Hauppauge

Legislator Bontempi with Sharyn Cullen-Kutcher, at the Suffolk County Legislature in Hauppaugeduring the Legislature’s EMS Appreciation Recognition. Photo fro Leg. Bontempi's office

Legislator Stephanie Bontempi (R-18th L.D.) recognized Sharyn Cullen-Kutcher during the Suffolk County Legislature’s Emergency Services Appreciation Celebration on May 20 in Hauppauge. The event marked Suffolk County’s observance of “EMS Appreciation Week” and paid tribute to “National EMS Week.”

According to a press release, Cullen-Kutcher has been a dedicated volunteer with the Huntington Community First Aid Squad since 1973, becoming an Emergency Medical Technician within her first year. In 1976, she became certified as an Advanced EMT, before paramedics existed on Long Island, enabling her to perform EKGs, start IVs, and administer medications. Now an EMT-CC (Critical Care), she is trained in advanced life-saving procedures including 12-lead EKGs, intubation, external pacing, chest decompression, and emergency medication administration.

To deliver this high level of care, Cullen-Kutcher and her team continually train to stay current with New York State and Suffolk County REMAC protocols, bringing hospital-level treatment to patients in the field. Over the years, she has contributed to multiple cardiac saves. She has also served on the Suffolk County Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team since its founding in 1984, helping fellow first responders process traumatic experiences and maintain mental wellness.

“Sharyn’s commitment to saving lives and supporting her fellow first responders is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Legislator Bontempi. “We are proud to recognize her for her decades of selfless service to our community.” 

By Steven Zaitz

It was a tale of two Taylors.

In a first-round flag football playoff battle, junior quarterback Taylor Mileti of Hauppauge and Taylor Gabel of Deer Park battled on May 19. Mileti and the Lady Eagles came out on top 25-6, as she rushed for three touchdowns and threw for another.

Hauppauge, with its sublime regular season record of 15-1, is the second seeded team in Suffolk Bracket B entering the playoffs and Deer Park, that last year won only two games but improved that total to nine in 2025, is seeded seventh.

Despite this, both teams were scoreless after 21 minutes of play. Facing a strong Falcon defense and a strong wind in the first half, Mileti converted a touchdown pass on fourth down from the five-yard line to WR Meghan Goutink with 4:03 left in the first half.  It gave the Eagles a 7-0 lead that they took into the halftime break.

Mileti, with the wind at her back for the second half, sailed a punt that pinned Gabel and the Falcon offense inside their own 10-yard line. Getting the ball back with good field position, Mileti scored on a quarterback draw to make the score 13-0 with 18 minutes left in the game. She would run for 128 yards on the day on 14 carries.

On their next drive, Mileti hit her center Brooke Tarasenko for a 12-yard pass play and then followed Tarasenko’s lead block into the end zone to give Hauppauge a 19-0 edge.

Taylor Gabel, who finished in the top 20 in passing yards in Suffolk this year, engineered a 61-yard drive to make the score 19-6 with just over six minutes to go in the game. It gave Deer Park a flicker of hope.

But that flicker was snuffed out when Mileti scrambled and swerved her way to a 44-yard touchdown run along the right sideline to ice the game.  It was her third rushing score of the game and she was mobbed by her teammates in the end zone.

In addition to her big day on the ground, Mileti was 14 for 22 and 75 yards through the air and had 7 flag pulls on defense.  She also had a long punt return in the second half to set up the Eagles second touchdown.

Goutink had five catches for 22 yards and a touchdown and Tarasenko had four for 40 yards.

Defensive lineman Juliana Krause had three quarterback sacks and another tackle for loss and defensive back Stephanie Braun had seven flag pulls. The Eagles will play third seed Eastport-South Manor on May 22 at Hauppauge in the Suffolk Bracket B semifinal round. Deer Park, who won six games in a row before losing to Kings Park in their regular season finale, finishes with a record of 9-7.

— Photos by Steven Zaitz

After weeks of preparation, fourth and fifth grade orchestra students at Pines Elementary School in the Hauppauge School District welcomed New York City-based composer, teacher and Broadway musician Eric Davis, the composer of one of their concert pieces.

Students first performed for Mr. Davis, showcasing their hard work and interpretation of his piece, “Dark Forest Legend.” Following their performance, Mr. Davis took the baton and led an interactive workshop on his composition. He shared stories about the inspiration behind the song, the narrative he hoped to convey and even how his original title was initially rejected by the publisher.

“It’s always rewarding to watch the students work with the original composer,” said orchestra teacher Tracey DeRose. “Seeing them learn directly from the expert is a delight.”

After the workshop, students asked Mr. Davis questions about the life of a composer.

Students asked thoughtful questions, gaining a deeper understanding of what it takes to create music.

Legislator Kennedy (third from right) alongside the paving crew from Rosemar Construction. Photo courtesy Legislator Kennedy’s office

On Thursday, April 24, Leslie Kennedy  (R-Nesconset) visited a Rosemar Construction paving crew while they were repaving the Blydenburgh County Park South Entrance Way. The section of road spans from the entrance on Veterans Memorial Highway in Hauppauge all the way to the Dog Park at Blydenburgh Park. This paving was funded through a 2025 Capital Project grant filed by the Legislator last spring.

“This project has really been 30 years overdue. Blydenburgh has been through a lot in the past year, and this is just one of the many projects we’re working on to make Blydenburgh the park it deserves to be,” said Legislator Kennedy.

Not only is the park actively used for canine recreation, but it is home to a number of camping sites, an interactive playground, numerous hiking trails used by the Long Island Green Belt Trail Group, but it also became home to the Hauppauge Vietnam Veterans Memorial last summer.

When the Stump Pond Dam is re-constructed, once again boating, canoeing, kayaking and freshwater fishing will be restored.

The road paving is just one of many Capital Projects Legislator Kennedy submitted last year. Some of the highlights of last year’s capital projects from the office of the 12th legislative district include but are not limited to silt remediation across the twelfth legislative district, funding for sidewalks in Smithtown and Brookhaven, $2.5 million in funds to repair and replace the weir and sluice way at Miller’s Pond, and $6.5 million to repair and replace the dam at Stump Pond in Blydenburgh County Park.

Hauppauge High School’s Fine and Performing Arts Department presented their production of “Mamma Mia!” from March 14-15, bringing ABBA’s timeless classics to the stage. 

“Mamma Mia!” follows Sophie, a young woman living on an idyllic Greek island who is about to marry her fiancé. She’s determined to have her father walk her down the aisle, but there’s one big problem: she doesn’t know who he is. Sophie embarks on a mission to uncover his identity, inviting three men from her mother’s past to her wedding, each of whom could potentially be her father. As the mystery unfolds, Sophie and her mother, Donna, learn valuable lessons about love, family and the journey to self-discovery. 

“The cast, crew and creative team poured their hearts into this production, dedicating countless hours to perfecting every song, dance and scene,” said Theater Director Jordan Hue. “Their passion, commitment and teamwork truly brought ‘Mamma Mia!’ to life in a way that was both joyful and unforgettable.” 

 

By William Stieglitz

On Monday, Feb. 17, Long Islanders took to the sidewalks outside Congressman Nick LaLota’s (R-NY01) Hauppauge office to demand he hold an in-person town hall during the current congressional break. American and rainbow flags flew among rows of signs demanding communication with constituents as well as resistance against the administration, all while people called out “Where’s Nick LaLota?” and “Nick LaLota, Do your job!” The turnout was larger than expected, with over 300 registered and, according to what several attendees said they heard from police, many more protesters spanning from Route 347 to Town Line Road, totaling an estimated thousand overall.

The calls for a public town hall stemmed from LaLota not having held one through his entire time in office. This was a particularly sore spot for protesters, as none of the Republican congressmen of Long Island’s Congressional Districts 1 and 2 have held one since 2017—opting instead for “telephone town halls” where only questions chosen by the Congressman’s team can be heard. “LaLota has decided for whatever reason that it’s better for him politically to support vocally what [Trump and Musk] are doing to attack our institutions rather than actually fighting for the people of this district,” said attendee Nancy Goroff, co-founder of Long Island Strong Schools Alliance. “And he dares to dismiss all his constituents calling his office and contacting him by email as unimportant, rather than actually paying attention to what he owes to his district.”

The “Unscripted: LaLota, Listen to the People!” rally—organized by Indivisible in conjunction with eight local grassroots—was named in reference to LaLota’s comments in the Washington Post earlier this month. He described constituent calls to his office as “people reading off scripts… demonizing Musk, demonizing DOGE, which I think is unfortunate.” The response did not sit well with protesters. “Constituents don’t appreciate being mocked,” said Emily Kaufman, a co-organizer for the rally. “Our concerns are real and that’s why we’re here: to demand that he listen to us.”

Chief among the concerns were federal cuts to Long Island healthcare and education. Hundreds signed onto a petition demanding LaLota work to unfreeze funds to the Northport VA, Brookhaven and Cold Spring Harbor labs and other Long Island institutions.

“He is very proud of announcing grants that, for example, faculty at Stony Brook have earned,” Goroff said, “and yet now that those grants are in jeopardy, he is saying nothing against it at all.”

Organizers spoke heavily on the topic of cuts, with Kaufman emphasizing, “715 thousand people in this district are on Medicaid, and if we cut that we have pregnant women who are going to face a loss of care.” 

Co-organizer Deborah Roberts also spoke on cuts to the Department of Education. “Education is the engine of economy, the engine of our democracy. What we would be losing would be funding for disadvantaged children, disabled children … People don’t realize this, but the Department of Education is a center for data collection, comprehensive data collection, about all of the programs throughout the United States. So we have programs impacted, disability rights, civil rights and policies in schools, equity in education, all these things would no longer exist, would no longer be funded.”

The protest lasted for over an hour, with frequent honks of support from drivers and most attendees staying past the scheduled end time. “It shows that we, at the end of the day, all want the same things,” said Suffolk Progressives founder Shoshana Hershkowitz, who emceed the event. “We want safe communities, we want to make sure our schools are funded, our hospitals are funded, and we care about this being a place everyone can live and thrive.” 

Speaking to the energy driving the attendees, Kaufman said “We don’t want to be in the streets; it’s freezing out right now, but we are here because we have to be. If Nick LaLota’s not gonna show up for us, then we’re gonna come bring our message to him.”

When reached for comment on the protest, LaLota’s office was unavailable.

The rally was cosponsored by the 50501 Movement, a group designed for resistance against current administration with the motto “50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement,” and coincided with the organization’s Presidents Day protests across the nation. Local cosponsors for the Hauppauge rally included Assemble Long Island, East End Action Network, Long Island Advocates, Long Island Network for Change, Long Island Progressive Coalition, Progressive East End Reformers, Show Up Long Island, and Suffolk Progressives.

From left to right, Hauppauge High School Principal Joseph Wieckhorst, Ayaan Shah, U.S. Presidential Scholars Program nominee, Director of Guidance Gary Campanelli and school counselor Marisa Wanatick. Photo courtesy of Hauppauge School District

The State Education Department nominated 25 New York State high school seniors for the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. Congratulations to Hauppauge High School’s own Ayaan Shah for earning this prestigious nomination.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the president to recognize and honor some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. The White House Commission on Presidential Scholars selects students annually based on their academic success, artistic excellence, essays, school evaluations and transcripts, as well as evidence of community service, leadership and demonstrated commitment to high ideals. 

Ayaan is a full International Baccalaureate Diploma Program candidate and an AP scholar with distinction. He has taken and excelled in the high school’s most rigorous course load.

Ayaan is the founder of the Science Bowl, where students compete in a science-based trivia event against other schools at the Brookhaven National Laboratory. He was also a math and reading tutor in the Hauppauge High School library for 15 hours each week in grades 10 and 11.

Ayaan was the treasurer of the Class of 2025 in grades nine and 10, officer of “Quiz Bowl,” starting in grade nine, president of Science Olympiad from grades six through 12 and a member of the coding club, tennis team and orchestra.

“Hauppauge High School’s Ayaan Shah reminds us of the dedication and drive that lead to excellence in academics, extracurricular pursuits and community service,” Senator Monica R. Martinez said. “As a nominee for the 2025 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program, Ayaan shows what it means to strive for the highest standards in all areas of student life. Ayaan’s successes are a testament to what’s possible when you pursue excellence ineverything you do, and the Fourth Senatorial District couldn’t be prouder of this Achievement.”

“Ayaan is the true embodiment of what we aim for our students to be,” Hauppauge High School Principal Joseph Wieckhorst added. “He is well-respected by his peers and his teachers, and I have no doubt he is going to make a major impact on our world. We are so proud of him and his accomplishments.”

In April, the Commission on Presidential Scholars will evaluate the semifinalists and selects up to 161 scholars. These scholars are recognized during an online National Recognition Program and receive the Presidential Scholars medallion in June.

Carlow Wind Watch, a new luxury apartment community at 1721 Motor Parkway in Hauppauge, has welcomed its first residents, according to a press release from Southern Land Company (SLC), a national real estate developer of master-planned, single-family, multifamily, and mixed-use communities, on Dec. 19.

Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Southern Land Company has market-leading projects in nine states, with regional offices in New York City; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Plano, Texas; Denver, Colorado; and Vallejo, California.

Carlow introduces “much-needed rental residences to the area and emphasizes impeccable design, comfort, and convenience, marking a new kind of residential experience,” stated the release.

“We are proud to introduce Carlow in this peaceful hamlet on Long Island and provide opportunities for residents to enjoy unparalleled luxury apartment living,” said SLC Founder and CEO, Tim Downey. “Carlow exemplifies luxury living through its sophisticated design, premium amenities, and idyllic views of Wind Watch Golf & Country Club, creating an environment where residents of all ages can cultivate meaningful connections and prioritize wellness.”

Carlow, comprised of two distinctive buildings—five and seven stories, respectively—features 150 pet-friendly one-, two-, and three-bedroom rental residences. Residents can choose from 12 different floor plans ranging from 935 to 1,755 square feet with monthly rent starting at $3,802. Carlow’s residences cater to residents seeking refined living spaces. Each residence, available in two different color schemes, showcases a designer kitchen with stainless steel appliances and finishes, and includes a gas range, washer and dryer, custom closet system, and spacious balcony or terrace.

In addition to its residences, Carlow offers residents a comprehensive collection of resort-inspired amenities designed to promote community and wellness. Carlow features full-time concierge services, a resort-style pool and heated spa, outdoor dining room with gas grills, a resident clubroom and lounge area, a convertible community table for game nights, a poker table, a pool table, shuffleboard, a co-working area with private meeting rooms, a contemporary fitness center and yoga studio, and a golf simulator.

“In keeping with SLC’s commitment to foster a true sense of community, residents will also enjoy unique programming and events,” read the release.

Additional features at Carlow include secured parking with two spaces designated per residence, access control home entry, and a package locker room for secure mail delivery and storage.

Adjacent to Wind Watch Golf & Country Club and Hyatt Regency Long Island, and just minutes from the Northern State Parkway, Carlow “is a peaceful suburban respite that provides convenient access to Hauppauge’s diverse selection of restaurants, retailers, and services,” as well as key Long Island transportation hubs, including Long Island MacArthur Airport and Fire Island Ferries, and charming nearby towns like Stony Brook and Port Jefferson.

Carlow marks SLC’s first multifamily community on Long Island and in New York, and the company has two additional New York projects that are on track to open in 2025:

  • Florentin Garden City, slated to open in January 2025
  • Juliettein White Plains, expected to open in spring 2025

To learn more about Carlow, visit https://carlowapartments.com/.

By Steven Zaitz

The Suffolk County high school football playoffs kicked off this weekend, and in most cases, the higher-seeded teams were met with little resistance. But when the sixth-seeded Hauppauge Eagles flew south down Route 111 to No. 3 Islip on Friday night, they did everything they could to sink the Buccaneers’ planned pleasure cruise in the Conference III quarterfinal.

After a brilliant 23-yard touchdown scramble down the left sideline by Eagle quarterback Nick Lachapelle, Hauppauge had a 22-14 lead and was less than 10 minutes away from a not-so-mild upset. Islip came into the game with a 6-2 record and was fresh off a rousing 42-6 win over Amityville in the final week of the regular season, while the Eagles had suffered a soul-crushing shutout at the hands of top-seed Sayville, 49-0.

But the slate was blank once the playoffs started, and Hauppauge wasn’t thinking about what happened at Sayville. They needed to continue to bottle up Islip’s All-County quarterback Brady Nash for the next nine minutes and 42 seconds to survive and advance.

After Lachapelle’s TD run, Buccaneer scatback Dylan Smith got Islip to midfield immediately as he took an end-around on the first play from scrimmage. A completion to wide receiver Jack Rao moved the ball to the Eagle 29, and two plays later, Nash found a wide-open Rao for a 16-yard touchdown. Islip converted the two-point conversion, and the game was tied at 22.

Lachapelle, who was beaten and battered throughout the game by a relentless Bucs pass rush, also plays as a defensive back and long-snapper on punts. When he made a tackle on a critical third down with less than four minutes left and the game still tied, he limped noticeably but stayed on the field. The lanky lefty was sacked on third down by Josiah Patterson for the third time in the game and needed assistance getting to his sideline as the Eagle punting unit came onto the field with 2:15 remaining.

As an injured player must sit out for one play, Lachapelle handed over the snapping duties to backup Matt Cira.

“I was cramping really badly and couldn’t even stand, so we had to put in our backup snapper,” said the junior Lachapelle, who rushed for 67 yards on 12 carries and threw for 89.

These cramps put a real crimp in Hauppauge’s chance to win the game.

As the gentle, southerly breeze that blew in from the Great South Bay at the start of the game turned colder and more biting, Eagle punter Jackson Ruple took the field. Lachapelle could only watch helplessly from the sidelines as Cira’s snap fluttered way over the head of Ruple, who chased the ball near his own 20-yard line and was immediately decked by Islip’s do-it-all Christian Hall.

A minute later, Nash, who totaled exactly 300 yards of offense, took a third-and-3 shotgun snap and darted up the middle for a 12-yard, go-ahead touchdown. It was 29-22 with 58 seconds left, and a gimpy Lachapelle and Hauppauge were out of bullets.

“That loss really hurt, and I wanted a playoff win more than anything,” Lachapelle said. “It’s unfortunate I had to sit out that one play.”

Eagle running back Gershon Diaz had the other touchdowns on runs of 6 and 18 yards.

For the senior Nash, he and his teammates had a playoff win after an abysmal 2-6 season in 2023. He finished with two touchdown passes and two rushing touchdowns, the last of which won the game.

“The winning touchdown run was one of the moments that everyone dreams of having, and I couldn’t have done it without my teammates,” Nash said. “It was huge for the town, the team, and it was an amazing moment.”

Nash is ticketed for more amazing moments when postseason award banquets start up in a few weeks. But before he hits the carving stations and the salad bars, Nash and his Buco teammates have a date with fellow All-County quarterback Joe Filardi and Half Hollow Hills West next Saturday at West in the Suffolk County Conference III semifinal game. The Colts beat up on the Bucs 56-20 in Week 7 of the regular season.

“We learned a lot from that week against Hills West,” Nash said. “I think we’re all pulling in the right direction.”

Police car stock photo

Suffolk County Police Fourth Squad detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery of a body found in a vehicle in Hauppauge  on Oct. 16.

Suffolk County Police Highway Patrol officers responded to a parked vehicle on the shoulder of eastbound Long Island Expressway near Route 111 on October 16 at approximately 1:15 p.m. Officers discovered a body in the front seat of a 2019 Jeep. Following an investigation by Fourth Squad detectives, the body was identified as Luis Gonzalez.

Gonzalez, 62, undomiciled, was taken to the Office of the Suffolk County Medical Examiner for an autopsy to determine the cause of death.

Detectives are asking anyone with information to contact the Fourth Squad at 631-854-8452.