News by Robert Chartuk
News by Robert Chartuk on South Shore Press
Fiscal Challenges Confront New Suffolk Executive
Financial challenges lay ahead of the fledgling Romaine administration as the new Suffolk executive confronts a number of issues left in the wake of his predecessor, Steve Bellone. With a Republican in control of the county's top administrative post for the first time in 12 years and the GOP controlling the legislature, officials said they have their work cut out for them in putting Suffolk's fiscal house back in order, rebuilding its aging infrastructure, and providing better services to the taxpayers.
Assemblyman Thiele to Wind Up 45-year Public Service Career
Winding up 30 years in the state legislature and a 45-year public service career, Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele, Jr. announced he will not seek reelection in November. Having served as an elected official for 37 years, Thiele successfully ran for public office 19 times and represented Suffolk's East End in the assembly longer than anyone in history.
Mass Shooting Event Drilled in Suffolk
Shooting victims streamed out of the St. Joseph the Worker Roman Catholic Church in East Patchogue and were directed to a triage area where they were readied for transport to local hospitals. A Suffolk Police helicopter ferried out the worst of them while personnel from 25 local emergency services and community agencies assisted under the watchful eye of officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the New York Office of Emergency Management.
Democrat Red to Blue List Targets Three New York Seats
National Democrats have created a hit list for Congressional seats they have targeted in November, and three New York Republicans are on it. GOP wins in the state helped flip the House in 2022, and the Democrats are looking to take it back.
Bill Guiducci, Community Pillar
The community mourns the loss of William "Bill" Guiducci, a pillar of Mastic-Shirley who was behind many service organizations and efforts to help his neighbors. The former banker, 80, was a member of St. Jude's RC Church for more than a quarter century and was active with the Knights of Columbus, the Rotary Club of the Mastics and Shirley, Kiwanis, and Grace Lutheran Church of Mastic Beach. He is survived by his long-time friend, Peggy, an active partner in all of his charitable activities.
Rafay Cheema is the Rotary Student of the Month
Suffolk Legislator Jim Mazzarella joined with fellow Rotary Club members, Dr. Fred Miller and Josephine Piech, in recognizing William Floyd High School's Rafay Cheema as Rotary Student of the Month.
Suffolk County Water Authority Hosts Official Forum
Meeting at the authority's Education Center in Hauppauge, the officials engaged in crucial discussions on emerging contaminants, aging infrastructure, advanced treatment systems, lead service lines, and efforts to connect homes to the public water system.
Romaine Names Police Leadership Team
Continuing in the role as acting commissioner will be Robert Waring, who took over the department after the November departure of Rodney Harrison, the Steve Bellone administration's top cop. Romaine announced Kevin Catalina, a Suffolk Sheriff's Department undersheriff, as a deputy police commissioner, along with Belinda Alvarez-Groneman, a retired county police detective.
Sachem Tobaccus, Early Land Broker
The native people did not subscribe to the concept of land ownership, the divvying up of parcels into private hands. They believed the Earth belonged to all of its inhabitants and were naïve to the intentions of the foreign settlers. This changed when the Montauk Sachem Wyandanch enlisted the help of Lord Lion Gardener to rescue his daughter from the Narragansetts, a hostile tribe from across the Long Island Sound. The Sachem sold a wide swath of land to the Englishman and began approving lots of "accommodation" to the settlers.
Historic Water Protection Plan Announced
A bipartisan coalition of elected officials, environmentalists, and business and labor leaders assembled Monday in Hauppauge to announce an "historic" plan aimed at protecting Suffolk's water resources. The strategy calls for raising the county's sales tax an eighth of a cent to fund new sewers and upgrade private cesspools.
Suffolk Legislature Minority Leader Jason Richberg
Previously in the majority, the Democrats in the Suffolk Legislature are led by Minority Leader Jason Richberg of the 15th District. The Wyandanch lawmaker took some time to talk about his priorities with the South Shore Press.
DiNapoli Pegs New York Migrant Problem
Unsustainable spending on the migrant crisis is a serious challenge for New York as the city struggles to deal with the migrants officials invited in under their sanctuary policies, according to an assessment released by the state comptroller.
Rothang Appointed to Open Space Committee
The chief of staff for Suffolk Legislator James Mazzarella, Rothang previously served as executive assistant to former town supervisor Edward Romaine, who's now the county executive.
Officials Double Down on Green Energy, Urge Governor to Move on Sunrise Wind
The $700 million plan to build 90 turbines off Montauk Point and connect them to the mainland via a 123-mile cable at Smith Point is facing some headwinds due to increased construction costs. The state Public Service Commission denied a request by the project's developer, the Denmark-based firm Ørsted, to raise electric rates to cover the higher costs, and Hochul decided to put the project back out to bid.
Police History Museum Dedicated to 42-Year Veteran
"Tom Smith dedicated a remarkable 42 years of service to both the Suffolk police and the then-Village of Babylon Police Department," noted County Executive Ed Romaine at a dedication ceremony at police headquarters in Yaphank. A true historian at heart, Thomas Smith played a pivotal role in inaugurating the police museum on January 25, 1985, Romaine said.
CPS Staffing on Romaine Agenda
Romaine, whose grandson shared a classroom with the East Moriches youngster, promised to backfill vacancies in the department to relieve a heavy workload, a chief complaint of CPS staff. "I'm reaching out to Adelphi, Hofstra, and Stony Brook universities for potential employees through their schools of Social Welfare," Romaine said in an interview with the South Shore Press. "We will do everything in our power to make sure we don't have another tragedy like we suffered with Thomas Valva."
Frank Calabro, Country Doctor
"Doc Senior" was the epitome of a country doctor, a familiar sight making house calls in his big black car. He turned the former Lawson Estate into Bayview Hospital, which he bricked over and doubled in size. For his dedication to his friends and neighbors, the doctor was revered by many and was honored as a Man of the Year.
Body Found at Burned Out Moriches House
A 911 caller reported the fire just before midnight on Wednesday and the Center Moriches Fire Department responded with assistance from the Brookhaven, East Moriches, Manorville, and Mastic departments. The body was found after the blaze was extinguished. The two-story home, which was part of a once-popular farm, was completely destroyed.
Legislator Thorne Discusses 2024 Agenda
After winning a hard-fought battle in his first reelection bid, Suffolk Legislator Dominick Thorne has set an ambitious second-term agenda for the 7th District, targeting new challenges and taking others over the finish line. The Patchogue Republican shook up the political world by beating the legislature's presiding officer for a seat long held by Democrats in 2021 and has been impressing his constituents ever since by his work ethic and ability to get things done.
Test to Detect Alzheimer's Years in Advance
Neurological scientists from Sweden's University of Gothenburg have made a groundbreaking discovery in the fight against Alzheimer's Disease. A new test has been developed to detect the presence of the protein phosphorylated Tau 217, a key marker linked to the onset of the debilitating neurological condition.
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DOT Worker Seriously Injured in LIE Crash
A Department of Transportation employee was seriously injured after being struck by a vehicle on the Long Island Expressway in Holtsville, and the driver has been charged with driving while intoxicated, Suffolk County Police said.