On December 2, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (left) and Councilman Neil Manzella (right) were on-hand for the demolition of a “zombie house” located at 691 Horseblock Road in Farmingville.
The dangerous eyesore, which had been vacant for decades, was uninhabitable, a blight on the community and a source of resident complaints. The structure was demolished by the Town of Brookhaven in accordance with Chapter 73 of the Town Code which provides a “fast track” to rid neighborhoods of unsafe structures. The cost of demolition, debris removal and restoration of the land to nature is the responsibility of the property owner.
A video of this demolition and others in the Town of Brookhaven can be viewed at www.BrookhavenNY.gov or on Brookhaven Cable TV Channel 18.
After an extended vote-counting process, Rebecca Kassay has defeated incumbent Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-Port Jefferson). Official results and certification are expected from the Board of Elections in the coming weeks. As of now, Kassay is leading Flood by 813 votes.
Kassay released a statement on her Facebook page Tuesday, Nov. 26, declaring victory in the race for New York State Assembly District 4. She wrote, “After a spirited campaign, I am declaring victory in the race for New York State Assembly District 4, having secured an insurmountable lead over my opponent, Ed Flood. Official results and certification are expected from the Board of Elections in the coming weeks.”
Kassay added, “I am heartened by our community’s trust in me to bring public service back to politics. It will be a great honor to represent District 4 in the New York State Assembly and to deliver resources to our communities. As discussed during civic debates and at residents’ doors throughout my campaign, I will serve with a community-up approach — one that prioritizes transparency, communication and meaningful action on pressing issues.”
Assemblywoman-elect Kassay has already begun laying the groundwork to ensure she and her team “hit the ground running and serve the district effectively on day one.”
“Throughout the coming weeks, I will be meeting with civic groups, school district representatives, nonprofits, first responders, local government officials and other community stakeholders to collaborate on the important work of shaping the projects and policies that will guide the district forward,” the statement continued.
Kassay invites residents or groups to connect with the incoming District 4 Assembly team by emailing [email protected].
A beloved resident of the Holtsville Ecology Center & Animal Preserve has died. The Town of Brookhaven’s Highway Department and Ecology Center staff have announced that Honey the black bear passed away on Nov. 22 at the age of 27.
“[We] are saddened to report the passing of our beloved Honey, the resident black bear who has delighted and educated children about her species for more than a quarter century. While the average life expectancy for a black bear rarely exceeds twenty years, Honey lived to twenty-seven. This is a testament to the love and exemplary care she received from our dedicated staff,” read the announcement.
Honey, and her brother Pooh, who passed away more than five years ago, were ambassadors for wildlife education to the countless thousands of residents who visit the Holtsville Ecology Center each year..
While the Ecology Center is home to more than 100 injured or non-releasable wild animals and farm animals including deer, a buffalo, bobcat, wild horses, alpaca, buffalo, coatamundi, hybrid wolves, an arctic fox, goats, horses, pigs, cows, alpaca, deer, various birds, pigs and goats, just to name a few, Honey was a favorite among visitors. Many took to social media to pay their respects and share their memories.
“RIP Honey Bear. You are now reunited with your brother Pooh Bear. You both gave my daughter, husband and I so many memories that we will cherish forever,” read one post. “My daughter fell in love with her when we visited a couple of months ago – she’s going to be heartbroken. So very sorry for your loss – thank you for caring and loving her,” read another.
“The injured or domesticated, non-releasable, animals who call the Ecology Center home provide an opportunity for encounters that helps to instill a passion for conservation in our next generation. While Honey will be missed and long remembered, the mission of our Ecology Center lives on,” read the release.
On Monday November 18, Councilwoman Jane Bonner (back row, right) visited the Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School in Rocky Point for the dedication of the Peace Pole, a handcrafted monument that symbolizes peace and the hopes of humanity: The message “May Peace Prevail on Earth” is written in multiple languages on the four sides of the pole. Pictured with Councilwoman Bonner are community members, Joseph A. Edgar Intermediate School academic leaders, school district officials, students and the Peace Pole committee.
Peace poles originated in Japan after World War II and can be found today in many prominent places, including the United Nations, the Pentagon, and the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands. Peace poles are intended to serve as reminders to think, speak, and act in a spirit of peace and harmony in the community.
Special Olympics Polar Plunge at Cedar Beach in Mt. Sinai in 2023. Photo by Bill Landon
Hundreds of brave Special Olympics New York supporters are expected to participate in the 15th annual Polar Plunge: Freezin’ for a Reason at Cedar Beach, 244 Hrbor Beach Road, Mount Sinai on Saturday, Nov. 23, running into the freezing waters of the Long Island Sound to raise funds and awareness for local Special Olympics athletes and programming.
Registration starts at 9:30 a.m. and the plunge will take place at 11:30 a.m.
Hosted by the Town of Brookhaven, last year’s event attracted 650 plungers and raised $140,000 for Special Olympics New York.
The Polar Plunge is one of the most popular, profitable, and exciting fundraisers for Special Olympics New York. Participants raise money by asking friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances for donations.
At a recent Brookhaven Town Board Meeting, Councilwoman Jane Bonner introduced New York Special Olympics athlete Matt Schuster and Director of Development, Alexis Dawson who talked about the annual Polar Plunge and encouraged people to participate and pledge a donation.
Councilwoman Bonner presented Schuster and Dawson with a proclamation declaring September 28 as Special Olympics Day in the Town of Brookhaven. Schuster also spoke about what it takes to compete and succeed as a Special Olympics athlete, explaining that they train for weeks and months to prepare for local, regional and statewide competition.
Athletes are supported by more than 5,000 coaches and 4,300 volunteers and are never charged to participate in the programs. It costs $400 to support training and competition for one athlete for one sports season. They rely solely on donations to pay the cost.
For more information, to register or to donate, please visit www.specialolympics.org. For additional information, call 631-386-8038.
Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R) at the Nov. 4 press conference. Photo courtesy TOB
On Nov. 4, Brookhaven Town Supervisor Dan Panico (R) announced a new initiative to strengthen enforcement against illegal housing, which includes increased fines for rental permit violations aimed at repeat offenders. The effort seeks to enhance housing safety and compliance across Brookhaven, addressing the negative impact of illegal rentals on neighborhood quality of life.
“Our goal is code compliance to ensure Brookhaven remains a place where people live in clean, safe neighborhoods,” Panico stated. “We’re going to break the slumlord business model, with exponentially higher fines through robust enforcement.”
The announcement took place at a press conference at Brookhaven Town Hall, attended by all six Town Council members, Suffolk County Legislators James Mazzarella (R-Mastic,) Nick Caracappa (C-Selden) and Dominick Thorne (R-Patchogue,) as well as civic leaders from across Brookhaven.
The new fines will include increased penalties for violations of the Neighborhood Preservation Code and Zoning Code, such as operating a rental without a registration permit and failing to obtain required building permits. These measures aim to discourage landlords from viewing violations as simply a cost of doing business.
Councilmember Jonathan Kornreich (D-Stony Brook) highlighted the impact of the higher fines. “For too many irresponsible landlords, the relatively low cost of fines has just been part of the cost of doing business,” he said. “By raising the minimum fine, we hope to deter abusive landlords, protect tenant rights and safety, and improve quality of life in our neighborhoods.”
Councilwoman Jane Bonner (R-Rocky Point) echoed this sentiment, noting, “Ensuring the safety and well-being of our residents is a top priority. Stronger enforcement isn’t just about fines; it’s about safe neighborhoods, protecting residents from unsafe conditions, and preserving the integrity of our town.”
Councilman Michael Loguercio (R-Ridge) emphasized the safety risks. “Some of these housing violations are major safety issues that can very easily cause fire, injury or death. By addressing violators, we protect communities and save lives.”
Suffolk County Legislators voiced their support. Mazzarella stated, “Suffolk County is committed to working with Brookhaven to address quality of life concerns with substandard housing and code violations. We will explore legislation to ensure those receiving county assistance live in safe conditions that comply with all local ordinances and codes.”
“We have to crack down on that. These steps the town is taking today to increase fines are a big step.” Thorne also commended the effort, saying, “This is a welcome cooperative effort on the part of the town and county, and I applaud the program to deter our neighbors from breaking the law,” Caracappa added.
Community leaders expressed their support as well. Frank Fugarino from the Pattersquash Civic Association said, “We welcome this effort and commend the Town for this initiative at both the Town and County level,” while Kareem Nugdalla from the Coram Civic Association called it “a very good first step to improve the quality of life in Coram.”
Deputy Supervisor and Councilman Neil Foley (R-Blue Point) and Councilman Neil Manzella (R-Selden) both noted the town has streamlined the rental compliance process.
“It’s disheartening to see both first-time and repeat offenders undermining the efforts of responsible property owners,” Manzella said.
Councilwoman Karen Dunne Kesnig (R-Manorville) shared an outlook on next steps, stating, “I look forward to the Nov. 19 public hearing, where the town board will adopt the resolution to significantly increase fines for these illegal rentals.”
Acting Commissioner of Public Safety David Moran praised the town’s actions, adding, “Raising these quality-of-life violation fines is a great step in the right direction to protect our residents’ quality of life.”
“The good people we represent are our best eyes and ears in our communities, and those are the people we serve,” he said.
“We are grateful to our County partners who are reviewing potential changes at the County level dealing with Department of Social Services (DSS) housing.”
Visit brookhavenny.gov and brookhavenny.gov/housing, for more information.
Left: Assemblyman Ed Flood (R-PortJefferson).
Right: Rebecca Kassay. Courtesy Ed Flood and Rebecca Kassay for NYS Assembly's Facebook page
By Toni-Elena Gallo
In the wake of last Tuesday’s election, the race for NYS Assembly District 4 remains to be called.
With mail-in ballots still being counted, there is no exact timeline for when results will be in.
Rebecca Kassay released a statement last Thursday, saying, “We knew that the race for the NYS
Assembly seat in District 4 would be one of the most competitive races in New York State, and as of Wednesday, November 6, I hold a 211 vote lead. In a race this close, results will not be determined until the affidavit ballots and final mail in ballots are counted. This might take until late November, so in the meantime, our team is reflecting on our gratitude for the incredible individuals and community groups who we’ve connected with and built stronger relationships with during the journey of this campaign.”
“There is so much work to be done here in our district, our town, our county and our state, and I hope to have the opportunity to serve you as your Assemblymember,” Kassay continued.
TBR requested comment from Assemblyman Flood and his response was as follows: “As we await the final numbers, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to everyone who has supported me throughout this campaign. I remain deeply committed to representing, advocating for and listening to our community. This dedication is not new; it has always been the foundation of my work and will continue to guide me moving forward.”
“Serving our community is an honor, and I am committed to ensuring that every voice is heard and every concern is addressed,” he continued.
Nick LaLota celebrates his victory on Nov. 5. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
By Toni-Elena Gallo and Aidan Johnson
At Stereo Garden in Patchogue, the GOP was a sea of red on the evening of Tuesday, Nov. 5. Guests mingled with drinks in hand, as music blared over the club’s speaker system.
The event was hosted by Jesse Garcia, chairman of the Suffolk County Republican Committee and Brookhaven Town Republican Committee, whose high energy propelled the evening and invigorated the large crowd. He spoke of the resilience of the Republican Party through the tumultuous past four years, and expressed confidence in Suffolk’s support for members of the GOP.
LaLota victorious over Avlon in battle for Congress, Avlon concedes
As results poured in from around 10 p.m. to the early hours of the morning, the race considered highly important in the flipping of the House majority in Washington, was decided. Incumbent Nick LaLota, representative of the 1st Congressional District, won 55.7% of the vote to Democratic opponent John Avlon’s 44.3%.
“Thank you so much to every single one of you. I’m only here because of everything you’ve done. You made the phone calls. You knocked on doors, you planted lawn signs,” LaLota said to the room.
“You’ve placed your trust in me and I’m going to take another term of office in a few weeks so I can continue to fight for you,” he continued. He added that he has run on his record, which is one committed to bipartisanship, and has seen more bills passed by him than “95% of Congress,” bringing “$150 million home” to Suffolk in the process.
“It’s a hard night in Suffolk County for us Democrats, it’s a hard night for many Democrats, but the fight continues,” Avlon said in a speech at the IBEW Local 1049 Union Hall in Holtsville, where many of the Suffolk County Democrats congregated for a watch party.
“It’s really important for us to keep the energy up, and understand that this is not a time for us to shirk back, but it is a time for folks to stand up continuously, because the good fight never ends and democracy depends on loving your country no matter who is president,” he added.
Anthony Palumbo celebrates his victory on Nov. 5. Photo by Toni-Elena Gallo
Palumbo comes out on top in state Senate race
Incumbent Republican state senator of the 1st District, Anthony Palumbo (R-New Suffolk), beat Democratic opponent Sarah Anker, with 53.4% of the vote, to Anker’s 46.6%.
“This is a team win. I want to thank my wife, to thank my friends in law enforcement who supported us. We did this most importantly because of you folks. This is many, many months in the making,” Palumbo said. He continued by saying that he and his supporters worked hard on his campaign because “it is about what’s best for our constituency.”
Anker has not yet released a statement.
Mattera wins out over Herskowitz in NY 2nd Senate District
Incumbent Mario Mattera beat Craig Herskowitz, winning his third term in the 2nd Senate District, 58.7% to 41.3%.
Mattera was not on hand to make a speech, as he was in Smithtown speaking at another event. Chairman Garcia expressed his congratulatory feelings for Mattera, leading the crowd in a round of applause for him.
Kassay and Flood in tight contest for 4th District Assembly seat; Giglio defeats Chiaramonte in 2nd District
As of 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 6, no result has been confirmed for the state Assembly race between Republican incumbent Ed Flood and his Democratic opponent Rebecca Kassay, both from Port Jefferson. Kassay currently is leading Flood by 211 votes (29,246-29,035). The final result has not yet been announced as of press time.
Jodi Giglio (R-Riverhead) easily beat out Tricia Chiaramonte with 64.9% of the vote, to Chiaramonte’s 35.1%. Chiaramonte did not actively campaign against incumbent Giglio.
Fitzpatrick victorious over Basileo in NY 8th Assembly District
Incumbent of 22 years, Michael Fitzpatrick (R-Smithtown), beat Democratic candidate Steven Basileo by a sweeping 66.4% to 33.6%, in the 8th Assembly District.
Fitzpatrick was just one of many Republicans who has been reelected to his seat, as newer Democratic politicians did not attract the same amount of support across the North Shore. Voters seemingly preferred the current occupants.
10th and 12th Assembly Districts
In the 10th Assembly District, Democratic incumbent Steve Stern (D-Dix Hills) beat Republican Aamir Sultan, 55% to 45%. In the 12th District, incumbent Keith Brown (R-Northport) defeated Democrat Thomas Cox, 57.5% to 42.5%.
4th District Court Judge, Town of Smithtown
Republicans Paul Damato and John Zollo beat Democratic candidate Maria Scheuring, receiving a combined 79.2% of the vote — 39.6% each — winning the two vacant seats, while Scheuring received 20.7% of the vote. Scheuring was not active during this election season.
All these results are noted by the Suffolk County Board of Elections as “unofficial.”
6th District Court Judge, Town of Brookhaven
Evan Tannenbaum, Patricia Blake and Kenneth Lauri won the three available seats for District Court Judge of the 6th District. They received 23.4%, 23.2%, and 22.0% of the vote, respectively, beating out Democrats Margot Garant and Dorothy Cavalier.
“I want to thank the Town of Brookhaven and my fellow Republicans,” Lauri said. Tannenbaum echoed similar sentiments.
All these results are noted by the Suffolk County Board of Elections as “unofficial.”
Voters line up in front of Brookhaven Town Hall in Farmingville on Nov. 3. Photo by Heidi Sutton
By Heidi Sutton
Many Long Islanders did not wait for Election Day to cast their vote this year but instead took advantage of the numerous early polling stations from Oct. 25 to Nov. 3.
At the Rose Caracappa Senior Center in Mount Sinai on Friday, Nov. 1, long lines wrapped around the building and the parking lot quickly filled to capacity, causing many to park along a stretch of Route 25A and walk along the road.
At Brookhaven Town Hall, the busiest polling spot in the Town of Brookhaven, 19,000 votes were cast on Saturday, Nov. 2 and voters stood in line for over an hour and a half on Sunday, Nov. 3, the last day for early voting.
Those who haven’t voted yet will have one more chance on Tuesday, Nov. 5, Election Day. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m.
A scene from a previous Polar Plunge at Mt. Sinai’s Cedar Beach. Bill Landon photo
Hundreds of brave Special Olympics New York supporters are expected to participate in the Polar Plunge Saturday, November 23, running into the freezing waters of the Long Island Sound to raise funds and awareness for local Special Olympics athletes and programming.
The Polar Plunge is one of the most popular, profitable, and exciting fundraisers for Special Olympics New York. Participants raise money by asking friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances for donations. Event details are as follows.
For additional information, please contact Alexis Dawson at [email protected] or 631-386-8038.
About Special Olympics New York
Special Olympics New York is one of the largest state chapters in the country, serving more than 45,000 athletes across New York with year-round sports training, athletic competition, and health screenings. The organization also partners with more than 300 schools statewide to offer Unified Sports, where students with and without disabilities compete as teammates. All Special Olympics New York programs are offered at no cost to athletes, their families or caregivers. The organization has earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar.com and a four-star rating from Charity Navigator, making it one of the most trusted charities in the business nationally. For additional information about Special Olympics New York, to learn more about getting involved, or to make a donation, visit www.specialolympicsNY.org.
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