high school sports and more Suffolk County news East Hampton is getting a 24/7 facility that aims to improve access to emergency care and response times Meet with Brookhaven Town Clerk Kevin LaValle ask questions such as how to obtain or file certain documents with the Town and more Hamptons Observatory and co-host Suffolk County Community College will present a free virtual lecture by Dr leader of the Cosmology & Astrophysics Group at Brookhaven National Lab and the Science Lead for the LuSEE-Night Project a radio telescope which is scheduled to land on the far side of the Moon in late 2025 He will discuss the nature of this research and the insights it may provide about the “Dark Ages” of astronomy get information about AARP programs and discounts in addition to volunteer opportunities Held the first Thursday of each month from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m The county budget for 2024 allocated more than $48 million for police overtime but the department racked up another $31 million in overtime last year The Newsday app makes it easier to access content without having to log in Unlimited Digital AccessOnly 25¢for 6 months Get important news about your town as it happens Get the top stories from across our network Are you sure you want to unsubscribe from daily updates A Long Island man has been convicted of gunning down his former neighbor in a ruthless broad daylight attack that left a father dead outside a North Bellport home Lee Houpe (left) who was fatally shot by Shati Smith (right) was found guilty of Felony Murder in the Second Degree for killing 28-year-old Lee Houpe According to Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond A. Tierney, Houpe was standing in a friend’s driveway at 615 Post Avenue around 1:45 p.m. when Smith pulled up in a car, got out, and opened fire—shooting him three times, as Daily Voice previously reported Smith stood over him and fired seven more rounds into his face and arm before fleeing the scene in his vehicle by members of the Suffolk County Police Department and the U.S Marshals New York/New Jersey Fugitive Task Force He was extradited back to New York in August 2022 Following a jury trial before Supreme Court Justice Timothy Mazzei Smith was convicted of the following on Monday Smith is scheduled for sentencing on Wednesday He is represented by attorney Jonathan Manley The case was prosecuted by Assistant District Attorneys Elena Tomaro and Veronica McMahon Detective Michael Ronca of the Suffolk County Police Homicide Squad led the investigation In the land of $2 and $3-million tony estates the least expensive option for buying new-construction housing is officially coming to market.  Fifty-three-home Brookhaven venture Empire MacKintosh—or “The Mack” as it’s been nicknamed—is situated along Apple Valley Road just north of Brookhaven Village and the city’s MARTA station across the street from the renovated industrial facilities that house Arnette’s Chop Shop steakhouse developers cleared 3.3 acres of vacant land and a small former lodge structure at 2580 Osborne Road Site plans call for 53 townhomes situated around two pocket parks with prices starting in the mid-$600,000s.  Empire officials have said the goal with the brick-clad MacKintosh townhomes is to provide buyers with more new-construction options and alternatives in a pricey area where even single-family “teardowns” are often financially out-of-reach for many.  townhome prices range from $649,900 to $693,000 That buys either two or three bedrooms in 1,490 square feet The least expensive option is the Lyndon floorplan with two bedrooms on the top floor and a flex bedroom space at the base.  Empire officials have said the three-story townhomes will eventually include options with about 2,000 square feet The name is a nod to the Scottish Mackintosh style of architecture That was a source of inspiration for the subtle curves and clean lines of Mackintosh exteriors summarized as “old-world brownstone meets modern energy,” according to Empire officials The location is walkable to MARTA rail and a growing slate of shops and restaurants around Dresden Drive Known for its estate lots and country club, Brookhaven is generally considered one of the priciest housing options for ITP buyers. Realtor.com pegged the median home sales price for Brookhaven at $725,000 in March a 4.3 percent year-over-year increase.  Swing up to the gallery for more The Mack context and images.  Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram   • Brookhaven news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)  Come out and enjoy the natural areas that this park has to offer This space provides a pond and a great location to view birds and other wildlife parks are open from dawn to dusk every day.  View Parks alerts 919-831-6856 Enjoy the natural walking trails in the woods that are approximately 1.5 miles long.  This feedback widget is not intended for customer service issues This feedback is reviewed monthly to help us improve our site. For immediate customer service please refer to our staff directory Support us Brookhaven National Laboratory in Upton is one of 16 federal research sites identified by the U.S Department of Energy as a potential location for future artificial intelligence data centers and supporting energy infrastructure The DOE issued a Request for Information (RFI) yesterday in the Federal Register and other stakeholders on opportunities and challenges in developing AI infrastructure across federal sites The RFI is soliciting information “from entities with experience in the development operation and management of AI infrastructure,” and from grid operators that serve DOE sites on “opportunities and challenges associated with existing energy infrastructure and potential co-location of data centers with new energy generation.”  The RFI provides descriptions of each of the potential sites the document identifies an approximately 90-acre area in the southwest portion of the federally owned 5,322-acre site in Upton.  The RFI includes a map it says shows “the close proximity of the existing Caithness Long Island Energy Center which could be the site of a new 750-megawatt gas turbine plant for the data center.” A BNL spokesperson referred a request for comment to the Department of Energy which could not immediately be reached for comment.  The Caithness Long Island Energy Center, located in Yaphank, already includes a 350-megawatt gas-powered power plant which has been operating there since 2009. The energy company is planning to build two battery energy storage facilities on its 105-acre site, Newsday reported last month.  As Caithness was advancing the proposal for Caithness 2 Riverhead Town officials were advocating developing peaker-plant capacity at the Calverton Enterprise Park LIPA in 2013 had issued a request for proposals for 250 megawatts of total peaking capacity to meet the East End’s seasonal needs.  Then-Councilman George Gabrielsen promoted the EPCAL site is an “ideal location” for meeting the East End’s peak electric needs not only because of its proximity to both forks and the available vacant land at the park but because the site has access to a 10-inch high-pressure natural gas main to supply the power facility as well as a 69-kV electric transmission line Read prior story: Riverhead officials eye gas-fired power plant for EPCAL Caithness was interested in building a 100-megawatt peaking plant in Calverton It would comprise four 25-megawatt units that would be switched on as needed to meet peak demand as LIPA shifted its focus from fossil fuel-powered plants to renewable energy sources A spokesperson for Caithness Energy declined to comment today Energy secretary: Trump initiative for ‘AI dominance’ is ‘the next Manhattan Project’ the agency said in an April 3 press release “DOE is exploring opportunities to accelerate AI and energy infrastructure development across the country prioritizing public-private partnerships to advance the use of innovative technologies and strategies,” the agency said “The global race for AI dominance is the next Manhattan project,” Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said in the release referring to the World War II project to develop atomic weapons “and with President Trump’s leadership and the innovation of our National Labs the United States can and will win,” he said “President Trump is committed to ensuring American leadership in artificial intelligence and Secretary Wright is delivering,” White House Office of Science and Technology Policy Director Michael Kratsios said “The Trump Administration will unleash Federal resources to build out the data resources needed for an AI-powered future.” The potential BNL site is within the BNL Discovery Park District described by the RFI as “an innovative public-private partnership concept” that aims to “promote federal and private development to enable mission enhancing technology transfer opportunities.” The 90-acre area is “expandable” and there are several similar-sized undeveloped areas on the BNL site that could also be considered Issuance of the RFI is the first step in a DOE plan to build out AI data centers and infrastructure with a target date for commencement of operation by the end of 2027 Construction is anticipated to begin by the end of 2025 AI infrastructure includes AI data centers which contain specialized information technology equipment and associated cooling facilities and transmission and storage,” the document states.  “DOE sites offer potential advantages such as access to or the potential to build power infrastructure and opportunities for technological collaboration with DOE research facilities DOE is considering opportunities to utilize these assets in a manner that enhances the United States’ leading position in AI and benefits local economies,” the RFI states “DOE’s capabilities and leadership in AI make it a natural partner for strategic public-private partnerships related to AI infrastructure ,” according to the RFI The RFI poses 59 questions in 10 categories of information being sought by the department.  BNL’s proximity to major tech and financial hubs its existing public-private development framework (Discovery Park) strong energy access and research synergy — criteria used by the industry and government to determine viability and competitiveness for locating large AI infrastructure projects — make the site competitive in the selection process Responses to the RFI are requested by May 7 which is 30 days from the date of publication of the RFI in the Federal Register The 16 DOE sites identified in the RFI were listed as follows “in no particular order,” the department said: National Energy Technology Laboratory sites in Morgantown Los Alamos National Laboratory,  Los Alamos The survival of local journalism depends on your support. We are a small family-owned operation. You rely on us to stay informed, and we depend on you to make our work possible. Just a few dollars can help us continue to bring this important service to our community. Support RiverheadLOCAL today. Get fresh local news straight to your inbox every day Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro with a map of the town's roadways Monday When Michael Frangipane drives at night on Old Stump Road near his home in Brookhaven hamlet he can barely see what might be lurking in the dark up ahead “Old Stump Road is 100% pitch black," Frangipane said in a telephone interview especially when you have a big deer population … There’s no lights on a lot of the side streets.” Frangipane is planning to share his concerns about local roads on a website set up by Brookhaven Town officials as part of a Vision Zero initiative aimed at reducing traffic crashes and fatalities Fatalities and injuries caused by Brookhaven Town traffic crashes in 2023 the last year for which full-year data are available 72: Injuries listed as "unknown" SOURCE: Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research An increase in fatal crashes in Brookhaven in recent years prompted the town to announce the program last summer using a $380,000 Federal Highway Administration grant Brookhaven hopes to reduce fatal crashes and serious injuries to zero by 2045 Town officials are asking residents to visit the website brookhavenvisionzero.com and use an interactive map to identify town roads with safety problems Residents also can use the map to cite examples of good roads and offer suggestions for safety improvements at least three dozen town roads and intersections from Stony Brook to East Moriches had been marked on the map as safety concerns; users had contributed safety suggestions for another two dozen "There's one thing we know and that's Long Island roads are very dangerous," Brookhaven Highway Superintendent Dan Losquadro said in an interview Monday at his Coram office Brookhaven's initiative comes amid renewed attention to traffic safety across Long Island A Newsday investigation found that traffic crashes killed more than 2,100 people on Long Island over the decade ending in 2023, according to official data compiled by the Albany-based Institute for Traffic Safety Management and Research Traffic fatalities in Brookhaven jumped 33% Federal funding could help pay for safety measures such as new signs and traffic signals The town also may consider "traffic-calming" measures such narrowing lanes from 12 feet to 10 feet and lining roads with trees "There's a whole slew of potential things you can do but they'll be tailored" for each road or intersection The deadline for residents to submit input to the Vision Zero website is May 16 Town officials have a June 26 deadline for submitting data to the FHA as part of its funding application an adjunct professor of planning at Stony Brook University said Vision Zero programs across the country have had mixed results A report released last year by Manhattan nonprofit Transportation Alternatives found New York City had 259 traffic fatalities in 2023 — the same number as in 2014 when the city's program began But Murdocco said local roads must be updated to account for increasing numbers of pedestrians and bicyclists coming into harm's way "I think it’s ambitious of Brookhaven But I think it reflects a growing realization that the suburbs are no longer just for cars,” he said Get more on these and other NewsdayTV stories Brookhaven National Laboratory is on a list of U.S Department of Energy-controlled sites that could be home to artificial intelligence data centers and related infrastructure development according to a recently released federal request for information The request which will inform future procurements of critical AI infrastructure by the federal government is part of a plan to maintain the country’s position at the "forefront of artificial intelligence innovation," according to the filing In an appendix included with the information request the agency ponders building a 90-acre-plus AI data center primarily in wooded areas of the Upton campus in BNL’s special "Discovery Park District." The information request notes that the lab is in "close proximity of the existing Caithness Long Island Energy Center which could be the site of a new 750mw gas turbine plant for the data center." The plan even has an artist’s rendering of what the new plant could look like The DOE owns and operates the 5,322-acre BNL site in Upton which is managed by Brookhaven Science Associates A Brookhaven National Lab spokesman referred an email seeking comment to the Department of Energy the Newsday team is covering the issues that matter to you By clicking Sign up, you agree to our privacy policy Newsday last month reported that BNL has quietly begun a search for potential future power sources for such a facility which already operates a 350-megawatt power plant in Yaphank has plans for a 750-megawatt plant on its own land that could be a contender The Caithness plant alone, if built, would cost more than $1 billion, according to 2014 estimates reported by Newsday The power plant would require a new natural gas pipeline to fuel it Long Island could have a key local advocate for BNL projects the Federal Newswire announced that former Suffolk County GOP chairman John Jay LaValle was named White House liaison to the Department of Energy LaValle has been a public proponent of President Donald Trump Staying ahead on AI is a "key national and economic security priority," according to the DOE notice which lists BNL among 16 other federally owned or controlled sites that could house AI infrastructure "DOE sites offer potential advantages such as access to or the potential to build power infrastructure and opportunities for technological collaboration with DOE research facilities," the request noted "DOE is considering opportunities to utilize these assets in a manner that enhances the United States’ leading position in AI and benefits local economies." The AI facilities could include "specialized IT equipment and associated cooling facilities noting that federal labs have been developing AI tools "for decades" to "support science The Long Island Power Authority had originally considered using the Caithness II plant in 2013, but ultimately decided against it, after a PSEG analysis of LIPA’s future energy needs determined it wasn’t needed A spokesman for Caithness didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment but a senior Caithness official last month told Newsday: "If they [BNL] need more power we are certainly ready to consider it and would build something that’s upgraded from Caithness 1 in terms of efficiency."  The department wants to “enable the construction of AI infrastructure at select DOE sites to begin by the end of 2025,” and have them operating by the end of 2027 The Energy Department and its federal labs have already “been developing cutting-edge AI tools to support science “cutting-edge algorithms and software." Scientists at the facilities are charged with addressing “the most critical energy The new AI data centers can be an “opportunity to accelerate deployment of key technologies like nuclear and energy storage…” Green technologies such as solar and wind energy aren’t mentioned BNL is already home to a large solar array Energy sources that could be located on the federally controlled sites include nuclear reactors and portfolios of on-site technologies,” the request states In-depth analysis and commentary on today's biggest news stories as only the BBC can deliver BBC "Newshour" covers everything from the growth of democracy to the threat of terrorism with a fresh The plaintiff alleges the borough and its towing contractor failed to properly notify people of where to find their vehicles and how to reclaim them Brookhaven Municipal Center in Delaware County The goal is to make sure Philadelphians don’t have to dodge parked cars on sidewalks and curb cuts The free WHYY News Daily newsletter delivers the most important local stories to your inbox WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you. Please give today. They say the Trump administration’s massive restructuring has destroyed life-saving programs and left states to pick up the bill for mounting health crises Supreme Court ordered the Trump administration nearly two weeks ago to facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s return to Maryland Prosecutors say Superior Court Judge Peter Warshaw granted a motion to Norcross attorneys that doesn’t exist in law Kenny Cooper is WHYY’s suburban reporter covering Chester and Delaware counties Together we can reach 100% of WHYY’s fiscal year goal local news and information and world-class entertainment to everyone in our community WHYY offers a voice to those not heard, a platform to share everyone’s stories, a foundation to empower early and lifelong learners and a trusted space for unbiased news. Learn more about Social Responsibility at WHYY There are days here on the farm when life is monotonous watching dust blow across the freshly picked soybean field Toni had recently told me about her day trip to Brookhaven and her fun connecting with friends there We set a date and allowed for the two-hour drive south of Gluckstadt we decided to take a slight detour on our way and providing a bird sanctuary around our homes we decided to veer off I-55 and take the exit to Wesson The winding road provided a scenic country route along Highway 550 Our destination, Buds & Blooms Greenhouse and Gardens I thought I had died and gone to flower heaven and various pumpkins and gourds in colors and shapes I had never seen before with spacious concrete walkways and plenty of room to select items from the benches or the ground floor this is the first nursery operation I have ever toured that offers a Sno Station Across from this building is a gazebo area for customers to enjoy their food or just a place to sit and enjoy the beautiful scenery You might even hear a couple of hens cackling after laying an egg We loaded the CR-V and didn’t have an inch to spare with all our purchases Downtown Brookhaven is unique. Many Mississippi towns have a square with the courthouse in the middle. But Brookhaven’s is rectangular, with the historic Union Station depot in the middle. We drove around downtown and took in a few sights before finding a parking place in front of Betty’s Eat Shop Our gracious hostess offered us a spot in the back patio area he worked for Trattoria Lucca in Charleston Fitzsimmons is quoted in a 2021 Country Roads article saying “In my travels around the country working at various restaurants under great chefs I always knew I wanted to come back to Brookhaven and share my love for great cuisine with my hometown.” Next on our agenda was a couple of hours of shopping. Afterward, we decided we needed a good cup of coffee. Because of Toni’s recent excursion, she suggested we visit the Dog Ear Books & Wild Fox Coffee and our signature espresso coffees were delicious there was a large clock with a book representing each number—an adorable and clever idea While driving, we saw the Mississippi School of Arts building, some of the historic homes, The Inn on Whitworth, and Janie’s Pastry Shop we can return soon and focus more on touring or attending some events Throughout my years of traveling I-55 to McComb to purchase cattle or attend school in New Orleans I had never traveled east to visit Brookhaven’s downtown area I stopped by a fast-food restaurant and got gas off the interstate exit Over the past twenty-five years, remodeling and repurposing have occurred in the historic district. The entire landscape has changed, and there is much to offer the residents and tourists. Walt Grayson, host of Mississippi Roads, did a program called “Repurpose Paradise.” He interviewed John Lynch, owner of Cornerstone Properties. He explained what it took to turn a men’s clothing store into what is now called The Inn on Whitworth There are seven rooms on the ground floor and suites or lofts If you want something a little more permanent The historic three-story building has been on the U.S National Register of Historic Places since 1988 and was initially called the Inez Hotel in 1904 Martin mentions some of the more important people who stayed at the hotel—people like Little Jimmy Dickens Another place is The Porches at Ole Brook, which overlooks the Ole Brook Golf Club. There are bungalows with one or two bedrooms. Also, check out the historic Captain Jack’s Guest House at 205 Natchez Avenue Other buildings have been repurposed for business offices Additional information is available online or at the Chamber of Commerce “Keeping People Fat since 1929.” They have sandwiches Vintage Style Café & Gift Shop is a charming place offering baked goods The 1905 featuring Fox’s Pizza Den & Southern Ground Coffee Bar serves specialty pizzas The Chamber of Commerce offers a downloadable brochure for a “Walk Around Brookhaven!” This includes the historic Victorian district homes along Jackson Street There is the Lincoln County Historical & Genealogical Museum the Foster-Smith Log Cabin (tours available) The production of “Annie” will be held December 6-15 As part of The Haven Series, Randy Redd is coming on October 26. Tickets are available here The annual Christmas Tree Lighting is scheduled for November 30 from 6:30 p.m By joining our newsletter, you are confirming that you agree with the Privacy Policy said he believes the town board "is going to terminate this initiative in the near future.” Credit: Rick Kopstein Brookhaven likely will cancel a townwide energy program that was intended to cut residents' natural gas bills after the program failed to achieve any savings Supervisor Dan Panico said in an interview with Newsday Panico said Tuesday he believes the town board "is going to terminate this initiative in the near future,” two years after starting the program He was not sure whether the town board would vote to discontinue the program or let it lapse when it expires April 30 The optional program, known as Community Choice Aggregation, was touted by town officials as a way to cut gas bills by as much as $100 per year But gas customers in the town program paid more as National Grid rates were much lower than those offered by Brookhaven Panico and town Councilman Jonathan Kornreich said attempts by town officials to educate residents about the program's opt-out feature had failed “It’s proving to be a lot of work to have to continually send out mailers," Panico said Brookhaven is the only Long Island municipality offering Community Choice which had been authorized in 2016 by the State Legislature Lynbrook Village ended its program in 2022 when it did not produce savings for residents 44 municipalities have Community Choice energy programs — 13 fewer than a year ago spokesman for the state Department of Public Service Brookhaven had hired Manhattan energy company Good Energy to manage the town program offering natural gas at a fixed monthly rate of 69.5 cents per therm Town officials said that price would be less than National Grid's rate National Grid charged far less than the town Company rates ranged from 32 cents per therm in August to a high of 60.1 cents per therm in January A customer who used 200 therms of energy in January paid about $139 under the Brookhaven program compared with $120.20 for gas from National Grid “This has been a bad deal since Day One,” Kornreich said Tuesday “There has not been one month when it has been cheaper We were sold a bill of goods on this and it’s infuriating.” Brookhaven Town Attorney Annette Eaderesto said ending the program was a "mutual" decision between the town and Good Energy Good Energy did not return messages seeking comment All Brookhaven Town residential gas customers were automatically enrolled in the program in 2023 Mailings and the town website informed residents how to opt out when Grid prices were cheaper But Brookhaven officials and civic leaders said many town residents appeared to be unaware of the program or did not know they could opt out Critics also said it was unreasonable to expect residents to monitor gas prices every month “The operative word was 'choice' and very few people were aware they had that,” Port Jefferson Station civic leader Ira Costell “On the few occasions I even checked the numbers it seemed the best option was to opt out and stay that way.” A customer who used 200 therms of energy in January paid about $139 under the Brookhaven program compared to $120.20 for gas from National Grid Falling tree limbs in Birmingham kills one person AL — Residents in the Brookhaven Subdivision in Margaret are voicing their frustrations over deteriorating road conditions that are posing daily hazards to drivers and pedestrians With over 600 homes and a rapidly growing community many residents are calling for immediate action to address the problem "I am extremely frustrated," said one local resident The persistent potholes and crumbling roads have become a major concern particularly as new construction continues in the area Council Member Matt Tortorice has taken matters into his own hands he has personally patched up potholes in an effort to help ease the daily struggles faced by the community Tortorice emphasized that a one-man effort is not enough to solve the issue “The roads have always been falling apart because the construction has never stopped in the neighborhood we see the dirt coming up through the roads there's a little bit more sinking and issues," Tortorice said The growth and construction traffic are overwhelming the infrastructure," he said Long-time resident Linda Martin has also expressed her dissatisfaction with the situation who has lived in Brookhaven for several years points to money that has already been allocated for repairs but says no work has been done and it’s just a shame that nobody wants to step up to the plate and get something done especially since there’s been money appropriated for the project specifically for Brookhaven,” Martin stated the consequences of the bad roads go beyond mere inconvenience One Brookhaven driver shared their experience of vehicle damage caused by the potholes "I hit one and didn’t know what kind of damage it had done and it was losing air pretty drastically,” the driver said Mayor Daryl McIntyre responded to the concerns acknowledging that Brookhaven’s roads are on the list for future repairs but are not currently the top priority other areas in the city are in worse condition and require immediate attention See More: Shoppers frustrated by potholes at Wildwood Shopping Center entrance See More: ABC 33/40's Pothole Patrol leads to swift repairs at Wildwood Shopping Center the wait for repairs has already been long enough Tortorice recently announced that the city council voted on a construction project bid for Brookhaven during a meeting on Tuesday night as it could be voted down in future discussions we will follow up with Mayor McIntyre to see if any progress is made in addressing the pothole concerns of the Brookhaven community Police are looking for the man they believe vandalized a Tesla sedan at the Walmart in Brookhaven Osvaldo Torres-Rodriguez, 63, had a warrant put out for his arrest Saturday after a video was posted to social media Thursday night by the vehicle’s owners showing a vandal using a pair of wire cutters to damage the hood and driver’s side of the car Cameras inside the Tesla captured the video which was also submitted to the Brookhaven Police Department Police confirmed Torres-Rodriguez is a native of Cuba and not a U.S Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts is asked to contact BPD at (601) 833-2424 The crime in Brookhaven involving a Tesla comes as the electric vehicles have been targets of attacks nationally due to company owner Elon Musk’s role inside the White House under President Donald Trump The FBI announced last week it had created a task force focused on the escalating number of vandalism reports at Tesla dealerships While it’s unclear if the Tesla vandalism in Brookhaven was politically motivated Chief Kenneth Collins said his department has a zero-tolerance policy regarding damage to other people’s personal property “It does not matter what your political views are You have no right messing with people’s personal property,” Collin said Copyright 2025 SuperTalk Mississippi Media Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly SuperTalk Mississippi Media is Mississippi’s leader in news SuperTalk Mississippi Media covers every inch of the state An official website of the United States government Name: Samuel Henriquez Jr.; Institution: Suffolk County Community College; Program: Community College Internships (CCI) Program: Education Level: Undergraduate Student Then one day he stopped at a bulletin board at Suffolk County Community College in Selden, New York. It was covered with flyers. One flyer stood out. Community College Internships (CCI), it said. Spend a summer at a national laboratory and work alongside scientists and engineers, it said. Brought to you by the Department of Energy Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists ‘Might as well apply,’” Henriquez recalled of that April day in 2024 I also thought it was more appealing than any internship at an engineering firm that I could work at during the summer.” Henriquez applied to be a CCI intern at Brookhaven National Laboratory on Long Island, New York, and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Henriquez was impressed and pleasantly surprised that his internship would involve more than an introduction to national laboratory life — much more Henriquez had decided that his education would go beyond an engineering bachelor’s degree — he’d decided a PhD is in his future And he’s hoping the Brookhaven contacts he made through the CCI program will bode well for a future summer-time job at the Laboratory "You can't put a price on this to get this experience The perfect place to start off with my first internship." A view looking south of the Brookhaven landfill in August 2023 A state environmental official ordered Brookhaven Town to rewrite a draft report suggesting the town landfill may not be the source of plumes containing higher-than-normal levels of highly toxic "forever" chemicals State Department of Environmental Conservation geologist Francesca King disagreed with the conclusion of a Brookhaven consultant who said contaminated plumes could have been caused by other current or former industrial and agricultural properties located near the landfill in Brookhaven hamlet Woodbury-based D&B Engineers and Architects said in the 161-page report released in December that the town's state-mandated investigation was finished and "no further work is required to be performed in this regard." King said the agency "does not support this conclusion," citing numerous examples of what she said was missing or incomplete information The DEC in August 2023 ordered the town to investigate landfill-generated plumes after groundwater testing found a class of toxic chemicals known as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are known as "forever" chemicals because they break down slowly and build up over time in humans and animals They have been linked to a range of health issues including cancer They also are known as emerging contaminants because they are not well understood by scientists Brookhaven officials have said there is little threat to drinking water because almost all residents in the area are on public water systems The Brookhaven report said investigators found "no discernible [chemical] plume emanating from the landfill." The report said at least eight other potential sources of PFAS are located "on all sides of the landfill" and noted widespread PFAS usage predates the landfill by at least three decades The 15-page DEC letter dismissed Brookhaven's contentions saying the town report's "intended objective" had been to study contamination linked to the landfill The DEC letter was released weeks after Earthjustice a nonprofit environmental law firm hired by anti-landfill activists pressed the agency to seek more answers from Brookhaven “The reason that DEC required Brookhaven to do this analysis in the first place is that the town owns the landfill and PFAS is coming from the landfill," Hillary Aidun the Brookhaven Landfill Action and Remediation Group Brookhaven Supervisor Dan Panico said it is "unquestionably true" that PFAS could have come from properties north and northwest of the landfill “I would say that we were disappointed with their categorization of our filing that came at considerable expense and considerable time,” he said DEC spokesperson Aphrodite Montalvo said the agency "will continue to work with the town of Brookhaven to ensure a detailed and scientifically rigorous study moves forward ensuring the protection of public and environmental health is prioritized." a former Environmental Protection Agency regional administrator and president of Beyond Plastics said the DEC "is doing the right thing here." She said PFAS likely is contained in ash buried at the landfill “We know that even when you burn at high temperatures if there is PFAS in any of the material that is burned Brookhaven officials are seeking an extension of the town's DEC landfill operating permit a Bellport landfill opponent who lives about four miles from the dump said the town should adopt a "zero waste" policy that places more emphasis on recycling and reusing trash “It’s troubling that they continue to go down this path where they continue to deny responsibility for anything at the Brookhaven landfill,” Fitzgerald a BLARG member and community organizer for the Long Island Progressive Coalition “The town needs to come up with a zero waste closure plan Landfill opponent Monique Fitzgerald said the town should adopt a "zero waste" policy more reliant on recycling and reuse Excerpts from a report prepared by a Brookhaven Town consultant on contaminated plumes near the town landfill and response letter from state Department of Environmental Conservation geologist Francesca King Brookhaven: "This report completes the Town of Brookhaven’s responsibility to investigate the Town of Brookhaven Landfill for an [emerging contaminants] plume While [toxic chemicals] are present in leachate samples recovered from the landfill and while a known leachate plume is discernible .. there is no discernible [chemical] plume emanating from the landfill." The report does not accomplish the intended objective .. which is to characterize the nature and extent of the release from the Brookhaven Landfill." state Department of Environmental Conservation