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Tree Lighting Illuminates Mastic Beach for the Holidays
The sky was lit with the colors of the holidays, and Santa made an appearance Saturday at the Greater Mastic Beach Chamber of Commerce's annual tree lighting hosted by Ultimate Mower on Commack Road. There were giveaways for the kids, and cheery music rang through the community courtesy of Party 105.3 and Big Hits 98.1, which gave out prizes for holiday music trivia.
Who Was Walter T. Shirley?
While many are familiar with the South Shore community known as Shirley, not everyone knows it was named for the developer who put the area on the map–Walter T. Shirley.
911 Service Restored in Suffolk: A Close Call with Crisis Averted
It has been a week since Suffolk County grappled with a 911 emergency system outage, which lasted over twelve hours and highlighted the importance of reliable communication in emergencies. As the community reflects on this incident, the focus has shifted to learning from this experience and bolstering system reliability.
Local Food Pantries Illuminate Holiday Season with Acts of Kindness
As the holiday season blankets Long Island in a warm, festive glow, an underlying issue often escapes the spotlight. Behind the picturesque landscapes and cozy neighborhoods, more than 200,000 Long Islanders, including nearly 70,000 children, wrestle with food insecurity. The struggle to put food on the table is a stark reality for many, but during these challenging times, the unsung heroes of local food pantries step up.
Incoming County Legislator Arrested
Suffolk Legislator-Elect Catherine Stark was arrested over the weekend by Riverhead Town Police on charges of operating a vehicle while impaired. Set to take over the office held by Legislator Albert Krupski, where she served as chief of staff, Stark revealed she is battling cancer, and had taken prescribed medication in the hours preceding the arrest.
Lucky Spin at Jake's 58 Brings $2.3 Million Jackpot
A spin at the Wheel of Fortune Triple Stars game at Jake's 58 turned into a $2.3 million payoff for an East Northport resident last week, the biggest payout ever at the Islandia casino.
Christmas Parade Canceled Due to Weather, No Rain Date, Community Disappointed
Mother Nature did a Bah Humbug on the annual holiday parade sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce of the Mastics & Shirley for Sunday, leaving residents disappointed and flustered over the popular event having no rain date.
Brookhaven C.A.R.E.S. Forum Highlights Critical Housing Initiatives
Brookhaven Town Hall was the venue for Brookhaven C.A.R.E.S. Rental Housing Forum, an event highlighting its efforts to address the current affordable housing crisis. Deputy Commissioner of Housing and Community Development Marie M. Michel, alongside Diane Castro, Rental Subsidy Program Coordinator, spearheaded the forum to discuss key housing initiatives and programs. This gathering was particularly significant in highlighting the various housing assistance programs and their accessibility to residents of Brookhaven.
COVID Water Assistance Extended
Residents who have trouble paying their water bill can get help through the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program.
Fire Ravages Tesla's Shoreham Lab
He was a renowned inventor responsible for many advancements of our electronic age, and his memory was being preserved through the creation of the Nikola Tesla Science Center at Wardenclyffe, the location of his Shoreham laboratory. The grand plan to open his 16-acre facility to the masses received a tragic setback last week from a fire that damaged what was to become a global innovation center, educational facility, and museum.
Santos Expulsion: NY Republicans Push Effort and Side with Democrats Again
On Friday, December 1, George Santos was voted out of the House of Representatives by a vote of 311-114 (2 present). An overwhelming majority of Democrats voted in favor, while a substantial percentage of Republicans voted against. The move to oust Santos has been pursued and led by local Congressman Nick LaLota for several months now, and the Democrats finally delivered the outcome he desired.
Romaine Brokers Historic Sewer Deal
Not wasting any time in tackling the most pressing environmental issue faced by Suffolk, County Executive-Elect Edward Romaine has brokered a consensus between stakeholders to support the expansion of sewers and help homeowners convert to clean water septic systems. The agreement, made between environmental groups, building trades, and government officials, will put the question of raising the county's sales tax an eighth of a cent before residents in a November referendum, a vote that was scuttled by the Suffolk Legislature this year due to objections over the funding formula.
Travesty Strikes College Football
This Sunday afternoon changed the course of College Football forever, and the dominos continue to fall. Not only will this be the last time we ever have a four team college football playoff, but it is also the last time we will see many teams in their respective conferences. Beginning in 2024 there will be an expanded playoff format, as well as key teams moving to new conferences, and by all accounts the end of the Pac 12 as well. All of this should have been enough to make us say that nothing will be the same for college football fans, but this selection committee also gave us a game changing decision.
Smithtown West Quarterback Makes His College Choice
One of Long Island's most prolific passers over the last few seasons has finally announced where he will be playing college football next fall as Smithtown West's Brayden Stahl has decided to further his playing career and education at Lock Haven University.
Winter Track is Back
Despite a handful of Suffolk County athletes venturing out west to compete in Cross Country Nationals, some of Section XI's best track athletes began the indoor season at Suffolk Community College's Brentwood Campus or ventured into New York City to race at the prestigious Armory Indoor Track in Washington Heights, throughout different time frames during the week, just about every team in the county competed.
Girls and Boys Basketball Roundup
This past week, New York State Public High Schools began their Winter Sports programs across the state. Here are the following results from the first games of the year for the handful of Girls and Boys Basketball teams that had scheduled games.
Gay Sports Group Criticizes Football Players Over Beliefs
During the previous week, the National Football League allowed players to wear custom cleats that promote awareness to a certain topic or promote a charitable organization that is doing positive things off the field.
Wayne R. Sill, Marine, Business Owner
Wayne R. Sill of Shoreham, a former Brookhaven Town GOP Zone Leader and Committeeman, passed away at age 79. The U.S. Marine and Veterans Advocate had his own business, Sill's Oil Service, and worked in the Brookhaven Parks Department. He was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.
Israel Resumes Strategic Strikes in Gaza Post Truce Failure
Israel Resumes Strategic Strikes in Gaza Post Truce Failure
The Expulsion of Rep. George Santos: Unpacking GOP Divisions, Public Implications, and Congressional Precedent
The Expulsion of Rep. George Santos: Unpacking GOP Divisions, Public Implications, and Congressional Precedent
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GOP Blasts Hochul’s $260B Budget as Bloated, Unaffordable
Republican and conservative leaders sharply criticized Gov. Kathy Hochul’s proposed $260 billion state budget, calling it bloated, irresponsible and a major driver of New York’s affordability crisis.
Opinion: Hochul Goes for Gold in Gaslighting
The Worst Governor in America Kathy Hochul wins a gold medal in gaslighting for falsely claiming her proposed $260 billion budget “does not raise taxes.”
New York Seeks More Volunteer Firefighters Amid Decline
New York’s volunteer fire and emergency services are facing a gradual decline in personnel, prompting renewed efforts to recruit and retain volunteers across the state.