular reactors, but “when the project’s costs rose sharply, the clients down in Utah…backed out of it. And so that project was cancelled in 2023.”

ous and expensive.

The forum was again introduced by Doug Wood, associate director of Grassroots Environmental Education, based in Port Washington.

“We are here today at a critical moment and right here in New York,” said Wood. “Major decisions are being made that will shape our energy system, our environment, and our public health for generations. These decisions are being framed as pragmatic, necessary, even inevitable. But are they?”

He noted that “here in New York, Governor Kathy Hochul has announced plans to pursue new nuclear facilities, citing what is described as a growing electricity demand” which “could be met more safely and affordably through increased efficiency and the rapid deployment of

Wood described Edwards as “one of North America’s leading experts on nuclear power and radioactive waste. For decades, Dr. Edwards has worked to educate the public about the scientific, environmental, and ethical dimensions of nuclear energy. He brings a deep understanding of both the technical realities and the broader societal implications of nuclear policy.”

Edwards began about how “I did not choose this title…‘Debunking Nuclear Hopium,’ but it reminded me of when I was in high school, when nuclear power was presented to me as a high school student as clean, safe, inexhaustible and affordable. And I thought, wow, that sounds great. And I was very much in favor of it.” Then he learned the true facts. And he finds Hopium “accurate.” Its play on the word opium reflects nuclear power being “a combination of blind faith based on partial information and addiction,” he said.

Edwards first discussed “the

Edwards continued detailing design after design, and failures and faults. And a stagnant industry.

“In 1996, there were 438 reactors in operation in the world. By 2019, there were 442, only four more reactors. And meanwhile, the share of nuclear as a share of global electricity use had declined from 17% to 10%, and now it’s gone down to 9%. It’s still going down and nobody expects it to reverse itself anytime soon…. The International Atomic Energy Agency, looking ahead to 2050, sees the most optimistic global electricity market share for nuclear as only about 5%,” Edwards said. “And in the United States and Europe, it steadily declines to between 3% and 5% of the market, constituting a potential for market failure.”

To see and hear the illuminating presentations at the forums, visit: www.grassrootsinfo.org/ forums.

What is Your Clan Totem?

lieved to use “familiars,” animals found around the house (dogs, cats, piglets), as facilitators of magic.

Are you drawn to a particular animal? For example, do you like dogs better than cats? There might be an ancestral basis for this. I own a Haitian sequined voodoo banner (or drapo) with the image of Katia Boissou, a West African fertility deity, which I bought because its name suggested mine and the design looked like something by Miro. This boils down to a basic fact: if you think your folks were

born with table napkins and silverware, you are WRONG. Wrongity wrong wrong.

Do animals think? You bet they do. Are they stooped? Naww. (This is a digression.) It occurs to me that people need “magic,” or perhaps wonder, in order to function. Life is tough. Have we perhaps gone too far in “civilizing” ourselves? I miss the shadowy old church architecture, the stained glass windows, and the Latin Mass. Some character with an acoustic guitar just doesn’t cut it. Why do so many people crowd into Stonehenge for the solstices? So, what do you think your clan totem is?

BOAT AMERICA

The Recreational Boating Safety Course

Held at the Mastics-Moriches-Shirley Community Library at the Moriches Branch, 201 Montauk Highway, Moriches, NY 11955

Saturday, March 14

9:00 AM to 5:00 PM

ABOUT BOATING SAFELY is the recreational boating safety course, presented by the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, and taught by Certified Instructors. During the 8-hour course, you will become familiar with boat handling, navigation rules, common problems, and safe boating practices. Upon completion of the course and passing the multiple choice questions, you will receive a Boating Safety Certificate and a laminated, wallet-sized Card.

This course satisfies the requirements for Federal and New York State Parks and Recreation for personal watercraft (Jet Ski) and recreational boating operators. Participants must be at least 10 years old to attend this class. There is a $50 fee for the 8-hour course, which includes a Boat America study guide that can be picked at any branch after you have registered.

Registration begins at 9:00 AM on Thursday, February 26.

ASK NANCY

BY NANCY BURNER, ESQ.

Q: My elderly aunt does not have a spouse or children and does not have the ability to file her taxes anymore. Can I file taxes for her?

A:If your aunt still has the mental capacity to execute a Durable Power of Attorney (POA), she can make you her agent and you can file taxes on her behalf. If she does not have the mental capacity to execute a POA, you may need to commence a guardianship proceeding to have the ability to file her taxes as her guard -

ian.

If you are not sure whether your elderly loved one has the mental capacity to sign a POA, you should consult an attorney with experience in estate planning and guardianships. According to the New York General Obligations Law, which governs the execution of POAs, there is a presumption that adults over the age of eighteen have the requisite decision-making capacity to execute legal documents. An individual has adequate capacity if he or she understands the nature and consequences of the powers they are bestowing upon the POA agent. Cognitive decline does not always mean mental incapacity. There are situations in which people have mild cognitive symptoms and still have the capacity required to execute legal documents. If it is determined that your loved one lacks the mental capacity needed to execute a POA, a guardianship proceeding must be commenced in Supreme

Can I File a Tax Return for Someone Else?

Court and is the only avenue through which you can lawfully assist with a loved one’s financial matters.

If you are a POA agent, you are not necessarily obligated to file taxes on behalf of the person who established the POA. However, if you are the guardian of an individual, you are required to file income taxes on his or her behalf, depending on their income. If you are unsure whether the individual needs to file an individual income tax return, you should consult an accountant. Guardianship proceedings are burdensome, lengthy, and expensive, so executing a POA before it is too late is crucial. If someone does not have the ability to file taxes for the years preceding death, whoever is appointed as representative of the estate will be responsible for filing any outstanding state or federal income tax returns. To determine your responsibility as representative of an estate or trustee of a decedent’s trust,

you should consult an accountant and an attorney versed in trust and estate matters.

Erin Cullen, Esq., is an associate attorney at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C., focusing her practice on trusts and estates. Brittni Sullivan, Esq., is a partner at Burner Prudenti Law, P.C., focusing her practice on estate planning and elder law. Burner Prudenti Law, P.C. serves clients from New York City to the East End of Long Island, with offices located in East Setauket, Westhampton Beach, Manhattan, and East Hampton.

LIBRARY LIVING

BY TARA D’AMATO Assistant Library Director

Help for Adults at the Library – Get Assistance You Need With Life Issues Free Social Work Assistance provides help from licensed social workers and social work interns who can connect individuals to services and resources for housing and financial assistance, provide referrals for programs, help complete forms and applications, and more. Appointments are required and the service is open to all. Call (631) 3991511 or visit www.communitylibrary. org to check the online calendar for available appointments by day.

GED Prep prepares participants for the High School Equivalency exam with a trained instructor and helps them work toward earning their diploma.

Tuesdays & Thursdays from 7–8:30 p.m. on March 3, 5, 10, 17, 19, 24, 26, 31; April 2, 7, 9, 14, 16, 21, 23.

Job and Career Counseling offers the opportunity to meet with a trained career counselor for help writing a resume for online job listings, discussing career pathways, and receiving guidance in a job search. Appointments are required through the Adult Services Department.

From 10 a.m.–1 p.m. on Saturday, April 4.

NY State Health Insurance Navigator provides assistance enrolling in health insurance through the New York State of Health Marketplace. A NY State of Health Navigator will be available to help residents understand and enroll in coverage. The service is open to all.

Wednesdays from 9:30 a.m.–5 p.m. on March 11, 18, 25; April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29.

Your Finances, Your Medicare explains how Medicare eligibility affects finances in retirement and what to consider when comparing Medicare plans. From 3–4 p.m. on Thursday, March 19.

Catholic Health Community Health Bus offers screenings for common health issues with Catholic Health nurses, including blood pressure readings and blood glucose tests. Residents can also ask questions about diabetes, aging, and learn about medical services available through Catholic Health. The program is open to all. From 10 a.m.–2 p.m. on Thursday, March 26.

LOCAL

By Donna Rolando

A 20-year-plus tradition continues this St. Patrick’s Day with the Brookhaven Free Library’s annual Gold Hunt, on Tuesday, March 17.

“It’s fun. We’re going to have a blast,” said Rita Banellis, head of programming and outreach, who loves to see imagination thrive without competition from technology.

The program starts at 10 a.m. with a story about mischievous leprechauns and reports that they upset books in the library and spilled gold all over the lawn.

Before kids set out in search of what glitters, Banellis said, “We’re going to make a craft—a bag that we decorate

Brookhaven Library to Host St. Patrick’s Day Gold Hunt

with stickers and their names, a treasure bag, as we call it.”

What’s different this year is that older kids will be in school during the hunt, so children ages 2 through preschool can freely find the gold—things like goldwrapped chocolates, Twix, and Rolo. This treasure will “be all over” the side of the library, and if it rains, the hunt moves indoors, she said.

“We thought what a great opportunity to have the little ones have some special time with their family.”

Afterward, back in the library, children and their caregivers can sample Irish soda bread with a spot of tea (or juice) and “just mingle and

dance a bit” to Irish tunes, she added.

This program is open to all Suffolk County library card holders, with registration required online, in person, or by telephone.

In the spirit of the holiday, kids in grades 4 and up can participate in Paper Quilling Shamrock, a craft workshop on Monday, March 16, from 6–7 p.m. at the library, located at 273 Beaver Dam Road. Jennifer Macioce, from Enrichment and Library Services, will demonstrate this art form.

Sign-up for both programs is underway, with details available at brookhavenfreelibrary.org.

PSEG Announces Grants, Rebates for LI Businesses

By The South Shore Press

PSEG Long Island has announced its 2026 Business First financial incentive programs, offering grants, rebates and other support aimed at helping local businesses grow while investing in energy efficiency and electrification.

The utility, which runs the region’s power grid, said the programs include grants of up to $125,000 along with hundreds of thousands of dollars in rebates for projects such as electric vehicle charger installations, heating and cooling upgrades, and other energy-saving improvements.

Long Island’s economy relies heavily on small businesses, with about 90 percent of companies in the region classified as small businesses. PSEG Long Island officials said the programs are designed to strengthen downtown business

districts, support job creation and encourage economic development. Since the program began in 2018, the company has distributed more than $3.4 million in grants to hundreds of local businesses.

One of the key initiatives is the Community Thrive program, which offers grants of up to $10,000 for chambers of commerce, business improvement districts and civic associations to support projects that encourage dining, shopping and activity in local downtown areas. Applications for the program will be accepted through Sept. 30.

Another program, the Main Street Revitalization grant, provides businesses with awards ranging from $2,500 to $100,000 for renovation or expansion projects that improve commercial districts. Eligible work may include interior upgrades, façade improvements and streetscape enhancements.

Projects are evaluated based on economic impact, job creation and benefits to the surrounding community.

The Vacant Space Revival Program offers up to $10,000 in electric bill credits for new businesses occupying commercial spaces that have been vacant for at least one year, helping offset costs during the critical first year of operation.

PSEG Long Island is also offering rebates and incentives for energy efficiency upgrades, including heat pump water heaters, refrigeration systems, heating and cooling equipment and ventilation systems. Multi-family buildings may qualify for rebates of up to $4,000 per apartment for heating and cooling improvements.

Additional incentives are available for businesses installing electric vehicle chargers or transitioning vehicle fleets to electric power, including infrastructure incentives

of up to $200,000. Business owners can learn more about available grants and rebates by contacting PSEG Long Island’s Business First advocates, who

provide guidance on available programs and application assistance. For more info, go to psegliny.com/ businessfirst.

10th Annual Clover 5K Set for East Moriches

By The South Shore Press

Runners and walkers are invited to take part in the 10th annual Debbie Moschello 4-Leaf Clover 5K Run/Walk, scheduled for Saturday, March 21 at East Moriches Middle School.

The event begins at 9 a.m., rain or shine, at the school located at 9 Adelaide Avenue in East Moriches. The annual race is organized by the Seatuck Cove Rotary Club and serves as one of the group’s major fundraisers supporting scholarships and community assistance programs.

Rotary Club President Ro Gencarelli said the event has grown into an important tradition for the organization and the local

community.

“This is our tenth year running the race,” Gencarelli said. “The money we raise goes right back into the community. Almost every year we’ve been able to give five $1,000 scholarships to graduating seniors from the schools in our district.”

Those scholarships rotate among students from the Westhampton Beach, East Moriches and Eastport-South Manor school districts. Gencarelli said many recipients have shared how the funds helped them purchase books or cover part of their college tuition.

Proceeds from the race also help the Rotary Club provide assistance to local families during the

holidays. Each year the club adopts families in need and provides gifts and necessities for parents and children during the Christmas season.

“If we have any funds left after the scholarships, we use that money to help families around Christmas time,” Gencarelli said. “This year we helped two families with several children, and sometimes we also assist a senior citizen who may need a little extra help.”

The race was renamed last year in memory of Debbie Moschello, a longtime Rotary member and club secretary who passed away. Moschello worked as a nurse and served at Camp Paquatuck, and the race now honors her commitment to community service.

Organizers hope to attract about 200 participants this year. Early registration is already underway, with dozens of runners signed up

in the first weeks. Participants can register online at events.elitefeats. com/264leafclover.

LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES

Public Notices

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice of Formation of ETL Advisors, LLC. Articles of Organization filed with Secretary of State of NY (SSNY) on 202602-19. Office location: Suffolk County. SSNY designated as agent of Limited Liability Company (LLC) upon whom process against it may be served. SSNY should mail process to INC AUTHORITY RA, 42 BROADWAY, FL. 12200, NEW YORK, NY, 10004, USA. Purpose: Any lawful purpose.

L16469- 3/4/2026, 3/11/2026, 3/ 18/2026, 3/25/2026, 4/1/2026, & 4/8/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK COUNTY OF SUFFOLK HSBC BANK USA, N.A., AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED NOTEHOLDERS OF RENAISSANCE HOME EQUITY LOAN ASSET-BACKED NOTES, SERIES 2005-2,against- HIDETAKA KOSHITA, ET AL.

NOTICE OF SALE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN pursuant to a Final Judgment of Foreclosure entered in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Suffolk on August 5, 2024, wherein HSBC BANK USA, N.A., AS INDENTURE TRUSTEE FOR THE REGISTERED NOTEHOLDERS OF RENAISSANCE HOME EQUITY LOAN ASSETBACKED NOTES, SERIES 2005-2 is the Plaintiff and HIDETAKA KOSHITA, ET AL. are the Defendant(s). I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction at the BROOKHAVEN TOWN HALL, 1 INDEPENDENCE HILL, FARMINGVILLE, NY 11738, on April 1, 2026 at 10:30AM, premises known as 66 WOODLAND DRIVE, MASTIC BEACH, NY 11951; and the following tax map identification: 0200-980.70-10.00-027.000 F/K /A 0209-027.00-02.00-027.00 F/ K/A 0200-980.70-02.00027.000.

ALL THAT CERTAIN PLOT, PIECE OR PARCEL OF LAND, WITH THE BUILDINGS AND IMPROVEMENTS THEREON ERECTED, SITUATE, LYING AND BEING IN THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, COUNTY OF SUFFOLK AND STATE OF NEW YORK. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index No.: 207810/ 2022. Annette Eaderesto, Esq.Referee. Robertson, Anschutz, Schneid, Crane & Partners, PLLC, 900 Merchants Concourse, Suite 310, Westbury, New York 11590, Attorneys for Plaintiff. All

foreclosure sales will be conducted in accordance with Covid-19 guidelines including, but not limited to, social distancing and mask wearing. *LOCATION OF SALE SUBJECT TO CHANGE DAY OF IN ACCORDANCE WITH COURT/CLERK DIRECTIVES.

L16463- 2/25/2026, 3/04/2026, 3/11/2026, & 3/18/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

REFEREE'S NOTICE OF SALE IN FORECLOSURE SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF SUFFOLK JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, Plaintiff - against - STANLEY DABROWSKI, et al

Defendant(s). Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale entered on January 12, 2023. I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738 on the 20th day of March, 2026 at 9:30 AM. All that certain plot, piece, or parcel of land, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Lake Grove, Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York.

Premises known as 3 Bower Court, Lake Grove, NY 11755. (District: 0208, Section: 004.00, Block: 04.00, Lot: 007.073) Approximate amount of lien $80,723.51 plus interest and costs.

Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed judgment and terms of sale. Index No. 617257/ 2018. Donna England, Esq., Referee. McCalla Raymer Leibert Pierce, LLC Attorney(s) for Plaintiff 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 840 New York, NY 10170 Tel. 347/286-7409

Dated: December 30, 2025 During the COVID-19 health emergency, bidders are required to comply with all governmental health requirements in effect at the time of sale including but not limited to, wearing face coverings and maintaining social distancing (at least 6-feet apart) during the auction, while tendering deposit and at any subsequent closing. Bidders are also required to comply with the Foreclosure Auction Rules and COVID-19 Health Emergency Rules issued by the Supreme Court of this County in addition to the conditions set forth in the Terms of Sale. Auction Locations are subject to change. L16453- 2/18/2026, 2/25/2026, 3/04/2026, & 3/11/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF SALE

SUPREME COURT - COUNTY OF SUFFOLK CMG MORTGAGE, INC., Plaintiff, Against COREY

LEMAY A/K/A COREY M. LEMAY, et al, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 10/23/2017, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, at Brookhaven Town Hall, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, NY 11738, on 4/13 /2026 at 11:00AM, premises known as 30 Balsam Drive, Medford, New York 11763, and described as follows: ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being in the Town of Brookhaven, County of Suffolk and State of New York. District 0200 Section 870.00 Block 03.00 Lot 030.002 The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $318,054.88 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 604459/2015 Thomas Joseph Demayo, Esq., Referee. MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573 Dated: 2/19/ 2026 File Number: 15-311761 CA

L16472- 3/11/2026, 3/18/2026, 3/25/2026, & 4/1/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice of Formation of SHIJIA QIAO AWAKENING COACHING LLC, a limited liability company. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (SSNY) on 12/01/ 2025. Office located in Suffolk County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to SHIJIA QIAO, 96 ROSEMARY LN, CENTEREACH, NY, 11720, USA. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

L16473- 3/11/2026, 3/18/2026, 3/25/2026, 4/1/2026, 4/8/2026 & 4/15/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC SALE: The following Self Storage unit contents containing household and other goods will be sold for cash by StorQuest Self Storage 2021 Lakeland Avenue , Ronkonkoma NY 11779 (631) 954-2026 to satisfy a lien on 03/ 11/2026 at approx. 12PM at www.storagetreasures.com: Unit # - 2269 - 3029 - 30323098 - 3173 - 3251 - 32793290

L16474- 3/11/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

MIDDLE ISLAND FIRE DISTRICT NOTICE OF ADOPTION OF RESOLUTION SUBJECT TO PERMISSIVE REFERENDUM

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that the Board of Fire Commissioners of the Middle Island Fire District, in the Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, at a meeting thereof, held on the 18th day of February, 2026, duly adopted, subject to permissive referendum, a Resolution, an abstract of which is as follows: Expenditure for the purchase of Hurst e-tools, not to exceed $65,000.00 from the Fire Apparatus & Equipment Reserve Fund.

Dated: Middle Island, New York March 5, 2026 BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS OF THE MIDDLE ISLAND FIRE DISTRICT IN THE TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK Chrissy Rosenfeld, District Secretary L16475- 3/11/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice of Formation of PRIORITY ACCESS TRANSPORT SERVICES LLC, a limited liability company. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (SSNY) on 12 /24/2025. Office located in Suffolk County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to ANN MONTOBAN, 819 WOODLAND COURT, CORAM, NY 11727, USA. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

L16446- 2/4/2026, 2/11/2026, 2/ 18/2026, 2/25/2026, 3/04/2026, & 3/11/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice of Public Meeting to Discuss Brookhaven Town Landfill Corrective Measures Assessment

Brookhaven Landfill, originally constructed and operated by New York State Environment Facilities Corporation in 1971, and acquired by the Town in 1976 predated modern landfill regulations and requirements. As the original construction of the landfill Cell 1 in 1971 by the New York State agency and later Cells 2 and 3 constructed by the Town predate modern landfill requirements; groundwater impacts (historic plume) from these cells have been extensively studied, prompting the Town, County and State to assess and implement public water supply to all residents in the area to

limit risk of exposure to elevated groundwater contaminants. Emerging contaminants such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorooactanesulfonic acid (PFOS), and 1,4-dioxane have been identified within the historic plume. The Town will be hosting a public meeting on March 27, 2026 to review the findings of a plume investigation and characterization report as well as to review corrective measure assessments the Town has investigated. This meeting will be held at the Town of Brookhaven Auditorium at One Independence Hill, Farmingville, New York 11738. Attendees may view informational tabling exhibits beginning at 4:00 PM, with the Presentation and listening session beginning at 5:00 PM. Please note that upon the advice of Counsel, the Town recently filed a legal action in the New York Supreme Court, Suffolk County (“Town of Brookhaven v. AMANDA LEFTON, as Commissioner of New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, eta al.”, Suffolk County Clerk’s Index No. 627985/2025) to obtain a judicial interpretation and enforcement of a newly enacted NYS “Municipal Exemption” statute (effective mid-2025) which may directly affect these proceedings. Dated: March 5, 2026 Town of Brookhaven Farmingville, New York

L16476- 3/11/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING Rosemar Construction Corp., 56 Pine Street, Center Moriches, NY 11934, has made application to the Brookhaven Town Board acting as the Planning Board for approval of a site plan construction of a 8,981.7 sq.ft. office building as well as a 5,200 sq.ft. addition to an existing garage, requiring variances for amount of parking and land development standards landscaping and buffering requirements. This proposal is known as 180 Railroad Avenue @ Center Moriches, located on west side of Railroad Avenue, 750’ north of Frowein Road, Center Moriches, Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York and described as follows:

NORTH: Now or Formerly JOY SELTER LLC, Now or Formerly MESSINA NICHOLAS; WEST: CLINTON STREET (NOT OPEN);

SOUTH: Now or Formerly NCI REALTY CORP; EAST: RAILROAD AVENUE, Now or Formerly NEGRIN BAILEY & NEGRIN

JACQUELYN, Now or Formerly FREDRIKSEN JOHN & GERALDINE SPERLING Notice is hereby given that the Brookhaven Town Board acting as the Planning Board will hold a

LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES

public hearing in the Town Hall 2nd floor auditorium, 1 Independence Hill, Farmingville, New York on Thursday, March 26, 2026 at 3:00 P.M., when adjacent property owners and/or others interested in any way in the proposal may appear before the Board to be heard.

A more detailed diagram of the subject property shall be made available virtually at https:// www.brookhavenny.gov/1159/ Meetings At said public hearing, any persons interested shall be given the opportunity to be heard. Anyone interested in submitting written comments to the Board may also do so via email at emccallion@brookhavenny.gov.

DATED: February 27, 2026

Daniel J. Panico, Supervisor

L16470 - 3/11/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

Supplemental Summons and Notice of Object of Action Supreme Court Of The State Of New York County Of Suffolk ACTION TO FORECLOSE A MORTGAGE Index #: 613545/ 2024 Towd Point Mortgage Trust 2018-2, U.S. Bank National Association, As Indenture Trustee Plaintiff, vs Kimberly A. Unger, County Of Suffolk, Jonathan Dembrow As Administrator And As Heir To The Estate Of Nat J. Dembrow, Jessica Zimmerman As Heir To The Estate Of Nat J. Dembrow If Living, And If He/She Be Dead, Any And All Persons Unknown To Plaintiff, Claiming, Or Who May Claim To Have An Interest In, Or General Or Specific Lien Upon The Real Property Described In This Action; Such Unknown Persons Being Herein Generally Described And Intended To Be Included In Wife, Widow, Husband, Widower, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assignees Of Such Deceased, Any And All Persons Deriving Interest In Or Lien Upon, Or Title To Said Real Property By, Through Or Under Them, Or Either Of Them, And Their Respective Wives, Widows, Husbands, Widowers, Heirs At Law, Next Of Kin, Descendants, Executors, Administrators, Devisees, Legatees, Creditors, Trustees, Committees, Lienors, And Assigns, All Of Whom And Whose Names, Except As Stated, Are Unknown To Plaintiff, People Of The State Of New York, United States Of America On Behalf Of The IRS John Doe (Those Unknown Tenants, Occupants, Persons Or Corporations Or Their Heirs, Distributees, Executors, Administrators, Trustees, Guardians, Assignees, Creditors Or Successors Claiming An Interest In The Mortgaged Premises.) Defendant(S).

Mortgaged Premises: 2909 Falcon Avenue Medford, NY 11763 To the Above named Defendant: You are hereby summoned to answer the Complaint in this action, and to serve a copy of your answer, or, if the Complaint is not served with this Supplemental Summons, to serve a notice of appearance, on the Plaintiff(s) attorney(s) within twenty days after the service of this Supplemental Summons, exclusive of the day of service (or within 30 days after the service is complete if this Supplemental Summons is not personally delivered to you within the State of New York). In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. The Attorney for Plaintiff has an office for business in the County of Erie. Trial to be held in the County of Suffolk. The basis of the venue designated above is the location of the Mortgaged Premises. TO Jessica Zimmerman As Heir To The Estate Of Nat J. Dembrow, Defendant In this Action. The foregoing Supplemental Summons is served upon you by publication, pursuant to an order of HON. Susan Betsy Heckman Torres of the Supreme Court Of The State Of New York, dated the TwentyFourth day of February, 2026 and filed with the Complaint in the Office of the Clerk of the County of Suffolk, in the City of Riverhead. The object of this action is to foreclosure a mortgage upon the premises described below, originated by Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. dated March 11, 2008, executed by Kimberly A. Unger to secure the sum of $277,095.00. The Mortgage was recorded at Book 21690, Page 655 in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk on April 2, 2008. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed December 9, 2015 and recorded on June 23, 2016, in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk at Book 22713, Page 418. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed February 17, 2016 and recorded on June 23, 2016, in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk at Book 22713, Page 419. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed February 20, 2018 and recorded on June 13, 2018, in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk at Book 22934, Page 475. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed February 20, 2018 and recorded on June 13, 2018, in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk at Book 22934, Page 476. The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment executed January 11, 2019 and recorded on April 3, 2019, in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk at Book 23016, Page 961.

The mortgage was subsequently assigned by an assignment

executed December 4, 2020 and recorded on December 22, 2020, in the Office of the Suffolk County Clerk at Book 23211, Page 394. The mortgage was subsequently modified on November 18, 2022. The property in question is described as follows: 2909 Falcon Avenue, Medford, NY 11763 NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this Foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT. DATED: February 27, 2026 Gross Polowy LLC Attorney(s) For Plaintiff(s) 1775 Wehrle Drive, Suite 100 Williamsville, NY 14221 The law firm of Gross Polowy LLC and the attorneys whom it employs are debt collectors who are attempting to collect a debt. Any information obtained by them will be used for that purpose. 89338

L16471- 3/11/2026, 3,18/2026, 3/25/2026, & 4/1/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

ANNUAL BUDGET VOTE AND ELECTION 2026 MASTICS MORICHES SHIRLEY COMMUNITY LIBRARY TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a Special District Meeting of the qualified voters of the William Floyd Union Free School District, Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York, will be held at the Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library, Shirley Branch, 407 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, Suffolk County, New York on the 14th day of April, 2026, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M. prevailing time, for the purpose of voting upon a proposition adopting the annual budget for the support and maintenance of the Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library for the fiscal year 20262027 and authorizing the appropriation of the amount necessary to be raised by a levy of a tax upon the taxable property within the William Floyd Union Free School District, Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York; and NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN

of the election of one (1) Trustee of the Board of Trustees of the Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library at such Special District Meeting; the term of such office to run as follows: one candidate to be elected to a full term for the period of July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2031; the incumbent being Joseph Maiorana NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that candidates for the office of Trustee of the Board of Trustees of the Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library shall be nominated by petition, which petition shall be directed to the Clerk of the Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library and shall be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the District; shall state the name and residence of the candidate and shall state the residence of each signer. Said petition shall be filed with the Clerk of the Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library, Business Office, 407 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, Suffolk County, New York Monday through Friday, between the hours of 9 A.M. and 4 P.M., prevailing time, but not later than 5 P.M., Monday, March 16, 2026; and NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that the Board of Registration will meet at the Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library, 407 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, New York on the 7th day of April, 2026, between the hours of 9:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M. prevailing time, at which time the Board of Registration shall prepare the register of the School District, and any person shall be entitled to have his/her name placed upon such register, provided that at such meeting of the Board of Registration she/he is known or proved to the satisfaction of the Board of Registration to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at the Meeting for which such register is prepared; that the register prepared pursuant to Section 2014 of the Education Law, shall be filed in the office of the Clerk of the District at the District Administration Office, 240 Mastic Road, Mastic Beach in said William Floyd Union Free School District; and that the said register shall be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District on each of the five (5) days prior to and the day set for the Meeting (except Saturday and Sunday) from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M., prevailing time; and NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that a copy of the statement of the amount of money which will be required for the year 20262027 for Library purposes, may be obtained by any resident in the District during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding such Special District Meeting and on the day of such Special Meeting, except Sundays or holidays, at the Mastics

Moriches Shirley Community Library, 407 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, New York, in said District, during the hours in which the Library is regularly open for business; and NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that pursuant to the provisions of Section 2018 of the Education Law, voting will be permitted by way of early voting and absentee balloting. Except for those persons whose registration record has been marked permanently disabled by the Board of Elections, pursuant to the provisions of the Election Law, applications for early voter and absentee ballots must be received by the Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library, in person at the Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library, 407 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, New York or by mail c/o Business Office, Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library, 407 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, New York at least seven (7) days prior to the vote by end of business closing 5:00 p.m. (prevailing time) if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter, or the day before the election by end of business closing 5:00 p.m. (prevailing time), if the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter. A list of all persons to whom absentee ballots have been issued will be available in the office of the Library Director of the Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library on each of the five days prior to April 14, 2026, except Saturdays and Sundays. In order to be canvassed, early mail and absentee ballots must be received by the Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library, not later than 5:00 p.m. (prevailing time) on April 14, 2026; and

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that military voters who are qualified voters of the William Floyd School District may request an application for a military ballot from the Library Clerk by mail c/o Business Office, Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library, 407 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, New York; or by email to kbertos@communitylibrary.org. In such request, the military voter shall indicate his/her preference for receiving the application via mail, or email. A military voter must return the original military ballot application to the Library Clerk by mail c/o Business Office, Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library, 407 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley, New York. For a military voter to be issued a military ballot, a valid military ballot application must be received in the office of the Library Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, March 19, 2026. Military ballot applications received in accordance with the foregoing will be processed in the same manner as a nonmilitary ballot application under section 2018-b of the Education

LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES

Law. The application for a military ballot should include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the military ballot by email or mail; and

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN that a military voter’s original military ballot must be returned by MAIL to the Office of the Library Clerk c/o Business Office, Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library, 407 William Floyd Parkway, Shirley NY 11967. Military ballots shall be canvassed if they are received by the library election clerk (1) before the close of polls on election day and showing a cancellation mark of the US Postal Service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement by receipt of another agency of the U.S. government, or (2) not later than 5:00 p.m. on election day and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day before the election; and

NOTICE IS FURTHER HEREBY

GIVEN that a qualified voter whose ability to appear personally at the polling place is substantially impaired by reason of permanent illness or physical disability and whose registration record has been marked “permanently disabled” by the Board of Elections pursuant to the provisions of the Election Law shall be entitled to receive an absentee ballot pursuant to the provisions of the Election Law without making separate application for such absentee ballot; and NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN to all persons who shall have been previously registered for annual or special school district meetings and who have voted at any such annual or special meeting held or conducted any time within the four (4) calendar years prior to April 14, 2026, shall be entitled to vote at this Special District Meeting. In addition, all those who have registered to vote with the Board of Elections of Suffolk County pursuant to Article 5 of the Election Law shall be entitled to vote at this Special District Meeting notwithstanding their failure to have previously registered with the School District. Dated: February 25, 2026 Shirley, New York By order of the Board of Trustees of the Mastics Moriches Shirley Community Library, Shirley, New York

L16464- 2/25/2026, 3/11/2026, 3/25/2026, & 4/8/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

AVISO DE REUNIÓN

ESPECIAL DEL DISTRITO

ESCOLAR CENTRAL DE SOUTH COUNTRY

CIUDAD DE BROOKHAVEN, CONDADO DE SUFFOLK, NUEVA YORK EN NOMBRE DE LA BIBLIOTECA DE SOUTH

COUNTRY

POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que se llevará a cabo una Reunión Distrital Especial de los votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Central de South Country, Ciudad de Brookhaven, Condado de Suffolk, Nueva York, en la Biblioteca de South Country, 22 Station Rd., Bellport, Nueva York, el martes 14 de abril de 2026, a las 9:30 a.m., hora vigente, con el propósito de votar mediante boleta de papel sobre los siguientes temas: (1) Adoptar el Presupuesto

Anual de la Biblioteca South Country para el año fiscal 2026-2027 y autorizar que la parte requerida del mismo se recaude mediante impuestos sobre la propiedad imponible del Distrito Escolar Central de South Country, de conformidad con la sección 259 de la Ley de Educación; y (2) Elegir dos (2) Síndicos de la Biblioteca para cubrir períodos de tres años que comienzan el 21 de mayo de 2026 y terminan el 20 de mayo de 2029.

SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS POR LA PRESENTE que, para votar en dicha reunión el martes 14 de abril de 2026, las urnas estarán abiertas entre las 9:30 a. m. y las 9:00 p. m., hora vigente, y la votación se llevará a cabo en la Biblioteca South Country, 22 Station Rd., Bellport, Nueva York;y

SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS POR LA PRESENTE que cualquier residente del Distrito podrá obtener una copia de una declaración de la cantidad de dinero que se requerirá para el año siguiente para los fines de la Biblioteca South Country, excluyendo los dineros públicos, durante los catorce (14) días inmediatamente anteriores a dicha reunión, excepto los sábados, domingos y feriados, en la Biblioteca ubicada en 22 Station Rd., Bellport, Nueva York, durante el horario comercial habitual, y en el Distrito Escolar entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m. (de lunes a viernes) en el edificio de la Administración del Distrito ubicado en 189 Dunton Avenue., East Patchogue, Nueva York.

SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que las peticiones de nominación de candidatos para el cargo de Síndico de la Biblioteca South Country deben presentarse en la Biblioteca South Country, 22 Station Rd., Bellport, Nueva York, a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. del lunes 9 de marzo de 2026.; dichas peticiones se presentarán entre las 9:30 a. m. y las 5:00 p. m. (de lunes a viernes), hora vigente; cada petición debe estar dirigida al Director de la Biblioteca, debe estar firmada por al menos veinticinco (25) votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar y debe indicar la dirección de residencia de cada firmante y el nombre y la residencia del candidato. Las vacantes en la Junta de la Biblioteca no se

consideran cargos separados y específicos y, por lo tanto, las peticiones de nominación no deben describir ninguna vacante específica en la Junta de la Biblioteca para la cual se nomina al candidato; y SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que el registro personal de los votantes es obligatorio de conformidad con el § 2014 de la Ley de Educación o de conformidad con el Artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral. Si un votante se ha registrado previamente de conformidad con el § 2014 de la Ley de Educación y ha votado en cualquier Asamblea Anual o Distrital Especial dentro de los últimos cuatro (4) años, dicho votante es elegible para votar en esta elección; si un votante está registrado y es elegible para votar de conformidad con el Artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral, dicho votante también es elegible para votar en esta elección. Todas las demás personas que deseen votar deben registrarse. El registro se llevará a cabo con el propósito de registrar a todos los votantes calificados del Distrito de conformidad con el §2014 de la Ley de Educación hasta el miércoles 8 de abril de 2026, entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m., hora vigente en todos los días regulares durante los cuales la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito está en funcionamiento en la Oficina del Secretario ubicada en el Edificio de Administración del Distrito Escolar Central de South Country, 189 Dunton Avenue, East Patchogue, Nueva York, momento en el cual cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se coloque en dicho registro, siempre que en ese momento se sepa o se demuestre a satisfacción de dicho Secretario que tiene derecho en ese momento o en lo sucesivo a votar en dicha Reunión Especial del Distrito para la cual se prepara el registro. El registro preparado de conformidad con el §2014 de la Ley de Educación se archivará en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar en el Edificio Administrativo, 189 Dunton Avenue, East Patchogue, Nueva York y estará abierto para inspección por cualquier votante calificado del Distrito a partir de cada uno de los cinco (5) días anteriores a la fecha establecida para la reunión y estará disponible entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m., hora vigente, los días de semana y el sábado 11 de abril de 2026, mediante cita previa comunicándose con el Secretario del Distrito al (631) 730-1542 o por correo electrónico a cflynn@southcountry.org. Además, la lista de registro estará disponible en la Biblioteca South Country el día de la votación; y SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS POR LA PRESENTE que las solicitudes de boletas de voto en ausencia y de voto

anticipado por correo se podrán obtener en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar (Oficinas Administrativas, 189 Dunton Avenue, East Patchogue, Nueva York) entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m., hora vigente, durante todos los días en que el Distrito Escolar esté en sesión. Las solicitudes completas deben ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito no antes del 16 de marzo de 2026, y antes del 7 de abril de 2065, si la boleta se enviará por correo al votante. Si la boleta se entregará personalmente al votante en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito, la solicitud completa debe ser recibida por el Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. el lunes 13 de abril de 2026. No se examinará ninguna papeleta de voto en ausencia o por correo anticipado a menos que haya sido recibida en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. del día de la votación/elección. Una lista de todas las personas a quienes se han emitido papeletas de voto en ausencia o por correo anticipado estará disponible en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m. cada uno de los cinco días anteriores al 14 de abril de 2026 y el sábado 511 de abril de 2026, mediante cita previa comunicándose con el Secretario del Distrito al (631) 730-1542 o por correo electrónico a cflynn@southcountry.org. No se puede impugnar una papeleta de voto en ausencia sobre la base de que el votante debería haber solicitado una papeleta de voto por correo anticipado. Y ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA POR LA PRESENTE que los votantes militares que no estén registrados actualmente pueden solicitar registrarse como votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Central de South Country solicitando y devolviendo una solicitud de registro al Secretario del Distrito en persona, o por correo electrónico a cflynn@southcountry.org o por fax al 631-286-2457. La solicitud de la solicitud de registro puede incluir la preferencia del votante militar de recibir la solicitud de registro por correo postal, fax o correo electrónico. Los formularios de solicitud de registro de votantes militares deben recibirse en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. del 19 de marzo de 2026. Y ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA POR LA PRESENTE que los votantes militares que sean votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar Central de South Country pueden solicitar una solicitud de boleta militar al Secretario del Distrito en persona, o por correo electrónico a cflynn@southcountry.org o por fax al 631-286-2457. Para que se le emita una boleta de votación militar a un votante

militar, se debe recibir una solicitud de boleta de votación militar válida en la oficina del secretario del distrito a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. del 19 de marzo de 2026. Las solicitudes de boleta de votación militar recibidas de acuerdo con lo anterior se procesarán de la misma manera que una solicitud de boleta de votación no militar según la Sección 2018-a de la Ley de Educación. La solicitud de boleta de votación militar puede incluir la preferencia del votante militar de recibir la boleta de votación militar por correo, fax o correo electrónico. La solicitud de boleta de votación militar original y la boleta de votación militar deben devolverse por correo o en persona a la oficina del secretario del distrito en el Distrito Escolar Central de South Country, 189 Dunton Avenue, East Patchogue, NY 11772. Y ADEMÁS SE NOTIFICA POR LA PRESENTE que las papeletas militares serán escrutadas si son recibidas por el Secretario de Distrito (1) antes del cierre de las urnas el 14 de abril de 2026 mostrando una marca de cancelación del Servicio Postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o mostrando un endoso fechado de recibo por otra agencia del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o (2) no más tarde de las 5:00 p.m. del 14 de abril de 2026 y firmadas y fechadas por el votante militar y un testigo de ello, con una fecha que se determine que no es posterior al día anterior a la elección.

Fecha: 21 de enero de 2026 East Patchogue, Nueva York POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN DISTRITO ESCOLAR CENTRAL DE SOUTH COUNTRY, CIUDAD DE BROOKHAVEN, CONDADO DE SUFFOLK, NUEVA YORK, Christine Flynn, Secretaria del Distrito

L16449 - 2/25/2026, 3/11/2026, 3/25/2026, & 4/8/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

AVISO DE REUNIÓN ESPECIAL DE DISTRITO DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR CENTRAL DE SOUTH COUNTRY MUNICIPIO DE BROOKHAVEN, CONDADO DE SUFFOLK, NUEVA YORK, EN NOMBRE DE LA BIBLIOTECA GRATUITA DE BROOKHAVEN POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que se celebrará una Reunión Especial de Distrito de los votantes cualificados del Distrito Escolar Central de South Country, Municipio de Brookhaven, Condado de Suffolk, Nueva York, en la Biblioteca Gratuita de Brookhaven, ubicada en Beaver Dam Road, 273, Brookhaven, Nueva York, el martes 14 de abril de 2026 a las 10:00 a. m., hora vigente, con el fin de votar mediante papeleta sobre los

siguientes puntos: Aprobar el Presupuesto Anual de la Biblioteca Gratuita de Brookhaven para el año fiscal 2026/2027 y autorizar que la parte correspondiente se recaude mediante impuestos sobre la propiedad imponible del Distrito Escolar Central de South Country. Elegir a dos (2) Fideicomisarios de la Biblioteca para un mandato de cinco años a partir del 1 de julio de 2026. SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que, para la votación en la reunión del martes 14 de abril de 2026, las urnas estarán abiertas entre las 10:00 a. m. y las 8:00 p. m., hora vigente, y la votación se llevará a cabo en la Biblioteca Gratuita de Brookhaven, 273 Beaver Dam Road, Brookhaven, Nueva York. y

POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que cualquier residente del Distrito podrá obtener una copia de la declaración del monto que se requerirá para el año siguiente para los fines de la Biblioteca Gratuita de Brookhaven, excluyendo fondos públicos, durante los catorce (14) días inmediatamente anteriores a dicha reunión, excepto sábados, domingos y festivos, en la Biblioteca ubicada en Beaver Dam Road, Brookhaven, Nueva York, durante el horario de atención habitual, y en el Distrito Escolar, de 9:00 a. m. a 4:00 p. m. (de lunes a viernes), en el edificio de Administración del Distrito, ubicado en 189 Dunton Ave., East Patchogue, Nueva York.

POR LA PRESENTE SE NOTIFICA que las peticiones de nominación de candidatos para el cargo de Fideicomisario de la Biblioteca Gratuita de Brookhaven deben presentarse en la Biblioteca Gratuita de Brookhaven, 273 Beaver Dam Road, Brookhaven, Nueva York, a más tardar a las 5:00 p. m. El lunes 16 de marzo de 2026. Dichas peticiones deberán presentarse entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 5:00 p. m. (de lunes a viernes), hora vigente. Cada petición deberá dirigirse al Director de la Biblioteca, estar firmada por al menos veinticinco (25) votantes calificados del Distrito Escolar e indicar el domicilio de cada firmante, así como el nombre y la residencia del candidato. Las vacantes en la Junta de la Biblioteca no se consideran cargos separados y específicos, y las peticiones de nominación, por lo tanto, no deberán describir ninguna vacante específica en la Junta de la Biblioteca para la cual se nomina al candidato.

SE NOTIFICA ADEMÁS que el registro personal de votantes es obligatorio, ya sea de conformidad con el artículo 2014 de la Ley de Educación o con el artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral. Si un votante se ha registrado hasta el momento de conformidad con el § 2014 de la Ley de Educación y ha votado en cualquier Reunión Anual o Especial del Distrito Escolar

Central de South Country en los últimos cuatro (4) años, dicho votante es elegible para votar en esta elección; si un votante está registrado y si es elegible para votar de conformidad con el Artículo 5 de la Ley Electoral, dicho votante también es elegible para votar en esta elección. Todas las demás personas que deseen votar deben registrarse. El registro se llevará a cabo con el propósito de registrar a todos los votantes calificados del Distrito de conformidad con el §2014 de la Ley de Educación hasta el Jueves, 9 de abril de 2026, entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m., hora vigente, y en todos los días regulares durante los cuales la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito esté en funcionamiento en la Oficina del Secretario ubicada en el Edificio de Administración del Distrito Escolar Central de South Country, 189 Dunton Avenue, East Patchogue, Nueva York. En ese momento, cualquier persona tendrá derecho a que su nombre se incluya en dicho registro, siempre que en ese momento se sepa, o se demuestre a satisfacción de dicho Secretario, que tiene derecho a votar en ese momento o en lo sucesivo en la Reunión Distrital Especial para la cual se prepare el registro. El registro, preparado de conformidad con el artículo 2014 de la Ley de Educación, se archivará en la Oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar, en el Edificio Administrativo, y estará disponible para su inspección por cualquier votante cualificado del Distrito a partir de los cinco (5) días previos a la fecha fijada para la reunión. Estará disponible de 9:00 a. m. a 4:00 p. m., hora vigente, entre semana y el sábado 11 de abril de 2026, mediante cita previa. Para ello, comuníquese con el Secretario del Distrito al (631) 730-1542 o por correo electrónico a cflynn@southcountry.org. Además, la lista de registro estará disponible en la Biblioteca Pública de Brookhaven el día de la votación.

SE NOTIFICA

ADICIONALMENTE que las solicitudes de voto en ausencia y por correo anticipado podrán obtenerse en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar (Oficinas Administrativas, 189 Dunton Ave., East Patchogue, Nueva York) entre las 9:00 a. m. y las 4:00 p. m., hora vigente, durante todos los días de sesiones del Distrito Escolar. Las solicitudes completas deberán ser recibidas por el Secretario del Distrito a más tardar el 16 de marzo de 2026, y a más tardar el 7 de abril de 2026 si la papeleta se envía por correo. Si la papeleta se entrega personalmente al votante en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito, la solicitud completa deberá ser recibida por el Secretario del Distrito a más

tardar a las 5:00 p. m. El lunes 13 de abril de 2026. No se examinará ninguna papeleta de voto en ausencia ni de voto anticipado por correo a menos que se haya recibido en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 17:00 h del día de la votación/elección. La lista de todas las personas a quienes se emitieron papeletas de voto en ausencia y de voto anticipado por correo estará disponible en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito Escolar entre las 9:00 h y las 16:00 h durante los cinco días previos al 14 de abril de 2026 y el sábado 11 de abril de 2026, mediante cita previa. Para ello, comuníquese con el Secretario del Distrito al (631) 730-1542 o por correo electrónico a cflynn@southcountry.org. No se podrá impugnar una papeleta de voto en ausencia alegando que el votante debería haber solicitado una papeleta de voto anticipado por correo.

Y, ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA que los votantes militares que no estén registrados actualmente pueden solicitar su registro como votantes cualificados del Distrito Escolar Central de South Country. Para ello, deben presentar su solicitud de registro personalmente al Secretario del Distrito, enviarla por correo electrónico a cflynn@southcountry.org o enviarla por fax al 631-2862457. La solicitud puede indicar la preferencia del votante militar de recibirla por correo postal, fax o correo electrónico. Los formularios de solicitud de registro de votantes militares deben recibirse en la oficina del Secretario del Distrito a más tardar a las 17:00 h. 19 de marzo de 2026. Y, ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA que los votantes militares que cumplan los requisitos para votar en el Distrito Escolar Central de South Country pueden solicitar una boleta electoral militar al Secretario del Distrito en persona, por correo electrónico a cflynn@southcountry.org o por fax al 631-286-2457. Para que se emita una boleta electoral militar, la oficina del Secretario del Distrito debe recibir una solicitud válida de boleta electoral militar a más tardar a las 17:00 h del 19 de marzo de 2026. Las solicitudes de voto militar recibidas de conformidad con lo anterior se procesarán de la misma manera que las solicitudes de voto no militar, según la Sección 2018-a de la Ley de Educación. La solicitud de voto militar puede indicar la preferencia del votante militar de recibir la boleta por correo postal, fax o correo electrónico. La solicitud original de voto militar y la boleta militar deben entregarse por correo postal o en persona a la oficina del Secretario de Distrito del Distrito Escolar Central de South Country, 189 Dunton Avenue, East Patchogue, NY 11772. Y ADEMÁS, SE NOTIFICA que

las boletas militares serán escrutadas si son recibidas por el Secretario de Distrito (1) antes del cierre de las urnas el 14 de abril de 2026, mostrando una marca de cancelación del Servicio Postal de los Estados Unidos o del servicio postal de un país extranjero, o mostrando un endoso de recepción fechado por otra agencia del Gobierno de los Estados Unidos; o (2) a más tardar a las 5:00 p.m. el 14 de abril de 2026, firmado y fechado por el votante militar y un testigo, con fecha que se verifique no posterior al día anterior a la elección. Fecha: 21 de enero de 2026 East Patchogue, Nueva York

POR ORDEN DE LA JUNTA DE EDUCACIÓN DEL DISTRITO ESCOLAR CENTRAL DE SOUTH COUNTRY, CIUDAD DE BROOKHAVEN, CONDADO DE SUFFOLK, NUEVA YORK

Christine Flynn Secretaria de Distrito

L16458- 2/25/2026, 3/11/2026, 3/25/2026, & 4/8/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

Notice of Formation of BROOKE FOLK MEDIA, LLC, a limited liability company. Articles of Organization filed with the Secretary of State of the State of New York (SSNY) on 12/02/ 2025. Office located in Suffolk County. SSNY has been designated for service of process. SSNY shall mail a copy of any process served against the LLC to 277 MIDDLE COUNTRY RD PMB 1004, SELDEN, NY 11784. Purpose: any lawful purpose.

L16467- 3/4/2026, 3/11/2026, 3/ 18/2026, 3/25/2026, 4/1/2026, & 4/8/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF SPECIAL DISTRICT MEETING OF THE SOUTH COUNTRY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK ON BEHALF OF THE SOUTH COUNTRY LIBRARY NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a Special District Meeting of the qualified voters of the South Country Central School District, Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York will be held at the South Country Library, 22 Station Rd., Bellport, New York on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 9:30 a.m., prevailing time, for the purpose of voting by paper ballot upon the following items: To adopt the Annual Budget of the South Country Library for the fiscal year 2026-2027 and to authorize that the requisite portion thereof be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the South Country Central School District, pursuant

to section 259 of the Education Law; and To elect two (2) Trustees of the Library to fill three-year terms commencing May 21, 2026, and ending May 20, 2029.

FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that for the purpose of voting at such meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the polls will be open between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 9:00 p.m., prevailing time, and voting will be held at the South Country Library, 22 Station Rd., Bellport, New York; and FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a copy of a statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for the South Country Library’s purposes exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any resident of the District during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding said meeting except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from the Library located at 22 Station Rd., Bellport, New York during regular business hours and from the School District between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Monday - Friday) at the District’s Administration building located at 189 Dunton Avenue., East Patchogue, New York.

FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that petitions nominating candidates for the office of Trustee of the South Country Library must be filed at the South Country Library, 22 Station Rd., Bellport, New York, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 9, 2026; such petitions shall be filed between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Monday - Friday) prevailing time; each petition must be directed to the Director of the Library, must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the School District, and must state the residence address of each signer and the name and residence of the candidate. Vacancies on the Library Board are not considered separate, specific offices, and the nominating petitions, therefore, shall not describe any specific vacancies upon the Library Board for which the candidate is nominated; and FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to § 2014 of the Education Law or pursuant to Article 5 of the Election Law. If a voter has heretofore registered pursuant to § 2014 of the Education Law and has voted at any

Annual or Special District Meeting within the past four (4) years, such voter is eligible to vote at this election; if a voter is registered and eligible to vote pursuant to Article 5 of the Election Law, such voter is also eligible to vote at this election. All other persons who wish to vote must register. Registration shall be conducted for the purpose of registering all

LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES • LEGAL NOTICES

qualified voters of the District pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law through Wednesday, April 8, 2026, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time on all regular days during which the Office of the District Clerk is in operation at the Office of the Clerk located in the South Country Central School District Administration Building, 189 Dunton Avenue, East Patchogue, New York, at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such register, provided that at such time he or she is known, or proven to the satisfaction of said Clerk to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such Special District Meeting for which the register is prepared. The register so prepared pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the School District in the Administration Building, 189 Dunton Avenue, East Patchogue, New York and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District beginning on each of the five (5) days prior to the date set for the meeting and shall be available between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, weekdays and on Saturday, April 11, 2026, by pre-arranged appointment by contacting the District Clerk at (631) 730-1542 or by email to cflynn@southcountry.org. In addition, the registration list shall be available in the South Country Library on the day of the vote; and FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applications for absentee and early mail ballots will be obtainable from the office of the Clerk of the School District (Administrative Offices, 189 Dunton Avenue, East Patchogue, New York) between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, during all days on which the School District is in session. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than March 16, 2026, and by April 7, 2026, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter. If the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter at the office of the District Clerk the completed application must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2026. No absentee or early mail voter’s ballot shall be canvassed unless it shall have been received in the office of the Clerk of the District not later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the vote/election. A list of all persons to whom absentee and early mail ballots have been issued will be available in the School District Clerk’s office between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on each of the five days prior to April 14, 2026, and on Saturday, April 11, 2026, by pre-arranged appointment by contacting the District Clerk at (631) 730-1542 or by email to cflynn@southcountry.org. A

challenge to an absentee ballot may not be made on the basis that the voter should have applied for an early mail ballot. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the South Country Central School District by requesting and returning a registration application to the District Clerk in person, or by email to cflynn@southcountry.org or fax sent to 631-286-2457. The request for the registration application may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the registration application by either mail, fax, or email. Military voter registration application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 19, 2026. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the South Country Central School District, may request an application for a military ballot from the District Clerk in person, or by email to cflynn@southcountry.org or fax sent to 631-286-2457. In order for a military voter to be issued a military ballot, a valid military ballot application must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m., on March 19, 2026. Military ballot applications received in accordance with the foregoing will be processed in the same manner as a nonmilitary ballot application under Section 2018-a of the Education Law. The application for military ballot may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the military ballot by mail, fax, or email. A military voter’s original military ballot application and military ballot must be returned by mail or in person to the office of the District Clerk at South Country Central School District, 189 Dunton Avenue, East Patchogue, NY 11772. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military ballots shall be canvassed if they are received by the District Clerk (1) before the close of polls on April 14, 2026 showing a cancellation mark of the United States Postal Service or a foreign country’s postal service, or showing a dated endorsement of receipt by another agency of the United States Government; or (2) not later than 5:00 p.m. on April 14, 2026 and signed and dated by the military voter and one witness thereto, with a date which is ascertained to be not later than the day before the election. Dated: January 21, 2026 East Patchogue, New York BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION SOUTH COUNTRY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT, TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK Christine Flynn, District Clerk

L16448 - 2/25/2026, 3/11/2026, 3/25/2026, & 4/8/2026

PUBLIC NOTICE

NOTICE OF SPECIAL DISTRICT MEETING OF THE SOUTH COUNTRY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT TOWN OF BROOKHAVEN, SUFFOLK COUNTY, NEW YORK ON BEHALF OF THE BROOKHAVEN FREE LIBRARY

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that a Special District Meeting of the qualified voters of the South Country Central School District, Town of Brookhaven, Suffolk County, New York will be held at the Brookhaven Free Library, 273 Beaver Dam Road, Brookhaven, New York on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., prevailing time, for the purpose of voting by paper ballot upon the following items: To adopt the Annual Budget of the Brookhaven Free Library for the fiscal year 2026/2027 and to authorize that the requisite portion thereof be raised by taxation on the taxable property of the South Country Central School District. To elect two (2) Trustees of the Library to fill a five-year term commencing July 1, 2026.

FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN, that for the purpose of voting at such meeting on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, the polls will be open between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., prevailing time, and voting will be held at the Brookhaven Free Library, 273 Beaver Dam Road, Brookhaven, New York; and

FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN, that a copy of a statement of the amount of money which will be required for the ensuing year for the Brookhaven Free Library’s purposes exclusive of public monies, may be obtained by any resident of the District during the fourteen (14) days immediately preceding said meeting except Saturdays, Sundays and holidays from the Library located on Beaver Dam Road, Brookhaven, New York during regular business hours and from the School District between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Monday- Friday) at the District’s Administration building located at 189 Dunton Ave., East Patchogue, New York.

FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN, that petitions nominating candidates for the office of Trustee of the Brookhaven Free Library must be filed at the Brookhaven Free Library, 273 Beaver Dam Road, Brookhaven, New York, no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 16, 2026; such petitions shall be filed between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Monday - Friday) prevailing time; each petition must be directed to the Director of the

Library, must be signed by at least twenty-five (25) qualified voters of the School District, and must state the residence address of each signer and the name and residence of the candidate. Vacancies on the Library Board are not considered separate, specific offices, and the nominating petitions, therefore, shall not describe any specific vacancies upon the Library Board for which the candidate is nominated.

FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY

GIVEN, that personal registration of voters is required either pursuant to § 2014 of the Education Law or pursuant to Article 5 of the Election Law. If a voter has theretofore registered pursuant to § 2014 of the Education Law and has voted at any Annual or Special District Meeting of the South Country Central School District within the past four (4) years, such voter is eligible to vote at this election; if a voter is registered and eligible to vote pursuant to Article 5 of the Election Law, such voter is also eligible to vote at this election. All other persons who wish to vote must register. Registration shall be conducted for the purpose of registering all qualified voters of the District pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law through Thursday, April 9, 2026, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time and on all regular days during which the Office of the District Clerk is in operation at the Office of the Clerk located in the South Country Central School District Administration Building, 189 Dunton Avenue, East Patchogue, New York, at which time any person will be entitled to have his or her name placed on such register, provided that at such time he or she is known, or proven to the satisfaction of said Clerk to be then or thereafter entitled to vote at such Special District Meeting for which the register is prepared. The register so prepared pursuant to §2014 of the Education Law will be filed in the Office of the Clerk of the School District in the Administration Building, and will be open for inspection by any qualified voter of the District beginning on each of the five (5) days prior to the date set for the meeting and shall be available between the hours of 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, weekdays and on Saturday, April 11, 2026, by pre-arranged appointment by contacting the District Clerk at (631) 730-1542 or by email to cflynn@southcountry.org. In addition, the registration list shall be available in the Brookhaven Free Library on the day of the vote.

FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that applications for absentee and early mail ballots will be obtainable from the office of the Clerk of the School District (Administrative Offices, 189 Dunton Ave., East Patchogue, New York) between

the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., prevailing time, during all days on which the School District is in session. Completed applications must be received by the District Clerk no earlier than March 16, 2026, and by April 7, 2026, if the ballot is to be mailed to the voter. If the ballot is to be delivered personally to the voter at the office of the District Clerk the completed application must be received by the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, April 13, 2026. No absentee or early mail voter’s ballot shall be canvassed unless it shall have been received in the office of the Clerk of the District not later than 5:00 p.m. on the day of the vote/election. A list of all persons to whom absentee and early mail ballots shall have been issued will be available in the School District Clerk’s office between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on each of the five days prior to April 14, 2026, and on Saturday, April 11, 2026, by pre-arranged appointment by contacting the District Clerk at (631) 730-1542 or by email to cflynn@southcountry.org. A challenge to an absentee ballot may not be made on the basis that the voter should have applied for an early mail ballot. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are not currently registered may apply to register as a qualified voter of the South Country Central School District by requesting and returning a registration application to the District Clerk in person, or by email to cflynn@southcountry.org or fax sent to 631-286-2457. The request for the registration application may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the registration application by either mail, fax, or email. Military voter registration application forms must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 19, 2026. AND FURTHER NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN, that military voters who are qualified voters of the South Country Central School District, may request an application for a military ballot from the District Clerk in person, or by email to cflynn@southcountry.org or fax sent to 631-286- 2457. In order for a military voter to be issued a military ballot, a valid military ballot application must be received in the office of the District Clerk no later than 5:00 p.m., on March 19, 2026. Military ballot applications received in accordance with the foregoing will be processed in the same manner as a nonmilitary ballot application under Section 2018-a of the Education Law. The application for military ballot may include the military voter’s preference for receipt of the military ballot by mail, fax, or email. A military voter’s original military ballot application and military ballot must be returned

THE FANTASY BASEBALL EXPERIENCE

SP is All About SK

By Tom Barton

In fantasy baseball this season, starting pitching feels filled with question marks. Nearly every arm comes with a concern, whether it’s durability, innings limits, or injury history. There are, however, two exceptions that stand above the rest. The two starters with the initials “SK” appear to be the clear top choices on draft boards.

Tarik Skubal and Paul Skenes have both been selected as early as the first round in traditional fantasy drafts. Their combination of upside and stability is difficult to argue against. Skubal anchors a World Series contender and has captured back-to-back Cy Young Awards, while Skenes continues to dominate with elite strikeout numbers and the lowest ERA in baseball over the past two seasons.

Next in the conversation is Garrett Crochet, whose electric strikeout ability keeps him near the top tier. The only concern with Crochet is his past arm issues and questions about workload.

Yoshinobu Yamamoto also carries ace-level talent, but after a heavy workload that included postseason innings and international play, the Los Angeles Dodgers are expected to manage his innings carefully.

After that group, the next tier features pitchers capable of anchoring a staff but who fall just short of being true fantasy aces.

Names like Max Fried, Logan Gilbert, Bryan Woo, Hunter Brown, and Cole Ragans all fit that description. They have the talent to lead a rotation but still come with durability or consistency concerns.

Some pitchers carry more obvious red flags. Hunter Greene has electric stuff, but UCL concerns during camp make him a risky pick. George Kirby may have the best pure arm in Seattle, yet he rarely works deep into games, limiting his fantasy upside.

The injured-list group is loaded with big names returning this season, including Jacob deGrom, Brandon Woodruff, Zack Wheeler, Tyler Glasnow, and Kyle Bradish. Wheeler and Bradish might

BETTING WITH BARTON

BY TOM BARTON

It’s called March Madness, not NCAA Tournament Madness, for a reason. The chaos begins well before Selection Sunday, starting with conference tournament week in early March. Every year, there is upheaval, surprise runs, and Cinderella teams punching tickets and stealing automatic bids. From a betting perspective, however, this is also a time when overthinking can be costly. While long shots are tempting, certain conferences consistently reward bettors who trust the numbers and follow historical trends.

One of the most reliable examples of a top-heavy conference is the West Coast Conference. In 16 of the past 17 WCC tournaments, the championship game has featured the No. 1 seed against the No. 2 seed. Even more telling, 13 of those 16 finals were matchups between Gonzaga Bulldogs and Saint Mary’s Gaels. This season, Gonzaga and Saint Mary’s are once again seeded first and second. While the odds offer limited value with Gonzaga at -210 and Saint Mary’s at +230, history suggests bettors should resist chasing a long shot in this spot.

The America East Conference has followed a similar script. The championship game has featured

offer the best blend of upside and risk among that group.

For those willing to wait in drafts, late-round value could emerge from young arms like Tanner Bibee and Gavin Williams,

while consistency plays such as Logan Webb, Nick Pivetta, and Luis Castillo remain dependable options.

No matter how you approach starting pitching this season, the

Don’t

the No. 1 seed against the No. 2 or No. 3 seed in 10 of the past 11 seasons. The top seed has won four straight titles, the longest active streak in the nation, reinforcing the advantage of backing favorites in this conference.

The trend continues in the Big Sky Conference, where the No. 1 or No. 2 seed has won 13 of the past 14 tournament titles. Even the Ivy League, which only sends four teams to Ivy Madness, has leaned heavily toward the top of the bracket. The No. 2 seed won five straight titles before the No. 1 seed finally broke through last season.

This approach isn’t limited to mid-majors. In the Big 12 Conference, a team seeded lower than third has won the tournament just twice since 1997.

From a value standpoint, the Southland Conference stands out. One of the top two seeds has reached the championship game every year since 2013, and the No. 1 or No. 2 seed has won 10 of the last 13 tournaments. This year, both Stephen F. Austin Lumberjacks at +125 and McNeese Cowboys at +115 offer plus-money value. Sometimes, the smartest March Madness bet is trusting what history keeps telling you.

position is full of uncertainty. Unless you land one of the “SK” aces early, fantasy managers will need to carefully balance risk versus reward when building their rotation.

Overthink the Madness

SPORTS

By Tom Barton

The winners of the annual “Best of Long Island” awards, presented by FourLeaf Federal Credit Union, have been announced, and the Long Island Ducks were among the most notable winners. The Ducks were led by their record setting mascot QuackerJack. He was named Best Team Mascot, earning his record-setting 16th consecutive Best of Long Island award overall. In addition, 2025 Ducks standout River Town was voted Best Long Island Duck for the first time. Winners were determined through online voting conducted during the fall of 2025.

QuackerJack thanked everyone who cast ballots for him during this year’s contest and is looking forward to celebrating the honor

The Best of LI Awards are Quack-tastic!

throughout the 2026 season. The fan-favorite mascot is especially excited to see the Ducks take the field on Opening Night at Fairfield Properties Ballpark on Tuesday, April 21, at 6:35 p.m. The Ducks want everyone to know that season ticket packages, mini plans, and group tickets are currently on sale, with individual game tickets becoming available on March 10 at LIDucks.com. You also can have the record-breaking Duck attend your upcoming event. Just contact Ducks Promotions and Community Relations Manager Gabrielle Hernandez via email.

River Town had a season for the ages and was awarded for his outstanding play. He was selected to the Atlantic League Postseason All-Star Team in 2025. In his first year with the Ducks, Town

finished tied for second in the league in on-base percentage (.437) and tied for third in triples (7). He ranked fourth in hits (143) and walks (74) and placed fifth in batting average (.326). Over 117 games, the 26-year-old outfielder recorded 13 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 31 doubles while leading the team in runs scored (92), total bases (227), stolen bases (42), and OPS (.954). Defensively, he committed just three errors across 109 games, posting a .986 fielding percentage.

In addition to the two award wins, the Ducks were nominated in three other Best of Long Island categories. The team’s social media presence, @LIDucks, earned a nomination for Best X Account in the Arts and Entertainment category. Fairfield Properties Ballpark was nominated for Best

Family Amusement Place, while the Ducks also received a nod for Best Hot Dog in the food category,

Sabathia to Join Monument Park

@CC_Sabathia | X

By Tom Barton

CC Sabathia was a team leader through and through, delivering New York a championship to go along with a stellar and decorated career. Already selected to the Baseball Hall of Fame, Sabathia will now receive another prestigious honor from the team he will represent in Cooperstown. The New York Yankees announced that Sabathia will join the franchise’s all-time greats with a permanent place in Monument Park.

The Yankees revealed that Sabathia’s No. 52 will officially be retired, with a plaque dedicated in his honor prior to the team’s September 26 game against the Baltimore Orioles. Sabathia shared his

excitement on social media, reflecting on the moment and what it means to his career.

“From the first number that hung in my locker to 52 forever hanging in Monument Park — this HOF journey has come full circle,” Sabathia wrote. “To have my number retired by the New York Yankees this year is one of the greatest honors of my life. The LegaCCy continues.”

Sabathia will become the 24th player in Yankees history to have his number retired, and the first since Paul O’Neill received the honor in 2022.

During his 11-year tenure in pinstripes, Sabathia established himself as one of the most dominant pitchers in franchise history and a cornerstone of the Yankees’

Trump-Backed Tex Hits a Home Run

further showcasing the organization’s impact both on and off the field.

success.

In his first season with New York, Sabathia helped lead the team to a World Series championship and earned American League Championship Series MVP honors. He went on to lead the American League in wins in back-toback seasons in 2009 and 2010, was selected to three All-Star Games, and reached the historic 3,000-strikeout milestone in 2019. Overall, he totaled 134 wins and more than 1,700 strikeouts as a Yankee.

Capping off his remarkable career, Sabathia was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2025, further solidifying his legacy as one of the game’s great competitors and leaders.

By Tom Barton

Former New York Yankee

Mark Teixeira has hit a virtual home run once again, this time off the field. Teixeira, affectionately known as “Tex” during his playing days, won his Republican primary this week, securing 61 percent of the vote to succeed GOP Representative Chip Roy in southwest Texas.

Teixeira received a significant boost ahead of the primary when Donald Trump publicly endorsed him in the race for the open House seat in Texas’ 21st Congressional District. Trump took to Truth Social to praise the former first baseman, writing, “I know Mark well, and he is a TOTAL WINNER, on and off the field! An MLB All-Star,

Mark’s career was ‘loaded up’ with accolades and wins, including five Gold Gloves, three Silver Sluggers, and a World Series Championship.”

The former president went on to commend Teixeira’s family and highlighted several policy positions he said aligned with the current Republican platform. Trump concluded his post by offering his “Complete and Total Endorsement” and expressing confidence that Teixeira would serve the district effectively.

Following the primary victory, Teixeira shared his gratitude on social media. “This is a huge victory, and I’m truly honored to have such strong support from the people of TX-21,” Teixeira wrote on X. “Thank

you!”

Teixeira, who enjoyed a standout Major League Baseball career with teams including the New York Yankees, has transitioned from sports to public service with a message centered on leadership, discipline, and teamwork. His decisive primary win signals strong momentum heading into the general election.

Beyond the political implications, Teixeira’s victory also adds an interesting wrinkle on Capitol Hill. With his athletic background, the Republican Congressional Baseball Team appears poised to gain a powerful new addition, proving once again that Teixeira knows how to win—no matter the arena.

SPORTS

By Tom Barton

When the dust settled at the New York State Division I Wrestling Championships, Section XI stood alone at the top, proving once again that Suffolk County wrestling remains among the elite in New York State. Powered by a dominant showing across multiple weight classes, Section XI captured the team title at the championships held at the MVP Arena.

Section XI finished the tournament with 248.5 team points, narrowly edging out the Catholic High School Athletic Association, which placed second with 240.5 points. The tight margin underscored just how competitive the event was, but consistent performances throughout the brackets allowed Section XI to separate itself

Section XI Top New York State

when it mattered most.

The final team standings reflected a clear divide at the top. Section XI led the field, followed by CHSAA in second.

Section VIII placed third with 191.5 points, while Section I finished close behind with 190.5.

Rounding out the top half were Section IX (180.5), Section V (166.5), and Section III (159.5).

The remaining sections included Section II (116.5), Section IV (46), PSAL (39), and Section VI (38).

Section XI’s championship performance was fueled by depth, balance, and experience.

Wrestlers from Suffolk County advanced deep into their respective brackets, collected key placement points, and delivered clutch victories that consistently added to the team total. Rather than relying on a single stand-

out, Section XI benefited from contributions throughout the lineup, showcasing the strength of its programs.

The title further reinforces Suffolk County’s reputation as a wrestling powerhouse. Year after year, Section XI schools produce state qualifiers, finalists, and champions, and this latest result reflects the system-wide commitment to excellence within the section. From early-round dominance to podium finishes, Section XI controlled the pace of the tournament and earned its place atop the standings.

With another state championship secured, Section XI continues to set the standard for wrestling in New York, demonstrating that its programs are built not just to compete, but to win on the sport’s biggest stage.

The Tomcats Introduce Maverick

By Tom Barton

American Soccer Club–New York was part of a historic weekend as the Long Island Junior Soccer League Convention returned this past weekend at the Hilton Long Island. The event, which had been on hiatus since the COVID-19 pandemic, made its long-awaited comeback as a two-day convention that attracted thousands of attendees from across the region.

“What an incredible weekend for soccer on Long Island,” said ASC New York Managing Partner and General Manager Jim Kilmeade. “I want to congratulate our partners at the Long Island Junior Soccer League on successfully relaunching the convention

and truly galvanizing the soccer community once again.”

One of the highlights of the weekend was the first public

appearance of the Fighting Tomcats mascot, Maverick, who was officially introduced to the Long Island soccer community

on Saturday. “Words cannot describe how excited I am to be the Fighting Tomcats mascot,” Maverick said.

The name Maverick was inspired by the movie Top Gun, starring Tom Cruise as Pete “Maverick” Mitchell. Cruise’s character famously flew the Grumman F-14 Tomcat, often referred to as the “Fighting Tomcat,” which aligns with ASC New York’s team identity. Maverick is now available for appearances at youth soccer events, school assemblies, and community functions.

Fighting Tomcats players were also on hand throughout the weekend, signing autographs and taking photos with young players in attendance. Fans enjoyed interactive activities, including a

prize wheel offering tickets, hats, scarves, and bracelets.

The team participated in demonstrations and meet-andgreet sessions, while ASC New York Head Coach and LIJSL Sporting Director John Fitzgerald spoke multiple times during the convention. “LIJSL and ASC New York are partners supporting players on Long Island,” Fitzgerald said. “The majority of our roster began their soccer journey in LIJSL clubs.”

American Soccer Club–New York will announce additional player signings and schedule details in the coming weeks. The National Premier Soccer League season begins in May, with home matches set to be played at Mitchel Athletic Complex.

USA Hockey Starts Impacting Young Fans

By Tom Barton

The success of the USA Olympic teams has captivated the nation, and with championship performances from both the men’s and women’s squads, expectations are high that their impact will reach future generations. That influence is already being felt at Miller Avenue School, where students recently turned their attention to the Winter Olympics during physical education classes. Throughout the unit, students learned about the Olympic Games and their global significance while being introduced to a variety of winter sports. As part of the lesson, students watched video clips highlighting different Olympic events, helping them better understand how each

sport is played and what it takes to compete at the highest level. The goal was not only education, but inspiration.

During the school’s ice hockey unit, students were encouraged to put their new skills into action by skating, stickhandling, and passing like Olympic athletes. The unit culminated in a fun, high-energy game titled “Team USA vs. Kids Choice,” allowing students to apply what they had learned in a game setting. Teachers also showed clips from recent men’s and women’s USA ice hockey competitions and encouraged students to continue watching the Olympics at home with their families.

Olympic success has long proven to be a powerful catalyst for youth participation in sports. The legendary Mira-

cle on Ice left a lasting mark on American sports culture, inspiring generations of young athletes and helping fuel the growth of hockey across the country. That historic run created new fans, boosted participation at the grassroots level, and elevated the profile of the sport nationwide.

Today, the hope is that recent Olympic victories will spark a similar cultural shift. Both the NHL and women’s hockey programs are eager to see more children lace up skates, step onto the ice, and discover a love for the game. At Miller Avenue School, that inspiration is already taking shape, as students connect Olympic achievement with their own potential, learning that big dreams can begin with small steps on the ice.

SPORTS

By Tom Barton

Star wrestler Gavin Mangano led the Shoreham-Wading River Wildcats at the state championships this past week, capturing his third New York State title and cementing his place among the elite wrestlers in program history.

Mangano didn’t just win another championship — he completed an impressive three-peat, claiming state titles in backto-back-to-back seasons. After winning last year’s championship in Albany while competing on a broken leg, Mangano returned this season fully healthy and wrestling with confidence. Competing in the 144-pound division at the NYSPHSAA Wrestling Championships, he dominated the field on his way

Mangano Three-Peats

to the top of the podium.

His tournament run began with a convincing 17–1 victory in the opening round. Mangano followed that performance by knocking off rival Alex Southworth of Miller Place by a decisive 21–5 score in the quarterfinals. In the semifinals, Mangano showed complete control, cruising to a 16–0 win to earn his spot in the championship bout.

The finals proved to be his toughest challenge of the tournament. Mangano faced Ashten Haley of Cobleskill/ Richmondville in a hard-fought matchup that tested both wrestlers. Despite the pressure, Mangano remained composed and executed when it mattered most, securing a 7–5 decision to claim his third consecutive state

championship.

Mangano was not the only Wildcat to make an impact on the state stage. Andrew Dolson delivered a strong performance, finishing sixth in the 103-pound weight class. Thomas Matias also earned a spot on the podium, placing fifth at 110 pounds. Their success highlighted the depth and strength of the Shoreham-Wading River wrestling program.

Perhaps most encouraging for the Wildcats is that Mangano, Dolson, and Matias are all set to return for the 2026–27 season. With experienced state placers leading the way, the future is bright for Shoreham-Wading River wrestling, as the Wildcats look poised to remain a force at the county and state levels.

The Colonials Come Up Just Short

By Tom Barton

William Floyd basketball made program history this weekend as both the boys and girls teams advanced to the Suffolk County championship games. Although neither team was able to capture the county title, the Colonials still capped off memorable seasons and showcased the strength of the program on Long Island’s biggest stage.

The boys team fell to a strong Bay Shore squad, 61-58, in a tightly contested game that came down to the final moments. William Floyd struggled early and trailed 2211 after the first quarter, but

the Colonials responded with a strong second quarter to tie the game by halftime.

The second half remained a back-and-forth battle. Both teams exchanged baskets

down the stretch, and William Floyd had an opportunity to tie the game in the closing seconds. Bay Shore, however, was able to hold on and secure the narrow victory.

Despite the loss, the Colonials finished the season with an impressive 21 wins between the regular season and playoffs. Their strong performance throughout the year earned them an at-large bid to the New York State tournament. William Floyd will now travel to Binghamton to face the winner of the Section IV championship as their postseason run continues.

The girls team also reached the county final but came up short against Walt Whitman,

Olivia Anello Impresses at States

falling 57-41. While the result was not what the Colonials hoped for, the team still completed one of the most successful seasons in program history.

William Floyd finished the year with 19 wins and several notable achievements. Most importantly, the Colonials reached the Suffolk County championship game for the first time in the history of the girls basketball program. Although neither team captured a county title, both playoff runs highlighted a landmark season for William Floyd basketball and established a strong foundation for the future of the program.

By Tom Barton

Patchogue-Medford High School girls wrestler Olivia Anello enjoyed an outstanding season, achieving success at both the county and state levels. Competing in the 100-pound weight class, Anello captured the Suffolk County championship before going on to place third at the New York State Championships in Albany. Anello’s county title highlighted a dominant performance throughout the Suffolk County tournament. Facing some of the top wrestlers in the region, she demonstrated strong technique, determination and composure on the mat to secure the championship and earn the opportunity to compete at the state level.

At the New York State Championships, Anello continued her impressive run against elite competition from across the state. Wrestling against some of the best athletes in New York, she battled through a challenging bracket to finish in third place, an accomplishment that placed her among the top wrestlers in her weight class statewide. Her performance capped off a memorable season and showcased the strength and growth of the Patchogue-Medford girls wrestling program. Anello’s success reflects not only her hard work and dedication throughout the season, but also the support of her coaches, teammates and school community.

Girls wrestling continues to

grow rapidly across New York State, and athletes like Anello are helping lead the way by demonstrating the talent and competitiveness present in the sport. Her achievements this season serve as an inspiration for younger wrestlers and future members of the program.

The Patchogue-Medford School District congratulates Olivia on these remarkable accomplishments and commends her for representing the school with pride and determination throughout the season.

With a county championship and a podium finish at the state level, Anello’s season will be remembered as one of the most impressive performances in the program’s history.

SPORTS

Offense Leads the Way to Smithtown West’s Title

By Tom Barton

The third time was the charm for the Smithtown West boys basketball team.

The Bulls defeated Half Hollow Hills West 98-68 in the Suffolk County Class AA championship game Saturday afternoon at Stony Brook University, capturing the program’s first county basketball title.

“It’s tremendous. It’s a combination of so much hard work,” head coach Mike Agostino said. “So many days in practice these guys battled all day, every day, and that’s why they’re champions.”

Smithtown West had reached the county title game in each of the past two seasons but came up short both times. This year, the Bulls finally broke through and brought home the championship.

Michael Cascione led the way with a dominant allaround performance. He finished with 28 points, 11 rebounds, eight assists, four steals and three blocks to power the Bulls’ offense and defense throughout the game.

While Cascione’s performance stood out, Smithtown West received contributions from across the roster in the

convincing victory.

Casey Burton recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, helping control the boards. Luke Brown also filled the stat sheet with 16 points, seven rebounds and four assists. Evan Lutzer added 12 points, six rebounds and three assists as the Bulls continued to build their lead.

Tim Bannell made it five players in double figures, finishing with 10 points.

Jax Cascione contributed eight points, two rebounds and three assists, while Dan Braga added three points and two assists. Bill McDonald rounded out the scoring with two points.

The balanced offensive attack helped Smithtown West pull away and secure the historic championship victory. With the county title now in hand, the Bulls will look to continue their postseason run when they compete in the Long Island Class AA championship. Smithtown West will face the Nassau County champion on March 7 at 2:30 p.m. at Stony Brook University.

The matchup will give the Bulls an opportunity to add another milestone to what has already been a historic season for the program.

The Mustangs Go Back-to-Back

By Tom Barton

The Mount Sinai boys basketball team has done it again.

The Mustangs captured the Suffolk County championship for the second consecutive year after defeating King’s Park 62-30 in a dominant performance. The top-seeded Mustangs finished their county playoff run in impressive fashion, improving their overall record to 21-2 on the season.

Mount Sinai wasted little time taking control of the game. The Mustangs came out energized and focused, jumping on King’s Park early and building a 14-4 lead by the end of the first quarter. Their strong defense and efficient offense continued into the second quarter as they extended their advantage and went into halftime with a commanding 28-10 lead.

The Mustangs maintained that momentum in the second

half, continuing to apply pressure on both ends of the court. Mount Sinai won every quarter of the game and steadily pulled away to secure

the decisive victory and another county title. All-around star Brian Vales led the way with an outstanding performance. Vales

finished with 18 points, 12 rebounds and three steals, setting the tone for the Mustangs on both offense and defense.

Andrew McNeely played a pivotal role in the offense as well, recording 14 points and eight assists while helping orchestrate the team’s ball movement throughout the game. Dante Gervino also made a strong contribution, scoring 12 points while adding four rebounds.

Hunter Seale filled the stat sheet with nine points, two rebounds and four assists, while Ethan Arita chipped in three points and grabbed six important rebounds.

Collin Bruder, Alex Campanelli and PJ Sheiffele each added two points to round out the scoring for the Mustangs.

With the Suffolk County title secured, Mount Sinai now turns its attention to the Long Island championship stage. The Mustangs will face Nassau County champion Floral Park in the Long Island Class A championship game Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at Farmingdale State College.

SPORTS

By Tom Barton

The Shoreham-Wading River girls basketball team are the Suffolk County Champions after pulling off a dramatic comeback victory over Mount Sinai. The Wildcats showed heart and determination throughout the game, refusing to give up as they rallied late to secure the title.

Shoreham-Wading River defeated Mount Sinai 44-41 this past week, improving its season record to 20-2 and doing it in a fashion that would make for a great movie script.

Defense set the tone early for both teams. In a tightly contested opening quarter, neither offense was able to find much rhythm as Mount Sinai held a narrow 8-4 lead after the first period. The second quarter saw a slight increase in scoring as the Wildcats began to find their footing offensively. Shoreham-Wading River outscored Mount Sinai 10-9 in the frame but still entered halftime trailing by three points.

The third quarter proved to be a key moment for Mount Sinai, which managed to extend its lead slightly. By the end of the period, the Mustangs had pushed their advantage to four points, setting up

The Wildcats are Suffolk’s Best

what would become a dramatic final quarter.

That’s when the Wildcats offense came alive.

Shoreham-Wading River opened the fourth quarter with a dominant run, scoring 12 straight points to completely swing the momentum of the game. The Wildcats poured in 18 points during the final period, turning a deficit into a late lead with just minutes remaining. The surge proved to be enough as the No. 3 seeded Wildcats completed the upset of the top-seeded Mustangs to capture the Suffolk County championship.

The Wildcats were led by the sister duo of Anabel and Kady Keegan. Anabel finished with a game-high 16 points while Kady added 12 points in the championship victory.

Laurel Coster also contributed in a key way, scoring six points, while Leslie Jablonski and Shealyn Varbero each chipped in five pivotal points to help power the comeback.

The win capped off an impressive season for Shoreham-Wading River, which has relied on balanced scoring, strong defense and resilience throughout the year.

The Wildcats’ ability to stay composed in pressure situa -

tions was on full display in the championship game as they battled back against one of the toughest teams in Suffolk County.

With the county title secured, Shoreham-Wading River now turns its attention to the Long Island championship stage.

The Wildcats will face

Plainedge, which defeated Floral Park 48-28 to claim the Nassau County title. The matchup will take place at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Stony Brook Arena in the Long Island Class A Championship, which serves as the state subregional round.

A victory there would send Shoreham-Wading River one

Floyd’s Track Stars Shine

step closer to a New York State championship and continue what has already been a memorable season for the Wildcats.

After a comeback victory to capture the Suffolk County title, the Wildcats now look to keep their championship run alive on Long Island’s biggest stage.

By Tom Barton

William Floyd High School indoor track had a great week from both the boys’ and girls’ division as runners Zavier Jenkins and Allana Morgan both placed in the top three in their respective events at the Long Island Elite Meet. That competition features the top high school track athletes from Suffolk County, Nassau County and the Catholic League competing for Long Island bragging rights. By earning podium finishes at this large-scale meet, Jenkins and Morgan proved they are among Long Island’s top track athletes.

Jenkins also finished second at the Section XI state qualifier meet in the 300-meter dash and has qualified for the New York State Championship meet this weekend at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island.

In addition to his runner-up finish at the state qualifiers, Jenkins earned a third-place finish at the Long Island Elite Meet, recording a final time

of 35.84 in the 300-meter dash and finishing just milliseconds behind the winner.

a team.

finishes in both the 55-meter dash and the

300-meter dash at the league championships, playing a key role in the team’s success.

At the Long Island Elite Meet, Morgan secured a third-place finish with a final mark of 36 feet, 7.25 inches in the triple jump finals. She also enjoyed a standout season in the event, winning the League I championship and finishing second at the Section XI Large School championship.

Morgan recorded the second-best triple jump mark in school history, reaching 36 feet, 10.5 inches at the Section XI state qualifier meet. Although she finished just one spot shy of qualifying for the state championship, she earned Large School All-County, All-Section, and All-League honors in recognition of her outstanding season.

Morgan also competed as part of the Colonials’ 4x200-meter relay team, which turned in several strong performances throughout the season and earned an invitation to compete at the Long Island Elite Meet.

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